Miami is a mecca for Caribbean immigrants. The tropical weather, the wealth of familiar vegetation, and the cacophony of foreign accents all help to make island visitors feel immediately at home here. It’s no wonder so many Caribbean writers and artists frequently visit us. To celebrate the Caribbean Woman as…
The Spanish word cimarrón means wild, from which the Maroons — a group of runaway slaves who established the first independent polity in Jamaica’s mountains — derived their name. Their city remains as a testimony to the indomitable spirit of these Africans. Karla Gottlieb became fascinated with the Maroons’ fearless…
The word supermodel is bandied about readily nowadays, but very few can lay claim to the title. One such woman is the seemingly ageless Iman. The stunning Somalian began her career in 1975, and during her fourteen years of modeling, she became a muse to designers such as Yves Saint…
Indochine may have been open for only a year and a half, but in that time this intimate restaurant located near the Miami River has transformed from gourmet bistro to hip cultural haven. In addition to serving tasty, affordable sushi, Thai, and Indonesian dishes, the cozy lounge offers a happy…
Every charitable cause benefits from a celebrity spokesperson. Television news bombards us with so many tragic images that we inevitably become jaded, and it often takes a famous face to focus our attention. Take the crisis in Sudan, a bitterly divided nation ravaged by civil war. Since the conflict began…
The man who calls himself Nathan Bliss has very discriminating tastes and a pretty sweet gig. He is the creator and producer of The Bliss Club, a freeform organization that throws the hottest erotic-theme events in Miami, where exceptionally attractive ladies celebrate their Madonna/whore complexes. Tonight at the third annual…
When the Ramones began playing gigs in 1974, they quickly earned a reputation for being loud, fast, and different. The straightforward New Yorkers made themselves famous by employing the same philosophy country songwriter Harlan Howard espoused: three chords and the truth. Most of the original members of the first real…
Ingmar Bergman is among the world’s last living iconic auteurs, a filmmaker’s filmmaker who never sacrificed his personal vision for box-office success. The Swedish director began making movies in 1944, and his key themes have remained constant for the past 62 years — emotional studies of existentialism, mortality, and faith…
Hip-hop began as the little genre that could. When the Sugarhill Gang and Kurtis Blow started spitting rhymes in the late Seventies, few dreamed that hip-hop would become mainstream and that rappers would own fashion labels and star in corporate commercials. The bass keeps booming and the movement is unstoppable…
Those still suffering from 2004 election heartbreak are escaping reality by fantasizing about America’s future presidential candidates. Progressive advocates are yearning for a woman in the Oval Office. Will it be Hillary, or Condi? Whoever lands commander in chief should seek counsel from strong-minded, savvy ex-officials who know a thing…
The word feast conjures images of sumptuous culinary samples and goblets overflowing with wine. Not so at the Goddess Feast Extravaganza. “There will be delicious organic food available, but this is a feast of art,” explains Chia Ortegon. The artist and fashion designer will present her latest handbag collection and…
She birthed you, raised you, and, for better or worse, made you who you are today. Mother’s Day is a perfect opportunity to show appreciation to the woman who knows you better than anyone and loves you like no one else will. For such an occasion, the typical bouquet of…
The Historical Museum of Southern Florida has a stellar reputation for displaying the vast magnificence of Caribbean culture. Now visitors can browse the exhibits and enjoy the Caribbean Film Series, a bonanza of free film screenings set in tropical climes. Flicks begin at 7:00 p.m. every Thursday in May and…
Across the nation, bartenders are salting the rims of oversize glasses and stocking up on Mexican beer. Today is Cinco de Mayo, America’s opportunity to drown the immigration debate blues in tacos, tequila, and cerveza. “A lot of people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican independence. We want to teach…
Vogue readers think they know it all about imported fashion. They know Italian designers like Armani and Versace have become American style standards; French houses such as Dior and Chanel are the backbone of the industry; and Brit rebels Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney have been making waves across the…
Readers of Self magazine make up a healthy and happy demographic, thanks to the monthly glossy’s seemingly endless supply of useful, fitness-related information. Finally local readers can make some of those jaw-dropping photo spreads come to life at the Self Workout in the Park. Now that Miami has been named…
When local filmmaker Kevin Clarke released his hip-hop morality tale, 2 Sides of Life, in 2004, he distributed the DVD to chain stores, including Blockbuster and Best Buy, and waited for the money to roll in. Soon enough, 2 Sides of Life was a certified hit, though Clarke didn’t earn…
The seasons are shifting and the air is fairly rippling with summer heat. The weather is perfect for summer cocktails. But cosmos are so 2003, and salt rimmed margaritas make your lips pucker. Even the classic cool of a Cuba libre doesn’t whet your appetite. Find a new signature beverage…
Another day, another fad diet. In the wake of the Atkins and South Beach diet crazes, a new crop of weight loss advice plans are vying for shelf space. The latest buzzword is Mediterranean. Evoking images of sultry Parisian nights and hot Greek island hopping days, the region’s food has…
You have to watch only one episode of The Sopranos to understand that the Mafia lives by a strict code of family loyalty and financial gain. So does the Miami Craft Mafia. The cofounders, Mona Harris and Heather Raveling, are best friends who share creative skills and parenting tips. And…
Katt Williams looks and talks like a cartoon pimp. With permed hair and a nasal drawl, he is often favorably compared to Eddie Griffin at his best, Chris Tucker before he found Jesus, and Michael Jackson. Williams made high profile music video cameos as the fey gigolo in Outkast’s “Roses,”…
Contrary to what Us Weekly says, celebrities are not like us. Their clothes are fancier, their dogs are tinier, and their faces are more attractive. Well, that last one may not necessarily be true, as anyone who has seen Britney Spears without makeup can testify. But local ladies can learn…
