Editorial Voice

Letters from the issue of February 25, 2010

Luke’s Gospel: Fire Erik Spoelstra

Cuban killer Luis Posada Carriles goes on trial

On December 21, 1995, Lynn Hartrick received a sweetheart deal of a lifetime. The Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency gave the city’s code enforcement officer deed to an 11,000-square-foot empty lot at 136 NW First St. Selling price: A buck.Hartrick developed a two-bedroom single story residence on the land, then sold…

So Banana Republican just got word from a friendly political insider who attended Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s state of the county address today that Carlito El Fuerte was introduced to the tune of Superman’s theme music. Bad choice.He’s really more like Superman’s monotone, zombified clone Bizarro — full of superpowers but…

For a while there, I was completely convinced that the young men of the Axe and the Oak would waste away in the studio, eternally tinkering with the production of their forthcoming debut album. And then, I recently got word that the album is, indeed, ready to go! This track,…

For years, Lew Freeman was Miami’s go-to “forensic accountant” — the numbers guy who cleaned up the mess when a high-profile company imploded. As detailed in Jay Weaver’s excellent profile back in October, Freeman gave to charities, boosted the University of Miami and palled around with politicos. When then-Commissioner Joe…

Miami Lakes Councilman Richard Pulido is a petulant bully who thinks state and town laws don’t apply to him, judging from his abrasive behavior with other town officials. Councilman George Lopez and town clerk Marjorie Tejeda claim Pulido has been harassing and threatening them over the past three months. “He…

For more than a decade, North Bay Village Mayor Oscar Alfonso has evaded repeated ​attempts by city building officials and code inspectors to correct unauthorized construction work at his three bedroom house at 7520 W. Treasure Dr.And his next-door neighbor James Carter claims Alfonso will continue to thumb his nose…

Luther Campbell, AKA Uncle Luke, has never been shy about sharing his opinion. The former frontman for Miami’s wonderfully raunchy rap act 2 Live Crew made history in 1992 when the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed his right to be as horny as he wants to be. Throughout his controversial career,…

Like, for instance, loud music, especially the club-bish stuff, thumping in the background while we’re trying to dine. Don’t care much for new age tinklings in restaurants either — where are we, on the moon? Any non-acoustic live music is likewise an obstacle to peaceful eating. If I want to…

Olympic athletes sure are incredible — or at least that’s what the people on television keep telling us — but South Florida’s morons perform far more unbelievable feats on a weekly basis. We’ve had a road-raging woman complete a seven-felony dash in 3.7 seconds. An old man shot his foot…

As bored young professionals with a median age of 28, we here at Crossfade spend our days online and our nights in the club. While it’s light outside, we Twitter, blog, and stalk former sex partners on Facebook. Then, as soon as the sun goes down, we drink too much,…

Miami hasn’t had a great American Idol hope since 7th season second runner-up Syesha Marcado, but can Michelle Delamor, named to the top 24, finally bring the idol crown to South Florida?The 20-year-old is a 2006 graduate of Miami Beach Senior High and studies music and Miami-Dade College. She’s already…

Blast From the Past is a weekly column on Crossfade re-examining classic releases from Florida music of yesteryear. To read previous installments, click here.DeathLeprosy (Combat)For this installment of Blast from the Past we’ll be concentrating on Death’s second full-length album, 1988’s Leprosy. Hailing from Orlando, Death were pioneers of metal…

Ghostwridah is a native of South Miami. You know, that little corner of Dade County between the University of Miami campus and Dadeland Mall. He’s been a mainstay in Miami’s diverse hip-hop scene for years and is one of the names that you will hopefully hear a lot more of…

Here’s an MP3 for the upcoming third album by Miami’s Elastic Bond. Ringleader Andres Ponce always does a good job of imbuing his musical efforts with a keen sense of blues, Tropicalia, and little bit of funk that’s usually termed “urban,” but in my book, makes for some good listening…

North Bay Village residents believe Mayor Oscar Alfonso (left), city attorney Joseph Geller (center), and city manager Matthew Schwartz (right) are in cahoots, doing bad things.​North Bay Village manager Matthew Schwartz is under fire. This past Tuesday, during the city commission’s regular meeting, a small group of upset residents called…

Weighing In On LuluSo the folks from Greenstreet Café put a billboard up announcing their upcoming Lulu restaurant. Paula Nino of Short Order called owner Sylvano Bignon to ask about it, but he wasn’t around. Greenstreet manager Eric Boucher was around, and claimed it was “premature” to discuss the restaurant…

Sex fantasies at Bardot in midtown Miami

Letters from the issue of February 18, 2010

Okay, okay, so this is the last time we’ll blog about Artopia for now — we just really want you to come to the next one, if you missed this time. (We’ll give you presents.) Miami New Times’ event last Thursday at the Freedom Tower was packed — who knew…