South Florida On the Go! January 2023 Edition

Pass It On!

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Hotep!

Most everyone in America has BIG plans for the night of New Years Eve and the day itself. And we all know what they are: "To Celebrate Good Times, Oh Yeah!" as Kool and the Gang would say. Some of us will be celebrating surviving, while others will be celebrating progress, though. That's the motivation behind this month's opinion piece, Isn't It About Time! Not to be a party pooper, but to help put the holiday in perspective.

If you do have something major to celebrate though, Evening with the Legendary Spinners promises to be an unforgettable experience. Check out my 15 minute video with 2 of the members. They recommend you bring someone that you've been angry with! Lol!

For our Nights Out review this month I visited Jazz Restaurant in Sunrise. I thought this place was just a jazz club until I found out that the food is cooked from scratch! It nearly became this issues Dining Out feature!

Instead, we're reviewing SanTo’s Modern American Buffet & Sushi, where it was also love at first bite. I had sworn off buffets years ago, but this place has proven to be super hard to resist.

This month's article By Dr. Mary @ Check This out SoFlo! covers the 50 Year Celebration of Carnival Cruise Lines. She sure makes their new ship sound like something you've got to see with your own two eyes!

That's how I hope the review of the 6th Annual Art, Blues, and Soul Festival in Miami makes everyone feel too. If you missed it, you've got to be there next year! It was magical.

And last but not least, so is the Escape this month, so far. Part 1 of my visit to Melbourne has been surprisingly wonderful! Read on and take the adventure with me!

Ken W. Burrough

CEO & Publisher

The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices by Casper ter Kuile

Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices—yoga, reading, walking the dog—into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation ..

15 minutes! with the Legendary

Spinners!

South Florida On the Go sat down recently with 2 members of The Legendary R&B group, The Spinners, to talk about what concertgoers can expect at their upcoming South Florida concert on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

Hint .. Bring your tissues and your dancing shoes!

According to members, Jessie Peck and Ronnie Moss, it's gonna be real hard for anyone to sit still at this concert!

And with 12 gold records and hit songs including “Could it Be I’m Falling in Love,” “One of a Kind,” “Games People Play,” “Mighty Love,” "I'll Be Around," "It's A Shame," "The Rubberband Man," and many others, it's not hard to see why!

Then, with songs like "Sadie," "Love Don't Love Nobdy," and "I Don't Want To Lose You'" it's gonna be just as rough not to shed a tear!

Come see why The Spinners were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, garnered six Grammy nominations and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! You won't be disappointed!

To purchase your tickets: Click Here!

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora

Ephron

With her disarming, intimate, completely accessible voice, and dry sense of humor, Nora Ephron shares with us her ups and downs in I Feel Bad About My Neck, a candid, hilarious look at women who are getting older and dealing with the tribulations of maintenance, menopause, empty nests, ..

White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better.

By

Regina Jackson & Saira Rao

A no-holds-barred guidebook aimed at white women who want to stop being nice and start dismantling white supremacy from the team behind Race2Dinner and the documentary film, Deconstructing Karen. It's no secret that white women are conditioned to be "nice," but did you know that ..

Nights Out @ All That Jazz!

I've been to a few other Jazz Clubs in South Florida, so I assumed the main attraction at All That Jazz was the music. And besides that, the first time we visited, the band was jammin' and the place was packed so all we could do was squeeze in at the bar, order drinks, and enjoy the music. Between the vibe and the jazz though, we not only ended up staying a little longer than planned, but we left with a great impression! So we agreed we'd have to return with reservations one day.

When that day came, we were escorted to a table with a great view of the stage. And just like before, we ordered a few drinks first. But, for dinner I ordered the flame-grilled Jamaican Jerk-style Pork Chops, and when those two bad boys came out .. they were hot, black, spicy, and juicy! They tasted so good, that All That Jazz made my list that night. And that means I'll be back, for not only more great jazz, but to see how a few other items on their menu stack up. Like the Cajun-styled fish, and the Gumbo >>> The Root Beer Float and the Homemade Bread Pudding also have me wondering!

So even though there's not much else to do around All That Jazz that I'm aware of, between the music, the food and the vibe, I consider it a great Night Out. The crowd is mature and somewhat diverse, and they're located in a strip mall in Sunrise, so parking is free and plenty. But maybe best of all, you won't be blindsided by any surcharges.

Carnival's 50 Year Celebration!

By Dr. Mary @ Check This out SoFlo!

Carnival Cruise Lines Has Been on Vacation for the Last 50 Years .. and they commenced the Ribbon Cutting and Naming Ceremony of their new flagship, Carnival Celebration this past November! The event also commemorated their 50th birthday and 50 years of memories, adventures, and new experiences. Both Kathie Lee Gifford and her daughter Cassidy were in attendance, as Cassidy was named Godmother of the ship. In 1987 Kathie Lee herself was named Godmother of M/S Celebration.

The event appeared to have gone down without a hitch, and attendees were treated as royalty. Prior to boarding guests were treated to succulent bites, but once everyone was onboard a steady stream of drinks and appetizers flowed.

Carnival out did themselves on this ship. The “wow” factor was in full effect. They definitely surprised their regular travel customers. If you’ve ever traveled with them before, this ship gives the feel of a more upscale competitor.

The Gateway was one of the areas they advertised as being special, and it proved to be every bit of what they promised! The bar attracted people, and the seating and lighting around it appeared to be just what the doctor ordered!

Guests were also treated to a three course .. Click here to continue reading

Dining Out @ SanTo's Buffet

I had stopped going to buffet's years ago. But then someone suggested I try SanTo’s Modern American Buffet & Sushi, and now I'm hooked again! They have 2 locations, but I can only vouch for the one in Boca Raton, which I've been to a few times so far.

I won't be going back to SanTo's because they have a wide selection of sushi, a grill and carving station, a raw bar, several hot entrees, a salad bar, soups, and desserts on their menu though. I'll be going back because everything I've tasted so far has been surprisingly good!

Although the crab legs were better on my first visit, every other item has been consistently good! I've also tried the ribs, fried fish, grilled vegetables, a few of the Asian dishes, the salads, and their wings, and I was more than happy.

I haven't eaten from their carving station yet, nor have I tried any of their desserts, but you can bet they're on my list. I also plan to put my own seafood boil together next time!

As far as the restaurant itself goes, they have a full bar, the restrooms are clean, and service is good. They have a very diverse crowd and we've been comfortable each visit. However, if you prefer not to sit and eat, they also offer a takeout option.

Personally, I recommend you try visiting on a weekday and inquiring if they offer a Veteran, a Senior, or a First Responder discount though, because their prices are memorable too!

The

Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done.

By Kendra Adachi

Kendra Adachi, the creator of the Lazy Genius movement, invites you to live well by your own definition and equips you to be a genius about what matters and lazy about what doesn’t. Everything from your morning routine to napping without guilt falls into place with Kendra’s thirteen Lazy Genius principles ..

Isn't It About Time!

Master Your Time, Master Your Life. I sure wish I had this drilled into me as a child. I never read the book, and I never knew there was one, but this phrase seems so elementary to life that it should be way more common, especially to balance out the part of our nature that only wants to have fun and experience pleasure. Most of us learn too late that our personal time is a non-renewable, life-changing resource. Our health can be restored, but our time can't be recaptured. In real life, the hourglass only gets filled once, and it never gets flipped. When the sand runs out, it's game over.

According to an article written by Joel Steele of Steele Financial Solutions, "There is a general sense that time is an open-ended item so we undervalue it and don’t fully appreciate its importance." He goes on to write, "You have heard the saying to live each day as if it were your last. When you know you don’t have much time left, you start to enjoy some of the simple treasures of life more."

When you start to realize that time is limited and powerful, you also stop wasting so much of it. You stop all the woulda, coulda, shouldas, and you start putting fun and pleasure in their proper place. You finally get up the nerve to just do it, just say it, just build it, start it, stop it or whatever .. one step at a time, one brick at a time, or one day at a time. Then before long, you'll end up with something worth really celebrating.

Isn't it about time ..

Melbourne!

One of the last places on earth I'd ever think I'd be spending the holidays is Melbourne, Florida. It's not only located in a county that's #1 in the nation for Capitol riots arrests, but 3 of those arrested include the pastor of a Melbourne church, his son, and a member. That may explain the humongous pro-Trump booth we passed by while shopping at Renninger’s Flea and Farmer’s Market. The largest flea market on what's known as the Space Coast with open air booths & air-conditioned specialty shops, they have over 2 miles of covered shopping, and hundreds of booths with a wide variety of vendors selling everything from household items, to fresh produce, clothing, sporting goods, electronics, specialty food, drink and gift items, antiques, and auto accessories.

Even though we did in fact feel a very heavy conservative vibe, and saw very little diversity, we did find both the vendors and the shoppers that we interacted with to be surprisingly cordial. The selection was vast, and everyone either had a "sale" going on or was willing to negotiate. We also enjoyed one of the best cheap breakfasts ever outside one of their food courts. They're supposed to have a few beer and wine gardens too, but I don't remember seeing them.

The venue is rather rustic, but the restrooms were clean, parking was free, and so was the entry. So, we definitely plan on making it one of our regular stops when we're in town!

Interestingly enough, in 2015, interracial .. Continued on page 74

6th Annual

Art, Blues and Soul Festival

Truth be told, I was admiring Marsha Ambrosius' legs just about as much as her talent last month during her performance at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in the Brownsville neighborhood of Miami! Let me tell you .. that woman has been workin' out!

If you weren't there, you missed out on what I'd have to consider my favorite concert of the year! Even parking was enjoyable! As soon as the tickets went on sale I bought an early bird VIP ticket , so when we arrived I was directed right into a reserved spot by the event staff. And it's a good thing too, because we arrived late and the neighborhood was packed!

I had heard the area had a bad reputation, but that was in fact the first thing we liked about the festival .. the community vibe! It reminded me of the concerts I loved back in the day. The stage had been set up outside in an open, grassy area, and a handful of food trucks and vendor tents were off in the distance. Maybe a few dozen people were hanging out around them, but most everyone else was kicked back chillin', eating, and enjoying the DJ in the reserved seating or in lawn chairs behind them.

At the check-in station, we were given our wristbands and directions to the VIP tent, which was located behind the stage. And when we got there, maybe a few dozen guests were already seated, eating, drinking and chatting it up at a handful of tables. Surrounding them were a buffet, a dessert table, and a wine station.

Since no one was in line at the time and a few seats were still open, we made our way over to the buffet. I wasn't expecting much since the entire concert had cost me about what I'd pay for dinner and drinks for 2 at a good restaurant. But between the quality and the variety of the menu, we left highly impressed and stuffed! Hats off to the caterer! I wish I could have given them a shout out!

By the time we finished, there was still a little daylight left, so we decided to head over to the gallery to walk off the food and check out the art exhibition. While we were there, much of what we saw was clearly beautiful and pleasing to our eyes, but then some of it was so open to interpretation that by the time we left it had gotten dark outside. The weather was still picture perfect though as we strolled over to the concert area and took our seats. When we got there, the host, Miami's own Chello, was on stage with the DJ, and the band was still setting up. But, it wasn't long before he starts crackin' jokes and warming up the crowd.

Gia Wyre Gia Wyre

Then, all of a sudden he goes off into a long intro like he's bringing out Stevie Wonder or somebody! I thought he was just hyping up the crowd, but then as soon as Gia Wyre hit the stage, it became obvious, this Sister was more than worthy! Homegirl sang the blues like an OG! As an opening act for the powerful performers that followed, she did not disappoint!

Another great surpise was Meli’sa Morgan. I didn't realize she was the one who sang Prince's, "Do Me Baby" and Mother's Finest's, "Love Changes" years ago! But it was great seeing her perform them both live! Homegirl even came off the stage and had both the men and the women partying with her!

But like I said, I came to see the legend, Lenny Williams sing, and the man did not disappoint. He not only entertained us with 2 of his signature songs, "'Cause I Love You" and "So Very Hard To Go", he had everyone crackin' up with a blues number he opened with, "I Didn't Know It Was Your Mama!" We bumped into him in the VIP tent after his performance and got to take a picture! He seemed to be a true gentleman!

The R&B group NEXT didn't disappoint either! I didn't realize how long they had been performing, but everyone else did. They knew all their song lyrics! And even though one member of the trio was missing, the other two kept everyone engaged and on their feet for their entire performance. Besides "Wifey", they sang "Butta Love" and "Too Close".

Before the headliner came on I had honestly planned on leaving. I had enjoyed a few Floetry songs from back in the day, but I wasn't too familiar Marsha Ambrosius' work after the split. But, then this lady hit the stage with such energy, attitude, talent, and authority that we just couldn't leave! She not only owned the show that night, but she showed everyone why she was the closer! I'd pay to see her again soon!

Hats off to the organizers of the festival!! Great event!! Great lineup!! We can't wait until next year!!

Chello Chello

South Florida's Black Professionals Network is a proud member of ICABA, a member-based, global business network assisting professionals and entrepreneurs of color to attain their career, business and lifestyle aspirations.

The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred. By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Dr. Prescod-Weinstein urges us to recognize how science, like most fields, is rife with racism, misogyny, and other forms of oppression. She lays out a bold new approach to science and society, beginning with the belief that we all have a fundamental right to know and love the night sky.

South Florida's Black Professionals Network is honored to be featured among Discover The Palm Beaches, Black-Owned Group Tourism Businesses!

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times

by Michelle Obama

There may be no tidy solutions or pithy answers to life’s big challenges, but Michelle Obama believes that we can all locate and lean on a set of tools to help us better navigate change and remain steady within flux. In The Light We Carry, she opens a frank and honest ..

Educated: A Memoir by

Tara Westover

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers ..

The Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Dealing with Toxic People by Shahida Arabi, MA

In The Highly Sensitive Person's Guide to Dealing with Toxic People, you'll learn evidence-based skills grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help you recognize and shut down the common manipulation tactics used by toxic people, ..

marriage constituted 29% of all marriages in Melbourne, which was the fourth highest in the nation. 9% of the city is Black, 11% is Hispanic/Latino, and 1 of the 7 Council Members is Black. In my travels throughout its Black community, which sits just south of Historic Downtown Melbourne, I saw a bunch of churches, one was historic, one market, one small beauty salon, two community centers, no Black barbershops, two Black restaurants, and interestingly, no liquor stores.

The historic Black church was Melbourne's first church, and it was founded by freed slaves who were also the co-founders of Melbourne. Years later, it's members built a new building, and now they're attempting to convert the original one into a museum and welcome center.The church's Development Corp. had also been hosting a yearly festival honoring them until COVID hit.

We only found a plaque in an obscure "park" honoring one of the founders, and a park named in honor of another. But my research uncovered a deep, rich history in the Melbourne area. Like, Zora Neal Hurston wrote her first book there. She returned to live there until 1956, and serve as a substitute teacher at Melbourne Vocational School; and later, a librarian at Pan American Library at Missile Test Project.

One of my first stops when I arrived in Melbourne was at Lizzy's Soul Food Restaurant. When I pulled up it was around lunch time, and a few of the neighborhood Brothers were out front hanging out. Lizzy's doesn't have any inside seating, so I walked up to the window to order, and the smell of marijuana hit me. I didn't notice where it was coming from, ..

and no one was paying me any mind, so I just zeroed in on the menu and started salivating!

Lizzy's sold everything from Chicken Wings to Chitlins, so it took me a while to order, but I ended up going with the Smothered Pork Chops, some fried fish, and some cabbage, just to hold me over for a few days.

As I waited, more than a few people stopped by to pick up their orders. Most of them seemed familiar enough, and some could have easily been family, but noneof them appeared to be threatening. So when my order was ready, I decided to sit a while, eat some of it in the car, and keep people watching. The rest, I finished over the next few days, and it was not only alllll good, but it was real budget friendly too! So, I will definitely be going back!

The other Black owned restaurant in the community is Coastal Crab Company and it comes highly recommended. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to visit yet, but just one look at their website and it's clear to me that they're not just another seafood spot. I can't wait to stop by for lunch or dinner!

I found another Black-owned restaurant that wasn't in the Black community a week later.

Lizette's Cajun Bistro is a small, intimate spot with seating, and it's located further north in a shopping mall. And when I say the food they serve is absolutely, positively, amazing, I'm not exaggerating one bit!

I wanted to order one of everything on their menu when I saw it. And in time, I will, but for my first meal I just chose the Shrimp Etouffee, and the Fried Catfish Dinner. I ended up with a free side of Dirty Rice too due to a snafu by .. Continued next issue!