The Story Matters
The SunPost Launches New Website Check it out at SunPostWeekly.com
Vol. XXV No. 16
April 22, 2010
Visit us at sunpostweekly.com
KNOCKOUT ARTIST The Fight Doctor, Ferdie Pacheco’s Tales from the 5th Street Gym SEE PAGE 12 MAYHEM P.4
PROFILE P. 10
POLITICS P. 8
HISTORY P.9
CALENDAR P.14
411 P.18
FILM P. 22
ART P.22
MUSIC P. 23
SEX P. 24
FASHION P. 26
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kim Stark kim@miamisunpost.com SOCIETY EDITOR Jeannette Stark jeannette@miamisunpost.com COPY EDITOR Mary Louise English
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Kim Stark kim@miamisunpost.com ACCOUNTING Sandie Friedman SALES DIRECTORS Jeannette Stark Stuart Davidson
CALENDAR EDITOR Jake Orsinni calendar@miamisunpost.com
Pantoni Chair $265
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jeffrey Bradley Stuart Davidson Marguerite Gil Mary Louise English Jennifer Fragoso John Hood Dr. Sonjia Kenya Thomas Quick Ruben Rosario Mary Jo Almeida-Shore Michael Sasser Kim Steiner
PUBLISHER EMERITUS Felix Stark (1929-1995) WEB SITE miamisunpost.com PRODUCTION Blue Studio MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 191870 Miami Beach, FL 33119 MAIN LINE 305.538.9797 MAIN FAX 305.538.9774
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Stuart Davidson Eitan Moshe Klein Marguerite Gil Ines Hegedus-Garcia Jennifer Fragoso Mary Jo Almeida-Shore Mitchell Zachs
FOR ADVERTISING & RATE INFO: Please call 305.482.1785 or email kim@miamisunpost.com
KMP FURNITURE
SHOWROOM: 6444 Biscayne Blvd., Miami • 305-438-1797 kmpfurniture.com Page 2 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS First class mailing subscriptions are available at $150 per year. Call 305.538.9797. Copyright: The entire contents of SunPost are copyright 2010 by SunPost Media Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or part by any means including electronic media without the express written consent of the publisher. Covering Miami Beach, North Bay Village, Surfside, Bay Harbor Islands, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, North Miami, North Miami Beach and Aventura, Coconut Grove, Brickell Avenue, Downtown, Design District, Wynwood, Upper Eastside, and Miami Shores.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 3
Tropical Mayhem BITS AND PIECES OF MIAMI LIFE
MIAMI, SPEAK YOUR MIND!
Miami through my iphone
Genius Jones: the Ultra-Mod Kids Store BY JENNIFER DIAZ
BRICKELL IS BACK! by Ines Hegedus-Garcia - miamism.com - ines@miamism.com
(305)TROPIC TOPIC
Not that it was ever gone, but if you have not experienced Brickell's night life lately, you don't know what you are missing. Great restaurants, music, atmosphere ... sipping mojitos at the foot of Miami's Metromover immersed in true urban architecture. True Miami Life - South Beach What?
I must confess, I am still a kid at heart and Genius Jones Toy store indulges the part of me that loves to touch cool toys. The Design District store is filled with creative toys for the little ones that encourage thinking. No battery operated, mass-made, loud and bawdy toys here. They specialize in unique, streamlined, often wooden toys that entice your child to think for itself. A lot of the toys are European made from wood. Another aspect to Genius Jones is their gear. The most modern strollers, mod, stylized feeding chairs, ultra-fab lunchboxes and my personal favorite find, the famous Pantone chair in a mini-version for your ultra-modern playroom. Love that! Some of my favorite finds are a fabulous Dante Beatrix Owl lunchbox, $34.00 or a set of mini maracas that get the music going for $15.95. I also love this very cool caterpillar coat hanger, $45. Every little boy dreams of a limited edition, endangered species, Wishbone bike from Skip Hop for $299. And, they even have hip clothing for your mini-fashionista, like this very sweet Pink Chicken cotton Paisley Dress for $76. Genius Jones now has three locations, South Beach, the Design District and Mizner Park in Boca. Check out their website geniusjones.com
Who is the Greatest Filmmaker of All Time? “It has to be Steven Spielberg. He rocks. Close Encounters, Jaws, Back to the Future, Arachnophobia, Indian Jones, WHo Framed Roger Rabbit. All my personal faves.” - Selina, Miami
“Stanley Kubrick without doubt. I can’t think of a better filmmaker than that. His stuff is classic. Suspense, drama, violence. I just watched FUll Meatl Jacket the other night. Really thought provoking.” - David, Aventura
Page 4 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
BY BRIAN DAVID “I love, love Orson Welles! I
“I gotta say Woody Allen. The
just saw something of his at the Cinematheque on Espanola Way. Sheer brilliance. What a mind. I am looking forward to seeing Touch of Evil this weekend,” - Alexis, Miami Beach
dude is hilarious. I ran into him one day in Manhatten and he was this tiny dude. I like Sleeper. Hilarious and totally wacky.” - Scott, Miami
Dan Sehres, Martin Krediet, Alan Randolph Jeannette Stark, Mary Jo Shore Carlos Cuerdo, Alex Fernandez, Enrico Gaeta, Gustavo Novoa Commissioner Michael Gongora, Roxanna Gonzalez, Bradley Gutkin, Randy Hilliard, Gerry Kelley, Aaron Resnick, Arthur Metz, Marcos T. Urias and Mitch Wentworth
invite you to celebrate the launch of the new SunPost website www.SunPostWeekly.com
Tuesday, April 27 at 6:30pm Open Bar from 7:00 to 9:00pm Bar 721: 721 Lincoln Lane, South Beach 305.532.1342•bar721.com www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 5
PHOTO: MAGICAL PHOTOS/MITCHELL ZACKS
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY YOU SHOULD KNOW
Aaron Davidson Filmmaker By Thomas Quick Through the eyes of the beholder, beauty can easily be captured behind the lens of a camera, or at least that is how Miami born Aaron Davidson takes the escapades of his surrounding world. The twenty year old college student adapted to the concepts of cinematography by exploring his creativity with a camera during his first year of middle school and discovered his true form and love for the art at the age of fourteen. The confines of his private academic institutions restrained his studies of film long before they began to flourish over the years. Although the schools in which he attended lacked in cinema and media programs, he found an opportunity to pursue his dreams in the film world, attending a course offered by the Miami Children’s Museum during his transition from middle school to high school. He registered for the program and attended three years in a row, getting hands on training in the video arts and partaking in weekly seminars hosted by an assortment of individuals in the professional film industry. As the annual program would near its end, a film festival was held for the participants, two of which Davidson proved triumphant, winning for a clay animation the first year and during his third year was presented with the award for not only Best Director for his film Shoe Fly, but Best Music Adaptation and Best Screenplay as well. It was the years practicing behind the lens of a camera with Miami Children’s Museum that paved the way for his blossoming career as a cinematographer. Davidson was able to find work with The Beach Channel where he was promoted from production assistant to a paid intern and with experience under his belt, had the confidence and the drive to move to bigger and better things. While he was surfing through his television, he came upon South Page 6 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Florida’s chic program Plum TV and soon after, became a volunteer and intern. It was his year with Plum that sparked a new interest in the creative soul: local coverage. Not in the journalistic sense that many associate the word with, but in the everyday night and day life of Miami Beach. This included social gatherings, fashion shows, musical events or just about anything that appeals to Miami’s trendier side of the shore. Davidson left Plum after a year, feeling their growth was taking them away from the local showcases that he adored so much, and decided to go solo. “I just like being a one man band,” stated Davidson. “Especially these days when people can be so unreliable. The editor may not come through or anyone just might not come through so what I like to do is shoot and 99% of the time I’m the one whose editing it. I know what I want so I shoot to edit pretty much.” Although he continues to work as freelancer, covering any event that comes his way, he will never forget where he gained his celebrity status; his Jewish themed documentaries on three eateries, one of which was the Rascal House where he filmed the final two days of business for the landmark that held its doors open for 54 years. Since they have been showcased, Davidson has appeared on Comcast Newsmakers, as well as had countless press write-ups. The documentaries have even become a permanent exhibit in the Jewish Museum of Miami. This is only the end of the beginning and a start to something spectacular for the twenty year old, and as the days go on, he is excited to be there for each and every one of them. As he said, “Life moves at you fast and there’s always going to be something happening at some moment and once it’s gone, it’s never going to happen again so you always want to be able to capture that moment in time and be able to look back on it and just say…wow.”
TRUSTED
$3.00 OFF HAND CAR WASH Not combined with other offer
$15.00 OFF HAND CAR WAX Not combined with other offer
$15.00 OFF A FULL CAR WINDOW TINTING Not combined with other offer
$25.00 OFF FULL DETAIL Not combined with other offer
MVR #25108466
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 3
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 7
Politics COLUMN
South of Fifth Redux By Jeffrey Bradley
We weren’t there personally, but we understand things very nearly went off the rails. Our spies— they’re legion—came away from this bit of political theatre traumatized. One reason is, surprise!, that the commissioners punted (newsflash elected officials: tackling the problem du jour shows a distinct lack of vision and is more rightly wardheelism: promising to fix the pothole in front of Mickey Bitscoe’s house is very different from planning and carrying out streetscaping); another was the degree of tumult and outrage expressed. How so? Well, take Frank Del Vecchio’s hair, for instance. Oddly enough, his level of umbrage can often be gauged by how disheveled it is—and this time, it was reported to resemble a crazed professor from a B movie. (Hey, we only relate the facts!) Anyway, officials got a two-hour earful from arm-waving, finger-pointing, angry-faced residents who jammed the commission chambers. And the upshot? Defer proposals to the city's finance committee! That’s right. No vote. No plan. No implementation. Just vague promises, delivered with an airy wave of the hand no doubt, of future improvement. Now, there’s leadership for you, and just what we needed: city bean counters telling us what and what isn’t possible. Puh-lease. So how do they plan to control the rowdy behavior? Why, with littering (and maybe loitering) campaigns, publicity about public drinking, smoke-free beach zones, snoopy cameras and, Heavens to Betsy!, enforcing laws already on the books. Whew! This level of “just do it” makes us downright giddy! Mr Del Vecchio, unofficial mayor of South Pointe, rightly summed up the situation by saying it all sounded like a bunch of political campaigns going on simultaneously (read “a lot of hooey”). And truly, some commissioners are already eyeing a run for mayor, or state office (last thing they want is this sort of thing they can’t hide from). Well, when they start trumpeting how they “stepped up” at crunch time and tout their accomplishments and flaunt their endorsements we’ll be sure to help set the record set. SURE IS NICE TO SEE OUR TAX DOLLARS HARD AT WORK! Alternative Transportationists Rejoice! It’s time to break out the old Baylink plans, blow the dust off and reactivate ‘em. Why wait for “cheap” gas to go through the roof, this time for keeps, before scrambling to play catch-up? And what’s with the reliance on outmoded 19th century technology? (The internal combustion engine was invented in 1866, even before the Franco-Prussian War!) Personally, we’ll happily turn a spadeful of dirt over the last batch of dinosaur poop (where’d you think oil comes from?!?) drained from the sands of Araby. And there’s that galling proposition of enriching those people who already hate us. But hey… we gotta have our cars, right? Um, no. But we will defend your right to pay 10 bucks a gallon or more for gas, if you insist. Just don’t try to stop us from using a modern technology that’ll get us from here to there quicker, cheaper and quieter than that gas-hoggin’, dumptruck-size, ridiculous SUV of yours. (We’d slap some surcharge for using that abomination on you if we could.) But why this rant, at this time, you ask? Here’s why: our source is the US Military (argue with them if you’re looking for shock and awe), who recently weighed in with the news that the demand for oil is going to outstrip supply quicker’n you can say soccer mom. So be ready to trade in that behemoth for Page 8 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
a “puppy” car or motorized skateboard sooner than later. Your days of cheap oil are about over, and forever. Where’s Mad Maxx when we need ‘im? (And somebody tell FDOT to start spending their money on projects that don’t depend on cheap oil, OK?) But think about it. Are you prepared to fight your neighbor for that last rusting can of gasoline like it was food from your child’s mouth? Here’s how dire it is. The U.S. Joint Forces command issued a Joint Operating Environment report stating that surplus oil production capacity could very well disappear within two years with serious shortages by 2015. Granted we had to use our calculator, but that’s less than 5 short years from now, Gertrude. "One should not forget that the Great Depression spawned a number of totalitarian regimes that sought economic prosperity for their nations by ruthless conquest," the report intones. But look on the bright side: we’ll finally have to confront the fact that we live in the 21st, not the 19th, century. Everybody but the Amish, we mean. Sounds like this time we just might find out what’s Beyond Thunderdome. Enter Baylink. You want to talk big bang for your buck? For the same amount of gas to fill up your cement-mixer, er, SUV, you could endlessly power a couple of streetcars that would certainly carry a whole lot more than just one person around. Do you see where we’re going with this? Do you really need opposable thumbs to get it? Funny thing is, we already could have it. The commission voted for it; the people approved it overwhelmingly via public referendum. But no. Ex-Mayor Dermer was dementedly determined to obstruct it and, fact is, he almost single-handed put the kibosh on it. We know this because the Alliance for Reliable Transport (ART) fought for it, when ART actually mattered. So now we’re back to square one, facing the same intractable problem that will cost us millions of dollars more to fix. Way to go, your Honor. That knuckle-dragging “progressivism” is shortsighted and expensive, you betcha. Recently, the case to revivify the Baylink project or something like it, was discussed at the Transportation & Parking—or is the Parking & Transportation?—Committee. While we unfortunately missed it, we sure won’t make that mistake again. So stay tuned. Personally, we can’t wait to see the demise of Dermerite Suburbanite autocentricity.
A Special Moment in Time COLUMN
The Time of the Trolley: Part Three – Miami Beach By Seth H. Bramson mrfec@yahoo.com
For the past two weeks this column has given brief histories of the Miami and Coral Gables street car systems. This week, the focus turns to Miami Beach, where, indeed, from December 8, 1920 until October 17, 1939, trolleys operated to and from Miami and on several lines on Miami Beach. Edward Ridolph’s wonderful book, Biscayne Bay Trolleys (published in 1981) presents most of the story of the trolley car era in Greater Miami and it seems that the Miami Beach operation was the most fascinating of the three systems, particularly because it crossed the County Causeway to reach the just over three year old city when service was first inaugurated. As with almost everything else early Miami Beach, Carl Fisher had his hand in the trolley’s premiere on Miami Beach. However, before he got involved with the street car operation he build some kind of short tram railroad that ran on a boardwalk on the beach and served one or more of the casinos. While there are several pictures of the track directly on the beach (see same herein) there are no known images of the passenger cars themselves. Fisher, promoter that he was, sent passes on the little line to railroad presidents throughout the country for use on his “Miami Beach Railway” and several even responded with complimentary passes for his and his wife, Jane’s use. But the first “real” street car ran to and from the trolley barn (Ridolph says it was more like a shed!) on December 8, 1920, that building having been erected at the east end of the causeway, just east of where the Fisher Island ferry loads for its trips across Government Cut. The Miami to Miami Beach line was a success from its first day and the initial ten cent fare remained the same for the entire life of the line. Because of developments north of Dade Boulevard Miami Beach Railway Company determined the timing was right to build two lines on Miami Beach, one of them going up Alton Road, crossing Dade Boulevard, and proceeding north to 45th Street in order to serve Fisher’s Nautilus Hotel as well as his polo fields. (Polo Park, the site of Nautilus Middle School, and the homes on Nautilus Drive and North Michigan Avenue are on the polo fields site). The other line ran up Washington Avenue to Dade Boulevard, swung east the two blocks to Pinetree Drive and ran up Pinetree all the way to the other side of the 51st Street bridge. While
the Alton Road line proved somewhat of a success, the Pinetree line was a complete bust, having built well in advance of any northerly development on Miami Beach. In 1925 the railway company completed a loop around south beach using Alton Road, Biscayne Street, Fifth Street and Washington Avenue and over the years the loop was used for different routings of the cars. The lines south of Dade Boulevard were so well used that even the horrific 1926 hurricane did not end service, and, in fact, it would only be the corrupt and paid off by the oil and gas companies, road builders, auto manufacturers and tire and rubber companies mayors of the county and the city of Miami, who had accepted bribes to demand the bustitution of the quiet, pollution free trolleys that led to the destruction of a system that, had the right things been done, would be in operation today. PHOTO ABOVE: CARL FISHER'S MIAMI BEACH RAILWAY RAN "SOMEWHERE" ON THE BEACH AND APPARENTLY SERVED THE OCEAN BEACH CASINO, THE TRACK AND THE BUILDING SHOWN HERE. NO MAP OR PHOTOS OF ANY PASSENGER EQUIPMENT IS KNOWN TO EXIST. PHOTO LEFT: LOOKING WEST FROM ALTON ROAD, THE MIAMI BEACH AQUARIUM, BUILT BY CARL FISHER'S PARTNER, JIM ALLISON, ON THE RIGHT. THE STAR ISLAND WATER TOWER IS VISIBLE IN THE DISTANCE ON THE RIGHT. PHOTO BELOW: MIAMI BEACH'S THEN BRAND-NEW (CIRCA 1926) CITY HALL WITH A MIAMI BEACH RAILWAY COMPANY TROLLEY VISIBLE AT FAR RIGHT. PHOTO BELOW LEFT: MIAMI BEACH ELECTRIC RAILWAY TROLLEY 104 ON THE COUNTY CAUSEWAY LINE PASSING STAR ISLAND IN THE BACKGROUND.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 9
COVER STORY
KNOCKOUT ARTIST The Fight Doctor, Ferdie Pacheco’s Tales From the 5th Street Gym Written by John Hood
THE FIGHT DOCTOR FERDIE PACHECO IN THE GYM WITH ALI
Back before South Beach became known for its models and bottles, and well after its initial heyday, there existed a place unlike any other on earth. Okay, there had been a few such places before – most notably Stillman’s and Gleason’s in New York – but even those hallowed facilities couldn’t boast having hosted “The Greatest.” We speak, of course, of South Beach’s fabled 5th Street Gym, home-base of none other than Muhammad Ali. For more the three decades the 5th Street Gym was training ground central for the toughest men on the planet; not just Ali, but a whole slate of world champions, including at times Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Roberto Duran, George Foreman and Sugar Ray Robinson, in addition to a spate of Cuban exiles such as Florentino Fernandez, Douglas Vaillant, Ultiminio Ramos and Luis Manuel Rodriquez. The Gym also housed the first Cuban-American champ, Frankie Otero. Behind Ali – and the rest of the Gym’s regulars – was Chris Dundee, a New York-born fight promoter who could sell Brooklyn back its Bridge. And in Ali’s corner throughout the most monumental fights of his life was Angelo Dundee, Luis Sarria and Ferdie Pacheco, “the Fight Doctor.” Dr. Pacheco gathers ‘round a few good friends and recalls all the fast action in a new oral history entitled Tales of the 5th Street Gym (University Press of Florida $27.50). Among the friends are Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee, former Miami News sportswriter Edwin Pope, and Academy Award-winning writer Budd Schulberg. But most of all it’s the good fight doctor himself, who glides through the glorious stories with a keen sense of wonder and knowing. Told in the inimitably intimate style of one who was there, and packed with enough characters to make Damon Runyon reach up and write from the grave, Tales captures one of the most remarkable eras in our city’s history – not to mention one of most momentous periods the sweet science ever experienced. The SunPost got with Dr. Pacheco by phone and tried hard to keep up with the good man’s great stories. Here’s what we gleaned from the chat:
COVER STORY
The Fight Doctor cont’d from page 11 John Hood: Please tell the folks what prompted you to put together Tales from the 5th Street Gym? Dr. Ferdie Pacheco: That's an absolute labor of love. It was one of the most important buildings in my life. It was an absolute wonderful place, and for thirty years we turned out champion after champion – not to say the least of which was Muhammad Ali. And everyday was a pure joy to go to work and to work with a champion. So what was it? It was absolutely the top in sports that I could do in my life. You also mentioned that Chris Dundee is a little bit forgotten. Is that correct? He's forgotten now. He's the forgotten genius. If they put him in his day against Don King and Bob Arum in their day, Chris would eat both of them alive. He would have beaten them up the easiest. I mean they were easy compared to him. In his time, he was great. It was him who was responsible for the success of the gym and the fighters primarily? Without him you couldn't have had a gym. He had to promote the fights, tend to developing fighters and everything, and he had to put on a fight every week. When it's your money, that's tough. What do you think it was about that place in that time that made it so special? Because it attracted all the great trainers and it attracted all the great fighters. It was a focal point. The place you had to be. If you had a fighter training to be a champion, you sent them to the 5th Street Gym. You picked up all the knowledge of Angelo Dundee and all those great old trainers there and so forth. He always said, “That's the place to go if you want to develop a fighter that's the place you got to go.” Most famously, you worked the corner for Ali. What was the champ like? He was – he still is – the most incredible human being I've ever been around in my life. He is a charming, beautiful, generous, kind, but an exceptionally good fighter. The guy that didn't know how to quit. The guy that didn’t know how to say no. I mean he took on everybody. Seventeen years of taking on everybody and beating the hell out of everybody. You couldn't do better than he did in his career – plus he is lovable. Did you happen to be on hand when the Beatles made their famous pilgrimage to meet Ali? Yeah, I'm still getting calls from that. John Lennon was funny. They looked like little tiny kids. They looked like nothing. You're used to looking at them on the screen but when you saw them in person, they looked like little tiny scrawny kids running around. They looked awful. They were sunburned and they looked like absolute dogs. Ali didn't know who they were. He was being nice to them and giving them the routine. So he says to John, “You've got to start with your looks.” At which point John says, “Yeah, but you are…?” Page 12 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Of all Ali's fights you worked ringside, which stands out as the most memorable? Let me give them to you in order: The first one when he was Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston and he won the title. No question it was the biggest upset of the day. The next one was the first Frazier fight, where Frazier knocked him down and he lost the fight. But the best fight of all was the last Frazier fight [“The Thrilla in Manila”]; that went on until 4:00 in the morning. Let me tell you, it was life and death. If that fight continued, he would've killed Frazier with one more round. It was very, very serious and very, very dramatic. Besides Ali, who are some of the more impressive fighters you got to work with in the 5th Street Gym? The best of all was Julio Manuel Rodriguez. He ABOVE: PACHECO’S PAINTING OF AN EARLY was a welterweight champion and he taught Ali how ALI. BELOW: PACHECO WITH ALI IN THE RING to fight. He was just a magnificent fighter. And the Cubans were all for him. Florentino Fernandez was a devastating puncher; Willie Pastrano was the light heavyweight champion of the world. We had him also there. We must have had 20 or so people there, either champions or going to be champions or fought for the championship and lost. We had a title fight or something important going on every month. It was heaven. Let me tell you, the best fight of all was two relatively unknowns outside of here. It was the biggest of the year. That was when little Frankie Otero from Miami fought Kenny Buchanan, then champion of the world. Now he had no business in the ring with Kenny Buchanan. I like Frankie, he was good but he was no Kenny Buchanan. Frankie got it in his mind he was going to go the whole twelve rounds with this guy. They fought up one side and down the other. Kenny had him knocked out in the 11th or 12th, and they let him go. I mean he says, “I can't knock your kid out. He fought a valiant fight. Let him go.” And you let him go to the 12th. Outside of the first Ali/Frazier fight in New York where the tension was so high it was electric, I've never seen anything like this. It was here and it was all Cubans. The entire place was packed with Cubans for Frankie, their Cuban fighter born in the United States. The first one born here. The emotion was so great. People were crying after the fight. Everybody
was singing Guantanamera. It was like something out of a movie. Unless you have the luck to be involved in one of these things, especially to be involved and you're in the corner, I can't tell you the emotional steam when it's coming out. When I got through with that I was just rolled out. I can't explain it to you. You don't get that kind of excitement out of life. By the way, that's why I got into boxing. My sense of drama and my sense involvement of being in the action, being in the center, is what made me go into boxing. I studied very hard to be a doctor, but medicine is not exciting. You save somebody's life and that’s the end of that. You get no recognition, is what I'm saying. We’re all egomaniacs. We all like a little bit of “I, I, I, me, me, me.”
ABOVE: 15TH ST. GYM ENTRANCE WITH CASSIUS CLAY.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 13
Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
TOUCH OF EVIL
Page 14 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
SAVE THE DATE:
April 22
THURSDAY, APRIL 29
FILM Touch of Evil From its astonishing, miraculously choreographed opening shot, this sordid tale of murder and police corruption is like a valentine for the cinematic medium, with Welles as its love-struck suitor. Touch of Evil, is considered to be the the greatest B movie ever made. $10. 8:30pm. Miami Beach Cinematheque, 512 Española Way; Miami Beach. For info: mbcinema.com.
April 22
ART Don’t Call Me Pretty! A new exhibit opening at the Pan American Gallery in Wynwood, Don't Call Me Pretty! Women in Art, features selected works by an all female cast. Carolina Sardi, Andrea Cote, Elsa Mora, Belkis Ayon, Jane Martin, Tania Bruguera, Elsa Mora and Ryder Cooley are only a few of the 20 participating artists. A Panel discussion Moderated by Carol Damian, Director of the Frost Art Museum at FIU will be held as well. Opening reception 7-9pm. Pan American Gallery, 2450 NW 2nd Ave., Miami. For info: 305-57-2400 or panamericanart.com
BROADSWORD AT THE ARSHT COMING TO THE ARSHT CENTER NEXT WEEKEND IS A HILARIOUS LOOK AT HAS-BEEN ROCKERS AND THE TORMENT THEY GO THROUGH FOR ONE LAST SHOT AT STARDOM. SIXTEEN YEARS AGO, THE JERSEY BAND BROADSWORD BROKE UP. NOW THEIR LEAD GUITARIST HAS GONE MISSING. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO RICHIE AND WHO'S THE STRANGE MAN WITH THE DISTURBING NEWS? BROADSWORD IS ALL ABOUT MYTHS, MUSIC, FANTASY—AND HEAVY METAL DEALS WITH THE DEVIL. GET READY FOR THE REUNION OF THE YEAR, FEATURING SOME OF MAD CAT THEATRE'S HOTTEST ACTORS, INCLUDING ACTOR AND DIRECTOR PAUL TEI (BARRY ON TV'S BURN NOTICE), ERIK FABREGAT, ELI PECK, GREGG WEINER, SOFIA CITARELLA AND KEN CLEMENT. 8PM. $15. CARNIVAL STUDIO THEATER, 1300 BISCAYNE BLVD., MIAMI. FOR INFO: ARSHTCENTER.ORG
April 22
April 23
SPORT Polo World Cup
FESTIVAL Swamp Stomp
Now in it's sixth year, Miami Beach Polo draws a slew of world-renowned polo players to battle it out in a three-day tournament right on the sand on Ocean Drive. Expect divine food, flowing alcohol and the best eye candy the beach has to offer. General admission is free. VIP Tickets $100 to $500 to the tents and fashion show. Setai Hotel, 2001 Collins Ave Miami Beach. For info: miamipolo.com.
Where else but Miami would there be a festival called Swamp Stomp that was actually worth attending? What started out with 70 kids has grown into a rockin', sponsored festival that brings some of the best local music to the public eye. This year catch The Lee Boys, Jahfe, Juke, ArtOfficial, Rachel Goodrich, and the Beckham County Trainwreck among others. $10. 5pm. Bayside Hut, 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway; Key Biscayne. For info: swampstompmiami.com
April 22
April 24
MUSIC Ten-in-One Music Fest A slew of indie bands close down Bal Harbour Village's Concert on the Green Series this weekend. Reminiscent of the Ten-In-One carnival sideshows of yesteryear where ten sequential acts appeared under the same roof, Bal Harbour’s Ten-In-One Music Fest will feature multiple acts and bands, culminating with Indie rockers Turbo Fruits followed by headliners and hometown musicians Surfer Blood. 7pm. Free. Beach behind One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, 10295 Collins Ave. Bal Harbour. For info: 305.455.5400.
MUSIC TransAtlantic Festival From the Rhythm Foundation comes a festival of world music. This weekend's series has Vieux Farka Toure with Locos por Juana live. 7pm $20. North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave; Miami Beach. For info: rhythmfoundation.com
April 24
GREEN Beach Cleanup
April 23
SOCIAL MGLFF Opening Night
Do your part for Earth Day and Miami Beach by hitting Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Park for a beach cleanup event. Join Commissioners Michael Gongora and Jerry Libbin, ECOMB, the Surfriders Foundation, ePlanet eWaste, Smith & Wollensky, Marriott South Beach, SoFi K-9 and other great community volunteers as they do there part to be green. Registration at 9:30 am at the park, between 2nd and 3rd Streets, on Ocean Drive. Lunch will be provided by Smith & Wollensky after the beach cleanup at noon. There will also be free electronic waste recycling from ePlanet eWaste at 9:30-4:30pm. For info: ecomb.org
Located in Wynwood, the Calix Gustav Gallery will host the 12th Annual MGLFF Opening night gala. The Gallery will be transformed into themed areas while DJ Oren Nizri spins. Renwood wines, vodka cocktails, and munchies by Michael’s Catering. 10pm. Calix Gustav Gallery, 98 NW 29th Street, Wynwood. For info: mglff.com
April 24
GREEN Miami Goin’ Green It’s the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and Bayfront Park will once again host Miami Goin’ Green. Some of the fun things planned are a test drive of hybrid cars from Chevy, a Fashion Forward clothing swap from Dress for Success, a “Mad Lab” for the kids from Miami Science Museum and a Solar Powered Wii. Not to mention live music and tons of food. 10am Free. Bayfront Park, 301 N Biscayne Blvd; Miami. miamigoingreen.com
April 24
OPERA Don Pasquale ABOVE RIGHT: RACHEL GOODRICH AT SWAMP STOMP. ABOVE: COMEDIAN JIM GAFFIGAN
The new season of Miami Lyric opera starts this weekend with the comic opera by Gretna Donizetti, Don Pasquale. The title role will be sung by Stefan de Peppo accompanied by David Perrier and Laura Montes. 8pm. $30. Colony Theater, 1040 lincoln Road, Miami Beach. For info: miamilyricopera.org
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • Page 15
Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
April 24
BOOKS The Birthday Ball A really fun event for the kiddies. Lois Lowry, a pre-eminent voice in contemporary children’s literature, will read from her brand new book, The Birthday Ball at Books & Books. Free. Tickets required. 3pm. Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. For info: booksandbooks.com
April 24
ART Sticky and Sweet In a society where sexual liberation remains a taboo, the Sticky & Sweet exhibit is ambiguous, erotically charged, graphically straightforward and outspokenly honest. Exhibiting artists are Eurydice, Carl Pascuzzi, Diane Errata, Jonathan Stein, Alexis Rodriguez-Duarte and Spunk And The Orange Kittens. Through May 29. Calix Gustav Gallery, 98 NW 29th St. Miami. For info: 305-5768116 or calixgustav.com
April 24
GREEN Party for the Planet Wanna watch a bunch of Orangutans rip open phone books to find hidden treats? Or Pygmy hippos rolling empty beer kegs in a pool. Yes, it does sound like a night out on South Beach, but we're talking about Metrozoo's Party for the Planet. Admission is free with the donation of a cell phone for recycling. The animals will be getting special treats made from recycled and natural materials. Live music. Miami Metrozoo, $11.95 to $15.95. 11am. 1 Zoo Blvd; Perrine. For info: miamimetrozoo.com
April 25
GREEN Earthday Family Run Celebrate the earth with a one-mile run along the beach and beach-walk beginning at Lincoln Road beach entrance. An educational expo including interactive activities follows the run on Lincoln Road's Euclid Circle. Keeping it "green," water coolers will be provided and participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles. Score a commemorative T-shirt with registration. $5. 9:30am registration, run begins at 10am. Lincoln Road Beach and Mall. For info: 305-673-7080.
GREY GARDENS
April 25
COMEDY Jim Gaffigan Funny man Jim Gaffigan hits the Hard Rock Live for a one-night only performance of hilarity. 7pm. $35-$65. Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood. For info: hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com
April 25
ART Provocative Exhibition Where Do We Go From Here? Selections from La Colección Jumex is an ongoing provocative exhibition at the Bass Museum of Art. The exhibition has four sections: art about art; art and urban anthropology; text in art; and a series of artist profiles. Exhibiting artists include: Francis Alÿs, Carlos Amorales, John Baldessari, Stefan Brüggemann, Maurizio Cattelan, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Minerva Cuevas, Ale de la Puente and a whole slew of others. Runs through May 30. $8. Bass Museum of Art, 2121 Park Ave., Miami Beach. For info: bassmuseum.org
April 27
FILM Grey Gardens Garage Sale This event sounds like a total blast! A Grey Gardens Garage Sale to benefit Miami Beach Cinematheque. Browse amongst fabulous bric-a-brac including the photographs of fashion photographer Andre Gabb, while the classic documentary of the two Edie's of the Kennedy clan at their crumbling mansion, Grey Gardens unfolds onscreen. The key to the whole event? Get a $5 admission when you bring your own personal treasure to be added to the sale. $5 - $10. 6pm. Miami Beach Cinematheque, 512 Española Way, Miami Beach. For info: mbcinema.com
April 28
BOOKS Making a New Planet
April 25
Twenty years ago, with his book, The End of Nature, Bill McKibben offered one of the earliest warnings about global warming. Those warnings went mostly unheeded; now, he insists, we need to acknowledge that we've waited too long, and that massive change is not only unavoidable but already under way. Listen to the author discuss his new book, Eaarth: Making a life on a Tough New Planet. 8pm. Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. For info: booksandbooks.com
It's time for Bike Miami Days again. Explore and mingle with street performers, engage in educational seminars promoting wellness and yoga, visit with vendors promoting sustainable consumer practices. 9am. Free. Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Rd., Coconut Grove. For info: bikemiamiblog.wordpress.com
LEFT: MAYSEY CRADDOCK; THE LONGING IN THE EARTH. ABOVE LEFT: JONATHAN STEIN; EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF MADONNA. FAR ABOVE LEFT: STEFAN DE PEPPO.
GREEN Bike Miami Days
Page 16 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
ALL PRICES
SLASHED
UP TO 70% OFF (ALL SALES FINAL)
GREY GARDENS GARAGE SALE to benefit the new Miami Beach Cinematheque
Tuesday April 27 6pm-10pm. 6 PC Bedroom Suite $49900
Bedding From $4900
EA PC Sets Only
7 PC Living Room Suite from $79900
JOHN STEMBRIDGE FURNITURE Excellent Service Since 1953
545 NE 125 Street, North Miami - Tel: (305) 893-0800 uzi26@comcast.net • www.johnstembridge.com
Details: MBCinema.com
Full gallery of contemporary, traditional and antique reproduction furniture from the top manufacturers of Europe, the Americas and the World
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 17
The 411
Gabrielle Anwar and Daughter, Paisley at Make A Wish Garden Party 2010 Shareef Malnik and Gabrielle Anwar surrounded by the Malnik kids at Make A Wish Garden Party
Al and Nancy Malnik at their Make A Wish Garden Party
COLUMN
Haute Tickets By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore maryjoshore@miamisocialholic.com Photos by Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: MICHAEL CAPPONI’S BIRTHDAY BASH Don King, Mary Jo Shore, Al Malnik
Make A Wish Garden Party
Michael Capponi celebrated his 38th birthday with an Alice in Wonderland-themed bash on Star Island on Friday night which raised over $30, 000 for the United Way. Dressed as the Mad Hatter, Capponi welcomed his 2,300 guests all outfitted from head-to-toe in Wonderland attire (costumes were required) with his girlfriend, blonde bombshell, Taylor Erickson, at his side, who personified the perennial Alice, and his mother, Danoushka disguised as the White Queen. Enormous, whimsical inflatable flowers were wrapped around the Royal Palms throughout the property and a huge rabbit clock, and images of the Tweedles and Cheshire cat surprised guests who wandered amid giant rose bushes and mushrooms, dancing to the music of DJ John Cash. Eric Milon, Rich Santelises, Tamar Burton, Ira Lang, David Grutman, Karelle Levy, and celebrities Michael Bay, Andre Berto, Project Runway’s Uli Herzner and Baroness Marianne von Brandstetter came out to celebrate and enjoy cocktails courtesy of Grey Goose Vodka. So what was Capponi’s birthday wish this year? “One the biggest responsibilities I have taken on has been ‘adopting’ 3000 Haitian refugees and providing them with temporary shelter, food and water in Petionville, Haiti. With the help of Project Medishare, Miami Beach Fire Rescue, United Way and many local supporters, we have created a tent city to house these Haitian people, half of whom are under the age of 10. Feeding and providing shelter is a huge expense and I am proud that the proceeds from my birthday will be able to keep this going for at least another 6 months.” Thanks to sponsors such as: The Opium Group, Grey Goose Vodka and 3DX productions, 100% of the
Jilian Jacobson and a friend at Make A Wish Garden Party
Page 18 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
money donated by guests at the entrance to Capponi’s party went straight to the United Way. The festivities continued at SET where guests saw the nightclub like never before. The space was decked out with 4 foot playing cards hanging from the ceiling and all over the tables. Black and white balloons filled the club to match the checkerboard dance floor and a huge clock made for the occasion was suspended from the DJ booth. When asked about the evening’s highlights, Capponi responded, “It was heart-felt to watch guests support United Way, a cause that is so important to me. I am proud that my birthday party was not only a great time, but was also able help so many in need. Thank you to all who attended, there is no better gift.”
GARDEN PARTY WAS A SPLASHY AFFAIR More than two hundred guests braved a monsoon on Sunday to attend one of the premiere events of the year: the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball Garden Party at Al and Nancy Malnik’s, oceanfront estate in Palm Beach. Not sure if the monsoon was in keeping with this year’s Asian theme - we wouldn’t put it past them. But despite the rain, guests were in good spirits, some joking about getting splashed by the mermaid in the fountain on the way in. The intimate gathering was the first event of the year in honor of the highly anticipated annual ball, to be held Saturday, November 6, 2010. Adding some “Hooo-aah!” to this year’s garden party was Burn Notice star, Gabrielle Anwar, who originally gained fame for her Tango scene alongside Al Pacino in the Golden Globe winning film, Scent of A Woman. Anwar was canoodling with Shareef Malnik
Michael Capponi and Taylor Erickson at his Birthday Party
and playing with her son and daughter and the clan of Malnik children throughout the afternoon. When the party was over, Anwar and Shareef left together, schlepping a car seat and stroller for Shareef’s 9 month-old grandson, whom Shareef kept on his hip the entire day. Talk about “doting”– very endearing indeed. (Incidentally, Shareef has six siblings ages 11 and under- among the world’s youngest “great aunts and uncles!”) The youngest Malnik was enthralled with the gorgeous Geisha girls at the party. That’s one fruit that’s fallen close to home. Also adding flair to the party was a flamboyant (and frisky) Don King, who delightfully posed for photos with several female attendees. Other notable party guests included Norman Wedderburn, President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida; Robert Hill, Gala Host and General Manager of InterContinental Miami, Rene Ruiz, Brad Rosenblatt, Jillian Jacobson, Erika Shriftman Koopman, Tara Solomon and Nick D’Annunzio. Guests were treated to Rising Suns, a specialty cocktail designed by The Forge Restaurant & Wine Bar’s mixologist; hors d'oeuvres; beats by DJ Joe Dert and a performance by Japanese Taiko drummers Fushu Daiko. This year’s goal is to grant 525 wishes. You can help make that happen by contacting the Foundation at (888) 773-WISH or visiting: sfla.wish.org.
WEBSTER PRESENTS FIRST FASHION SHOW The Webster boutique’s first runway show featuring men and women’s spring and summer 2010 collections took place Thursday night at the posh store. Overall, the show was a good first effort, (the fabulous boutique has been open less than a year), presenting dozens of stunning pieces, despite a few mishaps with the show notes. According to a local fashion editor, “the Webster is an excellent purveyor of the best that fashion has to offer. The styling was done in-house, which sends a clear message regarding the owners' aesthetic: so it's an interesting approach to presenting the season's looks while infusing the Webster’s personality.” Well-heeled guests joining Webster co-owners Frederic Dechnik and Laure Heriard Dubreuil for the fashion celebration included: Zaha Hadid, Pharrell Williams, Barbara Becker, Tracy Mourning,
All dressed up at Michael Capponi's Mad Hatter Birthday Party for the United Way
Iran Issa-Khan, Susie and Walid Wahab, Criselda and Jonathan Breene, Richard Martin, Suzy Buckley, Jilian Sanz, Princess Firyal of Jordan, Sam Robin, Gingi Beltran, Leonardo Davalos, Pedro Maal, Glenn Albin, Susanne Birbragher, Terry Zucker, Naeem and Ranjana Khan, Louis Aguirre, Belkys Nerey, Luis Pons, Loren and JR Ridinger, Richie Rich, Cathy Leff, Christina Getty-Maercks, Michael Comras, Tara Solomon, Nick D’Annunzio, Rene Gonzalez, Nicola Siervo, and Lana Bernstein.
CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS: On Friday, Haute Living magazine, hosted its second annual Haute 100 issue release party celebrating Miami’s most influential people at the Mondrian South Beach. The “hot” list included Emilio Estefan, Paulina Rubio, JR and Loren Ridinger, Jorge Perez, Keith Menin, Marc Roberts, Lea Black, James Ferraro, Jerry and Sandi Powers, Ricky Arriola, Sean Wolfington, Raul Casares, Brenda Nestor and Robert Castellano, Don and Katrina Peebles, and Mike and Alicia Piazza to name a few. At LIV at the Fontainebleau on Saturday night, former President, Bill Clinton kicked off his third annual Clinton Global Initiative. Clinton socialized with top donors and VIPs, including Pharrell, gave an inspiring speech, and introduced N.E.R.D., who performed for the event. Clinton had previously hosted a private dinner for 50 guests at Scarpetta, including UM president and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala and Hangover star Heather Graham. Clinton was quite the gentleman, despite his playboy reputation, sipping nothing but water and Diet Coke all night. Also on Saturday night, Tinsley Mortimer was spotted at Coco de Ville dancing with friends. On Sunday, President Clinton along with Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Cobbs, Lousaka Polite, Nat Moore, Nnamdi Asomugha, Kacey Rogers, and Greg Camarillo assisted in revamping the Homestead Homeless Complex, a transitional housing facility, with the aid of 100 University of Miami Students. Lil Jon, who has apparently become an STK regular, was spotted at the steakhouse over the weekend with a party of 8. Also at STK was Miami’s own DJ Irie.
Michael Capponi's Mad Hatter Birthday Party
Fashion Designer and Project Runway finalist, Uli Kerzner
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 19
411
Nicola Siervo, Cathy Leff, Antonio Martucci
Jillian Jacobson, Christina Getty Maerks and Susie Wahab
Raquel Perera, JR and Loren Ridinger
Richie Rich striking a pose at the Webster
Webster Fashion Show -Jilian Sanz and Jay Wall flanked by some fabulous friends
Webster Fashion Show -Tracy Mourning, Louis Aguiree, Gingi Beltran
Frederic Dechnik, Laure Heriard Dubreuil of the Webster
Pharrell Williams at the Webster Fashion Show
Adam Koffler, Renee Prince Phillip, Ranjana Khan, Naeem Khan, Lisa Heiden, Sam Robin
Melissa Katz, Glenn Albin, Iran Issa-Khan, David De la Garcaat the Webster
Page 20 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Criselda Breene, Barbara Becker
GO! EVENTS
Upcoming Social Events By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore maryjoshore@miamisocialholic.com
THE ART OF PARTNERING Miami City Ballet presents The Art of Partnering on April 23 from 6-10:30 p.m., offering singles a unique opportunity to create their own “pas de deux” at a glamorous event at Miami City Ballet studios featuring a cocktail reception, an intimate performance and talk about the ‘The Art of Partnering’ by Miami City Ballet Founding Director Edward Villella; and an after party immediately following at Grove, W South Beach. Miami City Ballet is located at 2200 Liberty Ave., Miami Beach. Tickets cost $100. For more information, email rrobinson@miamicityballet.org or call 305-929-7017.
BARTON G. KIDS HEAR NOW FOUNDATION GALA On Saturday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m., Barton G. Weiss will host his annual gala for the Kids Hear Now Foundation at his latest venue, The Villa By Barton G., formerly the Versace Mansion (1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach). The gala’s theme will be “An Evening of Grand Splendor” with proceeds going towards funding further research technology and treatment in the field of cochlear implants for the thousands of newborns born each year with profound hearing loss. Kids Hear Now provides cochlear implants for the underprivileged as well. Cocktail attire is requested for the party. Tickets cost $1, 250 per person. For more information contact 305.576.3006 or email: foundationevents@kidshearnow.org.
seum’s 14 galleries, dinner outside at 8:00 catered by the Ritz Carlton South Beach and a concert by the Average White Band. Tickets cost $500 per person/ $5, 000 for tables of ten. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. To RSVP for the event, contact Kelly Bresnahan at 305.373.KIDS (5437), ext. 142 or email kelly@miamichildrensmuseum.org.
BASTOS DESIGN AND D.STERN AT CLUB 50 Luxury jewelry brands Francisca Bastos Design and D. Stern Jewelers will present their latest pieces at an exclusive showcase on Tuesday, April 27 at Club 50 at Viceroy Miami, from 5 pm to 7:30 pm with a portion of the jewelry sales benefitting the Humane Society of Greater Miami Adopt-A-Pet. Guests can enjoy well drinks, beer and wine for only $5 until 10 pm. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is a must to 305.777.2340 x1042 or rsvp@getinkpr.com.
MIAMI CHILDREN’S MUSEUM GALA The Miami Children’s Museum celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a gala on April 24 at the museum (980 MacArthur Causeway). The celebration includes a reception at 6:30 pm, which will take place throughout the mu-
Mark and Amanda Tamis at the Webster Fashion Show
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2009 • Page 21
Cinema COLUMN
Through the Rainbow Lens By Ruben Rosario (ruben.1972@yahoo.com) In my previous column I committed a sin of omission. When referring to Lisbeth Salander, the defiantly anti-establishment heroine of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I neglected to mention that she’s an out-and-proud bisexual woman. And so it goes, most of the time, with media coverage of LGBT content in current movie releases. If they do not appear in an “issue” film, gay and lesbian characters, unless they’re played by a major celebrity, tend to fade into the background. Except for ten jam-packed days out of the year. Beginning this weekend, the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF), now in its twelfth edition, brings lavender-tinged images front and center on local movie screens. In only his second year as program director, Kareem Tabsch has assembled a thrillingly diverse lineup of features, documentaries and shorts programs. Highlights this year include a new film from Swimming Pool director François Ozon, an Italian film starring Derek Jarman muse Tilda Swinton, and Sundance favorite Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, a portrait of the comedienne/red carpet staple in her own words. Unlike other local film festivals, there are even retrospectives. Richard Lester’s 1976 film version of playwright Terrence McNally’s The Ritz, as well as the landmark 1977 documentary Word Is Out, will also screen as part of this year’s festivities. Tabsch has opted, once again, to kick things off with a foreign language film, which, given some audience members’ aversion to subtitles, used to be a festival opening night no-no until last year. I Killed My Mother, the tart filmmaking debut of French Canadian whippersnapper Xavier Dolan (all of 19 when he shot it), comes with an enviable list of awards and glowing notices. (The film won three awards at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight last year.) I only wish I could join the chorus of accolades. The relationship between gay high school student Hubert Minel (Dolan) and his divorced mother Chantale (Anne Dorval) has curdled like sour milk. We first see her from his point of view: an extreme close-up of her mouth as she stuffs a bagel in it. How much does Hubert hate her? He tells his teacher he’d like to write his career essay about his aunt because his mom is dead. These scenes play like a setup for a wicked dark comedy, as if Noah Baumbach had decided to remake Beautiful Thing. What we get instead is one scene after another of Hubert bickering with Chantale. And bickering. And bickering some more. (To be fair, Dolan shows Hubert breaking some plates in slow motion after one of his catfights, you know, to change things around.) Dolan zeroes in on the mother-son conflict to the exclusion of just about every other aspect that would have made the film more palatable, which means giving short shrift to the character of Xavier’s boyfriend and the touching bond Hubert establishes with his teacher (a winning Suzanne Clément), by far the best thing in this tale of smother love that walks a fine line between formal creativity and selfindulgence. A promising start by an up-and-coming talent? You bet. An audacious debut of Wellesian proportions? Not even close. Canada’s dysfunctional families are well represented at this year’s MGLFF. Take the unfortunate case of Ruby, the saucer-eyed, precocious 14-year-old at the heart of the coming-of-age story Grown Up Movie Star. It sucks that her mom walked out on her exNHL-player dad (Shawn Doyle, Bill Paxton’s brother in HBO’s Big Love) to pursue an acting career. It sucks even more to catch Dad
and her gym teacher in the middle of pursuing some extracurricular activities. The movie that follows, regrettably, is way too earnest to take advantage of its juicy story elements. First time writer-director Adriana Maggs captures the mundane lifestyle of a small Newfoundland community, but she feels obligated to add some overblown melodrama and eye-rolling plot developments that all but ruin an otherwise potent tale of sexual awakening. Don’t blame Ruby, though: Tatiana Maslany’s well-rounded performance nabbed a Special Jury Prize at Sundance this year. The young protagonist of the strange and elliptical tone poem The Famous and the Dead, screen name Mr. Tambourine Man, is experiencing some growing pains of his own. Living with his mother in the southern Brazilian city of Teutonia, he passes the time watching online videos that feature a mystery woman and a stranger we assume to be her boyfriend. One night, while he hangs out with his friend Diego, the stranger from the video shows up on their street. What’s the connection between them? The best way to experience the disorienting, trancelike state in which director Esmir Filho envelops you as he puts the pieces together is by knowing as little as possible. This approach might not be for everyone (think Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park with a rewrite by Lucrecia Martel), and I suspect viewers might become frustrated at Filho’s refusal to openly acknowledge Mr. Tambourine Man’s homosexuality, but that doesn’t make the character’s journey any less poignant. There’s no confusion about where Spanish poet Jaime Gil de Biedma’s place on the Kinsey scale. As played by Jordi Mollà in the absorbing biopic The Consul of Sodom, he’s a cheerfully depraved sweet-talker with a biting wit and penchant for bubble butts. We first see him sleeping his way through Managua circa 1959, then back home in Barcelona, where he helps run his father’s tobacco company when he’s not trying to piss off Franco’s regime with his socialist buddies. Previously seen by MGLFF audiences opposite Javier Bardem in the romantic triangle Second Skin, Mollà tears into the role with full-frontal abandon. Director Sigfrid Monleón displays a lightness of touch that helps offset the more tragic elements of Gil de Biedma’s personal life. Like many conventional biopics, The Consul of Sodom tries to cover too much ground in its running time, but this is an old-fashioned entertainment in all the right ways, one that should resonate with movie lovers of all persuasions. I Killed My Mother screens tonight at 7:30 pm at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Miami. Grown Up Movie Star screens Saturday, April 24 at 8:15 pm at Regal South Beach Cinemas. The Famous and the Dead screens Sunday, April 25 at 5:30 pm at Regal South Beach Cinemas. The Consul of Sodom screens Sunday at 8:30 at Regal South Beach Cinemas. For more information and showtimes go to mglff.com.
Page 22 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
EXTRAVAGANZA BY ALAIN GODON.
Art GodonAmerica Showroom Opens in Design District By Marguerite Gil (megs@famae.org) One more art space had added its name to the roster of fine art galleries in the Design District. The GodonAmerica Showroom has hit the floor running and is ready for business. “It’s a big step for us” said artist Alain Godon, who originally hails in from France but presently lives in London, “but even with this economy, we think the timing is right and the location is perfect.” Bernard Markowicz, formerly of the Opera Gallery in Bal Harbour is the new GM. His international experience with the Opera Gallery makes him an ideal co-partner for Godon who has already established himself in Paris, New York, Amsterdam and Le Touquet in Northern France. During the showroom’s inaugural opening last week, the gallery was filled with members of the French community oooing and aaahhhing as they viewed the art on display. Godon was jumping from guest to guest, smiling, smoozing and introducing himself and his artistic technique which he describes as Bildoreliefo. His recent works are painted with oils, stretched on canvas, photographed, then digitally enhanced, deconstructed, reconstructed and once the final image is approved by the artist, applied to an aluminum background, which makes the finished work ultra glossy and highly durable. The process of painting or sealing a paper onto aluminum is not new, but is tricky. Used on planes, boats and architectural accents, applying ‘surfaces’ to metal has been around for quite a number of decades. Aluminum naturally forms an invisible and microscopically thin oxide which covers the exterior of the metal and renders the bulk material relatively inert to atmospheric corrosion. Because of its inertness, paints and coatings tend not to stick to the surface. Removing the oxide is the goal. This requires a series of degreasing baths, water rinses, acidic solutions and heat, which will ultimately allow paints, papers or decals to adhere to the metallic surface. Godon has perfected the technique and uses the results handsomely. His art captures the soul of the cities he loves. His playful imagination infuses his works with expressive lines and rich vivid colors. He enjoys including himself, his wife and his dogs as humorous caricatures in many of his pieces. It’s fun, happy, well finished work that is original and will no doubt be very collectable. To Go: GodonAmerica Showroom, 1 NE 40th Street, #5, Miami. For info: THE FAMOUS AND THE DEAD 786.362.5546 or godonamerica.com
Music COLUMN
Mute Math Rediscovers The Magic By Alan Sculley As Mute Math began touring in support of its new CD, Armistice, the band faced a familiar challenge -how to rework the new songs so the four-piece band can play them live. “Some songs are more challenging than others,” singer/guitarist Paul Meany said in a recent phone interview. “True to a Mute Math record, we definitely did not consider how we were going to be doing this live as we were recording it. As a matter of fact, whenever I brought that up – I’m kind of the panicky one when it comes to that because I’m the singer -- but I’d go, ‘I’m not sure how we are going to do this. Maybe we shouldn’t do this.’ And I’d immediately get slapped. They’d go we’re making a record, which is probably best. “When I listen to the record, I do love it and I’m glad we took a lot of the chances that we did,” he said. “But we definitely have our work cut out for us in turning this into a show that four guys can pull off on stage.” Chances are, any problems Mute Math went through in working out how to play the songs from Armistice live will pale in comparison to the struggles the band faced in trying to make the new CD. While on tour behind its 2006 self-titled fulllength debut CD, Meany and his bandmates were writing songs and in fact arrived for initial recording sessions in New Orleans fully expecting that batch of 16 songs to essentially make up the new CD. But after struggling to bring the songs to life in the studio, Mute Math hit a tipping point in spring 2008 that no group or artists wants to reach – the realization that things weren’t working and the entire project was in serious jeopardy. “When you put so much time, money, effort, energy into something and then all of a sudden you realize this wasn’t meant to be, and (face) the whole idea of starting over or having to shelve it, yeah that causes tension,” Meany said. “And when you try to find what exactly is the solution to that, it doesn’t always go over well. But that’s where we were. We thought we were recording our record, but we knew we weren’t really happy with it. We weren’t sure why. Everyone had different ideas of how to get happy with it, but no one could agree.” Things reached a boiling point one day on the porch of the New Orleans home studio, when the four band members erupted into a shouting match that culminated with drummer Darren King putting the band’s plight into stark perspective, saying the group members could either call it quits or put their frustrations aside and go back to work and write the best music they could. Without saying anything to each other, the band members went back into the house, picked up their instruments and started playing. Shortly before the day of that argument, Meany said, the group had already talked to a few producers looking for solutions in how to find the magic in the songs the band had written on the road.
One of the producer candidates, Dennis Herring, had offered the advice the band members really didn’t want to hear. “Everything he heard he said ‘No, I just think you guys should start over and come up with music that you guys can quickly rally around,’ which was a new idea for us,” Meany said. “But when he said that, it was the kind of thing where you knew he was saying something right, but we immediately (resisted). You begin to weigh the costs of that decision, weigh the fact that there goes deadlines, there goes whatever.” When the band members without a word chose to go back inside the New Orleans home studio, they essentially accepted Herrin’s idea of starting over. And it wasn’t long before Mute Math started seeing signs that the group was beginning to rediscover the magic. “We sat down and just started playing music and forgot about the pressure, the pressure of labels and management and budgets and all that distracting stuff,” Meany said. “We got into just why we got into it in the first place, just living for that moment when something comes alive in a room between four guys. That was it, and it started happening. And Spotlight was the first song that dropped out of the sky, and up to that point, it was the best thing that we had recorded. And that wound up kind of being the gateway song. It opened up the floodgates to the rest of the music that unfolded for the record.” The early weeks in New Orleans may have been the most frustrating time in Mute Math’s history, but the group had weathered a few difficulties earlier in its relatively short career. Before forming Mute Math with King in 2004, Meany had been in a Christian band called Earthsuit. With Mute Math, Meany wanted to move into the mainstream rock scene and have a band that would avoid categories and challenge itself musically from album to album. The group, though, saw its 2004 EP, Reset, get picked up by the Warner Bros.owned Christian label, Word Records. The group balked at the situation, eventually suing to get off of Warner Bros. entirely. While the suit was pending, Reset started selling nicely at Mute Math shows, which prompted Warner Bros. to approach the group about signing directly to the label, settling the impasse. Things have gone smoothly ever since The band’s 2006 self-titled debut CD was warmly embraced by critics and eventually amassed respectable sales, setting the scene for the second CD. True to the band’s mission, Mute Math didn’t make a carbon copy of the first CD with Armistice. The new CD carries forward some key attributes of the debut – including the mix of old school guitars, bass and drums and electronics and a knack for writing sharp pop melodies. Armistice, though, leans even harder on the electronic elements as it turns out such swirling and catchy rockers as Backfire, Spotlight and Electrify. “The way I view it sonically, across the board, it was like we just took all the aspects of this band and we just kind of injected them with our steroids, and just amplified all of it, just pushed it a little further,” Meany said. “And I enjoy that." Having been on the road since fall, Mute Math has not only been playing new songs in its concerts, it continues to evolve its material live, which Meany said is a key part of the band’s live experience. “We’ll definitely be taking some liberties,” he said. “I love that. The bands that I’ve admired over the years, that’s what I come to expect when I go to a show. I’m not really that excited about the record getting recreated anyway. It’s like take me to some new places. Let these songs go somewhere. Anyway, we’ll be doing that. We don’t have a choice, really.” To go: Mute Math will be playing in concert April 27th 7pm. with Thirty Seconds to Mrs, Neon Trees and Street Drum Corps at The fillmore. Tickets are $27.75. livenation.com
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 23
Sex COLUMN
Private Problems By Dr. Sonjia Kenya What would you think if your partner suddenly became unable or unwilling to perform in the bedroom? If you’re anything like the good-looking, over-achieving Miami residents I know, this situation has never happened to you. But just for a moment, let’s engage the imagination of that finely tuned brain inside your beautiful body and play a proper game of pretend. If your lover lost interest in lovemaking, what could be the cause? “There must be someone else,” said two single women in their 30’s, a divorced business owner in her 60’s, an ageless TV producer recovering from a lopsided love affair, and two 40-something gay men in the ‘I lust you phase’ of a budding relationship. A 34 year old married teacher who practices pole dancing in Coral Gables and my handsome boyfriend who practices law in midtown, searched within before responding, “I would think they’re not attracted to me anymore.” The similarity of answers from such a diverse group made me wonder whether my self-esteem was normal. You see, unlike everyone else I spoke to, this situation actually happened to me. When it did, not once did I consider that another person may be the cause and, obviously, the idea of my being unattractive was unimaginable! The sour situation occurred over a decade ago. I met a suave, Stanford-educated man while I was finishing grad school at Columbia and teaching sex education for the City University of New York. We fell into lust as the dot.com industry began to bubble billions. In two weeks, he was moving to my hometown of San Francisco to start a start-up. In three weeks, I was going home for Christmas. Fighting crazy currents of passion motivated by his firm momentum that moving away inspired, I decided to put on the brakes. If it was real, we could wait until I was home for the holidays. My finely tuned brain imagined a long-distance courtship, falling in love, followed by marriage and finally moving home to birth babies in the Bay Area. As I write this from Miami Beach, you can guess how that fantasy worked out. Despite his endless phone calls, romantic plans and outrageous sense of humor, there was nothing funny (or firm) about what did NOT happen once we finally got together. This was long ago, when I lacked the empathy and tactful grace I currently exude. So it did not go well when I looked him in the eye and exclaimed in an authoritative, concerned voice, “You’re sick and this could be serious. You’re only 29 but you need to see a doctor! Immediately.” As you can imagine, the best product of that relationship was the preservation of my purity. At the time, my gut instincts were the basis for my diagnosis, but I now know I was right. And every woman who has ever experienced an uncomfortable confrontation with a man knows that little in life is more satisfying than being right - especially in sticky situations centered on sex. The truth is - undiagnosed illnesses’ are often the root cause for poor performance between the sheets. Diabetes is one of the most common culprits. Each year, 1.6 million new cases are diagnosed in people over 20 years old and almost 8% of the U.S. population (23.6 million people) lives with the disease. Between 35-50% of men with diabetes experience erectile dysfunction (ED) and some studies found almost half of the women with diabetes reported serious sex problems! Uncontrolled blood sugar, which causes diabetes, is also at the root of unsatisfying situations in the sack. When blood sugar is not controlled, the blood vessels that feed our nerves get damaged. Too much nerve damage can impede a man’s ability to become erect and reduce intimate sensations that stimulate lubrication in women. Unfortunately, many other health conditions create coitus complications. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 70% of ED cases in men are linked to diseases. ED can serve as an early warning of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Besides diabetes and heart disease, several other illnesses are linked to ED, including kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, vascular disease, and neurologic disease. Surgeries for prostate and bladder cancer can lead to ED, as well as injuries to the penis, spinal cord, bladder, or pelvis. Smoking, obesity, and avoiding exercise also increase the risk for ED and women with these behaviors are more likely to lose interest in lovemaking. In fact, numerous nonsexual diseases lead ladies to become lackluster lovers. Arthritis, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and neurological problems all contribute to reduced desire for sex and/or inability to become lubricated during the deed. The medications used to treat these common conditions often take a toll on the sex drive of men and women alike. Though difficult to diagnose, mental health issues can also damage the desire for, and delivery of, satisfying sex. Women are more susceptible to experiencing a sexual stalemate caused by psychological challenges but up to 20% of men with ED are dealing with stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure. Men with a physical cause for ED also tend to experience the same mental reactions as those with a psychological cause. Treatment can be complex in these situations and patience from a partner may be the most important factor to recovery. Aging also appears to anger the ego of both genders by inviting uncontrollable hormonal changes. Page 24 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Fluctuations in hormones associated with age can soften formerly hard parts of a man and encourage avoidance of physical intimacy among women. Several natural and pharmaceutical remedies are available to treat hormone changes associated with growing old. What’s the most successful therapy for seniors? Dating someone your own age! It is NOT a hormone problem when someone who looks like my grandfather is unable to try tricks with a treat that looks like a teenager. The good news is that most problem performers are not romancing another relationship. Don’t fight with your partner when they’re down and can’t get it up! Help your special somebody by serving up some sex education that signals you’re staying on their side until they revive. Impress them with your knowledge, engaging more empathy than I did 10 years ago. Gently inform them, “Intimate inability or unwillingness may indicate a hazardous health issue requiring medical help.” Let your loved one know that once a physician approves, exercise is often prescribed as the natural medicine for many sex-limiting conditions, including heart disease and obesity. The same prescription applies to diabetics - just 30 minutes of activity can lower blood sugar for 24 to 48 hours! What’s the best part of all? An active lifestyle also makes you look great which can increase opportunities to burn calories in the bedroom (up to 300 per session)! And what exercise could be sweeter when watching your sugar? Comments: sonjia@drsonjia.com References at: 1. kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/impotence 2. diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics. 3. diabetes.webmd.com/features/women-sex-and-diabetes
Health COLUMN
Being Me Smoke-Free By Jennifer Fragoso
Name: Jennifer Fragoso Age: 38 Years smoking: 23 SMOKE FREE: Seven Weeks
WEEK 8: THANK YOU! I’M NOT SMOKING This has certainly been some ride. I’ve gone from physical and mental agony to enthusiastic resignation. My inner demons are becoming more and more docile and my alter ego, you know Chaz, may be looking for a new zip code. I am doing exactly what I set out to do. I’m being me smoke-free. I’m still aware and maybe even sometimes a little jealous when I see others around me smoking but the reality is who wouldn’t be? I mean really, can you feel me people! I practiced something albeit disgusting and unhealthy for 23 years. There is bound to be some residual feelings of attachment and loss. Yet here I am smoke-free for seven whole weeks and counting. People ask me all the time how it is going, if I’ve had a cigarette and the answer is NO! I have not and will not smoke because I can’t. Smoking was my dysfunctional sanctuary. Now that I have uncovered this, going back to smoking again would merely be a chemical safe harbor. Smoking again would be like saying Uncle and I’m too stubborn to do that. This is my new path. Living clean and smoke-free. Digging in deep to figure out what it is I truly need. As I began discussing in Week 6, I understand the cycle of my addiction now. I understand that I used cigarettes to sublimate a lot socially and the result was a furious chemical addiction that robbed me of so much emotionally in those first few weeks when I quit. I cannot willingly give anything that power over me again. Wow, that felt good. Cathartic even. I totally recommend taking the plunge to those of you out there who want to rid yourselves of a destructive crutch. Who knows you may just find out that you are more than capable of coping with life all on your own. We are all different and yet we are all the same. My cigarette may be someone else’s glass of wine or piece of chocolate cake. Having one of any of these isn’t the problem but when you begin to rely on the way that they make you feel then voilà, you’ve got a problem. I say start feeling what you feel rather than trying to escape it. If you are sad be sad just don’t do it alone. Reach out and talk to someone, a friend, a professional or even me. That’s exactly what I’m doing right now…I’m talking to you. I’m opening up to you and me all at the same time and I encourage everyone else out there to do the same. As I said before, we are all different and yet we are all the same. This breeds a certain level of understanding and understanding is exactly what someone dealing with addiction needs. At least that is what this addict needs. Thank you for listening. I’ll be back again next week. Comments: fragosofashion@aim.com
We have a new website.
What you love about our print edition is on our website, plus a whole lot more. Check it out right now.
sunpostweekly.com
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 25
Style COLUMN
Oxygen Facials at mySpa By Jennifer Fragoso (fragosofashion@aim.com) Apparently oxygen isn’t only for breathing anymore. “Intraceuticals Infusion uses therapeutic-grade oxygen and Hyaluronic Acid, an ingredient naturally found in the skin, to deliver specialized active serums deep into the skin’s structural layers.” What does that mean? Well it means super soft, subtle skin without injections or chemicals. The treatment, sounds so clinical, is down right divine. Within minutes of lying down on the aesthetician’s table you begin to feel all of your stress slip away in the lull of the light mists of oxygen being applied on your face. While the aesthetician delicately targets trouble areas and infuses them with serum reaching deep into your skin’s layers. Later you emerge from the womb like treatment room a whole new non-surgically enhanced you in under an hour with no down time, redness or puffiness to deal with. Intraceuticals oxygen facial is a girl’s “big event” best friend. You can have this facial and then go out on a first date without having to apply any camouflage makeup. Intraceuticals Infusion can deliver noticeable results in one treatment but a full series of treatments along with their take home products are recommended for optimum long-term results. If having an oxygen facial is divine, and it is, then mySpa at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami is divine and gone to heaven. The lobby is bright and a little edgy while the treatment rooms are dark and cozy. The look is modern Zen with cool music and all of the comforts of home. The fitness center offers monthly rates and affordable day passes for both hotel and non-hotel guests. A perfect respite from closed causeway madness. The next time you leave work and hear the MacArthur is shut down why not forgo the Venetian and stop in to mySpa’s gym. Forgot your gym bag? MySpa has got you covered with clothing and sneakers to use during your workout. MySpa merits a full on check out so what are you waiting for log on to myspamiami.com and book a series of
oxygen facials after some hassle free workouts. Oxygen does more than the body good. Intraceuticals has three types of treatments, Rejuvanate, Atoxelene and Opulence. Talk to the certified skincare professionals at mySpa to find out which series will work best for you.
ABOVE: THE STEAMROOM AND AT LEFT THE LOBBY OF MYSPA AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL.
Page 26 • Thursday, April 22, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • April 22, 2010 • Page 27
Sick of the Gym? Get a refreshing workout in the water with the gear the navy seals use*
THE EVOLUTION OF FITNESS
RESISTANCE, STRETCHING CARDIO AND PYLOMETRICS WATER PILATES, BOXING, YOGA, MARTIAL ARTS AND CROSS TRAINING
786.220.1799 www.aquafitmiami.com
PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING IN YOUR POOL * We do not use any foam buoyancy equipment