The Story Matters
Calendar p.14 Select Saturdays at the Bass Museum. Take a tour of the Human Rites Exhibit with Bass Museum Director Silvia Karmen Cubina.
Vol. XXV No. 31
August 19, 2010
Visit us at sunpostweekly.com
Protesting Obama SEE PAGE 8
PRIMARY DAYS It’s Election Time In South Florida, See Who to Vote for on Tuesday MAYHEM P.4
POLITICS P. 6
CALENDAR P.14
FILM P. 18
BOUND P. 19
411 P.20
GO! P. 23
SEX P.24
SEE PAGE 10
FASHION P. 26
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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 • August 19, 2010 • Page 3
Tropical Mayhem BITS AND PIECES OF MIAMI LIFE
Miami through my iphone
BIRTHDAY WITH A VIEW by Ines Hegedus-Garcia - miamism.com - ines@miamism.com I celebrated a milestone birthday this past week and had dinner at Area 31 in The Epic Hotel in Downtown Miami. This was the view from the 16th Floor terrace overlooking Brickell Avenue. WOW doesn't even do it justice - I stitched several iphone pics to be able to accomplish this panoramic photograph.
Bernie’s L.A. Cafe From Chef Bernie Matz (he of Cafe at Books & Books fame) comes L.A. Cafe, a fresh and modern take on Pan-Latino food. The menu features rich authentic flavors while using high quality and all-natural ingredients. Matz has created a menu that satisfies a craving for savory Latin dishes without saturated fats or MSG. Open since July, the cafe is a hit with the locals who
Style Pick: Hervé Léger From the fabulous Hervé Léger is this divine antiqued gold lurex chainstitched strapless dress. The bandage dress, a hallmark of Hervé Léger, is perfect for the Miami social season. Finish the look with a metallic statement necklace and the season's highest platform sandals. $2,800.00. Bloomingdales, Aventura or online at bloomingdales .com. Page 4 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
gather to munch on Bernie’s delicious organic Arroz con Pollo or his mouth watering ceviche. A local favorite is the Tropical Salad complete with fresh organic avocado, mango, black beans and greens. A personal fave is the Four Leche dessert, totally to die for! And the best news? He delivers. Bernie’s L.A. Café, 1570 B Alton Road, Miami Beach. For info:305.535.8003
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www.sunpostweekly.com • SunPost Weekly • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Page 5
GINGER: What do you mean, “not her type”?
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Can He Say That?
BO: He’s not her type. On account he’s gay. GINGER: I know the congressman’s gay.
COLUMN
Bo the Horndog’s Summer of Love By Charles Branham-Bailey WHEN: Last weekend WHERE: Panama City Beach, Fla. The First Family, here to boost the local tourism industry in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill, relaxes on the beach, or tries to anyway... SASHA OBAMA: (emerging from the water) Yuuuuuuck! Why is the water still brown, Daddy? THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, Gibbs, why is it still brown? I thought it had cleared up. PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS: That, sir, that’s tea. Some Tea Party protesters apparently chartered a boat a mile up the coast, and they’re dumping tea to protest your visit. THE FIRST LADY: How do you know it’s the Tea Party? GIBBS: Well, ma’am, they’re flying a burgee with Marco Rubio’s face on it. That and the voice that’s directing them over the boat’s loud speaker sounds suspiciously like Sarah Palin’s. PRESIDENT: In that case, is it within my powers to order the Coast Guard to sink it? GIBBS: Well, sir, I’d have to check the War Powers Act, but I seriously doubt it.
AGENT 2: The-ol-bucket-of-water-above-the-door prank. AGENT 1: (laughing) AGENT 2: I don’t see what’s so funny. It wasn’t water in the bucket. It was maple syrup. Got it all over me.
BO: I’m not talking about the congressman, Ginge. I’m talking about his dog. His dog’s gay, too. GINGER: Gay? BO: As gay as a chihuahua in a tutu. GINGER: But he’s soooo damn good-looking and he always keeps his coat so well groomed. BO: Exactly. Didn’t you pick up on those clues? A metrosexual mutt, through and through. GINGER: (sigh) Why are the best ones always gay?
AGENT 1: Did you hear how they got Riley last week?
BO: Yeah, bring her. Get here at 10, use the secret entrance near the gate like we used before, and make sure no reporters see you, okay?
AGENT 2: No. How?
GINGER: Okay.
AGENT 1: Trust me, you don’t want to know.
BO: You know how everyone wants to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom? Well, I’ll show you what’s under the Lincoln bed.
AGENT 2: I’ll be glad when we get back to D.C. The agency doesn’t pay me enough to endure this torture. At least when I was on the Bush twins’ detail, the most we ever had to do was pull them out of the bars when they’d gotten too sloshed. Who knew guarding a little 12-yearold girl was going to be this rough? AGENT 1: You got that right.
WHEN: One night last week WHERE: The White House BO, THE OBAMA FAMILY DOG: (on the phone) Get me Senator Schumer’s residence.
GINGER: I bet you say that to all your bitches. BO: Me? Girl, I’m just a one-bitch dog. GINGER: Sure, sweet stuff. That’s what they all say. BO: Dawg, you coming or what? GINGER: Hot stuff, I’m there! (hangs up) WHITE HOUSE OPERATOR: I have a call from the Secretary of Defense’s residence. BO: Put it through.
WHITE HOUSE OPERATOR: Senator Schumer’s residence on the line.
CUDDLES THE POODLE: Bo?
GINGER THE SCHNAUZER : Hello?
BO: Cuddles! Hey, babe! What’s cooking?
GIBBS: That wouldn’t look good. The press would have a field day. Your poll numbers are already low, plus we shouldn’t make them into victims – the public might begin to feel sorry for them.
BO: Ginge! Hey, sexy thing, whatcha doin’ tonight?
CUDDLES: I’m so lonely tonight, all by myself. Care to share a Milkbone?
PRESIDENT: Gibbs, you’re right.
BO: How’d you like to come over and spend the night?
BO: Ah, gee, girl, I’m... well, I’d really love to, but... I’m having a flea dip tonight, so I’ve gotta pass. Maybe some other time, okay?
GINGER: Oh, can I?! Cool! But are they home?
CUDDLES: Oh, okay. But you owe me.
BO: Oh, them? No, they’re all out of the house for a change. Even the mother-in-law. And I’ve got the digs all to myself – all 132 rooms, baby! Come on over and let’s get this party started!
BO: I know.
GINGER: Can I bring over a friend? She’s Janet Napolitano’s Spaniel. She needs some company right now. Got a big crush on Barney Frank’s dog, but he won’t call her and ask her out.
BO: I don’t know about that, sugar. After the last time, they noticed dog hairs that weren’t mine. We nearly got found out.
PRESIDENT: Blast ‘em out of the water? Fire a warning shot off their bow?
WHEN: Last weekend WHERE: Outside a cabin at Camp Wicosuta, Malia [Secret Service code name: Radiance] Obama’s summer camp in New Hampshire SECRET SERVICE AGENT 1: (swatting away a mosquito) Anything interesting happen last night after Radiance and the other kids went to bed? SECRET SERVICE AGENT 2: Yeah. They got me. AGENT 1: Oh? How?
Page 6 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
GINGER: Oh, just lying around waiting for the master and his wife to return from their evening out.
BO: Barney Frank? Bitch, his dog’s never gonna go for her. Trust me, he’s not her type.
CUDDLES: Maybe we can hang out in the pool again, like last time?
CUDDLES: Well, if they don’t ask... BO: We won’t tell! (laughing).
Politics COLUMN
Those Fighting Flamingos By Jeffrey Bradley “We believe that the public space needs to adequately accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and autos — in that order of priority!” —Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association The time has come, the Flamingos said To explain so many things; like the importance of free parking spots And the bicycle that brings The question that won’t away: “Has NIMBYism wings?” These Flamingos can be more flighty than fighty. Two of their involvements—backing David Dermer’s disastrous Save the Beach anti-development initiative that harbinged the largest highrise building assault ever unleashed on the Beach (with fallout still being felt long after the collapse of the boom), and the unequivocal support of Mayor Matti Bower, whose policies have accelerated the balkanization of the City—produced less than stellar results. Now we’re up against the hard cranium of their NIMBYism. There’s a dissonance emanating from this neighborhood. See, even tho’ the FPNA mission statement clearly puts bicycles ahead of autos in “need of adequate accommodation” (and the cars, rightly, dead last), something got lost in the praxis. In fact, at recent meetings containing several Flamingos we thought we’d stumbled across an anti-bicyclist coven convened expressly to concoct the most bizarre reasoning why there should be no bicycle lanes on Euclid or Pennsylvania Avenues even tho’ these community streets would benefit mightily. We listened while darting nervous glances into shadowy corners seeking the telltale glint of a silver chalice or iron-bound reliquary locked with a hasp. Had the prince of darkness himself appeared—no, Gertrude, not that smarmy political handler—attired in sabletrim cape and ram’s horn headgear, we’d have been out the door like a shot. Still, as the explanations grew more baroque, we recognized the aura as BayLink déjà vu. Back then, people who hadn’t crossed Washington Avenue on foot in 10 years were suddenly hysterical with the possibility of “tripping over wet rails” or getting smooshed by a runaway streetcar or any nonsense that could be concocted on the spot. This time around we’re to understand that after asking for just a 5 ft bike lane, we were “generously” being offered 10—in fact, the whole road! This is condescending flapdoodle to the point of insult. So we turned the offer down cold as we aren’t human speedbumps to ride the center and slow down traffic. Who wants the cars and trucks backing up behind until the roadrage goes critical mass and the oaths, imprecations and beercans fly? Or, what? We can ride on the sidewalk along with the <ringgg-ringg> Merry Mailman? (Those with opposable thumbs still needing further elucidation see us later) Maybe “bike lanes” somehow got conflated with developer, a word known to give the tie-dye and ponytail set fits. Or maybe—favorite excuse—because Carnivora, the giant upper Amazonian tarantula that feasts exclusively on human prey would fit exactly into one of these bike lanes—and then where would we be? (Listen, if you’d been at that Convention Center battle of the superbugs a few weeks back you might not be so
quick to pooh-pooh this idea because one look at the slavering, spinning-eyed spider was enough to put Truly Nolan on our speed dial for life.).OK; we’re just kidding about the spider. A citywide Master Plan that makes clear bicycles are not recreational vehicles and need their own travel lanes is already in play. Yet, piecemeal, NIMBYists in each neighborhood are ridding themselves of this pesky proviso that gets in the way of their speeding SUVs. It’s autocentricity run amok, and the neighborhoods have got it mistakenly into their heads that they can dictate what changes they will and will not have, and damn the rest of the City. This rank parochialism is especially obvious, and painful, when a reputedly forward-thinking enclave such as Flamingo Park leads the pack baying through the underbrush seeking excuses. It kinda begs the term “activism.” The City should take a page from FDOT’s playbook. Once they’ve decided a course of action, it’s over and it’s done. No shilly-shally butt-kissing; that’s no way to get things done and it’s certainly no way to get things done on time. Because the City won’t cowboy up and tell the neighborhoods to either go way or go all the way in, we’re left with an endless to-and-froing, discrete parts that no longer fit, inevitable costly overruns—the balkanization of the City. Which leaves the boards with too much power and too little expertise, as shown by the hours-long agonizing that ended the bike lane question when the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board finally punted. Into this void steps the neighborhood parvenus, who rely on “gut feeling” to plan what’s best for the roadways. Here’s how things stand: two local neighborhood avenues—Pennsylvania and Euclid—were slated for bike lanes. Thanks to the intervention of highly-paid consultants and notso-discrete arm-twisting down at City Hall, our progressive Flamingos have managed to remove lanes from the one (Pennsylvania) and are now trying for a sweep (on Euclid). Essentially, the Board put you, the public, at risk by approving an 11-foot travel lane that will force bicyclists into the middle, from a road where a car and bike can now ride safely side-by-side. If you’re not convinced this is a recipe for disaster, try riding your bike down the middle of Meridian. Sure, for now, Euclid retains the bike lane. But the Flamingos are ready for that; they’ll claim the bike lanes make it unsafe for pedestrians to cross the street. (If that fails, watch them fall back on the Carnivora ploy.) So, our fidgety Flamingos will no doubt attempt to run the table at next month’s Historic Preservation Board meeting. You’ll know them by their t-shirts emblazoned: “Accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and autos — in that order of priority!” But the bomb in the basement is the free parking. The Flamingos surely won’t be giving up any of that soon. But you can’t have it both ways. Either you’re activists and mean it when you say “We believe that the public space needs to adequately accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and autos — in that order of priority!” or you’re phony-baloneys making a virtue of NIMBY. For two things are very certain: you’re leaving yourselves 18 feet of free parking on both these streets and if you really desired fewer cars, you wouldn’t roll out the welcome mat in the form of free parking; and, nobody in their right mind would countenance using bicycle riders as human speed bumps!
THE ORIGINAL SUNNY ISLES BEACH ROAD. ALTHOUGH PHOTOGRAPHED AFTER THE NEW BRIDGE OPENED IN 1950 THE ROAD, NOW USED FOR SERVICE VEHICLES, IS CLEARLY VISIBLE.
A Special Moment in Time
Miami Beach’s Suburbs: Part 6 Completing the Haulover Story By Seth H. Bramson (seth@sunpostweekly.com) There is no question that Miami-Dade County’s Haulover Park is a gem of a public facility, one which, along with Greynolds, Matheson Hammock and Crandon Parks was initiated under a parks program by long-time county commissioner Charles Crandon. It took the purchase, however, of a good bit of private property, for the full magnificence of Haulover Park to be brought into the public domain. As can be noted in “From Sandbar to Sophistication: The Story of Sunny Isles Beach,” published by The History Press, of Charleston, in 2007, the southern end of today’s park was, beginning sometime in the late-1930s, a privately-owned trailer park. Stretching from what was then Collins Avenue—today’s beachfront service road—to the bay, the trailer park included a snack bar, laundry facilities for residents, rest room and shower amenities and a recreation area. The trailer park included a boat dockage facility, approximately where the charter boat fleet operates from today. The first bridge over the cut, built in 1925 right at ocean’s edge, was wooden and was severely damaged in the September 17th and 18th 1926 hurricane, so much so that it had to be dismantled. A concrete bridge, which lasted until 1950 was built in its place but the problem of proximity to the ocean remained and the strong tides at the confluence of Haulover Cut and the Atlantic—exactly where the bridge was built— were deleterious to the bridge’s long-term health. By the mid-1940s the bridge was weakening and by the late 40’s the reality of the need for a new bridge was evident. It was at that point in time that the decision was made to move Collins Avenue west from the edge of the south side of Haulover Cut to the north side of the cut somewhere north of the famed Lighthouse Restaurant, more about which momentarily. The new bridge, unlike the old, was aligned with Collins Avenue in Bal Harbour so that motorists using the bridge did not have to, as those using the old bridge did if they were driving north, turn east just before the cut in order to cross the bridge, According to reports of the time the old bridge would actually shake as cars went over it, so the opening of the new bridge was a joyful event. Two of long-time Miamians warmest memories in regard to Haulover Beach are the fabled restaurant’s, Broussard’s and the Lighthouse. Broussard’s, owned by the famed New Orleans family, was at the northernmost point of land on the Bal Harbour side and had to be passed in order to cross the old bridge. The top picture on page 35 of “From Sandbar to Sophistication” clearly shows the location. Once the new bridge opened there was no longer convenient access to the restaurant and the family soon sold it. The Lighthouse was owned by long-time Miami restaurauteur S. D. Macris and from the time it was built in the 1940s until its destruction in the early 1960s due to a fire of suspicious origin, the Lighthouse was famous for its live turtle and lobster tanks and its fiery demise left an empty spot in the hearts of many Miamians who enjoyed the unique atmosphere, the wonderful food and the excellent service. Next week: A look at Bal Harbour Village, how it came to be, what it was, what it became and the people who were and are so important to its history. www.sunpostweekly.com • SunPost Weekly • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Page 7
ONE OF THE SIGNS CARRIED BY MEMBERS OF THE SHALOM INTERNATIONAL GROUP
MEMBERS OF THE SHALOM INTERNATIONAL GROUP PROTEST
PROTESTING
OBAMA Photography by MagicalPhotos.com/Mitchell Zachs Members of the Shalom International Group and the South Florida Direct Action Group, protested President Obama this past Wednesday. Obama was in Miami for a reception for the Florida Democratic Party at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach. SunPost Photographer Mitchell Zachs captured the moment between these two frenetic local groups.
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA DIRECT ACTION GROUP PROTEST OUTSIDE THE FONTAINEBLEAU MIAMI BEACH
ON THE COVER: A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA DIRECT ACTION GROUP, ARGUES WITH ANOTHER PROTESTER UNITED STATES PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA LEAVES THE FONTAINEBLEAU MIAMI BEACH
Politics
Primary Days It’s Election Time In South Florida, See Who to Vote for on Tuesday By John Hood ext Tuesday the all mud-slinging will stop (till Election Day anyway) and those looking to lead will duck into their neighborhood polling booth for a camera-friendly photo op and hope that their smiles will win us over. Of course there are serious issues to be addressed – be they war or the economy or the environment. And there are serious differences of opinion of just how those issues should be addressed. Rather than attempt to round up every race in our region, SunPost Weekly went straight to the races that will most affect our lives, from the statewide (Senate and Attorney General) to the regional (State Senate District 35), and we asked each candidate vying for the proverbial prize to answer the same three questions. Here’s what they all had to say for themselves.
N
What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I am the only major candidate who has not run as a Republican in the past. My consistent support of issues such as middle class tax cuts and a woman’s right to choose, as well as my steadfast opposition to privatizing Social Security, distinguish me from my opponents. Why did you decide to run anyway? I am running for public office to give Floridians the type of strong representation they deserve to turn our state’s economy around and create jobs. As a former skycap and Florida state trooper, I know what it means to work hard like regular Floridians who punch in and punch out every day. I’m the best candidate
KENDRICK MEEK
SENATE Democrat
KENDRICK MEEK (as dictated to press director Nathan Click) If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? My first priority is turning our economy around and creating jobs. I support cutting taxes for the middle class and rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of Americans and corporate special interests. I believe we must continue boosting small business loans, closing loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas, and providing targeted tax incentives for high-growth industries such as tourism and agriculture.
JEFF GREENE
because I understand the problems middle-class Floridians face.
JEFF GREENE If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? My first priority for Florida is to bring back and create jobs using a diverse set of bold policies designed to stimulate the economy, encourage hiring, facilitate small business growth and development, and strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit that has made this country great. In order to help small businesses, I will enact new, creative policies that provide incentives to businesses, particularly to start-ups, which will enable them to hire and train workers. I will support tax cuts for small businesses and expand lending
Page 10 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
through the Small Business Administration’s loan program. What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I understand the economy and know how to create jobs. I am the only successful businessman in the Senate race, and a proven job creator. I am an outsider, and won’t take a single penny of special interest money or let the corrupting influence of lobbyists sway my votes in the Senate. I’m the only candidate with a real plan to create long-lasting, private sector jobs from Pensacola to the Keys and all across Florida. I saw the housing crisis coming, and acted to protect my investments and the jobs I created. I took on Wall Street and the biggest banks in the country, and if I were in the Senate at the time, I would’ve been pounding my fist on the table demanding that the crisis not be allowed to spiral out of control while Washington stood by and did nothing.
County Commissioner I was able to forge much needed progress and change, with measurable results. This provided a better quality of life for Floridians during difficult times. I have been one of the most accessible public servants, taking pride in personal attention to my constituents.
Why did you decide to run anyway? Like so many Americans, I am fed up with career politicians who have played partisan games and focused on winning their next office rather than working on behalf of the people they are supposed to serve. I am running to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate because we must turn our economy around, create jobs, and deliver real results – politics as usual just won’t do. Frankly, I am running because of my 10 month old son Malcolm. I looked into his eyes and asked myself “Am I willing to put his future in the hands of these failures?”
DAN GELBER
MAURICE FERRE
MAURICE FERRE If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? When elected, I will fight for Florida’s fair share of federal funds which we are not getting now. Florida must no longer be one of only four super donor states, paying in more than we get back. When we correct this imbalance of funding, Florida’s economy can begin to improve and prosper. It’s all about JOBS and FAIRNESS. What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I bring to the race 25 years of clear public service with never a scandal or a serious accusation of public wrongdoing. In my 12 years as Mayor of Miami and 4 years as a
Why did you decide to run anyway? I feel it is imperative that we continue the Democratic agenda begun by President Obama when he took office in January 2009. That will require an experienced, hardworking, honest Senator who can bring together people with diverse backgrounds and ideologies. I am the candidate who can best represent all of Florida’s voters in November and at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
ATTORNEY GENERAL Democrat
If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? Consumer Protection. Recently the AG’s office was given expanded authority to go after these financial crooks that exploit unsuspecting investors. As Attorney General, I will create an Investment Fraud Unit whose purpose is to investigate and prosecute these criminals. The IFU will work with state and federal prosecutors, as well as the regional SEC office whose purpose is to regulate this type of misconduct. This will be one of my highest priorities. Mortgage Fraud. Bring greater integrity to the mort-
DAN GELBER
gage process is important. We need to educate potential homebuyers on the ways to prevent fraud before it happens. Further, too often we are attacking the last crime de jour rather than the next one. The Attorney General needs to make sure law enforcement is ahead of the bad guys – so as newer scams that crop up in reverse mortgages or loan consolidation are swiftly prosecuted. Depoliticizing the office and making it a marquee office rather than the political office it has become. I believe there is no reason why the AG office of Florida is not one of the greatest in the country. Florida, unfortunately, has the greatest criminal challenges of nearly any state. So it is up to the AG to provide the leadership and standards to make that office truly exceptional. Floridians deserve that in their lawyers.
What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? My experience and my willingness to stand up and not back down distinguishes me from others in this race. As a federal prosecutor in South Florida for nearly a decade I tried every type of case imaginable: I prosecuted drug cartels, violent street gangs, economic and environmental criminals, and corrupt public officials. I eventually served as a top deputy in the office and managed hundreds of lawyers and thousands of investigations. I also worked with local and state law enforcement and corrections on various initiatives. As a lawyer I have the highest rating a lawyer can achieve (by the Martindale Hubbell rating service) and am listed in most peer-review publications like Best Lawyers in America. In the mid-1990s, I was recruited by then U.S. Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia to serve as his Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations where I led a group of prosecutors, agents and local law enforcement in counter-terrorism investigations internationally and domestically. We also conducted studies and drafted legislation intended to give first responders the training and equipment they need to be better prepared for a terrorist attack. In the Florida Legislature I handled many of the criminal justice issues critical to an Attorney General. I authored Florida’s wiretap statute and wrote or had a hand in most of the counter-terrorism legislation passed in the wake of 9-11. I authored a rewrite of the adjudication withhold statute after the Miami Herald series revealing flaws in the
time at the Attorney General’s office where he was also running for political office has the depth of legal experience and skill set I present for this job.
DAVE ARONBERG
PAM BONDI
statute, and wrote numerous public corruption statutes including the Paul Mendelson Citizen’s Right to Honest Government Act. While I often found myself at odds with the Republican majority, on criminal justice issues I was able to work together as those should be properly viewed as nonpartisan issues. My time as a prosecutor uniquely prepared me to serve as Florida’s Attorney General. I tried the type of cases brought by the AG’s office and gained the experience of managing hundreds of lawyers and investigations. My service in the U.S. Senate gave me a background in domestic preparedness that will help me advance the goals of security. I don’t believe my opponent who spent a very brief
Why did you decide to run anyway? I believe as Attorney General I can bring real change to a state that is in desperate need of a new direction. Our state has gone terribly off course and we need leadership in Tallahassee that will look out for everyday Floridians. And we need an Attorney General who will be unafraid to take on those who prey on Floridians and aim to defraud hardworking families. I’m running because Floridians deserve to know someone has their back.
Why did you decide to run anyway? This is my passion. I used to be an Assistant Attorney General in the Economic Crimes Division under Bob Butterworth, when I started working for him, it was like a light bulb turned on and I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future. I wanted to be Attorney General. Subsequently, I got a White House Fellowship, and I worked at the White House for one year. I then ran for the state senate and have been serving now for the last eight years. Most of my legislation has been geared toward privacy, consumer protection, and public safety issues, which the Attorney General should make his priority. I knew one day that I would return to run for that office and that day is here.
DAVE ARONBERG
Republican
If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? The number one responsibility of the Florida Attorney General is to make people safe in their own lives. That means getting tough on “pill mills” that feed prescription drug addictions; reforming our sex offender laws so that released offenders are not placed under bridges and overpasses to live; and reprioritizing office resources to properly enforce our state’s new anti-gang laws. I will also focus on consumer protection. I’ve been focused on this subject for the past decade, from my time as an assistant attorney general in the economic crimes division to years as a State Senator, where I’ve had a consumer protection division within my office that has returned more than $4 million to people who have been ripped off. I will also make fighting
Medicaid fraud a priority, as $3 billion of our state’s $14 billion Medicaid budget is depleted by fraud. To add financial insult to injury, we are leaving federal dollars on the table when Florida fails to do its part to combat Medicaid fraud. What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I am different kind of AG candidate, as I am one of the very few candidates for Attorney General in the past 8 years who actually wants to be Attorney General. This is not a stepping stone or a fall-back position for me. I am saddened by how this once great office has been used for partisan political gamesmanship. I want to de-politicize the Office of Attorney General and return its focus to public safety and consumer protection.
PAM BONDI If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? First and foremost, I believe in the fundamental right of all citizens to be safe. After 18 years as a prosecutor, I have the experience necessary to protect Floridians from criminals, and the record to back it up. For nearly two decades, I have prosecuted and investigated almost every major category of crime from scam artists, gangs, pill mills and most recently I prosecuted a first-degree murder. My experience as a career prosecutor and as an advocate for countless victims of every crime imaginable has given me a unique perspective that Florida’s Attorney General should be our chief legal officer not our chief politician. This philosophy will serve as my road map in all actions I take on behalf of Floridians. Next, I believe in our Constitution and I will defend your freedoms. The federal government has not only dropped the ball on securing our borders, but is also unwilling to recognize any limits on its power, such as Obamacare. The federal healthcare law is unconstitutional, and as a veteran prosecutor I am the candidate in the race with the most experience and qualifications necessary to take on that fight and win. I also believe that your next attorney general should play an important role during this time of economic challenge, when Florida has over a million people out of work and our families and businesses are suffering. With a struggling economy, scam artists are out in full force. Mortgage fraud has grown nationally by nearly 400% in the last five years; Florida has received the dubious distinction of being #1 in home healthcare fraud in the nation; and millions and millions of dollars are being misused in our Medicaid system every year. As Attorney General, I will tirelessly defend Floridians from all types of fraud and bring accountability to those actively working to defraud and defund our state. As a member of Florida’s Cabinet, I would encourage conservative, time-tested and responsible investments of taxpayer dollars and retirement funds and be an advocate for less taxation and more responsible government spending. What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I believe that I am the most qualified candidate in the race because I have spent my entire career, nearly two
decades, prosecuting every imaginable crime in this state. For almost two decades as an Assistant State Attorney in Hillsborough County, I have prosecuted and investigated every major category of crime including crimes against children, the elderly, identity theft, homicides, robberies, burglaries, kidnapping, fraud, theft, gang related cases, DUI manslaughters, drug trafficking cases and domestic violence. I have never been a politician, or run for political office. My opponents are both career politicians, one of whom was a personal injury attorney at Morgan and Morgan and the other who is a part-time bond attorney and has never tried a case in a courtroom. In addition to my experience as a prosecutor, for the last decade I have helped manage and supervise the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office, which has 340 staff members, including 130 attorneys, and a multi-million budget. This experience has fully prepared me for the challenge of managing the Attorney Generals office. Fighting to put dangerous criminals behind bars and bring justice to victims isn’t a fleeting political interest to me, or a stepping-stone to my next political career. Instead, it has defined my career and given me the experience, insight and motivation necessary to be Florida’s “top cop.” Why did you decide to run anyway? I am running because as a career prosecutor and political outsider, I believe I am the most qualified candidate to serve as Florida’s next Attorney General. I think that the people of Florida deserve to have an Attorney General who will be a proactive and aggressive defender of the basic fundamental freedom to be safe from crime, and I have spent almost two decades as a Assistant State Prosecutor in one of the largest, most successful law enforcement agencies in the state doing just that. I would be honored to continue that job on a statewide level from the office of the Attorney General. I am running because I care deeply about our state and the people who live here and I will vigorously defend the rights and freedoms guaranteed to us all under our Constitution. President Obama’s federal healthcare law is one of the largest, most expensive and most expansive entitlement programs ever and it is my legal opinion that it violates our Constitution, sovereign rights and freedoms, and infringes on the rights of our state’s sovereignty, as guaranteed by the 10th Amendment of our Constitution. I strongly believe that we must never permit the federal government to expand their power in violation of the Constitution and I will do everything in my power to protect those rights. Your next attorney general will be the one to lead this important constitutional fight, and I have the legal and courtroom experience necessary to successfully defend the people of this state in a court of law. I have never run for office, and I am not a politician. I believe strongly that Florida’s Attorney General should be our chief legal officer not our chief politician. If I am elected, I will use my unique experience and insights as a career prosecutor to protect our Constitution, Florida’s families, consumers, businesses, environment and economy to the best of my ability.
Please See Page 12
www.sunpostweekly.com • SunPost Weekly • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Page 11
all criminals carry guns. I am a municipal bond lawyer. I understand financial markets. I am prepared to fight against the Ponzi schemes that have been perpetrated against our citizens and to combat mortgage fraud. I have fought rampant Medicaid fraud. I will continue to be a good steward of taxpayers’ money and a guardian of the state’s assets as a member of the Cabinet.
Primary Days From Page 11 JEFF KOTTKAMP What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I am the only candidate who has served in statewide elected office—-so I understand the challenges and needs of every region of Florida. As Lt. Governor I oversee the Office of Drug Control. This has given me the opportunity to work closely with law enforcement leaders all across Florida. As a member of the legislature I helped write and pass many of the laws that will be enforced by the next Attorney General including laws to keep repeat violent felons off the streets and behind bars. As an AV rated lawyer I have taken on the federal government in Court and won. That will be important experience when carrying on Florida’s legal challenge to Obamacare. I am the only candidate licensed to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court—-
JEFF KOTTKAMP
which is where the legal challenge will ultimately be decided. Why did you decide to run anyway? I have prepared my whole life to serve the citizens of Florida as Attorney General.
HOLLY BENSON If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? The first issue is jobs. I will use the power and resources of the office to be a catalyst for jobs creation. I will create a Regulatory Strike Force to identify unnecessary regulations that unduly burden Florida’s businesses and work to repeal them. We must cut through the red tape that is stifling Florida’s entrepreneurs and help empower them to rebuild our economy. I have reduced regulation and reduced fees. And no one will be more tenacious in insuring that families, businesses and beaches in Northwest Florida are fairly compensated by BP.
In addition, the next Attorney General will inherit the legal challenge of the Obama Health Care Plan, and the economic foundations of our country are at stake. I chaired Health Care in the House. I was head of the $18 billion agency that oversaw Medicaid in Florida. I understand the enormous problems inherent in government run health care. I am prepared to carry on that suit against this unconstitutional intrusion by the federal government that will represent a $1 billion unfunded mandate on our state. And I will win. Then we can tackle the challenge of meaningful health care reform. What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? The Attorney General heads an agency that will wield enormous impact on the most critical challenges confronting our state and our region: the need for good jobs, the court challenge of the Obama Health Care Plan and set-
Why did you decide to run anyway? When I launched this campaign, I vowed to use the power of the Attorney General’s office to improve our economy by reducing unnecessary regulation and by championing efforts to reform our tort system. In March, this race fundamentally changed with the passage of Federal health care reform, and now I am running to ensure that Florida pursues the lawsuit challenging health care reform and wins. My mission as Attorney General is simple: put the bad guys behind bars and the good guys back to work. I will: · ensure that laws have teeth so law enforcement can keep families safe · Launch a Strike Force to reduce unnecessary regulations · End frivolous lawsuits that cost all of us
HOLLY BENSON
tlement with BP. I have experience as head of two state agencies. I am the only candidate in the race who has led an organization as large as the Attorney General’s office. I served as Secretary of the Department of Business & Professional Regulation, the agency that regulates Florida businesses and professions. I understand government regulation. I chaired Health Care in the House and headed the Agency for Health Care Administration. I am the one candidate who understands complex health care policy. I know how to get things done in the legislative arena. I have: · Chaired the Florida House Health Care Council and oversaw sweeping Medicaid reform to insure access and contain health care costs · Led the successful reorganization of Florida’s court system · Eliminated excessive business regulations in Florida government and reduced fees on businesses · And, I am the only candidate in the race who voted for tort reform While the Attorney General is Florida’s Top Cop, not
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GWEN MARGOLIS
STATE SENATE 35
Why did you decide to run anyway? My decision to run is because five of the six Miami Dade senators will be leaving because of term limits or running for other positions leaving a void of experience in Miami Dade county. With my vast experience I feel that I can be extremely helpful to the people of Miami Dade and Broward counties.
KEVIN BURNS If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? Florida’s budget will have a projected 8 billion dollar shortfall, state spending priorities are out of control, we have a disaster in the gulf , Jobs are leaving and not coming back to Florida. These are the important issues that I will work on solving immediately. What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I have a refreshing people friendly approach to governing and have proven to be an innovative,experience leader. I will bring common sense and hands on solutions to Tallahassee to make our Government more accountable to the people.
KEVIN BURNS
I will bring new energy, enthusiasm, and real life experiences to work for the residents of our district.
Democrat
GWEN MARGOLIS If/When elected, what would be your first order of business? If/when elected I would file legislation that requires economic education as a requirement for graduation in the public schools. It is important that students acquire knowledge of financial matters to help them make responsible decisions in the future. What do you bring to the table that your opponent(s) doesn’t/don’t? I was former President of the Florida Senate and chaired the Miami Dade Commission for six years. These two leadership positions prepare me for any issue that affects all those in Miami Dade and Broward county that I intend to once again represent in Tallahassee.
Why did you decide to run anyway? I was encouraged to run for this open State Senate seat vacated by Senator Dan Gelber. I was very successful as the two term Mayor of North Miami. I have been Nationally recognized for many innovative programs and solutions to problems for the people of South Florida. I will bring to Tallahassee a problem solving attitude, I will work to end the partisan non-sense that has kept us from solving the important issues facing Florida.
Elect
BESS McELROY State Representative Democrat, District 109 VOTE 4th AUGUST 2 #64
BESS McELROY a longtime grassroots' activists runs for
State Representative, Democrat, District 109 McElroy says her academics, training and experience has prepared her for this leadership role and she looks forward to serving her constituents. For more info go to www.bmcelroy.net. Political Ad Paid for and Approved by Bess McElroy for State Representative, Democrat, District 109
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Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
MARIA GADU
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SAVE THE DATE:
August 19
MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2010
ART NWM Afterhours Head on over to Miami Art Museum after work, for NWM Afterhours, an evening of dance, music and art. Catch Walking Spell, an experimental performance directed by Ana Mendez. In the gallery, meet artists Kevin Arrow and Manny Prieres; Talking Head Transmitters live radio broadcast: Segment on contemporary dance and performance by Carlota Pradera with sound by Gustavo Matamoros; Lara Stein Pardo’s project, Mapping Miami, and LegalArt. 6-9pm. $15. MAM, 101 W Flagler St; Miami. For info: miamiartmuseum.org or 305.375.1704.
August 19 COMEDY Loni Love Just how funny is comedian and actress Loni Love? Ask both Variety and Comedy Central, both of which have named her among their Top 10 Comics to Watch, or Campus Activity magazine, which honored her as its Hot Comic for 2009. Love is not only one of the most hilarious and lovable comics performing stand-up on the comedy club and college circuits but also a busy TV host, guest and actress who has also appeared in films and dramatic plays. Love will play Miami for 4 nights this weekend. 8:30pm. $17. Improv, 3390 Mary St, Coconut Grove. For info: improv.com
CARL HIAASEN HANG WITH MIAMI AUTHOR, CARL HIAASEN WHEN HE DOES AN AUTHOR READING AND BOOK SIGNING AT FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN. STAR ISLAND, HIAASEN'S LATEST THRILLER, IS A SATIRE ON CELEBRITY CULTURE. AN ACTRESS SECRETLY STANDS IN FOR A DERAILED POP STAR AND FINDS HERSELF STALKED ON SOUTH BEACH BY A CRAZED PAPARAZZO – AND BEFRIENDED BY AN UNHINGED HERMIT WHO WAS ONCE THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA. WINE AND CHEESE 7PM. READING AT 8PM. TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT. $15. OR TICKETS ARE FREE WITH PURCHASE OF STAR ISLAND AT BOOKS & BOOKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN, 10901 OLD CUTLER RD., CORAL GABLES. FOR INFO: BOOKSANDBOOKS.COM
August 19 MUSIC Maroon 5
August 20
Multi-platinum recording artists, Maroon 5 will hit town this Thursday as part of their Hands All Over Tour. Their new album Hands All Over will be released on September 9. Opening is Kris Allen and V.V. Brown. $35-$69.50. Bayfront Park Amphitheater, 301 N Biscayne Blvd, Miami. For info: livenation.com
August 19 FOOD Sabor Latino Catch an exclusive cooking demonstration by renowned local chefs Michelle Bernstein and Douglas Rodriguez. The evening is kicked off with cocktails at 8pm. Cooking Demo begins at 8:45pm. Live Performance by Liset Alea. 4141 Building, 4141 NE 2nd Ave. Miami. RSVP@YourVitaminC.com.
August 20 MUSIC Rose Max Catch the sounds of Brazilian bombshell Rose Max when she hits Van Dyke this weekend with Ramatis. Hot and soulful Brazilian melodies, electronic rhythms and a mix of bossa nova and samba. 9pm. Van Dyke Cafe, 846 Lincoln Rd; Miami Beach. For info: thevandykecafe.com
LEFT: SHAMELESS BURLESQUE. ABOVE: NWM AFTERHOURS. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST. PHOTO BY FREDERICO NESSI. RIGHT: HUMAN RITES AT THE BASS MUSEUM.
BOOKS Jill Zarin In what could be thought of as the Jewish Mother’s Guide to Life, Jill Zarin, the breakout star of Bravo’s hit series, The Real Housewives of New York, teams up with her sister, Lisa Wexler, award-winning host of daily radio program The Lisa Wexler Show, and her mother, the estimable Gloria Kamen who made a splash on Jill’s series last year. Secrets of a Jewish Mother shows readers that being clear about what you want is the best policy, and standing up for yourself and your family is always the right way to go. Using real life examples, stories from Jill, Lisa and Gloria, this mother/daughter trio reveals their secrets to life, love, and happiness. Zarin et al will read and sign books this Friday at 6pm. Free with book purchase. Books and Books, 265 Aragon Ave; Coral Gables. For info: Booksandbooks.com
August 20 COMEDY Demetri Martin Funnyman Demetri Martin will hit town for a one-night only show at the Fillmore. Former writer for Conan O’brien and The Daily Show, Martin’s style is acerbic, relaxed observational humor. He will make that apparent with his Joke Seminar complete with graphs, charts and props. 8pm. $33.75. The Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave; Miami Beach. For info: livenation.com
August 21 MUSIC Maria Gadu The Award ceremony for the best films of 2010 of the Brazilian Film Fest will culminate with a live performance from Brazilian singer Maria Gadu. Hosted by actresses Camila Morgado and Natalia Lage. 7pm. Lincoln Theatre, 541 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. For info: brazilianfilmfestival.com
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Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
LONI LOVE
August 21
August 22
ART Wine, Wander, Wonder
THEATRE Fifty Words
Spend an art-filled Saturday afternoon at the Bass Museum for Select Saturdays a day of artists’ talks, tours and wine tastings. Take a tour of the Human Rites exhibition with Executive Director Silvia Karman Cubiñá. 3-5pm. $8. Bass Museum, 2121 park Ave, Miami Beach. For info: bassmuseum.org
Currently on at the Gables Stage is Fifty Words, directed by Joe Adler. When their young son has his first sleepover, Adam and Jan are allowed the first night alone together in their Brooklyn brownstone in years. Will they renew a vital spark that's been nearly smothered - or will the night provide the moment when provisional civility explodes into fiery chaos? An expansive look at modern marriage that is alternately funny and frightening. $37.50-$42.50. 7pm. Gables Stage, 1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables. For info: 305-4451119 or gablestage.org.
August 21 MUSIC Interpol Catch New York music legends, Interpol when they hit Miami for a night of righteous, melodic-rock. Opening is Twin Tigers. Don’t miss the after party at Churchills with the Holy Terrors. 8:30pm. $33. The Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave; Miami Beach. For info: livenation.com, churchillspub.com
August 24 ART Me As We, We As Me
August 21 CLUB Elvis Burlesque Backdoor Bambi strikes again! Shameless Burlesque, those fabulous real queens of Miami striptease, will join together with Elvis impersonator Randy Walker to pay homage to Elvis Presley. Not to be missed. 10pm. Complimentary Belvedere Vodka cocktails. The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St; Miami. For info: thevagabondmiami.com
August 22 MUSIC Gyptian Reggae dancehall prince, Gyptian hits town on Sunday to perform his magic at Mansion during Striptease Sundays. He has taken the airwaves by storm with his popular new hit Hold You that has become the anthem of summer. DJ Affect spins. 11pm. $20 cover. Mansion, 1235 Washington Ave; Miami Beach. For info: mansionmiami.com Page 16 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
ABOVE: JILL ZARIN. MIDDLE: NANCY FRIEDEMANN, ON THE MARGINS OF A PORTRAIT. LEFT: DEMETRI MARTIN
Last few weeks to see the work of artists Nancy Friedemann and Jill Cannady at the Bernice Steinbaum Gallery. The two artists deal in femininity in their work. Friedemann paints lace details on black backgrounds with stunning splashes of color in the flowers and birds that adorn her canvases. Cannady focuses on the relationship of people and animals in her series of drawings and encaustic paintings. Through Sept. 3. Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, 3550 N Miami Ave, Miami. For info: 305-573-2700 or bernicesteinbaumgallery.com.
FOR KIDS Saturday, August 28 Silly Bandz Trading Party THE NEWEST FAD FOR KIDS SWEEPING THE NATION ARE SILLYBANDZ. THEY ARE RUBBERIZED BRACELETS IN ALL SORTS OF COOL SHAPES, THEMES AND COLORS. ANYTHING FROM TRUCKS TO LIONS AND PRINCESSES TO FISH, YOUR KID PROBABLY WANTS THEM ALL. BLOOMIES IS HAVING A TRADE YOUR SILLBANDZ SOIREE IN THE AVENTURA STORE NEXT SATURDAY, SO TAKE THE KIDS TO TRADE THE COOLEST SILLYBANDZ AROUND! THEY MIGHT EVEN MAKE SOME NEW FRIENDS TO HANG OUT WITH AFTER SCHOOL. 2PM5PM. FREE. BLOOMINGDALES, 19555 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, AVENTURA. FOR INFO: BLOOMINGDALES.COM OR 305-792-1000.
TRUSTED
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JULIA ROBERTS IN EAT, PRAY, LOVE
Cinema REVIEW
Masculin/Féminin By Ruben Rosario (ruben@sunpostweekly.com) Men and women get on each other’s nerves. It’s a well-known fact that has inspired countless filmmakers, but few have been able to capture the testy nature of male-female relationships as truthfully as French triple threat Agnès Jaoui. The director, co-writer and star of the sharply observant comedy Let It Rain, one of three new films I’m reviewing this week, uses her ruthless wit to explore how when it comes to the gender divide, everyone’s a little bit sexist. Jaoui plays Agathe Villanova, a feminist writer and politician who is visiting her childhood home in the south of France, emasculated boyfriend in tow, to help her high-strung, unhappily married sister sort out their mother’s affairs, as well as to run for local office. She agrees to be the subject of a TV documentary about “successful women” being made by Karim (Amélie’s Jamel Debbouze), the son of her
LET IT RAIN
family’s Algerian housekeeper, in collaboration with self-professed “reporter” Michel Ronsard (JeanPierre Bacri, Jaoui’s screenwriting partner in crime), a producer whose claim to fame is a bullfighting exposé told from the bull’s perspective. It doesn’t take long for Agathe to realize the bumbling documentarians have no clue as to what they’re doing. Their incompetence is nothing less than awe-inspiring, and it provides the film’s biggest laughs. (Karim’s sample interview question: “Besides wielding power, what good is politics?”) And that’s the beauty of this briskly paced gem: Its even-
handed insights into the preconceptions and prejudices between the sexes never dampen its sprightly spirit. Jaoui, a 2001 Oscar nominee for her sly comedy of manners The Taste of Others, is a fine director of actors, and she brings out the best in her cast. She demonstrates that body language is just as crucial to a scene as a cutting line of dialogue, and in the process creates some personable, finely etched characters with whom I did not wish to part. I can’t quite muster the same level of enthusiasm for the journey of self-discovery Julia Roberts undergoes in the movie version of Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert’s wildly popular chick-lit memoir that chronicles the year the author spent traveling the world following a painful divorce. Director Ryan Murphy’s weakness for turning real life into a slickly packaged sitcom is on full display here. (Murphy, the creator of Nip/Tuck and Glee, also adapted Augusten Burroughs’s Running with Scissors for the screen). The film, however, still serves up its fair share of sensual pleasures. We first meet Gilbert, a travel writer and novelist, as she travels to Bali to meet a shaman who, in her words, “looks a little like Yoda.” The nearly toothless “medicine man” looks at her palm and predicts big changes in her love life. Sure enough, her marriage crumbles, and after a brief affair with a young stage actor she dubs “the yogi from Yonkers” (James Franco), she decides to embark on her picturesque quest for meaning. By far the film’s most effective section follows Gilbert as she takes in Rome’s bohemian ambiance and peerless cuisine. Spaghetti and pizza have rarely looked this appetizing (kudos to Kill Bill cinematographer Robert Richardson). Make no mistake: East Pray Love is gastronomic porn of the highest order. Once Gilbert arrives in India to stay at an ashram, the film concerns itself more with the peo-
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ple she meets there, including a young woman struggling to come to terms with her arranged marriage and a larger-than-life Texan (The Visitor’s Richard Jenkins) fighting some jumbo-sized demons. It’s Gilbert’s own enlightenment that stays just out of Murphy’s grasp. He’s clearly in thrall of Roberts, often bathing her in a golden light, but by the time she winds up back in Bali and starts dating a Brazilian businessman (Javier Bardem, swoon-worthy), I still couldn’t get a sense of what makes Gilbert tick, or how this trip changed her worldview. Then there’s the ending, which feels so cheaply formulaic that it trivializes the rest of the film. I found my goodwill eroding quickly. There’s no shortage of empathy in the latest from American Splendor filmmaking duo Robert Pulcini and Sharon Springer Berman. Adapted from Jonathan Ames’s novel, The Extra Man is a valentine to New York-based eccentrics, urban dwellers who have been marginalized from society mostly because they’re so damn weird. Ditto the movie, which coasts along thanks to an overqualified cast and the directors’ gently perceptive eye. Paul Dano stars as Louis Ives, an introverted New Jersey prep school teacher who fancies himself an F. Scott Fitzgerald leading man. The Gatsby wannabe has a thing for women’s undergarments, and when he sees his superior’s bra lying around, he…just…can’t…help…himself. Ives takes the downsizing of his position as a chance to pursue his writing career in the Big Apple, and his search for a roommate leads him to the Upper East Side apartment of Henry Harrison, a washed-up playwright who ekes out a living escorting high society women of
a certain age. Played by Kevin Kline as a contemporary male version of Auntie Mame, Harrison takes the aspiring novelist under his wing and schools him in the art of being an “extra man.” No, not extra, bellows Harrison, but “essential.” Soon they start sneaking into the opera, dining with aging socialites and hanging out with their downstairs neighbor, a subway operator with a gruff demeanor and a chipmunk’s voice (John C. Reilly…dial it down, buddy). The film’s slightness is both its greatest asset and biggest shortcoming. I kept thinking how Local Hero director Bill Forsyth would really make this material work if he were still making movies. The affection Pulcini and Springer Berman feel towards these characters is palpable in every frame of this labor of love, but they hammer the preciousness too hard, and as result, The Extra Man’s brand of whimsy annoys as often as it charms. The Extra Man is now playing at Sunrise Cinemas Intracoastal Mall; for more information go to sunrisecinemas.com. Let It Rain screens this weekend only at the Bill Cosford Cinema; for more information go to cosfordcinema.com. Eat Pray Love is currently in wide release. I wouldn’t see it on an empty stomach. THE EXTRA MAN
Bound COLUMN
Before Mega-Parks Stalked the Earth Gary Monroe Takes Us Back to Silver Springs By John Hood
Once upon another time, in a very different Florida, long before the age of in-your-face entertainment and the era of mass market wow, there existed a place unlike any other on earth. It was a sacred place, fed by a “life-giving stream” and flowing with “magical waters.” And for thousands of years the region’s inhabitants took solace in its beautiful mysteries. Then the White Man came. He too was taken aback by the natural wonders of the place and he wasted no time in spreading the word. Before long specially-designed steamers and swamp-ready stage coaches were bringing well-heeled visitors in to bask in all its verdant glory. And the place became known as one of the earliest destination spots among a certain set of Gilded Americans. With the advent of the automobile things really started kicking. At once an entire nation became mobile, and in their increasing restlessness they chose to make their way to a place that was as idyll as it was ideal. No wham bam, thank you, mam, for this crowd. They sought peace, and they sought majesty, and they wanted a heaven right here on earth. And they found it in Silver Springs. In 1924 Carl Ray and “Shorty” Davidson took over Florida’s precious waters and built it into one of the state’s most fabled attractions. Tarzan was filmed there (and many a monkey was released on to the grounds as a result), as were the three installments of The Creature from the Black Lagoon and the classic The Yearling. The Springs even doubled for the Everglades in the 1951 Seminole War adventure Distant Guns, starring Gary Cooper. And every single visitor who made their way on to one of the charming and infamous glass bottom boats brought along a camera of their own; and then they brought home images that would last a lifetime. But no one did as much for Silver Springs as Bruce Mozert, photographer in residence for nearly 45 years. It was Mozert who invented the world’s first
underwater camera, and it was at Silver Springs where he would put his invention to renowned use. Gary Monroe’s Silver Springs (University Press of Florida $29.95) captures all the magic that Mozert captured during his long tenure, and throws in its robust history to boot. From De Soto’s 1539 passing to the time when Disney World made the sacred place seem almost obsolete, Monroe covers it all, with a chronicle as wondrous as the Springs themselves. Take a look; then take a deep breath and dive right in. And you too can experience the wonder of Florida as it once was.
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The 411
Bibi, Tara Solomon, Miguel Paredes, Nick D'Annunzio and Michael D'Annunzio
Isabella and Joyce Paredes
Idris Alba at Play
COLUMN
Pins, Whistles and a Bloody Good Time By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore maryjoshore@sunpostweekly.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCKY STRIKE!
Commissioner Michael Gongora and Friends
Miguel Paredes signing his artwork
One of the advantages of the slow summer months is that we get to enjoy local spots and events that often get overlooked during the busy social season. Take Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary last Thursday. While South Beach is not typically hailed as a bowling destination, Lucky Strike has been attracting locals and celebs for half a decade, thanks to its cool vibe, great music, delicious food and excellent service. Last Thursday’s party was a combination of all of the above, where more than 250 guests were treated to a ‘50s pinup-themed party, which featured a photo booth, temporary tattoos by Ocho Placas, and old school tunes by DJ Di Marco spun old school tunes, and of course, bowling. The servers, made-up to resemble the likes of Bettie Page compliments of Miller’s Hair Studio, served up signature dishes including mac and cheese bites, bacon wrapped scallops, key west skewers, and pizza. Guests also enjoyed a a mini burger buffet and over-sized birthday cake, along with 1950s-inspired cocktails by Sailor Jerry, Jim Beam Red Stag and Crystal Head Vodka. Guys and dolls created their own sliders with a mini-burger buffet and enjoyed passed appetizers of Lucky Strike signatures including The evening benefitted the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital with a silent auction that included custom-painted bowling pins designed by Ocho Placas, Ice-Watch timepieces; skincare products by SLEEKSKin; South Florida Boxing memberships; fragrances and apparel by True Religion and Ed Hardy; Miami International Wine Fair tickets; art classes at Art Center/South Florida; hotels and restaurant gift certificates and more.
Maria Arellano and Mykel Stevens
Page 20 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
GARDEN OF ESVEDRA MASQUERADE BALL FOR FALLING WHISTLES Last Friday, Prime 112 restaurateur Nelson Fox, opened up his waterfront manse for Esvedra furniture sculptor, Metis Tarta-Steck’s masquerade gala in celebration of her newest line, with proceeds of all sales going to Falling Whistles: A Campaign for Peace in the Congo. Fox’s home was transformed into Casa Esvedra, a pop-up gallery showcasing Steck’s gorgeous pieces, all of which were for sale. More than 700 guests wandered through the home, enjoying the sounds of a violin and cello, performing classical renditions of pop favorites, hors d’oeuvres, compliments of Segafredo, Zacapa Rum cocktails, and cotton candy for that small hint of “sweet” on a hot summer night. The Falling Whistles Campaign aims to cease the world’s largest and gravest war in the Congo. As an active contributor to this noblest of causes, Metis debuted an exclusive Swarovski embellished table for the organization during the ball. To donate to Falling Whistles, visit: fallingwhistles.com.
DEXTER’S KILLER RELEASE PARTY Gearing up for its fifth season, the cast from the Showtime sensational hit series Dexter celebrated the fourth season Blu-ray and DVD release at The National Hotel Miami Beach on Saturday. Based in Miami, the Emmy-nominated show was celebrated with a sizzling South Beach party featuring models wrapped in cellophane and police tape, a dead guy (o.k. really a cute model-pretty good gig, huh?) floating in the pool, themed cocktails and lots of props, including four cabanas depicting gory crime scenes. Cast mates, David Zayas, Lauren Velez and C.S. Lee were terrific hosts, posing for photos, mingling with
David Zayas, Lauren Velez, CS Lee at Dexter DVD Release Party
Lauren Velez and David Zayas
Dexter DVD Release Party
Lauren Velez hanging with the DJ
guests and dancing to music by DJ Jason Vernau. Unfortunately, Michael C. Hall, who plays Dexter, the serial killer who kills serial killers- making the practice almost acceptable-was unable to attend. David Zayas, better known as the “macho” Detective Angel Batista, who was a cop for 15 years, was extremely outgoing, especially with the female guests at the party. After lots of tequila, delicious munchies and dancing, Zayas, Velez and Lee went for a late-night bite at STK Miami.
CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS: On Thursday night, Kathy Griffin from Bravo’s Life on the D List, dined at Zuma with Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Actor Idris Elba, (recently known for his role as Michael Scott’s hunky supervisor on The Office), hosted a party at Play Nightclub on Friday night. He will be appearing in the movie The Takers, a 2010 release touted as a crime action and thriller film also starring Matt Dillon. Porschla Coleman celebrated her engagement to NBA Basketball star Jason Kidd, of the Dallas Mavericks, on Saturday at Louis Bar. The happy couple toasted with champagne alongside Front Management’s Auggie Lasseter . Fellow NBA Stars, LeBron James and Chris Bosh were spotted dining at Red, The Steakhouse in the front VIP room. Eric Milon and Joey Goldman celebrated their birthdays at SET on Friday with a huge bash. Many local socialites, including Tony Schectman and Larry Schwartz turned up for the party. Miami publicist turned author Buck Winthrop, who is summering in the Hamptons, mingled with Sex and The City’s Candace Bushnell, Jay McInerney, and Barbara Walters at Author’s Night, a benefit for the East Hampton Library chaired by actor Alec Baldwin last Saturday. Winthrop‘s debut novel Delusions of Grandeur is being launched on Kindle and in 12 countries including France, Germany and Japan on September 9th.
Moet event at Nikki Beach
Dexter DVD Release Party
Casa Esvedra Gala
www.sunpostweekly.com • SunPost Weekly • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Page 21
411
Lucky Strike Turns 5
Photography by: Nefarious Girl
Alexis Knapp and Dana Rhoden of Treskoi PR
Happy Anniversary Lucky Strike!
John Vale of Ocho Placas with Custom Pins
Thierry Norton, Jill Weisberg and Dejha Carrington
Megan Harris of Plum TV
Rolando Robinson, Alex Castro, Melody Amezquita and Shannon Dawn
Page 22 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
Silvana Ordonez and Daniela Canelon
Have your cake and eat it too!
GO! UPCOMING SOCIAL EVENTS
Cool Cocktails By Maryanne Salvat and Mary Jo Almeida Shore maryannsalvat@aol.com
SUSHI 101 Miami Beachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite multi-cultural restaurant, SUSHISAMBA dromo, is offering Floridians and visitors alike an opportunity to sample sake and learn special culinary techniques from the sushi and sake experts of SUSHISAMBA dromo. The class will be offered bi-monthly and will be conducted under the leadership of SUSHISAMBA dromoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beverage director, Mackenzie Parks. Sushi & Sake classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. The two-hour class offers an educational experience, which includes five flights of sake and a sushi sampler platter for the reasonable price of $75 per person (tax and gratuity not included). Classes will begin August 11, 2010. To reserve a space for one of the upcoming classes or to learn more, call SUSHISAMBA dromo at 305.673.5337.
DANCE FOR BEST BUDDIES On Friday, August 20, head to Arthur Murray Studio from 4 to 5 p.m. to learn some sizzling summer moves and help Best Buddies. Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Arthur Murray Studio is located at 1060 Brickell Avenue. To RSVP contact: yailen@zakarinpr.com.
BARTENDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHALLENGE Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is pleased to announce the first Bartender Challenge kicking off this August and hitting Miami on Monday, August 23rd. The Appleton Estate Rum 2010 Remixology Bartenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Challenge is designed for passionate bartenders committed to perfecting classic and new cocktail creations. Participants must currently be bartenders at a bar or restaurant in Miami. Judges include Willy Shine, Contemporary Cocktails and John Lermayer, Mixologist, Florida Room. The remixing runs from 5 to 9 p.m at Viceroy Miami. For more information on Appleton Estate Rumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bartenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Challenge, visit appletonreservemixologychallenge.com.
LEADING LADIES The Leading Ladies League will be hosting a charity cocktail party at the Miami Institute for Age Management & Intervention (Four Seasons Hotel & Tower), on Wednesday, August 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. to benefit The Melanie Finley Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Guests will enjoy light bites, cocktails, music, artwork, and cosmetic treatments. For more information, visit miami-institute.com.
SOCIAL MIAMI AND SEGAFREDO TURN 10! Join Social Miami, on Friday, August 27, as it celebrates its ten year anniversary at Epicure, with a grand fĂŞte featuring gourmet food and cocktails. Music and entertainment will be provided by Rudy Perez. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. at Epicure Sunny Isles Beach, 17190 Collins Avenue. On Sunday, August 29th, Segafredo on Lincoln Road, also referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Originale,â&#x20AC;? will be celebrating its 10th year in business as the first Segafredo branch to open in Florida. As usual, this Miami favorite will be serving delicious meals and amazing beverages, but for their anniversary celebration they are going all out with a block party, where DJs Mr. V. and Miss Patty will be spinning their best tunes for all to hear. The festivities begin at 5 p.m.
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www.sunpostweekly.com â&#x20AC;˘ SunPost Weekly â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, August 19, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 23
Sex COLUMN
Everyday Adultery By Dr. Sonjia Kenya
Sonjia@drsonjia.com Is anyone faithful anymore? If you answered yes, you’re one of the few Miamians in an elite group for which very few qualify. I asked adults from Aventura to Sobe, “Have you ever cheated?” and every single person admitted to at least one illicit affair yet simultaneously expressed their belief in monogamy. Isn’t morality ironic? It was an interesting week to ask strangers about their sexy secrets. I had wisdom teeth pulled which made me look like a chipmunk, talk like a Neanderthal, and thanks to pain-relieving narcotics, feel fearless as I stumbled around inquiring about love lives. Most initially shuddered when I asked if they were into cheating, revealing an obvious fear that I, in my swollen, staggering state, might be soliciting services. However, as soon my slurred speech conveyed that I was conducting very important social research which would not obligate them to sex me up; people were quite open to discussing their cheating past. I don’t know if it was my drugged daze, but I interpreted everything as ironic while writing this article. Like how open people were about their extra-relational affairs. Aren’t those types of rendezvous’ supposed to be private? Or maybe times are changing. Who hasn’t heard radio ads for Ashley Madison, whose slogan is, “Life is short, have an affair.” With Lawman by my side and vicodin in my veins, I registered on the Ashley Madison website and was giggling within two minutes, as I viewed hundred of profiles of attached men looking for discreet sex with strangers. Now I’m not advocating for people to take advantage of the free registration process, but if you suspect your special someone is on the prowl and silly enough to post their picture on a public website, check out Ashleymadison.com to see if you recognize a familiar face. Again with the irony. My sore gums and stitches dissolved any hopes of consuming solid food or socializing anywhere that required getting dressed or smiling bright. So, quite uncharacteristically, all respondents who answered this week’s question were found at establishments serving soup and smoothies rather than wine and appetizers. My exciting weekend began at Go Go’s in Sobe. The only other person spending their Friday night in a strip mall café next to a laundromat was a tall man wearing slacks and a tie. I asked if he had ever cheated. But my pronunciation was poor from swollen jaws, so I had to repeat myself a zillion times before he comprehended. After his initial fear, and then pity as he figured a way to
reject such a poor, distorted lady, I showed him a copy of the Sun Post and with much effort, explained my purpose. He relaxed, laughed, and revealed he was currently engaged to a woman, with whom he cheated on his ex-fiancé. “I tried to break up with my former fiancé several times but she wouldn’t let me. “ How did she force you to stay with her? “About six months before I cheated on her, I moved out of my house to give her time to move out. I waited but she wouldn’t move and kept calling my Mother, crying, begging for me to come home. I eventually came home but slept on the couch. We were like roommates. I then met a woman who I wanted to pursue. I told this to my then fiancé but she wouldn’t let go. The woman I wanted was not going to wait so there was a very short period of time when I was with my new woman while breaking up with my ex. Given the circumstances, I’m not sure you could call this cheating.” Do you believe in monogamy? “Yes. I’m engaged to the woman I cheated with and will love her for the rest of my life.” No irony there, right? Later that night, Lawman proved his love by taking my lopsided self out in public for a big bowl of Sopa di Tortilla at Tacontento on Lincoln road. We sat at the bar and after my failed attempts to annunciate, Lawman kindly stepped in to ask the bartender and two men sitting to my right, “Have you ever cheated?” “Not emotionally,” said the good looking bartender in his mid-thirties. “Yes, how many times?” chuckled the gay artist in his early thirties. The third man just flashed a guilty smile and excused himself to the restroom. I mumbled, “Monogamy,” to Lawman, and like a professional translator, he asked, “Do you believe in monogamy?” The bartender nodded but before he could speak, the artist exclaimed, “Absolutely! Monogamy is important. There was one relationship where I cheated and no one ever found out about it. Later, he cheated on me but I found out about it immediately. Honey I cried, got so mad, and we broke up over it. I was screaming, “I can’t believe you cheated on me!” If you cheat, you can’t let anyone find out about it or people get hurt.” Quite ironic advice from someone endorsing monogamy. “Why do you cheat?” was the next question I asked Lawman to voice. Quickly, the artist responded, “Because there’s an opportunity and no one will know.” The bartender nodded his head and agreed, “Yes. That’s
Page 24 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
right. It’s that simple. Opportunity and a situation where no one will know.” Unfortunately most men responded in a depressingly similar fashion, exploiting the same rationale for cheating. The only exception occurred while I was in Aventura devouring the chicken noodle soup at PF Chang’s. A man in his late 40’s sat next to us at the bar with a woman who he has been monogamous with for eight years. Ironically, they began their relationship while she was married. He said, “I think people cheat when someone who feels bad and unappreciated meets someone who makes them feel good and worthy. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and no one wants to feel taken for granted. Feeling unappreciated and taken for granted is a recipe for cheating.” Although stated by a man, this sentiment pretty much covered the reasons females provided to justify their cheating. Earlier, a 36-year old wife confessed over a smoothie at Athens Juice bar in North Beach, “I cheated because I needed to feel desired and wanted. It was like my husband didn’t even want to have sex me and he was being such an unappreciative jerk. I knew I’d feel better if I cheated and then could try to fix things with my husband. Or else it was divorce.” Her friend, a 39 year-old woman married to a music executive said, “Absence does not always make the heart grow fonder. If he wants to travel everywhere and not invite me, that’s fine. I am all alone and someone will appreciate me, if he doesn’t want to.” The guys making the smoothies got excited about the possibilities and started flirting with the ladies. It was almost like a real bar by the time we left. The next day I woke with a face so swollen, I could barely open my eyes. After Lawman and my neighbors nicknamed me ‘Precious’, I was confined to a strict diet of ice bags, ibuprofen, and vicodin. Even in my saucy state of mind, it was clear that everyone in Miami has cheated. But just to be on the safe side, I asked Lawman to query a few people while he was in midtown at the Lost and Found Saloon picking up the enchilada soup I was craving. He called from the restaurant, “Yes, love. You are right. The three ladies here all report cheating. I think you’ve done enough research. You’re not going to find a Miamian who hasn’t cheated. “ When Lawman returned with my soup, I showed my gratitude by engaging him in a discussion about sexually transmitted diseases acquired through illicit affairs. To demonstrate my point, I whipped out an article from a very reputable gossip magazine suggesting Dwayne Wade’s wife contracted Chlamydia from a lover and then transmitted the disease to the Miami Heat star. The next obvious question was: Did his actress girlfriend, Gabriel Union, also get Chlamydia? Of course I treated the story as if published in a scientific journal. Indisputable facts of a case study demonstrating that infidelity can foster a whole disease-spreading network. That’s how HIV got so popular. Infidelityfacts.com reports that 41% of married people have cheated on their spouse. The site doesn’t explain how their data is collected so there’s no way to estimate accuracy, but many of their claims are eye-
opening. Regarding infidelity, 57% of men and 54% of women report cheating on their partner. A scary 17% admit to having a relationship with their brother or sister-in-law and 36% claims to cheat while on business trips. About 74% of men and 68% of women said they would have an affair if they knew they wouldn’t get caught. How would you feel if your spouse participated in that study? After discussing the health consequences of infidelity with Lawman, we contemplated the reasons motivating men and women to cheat. Theoretically, men cheat because their ego is nourished by having more sex. Whether it’s the biological drive to keep the species going, the need to conquer, or urge to spread seeds, all theories underscore one basic equation: having more sex signifies more masculinity. Unlike men, most assume an emotional connection draws women into affairs. But a recent study published in Personality and Individual Differences suggests that evolution has changed the biological sex drive of today’s modern lady. A study of 827 women found that after the mid-20s, biology attempts to compensate for declining fertility by driving females to create more opportunities for pregnancy by having more sex. It’s easier for younger women to get pregnant so biology doesn’t push them to spend as much time on sex. In contrast, ladies from 27 through 45 report more sex, are more willing to have casual sex and also described stronger, more frequent sexual fantasies. Other factors, like marital and parental status were examined, but age was the only variable strongly associated with women’s’ sex behaviors. Turns out men may not be the only ones biologically programmed to cheat with a young hottie. As aging women want more sex, aging men need more supplements like Viagra just to stay in the game. Perhaps evolution has transformed older women into a new species of sexual beings. Instead of aging gracefully like grandmothers who take up knitting, researchers claim that women are becoming more like wild animals hunting for passion as they get older. I know the concept sounds pretty ironic, but has anyone heard of a cougar?
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www.sunpostweekly.com • SunPost Weekly • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Page 25
Your grandmother had an extensive vintage handbag collection. If you were to design a handbag for her what would it look like? LB: It would be close to the Odessa, which is extremely refined, and features a classic doctor’s bag silhouette. There were so many facets to my grandmother, Maria. One handbag would not be able to truly define her style or character. She always had a great balance in her accessories. Her bags were always sophisticated, playful yet very practical.
Style INTERVIEW
Reinventing the Classics An Interview with Laura Buccellati By Jennifer Fragoso (jennifer@sunpostweekly.com) aura Buccellati, granddaughter of famed Italian jeweler Mario Buccelatti, found a way to marry her inherited design talents with her passion by creating a handbag line that melds old world craftsmanship with contemporary touches. Her Signature Collection, launched in 2009, featured a full representation of classic shapes and silhouettes in exotic skins. Her latest collection for Fall/Winter is an extension of her first collection with some functional additions. From admiring her grandmother Maria’s purse collection to receiving her first at age six Laura has identified tremendously with the idea that a bag is not merely an accessory but an extension of who you are. Read on to find out what Laura has to say about her process, her family and what’s coming this spring.
L
Jennifer Fragoso: How did you approach designing the Fall/Winter Collection versus your first Signature Collection? Laura Buccellati: I wanted to create a collection of handbags that were larger and more practical for everyday. My Signature Collection features handbags including clutches, a mini-version of a doctor’s bag and totes. These carryalls can be used everyday. However, with the Fall/Winter Collection, I’ve added several shoulder bags, some wider totes and “shoppers”, which have a spacious interior - ideal for daytime and travel. From the chain link straps, sculptural closures, scarves and high quality finishes you seem to have thought of everything. How does the design process work for you? Do you see the bag first then the details or do you come up with the shape based on the hardware or skin you have selected? LB: The design process works both ways for me. I am inspired by shape and skin. For instance, the Cleo is an extremely sleek and small clutch, which I paired with lizard, the ideal skin for a smaller silhouette. Another example is Gwen in python. This “shopper” is a wider version of a tote and with a larger silhouette it is ideal to incorporate a skin that will instantly attract the eye such as python. You say you can recall the first bag you ever received. Can you remember what you put in it and where you first wore it? LB: Yes, I was six. It was a handbag presented to me by my father. The bag was rectangular, plain leather, light beige and it featured my initials hot-stamped on it. I can remember filling it with mints, change and sparkly lip-gloss. I was so impressed by this bag that even today the hardware on my bags features my initials.
LAURA BUCCELLATI
Who is the Laura Buccellati Collection for? LB: This collection is definitely for the woman on the go who needs a carryall that accommodates her active lifestyle. We sought to present a wide variety of silhouettes. From shoppers to wider clutches and totes the Laura Buccellati woman can make the transition from day to evening effortlessly by sporting the Gwen and adding the Cleo inside by attaching the chain link strap. If she has an evening engagement all she has to do is remove the Cleo and she’s got a classic clutch to
accessorize her look. Do you have a favorite bag in the collection? Why? LB: Honestly, all of them are my favorite, as they are an extension of my personality and lifestyle. From the sophistication featured in each handbag to the playfulness found in the Chidarcia fur I used on the Suri or the practicality featured in the Cleo with built in compartments for identification, credit cards and a PDA there are too many great bags in this collection for me to choose a favorite.
ABOVE: CLEO IN LIZARD. $4100. LEFT: KATIE IS A TRENDY BAULETTO OR LITTLE TRUNK. $2300. BELOW: SCAPPATTELLA IN FRENCH CALF. $2450.
ABOVE: IVY IN IGUANA $6,050. LEFT: GWEN IN PYTHON. $3350. RIGHT: SURI IN RED. $1,900.
Page 26 • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • SunPost Weekly • www.sunpostweekly.com
What can we expect to see for Spring 2011 from Laura Buccellati? LB: The color palette will feature brighter tones associated with spring and summer as well as basic shades of camel, black and coffee. My totes will feature a narrower silhouette while keeping their depth. While the scarves that adorn each handbag will be made of Crepe de Chine, a lighter material similar to silk but in keeping with the season. Log on to laurabuccellati.com to shop the collection for yourself or call 800-903-9741 for more information.
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www.sunpostweekly.com • SunPost Weekly • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Page 27
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