I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with the fabulous ladies of Terribly Girly as they turned an everyday “brujita” into a Barbarella-style witch in honor of Halloween. It took quite a bit of time and effort (more than I care to admit) to complete the transformation, but the end result was well worth it and strikingly different from anything we’ve worked on before (never been blond a day in my life!). I should have teaser shots soon, but here are a couple of (slightly blurry) images I was able to capture with my phone between champagne breaks and wardrobe run-throughs. Hope you like!
Category Archives: Travel & Miami
Ceviche 105
I am Cuban by birth, but Peruvian by marriage, and because of this fusion of cultures that occurred last November, I have been lucky enough to experience some of the tastiest and most culturally rich dishes this side of the Florida Turnpike. It tugs at my Cuban heart to admit this, but I’ve recently begun to discover that Peruvians basically invented food and everything that is good about it (and if you haven’t tried huancaina sauce yet, you’ll probably only feel like challenging this statement until you do). Today’s lunch at Ceviche 105 just solidified this sentiment for me that much more. Below, I present all the evidence you need. Check them out for yourself at 105 N.E. 3rd Avenue.
Cellar Club Interactive Lunch at the Biltmore
As my husband often says, food is love. And we were certainly feeling the love on Saturday at the Biltmore Cellar Club’s Interactive Lunch featuring bubbles courtesy of Champagne Henri Abele and recipes created by the Biltmore’s new Culinary Director, Chef Tom Parlo. If there’s one thing the Biltmore is known for, it’s their food & wine culture, which they have managed to turn into a lifestyle for those in the foodie community. Recognized for its elaborate Sunday Brunch, top-Zagat-rated French restaurant Palme d’Or, and its most recent addition of the Culinary Academy (BCA), this resort is exactly the kind of place my culinarily inclined family would pick as their top choice for spending a free Saturday afternoon. And so our Cuban and Peruvian roots gathered in the beautiful Alhambra Ballroom to pick up a few tips for the kitchen. I’m not really sure if they learned much other than how to spend three hours cooking with one hand while holding a champagne flute in the other, but who really cares when you’re playing with ingredients like truffle butter and watching your newly integrated family work up a nice buzz? See pics below of our amazingly tasty courses. Thanks to the Biltmore Culinary Department and the Cellar Club for an afternoon well spent.
Shiver’s BBQ
Forget Miami Spice. Go to Shiver’s. Go – RUN. There are really no words I could ever come up with that could do this little BBQ gem any justice, so I’ve included pics below (thanks, Hubby) and dare you not to drool. Oh, and ask for the Martha Sauce. You’re welcome.
Miami Spice: Asia de Cuba
The husband and I have decided to actually leave our amazingly comfortable couch and venture away from Cheetos and bacon for a few weeks to enjoy Miami Spice, one item on a short list of reasons why I ever really enjoy summer in a city where 85 degree weather passes for “brisk.”
Our first stop this year was at the Mondrian for some Asian-inspired Latin fare at Asia de Cuba. While the decor was intriguing and whimsical in a Wonderland kind of way, it was the pairing of bold flavors and seasonings in each dish that left a lasting impression long after we’d exited the marble-encased madness. Major points for the lobster mash, a definite favorite. Though we’re still not sure if everything else quite went together on the plate, we can definitely agree that boredom was not an issue.
Oh, yeah. We saw Fat Joe. That’s gotta count for something, right? The journey continues for decent food in Miami. We’ll keep you posted. Next stop: Fontana.
Burlesque at the Vagabond
Nothing makes my heart sing quite like a perfectly painted lip, deviously inky eyeliner, and loads of shimmering rhinestones in just the right places. The burlesque show at Vagabond last Saturday night did not disappoint with a lineup of glittery sirens to lure any sailor to his (or her) delicious demise. Oh, and you can’t beat a classic Elvis tribute. Check out pics and video below. Don’t mind all the noise. I couldn’t help shrieking like a school girl at sweaty Elvis. *Swoon*
Pinup Pride
Never having been one for convention, once I passed 25 (and stopped worrying about giving my parents a small coronary), I marked my break-ups, birthdays, and boredom all in the same way: I called J. Valentine at Terribly Girly and asked her to make this curvy Cubanita an honest-to-Bettie pin-up girl. About 8 shoots (and a whole lotta sequins) later, Miss Valentine and her team of experts (make-up artists, hair gals, and a wardrobe genius/burlesque star) have now immortalized several holidays and life-changing events for me, to include my engagement, wedding, and, most recently, my 30th birthday.
I dug up some of my favorite shots after recently receiving the ones in honor of my big 3-0. I never doubted she’d do a great job, but the woman made feather lashes work. Seriously. If you’re at all a fan of pinup art, check out her gallery of amazing work. And if you’re a girl, do yourself (and your guy) a favor and get in touch with Terribly Girly. Seriously.
2010 Summer Solstice, Miami Beach
Those who know me well know that I’m more often than not on the pasty side, though not for lack of access to the vast expanse of ocean and sand that dominates this destination city. I simply prefer my olive skin untanned, much to the chagrin of, well, most of the people who see me on a daily basis. But in honor of the first day of summer (and my – most rare – sunkissed complexion), I’m publicly admitting I actually really enjoyed myself at the beach very recently.
What was only a 2 day getaway felt more like a true vacation as Tony and I were able to enjoy a weekend stay in one of the Alexander’s 121 individual suites. This was my first experience at the property, outside of having dinner at Shula’s Steak House, and it made me sorry I hadn’t visited before. Though the oceanfront resort is moderate in size when compared to some of its more, ahem, extravagant neighbors, the property offers a welcoming intimacy that allows one the indulgence of forgetting the rest of the city and making the day’s choices as simple as which of the 2 pools to take a dip in and whether to have a pina colada now or later. Speaking of which, I believe that’s how I lost track of time and ended up with a tan to make any fake-n-baker orange with envy. (For my close friends, find proof of said tan below.*)
*Note: All pics were shot and edited by my hubby, except for the one of the really cool lightening storm that took me 15 tries and one numb right leg to capture.
Accent Alternative Art Space
In a city where the art scene has had a bit of a slow progression, it’s refreshing and reassuring to see a non-profit gallery get so much attention and support from the local community. Last night marked the official opening of Accent Alternative Art Space, a not-for-profit art gallery created by full-service Hispanic advertising agency Accentmarketing. The venue will feature emerging artists’ work at no cost to them. Last night’s exhibit, Killing and Salting, was a group show curated by Rafael Lopez, showcasing seven local Cuban-American artists’ works centering around a theme of bi-cultural experiences unique to Miami. I snapped a few shots of my favorites, but you can catch the full lot by Miguel Angel Báez, Julio Figueroa Beltrán, Pablo Lazo, Juan Carlos Mirabel, Vicente Valdez Torres, María Valero and Carlos F. Wolff at 4841 SW 75th Avenue.
Sweet Tooth
There’s got to be something inherently wrong with me. It’s the only way to explain why I’ve been home from the dentist for only two hours, my mouth is swollen and numb with four generous shots of novacaine (hey, I’m terrified of the drill, ok?), and all I’ve been able to think about for the past three hours is how I can’t have any solid food. To be more precise, I’m craving a cupcake. And not the plain vanilla or chocolate kind you can pick up at any grocery store. I want the real deal – Red Velvet from Sweetness Bake Shop on Sunset and 95th Avenue. Or maybe Maple Bacon, which actually tastes like breakfast heaven in every bite. Or the one with the Key Lime Pie baked in the middle… Mmm…
This place is 2 minutes away from my house but I just recently discovered their unique cupcake menu on Sunday during an afternoon junk food run with my hubby. I’d actually been there a few weeks before to purchase a box full of their daily variety (16 to be exact) for Frenchy’s Bachelorette Sleepover. I never actually got to taste them, however, seeing as to how a box of cupcakes in a room full of girls stands absolutely no chance. So Tony and I decided to drop in and inevitably brought home a small box that didn’t last past Monday afternoon. If you haven’t been there yet, I recommend checking out their site for the daily menu and indulging at least once in their rendition of the Guayabera – good enough to make Abuela proud (and that toothache completely worth it).
P.S. If you’re a fan of True Blood, check out their themed cupcakes on June 13th just in time for the season 3 premier.