Things we see at airports
We approach the security point at Ft. Lauderdale Airport, and as experienced travelers, my wife, Little Junes and I begin the usual routine: shoes off, change out of pocket, laptop out of the bag, etc.
I notice the old guy in front of me when he starts doing the same thing, he takes off his shoes, empties his pockets, takes off his belt, and then begins to take off his pants.
"Sir!" shouts an alarmed TSA agent, "there's no need to take off your pants!"
Dude looks at her, shrugs and pulls his trousers up, buttons them and walks through the scanner.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tropical Restaurant
I've always thought that I had a pretty good handle on all the good Cuban restaurants around Miami (well at least as good as someone who goes there a lot), but on this visit my mother took us all out to lunch at this place in the middle of Hialeah, just a couple of quick miles from the airport and almost right off LeJeune Road, which is the main road right off the airport.
The place is called Tropical Restaurant and it is located at 652 E 9th St
Hialeah, FL 33010 - (305) 887-5556.
Let me tell you, this place is worth driving to it if you are in Miami and want to experience a really good restaurant with really cheap prices and excellent Cuban food.
It has a huge sign on 9th Street, and then once you drive into the strip mall where it is located, it is a little hard to locate at first - all you really see is an outside kiosk-like entrance common to Cuban restaurants -- where people can walk up and have a Cuban coffee or a sandwich. To the right of that is a door, and that is the actual entrance to a very large restaurant.
When we entered, it was very cool and very dark, and there's a stage to the left where a really good singer was entertaining the eating customers singing smooth, Spanish love songs in a Julio Iglesias-type crooning voice.
There's a small army of waiters in uniform and as soon as we were seated, and one brought us some toasted Cuban bread with butter. I'd say the average age of the waiters was around 60 and they all looked like they've been doing the job for decades.
My wife ordered some "mariquitas" (waver thin fried plantain chips) to start and we got a huge hot plate of them for $2.50 - they were right off the pan!
The food was excellent - since it was lunch I had a large "Caldo Gallego" (Galician Stew) and it was very tasty and another amazing deal for $3.50. Anderson had Cuban Chicken Soup and scarfed up an adult-size plate as well as a full avocado salad on a bed of lettuce and tomatoes. He then finished off a mamey "batido" (A Cuban milkshake amde with mamey fruit).
The menu was quite extensive and they have daily specials (I noted they serve goat once a week) and the prices are all excellent and quite a mind check to other (higher) prices in Miami's more chic Cuban restaurants.
Generous portions, perfect service and a very friendly atmosphere - This is as local and as Cuban as it gets.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Visual Voices at Zenith Gallery at Chevy Chase Pavillion
Visual Voices is a show of Zenith artists – Past, Present & Future - profiled in the new book “100 Artists of the Mid-Atlantic” by Ashley Rooney.
Margery E. Goldberg has been a major player in the Washington arts community for three decades as an entrepreneur, owner of Zenith Gallery, curator, wood sculptor and activist, and in this show she shines a spotlight on artists with whom she has worked and collaborated over the years. All have recently been recognized for their talents, in a new book by Ashley Rooney, “100 Artists of the Mid-Atlantic". The show at Zenith Gallery will open with a Book-signing Party with the author and artists, on Wednesday, September 21, 6:00 – 8:30pm, and remain on display through October 29, 2011.Book Party: Meet the Author & Artists
In “100 Artists of the Mid-Atlantic,” Ashley Rooney highlights more than 480 paintings, sculptures, photos, drawings and statements by 100 contemporary artists working in oil, glass, multi-media metal and other materials. Rooney has written many books on architecture, design and art in recent years, including “100 New England Artists in 2010.” She turned to writing after years in management consulting and working with adolescents. “100 Artists of the Mid-Atlantic, $45, will be available at Zenith Gallery throughout the exhibition.
Now in its 33rd year, Zenith Gallery provides high-quality acquisition, consulting and commissioning services to residential/corporate clients via its website, a salon gallery just off 16th Street, by appointment and house calls. In addition to curating shows throughout Chevy Chase Pavilion, where Zenith also operates a gallery on level 2, Zenith curates rotating exhibitions at the Eleven Eleven Sculpture Space at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Wednesday, September 21, 6:00-8:30 PM
Exhibition: September 21 – October 29, 2011
Artists: Alan Binstock, Joan Danziger, Julie Girardini, Margery E. Goldberg, Robert C. Jackson, Michael Janis, Joan Konkel, Anne Marchand, Donna McCullough, Davis Morton, Carol Newmyer, Marc Rubin, Barton Rubenstein, Sica, Ellen Sinel, Betsy Stewart, Cassie Taggert, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Paul Martin Wolff, Joyce Zipperer and yours truly.
Where: Chevy Chase Pavilion, 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC 20015
Zenith’s gallery, on level 2 next to Embassy Suites Hotel, is open Wednesday-Saturday, noon-6:00 PM and by appointment.
Info: 202-783-2963 art@zenithgallery.com www.zenithgallery.com.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Opportunity for DMV artists
Deadline: Friday, September 30th, 2011
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is seeking to purchase two and three-dimensional works of art including, but not limited to, prints, drawings, mixed media compositions, paintings, photographs, ceramics, and moveable sculptures to be included in the Art Bank Collection. They are especially encouraging video artists and other technological innovators to apply.
The call is open to artists who reside or maintain studio space in the Washington DC metro area, however, preference will be given to DC residents.
The deadline for submission is Friday, September 30th. Please follow dcarts.slideroom.com to find the Art Bank 2011 Call to artists.
For additional information, contact Zoma Wallace at zoma.wallace@dc.gov or 202.724.5613.
DCCAH Announces 2012 Grants Programs
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) has announced its streamlined 2012 Grants Program. The DCCAH offers several funding programs for individuals and nonprofit organizations located in DC.
For more information on requirements, how to apply, and resources for writing grants, visit the Commission's website.
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