I first met beautiful Damaris Aguiar at a red carpet event last year on Miami Beach. When I mentioned my involvement with Yo Soy Hialeah, her eyes lit up.
At the tender age of 26, Aguiar has not only earned the title of Miss Hialeah 2010 and begun a successful modeling career, she has already started giving back to the community by helping younger women get a head start in life as they learn self-confidence and poise.
A native from Cuba, Aguiar was raised in Hialeah and still calls the city home. She taught dance at a Hialeah Adult Center before moving on to open her own dance and modeling studio in a strip mall near the Hialeah race track.
I’m not quite sure how Aguiar does it; she remains graceful and gorgeous while managing a studio with her co-owner partner and traveling for modeling gigs. Pilares Dance Studio offers dozens of classes and has hundreds of students who come as far as Pembroke Pines and distant Miami municipalities to study with Aguiar and other teachers.
My assistant for the day, Freddy Stebbins -- whom you may remember as the gut-busting comedian in front of the camera in my Bargain Shopping in Hialeah video -- helped me hold the boom mic while I tried to capture what was going on inside the studio. Both of us were so moved and impressed by Aguiar’s work in giving these young ladies the opportunity to feel good about themselves. “This shouldn't be just a three-minute vignette,” Stebbins said. “This should be an entire documentary on Hialeah culture.”
I’ll admit, I first thought it was going to be a rather fluffy topic about superficial beauty, but honestly, I left knowing that Aguiar is making an incredibly positive impact in the lives of young women.
She breaks the stereotype.
There’s more here than meets the eye beyond striking poses and sporting gowns. I see these little girls becoming doctors, lawyers and leaders some day -- women who will not only do good, but look damn good while doing it.
And I very much admire Aguiar for keeping her passion local while extending her own wings in the wider world of mainstream celebrity. This isn’t just a story about sitting pretty and flashing your pearly whites at a camera. The mothers I spoke to saw the value in teaching their daughters everything they need to get ahead in the world.
And yes, manners, table etiquette and grace are very important. What I saw wasn’t some Pride and Prejudice “oh act this way so you can find a husband” scenario; this was an “act this way so you can believe in yourself” training. A bit more than just charm school, right?
Wish I had had this when I was a little girl.
This is a story about having the balls to be entrepreneurial in your own back yard. It’s a true modern-day Cinderella story, minus the prince. It’s a story of potential realized and growing -- all from Hialeah.
You may find Pilares School of Dance and Modeling at 555 East 25th Street, Suite 224. But watch out, they’re expanding and looking for another location.
After the shoot, Stebbins and I shared a repast. We kept chiding each other on how poor our manners actually were. Scoop and pinch? American or European style? Well, maybe we should enroll in Ms. Aguiar’s class!
I don't know about you, but I am ready to puke and throw a chancleta every time I walk into any retail store these days, overcome with sickeningly sweet Christmas music. It's like a mind-numbing injection of treacle. Also, why don't stores play Jewish music during Chanukkah as well? You know, just to shake things up a bit, because at least it has more ritmo thank Jingle Bells without being as obnoxious as reggaeton.
Luckily, the talented gente from Hialeah Haikus bring us The Twelve Days of Christmas, Hialeah style.
Yes, they went there.
I think I would pass on the Willy Chirino CD, but I would definitely want Raul Martinez' Lexus and five roasted pigs.
Enjoy and happy holidays!
If you aren't familiar with Hialeah Haikus, they are a veritably talented group of wordsmiths who identify with La Cuidad Que Progresa. Check out their book, which would make a great stocking stuffer. Oh wait, we Cubans don't do that shit. We don't even stuff turkeys. OK, whatever, just go read!
The third installment of Yo Soy Hialeah focuses on two iconic stores, Ño Que Barato! and Ño Que Caché.
Hialeah Bargain Shopping wasn’t easy to film, mainly because Miami native comedian Freddy Stebbins had us in stitches as we improvised. Stebbins, who is really from “Miami-uh” — that old-time southern city before the influx of Cubans — grew up during the influx, in a transitional cross-cultural setting, deeply appreciating Hispanic culture while living in a traditional gringo household. It’s this dichotomy that inspires his humor today and his love for Hialeah, a place where he used to go shopping as a kid.
"El Gringo" thinks he's ready for a night out in South Beach.
Sex and the Beach interviewed Serafín Blanco, the owner and founder of Ño Que Barato and Ño Que Caché, over the phone.
Blanco left Cuba in the late 60s as a teen, landing in Spain before settling in Miami and reuniting with his parents in 1970. He left high school early to become a self-made entrepreneur, working in the then thriving Hialeah textile industry.
He married, made a family and worked hard, but things in the fabric world would eventually change. Pressure from manufacturing in China, South and Central America forced him to use surplus fabric to make his own clothes — batas de casa (housewife robes), tshirts, tank tops and so on. In 1992, he opened his first store Clothing Machine, which was right next to Dollar Machine. Eventually, this would become El Dollarazo, which the Blanco family still owns today.
Clothing Machine obviously didn’t have a catchy name.
Blanco opened Ño Que Barato in 1996, but at first it was just called Que Barato, which translates literally as "how inexpensive." Cuban comedian Alvarez Guedes, and the fact that many Cubans use the word coño pretty much in every sentence, inspired Blanco to add the loaded two-letter abbreviation ño next to the words Que Barato on the storefront wall, where he happened to have enough space for the now famous syllable.
The word coño isn’t easy to translate. It can mean many things I can’t publish here, including words starting with SH and FU. Just as in English we use those SH and FU words in myriad ways, so do Cubans use the C word in many positive and negative connotations.
In this case, it’s an emphasis word, meaning “[insert expletive here], that’s cheap!” If I had my way, I’d translate it thusly: “What a f*cking bargain!”
Today, the Ño stores are a landmark in Hialeah, still family owned and family run. Blanco’s daughter had the idea for Baby Caché, which opened in 2002 and is part of Ño Que Caché. This discount store offers a great variety of baby items for canastilla, the trousseau of sorts for newborns, as well as plentiful clothing options for men, women and children. Caché Fiestas next door hosts an entertainment facility for kid parties.
The story of Serafín Blanco is yet another great chapter in entrepreneurship from Hialeah. “We’ve had our ups and downs,” Blanco said. “But we keep moving forward.”
Hialeah Bargain Shopping was created in collaboration with Oscar Piloto. To reach Freddy, find him on Facebook. We filmed Freddy as he was getting ready and warming up for his "Lizette" character. Click here for some hilarious out takes.
The second installment of Yo Soy Hialeah focuses on the city's street vendors. Carlos Miller and I spent a day seeking out the hard working peddlers in some of Hialeah's busiest intersections. Filming wasn't easy. We had to dash in between cars and trucks as they pounded the pavement.
None of the men we interviewed spoke English. We have a few explanatory subtitles in the video but you can read about their lives below.
Marcos Estopiñan (a.k.a. "El Manicero," or peanut vendor), is a former trapeze artist from Cuba who worked with Ringling Brothers Circus in the U.S. until an injury halted his career. He's still quite the performer though, peddling peanuts in a hairy intersection while entertaining commuters with his upbeat personality and singing.
Marcos lives in Little Havana with his wife and commutes to Hialeah on a motorcycle. His daughter is studious and is looking forward to college, although he makes only $50 a day at his job. Marcos works without an official street vendor's license.
Alberto from Nicaragua sells bottled water and churros (fried-dough pastry covered with sugar) at another busy intersection. He was fined $350 for not having a license; it took him seven days to recoup that fine. He told us that street peddling isn't easy, because many people who drive by can be nasty, although some are nice. "It's risky dealing with so many cars," he said.
Despite a meager income, he still manages to help out his family in Central America. Alberto has been living in the U.S. for five years and became a street vendor because he couldn't find any other kind of employment.
Gilberto immigrated from Cuba in 1994. The former bus driver worked as a welder in the U.S. until a motorcycle accident left him in a coma for eight days and an injured hand. Since the accident took place on the road, he was ineligible for workmen's compensation and other work-related benefits.
Like El Manicero, Gilberto has a positive outlook and banters with potential customers even if they don't purchase any of his wares, which on the day of the shoot were solar-powered dashboard clocks.
Gilberto had a protégé of sorts -- 18 year-old Johnny who claimed he was from Argentina, although he had no accent. Johnny told us he likes to work hard and make an honest living instead of a dishonest one. "I like to be decent with folks. I try to sell these little things to eat," he added. "Because if not I won't have food." On the day of the shoot, he told us he was saving money to get his $90 street vendor's permit and that he really wanted to go to college.
Documenting the lives of these men was a very challenging; we had to improvise and get these strangers to open up to us.
It was also humbling.
Their determination and fortitude made me gain a new appreciation for hard working immigrants who just want to make an honest living. This is just as much part of the real America for me, beyond the hallowed halls of white collar kingdoms.
My father, a Cuban immigrant, thankfully found work here as an architect -- he revalidated his license to practice in the U.S. -- but I remember hearing stories about Cubans who were successful professionals in Cuba, forced to step down to eke a living during the initial exodus. Some would stand on street corners under flight paths to clean windshields.
While researching the topic of Florida's street vendors, I came across a Virginia-based organization that filed a lawsuit against the city of Hialeah.
"In October 2011, the newly created Institute for Justice Florida Chapter filed a lawsuit in state court on behalf of street vendors. These vendors are challenging a law passed by the city of Hialeah, Fla. (located near Miami), that not only makes vendors’ work more dangerous by forcing them to constantly be on the move rather than vend in one location, but also is purposefully anticompetitive—making it impossible for vendors to compete against politically powerful brick-and-mortar businesses."
So next time you see those silly looking plastic flower clocks on a dashboard -- they do seem to be ubiquitous in Miami -- think about these hard working men.
Stephen's Restaurant is located at 1000 E. 16th St. in Hialeah.
It's a rather long story about how I got back into filmmaking, but suffice it to say that Comcast liked my treatment and gave me an extraordinary opportunity to explore my passion for documentary storytelling.
Project Open Voice involves a handful of producers like myself in cities across the country who are documenting local life, all in a commitment to broaden the discovery of local content. Hialeah is one of six trial markets. The other five include: Peterborough, NH; Medford, MA; Philadelphia, PA; Houston, TX; and Fresno, CA.
My first video, a three-minute documentary produced in collaboration with Carlos Miller of Magic City Media, focuses on Stephen's Deli in Hialeah. Most people think of Hialeah as a very Hispanic community and no doubt that is exactly what it is today. But the city wasn't always about misspelled Spanglish signs and botanicas selling spiritual cures. Prior to the first Cuban exodus, Hialeah -- and Miami for that matter -- was totally gringo. Think "Miami-uh" in a Southern accent instead of "Mayami" in a Spanish voice.
Stephen's Deli is an oddity in a predominantly Latino community. The establishment, which I reckon serves the best pastrami and corned beef south of Katz's in New York City, is happily caught in a time warp in ever-evolving South Florida.
Founded in 1954, Stephen's Deli is located in the former Jewish garment industry district of Hialeah, not far from the iconic race track. Jack Frisch, a former New Jersey businessman who went to culinary school after retirement, purchased the business from its second owners not long ago. A little kitchen remodeling and a dining room facelift left this vintage establishment freshened up, but still old school, unpretentious and authentic.
Chef Henderson Biggers has been working at Stephen's for 53 years and still slices corned beef the old fashioned way. Fortunately, Carlos and I were able to coax the camera shy chef out of the kitchen. As you hear him talk about the old days, you can almost envision hungry garment district workers lining up around the street corner for sandwiches, matzoh ball soup and potato latkes.
I'm very grateful for this interview, because you don't come across a Chef Biggers every day in Miami-Dade. Ditto regarding the corned beef on rye, which I have enjoyed several times since my first visit while Sinatra croons through the dining room's speakers.
Sandwiches are serious business at Stephen's.
Reasonably priced, Stephen's is a true mom and pop place, blessed by a goddess of good nosh. In Miami Beach, the glory days of Wolfie's, Rascal House and Arnie and Richie's Deli are long gone. Sadly, those restaurants have been replaced by corporate franchises and concrete condos. Isn't it ironic then that Miami's best pastrami and corned beef is served in la cuidad que progresa?
People seem to stick to Stephen's like the food sticks to your ribs. There's no high turnover here. Several servers I spoke to had been working at the restaurant for over fifteen years. Customers admitted to being even more decades-long loyal. In fact, every time I've returned, I've seen familiar faces enjoying their New York style deli treats.
Something else makes Stephen's an anomaly east of the Palmetto -- unlike many places in Hialeah, aqui se habla ingles -- English only -- but with that warm hospitality that all good folk share, right?
Stephen's is open for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday from 6 am to 3 pm and is well worth the drive if you're far from the neighborhood. Take an extra long lunch and tell your boss you're blaming it on the pickles.
See the original post in the YO SOY HIALEAH website. All of my documentaries were chosen to be broadcast on Video on Demand in Comcast's Hialeah territory.
Earlier this summer, I had the honor of receiving an assignment from The American Latino Heritage Fund to participate in a road trip celebrating America’s Hispanic roots. Because of my caregiving situation, I was not actually able to travel, but my trusted fellow explorer, Tallahassee-based Bohemian Babushka, took to the road with the itinerary I had planned highlighting national parks and historic sites relevant to Florida’s Spanish history. I participated remotely and was able to report on the Freedom Tower in Miami.
The American Latino Heritage Fund is a branch of the National Park Foundation, which is the charity for the National Park Service. Six bloggers were chosen to travel across different sections of the country.
Since I had already done Trail of the Pirates, this road trip seemed like a natural follow-up, which is quite timely – in 2013, Florida will celebrate its 500th anniversary, marking Ponce de León’s sighting of the peninsula in 1513.
THE FREEDOM TOWER
A gentle lady among steely giants.
The Freedom Tower is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is also a National Historic Landmark. The building today is overshadowed by modernity: gargantuan glass condos and the American Airlines arena flank its ornate facade. But this building echoes a distant time in a far away land – built in 1925 to house the Miami News, its design was inspired by the Giralda Tower, which was part of a 13th century Muslim mosque that would later become the main cathedral in Sevilla, Spain.
Miami was no stranger to Spanish influence since Columbus’ first voyage to America. In 1513, Ponce de León sailed into Biscayne Bay. Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the founder of St. Augustine, set foot here in 1566, while on a voyage to find his shipwrecked son.
The Miami River was once the site of a Catholic mission located less than a mile from where the Freedom Tower stands today. In 1567, a Jesuit brother transported Tequesta Indians who lived by the Miami River to the Sevilla cathedral where they were baptized.
But fast forward to the 20th century: in the 1960s, the building became the Ellis Island of the South for many Cuban refugees fleeing the island’s Marxist regime. Cuban immigrants flocked to the resettlement center for processing and support. Many Cubans lived just west of the Miami River in a neighborhood called Riverside -- a section of today’s Little Havana. The refugees would visit the tower to collect food, cash, clothing and other essentials.
Miami Dade College owns the tower today. Its spacious mezzanine serves as an art gallery and reception space.
The Freedom Tower is an icon of America’s Spanish heritage, not only for its design, but because it marks a significant moment in the country’s continual history of immigration.
And poised like a gentle lady among steely giants, she reminds us of the drive to explore and the desire for freedom. It is fitting that another icon of Latin American culture – Celia Cruz, the world-renowned salsa singer – held her public memorial service here for South Floridians. Thousands passed through the tower’s majestic door that day in 2003 to honor the sassy songstress.
Yours truly, Dr. Paul George and Bohemian Babushka.
INTERVIEW WITH DR. PAUL GEORGE
THE FLORIDA LATINO HERITAGE ITINERARY
Bohemian Babushka traveled all over Florida. Below are points of interest, should you desire to repeat the same itinerary.
Florida's Spanish history is rich though and due to time constraints, we omitted the Treasure Coast, Biscayne Bay National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park, as well as other Gulf Coast sites.
No body of water surrounding the state was left untouched by Spanish influence and the Gulf Stream off the east coast aided navigation for the Spanish Main. Galleons, laden with treasure, shipwrecked the east coast in 1715 but the most famous wreck, the Atocha, is just south of Key West. On the gulf coast, stories abound, including the voyages of explorers Hernando de Soto and Pánfilo de Nárvaez, who battled with Calusa Indians in the 15th and 16th centuries.
A lesser-known Spaniard, Hernando De Escalante de Fontaneda, shipwrecked on the gulf coast at the age of 13 and lived with native tribes for 17 years until Pedro Menéndez de Avilés rescued him around 1566. He eventually returned to Spain and wrote a memoir of his experiences in the New World.
Next year, Babushka and I plan on covering the Florida quincentenary with a richly detailed documentary about Florida’s Spanish heritage, starting out with the very first Christmas at Mission San Luis in Tallahassee.
Learn more about the quincentenary at Viva Florida.
Special thanks to historian and professor Dr. Paul George for his time and to Alfonso Guerra for assisting in the Freedom Tower interview. R. Gabrielle Reed loaned beautiful period costumes and the Florida Humanities Council, as well as actor Chaz Mena, contributed to research. Manny Ruiz of Hispanicize was one of the project organizers.
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a Miami Rat Pack soirée at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The Arsht invited a handful of social media influencers to enjoy an evening of theatre while sitting in "tweet seats" in the rear of the black box where we could tweet to our heart's content. Even better: cast members were tweeting from backstage, enjoying our own ramblings tagged #summershorts.
But I couldn't tweet much during the performances, as I was completely captivated by nine short plays for a total of one and a half hours. It's challenging to laugh so much and tweet at the same time.
I particularly liked Bedfellows, a flight of fancy in which we witness the banter between John Adams and Benjamin Franklin had they ever had to share a room together while on the road. Moscow reveals the bond between a traditional Jewish mother and her granola, new age daughter as they participate in an unusual ritual to celebrate the birth of the granddaughter.
Single ladies take heed: I'll Be There is a humorous yet poignant story about a woman and her stalker. What if the nicest psycho could be your non-boyfriend from afar?
Some of the other plays also tackled sex and relationships issues -- even the subject of orgasms -- but all in a classy way.
Produced by Miami-based non-profit City Theatre, Summer Shorts celebrates its 17th anniversary this year, bringing fresh theatrical performances that pack a punch. It's summer entertainment at its best to beat the heat and humidity. And no pun on Miami Heat intended -- actual refreshing cocktails are served at a cash bar in the vestibule, which you can bring into the theatre.
The video above features the cast of Green Dot Day, a short by Carey Crim and directed by Mark Swaner enjoying its world premiere this summer here in Miami. Tod Allen Durkin and Irene Adjan play a couple desperately trying to conceive. In ten minutes, the characters share a gamut of emotions from frustration to tenderness.
Summer Shorts is on stage until June 17. And unlike real summer shorts here in Miami, no one's ass is hanging out. Sex and the Beach approves!
Yesterday, I was on my way to a blogger party at the Versace Mansion and these two charming comemierdas were hanging out on the sidewalk by Ocean Drive. When I walked by, one of them asked me: "I'm a little bit lost. Where can I find true love?"
Now, as a former forum editor for Miami's premiere travel website, I've fielded many questions, and I suppose I wear the sign of "Miami ambassador" on my forehead because even on the street, dogs ask me where to find the nearest fire hydrant.
A friend on Twitter told me in jest that these two guys were actually comedians he'd seen at Hollywood's Laugh Factory last week. Another buddy said they seem Dominican because of their "papi chulo swag." They definitely weren't local; we know a good bluff we see one. What kind of Cuban doesn't know purée de malanga?
Anyway, I bet they were surprised I would call them on their bluff by whipping out my iPhone for an impromptu interview. My answer to them: "True love is in your heart or you can ask some of those fine ladies working 23rd street and Collins."
And remember: All a man needs is "love and steak, love that's FREE 99."
Part two of a two-part series behind-the-scenes on the set of Ford Escape Routes. Click here for Part One.
Day two of my behind-the-scenes shenanigans with Ford's reality tv show Escape Routes was even better than the first, since we schlepped out to the Sawgrass Recreation Park just outside the gates to Alligator Alley in Weston. And you know I love me some Glades; I wear a silver crocodile ring, for pete's sake.
For Everglades newbies, this is an ideal area to explore the River of Grass without getting too hardcore deep into the mucky wilderness. You can see the Panthers Stadium in the distance, so you know you're at the border of civilization.
THE COMPETITION
Each team of Escape Routes had to row and troll an aluminum skiff across a man-made canal, retrieve "show" alligators and snakes from the handlers, put them in pens or bags, return to the other bank and place the "captured" critters behind competitor's cars.
The animal handler I interviewed said that the alligators who were part of the competition were raised in captivity and used to this kind of thing. But the human cast? Most certainly not!
Host Rossi Morreale looks very comfortable with his slithery friend and that's because he once owned a Colombian boa -- and no, not the kind a drag queen would wear.
It was a hoot to watch them get waist-deep into the water in their camouflage snake boots, rowing like mad and some not quite sure how to use the trolling motor. Folks, it's like using an immersion blender when you purée hot soup: stick it in the water if you don't want it to splash and sputter!
THE PRODUCTION
The whole competition took about an hour, but we waited quite a few more before it happened. So I had time to poke around when I wasn't annoying the field production manager with questions about how close I could get without appearing in frame. (He was a very nice guy, by the way.)
The scene before shooting. I was filming behind the jib, hoping it wouldn't knock me on the head when it swiveled.
Yours truly with her humble gear. That steady stick is a lifesaver. I'd have no arms or shoulders left by the end of the day if it weren't for that gadget.
Prior to this week, I'd never been behind-the-scenes on a reality TV show set. The competition was interesting, to be sure, but seeing all the production technology set up in the Glades, almost in the middle of nowhere, was quite impressive.
The director's tent was hooked up to massive servers, cameras were rigged wirelessly to a huge monitor, standing microphone receptors were placed along the levee -- all powered by one single portable generator.
Unlike many other reality tv shows, this one is filmed Monday through Thursday with an air time of Saturday evening. I bet the director and editors never sleep. As well, because of the show's in-depth social media engagement, there's much online content to process. It's an intense six weeks not only for the cast, but for the crews and creative teams that make it happen.
But back to the competition! Terence was one of the first to be eliminated and it was fun to hear him from the peanut gallery as the others raced to finish. Each team worked well together, huffing and puffing to get the job done. The lovely ladies of Team Yellow won -- not bad for two models who had never stuck a foot in gator-infested waters!
ABOUT SNAKES AND GATORS
By the way, it was a bit ironic that snakes and gators would be featured on the same show. You know, we have a little problem here in South Florida with invasive pythons, just ask the USGS. And remember this photo of a python bursting out of a gator's belly?
But I can assure you, all the animals on the set were captive and treated royally. If you do go out into the Everglades, make sure you know the difference between your native and non-native reptiles. Learn more at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission website.
And don't forget to follow the gang on Escape Routes, airing for another two weeks on NBC at 8PM.
More photos on Flickr:
FTC BLA BLA BLA
Yes, I was paid to write this, get over it. All opinions mine and I drive GM car.
Part one of a two-part series behind-the-scenes on the set of Ford Escape Routes. Click here for Part Two.
I had you at bikini, right?
So Ford approached me to go behind-the-scenes at the Miami shoot of their new social media driven reality show, Escape Routes, and how could I say no? Especially since they were PAYING ME, hello?
We interrupt this blog post to recognize a very untypical EGREGIOUS FTC DISCLOSURE here at Sex and the Beach ...
Anyway, as I was saying, I was paid to spend a day with a bunch of friendly hams who were just begging to be in front of Vicequeen's camera for exclusive interviews! Talk about twist my arm.
And if you can absolutely tell me you don't go gaga over Team Black with Drew and Derek relaxing bare-chested under the sea grape trees, you are in a coma, girl.
But before you Miamians think I'm just being a corporate shill, check out the video above for some great shots of JetLev action off a squatter's key near a Coconut Grove Marina. Yeah, like poor people live on islands by Fresh Market, whatever. Host @rossimorreale thinks that Miami people are beautiful models; obviously, he hasn't been to Walmart in Hialeah!
But did you know some engineering genius developed the idea of flying over water here in our neighboring Dania Beach? A clever idea, but not one to be used by drug runners, right Rakontur?
GEEK GIRL POWER
One of the highlights of the day was talking to Jurassic vlogger @ijustine about tech gear. I say Jurassic not because the cute bubbly blonde looks like a fossilized reptile, but because she has been vlogging since Jesus was a boy. What's more, she salivated over my Canon XA10, steady stick and Rhode boom mic covered with a very fuzzy windshield. She had me at "xlr" ... a true techy babe if there ever was one.
FORD GETS IT
As a former Ford Fiesta Agent, I couldn't help but think this was the original movement on steroids. The show incorporates audience participation through social media channels.
Do you remember that crazy shit Brad and I did with Ford two years ago? Brad towed a Ford car with a bicycle while I practically peed in my pants trying to steer the vehicle down Flagler street. Oh, we also wrestled alligators in Orlando, Florida. Well, to be more precise, Brad wrestled while I kneeled inches away from the gator's mouth recording the scene on camera.
You see, it was never about the car, but about the experiences afforded by the car.
Kudos to Ford for some very progressive social media thinking and for making everything I do with this brand so much darn freakin' fun.
And I hope my GM Southeast friends don't read this, because right now I must officially declare myself a promiscuous car whore!
"People judge you for being beautiful. Unlike a lot of people, I don't care about my looks. It's all about being genuine." -- Lizette, part-time cargo flight attendant who is registered at FIU.
One of the best experiences I've had lately is filming improvisation comedian @freddystebbins in Hialeah as part of the Yo Soy Hialeah project. The out takes -- these particular two scenes -- were precious B Roll that will end up on the cutting room floor for the "clean" version; however, they can definitely have a life of their own here.
Thanks to @oscarpiloto for taking camera duty after two hours because I was literally peeing in my pants holding the mic -- ok maybe not literally -- but you tell me after you see the video above. And thanks to the staff at discount stores ño que barato! and ño que caché for putting up with us.
Oscar Piloto held the camera on the second round. The steady stick helps.
Get your headlamps cleaned, bro.
When Lizette lights up, you just can't help but laugh.
Here are ten things I love about Lizette:
1. She works part-time for Air Miami Cargo, which ferries chickens and Blockbuster Video items on "non stops" [sic] flights to Tallahassee which is less than a couple of hours away by aircraft -- and she gets FREE flights to that ultimate tourism destination, Tampa. While in Tallahassee, she stays overnight at the Quince de Fiesta hotel, which is really close to the outlet mall.
2. She is the daughter of a bearded woman who worked in a circus in Santiago De Cuba in order for her children to get scholarships at FIU.
3. She freely admits to her hormonal problem and she appreciates the candor of her friends.
4. She uses CHANE not CHANEL facial foundation, which she purchased in Hialeah. It does the trick.
5. She breaks down and cries like a regular, normal human being when she talks about her challenging relationship with her ex-husband, Lazaro, with whom she had a child.
6. She's not afraid to call the camera guy a faggot. Or the street pole, for that matter. (For the record, the camera guy is not a faggot.)
7. She's a PROFESSIONAL WOMAN but she's not technically going to FIU.
8. She believes the best sex organ is the brain, but it's ok to be good looking on the outside, too. That's an extra bonus. Ladies, how's that for your self-esteem corny quote of the day?
9. She's the only woman in Miami-Dade who gets a pubic waxing job on lay-away. "$120 for the whole procedures [sic]. I have stubble, but at least I don't have HAIR, you know what I mean? Whatever."
If you are a mojito virgin, you must have one at Versailles. But don't expect a bar. You'll have to order food in order to enjoy an adult beverage at this iconic Cuban restaurant in the heart of Miami.
I have great friends. On some days, they just wake up and say, "hey, wonder who makes the best mojito? Let's spend the afternoon finding out!"
And so the first Mojito March was born, during which some friends and I boarded Jim Winter's "Special Ed Short Bus" (you may know Jim of Nikon Miami Blog) for an afternoon of cocktail shenanigans at Tarpon Bend, Versailles, Catch of the Day and Ortanique.
We started around 3ish and didn't end until 9ish. A true mojito olympics indeed, requiring savvy pacing and endurance. Our goal: to see which one of the four establishments served the best version of a mojito, which is basically light rum served over muddled mint, lime and sugar (or simple syrup), topped with a spritz of club soda.
TARPON BEND
Drinks were fruitier and rather light at Tarpon Bend. One of our attendees said "I could spend a whole afternoon here, but not at Versailles." The sell: less crowds and noise.
Tarpon Bend was a great place to start. With a daily happy hour (2 for 1) starting at 3 PM, their drinks were rather fruity and light, reminding me of the kind of beverage you might enjoy at a ritzy spa, with mojito combinations featuring fresh muddled watermelon, for example. To be honest, their traditional mojitos paled in comparison to the ones we would have later, so I would call Tarpon Bend the right kind of place to go when you want mickey mouse refreshment -- a lush's retreat for hydration during a hangover -- which would be just right on a Saturday afternoon with no crowds on Miracle Mile.
A rather sweet coconut mojito held the imagination of my socia@lizawalton, who quickly declared it tasted like "ladies lying out in the sun." I asked her: "Should we call it the Coppertone, complete with a tanning butler spreading oil on my ass?" And thus, I think, we have a new favorite drink for Sex and the Beach, though I'm no fan of flavored rums. (I can't believe they even brought out the Dragonberry. Sorry Bacardi, but I'm a rum purist.)
VERSAILLES
The waitresses at Versailles wear awesome polyester retro uniforms.
Versailles, the iconic, world-famous Cuban restaurant on 8th street, passed muster with a stiff cocktail that would put hair in even in the chest of Tony Montana. And you should expect "stiff" around here -- the soft curves of women who have indulged way too much in flan are flanked by hard-line politics and protests just outdoors, all washed down with rum and strong coffee. This is a bustling place, full of locals and tourists, ready to ignite at a moment's notice while digging into your rice and beans like you would at your Cuban abuela's house.
Versailles gets bonus points for garnishing the drink with a chunk of sugar cane, too, which is always fun to suck on. This was better than Tarpon Bend's drinks, which were so pulpy, it was impossible to suck anything through the straw unless you were a porn star equipped with a Dyson vacuum. And besides, every cocktail should come with something phallic other than a plastic straw to put in one's mouth. Remember, drinking isn't just about taste, it's about sensual things like sucking and swallowing, right?
Not to mention that sugar cane itself evokes the raw history of rum, slavery, wealth and blood-sucking greed that was the sugar industry in the evolution of the Caribbean, the United States and the rest of the New World. Yeah, suck on that, baby. You're tasting a little bit of history when you have a mojito at Versailles.
Order mojitos with the "fried combination" platter -- fried tuber roots of every kind, including yuca, as well as meat-filled empanadas and croquetas, served with a garlicky cilantro aioli -- and you have the perfect Cuba Carbs 101 for your friends who fly in from Iowa.
While you're there, don't forget to spread rumors about Castro being dead:
CATCH OF THE DAY
Catch of the Day, a casual sports bar and seafood restaurant near the airport, served mojitos in tall glasses. While tasty and refreshing, the use of sugar actually made some sips rather granular, which made me think I had ordered rum with muddled sheet rock. Simple syrup is always better. Not that it was bad, mind you. I just don't like grainy stuff in my drinks -- you know, kind of like how tapioca reminds you of sperm. If you go to Catch of the Day, try their special mango mojito, which was fruity but not heavy like nectar.
Of course, great company is the most important ingredient of any cocktail! The Mojito March crew toasting at Catch of the Day.
We even attempted to scientifically register our mojito research.
Here we enjoyed some delicious filled tostones with shrimp creole, which are usually not on the menu. This unpretentious place, like a Cubanaso version of Tarpon Bend (see, there's taxidermy art, stuffed fish on the wall, too) is worth its weight in happy hour though, which runs from 3 - 7 PM everyday on the lord's calendar.
ORTANIQUE
Ortanique got it down. And it's not just because it was our last stop of the evening.
Our day ended at Ortanique, probably the fanciest place where we imbibed cane spirits, and not surprisingly, as they served the best and most expensive mojito at about $10 a glass, which is still cheaper than a thimble full of whore spit in South Beach. Ortanique's secret? They skip muddling and rip their mint leaves, letting the natural botanical oils seep into the cocktail without turning the leaves black. (I've never seen mint turn black though ... have you?) They also have the right amount of fizz from club soda, which I found lacking in the other mojitos.
All in all, each location had something great to offer, though if you're going to judge the proverbial cocktail itself, Ortanique takes the cake.
SPECIAL ED SHORT BUS
Our adventure was possible in part thanks to Jim Winters, the creative brain behind Nikon Miami Blog and Bulldog Neon Signs, as well as denizen of one of Miami's most unique art bunkers -- that's the only name I can come up with to describe his studio. Our fearless driver made it safe for us to indulge.
A gentle giant, Jim Winters stands his ground next to the short bus. @lizawalton peeks through the window.
I could not, of course, finish this blog post without paying tribute to Ines, Miami's original mojito expert, whom unfortunately could not grace us with her presence on this day. As a result, I felt obligated to do a Miamism-style review, out of deep reverence to the mojito queen herself!
More pictures from our mojito adventures on Flickr.
I'm not even back a day and I already miss Oahu! As a beach culture, there is such a respect for nature there that puts Miami to shame. This classic song by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is going to linger on my mind ... enjoy.
I saw you in my dreams We were walking hand in hand On a white, sandy beach of Hawaii We were playing in the sun We were having so much fun on a white, sandy beach of Hawaii
The sound of the ocean soothes my restless soul The sound of the ocean rocks me all night long
But in truth, I think the friendly feud is just a front for a bromance. Mutual admiration is just oozing from their pores.
For me, the answer is no. Sef is just a really nice guy who likes to eat burgers and share his love of the humble patty with the rest of the world. And he's doing it in a clever way, using social networking sites. I mean seriously, if Sef is a social media whore, that would make me an old, washed-up harlot by now. More on Sef at my Miami New Times blog: Burger Beast Eats Up Social Media.
By the way, if you haven't been to Charm City Burger, you don't know what you're missing. The joint is small and unassuming but the burgers are large and in charge! Try the kobe beef with foie gras.
Earlier this month, Brad and I went to Los Angeles for the official U.S. unveiling of the Ford Fiesta at the LA Auto Show. Ford flew a bunch of us agents for a two-day event, which included a special concert and awards ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium.
Brad and I won Best Adventure Video for Gator Wrastlin' mission!
While at the Palladium, we happened to bump into a social media acquaintance, Jeff Turner, who shot this video:
I wrote about the LA Auto Show experience over at Miami New Times, so I'm going to take a more personal tack here. But suffice it to say, Ford's campaign was absolutely brilliant. I'm not a marketing expert and I can't predict if it's going to sell cars, but the campaign generated millions of impressions in social media networks.
And besides, it was just plain fun. I was amazed at the amount of creativity and talent shared among all the agents in the project.
Brad and I returned the car to a local Ford dealer in South Dade a day before we went to LA. It didn't dawn on me how much I would miss the car until I got back to Miami.
I was never really into cars, but now I have much more of an appreciation for the art of motor vehicles and driving. My own car, a '98 Toyota Corolla, feels like a golf cart compared to the Fiesta. There's something about the power of the engine, the steering and the manual transmission that make a whole world of difference when driving. I keep reaching for the stick shift and now that it's not there, I feel like I'm in limbo!
Driving a great car in manual transmission is like taking the lead in a tango. I felt like the car was my partner and I was guiding her every move; she responded to me beautifully. The car felt like an extension of me. It was powerful. With my Toyota, the driving experience is very passive and blah. I guess I did become very passionate about driving after all!
(Of course, I'm talking about the Ford Fiesta here, but I'm sure this is true of any quality car out there. Being a girly girl, I seriously used to think all driving experiences were the same. So not true!)
I really enjoyed being part of this project and bringing some great content here to Sex and the Beach. I had the chance to do some hyper-local storytelling that I probably would've never done: we captured Memorial Day, featuring Jimbo's and interviewing a veteran on Ocean Drive; we shot a parody of Scarface, including locations El Exquisito Restaurant, Maximo Gomez Domino Park and Elian Gonzalez's house; we geocached in South Miami, Coral Gables and Pinecrest, including the historic cemetery on Erwin Road; we helped build a house in Liberty City with Habitat for Humanity; we checked out the local graffiti scene with artist Atomic; we towed the car on a bike down Flagler street; and, finally, of course, we wrestled an alligator in Orlando.
I also got to know Brad better and work with him as part of a creative team. The Ford Fiesta may be out of our lives now, but I doubt this is the last time we're going to collaborate on some cool projects together.
The Fiesta project was also personally rewarding for me since I used to suffer from agoraphobia and had a fear of driving. It's amazing to me that I was able to conquer that condition and end up driving a car -- a stick shift no less -- all over local expressways! I even drove most of the way to Orlando and back when we went on our Gatorland mission.
When I was caught up in the agoraphobia, I never in a million years would've dreamed about driving so much and enjoying it so. But while I had the Fiesta, I would drive the car every day, even if I didn't have to go anywhere. It was a thrill to go down beautiful Old Cutler Road just for the heck of it.
I hope that I can be an example to others who are suffering from panic attacks. If I could get over it, so can you. For me, there was quite a bit of serendipity involving the Ford Fiesta project; it was no mere coincidence. Driving like this was the culmination and proof positive that you can turn your life around from such a crippling condition.
Our final Ford Fiesta mission: recreate scenes from a movie shot in your city. No doubt you've already guessed which movie we picked. Enjoy!
Did you recognize your Miami-Dade landmarks?
South Beach at Ocean Drive: The Palace Bar, Casa Casuarina (the infamous Gianni Versace gate) and the Carlyle Hotel, where another classic Miami film, The Birdcage, was filmed. As well, South Pointe Park, with a view of the behemoth condominiums. (And yes, that was Brad, fully-clothed in the water late afternoon when we had a slight cold front. Two takes.)
In Little Havana: the former home of Elian Gonzalez and site of such powerful political controversy, El Exquisito and El Pub restaurants, the sidewalk of stars, the Tower Theater and Maximo Gomez Domino Park. (And yes, filming that scene in front of Elian's house felt a bit like sacrilege!)
Although I only have a cameo in this video, I'm all over it, believe me. It was so much fun to play director for a change, instead of being in front of the camera. But of course, there was also much collaboration. Although Brad and I story-boarded our scenes, much of it was improvised on location, including dialogue. (Señor Gator also made a cameo. Remember him?)
This parody was a bit of a challenge because not only did it have to be done under five minutes, we had to keep it family-friendly. So instead of the word "fuck," which Tony Montana glorified in Scarface, we used the word "Ford" and instead of dealing cocaine, we went after the perfect cup of coffee.
We also didn't want to show any disrespect to Elian's family nor make fun of the Cuban wet foot/dry foot immigration policy ... but so it is.
Special thanks to local comedic genius Freddy Stebbins, who spent half a day with us shooting in Little Havana and let us use his kitchen for a location. This video would not be the same without his chongalicious performance and his manly voice-overs!
Thanks also go out to: Juan Coro of El Exquisito Restaurant, who warmly collaborated with us to let us shoot in "la ventanita" (window) of his iconic Little Havana restaurant; Ivan Mladenovic of Preemopc, who let us take over his living room one night so Brad could watch Scarface for the first time; and finally, to the Miami Beach Police Department for not getting in our hair when we double parked to shoot on Ocean Drive.
WHAT'S NEXT?
I'll be returning the car to a local Ford dealer at the end of the month. No word on whether I'll throw a fit and they'll have to yank my hands from the steering wheel. I will surely miss driving this car!
Ford is flying Brad and I out to Los Angeles next week for the LA Auto Show, where the Ford Fiesta will have its official U.S. unveiling. Three lucky agents will have a chance to win a car!
If you're in the area, come join us and a bunch of other agents for a free concert at the Hollywood Palladium on December 1st. RSVP required at Eventbrite.
If you miss the event, don't worry. Tune in to CurrentTV at 11:30/10:30 central time for a follow-up broadcast. And of course, no doubt I'll be tweeting with pictures and video live from @fordfiestamiami.
The Fiesta Movement has been not only a brilliant social media project, but also one of the most rewarding and creative things I've done in my life. Although it sucked that I broke my leg, I wouldn't change a thing as it made it possible for me to work with Brad. We make a bad-ass, wicked storytelling crew of two! I'll be posting more of my thoughts on the subject after my trip to LA.
Our August Ford Fiesta mission was probably the most rewarding one yet. Brad, Habitat for Humanity staff, a group of volunteers and myself met in Liberty City where we helped build a home for Nancy Bonise.
Nancy is a working mother of two boys and full-time student at FIU. On the day of our team build, she was already making the house her own by lending a hand in the construction process. It's only a matter of time before she can move in and turn it into a cozy home.
"The boys can't believe they're each getting a room of their own," she said laughing. "They're going to have to get used to so much space. They'll even have a yard that they can play in."
The home itself was a lot nicer than I thought it would be. Located next to a vacant lot, the spacious three-bedroom, one-bath property was already landscaped but still not wired for electricity or ready for kitchen appliances.
I recruited a couple of volunteers on Twitter, including TheTinyJewelBox, but also met a few great folks at Electric Pickle during a Miami New Times tweetup in July who were more than eager to join. Most of these tireless volunteers spent the hot, sweaty summer day hammering away on the roof. Others painted and spackled, while still others helped install closet shelves and doors. A project foreman instructed all of us on what to do.
In attendance were also other future Habitat homeowners. Part of their payment, in addition to a low-cost mortgage, is contributing volunteer hours for "sweat equity." The Habitat for Humanity model is really quite perfect. Most people might think the organization gives homes away for free, but that's not the case. Mortgage payments, which are based on the owner's income at the time of application, go towards the organization and building of more homes. With a low-cost mortgage, any financial prosperity a family enjoys can help with other important expenses in life, like college educations.
In this era of crazy foreclosure numbers, the whole thing is kind of ironic. Most people, actually -- not just impoverished folks -- could really use help with housing. And I want to emphasize again that Habitat for Humanity homeowners are hard working people. They're just buying a decent home at a very reasonable cost, which is something they would otherwise never be able to do without getting in over their heads under some crappy loan terms. And in this entire process, they're also giving back to others who will someday need the same break.
Prior to the team build day, I had toured a completed Habitat for Humanity neighborhood in Liberty City called Scott Carver. Each house looked different and displayed its owner's particular curb style, so it wasn't exactly cookie-cutter. It was simply amazing to see what can rise out of an otherwise vacant piece of land in a run-down part of Miami. It's not just homes that are being built, but better lives and the opportunity for dreams to come true.
GET INVOLVED
On the team build day, Brad and I handed Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami a $500 gift on behalf of the Ford Fiesta movement.
The organization can always use cash contributions, but giving of your time and labor is probably one of the most rewarding things you can do -- you're literally making Miami-Dade a better place to live for your neighbors. I strongly encourage everyone to get involved. One great way to do so is to contribute cash and volunteer hours as a corporate team.
Some of the Fiesta movement volunteers loved the work so much, they went back the following week to help finish the roof! I want to thank all of you who volunteered with the Ford Fiesta team. You guys rock!
July's Fiesta mission was one of our best local adventures yet! The theme was "style and design" and Brad and I were sort of scratching our heads figuring out what to explore, since Art Basel doesn't take place until December. But one day, while driving northbound on I-95 and passing the impressive graffiti wall on NW 23rd street, we realized there was some great Miami style and design right under noses!
I knew squat about graffiti before I started this mission, so I had to do a little digging. It just so happens that earlier this year, James and Karla Murray, part-time Miami residents, published a book called Miami Graffiti. The photographers, a husband and wife team, authored a comprehensive tome on the local graffiti scene, which has been active for about 25 years.
The back cover states: " . . . there's so much more to Miami than South Beach and Spring Break. . . . graffiti in Miami is wilder, more creative and vibrant than in most other cities throughout the world."
James and Karla have been following graffiti culture since 1990 and had already published two books about New York's scene when they discovered one of Miami's most famous graffiti spots, the Hialeah penit. This abandoned building, which has since been destroyed, was named so because it looked like a would-be penitentiary. The name stuck though -- now the term penit refers to any similar structure.
James and Karla continued to explore those areas of Miami off the beaten track and amassed a collection of graffiti photos over ten years; many of the original images are in film.
"The colors in Miami really grabbed us," Karla explained. "It's different than in New York. Colors there tend to reflect the dirty nature of the city. Artists use darker colors, like dark blues and purples. No one paints in hot pink or neon orange in New York. When we asked Miami graffiti writers why they used tropical colors, they told us that they didn't even realize they were doing something different. They had simply grown up with those colors."
In our early conversations, Karla was kind enough to hook me up with local grafitti writer Atomik, who met Brad and I one hot July afternoon at Culture Kings in the Design District. We spent the day checking out some of Miami's hottest graffiti spots (see below for specific locations) and learning everything we didn't know about the art form. Later that night, we headed to Transit Lounge's outdoor space, where Atomik spray painted a canvas that sold at auction.
I told Atomik his painting didn't have to be about the car or girly (like the flower graphics I had picked for the car), but in fact, his abstract work really captured the idea of movement and direction, as well as the curvy lines of the vehicle. The very act of painting itself was dynamic. It was a pleasure to watch Atomik go at it, deftly wielding the spray paint can.
The final painting by Atomik. You can really feel the energy that went into this painting.
I would've kept the painting myself, if I could! But instead a lucky guy picked it up for $100 (surely it was worth more than that). Part of the proceeds went to Transit Lounge's favorite charity and the rest to Atomik's pocket. The guy who brought the painting was hanging out with a lady friend. "It's going to look great in his Brickell bachelor pad," she said.
Atomik wasn't the only person who got creative that night. The outdoor space at Transit Lounge became one massive graffiti fiesta. We thought it would be fun to paint on the car, so Brad purchased an enormous semi-transparent plastic cover, but that really wasn't going to work out as well as we thought, because the cover wasn't actually as big as the car and even if it had been, it would've defeated the purpose of showing off the car.
The guys at Transit Lounge had an even better idea though -- they taped the cover on a wall and then everybody had a chance to try their hand at graffiti.
Ford Fiesta Agent Brad Schenck writing over other graffiti.
Well into the evening, the crowd buzzed with creative energy. Some of Atomik's graffiti writer friends showed up, but others who had never written participated too. I really loved this event because it was so interactive. People kept walking up to the wall, covering other drawings with their own. By the end of the night, every inch of that plastic sheet was covered with amazing blasts of color!
GRAFFITI 101
Most of us associate graffiti with vandalism and gangs, but it seems to me to be an art form that doesn't get enough respect. I learned a lot from the few hours spent tooling around Miami with Atomik. For example, graffiti artists are called writers instead of painters; a tag is your signature, which basically says "I was here."
Mind you, not all graffiti is illegal. Some business owners approve of designs (within the regulations of their municipalities), which has helped beautify some rather run-down parts of Miami-Dade. But even these so-called permission walls don't always last.
Miami graffiti writer Atomik stands proudly in front of his work. He's old enough to mourn the loss of Miami's beloved Orange Bowl icon, glorified here at a Wynwood wall.
Atomik is a soft-spoken, relaxed kind of guy who takes his work very seriously. I really enjoyed hanging out with him and respected how devoted he is to the art. He has been painting for fifteen years, since he was in his teens. "I've just always loved art," he told me. And indeed, it seems to come naturally to him, as he also does commercial and graphic design work. At the time of our graffiti tour, he was a member of the MSG crew (Miami Style Graffiti).
OUR TOUR Next time you drive around Miami-Dade and see some graffiti, take a moment to really appreciate it!
Here are the locations that we visited. Click through to see pictures.
Little Haiti Corner of NW 47th Terrace & NW 2nd Street at Little Haiti Hardware and Lumber store, side street wall by Siner, Zame and Cure.
Wynwood NW 24th street in between NW 1st and 2nd avenue, mural by Retina from Los Angeles and The Mac from Arizona.
NW 24th street in between NW 2nd and NW 3rd avenue, empty lot, location of Miami Graffiti Book Jam in May 2009 (the paintings are on the interior side of the lot walls, so if the gate is closed, you might need to sneak in like we did -- it was closed, but not locked). Wynwood/Overtown NW 6th Avenue & NW 23rd street, The Wall of Fame done for Art Basel 2008, visible from I-95, featuring artists from all over the world.
Overtown NW 2nd Avenue & NW 22nd street, abandoned warehouse (be careful at this location, it's a sketchy zone, right next to the projects).
WEBSITES For a great collection of Miami graffiti photos indexed by writers or crews, visit www.miamigraffiti.com. The site also features a brief history and handy glossary.
EVENTS James and Karla Murray are curating an impressive satellite event during Art Basel 2009, December 4-6. Graffiti Gone Global will feature urban street art from around the world at 3252 NE 1st Avenue, Suite 101, Midtown Miami. Sponsored by Sushi Samba.
THANKS Don't forget to check out those who helped us on this mission: Atomik, James and Karla Murray and Transit Lounge. A special shout-out goes out to Transit staff for not only helping us on a busy night, but doing so with great enthusiasm! Transit regularly supports artists -- you can see paintings on the lounge's walls.
