Summer Cocktailing at La Côte
Sip cocktails on the French Riviera by way of the Fontainebleau.
June 25, 2012
We already love La Côte for its chic Mediterranean ambiance, stunning views, and South of France-inspired menu. Now, the poolside eatery is adding seasonal cocktails to its repertoire. Take a dip and drop in for one of the new Beach Bum, Castaway, and Raspberry Collins concoctions—or mix them up at home.
Castaway
SERVES ONE
1 1/2 ounces Bacardi OakHeart Spiced Rum
1 ounce Marie Brizard Apry Apricot Brandy
1 ounce mango purée
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1 dash lemon bitters
cinnamon
sugar
In a shaker, combine all ingredients in the order listed. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass with fresh ice and a cinnamon-sugar rim. Orange slice and cinnamon stick garnish.
Raspberry Collins
SERVES ONE
1 1/2 ounces Grey Goose Vodka or Bombay Sapphire Gin
2 ounces ginger beer
2 tbsp. lemon juice
6 raspberries
1/2 ounces rock candy syrup (or simple syrup)
1 lemon wedge
Combine liquor, ginger beer, lemon juice, and syrup in a shaker and shake well. Strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice. Drop four or five raspberries in the drink. Toothpick two raspberries to use as garnish along with lemon wedge.
Beach Bum
SERVES ONE
1 ounce pressed lime juice
3 small pieces peeled, chopped ginger
1 1/4 ounces mango purée
1/4 ounce apricot liqueur
1 1/2 ounces Avión Silver Tequila
Muddle ginger and add to shaker with all other ingredients. Shake well for twenty seconds and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Lime wedge and lemon twist garnish.
4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; fontainebleau.com
Recap: The American Black Film Festival
See which celebrities swooped into town for the annual film festival.
June 25, 2012
The 16th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) wrapped up four days of featured events and fabulous festivities on Saturday, June 23. The yearly gathering took residence inside The Ritz-Carlton South Beach, where ABFF sponsors HBO crowned Cherry Waves as this year's short film winner. And with scheduled appearances by CNN’s Don Lemon, Grey's Anatomy actor Jesse Williams, and television personality and actor Terrence J., there was plenty of star power at the annual festival. Spotted around afterparties and film fest soirées were actress Tracee Ellis Ross, Selita Ebanks, Mekhi Phifer, and Boris Kodjoe.
photography by Terrence Jennings for ABFF and Liana Lozada
Juice Cleanses at The Standard
Choose either a 5-day or weekend juice cleanse, with spa and wellness boosters.
June 22, 2012
Daiquiris, milkshakes, ice-cold beers; these are the drinks that make summertime sweet. They’re also loaded with calories. This summer, reach instead for a de rigueur, farm-fresh juice made by The Standard Spa’s chef. Part of the spa’s intensive juice cleanse program and packed with fruits, veggies, and spices, the juices will refresh and satisfy your palate while providing a host of holistic health benefits. The best part? The cleanses are offered with luxurious spa and Hamam boosters.
Mina Gough, spa director at The Standard Miami Beach, has curated two programs to meet the needs of spagoers. Gough’s five-day program ($375, July 23-27) includes a daily supply of juices, Haman Rub & Scrub Treatment, workshops, traditional baths, and Haman bar access. The weekend program ($325, July 13-15) includes 12 juices, a wellness life coaching course, 90-minute spa service, fitness or yoga class, and daily Haman bath and bar access. Here, Gough talks more about the programs and how they can benefit your body.
What are the health benefits of cleansing?
MINA GOUGH: The benefit is nourishing your body inside out. Cell-rejuvenating, detoxifying, and alkalizing the body will help you will feel energized and see digestive benefits, clearer skin, and increased mental clarity.
How do the spa and wellness aspects of the programs complement the cleanse?
MG: We have developed The Standard Juice Cleanse to encourage healthier lifestyles and healthier nutrient options. We also encourage the communal, shared rituals of traditional bathhouses with our ‘Do-It-Yourself’ menu of hydrotherapy. The environment helps participants listen to their body and feel their best. Our cleanse is offering a life-inspiring community experience. Juice, explore wellness, be inspired, and have fun together.
Tell us what’s in the juices.
MG: The Standard Spa’s chef designed the spa menu to highlight living food, which contains enzymes that allows cells to expel toxins. Juices, kale smoothies, our living lasagna, and a selection of salads are detox and spa favorites. The juices are inspired naturally by these raw menu favorites.
Registration for the five-day program closes July 18 and registration for the weekend program closes July 11. 40 Island Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-1717
Dinner Plans: db Bistro Moderne
A new Mediterranean chef kicks up db's summer menu.
June 22, 2012
Veteran chef Daniel Boulud is giving db Bistro Moderne's contemporary French cuisine a Mediterranean slant with the appointment of new executive chef Matthieu Godard. After stints in Spain, Greece, and The Bahamas, the French-born Godard headed North to New York City seeking an opportunity to refine his technique. He caught Boulud's eye in 2006, landing a job as a line cook at New York's db Bistro Moderne. After making his way through the ranks, Godard was selected to be Miami's new man in charge. Recently, Godard debuted a few of his new db dishes to a small group that included boss Boulud. With a wealth of seafood and classic European touches and techniques, the meal was paired with wine selections by sommelier Christopher Lindemann and ended with sweets by pastry chef Jerome Maure. Browse through the photographs above for a sneak peek at what’s new. 255 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-421-8800
Weekend Recommender: June 21-24
A historic Heat game, flamenco fusion at Adrienne Arsht, a soulful music festival, and more.
June 21, 2012
Between Worlds delivers a heart-pounding flamenco fusion performance this weekend
The NBA Finals
Thursday, June 21, 9 PM
The Miami Heat are just one win away from taking the NBA Championship. Your sole duty on Thursday is to watch our hometown team make history.
“Positive Interventions”
Friday, June 22, 7 PM.
The Wolfsonian-FIU and cultural organization PechaKucha Night will present an evening of reflective conversation. Dubbed "Positive Interventions," the night's panel will touch on the museum's "Intervention: 25 Years of AIDS Awareness Posters 1985-2010" exhibition, while exploring the current state of activism, medical advancements, and political challenges. $10, or free for museum members. 1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305-531-1001; wolfsonian.org
Between Worlds
Saturday and Sunday, June 23–24
Choreographer Siudy Garrido's timeless love story, Between Worlds, is set in post-apocalyptic world and fuses flamenco, urban dance, and percussionist rhythms. The storyline? A cast of 25 performers split into two tribes viciously battle for our planet's limited water supply. Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-949-6722; arshtcenter.org
Overtown Rhythm and Arts Festival
Saturday, June 23, 11 AM–8 PM
After a successful 2011 debut, the Overtown Rhythm and Arts Festival returns with performances by R&B star Freddie Jackson, gospel singer Jonathan Butler, and local jazz diva Nicole Henry. Admission is free, with food and additional entertainment available for purchase on site. N.W. 3rd Ave., Between 9th and 11th St.; overtownfestival.com
What to Do on the Longest Day of Summer
It’s summer solstice! Here are four ways to spend the day.
June 20, 2012
Belly up the bar at Sushi Samba for caipirinha lessons
When it comes to summer, Miami has a jump on the rest of the nation. With the dog days upon us, today’s summer solstice—aka the longest day of the year—officially kicks off the season. Here’s how we recommend spending the day.
16th Annual American Black Film Festival
Now in its blossoming adolescence, the American Black Film Festival returns with groundbreaking films, intimate discussions, and exclusive afterparties. Today’s opening selection, Beasts of Southern Wild, has already garnered stellar reviews at film festivals across the globe. Flicks will screen through the weekend at the Colony Theater and Miami Beach Cinematheque. Through June 23. abff.com
Babalu Miami Garage Sale
This luxe lifestyle store is hosting an unprecedented super sale atop Lincoln Road's iconic parking garage. Missoni, SWIMS shoes, and Iittala glassware are just a few the brands Babalu is including in its must-go inventory. Through Thursday; NOON–7 PM. 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-538-0777; babalumiami.com
International Surfing Day at First Surf Shop
F1rst Surf Shop is celebrating surfing's biggest day with two fun-in-the-sun events. Today, from 1 to 5 PM, F1rst will host free stand-up paddleboard lessons behind the Continuum building. At 8 PM, the party heads indoors for a screening of Taylor Steele's Here & Now, a surf culture documentary captured in timespan of a day. To sweeten the celebration F1rst will also serve up complimentary cocktails and cupcakes. 40 S. Pointe Dr., Suite 107, Miami Beach, 305-397-8103; f1rsthop.com
SambaHour at SushiSamba
Put a Brazilian twist on the traditional happy hour (5:30–7 PM) with Leblon Cachaça at SushiSamba. Purchase a drink and Samba’s talented mixologists will demonstrate a step-by-step guide to making a caipirinha. On-the-house light Brazilian bites will be available for nibbling. 600 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-673-5337; sushisamba.com
Cool Off at Peacock Garden Café
Light seafood entrees and chilled soups top the café’s recently refreshed menu.
June 19, 2012
Coconut Grove's Peacock Garden Café has some cool new cuisine to counteract the season's scorching temperatures. Executive chef Oscar del Rivero has conjured up a series of chilled soups to reflect the eatery's secret garden ambiance. Guests can savor white grape gazpacho or chilly shrimp and avocado soup while basking in the shade of Peacock's oversize umbrellas. Just as light, but not quite as low in temperature, are the restaurants new grilled seafood selections. Choose from perfectly seared salmon with salsa verde or tuna with pressed potato, crab salad, and herbs. Top off an evening of alfresco eats with Peacock's signature basil sangria. Order a pitcher of sangria on weekdays between 4 to 7 PM and receive a gratis order of hummus and crudité. 2889 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove, 305-777-2340
Life-Size Lego Art in Hollywood
Lawyer-turned-sculptor Nathan Sawaya builds colorful works of art.
June 19, 2012
Nathan Sawaya's "The Art of the Brick" fuses childhood nostalgia with introspective reflection by manipulating Legos into large-scale sculptures. With over 25 unique works on display, "Brick" is currently on view at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood (through August 19). Once a shirt-and-tie lawyer, Sawaya left the boardroom to work for the iconic toy brand before branching out on his own. Works in the exhibit focus on the human form, such as a sculpture of a couple kissing, a young boy grasping a ball, and even the faces of Mount Rushmore. Other designs lean more toward the whimsical, playful side of life, such as a row of Crayola crayons and a multi-colored peace sign. 1650 Harrison St., Hollywood, 954-921-3274
Breakfast at Isa Boutique
Channel your inner Holly Golightly with Saturday morning shopping and cocktails at Isa.
June 18, 2012
Indie fashion hub Isa Boutique will debut its new Saturday summer shopping series on June 30 (11 AM-3 PM) with a resort and swimwear trunk show by local style maven Lorie Lester.
Isa's debut Saturday soirée will slash prices on summer staples while also pampering guests via complimentary braiding by Blo Dry Bar and mini makeovers courtesy of Nail Bar & Beauty Lounge. Shoppers will also enjoy music by DJ Willie, cocktails by Fragoli Passionne, and the chance to win a $500 shopping spree.
Lester's coveted contemporary designs are among the latest labels that now call Isa home. Other new designers carried in the boutique include Allison Chomer, Mandalynn Swimwear, and Zenati Handbags. 3400 N. Miami Ave., Miami, 786-558-8027
Roofless Records at MOCA
Music at MOCA welcomes Roofless Records for an alfresco indie concert.
June 18, 2012
Miami-based indie label Roofless Records will take its cutting edge cult sounds to the MOCA courtyard on Wednesday, June 20 for the latest installment of the museum's music series. From 7-9 PM, Roofless will roll out a set by DJ Matt Preira, a Dio Kerr Jazz Ensemble jam session, and an experiential sound performance by Radio Test #1. The open-air concert is free with museum admission.
MOCA's monthly midweek series was established to highlight collaborations with local cultural preservation organizations and musical groundbreakers. Since 2007, Roofless Records has made its mark by producing innovative music in an old-school format; all Roofless Records releases are on vinyl or cassette tape. The label has also emerged as a well-known conceptual event production company. 70 N.E. 125th St., North Miami, 305-893-6211
