Seth Meyers at The Fillmore
Thursday, April 18, 8 p.m.
Saturday Night Livehead writer and "Weekend Update" anchor Seth Meyers brings his razor sharp wit to The Fillmore Miami Beach as part of this week's South Beach Comedy Festival. Since the Emmy-winning comedian has been circling the rumor mill as Jimmy Fallon's potentialLate Night replacement, we're sure he’ll poke some fun at NBC's after hours shuffling. Tickets begin at $37.50 and may be purchased through Live Nation. 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach

VeritageMiami
Thursday to Saturday, April 18-20
What was once known as the United Way Miami Wine & Food Festival has been rebranded as VeritageMiami. The annual food-fueled series kicked off Wednesday but will continue through Saturday night. Upcoming events include a wine tasting at the Village of Merrick Park, an interactive dinner with Daniel Boulud, and a wine pairings dinner with Michelin-star chef Davide Brovelli. 

Wild and Scenic Film Festival Gala
Saturday, April 20, 6:30 p.m.–MIDNIGHT
Sink your toes into the sand while enjoying cocktails, food, film screenings, and a bonfire at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in support of the Biscayne Nature Center (BNC) and its programs for children in inner city areas like Overtown and Little Haiti. With funds raised, the BNC will take kids on “beachfront expeditions,” opening their eyes to ocean animals and the ecology of South Florida. The event will run from sunset to midnight, kids are welcome, and tropical dress is encouraged. 4020 Virginia Beach Dr., Key Biscayne, 305-361-6767 x111

Reveler's Brunch
Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Federal Food Drink & Provisions is now serving its famous Sunday brunch on Saturdays. Slide in for midday merriment via à la carte eats like cannoli French Toast, butter poached apples and bacon, and green eggs and ham. Indulge in bottomless mimosas for an additional $16 per person. 5132 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-758-9559

Sweat Records owner Lauren Reskin

A collector of vinyl since adolescence, Lauren “Lolo” Reskin opened Sweat Records eight years ago to give Miami's surrounding communities an authentic, neighborhood record store. To boot, her passion for the local music scene has earned her a spot on the City of Miami's Arts & Entertainment Council and on The Recording Academy's Florida Chapter Board. This Saturday, April 20, Lolo will host the fourth Sweatstock outdoor music festival, which turns N.E. 2nd Ave. into an all-day block party. Fittingly, the event coincides with National Record Store Day. Here, we talk to Lolo about Sweatstock, why, for music lovers, there's only one renovation plan for the Miami Beach Convention Center, and her current playlist.

What’s on slate for this year’s edition of Sweatstock?
LAUREN RESKIN: Tons of amazing live performances, delicious local food, crates upon crates of exclusive records, more stock of everything else than we've ever had, DJs, giveaways, and nice people. You can definitely expect to run into some friends and random people you haven't seen in a while.

How do you select the bands?
LR: We don't repeat bands year to year, but they can come back after that. It's good to give other local bands a chance to get on stage.

Obviously, the festival and concerts have huge appeal for younger audiences, but what about vinyl itself? Has your record store clientele gotten younger?
LR: Our ‘typical’ customer becomes more and more varied. I feel like it's tied to the resurgence of vinyl. We have young kids starting their first collection, older people starting their second, and everyone in between.  

In terms of preserving Miami’s music landscape, what are the most crucial issues?
LR: I’m advocating in any way possible on behalf of preserving The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. There are two [Miami Beach Convention Center] renovation plans on the table right now, and one keeps and improves The Fillmore and the other bulldozes it to make a Cirque du Soleil. Cirque is just such a wrong fit for Miami Beach. I truly hope the South Beach ACE team wins the bid.

What about nurturing our city’s future talent? What’s essential to that?
LR: There still needs to be more rent-controlled areas for artists and small business to be able to stay and build communities and prevent gentrification. We need some visionary real estate people to get involved and commit to making Miami livable and culturally significant, and not just ‘luxury.’

Last Question. What's on your playlist right now?
LR: Tame Impala, IO Echo, Holly Hunt, Damon Albarn, Levek. I am also a stupid fangirl that's excited for the new Daft Punk and Queens of the Stone Age albums.

Über-chic event designer David Stark will host a book signing and discussion on his latest tome, The Art of the Party, at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) on Saturday, May 4 at 3 p.m. MOCA attendees will be among the first to peruse the new book, which hits shelves on May 7. Featuring inspiration from 25 of Stark’s events, The Art of the Party is rife with beautiful illustration and real-time photography. Women’s Wear Daily, Target, and MOCA, as well as private clients celebrating weddings, baby showers, and birthdays, hosted some of the fêtes featured on Stark’s pages. In addition, the book sheds light on how Stark gets inspired to create his lavish events, gives décor and hostess tips for aspiring event planners, and offers advice on themes, color palettes, and embellishments for an artful party. 770 N.E. 125th St., North Miami, 305-893-6211 

Kill time in The Standard's lush garden while treating yourself to the hotel spa's five-day detox 

One of Miami’s top holistic hubs, The Standard Spa is hosting a springtime detox series starting this Wednesday, April 17. Ideal for relieving stress, both physical and mental, the five-day program includes a bevy of courses and cleanses, including yoga in the hotel's lush garden, access to the spa’s acclaimed juice cleanses, acupuncture treatments, life coaching sessions, and more. Onsite packages begin at $265 per person, per night and include a daily breakfast, choice of wellness workshop and detox treatment, unlimited yoga classes, and a discount on spa services. Those with a little less time on their hands can opt for daily passes for $125 per person, which covers one workshop, unlimited yoga, and hamam and spa access. For additional details, email thespa@standardhotel.com. 40 Island Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-1717

Fans who’ve followed the career of jazz bassist and chanteuse Esperanza Spalding can hear songs from her new album, Radio Music Society, backed by a 12-piece band this Friday night at the Adrienne Arsht Center. A musical prodigy who taught herself to play the violin at age four, Spalding spent most of her youth at The Chamber Music Society of Portland, ascending to concertmaster at just 15-years-old. It was during that time that she discovered her now signature instrument, the bass.

Spalding’s accomplishments certainly don’t end there: she has performed for president Barack Obama at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, and she has three Grammy Awards under her belt, one of which she earned for Radio Music Society, best jazz vocal album. Spalding wrote and composed the majority of Society's tracks, which seamlessly blends elements of funk, neo soul, jazz, and balladry. 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-949-6722

Khong River House 

James Beard award semifinalist Khong River House is cooking up a limited-time menu for this weekend’s Thai New Year, or “Songkran.” Timed to Thailand's annual festivities, the à la carte menu will be served from Saturday, April 13 to Tuesday, April 16 and can be coupled with a handsome bottomless bar. Chef Bee's holiday menu will feature three Southeast Asian staples: spiced chicken steamed in banana leafs; vermicelli noodles with coconut milk, pineapple, and shrimp; and a northern-style ground beef salad. The venue will also nod its colorful heritage by passing out “forgive and forget confession cards,” allowing guests to enter the Thai New Year with a clean slate. The cards represent a very special Songkran tradition in which individuals approach friends and family for forgiveness of any earlier wrongdoings. That alone sounds worth a trip to us. 1661 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, 305-763-8147

Is Wynwood too popular for its own good?

Locals have been grumbling about Wynwood’s growing polarities for some time now. Rising rents and community conflicts are causing many residents to ship out. According to one writer, the neighborhood’s popularity is its biggest handicap. [The Atlantic Cities]

Miami has been named one the top ten “Tastiest Towns” in the south by Southern Living. Restaurants noted include Pubbelly, Yardbird, Bloom, and Michael Schwartz’s stable of hot spots. [Southern Living]

And in decidedly less uplifting Miami superlative news, our city is apparently the foreclosure capital of Florida, which in turn leads the country in foreclosure stats. [The Miami Herald]

As the sun crept up on April 7, thousands of athletes flocked to Ocean Drive for the sixth annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon. E! News correspondent Jason Kennedy and actor James Marsden were among those up for the challenge. [World Red Eye]

A group of college students on a fishing trip off the Fort Lauderdale coast were shocked when they hooked a rarely seen great white shark earlier this week.

Cooler than normal waters and migrating fish attracted a great white shark to our shores earlier this week. A group of college kids fishing off the Fort Lauderdale coast spotted the shark. [NBCMiami]

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Ron English
By Alex Toth of Wynwood Kitchen & Bar

1 ounce Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum
1 ounce cachaça

1 1/2 ounces coconut Rum

3/4 ounce pineapple juice

3/4 ounce orange juice
1 ounce guanabana nectar


Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a tall glass with fresh ice. Mint sprig garnish.

 

The Perfect 10
By John Lermayer of The Regent Cocktail Club

1 1/2 ounces 10 Cane Rum
1/2 ounce Licor 43
1/2 ounce agave
3/4 ounce lemon juice
2 ounces muddled pineapple

Combine and shake ingredients, then strain. Serve in large coupe and sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon on top.

 

The Cayman Transfer
By Tom Hiller of the Living Room at W South Beach

3/4 ounce Santa Teresa Claro rum
3/4 ounce Rhum Agricole Blanc
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
1/3 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
Dash of Angostura bitters

Mix all ingredients in shaker with ice, shake well. Pour into a tall glass with ice. Lime wheel and edible flower garnish.

 

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The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival takes place April 15-21

Dutch DJ Sander van Doorn will spin at Story this Friday night

The Drunken Botanist
Friday, April 12, 8 p.m.
Explore the relationship between botany and booze with New York Times bestseller Amy Stewart at Books & Books Coral Gables. Stewart will be discussing her latest book, The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks, which explores the science behind spirit making and also boasts drink recipes and gardening tips. 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, 305-442-4408

Sander van Doorn
Friday, April 12, 11 p.m.
Missing the music and revelry of last month's Ultra Music Festival? Head to Story Nightclub and catch DJ Sander van Doorn. The Dutchman just signed with Roc Nation and his new track, Ten, is making waves on the electronic dance music circuit. 136 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-538-2424

Splat Hair Chalk South Florida Launch Party
Saturday, April 13, 9-11 p.m.
Speaking of Ultra, the look du jour was pastel and neon colored hair, as oft seen on pop stars like Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera. You can experiment with the trend at the SoFla launch of Splat Hair Chalk at Shore Club South Beach, where there will be hair stations to get your locks dyed, Chambord Vodka cocktails to quench your thirst, and an Instagram photo booth to share your new look with all of your friends. 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-695-3100; RSVP online

Classic Sundays
Sunday, April 14, 8 p.m.
Bianca at the Delano is offering Sunday night diners a special three-course menu for $65 per person. The alfresco supper can be coupled with unlimited prosecco sips for an additional $35. Bianca's sumptuous Italian eats recently got an upgrade when Luciano Sautto was promoted to chef de cuisine in early April. 1685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-674-5752

Dwyane Wade performs a "lock and load" exercise with trainer Ed Downs

Now a pro sports trainer and Miami Heat training consultant, it’s hard to believe that Ed Downs’ first career choice was engineering. But he’s certainly made use of his knack for math and science, developing his signature, Air Force-engineered “Down Disc” core training device to help clients prevent and recover from injuries. To boot, Downs earned a Medal of Honor from the 7th Special Forces Group for sharing his training methods with the Navy Seals. He’s also a U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee.

Downs’ current baby is his Proterf fitness program and TERF Athletic Facility (6808 S.W. 81st St., Miami), which he co-founded in 2011. Proterf invites everyone to “train like an athlete,” emphasizing individual core development and multi-directional movement, and TERF acts as a one-stop fitness shop, featuring an on-site nutritionist, physical therapist, and mental testing machinery. With the NBA Playoffs just around the corner, we sat down with Downs to talk sports, fitness, and his star-studded client list. 

How does martial arts help improve athletic performance?
ED DOWNS: One thing that is a fact is that if you improve your flexibility, especially dynamic flexibility, it increases speed and performance, and for athletes, it is all about quickness and performance. Martial arts does that for them, through the kicks and movement, so I incorporate those types of stretching methods into my training methods. I'm also incorporating rehab and prehab elements into the workouts in order to prevent injury.

Is lack of flexibility a common problem?
ED: It is common that most athletes are pretty tight, but that can help with their explosive power. It's a give and a take. I don't want an athlete to be hyper-flexible like a gymnast because that can actually slow them down. You'd be surprised, some of those big linemen, first basemen, and hockey players can actually do a split. It's quite the sight.

How can the everyday gym-goer benefit from Proterf?
ED: The beauty of it is it that it doesn't just improve your skill related parameters, like speed, quickness, and agility, but you're also improving your health related parameters. And it's fun to do. You are losing weight and getting lean while doing things that a professional athlete does.

What aspect of your program do athletes find most challenging?
ED: The balance and coordination development, which is a major part in being able to improve your performance. When you see a guy like Dwyane Wade jump in the air and control his body like an acrobat, he's harnessing those factors. Then the women come in here with experience in yoga or pilates and they make these guys look bad.

Do your Heat clients have any favorite exercises?
ED: Wade's favorite is the lock and load. For Bosh, probably lunging with extension. He's 6'11, but he needs to be long. In order to get rebounds he needs to be strong when he's up in that long pattern and contend with those other big dudes.

And who has stood out most to you, in terms of athleticism?
ED: Jennifer Capriati was probably one of the most athletic people I worked with. She had all those parameters we talked about—speed, coordination, reaction time, agility, power, and balance—she had all six, like LeBron James. She had like a ten in all those levels. A female LeBron James with a racket!