Miami, U.S.A. – The Jewish Museum of Florida, a historical museum located on Miami Beach, has become part of the Florida International University family through a gift that will create a unique partnership. The Museum will now be known as the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU (JMOF-FIU).

The Florida International University’s Board of Trustees voted June 29 to approve the gift, which will leverage the resources of both institutions, igniting a new era of interdisciplinary education, research and outreach focused on the history of the Jewish experience in Florida and issues of discrimination against all peoples in Florida throughout history.

Authorization to use the Jewish Museum of Florida- Florida International University as a special purpose center is still pending approval by the Florida Board of Governors.

This hallmark gift includes two adjacent Art Deco buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as The Museum’s historical collections, research library, endowment and other assets.

“There’s an immense richness of research housed within The Museum that explores 250 years of Jewish art, culture and history,” said Florida International University President Mark B. Rosenberg. “Through this generous gift, FIU will expand our reach into the South Florida community, helping to preserve an important part of our history while enhancing the global learning experience we offer our students.”

A key component of the academic plan for the JMOF-FIU is the relocation of a variety of programs, including the Judaic Studies Program, to The Museum’s facilities. The plan also includes the expansion of academic programs and research endeavors about the challenges of the immigrant experiences shared by all ethnicities in the state of Florida.

“Our synergy and mutual commitment to exploring the richness and diversity of Jewish life in Florida makes this a perfect match,” said Jo Ann Arnowitz, executive director and chief curator of The Museum.

Image Courtesy of  Jewish Museum of Florida

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Las Vegas, U.S.A – For the 3rd annual World Swastika Rehabilitation Day, Raelians, together with representatives from the Buddhist and Hindu religions, are planning to carry out major events in cities throughout the Americas, Australia, and Africa on Saturday, June 23.

In Europe, Raelians from Germany and its surrounding countries have decided to use this opportunity to inform the German public about the swastika’s history, since most Germans completely ignore the swastika’s good standing as a very ancient symbol of peace for Buddhists and a symbol of good luck for numerous other cultures.

The city of Karlsruhe, where the event is to be held, has nevertheless banned Raelians from displaying any type of swastika except for the Raelian symbol, in which a swastika intertwines with a six-pointed star.

“According to an order issued by the Karlsruhe government on June 15, the display of swastikas would lead to ‘an immediate danger for the public safety and order” explained Thomas Kaenzig, coordinator of World Swastika Rehabilitation Day. “But how can a peaceful assembly explaining the religious and multicultural origin of this symbol be a threat to public safety? The attempt by the German government to bury the swastika under the pretext that it’s a symbol of violence and hatred only gives credit to the horrible Nazi ideology. On the contrary, the government should encourage our action, since by giving this symbol its true value, we finally allow the German people to turn the page.”

Kaenzig said that is exactly what 18 members of the European Parliament did in a letter to the European Commission dated February 21, 2005. “For Raelians, the swastika is one of the most prominent traces left by the extraterrestrial scientists who created us, who were mistaken for gods by our ancestors,” Kaenzig said.

“We can find this symbol in all ancient cultures: in Buddhist manuscripts, on Shinto temples in Japan, in traditional African and Native American artwork, absolutely everywhere. Even in Israel one can find numerous synagogues and other ancient sites displaying the swastika.And last but not least, the Bellevue castle of the German president in Berlin proudly displays swastikas without compromising public safety. The ban by the city of Karlsruhe is an insult not only for all Raelians, but also for all Buddhists, Hindus and Shintos who represent a majority of the world’s population. As a reminder, in 1988 the Munich appeals court has established that ‘use of the Raelian symbol obviously doesn’t contravene against the protection purposes of article 86a of the penal code and is hence not punishable under this statute.’”

Kaenzig said that despite the ban imposed by the city order, the group in favor of rehabilitating the swastika has decided to proceed with the event, which will start at 3 p.m. at the Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe.

He added that in the United States, demonstrations will take place in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Miami starting at 3 p.m. local time, and that large swastika banners will be flown in the skies of the Los Angeles area and along the New Jersey coastline from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and in the New York City area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.

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Just minutes prior to taking the podium in front of a room jam-packed with members of the Miami media on Tuesday morning, the Miami Marlins announced that manager Ozzie Guillen had been suspended by their front office for five games following comments that he made earlier in the week regarding Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

“I feel like I betrayed my Latin community,” was the English translation of one of Guillen’s opening statements. Guillen spoke in his native Spanish for most of the press conference. “I am here to say I am sorry with my heart in my hands and I want to say I’m sorry to all those people who are hurt indirectly or directly.”

“I’m sorry for what I said and for putting people in a position they don’t need to be in. And for all the Cuban families, I’m sorry,” said Guillen. “I hope that when I get out of here, they will understand who Ozzie Guillen is. How I feel for them. And how I feel about the Fidel Castro dictatorship. I’m here to face you, person to person. It’s going to be a very difficult time for me.”

Bench coach Joey Cora will manage the club until Guillen’s return next week.

In what has become an infamous interview with Time Magazine a few days ago, Guillen stated, “I love Fidel Castro.” His immediate reason for the remark was Castro’s ability to remain in power after several decades despite the overwhelming hatred that Cuban citizens have for him.

This sparked immediate outrage from Cubans in Miami, who compose the city’s majority population, especially where the Marlins new ballpark is located, Little Havana. The last thing they ever want to hear is someone supporting the man whose tyrant communist practices have caused them and their families relentless suffering for years on end, forcing them to flee their homeland with zero intent of ever returning.

“Guillen’s remarks, which were offensive to an important part of the Miami community and others throughout the world, have no place in our game,” said MLB commissioner Bud Selig.

With an off-day in Philadelphia during the Marlins series against the Phillies, Guillen decided that it would be best to take a flight back to South Florida on Tuesday and apologize for his insensitive comments.

Along with multiple apologies to those he offended, Guillen repeated numerous times during the press conference that he does not have any admiration for Castro.

“The interpretation didn’t come out as I wanted,” Guillen said in defense of his controversial words. “I was thinking in Spanish and I said the wrong thing in English.”

No prepared statement in front of him, Guillen spoke directly from the heart.

“Everybody in the world hates Fidel Castro, including myself,” said Guillen. “I was surprised that he’s still in power. That’s what I was trying to say to the journalist. And that’s the first thing that came out of my mouth. I admit it. It was the wrong words.”

Much of the Miami community did not believe that Guillen’s apology sufficed, and a series of boycotts and protests outside of the stadium will take place once the Marlins return this Friday for the first of a three game series against the Houston Astros.

Despite many of these people wanting Guillen fired, Marlins president David Samson assured that the team never considered it.

Positive comments about Castro were also made by Guillen back in a 2008 interview with the Chicago Sun Times, but it was essentially a non-story because of the paper’s location.

“I will do everything to try to make things be better,” said Guillen. “I’m willing to do everything in my power, in the Marlins power, to do everything I can to help this community.”

“This is the biggest mistake of my life. When you make a mistake this big … I will learn from this,” he said.

Image Courtesy of  Keith Allison

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The 23^rd Annual Billboard Latin Music Conference Presented by State Farm will gather hundreds of industry leaders and influencers, featuring panel discussions with today’s top artists and executives.

Held April 23 to 26, at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami, Florida, the conference kicks off with a showcase honoring “El Caballo Mayor” Johnny Ventura on his 55 years of musical career. Information about registration can be found at www.BillboardLatinConference.com.

“When it comes to supporting the best in Latino artists, few things make us more proud than to again be the title sponsor of the Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards,” said Pam El, State Farm Marketing Vice President.

“Not only does Billboard do a great job in recognizing and promoting the talented pool of Latino artists that are climbing the charts, they also bring together a veritable who’s-who of the music industry and marketing world to discuss the powerful role music plays in the lives of today’s Hispanic audiences. We feel privileged to be able to support such an important occasion that highlights the central role music plays in our customer’s lives.”

Internationally renowned Pitbull will be showcased at the Superstar Q&A discussing his rise to the top and entrepreneurial ventures. Other celebrity panels include: Q&A with Don Omar : Unveiling the Strategy Behind the Hits. The Being Social panel features urban music pioneer, entrepreneur and social media leader, Daddy Yankee.

Q&A with Jenni Rivera : The Diva We Want To Know where Jenni will discuss her career as an artist and entrepreneur. How I Wrote That Song – Presented By BMI featuring Chino & Nacho; Horacio Palencia and Gocho. Gerardo Ortiz , 3BallMTY and the teams behind their success will participate in the Regional Mexican panel.

The Marketing Exchange hosted by Telemundo and Mun2 features panels such as Targeting Music about winning strategies from music mogul Emilio Estefan and Target VP of Entertainment John Butcher; and Reaching The New Latino: How brands and agencies are targeting the “New” US Born Latino via music and music branded events.

The Exchange features guest speakers from PepsiCo, Republica, Globalhue, Verizon Wireless and UMLE; and culminates with the presentation of the Marketing Awards honoring the year’s best advertising, branding and sponsorship campaigns that use Latin artists and their songs.

The conference will also feature sessions with Pandora CEO Joe Kennedy, the SBS Entertainment team, a presentation by LiveNation, and a Q&A with Univision Radio President Jose Valle.

The week culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards Presented by State Farm – the most prestigious awards show in the Latin music industry. The awards show, produced and broadcast live by Telemundo on Thursday, April 26 at 7PM (6PM Central), honors the biggest stars based on the Latin Billboard charts, and features performances by top artists across all genres of Latin music.

For more information about the 2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference, visit: http://www.BillboardLatinConference.com. Follow Billboard Latin Music Conference at www.facebook.com/BillboardConferences and Twitter @BillboardEvents.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnrudolph/

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The fourth annual Miami Rum Renaissance Festival begins on Monday, April 16 with a series of evening VIP rum parties hosted by leading rum brands at notable venues throughout the area.

A robust schedule of rum-themed special events during the week culminates in a two-day grand tasting exhibition from 1 to 7pm Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22 at the Deauville Beach Resort at 6701 Collins Avenue. The main event features nearly a hundred rum and island lifestyle exhibits, offering complimentary samples of hundreds of fine rums.

According to event organizers Robert and Robin Burr, their Miami Rum Fest has doubled in size each year, a testament to the fact that consumer interest in sugar cane spirits is growing rapidly, faster than any other category of liquor.

“The vast range of fine rums now coming to the market reinforces our prediction that rum is enjoying a renaissance of appreciation,” said Robert Burr, festival promoter and author of Rob’s Rum Guide. “We’re seeing an explosion of top-tier family reserves, luxury sipping rums and premium products on the shelves in liquor stores.

Exciting new rums are joining the legacy Caribbean classics to bolster the cane spirits category and provide consumers with a fantastic array of choices of sipping rums. We’re also seeing many new high quality rums specially designed for creating great cocktails.”

The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival offers an unparalleled opportunity for consumers and the trade to learn about — and sample — the best rums in the world over the two-day grand tasting events with more than 20,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Deauville Beach Resort.

“We’re very excited to see so many new rum brands and island lifestyle products participating this year,” said Robin Burr, exhibits manager. “We’ve nearly doubled the size of our main exhibit space once again to bring festival participants a wider variety of rums and related products from around the world.”

Rum enthusiasts can choose between $40 advance tickets to the grand tasting events ($50 at the door) or$250 VIP passes granting all-access admission to the week long series of VIP parties and special events.

For tickets to the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, visit the web site at www.RumRenaissance.com or call 877-855-3378.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/63439615@N00/

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There is more to being a presidential wife than what the media lets on. Newscasters and talk show hosts often highlight images of a smiling woman striding confidently on stage, or one who speaks with grace about her own sponsored initiatives.

However, in the midst of the First Lady’s daily life, these moments tend to become lost among the many instances when she sometimes struggles for her husband’s attention amongst the pressing needs of his staff members, or even the times when she feels trapped between having to impress both her husband and the individuals who admire her.

Feelings like these can wreak havoc on what can otherwise be a stable union between two individuals, and they tend to go unnoticed by most outsiders. However, Jodi Kantor, a New York Times reporter, sought to investigate what occurs behind the scenes of what appears to be a picturesque relationship between President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.

Kantor, who had been covering the Obamas for five years, documented the experiences of her work in her book, “The Obamas” and discussed those results before an appreciative audience at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Fla., on February 14.

A recurring theme present during her address to the audience was how time in the White House fundamentally changed the dynamics of Barack and Michelle’s relationship. According to Kantor, obtaining the opportunity to live in the White House represented a shift for the couple as they went against the norm often in their actions.

“Entering the White House represented a radical transformation for the Obamas,” Kantor pointed out, “these two individuals were thrust into a world that was not natural to them.”

This transformation served as a focal point for Kantor’s analysis of the Obamas in the White House. In learning about this transformation for her book, she interviewed 33 aides and staff members. Throughout this process, she wanted to figure out the parts of their lives that remained theirs, and which parts would become absorbed through life in Washington, D.C.

“I really wanted to know how the Obamas coped, as well as the effect that all of this new power and influence had on them,” she explained to the audience. As she continued her research on the Obamas, Kantor made a singular realization about White House life. “I first recognized that there is a profound isolation that exists when you enter the White House,” she explained.

“It is very contradictory; you may be elected to lead the country, but you have to leave it behind as well.” She supported this point by mentioning that the president possesses a fake Blackberry for security reasons, as well as the challenges that her children faced when it came to trick or treating on Halloween night.

Kantor noted that this isolation makes it very difficult for the president to determine whom to trust. In many cases, people will refrain from telling him the truth for fear of offending him. One person who the president is always able to be honest with, Kantor noted, is his spouse. Expanding on this, Kantor mentioned that President Obama often shares information with his spouse, and that she has stood by him on key issues, particularly when it came to health care and immigration reform.

However, having a spouse with that much influence can be a challenge when it comes to personal dynamics; for instance, Kantor described the First Lady as “the keeper of the Obama mission” who enjoys significant influence in the president’s life, even though it may appear that she has to compete for his ear against his advisors.

These challenges are the most apparent when facing criticism from outside sources. Kantor noted that since most media outlets and individuals are already critical of President Obama’s actions, it becomes especially challenging when it’s time for the president’s spouse to weigh in. She then said that in these situations, it should be acceptable for the individual closest to the president to give their opinions on the situation at hand.

As the evening progressed, Kantor introduced her grandmother to the stage and took questions from the audience. Most of the queries centered on the impressions that she obtained through her time spent covering the Obamas in Washington.

In answering, she focused on the inherent challenges that presidents face when they first assume office, the difficulties associated with obtaining access to key political figures in Washington, and the fact that despite the media criticism she has received regarding the portrayals of the First Family, the book itself has been thoroughly fact-checked.

The event concluded with a standing ovation and Kantor taking the opportunity to sign books for eager audience members. While it is unknown what opinions these individuals will have once they read the book for themselves, it is hoped that the following quote stated by Kantor will prove helpful as they flip through its pages.

In reading my book, I hope that you end up asking yourself how you would handle the situations that the Obamas faced.

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For the first time in almost a year, the Miami Dolphins gave their home crowd something to cheer about. Reggie Bush scored the clinching touchdown and emphatically threw the ball into the stands. Bush scored twice and Rex Grossman, who got the start over John Beck this week, was picked off twice as the Dolphins cruised to a 20-9 victory over the Washington Redskins.

This was the second straight victory for a Dolphins team that started the season 0-7. ”It was nice to come in this locker room and celebrate a win,” coach Tony Sparano said. “I see 2-7 now as a hill but not a mountain. That’s how our players see it, too.” The Dolphins had a small 10-6 lead going into the half, but were able to put together 70 and 81 yard scoring drives to pull away as they held off any chance of a fourth-quarter comeback by the Redskins.

“The first seven games we were kind of in disarray,” Bush said. “We were trying to find our identity. The difference now is we’re playing 60 minutes and finishing at the end of games.”

Miami was up 13-9 with Grossman driving down the field to the 10 early in the fourth when he threw a pass right at linebacker Karlos Dansby who made the interception to end the drive. The Dolphins then came out and drove 81 yards for the touchdown on a 18 yard run by Reggie Bush, who finished with 47 yards on 14 carries

Vontae Davis, who returned from his one game benching, added another interception. Matt Moore, who had a terrific game against Kansas City last week, had an interception and a fumble but was 20 of 29 for 209 yards. The Dolphins went 8 for 14 on third down despite coming in as the worst in the NFL.

The Redskins dropped their fifth in a row after starting the season promisingly. “It’s frustrating being 3-6,” Grossman said. “We’re better than that.”Grossman was 21 of 32 for 215 yards and two picks. Grossman was the surprise starter this week after he was benched four weeks ago in favor of John Beck.

Shanahan said it had to do with the injuries to the offensive line that he decided to go with Grossman who’s more experienced. ”I thought Rex gave us a chance to win,” Shanahan said. “If you have this many guys go down, I didn’t want to go with the inexperienced guy and throw him to the wolves.”

The Redskins’ three scoring drives netted only 48 yards as they were set up close by two turnovers, but had to settle each time for field goals. Washington reached the Miami 20, 26, 5, and 10 yard lines. Graham Gano also missed two field goals form 50 and 49 yards out. The interception by Kevin Barnes set up the Redskins at the Miami 5, but they lost three yards on three plays and settled for a field goal.

On Ryan Kerrigan’s sack forced fumble the Redskins were again set up close at the Miami 24, but again settled for just three points. ”You get into the red zone three times, you’ve got to make plays to win the game,” Shanahan said. The Dolphins look to continue their new found success when the Bills come to town on a two game losing streak.

Washington heads home looking to snap the losing streak against division rivals the Dallas Cowboys winners of two straight.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/MiamiDolphins

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The Bills come into the game on Sunday looking to avoid losing two in a row for the first time this season when they travel to Jerryworld to square off with the Cowboys who are trying to keep pace with the Giants for the NFC East. “The focus is trying to win a game. … We got everything in front of us — we hold our own destiny in our own hands, so we gotta go take care of business,” coach Chan Gailey said.

Buffalo, who sit at 5-3 tied atop the AFC East with the Patriots and the Jets, failed to take care of any business last Sunday against the Jets. They fell 27-11 and saw their high power offense, which is tied for the highest scoring in the AFC with the Patriots at 27.8 points per game, sputter as the Jets made them look like the one win Dolphins. The Bills went 3 for 11 on third down and turned it over three times.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two interceptions and had his worst game of the year going 15 of 31 for 191 yards and a touchdown. ”It was a bad game,” said Fitzpatrick. “We certainly didn’t have our best effort out there, and I think that’s where a lot of disappointment and frustration comes in.”

Fitzpatrick will look to bounce back facing a Cowboys pass defense that’s right in the middle of the pack ranked 16^th giving up 232.5 yards per game. The Bills are led by running back Fred Jackson who is having a career year leading the AFC at 100.4 yards per game and helping the Bills to the 7^th ranked rushing attack with 135 yards per game.

However, the Jets held the team to only 96 yards on the ground and forced Jackson’s first fumble of the year. They will look to get back to the run, as Dallas has struggled lately giving up 401 yards on the ground the past two weeks. Dallas will get Sean Lee back who is their leading tackler and this should help them somewhat.

For Buffalo to keep pace for the AFC East title they’ll have to go at least 2-1 on their three game road trip facing Dallas, Miami, and then the Jets again before heading home to face Tennessee. ”It will be a difficult stretch, but we don’t have to play all three of them at the same time,” Jackson said. “If we go out and continue to make plays like we have been throughout the season, we feel like we’ll be OK.”

Buffalo has struggle so far on the road this year by going 1-2, but the losses came against the Giants and the Bengals, both who are in first place in their divisions. Each loss was only by three points. The Cowboys sit at 4-4, but are looking to make a push in the second half of the season as they benefit from an easy schedule. They also benefit from the first place Giants having a tough stretch over the next few weeks.

After the Bills the Cowboys face Washington, Miami, and Arizona who have a combined record of 6-18. After that, the Giants come to town in what looks to be a pivotal matchup. ”We’ve done a lot of things to build on over the first eight games, a lot we can be positive about. … But we have to get better,” said Garrett

When starting running back Felix Jones got hurt, people expected the running game to take a step back, but the opposite has happened with rookie DeMarco Murray shining rushing for 466 yards in three games. They hope he can keep it up against a Bills run defense that ranks 20^th giving up 120.8 yards per game.

“We are going to have a great 1-2 punch when Felix gets healthy,” Witten said. “It’s going to put us in a great situation.” The Cowboys are a little banged up with Felix Jones still being questionable and wide receiver Miles Austin out for possibly a month after he reinjured his hamstring last week.

With no Austin, Dez Bryant figures to see a lot more targets, along with tight end Kevin Ogletree and wide receiver Laurent Robinson. Buffalo’s defense, while rich with playmaking ability, they lead the AFC with 15 interceptions, isn’t that great. They rank 25^th against the pass giving up 260.4 yards per game.

The game should be a close contest as both teams can put up a lot of points in a hurry. Both teams need to win to keep pace in their respective races, but with the Bills on the road and Dallas’ defense being run by Rob Ryan, Rex’s twin brother, they will see a dose of the same stuff they saw against the Jets. The Cowboys should be able to get a win at home. Final Prediction: Bills 17 Cowboys 27.

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Despite showing signs of losing to a team that has not won since last season, the New York Giants were able to rally back for a 17-20 win over the Miami Dolphins. The Giants’ running attack were not prepared today, only running for a total of 58 yards which came mostly from the help of Amhad Bradshaw.

On the other hand, the Dolphins ran for a total of 145 yards due to running back Reggie Bush. Bush ran for 103 yards on 15 attempts, breaking his personal record. Quarterback Matt Moore and running back Steve Slaton were able to rush for a touchdown apiece in the game.

The Miami Dolphins were not successful in the throwing game, with Moore throwing for 138 yards on 13 completed catches along with throwing an interception. Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess completed a total of seven receptions for a total of 98 yards, without any touchdowns.

The New York Giants were able to rally in the second half of the game, with quarterback Eli Manning throwing 349 yards and two touchdowns in 31 completions. Mario Manningham caught the first touchdown pass in the second quarter, along with catching six passes for a total of 63 yards.

Wide receiver Victor Cruz caught the game winning catch for the final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter, finishing off the game with 99 yards off of seven catches in the game. The Giants (5-2) travel to Massachusetts next Sunday to face the New England Patriots, while the Dolphins (0-7) travel to square off against the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Sun soaked Miami, Florida is a vacation destination for visitors across the country and world wide. Known for its year round warm climate, tropical beaches, and energizing nightlife, Miami has been a hotspot for decades. Palm tree lined streets and a beach atmosphere makes for a perfect travel getaway.

Miami is a crossroads of American and Caribbean cultures and the city blends its flavor and influences to share with the world. Any visitor spending a weekend in Miami can have a fun filled vacation, experiencing all the city has to offer, while maintaining a healthy, green lifestyle.

The Clifton South Beach Hotel brings the stylish, chic atmosphere of Miami living to its guests. It is one of the premier South Beach hotels, located just steps away from the famous tropical beach, restaurants, and bars.

The Clifton South Beach Hotel sets itself apart from other properties by putting in impeccable, environmentally friendly attention to detail. The interior furnishings are made with recyclable and renewable materials. This includes areas like the dry wall, to the mattresses. The paints used throughout the building have zero volatile organic compounds.

Each room comes with bath products that are good for the environment. The Carlton South Beach is a LEED hotel, and a carbon neutral hotel. The exterior of the hotel stays true to its art deco roots; a popular architectural style seen throughout beautiful South Beach. Staying at the Carlton South Beach gives guests an optimal location and can satisfy any environmentalist’s needs.

A first stop on any Miami itinerary is often to the legendary beach. Taking in the soft white sand and turquoise colored ocean is a breathtaking scene for any new visitor, or long time visitor, to South Beach. Finding an empty spot of the sand and spending the day at the beach is a fun, free, eco friendly activity for anyone to enjoy.

Bringing a picnic lunch with locally sourced food is a healthy option to a day at the beach. Working on a golden tan, cooling off in the clear ocean, and playing a game of volleyball are all popular ways to pass the time in South Beach.

Enjoying the outdoors is possibly one of the most fulfilling ways to appreciate the environment. However, while doing so, it is always important to keep the beach clean and the way it was originally found.

Getting around South Beach has never been greener. Walking is an easy, healthy way to get around the neighborhood. Visitors taking a stroll along famous Ocean Drive can get some exercise and pass through one outdoor restaurant after another.

Swoop, a newly introduced company, makes traveling through South Beach eco friendly, and free. Swoop is a line of electric golf carts, seating up to six passengers at a time, that brings people around the South Beach neighborhood. Passengers can go run errands, go grocery shopping, or be dropped off at their favorite restaurant.

Swoop operates every day of the week from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. This free service is now a well known way to easily get around town, without doing any harm on the environment.

South Beach streets are full of shopping opportunities. The pedestrian only street of Lincoln Road gives people an all around outdoor shopping and dining experience. People can browse through stores, sit at an outdoor café, and spend some leisure time in the relaxed ambiance.

Mango Tree, a shop located on 6th street, is full of products made from local artists. The store sells a variety of soaps, lotions, and incense. Shopping there is a green way to bring back some souvenirs and support the artisanal products made by locals in South Beach.

For some, getting pampered is part of the ultimate relaxing vacation. Uhma Spa is an organic spa in the heart of Miami where all soothing and pampering needs can be taken care of.

All organic products are used in the different spa treatments available. Anything from back massages, body treatments, and the famous Sabai Healing Massage blends professional skill with natural products.

Uhma Spa takes a cultural spread of treatment practices, from holistic Indian traditions to aromatherapy from Europe, and makes their services good for the customer and environment.

The shop at Uhma Spa also offers a line of organic products to take home, including makeup, hair products, candles, and items for children. A day at the spa will have visitors leaving rejuvenated and refreshed, ready for a night out on the town.

Dining out in style is made easy by the numerous amounts of chic and contemporary restaurants all around South Beach. Escopazzo is an organic Italian restaurant, serving up dishes made from fresh ingredients. Offering up a menu full of favorite Italian meals, including anything from pasta, fish, meat, and raw food, Escopazzo is a great place to have a nice meal with organic products.

After a meal of delicious Italian food, tropical cocktails and nightlife await on Ocean Drive, where it is easy to dance the night away until the early morning hours. Taking in the sights and scenes of Miami, from the shopping, dining, to the beach, is now full of green places to explore.

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Have you ever stood in a local wine store, looking at the two hundred dollars bottle of wine and think to yourself: should I get this? But I don’t know how it’ll taste like. Well, never mind as you put down the bottle and ended up buying a 20 bucks Cabernet Sauvignon? This happens to me all the time.

The truth is a lot of us are afraid to spend big on something we have such little clue about. Plus, it doesn’t mean we’ll like it just because its pricey value. True, there are plenty of wine bars out there, the ones where you point at the menu and order.

Both self-service wine bars and regular wine bars offer diverse selection, but the self-service one feels to me like a wine lover’s playground – a place where we’re able to explore the wines that interested us at our own pace, portion, and most importantly without having to wait for a bartender or a waiter.

During college, my wine professor showed us a clip of Clo Wine Bar in New York City (closed its doors back in December of last year). Being a self-service wine bar, Clo at the time was a new and genius business concept featuring an interactive menu system where you use your finger tip to guide the cursor and all the info you need pops up.

Located in Brickell, a business district of Miami, Cava – as it was named, is a cool, contemporary wine bar equipped with wine dispenser in which all you do is put a card in the slot, press quantity button (here, they offer three portion sizes: tasting portion, half glass, or full glass), and voila – there goes your desired glass of wine.

The bar was very well organized. More than half of the space were taken by red wines, with the more expensive ones grouped together in the center of the restaurant. Then, there are white wines and champagnes locked in a clear, cooling box. A tasting note accompanies each bottle, providing guests with the wine’s flavor profile, where it comes from, the nose, and the finish.

My tip is to go for something you wouldn’t normally buy – either a bottle that’s really expensive, or the grapes you usually don’t drink. For example, I’m not at all a fan of any red wines, mainly because the taste of tannin, a bitter flavor coming from a grape’s skin, seeds, and stems. But expensive red wines are completely different.

Yes, the tannin is still there, but much smoother and more pleasant.  One of the most expensive wines there – Leonetti Merlot 2008 from Columbia Valley, Washington, was aromatic, light, and has the taste of spices and berries.

All in all, this technology allows us to enjoy experimenting with wine at our own limit. Think about it, most of us don’t buy clothes without trying them on – same thing with wine and everything else. This type of wine bar, specifically, is a great way to find that perfect bottle for a special occasion and expand your knowledge.

After all, who wants to bring a bad bottle of wine to Thanksgiving or Christmas? As for me, I’m always looking for a nice wine where my family and friends can enjoy when we throw a get-together.

With that being said, I’m off to getting my sweet white wine – Chateau de Stony, Muscat de Frontignan.

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To visit any city for less than two days isn’t always an easy task, since it requires great time management and of course, logical planning. And in this case, it’s not just one city, but two: Miami and Fort Lauderdale, specifically known for the beaches and nightlife. Last weekend one of my good friends happened to be in town and wanted to make the best out of the two days she has here.  Being regularly visited by family and friends, I learn to master these itineraries, with or without time restriction. As for the past weekend, here’s what we did:

Day 1

Miami Beach is great in the morning, when the crowds haven’t yet arrived and the sun isn’t too strong. At about 8:30, we found ourselves having breakfast at Big Pink (157 Collins Ave). Driving to South Beach for breakfast is not my usual routine. But because my coworkers recommended the place, I feel the need to check it out. What we like about Big Pink is the extensive breakfast menu, which by the way, can be ordered anytime of the day at a very affordable price.

After that tasty breakfast, it was a morning at the beach.

Considering this trip being my friend’s first time to the area, I decided to hop on the Miami City Tour for its large coverage of Miami neighborhoods. Areas visited aside from Miami Beach include Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Bayside, and more.  Our tour started at 1 and ended at 4.30.  “It’s simply the best idea for those who want to learn as much as possible about the city” said David Bares. But if you’re on a tighter timeframe and looking for a tour with an emphasis on South Beach, plus a chance to see the homes of the rich and famous, then go with Duck Tour. With only 90 minutes, Duck Tour will take you through Art Deco District, followed by a boat ride to Star Island, Fisher Island, and Palm Island. (Note: Duck Tour uses a “Hydra Terra” vehicle, operating both on land and in water, so you don’t need to hop on and off)

As the night rolls in, the young and the restless come out to play. We started our evening at Sugarcane (3250 NE 5 Ave), a tapas restaurant in Midtown Miami. Here, the dishes are the mixture of Latin flavor with some Asian influence. The Skirt Steak with Chimichurri is certainly not to be missed. In my opinion, Midtown/Design District is probably the best area for foodies in Miami, with so many good, innovative restaurants.

By 11 pm, the streets in South Beach are getting filled with partygoers, well -dressed and ready for the fun. If you are a first time visitor, do hit up the big, famous clubs. Mansion (1235 Washington Ave) and Liv at the Fontainebleau (4441 Collins Ave) are two of the most talked about clubs in Miami. If you’re lucky, you might even spot celebs hanging out with their crew while dancing to some real good music. But, if you’re like my friend and I, who tend to enjoy smaller lounges and laid-back bars, then head to the Clevelander (1001 Collins Ave), or check out Purdy Lounge (1811 Purdy Ave).

Day 2

It would be an incomplete visit to South Florida without riding the airboat to see alligators. Eighth Street, west of 826 express way, has plenty of boat tour operators. Not only will you see alligators, you will learn about different creatures inhabiting in the Everglades. It is not to be missed, especially for family with kids.

For international travelers, shopping seems to be ideal when the weakened US dollars allow more buying power to foreign currencies. Aventura Mall (19501 Biscayne Blvd) has everything from brand name goods, commercial clothing stores, cosmetics, to Apple Store. Hunting for good deals? Sawgrass Mills Mall (12801 W Sunrise Blvd) in Sunrise is a place to be, selling outlet goods at discount prices.

Tonight, it’s time for an atmosphere change as we head up north to Fort Lauderdale, where I found the vibe to be slightly different. Now, the question is barhopping, or hitting up bigger clubs? Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale has a great bar scene. Here, bars and restaurants are lining up the streets, one right next to another. Whichever kind of music you’re into, there’s a bar for you. Hard Rock Hotel Hollywood, on the other hand, jam packed with mega nightclubs. Additionally, Hard Rock offers several dining and shopping choices. The places we like there: Murphy’s Law for great, live rock band and Passion Nightclub for some good Hip-Hop.

Need a place to stay? For a large, full service hotel, stay at The Setai (2001 Collins Ave). Though it is a bit pricey, the hotel promises an impeccable service while providing accommodation and complimentary amenities that live up to the standard. The Tides (1220 Ocean Drive), a breed between a large property and a boutique hotel, seems to have the perfect equation of winning the guests over (currently ranked the best hotel in Miami Beach on TripAdvisor), combining great location (right on Ocean Drive, across from the beach), service, and contemporary, breezy rooms. Looking for a nice, quiet place while still in the middle of it all? Villa Italia Hotel (354 Washington Ave) is your choice. Opened just a few months ago, Villa Italia offers comfortable, yet spacious rooms along with excellent service, truly great value for South Beach.

David Davis / Shutterstock.com

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At his incredible 70,000 square foot mansion in Orlando, Florida on Friday, Shaquille O’ Neal announced his retirement from professional basketball after 19 successful seasons in the league.

Nobody can help but like Shaq. He is one of the most popular players in league history, unarguably the biggest character in professional sports history, and of course was a phenom on the court. He will forever rank among the best players ever to grace a basketball court in the way that he changed the way the game was played in his time in the NBA.

His numbers speak for himself. He has incredible accolades that could be written about for pages and pages, and have been over the past few days, but that is not what this article will be about. Too many people seem to be focusing on what Shaquille did on the court, and it is incredibly deserved, but I want to focus on the person Shaquille O’ Neal, which even transcends the player.

As expected, he was incredibly jovial leading up to the press conference, dancing in the background of the camera shot before the actual conference even began. Always a consummate entertainer, he had a smile on his face the entire time leading up to the big speech, making everyone believe this would be another slew of silly moments out of Shaq for possibly the last time. He has us fooled.

Never have I seen Shaq nervous in front of a camera throughout my entire life of watching him. Today was different. He obviously had a lot invested in today, in his speech, and in his career.

Shaq’s mother Lucille made the introduction for seven-foot son on Shaq’s private basketball court turned podium, an homage to the impact she had on both his career and his life growing up.

She then handed the microphone to Dale Brown, the man that originally recruited and coached Shaq at Louisiana State University. Shaq often refers to brown as one of the biggest helping hands he had in shaping his career, and Brown seemed both sincere and deserving of such praise. He too wanted to focus on what Shaq did off the court, the things that nobody knew or talked about, but should know.

Brown spoke about Shaq’s incredible parenting which goes far too unnoticed. He spoke about his lack of violations or problems off the court throughout his entire career, a sparkling record (even serving as a sherrif at one point in Miami, Florida). Lastly he touched on Shaq’s stress of the importance of education, which came from his parents. Little did everyone know that Shaq is not just a monster athlete, but he led his team in GPA at LSU, and has already obtained a Masters degree, and is now working on his Doctorate in Human Resource Development from Barry University in Miami.

This man works to the best of his abilities, no matter the task, and should be incredibly respected for it.

The diesel finally made his anticipated arrival to the podium and of course, made his first quick joke about being the new GM of the New York Knicks. Of course, everybody laughed. Though he was lighthearted, the tone was serious, incredibly thankful, and appreciative to all of those who had helped him along the way. It was evident that Shaq really wanted to let everybody know how much they really meant to him, giving countless thanks to everyone down to the security guards at the stadiums he played at along the way.

He of course spoke about the fun he had with the media in his time in the NBA en route to officially retiring every one of his many nicknames, and moving on to only one: “The Big AARP.”

He also gave himself his own plug, one fans should be incredibly excited about, in hinting that he will field calls from various television networks should they have interest in putting him in front of a camera, and giving him a career as an analyst, something I, and many other fans would love to see. The more Shaq, the better.

Shaq took a bunch of questions, telling heartfelt stories about his life and career as a basketball player, father, and role model. His emotion was obviously bittewrsweet, but he didn’t cry on camera for effect and he didn’t draw the conference out longer than it needed to be. It was never about him, it was about his fans and the people around him. He wanted to throw a party for everybody else celebrating his illustrious career. “It’s about you guys, I wanted to host you guys and thank you personally,” Shaq said in some of the closing words of the conference.

To me, this day summed up Shaquille O’ Neal in just a few minutes.

Humble, happy, sincere, professional, thankful, the list goes on and on, but one thing is for certain, Shaq is the utmost role model for not only basketball players, but all people, young and old, to look up to. Never have I seen an athlete like him on or off the court, and he will be very missed around the league for a long time.

What will he do now? Rapper, actor, investor, coach, analyst, doctor? He of course has a plethora of options (even later hinting at having a hand in bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles), but I have no doubt that he will have incredibly deserved success in whatever he should choose. Good luck to Shaquille O’ Neal, my favorite athlete of all time.

Karen Struthers / Shutterstock.com

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Having lived and worked in my Miami for years, I wonder how Miami keep their visitors coming, may it be for the first time or a return trip. Back in 2009, when the economy sank the lowest in years, local businesses were suffering. Even during winter, when Miami was supposed to be making big bucks, restaurants along the famous street, Ocean Drive, were offering as much as fifty percent discount. I remember sitting in an empty café, having a nice hot breakfast, in which I paid about 12 dollars for.

That won’t happen today.

The hotels and restaurants on South Beach seem to be doing fine. As the matter of fact, many hotels are doing excellent, selling out their rooms every weekend – and not at a discounted price. According to Smith Travel Research, the average daily rates for Miami are up 13.1 percent, where a place like Washington DC experiences a close to 3 percent drop. Moreover, Miami Convention and Visitor Bureau’s figures suggested 2011 will be better than last year. Already, the first quarter of this year resulted in a gain of 11% in occupancy when comparing to the same period last year.

It would be no surprise to see lots of tourists during the winter period, where events such as South Beach Food and Wine Festival and Ultra Music Conference brought in people. Now in May, as the weather down here warms up and the weather up north becomes more pleasant, Miami, as many would think, should automatically turn into a less desirable place to escape.

Well, that was not the case.

So, what bring people to Miami? For many, it’s the climate. As for Aviv Shufman, a Toronto resident, it was because “We were looking for something fun. We went to Las Vegas last year and we wanted something similar for this year”.

Moris Pierce, another Toronto Resident, who was debating between Miami and Los Angeles prior to his trip, said “Miami is somewhere warmer. There’s a lot more to do here, especially nightlife. The beaches here are nice also.”

With so many Canadians roaming around town over the past weekend, I had to ask if there were any special deals going on at all, from their departure city, and they all said in a quick agreement “No. The price has no influence on our decision whatsoever. As the matter of fact, the package we bought was not cheap. We chose Miami because we wanted to be here.”

It is an advantage that what Miami offers is available all year round. The beach is always going to be there. The weather is always going to allow beachgoers to wear bikinis. On top of that, people in Miami love to party and for this reason, the nightlife is always exciting.

Other than the sun and fun factors, fortunately, Miami gets to pick up transit travelers who are on their way to South America or the Caribbean.  Some are continuing their journey on a 30 days transatlantic cruise while others are visiting relatives in Ecuador.

As Miami is approaching summer, local businesses fear the decrease in tourism. But until then, pool parties anyone?

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