Miami, FL

The ever versatile and talented Project Runway winner Jay McCarroll was in town promoting his new documentary, Eleven Minutes, at the tenth annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Saturday.

Since winning Project Runway, McCarroll has been busy readying his fashion line, which is the subject of the documentary.  As an added treat to watching him prepare the line in Eleven Minutes, McCarroll put on a live fashion show of the looks featured in the documentary.  I was lucky to have been one of the invited guests and snapped away as the models walked the cat walk atop the Claremont Hotel.

I got the opportunity to briefly chat with McCarroll.  He was a great sport and stayed for more than an hour after the show greeting fans who snapped pictures with the reality tv star.

Click the link below to see all of the looks.

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Lewis Black

Today, Monday, December 31 9:00 PM at Jackie Gleason Theater; Price: $58.50|$87.50.

Satirist and standup comic Lewis Black rose to prominence in the late ’90s with regular appearances as a commentator on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Obsessed with human stupidity, Black became one of the show’s most distinctive contributors with his weekly "Back in Black" segment; his delivery was so full of frothing, barely articulate bile and rage that it could sometimes obscure the sharpness of his social and political observations.

Lewis Black rose to prominence in the late ’90s with regular appearances as a commentator on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Obsessed with human stupidity, Black became one of the show’s most distinctive contributors with his weekly "Back in Black" segment; his delivery was so full of frothing, barely articulate bile and rage that it could sometimes obscure the sharpness of his social and political observations. Black graduated from the Yale Drama School and worked for a government anti-poverty program under President Nixon before becoming the playwright in residence at the West Bank Café Downstairs Theatre Bar in Manhattan. Black authored over 40 plays that were produced there and at other theaters across the country (one, The Deal, was made into a movie). Seeking to move into comedy, Black made his motion-picture debut in Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters in 1986, and went on to land a series of guest-starring roles on TV shows like Law and Order, Murphy Brown, Mad About You, Homicide, and The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (the last of which was recurring); he also appeared in several more films, including 1990’s Jacob’s Ladder. Black’s standup star began to rise with appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and he landed a big break when he signed on as a regular contributor to The Daily Show. Since then, Black has continued to tour the country as a standup comedian, and in 2000 issued his first CD, The White Album (which naturally took its art design from the Beatles’ release).

Here’s a oldie but goodie to get you going for the weekend.

[tags]Miami, Lover Boy, Working for the Weekend

Via Daily Candy, we get the weekend guide.

SEE
Viva Vaudeville
What: Artist Pablo Cano presents his tenth annual puppet show.
Why: You and Pinocchio go way back.
When: Thru Dec. 29. Sat. & Sun., 2 p.m.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 NE 125th St. Tickets at 305-893-6211.

SHOP
Trust A.B. Boutique Opens
What: Alice + Olivia, Foley, Grace Sun, and Alisha Levine want you to take them home.
Why: You gotta have faith.
When: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.
Where: 14741 Biscayne Blvd. (305-957-7033).

DRINK
The Setai Wine Series
What: Five courses are paired with vintages from Chateau Palmer Margaux.
Why: Your kind of bottle service.
When: Fri., 7 p.m.
Where: The Grill at The Setai, 2001 Collins Ave. (305-520-6000).

PARTY
Books & Books 25th Anniversary
What: A street celebration featuring live music, food stations, and bubbly.
Why: You wrote the book on fun.
When: Sat., 7 p.m.-midnight.
Where: 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables (305-442-4408).

FORSEE
Tarot Card Readings
What: Live music, wine, and a look into your future.
Why: We predict a good time.
When: Every Fri., 9 p.m.-midnight.
Where: Bagua, 4600 NE 2nd Ave. (305-573-9292).

Miami is the happening place right now for setting and filming t.v. shows. Miami Ink, Dexter, Burn Notice, Top Chef, all called Miami or the city of Miami home this season. So it is no surprise the publishing industry is doing the same. The Sun-Sentinel provides the background and dossier of the latest offerings in print coming our way.

Magazine publishing continues to flourish in South Florida, undeterred by industry reports of declines in print publications, advertising revenue and circulation.

"The biggest thing everyone is watching right now is the tremendous growth in city and regional magazines," said Samir Husni, who tracks magazine launches nationwide as professor and chair of the journalism department at the University of Mississippi.

The new South Florida titles run the gamut from showcasing the arts scene and unique culinary specialties to dogs and breathtaking adventures.

My favorite out of the group centers around dogs and their Miami owners.

Florida Dog
Circulation: 20,000
Distribution: quarterly
Web site: FloridaDogmag.com

"Florida Dog Magazine captures the special personality, love and uncomplicated bond we share with our four-legged friends," said Jennifer Wise, who launched the magazine with business partner Helen Wozunk.

Wise and Wozunk were inspired after spotting several dogs on yachts along Fort Lauderdale’s New River.

A magazine for the nautical community and their pampered pets seemed unique, so they researched local dog registrations and dog-friendly publications and completed financial forecasts before launching last October.

"The biggest problem I find with people wanting to start magazines is that they don’t do their homework. They don’t know what is out there and they want to reach everyone," said Jenae Rubin, of Sales Power House Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, a marketing and advertising sales consultant.

Check out the entire list and pick your favorite.

Miami, Florida Dog, Miami Ink, Dexter, Burn Notice, Top Chef, The Map

Local Miami resident Hulk Hogan has inked a deal to host NBC’s remake of American Gladiators. NBC is apparently in the remake business these days. According to TV Week:

Hogan made the rounds at NBC’s Burbank offices last week and has accepted the job. The deal is still being finalized, but sources say both parties are committed.

NBC sees Hogan as “the perfect fit” for the “Gladiators” revival, sources say. In addition to his experience as a physical performer during his years with the World Wrestling Federation, Hogan has proved he can draw viewers with sheer force of personality in his successful VH1 reality series “Hogan Knows Best.”

The network plans to showcase “Gladiators” sometime in midseason.

You’ve got to give it to Hulk Hogan, the man keeps himself relevant after all these years.

Miami, Hulk Hogan, American Gladiators, World Wrestling Federation

Today is the day that you flex-fuelers out there can purchase ethanol blended gasoline in Miami. Via the Post:

The UGas station on 210 N.W. 79th Ave. will sell the E85 - for 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline - beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday for 85 cents a gallon for the first two hours.

After that, it will sell for about 15 or 20 cents cheaper than regular unleaded gas, the station’s owners said. The fuel can be used only in so-called flex-fuel vehicles. It would damage regular engines.

There are only about 11,000 flex-fuel vehicles in the Miami area, officials said. UGas hopes to make a success of the business by selling to flex-fuel fleets.

I like the development. Now, if only more was being done to prevent global warming.

Miami, ethanol, flex fuel, UGas

Or more appropriately, Shana Tova Umetukah.

Today is Rosh Hashanah.

Miami, Jewish Holiday, Rosh Hashanah

Organizers of the popular Miami Caribbean Carnival have been told by the Miramar City Commission their request to have their annual celebration at Miramar Park October 7 has been turned down because of the amount of trash left at previous sites.

Via Trinadad Express we learn that complaints from the previous years led to the decision:

"Representatives from Lockhart Stadium and Markham Park complained about trash left after the event. And Markham Park had about 25,000 attendees at Carnival last year, although the park can only hold about 15,000 people,’’ stated a report from the Miami Herald on-line news.

In defence, organizers of the Broward Caribbean Carnival stated that the event was a major boost to Broward County and would help showcase Caribbean culture, as 26 per cent of Miramer’s population is of Caribbean origin.

Some commissioners in fact voted for the five-year-old international event, saying that there were no incidents of crime or structural damage at previous Carnivals and Miramar should be given a chance.

"What you are talking about is garbage that can be cleaned up,’’ one of the commissioners told the Miami Herald.

Organizers estimate they pump $60 million into the local economy, as the interest the international event stirs is beneficial for local eateries and hotels.

An alternative venue has not yet been determined.

Here’s hoping they land somewhere better.

Miami, Miami Caribbean Carnival, Miramar Park

This gem is located at 415 Centre Island, Golden Beach, FL. For only $4.25 million, this three bedroom, two bath with an incredible view is all yours. Sue can hook you up.

Miami, Golden Beach, 415 Centre Island, Million Dollar Monday, Sue Honowitz

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend and a shortened work week last week.

Sorry about the lack of posts, but I Spent the week traveling around London and the English countryside. The break was nice, but no city compares to Miami! At 451 Press, we have a UK blogger and he is the authority on all things Pop British. Check out Dave’s blog here.

We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

About Miami will be taking the week off for an extended Labor Day Weekend. I’ll drop by for sporadic posts through out the week.

Be safe.

Today’s gem is located at 194 South Island Drive. For $4,500,000 you get a 6 bedroom, 7 1/2 bath
home at just over 7,000.00 square feet. Sue can hook you up.

Miami, Million Dollar Monday, Real Estate, Golden Beach

Daily Candy’s got the weekend guide. Have a safe and fun weekend.

SEE
Tiny Ninja Talmud Theater
What: The ancient Jewish text brought to life via miniature Asian warriors.
Why: Should be good for a nunchuckle.
When: Sat., 9:15 p.m.
Where: The Moore Building, 4040 NE 2nd Ave., Design District. Info online at sobejewish.org.

Rewind/Fast Forward Film and Video Festival
What: Screenings of works celebrating all things South Florida.
Why: There was life before Crockett and Tubbs.
When: Fri.-Sun.
Where: Miami Dade Public Library, 101 W. Flagler St., Downtown. Info at 305-375-1505.

HEAR
Dear Diary
What: Lesley Arfin reads from her book, a collection of diary entries about the awkwardness of adolescence that first appeared in Vice mag.
Why: Smells like teen angst.
When: Thurs., 8 p.m.
Where: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables (305-442-4408).

GIVE
Morgan Miller Shoe Drive
What: Donate a pair of lightly worn shoes to Soles4Souls and get 20 percent off merch; two pairs get you 30 percent off.
Why: Benevolence, not blisters.
When: Thru Sept. 30.
Where: 1634 Euclid Ave., Miami Beach (305-672-6658).

DANCE
FM
What: DJs, Malibu rum sno-cones, and artist-designed putt-putt holes.
Why: Party with frequency.
When: Sat., 6-11 p.m.
Where: Upper Eastside Garden, 7244 Biscayne Blvd. (305-984-3231).

Miami, Weekend Guide, Daily Candy, Tiny Ninja Talmud Theater, Rewind/Fast Forward Film and Video Festival, Lesley Arfin, Upper Eastside Garden

Today is the day Ricky Martin tickets go on sale. Martin is bringing his Black and White Tour back for a three-night stop October 10-12 at the 2,700-seat refurbished Jackie Gleason Theater.

Miami, Jackie Gleason Theater, Ricky Martin, Black and White Tour