Last Friday I ventured into the Eden Roc Hotel for the first time in fifty years. Why? The new buzzed about restaurant, Ocean Social recently opened there. We had some drama outside our building last Sunday. A young man drove his car into Biscayne Bay, and our neighbor came to the rescue. JLo will be in Miami in June for her concert tour and P.Diddy has a way of showing up at her concerts. Will he or won’t he? The Miami Film Festival is back for its 41st year. This year features more than 180 films from more than 30 countries.

Not Your Parents Eden Roc

I can’t believe where I was last Friday night. I never thought I would see the inside of the Eden Roc Hotel ever again. I went there because a group of my friends, plus Eliot, wanted to dine at the new Ocean Social restaurant which recently opened in the hotel.

We read about it in the Miami Herald because Trinidad born Tristen Epps is now the chef. He is also a James Beard Award nominee. We were all so excited to experience the restaurant and see if we could meet Chef Epps.

Once we agreed to make a reservation, I couldn’t believe we were actually going to enter the premises of the hotel that I haven’t seen in more than 50 years. The Eden Roc is a 20 minute ride from our condo but we never think of going there. The popular Fontainebleau Hotel, which is right next door, is the big attention getter because of its highly publicized LIV nightclub.

Now the big draw at the Eden Roc is the Ocean Social and Nobu restaurants. Friends Gail Williams, Dawn McCall, Diana Alejandro, Chris Harder, Eliot and myself jumped into an Uber determined to tour the Eden Roc and meet Chef Epps.

We weren’t disappointed. The entire hotel and restaurant areas have been renovated and redecorated. The hotel, which is known for its gigantic lobbies and outdoor areas, have all been designed to have the look of Miami today. There are views of the beach and ocean from every vantage point. The property has several Olympic size pools that are big enough for long distance swimming.

The Ocean Social is situated on a deck that is adjacent to the beach. The water view is breathtaking. Chef Epps did not disappoint. He is a master at infusing seafood with Afro Caribbean touches. The mushroom ceviche was the best of its kind. Other favorites were the crisp, salty Key West shrimp toast and hearth-roasted clams served “souse style” in a spiced broth. The “cracklin octopus” is served with chicharron, golden mole and bacon fat pineapple. There is something for everyone.

As I mentioned before, the gang and I were determined to meet Chef Epps.  All we had to do was mention it to our waitress and she arranged for Chef Epps to visit our table. We gave him a standing ovation when we saw him coming our way.  Thank you Gail Williams and Dawn McCall for hosting. You are so generous.

Read more here.

A Young Drunk Driver Crashes Into Biscayne Bay

Life is stranger than fiction. Last Sunday morning, a young man, who may have been unlicensed, drove his car into Biscayne Bay after a night of drinking. This happened right outside our building, and my neighbor, Andres Asion, came to the rescue. Not only did Andres immediately call the police but he captured the entire situation on his iPhone and provided all of the narration. TV stations around the country used Andres footage and also interviewed him. Andres is a natural roving reporter. As a real estate agent, he is always all over Miami Beach attending private home and condo openings, parties, community gatherings, concerts, new restaurants, night club events, and visiting his parents. The chances of Andres catching action some place, is highly likely.b

Last Sunday morning was a horror. A young man, who was out all-night drinking, was so drunk he didn’t know the difference between a boardwalk and the road. No one can figure out how he did it but he managed to drive  his car onto the waterside boardwalk at Monty’s South Beach and get to the other side by South Pointe Drive. It’s a miracle that he didn’t kill anyone. It was around 6am so luckily no one was walking in front of him on the boardwalk.

The drunk driver’s car plunged into the bay because the path ended, and the young man was probably asleep. He woke up when he hit the water, managed to get out of the car, and swim to safety. The rest you can see on the video. WATCH THE VIDEO. 

As far as Andres is concerned, he is the unofficial Mayor of Miami Beach. We moved into our condo 23 years ago as did he. He was very active then and he has more energy today. By the way ladies, he is a bachelor. That is a good reason to visit Miami.

Miami Is Getting Ready For A JLo/P.Diddy Reunion

Ben Affleck is not going to be happy about this. The P.Diddy, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Puffy Daddy camp, just got word that JLo will be Miami June 28 and 29th for her “This Is Me” concert tour at the  Kaseya Center. It’s the buzz of Miami. Everyone I speak to wants to see Jenny from the Block.

Word has it that every time JLo comes to town P.Diddy manages to show up exactly where his ex girl friend is staying. JLo and P.Diddy dated from 1999 to 2001. Newspaper and TV stories all reported that the relationship was very rocky. Now that P.Diddy just had raids on his mansions in Miami and Los Angeles because of civil lawsuits accusing him of sex trafficking, sexual abuse and rape, he probably wants JLo to make sure she will say he is a good boy.

Instead of Diddy hiding out these days, he is roaming around Miami waving to fans, taking walks with his daughters, playing ball, shopping, and dining out. It makes you wonder what is really going on.

We will see what happens when JLo takes the stage. She is going to put on quite an extravaganza for a number of reasons, she is much older than Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift but younger than Madonna. A Hollywood PR person recently told me she wants to be judged on her own talents, and not be compared to others.

JLo has a lot going on. The concert is going to speak volumes about her future. The Miami audience will be very supportive. Let’s hope Diddy behaves.

April 5-14. MDC’s 41st Annual Miami Film Festival

The  Miami Dade College’s 41st Miami Film Festival explores more than 180 films from more than 30 countries that are in this year’s official selection. The Miami Film Festival debuted in February 1984, under the auspices of the Film Society of Miami. It was founded by Nat Chediak and Steven Bowles and directed by Mr. Chediak for its first eighteen years, becoming the City’s premier international cultural event

The Miami Film Festival willtake place at various venues throughout the destination, offering attendees the chance to explore different neighborhoods and soak up local culture. From art theaters to outdoor screenings under the stars, there’s no shortage of unique settings to experience the magic of cinema. Some of the main screening venues include the Silverspot Cinema, the Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center and the Pérez Art Museum Miami in Downtown Miami, the Coral Gables Art Cinema and the Bill Cosford Cinema in Coral Gables, and O Cinema South Beach, Regal South Beach and the Miami Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach.

Get the Film Schedule and Guide.