When James McDonald was elected to the Pinecrest village council, he already was a familiar face in the community. He was president of the Downtown Miami Business Association and the chairman of Pinecrest’s Transportation Advisory Committee. McDonald, a Pinecrest resident since 1976, partly credits his service-emphasized Jesuit education at Fairfield University for his involvement with
Something didn’t quite fit for Sebastian Garcia when it came to wedding-day attire for his male clients. Unlike suits, tuxedos have two lapels—slick, razor-edged flaps of fabric that line both sides of a jacket. That excess material can result in hundreds or even thousands of dollars added onto a price tag. “A tuxedo is so
Inspired by the Cape Florida Lighthouse, which sits along the edge of Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne, the Ritz-Carlton’s newest restaurant brings coastal dining to the quiet barrier island. Lightkeepers, named for the lighthouse keepers of the 1800s, spotlights Florida-sourced ingredients, such as cheeses from Winter Park, beef from Ocoee, and snapper from
Twenty-two years. That’s almost half of 41-year-old Roben Farzad’s life. More than two decades ago, he beganhis research for a book, but the spark ignited even before that while he was a senior at North Miami Beach Senior High School. Farzad, who arrived as an immigrant by way of Iran, was selling frozen lemonade on the
If there’s anything that South Floridians love as much as our tropical weather and sunshine, it’s a party. The problem, for groups looking to stage such an event, is where to host it. Enter Patty Leon, who gives her clients a place to let good times roll at Slice, an event venue in Weston. Along
Something different: Delray’s thriving cultural scene finds a culinary complement with the arrival of Avant, a collaboration between Society 8 Hospitality Group and Nxt Big Thing. The 4,600-square-foot space, formerly home to SoLita and Mastino, has been reimagined as a hip, inviting ode to the social aspect of dining—and a celebration of art in its
A Diverse Palate: The European-style restaurant, café and lounge features a multi-ethnic menu, highlighting cuisine found in Italy, France, Greece, North Africa and the Middle East. “The recipes are very much authentic to their origin,” says co-owner Sabrina Cozzolino. “We don’t want to be identified as a Greek place or an Italian place or a
Take the plunge: The third and final foodie venue at Plunge Beach Hotel, Octopus gives the property a gourmet gastropub to go with its other offerings: Bean & Barnacle (artisan sandwiches, coffee, gelato) and Backflip (Latin- and food truck-inspired beach bar fare). The price is right: Along the way, food and beverage director Will Sibernagel
The Business of Food: Co-founders Levin de Grazia and César González are Venezuelan businessmen; de Grazia’s family has more than 30 years of experience managing restaurants, and González is a cook who started posting his creations on his Instagram account, @co_cinero, which has garnered more than 1.5 million followers. Options Galore: Among the most-requested dishes are the
We have a yoga teacher coming to the office this week. I always try to find innovative ways to get my team moving. My thing has always been education. I love to educate, and there’s nothing more important to me than to educate someone on how to take care of themselves the best way they
