Your Evening Sift

Today was the usual heavy Thursday posting before everyone powers down their computers for the weekend. Enjoy your very busy evening Sift...

A- Feel like predicting the name of the 1st hurricane of the season and the date it will be born? Go to Blind Mind and register your guess.

To submit an entry, just comment here with a the date you think we will have our 1st named hurricane AND the name that you think it will be know as (see list below). The winner will be the person who makes their prediction the closest to the 1st date an actual named hurricane makes its debut. In the case of a tie, the first tiebreaker will be the name of the hurricane. If Suzy says September 7 "Ana" and Bob says September 11 "Stan" and we get our first named hurricane on September 9 named "Ana", Suzy wins. In the event that the name isnt guessed correctly by 2 people who have tied, the winner will be decided by who's date is closer without going past. For example, if Suzy says September 7 "Ana" and Bob says September 11 "Stan" and the 1st hurricane is named on the 9th as "Joaquin", Bob wins.

B- The Street has a few more photos up of Miami's hard side.

C- When Worst Pizza visits Pizza Express Brazilian Pizza in Deerfield Beach and says they've had worst pizza, what should you really expect?

When I took my first bite, it was obvious they didn’t believe in using sauce. Amazingly, this pizza was not as horrible as it looked.

D- World famous restaurateur Alan Yau zings the Fontainebleau Hotel in an article linked to by All Purpose Dark.

E- Daily Cocaine tells us what life is like in his neighborhood and cooks up some smoked jowl bacon.

As I find myself without any wheels to speak of, the stroll along Biscayne Boulevard and NE 79th St has taken on an added cosmopolitan air, as I mingle with the tourists and the local working girls and assorted skells. Still don't really see many people doing the flâneur thing, but having walked Wynwood, the Design District, Downtown Miami (my next stomping grounds, I can feel it), and even bicycled those parts in and out of the rain, although of course it has rained every day since I turned in my car (the lease was up). I am not exaggerating-it's nuts! But back to the Boulevard-I do a short stroll sometimes-a glass of good, inexpensive red at Casa Toscana, maybe some pasta (veal meatballs?). Who does not long to be fed by an Italian? Chef Sandra Stefani never disappoints-with her food, or with her sense of humor.

F- South Florida Theatre Scene has their usual wrap up for the week.

G- Mr. Clucky is being forced out of his Miami Beach home, according to Man or Maniac?

H- Why do people come to Miami and why do they stay? Some of the answers are at Miami Beach 411.

The true Miami native appreciates the city’s glossy surface and understands its gritty underside and is comfortable drinking Cuban coffee on Flagler Street and eating barbecue ribs in Liberty City as he is in indulging in bottle service on South Beach.

I- Bring in a wheelbarrow full of mangoes and get a free meal at Chef Allen's, according to The Chowfather.

J- Lola recommends Happy Hour at Shucker's up in North Bay Village.

As far as the food goes, its not amazing, but its not horrible. Its bar food, plain and simple (I usually order calamari). They have a full bar and draft beer. What makes this place great, and surely what keeps the locals returning is the atmosphere. Shucker's is an open-air bar that sits right on the bay, has patio/dock seating (and yes you can tie up your boat), flat screen TVs, a pool table, and friendly service.

K- Reidblog has a video of President Obama's Mideast speech and snippets of the very favorable worldwide reaction to it.

L- There's something called an "Artisan Scotch Dinner" being presented at Neomi's Grill and Food for Thought posts additional information if you're interested.

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