The Cooler

The Cooler is well worth your time this morning. Trust me.

A- Herald: It's why they need tax cuts.

For a certain segment of luxury yacht broker Kevin Callahan's customers, money wasn't really the problem during the financial crisis. They could afford to spend $130 million on a boat. But what would people say?

``Everyone was looking down on people spending money,'' said Callahan, a top executive at Fort Lauderdale's Moran Yacht & Ship, which oversees construction of custom mega-yachts for the elite. ``They had money, and they were laying low.''

Callahan predicts chatter won't be as big of a hang-up during this year's 51st Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, an annual expo known for nautical lavishness that opens Thursday. Callahan and others said they're hearing less concern from buyers that a big yacht purchase sends the wrong signal in a down economy.

B- Herald: See, all that money is worth it!

PHILADELPHIA -- Its first win a certainty Wednesday, it appeared the Heat didn't want to stop playing in Philadelphia. It felt that good.

Game in hand, LeBron James was still swatting shots with less than 20 seconds remaining. Never mind that the Heat's 97-87 victory against Philadelphia was no longer in doubt. Reserve forward James Jones still threw his body in front of 76ers guard Lou Williams and absorbed an offensive charge.

C- Herald: Hey, a man's gotta eat.

The agency that collects coins from Miami parking meters has spent tens of thousands of dollars on expensive meals, out-of-town conventions and sporting events.

[...]

The agency's American Express reports from the last three years show the MPA's spending on expected expenses like phone chargers and computer repairs -- and nearly $50,000 in meals since September 2007.

That includes the Christmas-party expenses: $14,954.80 at the now-defunct Christabelle's Quarter in Coconut Grove in December 2007 and $6,216.66 at the also-closed Porcao Churrascaria at The Four Ambassadors Hotel off Brickell in December 2008.

Several staff retirements and birthdays are also listed: A farewell lunch in August 2009 at The Oceanaire Seafood Room in Mary Brickell Village cost $1,093.83. A birthday lunch for CEO Noriega in November 2007 at Rosa Mexicano, also in Mary Brickell Village, cost $525 for a menu that featured guacamole, enchiladas, tacos and brownies with Mexican chocolate, pecans and pumpkin seeds.

The meals do not include about $5,000 in catering for charitable events -- or dozens more meals agency administrators billed on their separate MPA purchase cards, along with gas and parking expenses.

D- Sun-Sentinel: Lincoln Road shops clean up at the airport.

Parts of Miami International Airport are starting to look like South Beach.

Lincoln Road stalwart Icebox Cafe opened its doors in the airport's new north terminal within the past few weeks. It joined a Shop Britto, featuring the art of Romero Britto, and Books & Books, both with homes in Miami Beach's famed pedestrian mall.

[...]

For Icebox Cafe owner Robert Siegmann, the idea to open a location in an airport grew out of disenchantment with the food available when he flew.

"Every time I got on a plane, two things happened: I could never find decent food," he said. "And even what was available was just not either efficient or to my liking."

For years, he found the red tape impenetrable. When he returned to the idea last year, the timing was right. Miami International was seeking vendors for the new terminal — and some of the opportunities were geared to small businesses.

Siegmann said demand has been overwhelming — especially with limited windows of time to bring in supplies due to security constraints.

A typical day at the airport can bring in $18,000 to $20,000 gross, which is about four times the volume at the Lincoln Road location. That's good news for Siegmann, who said the startup fees were about $500,000.

E- Palm Beach Post: Heroes.

A Ford Explorer that lost traction at the Jaycee Park boat ramp sank in the water in three minutes Tuesday, witnesses said.

But three Good Samaritans pulled a family of five out of the vehicle and prevented a tragedy, Fort Pierce police said. Salvadore Garcia, 37, his wife, Delphina Cortez, 28, and their three children — ages 14, 10 and 4 — escaped with minor injuries, police said.

“They were all trying to get out of the passenger side door,” said Kevin Rivera, 32, of Port St. Lucie, who leaped up from a bench when his girlfriend saw the Explorer plunge into the water about 6 p.m. Tuesday. “The drop is so deep there.”

Rivera, who is attending Indian River State College and training to be an emergency medical technician, was joined by Dan Coleman, 26, and Derrick Noble, 32, both of Fort Pierce, for the rescue. Garcia handed his 4-year-old daughter, Angelica, to Rivera while Coleman and Noble assisted the other family members, Rivera said.

“They were all screaming,” Rivera said of the family. “That was all you could hear.”

F- South Florida Business Journal: He needs a good lawyer.

Miami attorney Hank Adorno, name partner at one of South Florida’s largest law firms, is facing possible disbarment by the Florida Supreme Court over his acceptance of a $2 million fee in a class action case where the settlement didn’t benefit the entire class.

The court issued a ruling Wednesday that suspends him from practicing law after a 30-day period to conclude or transfer clients. The court also ordered Adorno to show cause why he should not be suspended for three years or disbarred.

G- NBC Miami: I see them changing their minds.

While some businesses are betting on the Miami Heat to run rough shot on the NBA in a figurative sense, a Hollywood bar has taken the challenge literally and lost big Tuesday night.

Whiskey Tango All American Bar & Grill lost $4,100 after it had to cover the bar tabs of customers who signed up for the Three King challenge. The Hollywood pub vowed to pay anyone's bar tab up to $25 if the Heat lost.

So when the Heat lost, customers actually won.

H- WSVN: This is South Florida...there has to be a catch to it.

MIAMI, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida woman is spreading the love by giving out free hugs.

Thirty-four-year-old Elaine Caban spend her Wednesday afternoon giving out free hugs outside the Dade County Courthouse. "Free hugs. Your hands are full but your arms aren't," said Caban.

Caban said she has had several financial problems, but above all, she wants to give people joy. "I am literally a single mom with four boys. I have gone through financial difficulties, I had my car repossessed," she said.

Caban said she was inspired to go on Facebook and put together a group to give out free hugs. "I said I don't care if I have to go by myself. I want to be that beacon of light, and we receive so much when we give hugs," she said.

[...]

Caban said her dream is to give out free hugs once a month. For people who may think what she is doing is strange, Caban said, they just need a hug.

.