Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Wow. I don't think I've had such a large morning Sift. Ever. Lots of great stuff to get through so we'll get moving but make sure to check out the SFDB Weekend Widget in the right sidebar sometime this morning. Enjoy your morning Sift.

A- Superbee starts us out this morning with a great post on a place he knows very well and is very relevant right now: Madison, Wisconsin.

We had protests. We had sit-ins at Bascom Hall. We had Jesse Jackson speak to us on Library Mall before the Bush v. Gore election debacle. But when I went to UW-Madison, the stories we heard about the Vietnam Protests and the bombing of Sterling Hall were the stuff of myth and legend - things that happened thirty years before, and were whitewashed over with thirty-years worth of cheap apartment paint.

I am so. jealous. of the kids living in Mad-Town right now. Well, I'm jealous of them always, but especially right now.

B- Ipanemic makes a delivery.

The doors open. Her unit is at the end of the hall. I have a vague memory of her as I approach. I knock on the door.

“Just a minute,” she says. A few seconds later, the door opens. A small box on the floor is keeping her from opening it fully. She bends over to move it. “Do you mind if I take this to the chute. It won’t take but a minute.”
“No problem. I’m in no rush.”

I follow her to the trash chute. Small talk about trash disposal in the building. She crushes the book-sized box and throws it in. We walk back to her place; she leads the way. She is wearing a long-enough black shirt and sandals.

“Come in and take a look at the view. It’s the least I can do.”
“Alright,” I say. “I can’t stay long. I have to get back, you know.”
“They’re not going to fire you.”

C- The Miami Bike Scene examines some bike lane projects that are taking place in the Doral area.

The new Turnpike Trail which runs parallel to the C-2 Extension Canal (117th Ave), between NW 25th St and NW 34th St is partially open. The multi-use trail is part of an ongoing canal bank restoration program, which will later expand the trail east along NW 25th St and north along 117th Ave taking it up to NW 58th St.

D- The South Florida Theatre Scene is busy with this week's wrap up of events.

E- Miami Beach 411 attended yesteday's opening of the Miami Circle and tells us all about it.

On Wednesday, politicians, archeologists and a Native American spiritualist were on hand to dedicate the opening of the new Miami Circle park on the south side of the mouth of the Miami River.

It might not be grandiose, especially compared to the high-rises surrounding it, but it is where the magic all started in this crazy city of ours.

F- Miami Favs does a quick wrap up of all her favs for out of town guests.

the best restaurants are in midtown/wynwood/design district (on the mainland). i suggest gigi, red light, sugarcane, mandolin, buena vista bistro, joey’s and wynwood kitchen and bar.

for south beach, if you’re willing to splurge, go to barton g, devito or prime 112 (i haven’t been to the latter, because i’m a vegetarian, but i heard it’s amazing). if you’re going to the beach and want a quick bite, go to la sandwicherie on 14th between washington and collins. if you want to eat on lincoln road (and want to splurge) go to the meat market. if you want healthier (but good) food, go to books and books cafe (and visit the book store, it’s adorable).

G- The Green Parrot Bar gets a mention in Vogue Magazine.

H- The Coconut Grove Arts Festival gets a lot of attention from Taking Over Miami...and it's only Part One.

Never having been to the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, we had no idea what to expect. I knew there would be over 360 artists but the scale never crossed my mind. This place was packed with people and the smell of burgers, funnel cakes, and beer in the air was potent.

I- Under The Sun tells the story of a controversial soccer field that has been built in Overtown.

For $120, players get the field for an hour and play six-on-six games on artificial turf at Downtown Soccer Miami. Many park their luxury cars along the street and stay after the games to socialize over beer and grilled meat. Co-owner Pablo says his business has made a positive impact on the community. They’ve cleaned up the lot, lit up the neighborhood and deterred crime. But some area residents don’t see it that way.

J- Beached Miami posts their 7th podcast.

K- Bark Bark Woof Woof comments on the latest Republican hypocrisy.

Last year, when the Tea Partiers were making their voices heard, we were told by the GOP that they were "the voices of the people," and that it was true democracy at work to see them out there with their signs calling for change. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they're nothing but a bunch of thugs trying to intimidate the duly-elected representatives. How quickly they change their view of people power. It might also have something to do with the fact that there were powerful interests behind the Tea Party such as the Koch brothers pulling the strings. What this call to Mr. Walker reveals is that the right-wing rallies were just a lot of window-dressing to cover the fact that a GOP governor will listen to the people... as long as they're the ones with the money and the influence.

L- Eye on Miami gives their assessment of The Real Housewives of Miami.

I caught 10 minutes of the show. Cristy Rice was insufferable and that is being kind. Nothing annoys me more than a Cuban saying "We Cubans made Miami" and that is exactly what Cristy said. Even if it were true, it is disrespectful to the rest of the community. I agree that Cubans made great contributions to Miami but come on Cristy, use your brain. Oops sorry I forgot, you don't have one. Then three of the housewives were in anguish over showing up too early for a fashion show.

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