Your Evening Sift

It's the weekend, folks. Check out the SFDB Weekend Widget in the right sidebar and enjoy your evening Sift. I got some grilling to finish up. I'm out.

A- Belle Isle Blog files an in-depth report from a neighborhood hearing addressing plans for an expansion of The Standard hotel.

But residents — especially those on Farrey Lane — were not pleased. They said the new garage will tower over their small homes, and change their quality of life.

Frank Scottoline said he now looks out from his kitchen to trees and blue skies. If the garage is built, he said, all he will see is a big wall.

B- What will you be getting in your CSA Share Week 9? The answer at Redland Rambles.

C- Because I know I have a couple of DC readers in my audience, I'm going to include a link to the first installment of Fatgirl Hedonist's recent romp through the nation's capital.

As you can imagine, I ate A LOT on my recent trip to DC. I could sit here and write a book on all the places I checked out, but instead I'm just going to cover the highlights of my trip and maybe a couple of low-lights. That still narrows it down to seven restaurants, so preparate. I'm breaking it up into two (maybe 3) posts; I'll try to keep it sweet and to the point.

D- Carlos Miller lashes out at critics of his latest physical encounter with security guards and explains himself.

It’s been five days since I was attacked by three armed security guards on the Miami-Dade Metrorail for taking pictures and the reactions from around the internet has been interesting to say the least.

I understand there will always be boot-licking pansies who will never understand why I would question a security guard over some made-up law about not being allowed to photograph the rails.

But it’s a little disappointing to see this attitude from photographers and railfans.

E- Florida Keys Girl tells us about the recent Key West Food and Wine Festival which was, curiously, without food and wine in some spots.

The next two stops on the stroll were less successful, with nine one five being completely out of food (they were serving Dungeness crab wrapped in tuna sashimi), but at least they had wine. Blackfin Bistro, normally one of my go-to places, were completely out of both the conch cake they were serving, as well as the Cubanissimo pinot noir (I was far more disappointed in the lack of wine, I must say).

F- Wide Lawns and Narrow Minds shares some supposed remedies for when you're not feeling well.

Stick a Heating Pad in Your Bed - Under you, on your stomach, whatever. It feels nice when you don't. I like to rest my head on the heating pad when I get bad headaches and it really helps. Just don't fall asleep and burn your face and then blame me.

G- Shorter Gun Free Zone...

I'm terribly impressed by form letters that Republican politicians send me.

H- The Cuban Triangle conducts a discussion on some of the politics currently in play on the Cuban Adjustment Act and the statements originating from a couple hardliner congressional representatives.

The idea that Cubans admitted under the Cuban Adjustment Act “affirm that one would be persecuted for political reasons in Cuba” or “come to this country seeking exile” (whatever that means) is simply false.

Rubio and Ros-Lehtinen are accusing their constituents of being hypocrites, based on a claim that these immigrants have never made.

I- Republicans are planning to steal elections and Bark Bark Woof Woof has a post that that all Americans need to read.

What further proof do you need that there are people in that party who will do anything — anything — to win and then serve up a lecture of pious patriotism about how anyone who questions the true destiny of America at the hands of the only party that really cares about freedom and liberty is a terrorist or something.

J- There's a burgeoning mini-market scene in South Florida that Salty Eggs has more info about this evening.

At least three organizations are making a go of hosting regular places for local independent fashion designers, dealers, craftspeople, and other artisans to set up shop, either temporarily or more permanently...

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