Post-Fay Feasting

If you haven't been to Le Boudoir yet, you are missing out on some die-hard Frenchie-influenced vibes. Here's my First Look. Also, here's my piece on Cita's, and it looks like they've beefed up their website, which is nice.

Let the Dim Sum Debate Commence!

Looking for authentic Chinese eats? Check out my cover story in the Herald Food section on some good finds. And before you start bombarding me with comments about Tropical Chinese and how awesome it is, let me just say I know and I felt it was important to highlight other places.

Plus, I happen to like South Garden better and I wrote the article. So there!

Wino Chronicles

Drink up, people! It's summer for chrissakes!

Thoughts on This Journalism Thing

It's a sad time be a print journalist in Miami. Aside from this which is just so, so pitiful, I got a call from my editor at the Herald Home & Design magazine recently explaining that they're shutting down the magazine. Shame, too, because I think that while the specialty pub was a bit thin on the ads they consistently turned out some pretty good articles on Miami's thriving design and architecture scene. Through my work with the magazine I came in contact with some talented folk profiling people like Chad Oppenheim and Gene Meyer. Fellow media friends have sounded the deathwatch for other design pubs like Florida InsideOut. Guess there are no more lavish condo ads to keep these magazines going. The last issue of H&D comes out this month but for now here is my piece on unique restaurant design from last month's issue.
As a freelancer I've almost given up on pursuing print publications. Online it is!
Here are some recent articles for Miami.com.
A look at the new Regent Bal Harbour.
First Looks of Art of Food, DiBono's, Pacific Time, Fratelli Lyon, Kitchen 305, and Philippe.
I also had a chance to interview chef Mark Zeitouni of the Standard hotel's Lido Restaurant. Turns out he's a design buff in addition to being a celebrated chef.
And here's a quickie on the Co-op Miami.
I've also got a piece on Vix at the Hotel Victor where I drank the most expensive cup of coffee on earth. It's called "kopi luwak" and it's $45 for an espresso-sized cup. And yes, it was damn good.

A Garden of Words

It's a busy, busy week here at APD central. We're off to Little Rock tomorrow for their film festival (Foreign Devils is screening there twice - all my Arkansas peeps, come out to support!). After I wrote this piece I decided I should get out more. So I've got a Hot List to write and then I'm getting treated to complimentary undergarments at this new store. Hey, no one said journalists shouldn't have proper back support, right? So amuse yourself by perusing First Looks of Red Light and Blu Pizza, a neighborhood profile of Middle River in HOME Ft. Lauderdale, an interview with chef Philippe Chow in this month's Modern Luxury (p.134), a profile of clothing- designer-with-a-cause Somy Ali, and a Q & A with designer Jefre Figueras Manuel, a wonderfully creative person who composes "couture landscapes." This past December he created the fantastic outdoor garden at CASA DECOR. I hope to see more of his living gardens in Miami soon.

Migrating the Operation

Today my internet was on the fritz so I ventured to neighborhood joint La Rotisserie for some wifi goodness. I heart this place. They play Edith Piaf and Yves Montand like it's 1967, the coffee is fantastic, the servers are super-attentive and although I haven't tasted the food, it looks amazing. This may just be my new home office...
In the meantime, here are specimens of my prodigious output: First Looks of China Grill Ft. Lauderdale, 1 Bleu, Ratatouille, Dune Burger Lounge and Dining on the Boulevard.

Words to Live By

It busy deadline week here at the one-woman-show known as All Purpose Dark. In addition to trying to get media buzz for Foreign Devils I have been busy tap-tapping away at articles for mass consumption. Above is a piece I wrote for MIAMI Modern Luxury on everyone's favorite street photographer Miami Fever. If you click on the larger image here you can read the story since, unforch, it's not reprinted online. Then there are First Look stories for Joley, Brosia, Abokado, Badrutt's Place, Andu, Bistro One LR, The Smoking Rabbit, and Nikki Coconut Grove.
And lastly, here's a piece in the Herald Home & Design mag about a fantastic house in Coconut Grove designed by Florida legend Alfred Browning Parker. The house is super cool, built in three pod-like structures and does not have a front door. Brilliant.

Notes from a Writing Machine

Caution: shameless self-promotion to follow. I've been a busy writer bee lately. Perhaps you'd like to read some of the articles?

• A profile of Brazilian-Jewish jewelry empire H. Stern in this month's Social Affairs. I met Hans Stern in September. He passed away a month later. A supremely charming person.
• "First Look"s of Atrio, Kobe Club , Domo Japones, and Bourbon Steak.
  

Recent Articles

I am a busy bee today - lots of deadlines, lots of laundry to do and a visiting mom in town to entertain. So, in the vein of shameless self-promotion and out of sheer laziness, I offer you some of my recent articles to enjoy.

• An article in Hadassah magazine about the impact of trips to Israel on young Jews.
• Beauty picks for December and the opening of a new Guerlain spa at the Regent Bal Harbour.
• An intro to CasaDecor'07 and the Doug and Gene Meyer suite in the December issue of HOME.

Articles and Updates...

Loyal readers you may have noticed that blogging's been a bit erratic the past few weeks. Apologies.
I been rilly, rilly busy.
Firstly, there's this whole Jewish Holidays business - 3 in one month, folks. It's no joke. Plus, we've been busy editing a rough cut of Foreign Devils (it's finally done!) and sending it off to festivals. And my sister has been in town and keeping me busy shuttling her from one shopping excursion to the next. (No luck at Sawgrass, though I did see a pair of Manolos for $125 but that's not how I roll.) And of course, there are the actual writing assignments that fuel this hedonistic lifestyle of mine. Above is the story I wrote for the Herald's Home & Design mag on NiBa owner Beth Arrowwood's new home. I've also got a couple of stories in the new issue of MIAMI including a Q & A with chef Govind Armstrong and a profile of artist Facundo Poj. There's also a neighborhood profile of Belle Meade in the October issue of HOME Miami but their site still has the August issue up so look for it at a stack on Lincoln Road.

Recent Articles

It's nice to be away and to know that somewhere in the ether articles I have written are finally being published. This weekend marks my Miami Herald debut. The 4 articles were a treat to write. I got to chat with Chad and Ilona Oppenheim, Gene Meyer and Charles Allem. Fantastically creative people, all of them.
Here's a piece I wrote on Cafe Emunah in HOME Fort Lauderdale. The layout is quite gorgeous which has nothing to do with me, but makes me a happy writer nonetheless.
And if you happen to see a copy of this month's InsideOut, I've got an article on design shopping in Tel Aviv. It's fast becoming one of the coolest cities in the design universe, and so similar to Miami.
And here's a review of Sushi Samba Dromo, a fine place to enjoy a fine fusion-y meal.

Articles

• My review of Golda's Balcony - if you are interested in one of the most bad-ass women of the 20th century GO SEE IT! I was already a professed Golda-file and this play does the fine lady justice. Plus, you get to walk around the Biltmore afterwards, such a treat!
• Coverage of the Palm Beach Film Fest Awards.
  
• And I wrote this piece on Cafe Emunah for the Forward. Hopefull y'all will check it out, the food is divine.
  
• Plus I've been blogging up a storm at Social Diva.
  

Recent Articles

Been doin' some writin':
A cover story I wrote about the Jews of Florida for February Hadassah Magazine. And another piece in Hadassah about the Jewish builders exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Florida.
My Gen Art fashion show coverage in Biz Bash.
My Forward article about the Florida condo mezuzah scandal. Who knew a 5-inch scroll would cause such a ruckus?