Cameras automatically photograph the rear of a vehicle and the license plate when a digital device detects the car is inside an intersection after the light turns red. The most frequent ticketed violation is not actually running a red light but failure to come to a full stop behind the painted line prior to executing a right turn while a light is red. Right turns on red are legal in Florida (unless otherwise posted) only after bringing the vehicle to a complete stop BEHIND the white line of the intersection.

To avoid a computer generated traffic violation showing up in your mailbox, drive safely and be extra careful of cameras monitoring the following Miami Beach intersections:

1. Washington Avenue at 17th Street – eastbound

2. Washington Avenue at 17th Street – southbound

3. Chase Avenue and Alton Road – northbound

4. 63rd Street and Indian Creek Drive – southbound

5. 41st Street and Prairie Avenue – northbound

6. 71st Street and Indian Creek Drive – northbound

7. Dade Boulevard and 23rd Street – westbound

8. Alton Road and 17th Street – westbound

The evening’s menu created by executive chef Tim Nickey will start with pork belly “burger”,  Hoisin, scallion, pickled cucumber; followed by  sesame crusted day boat scallop, coco-curry cabbage, rum glazed banana;  then pumpkin seed crusted local cobia, purple Peruvian mash, chipotle honey sauce;  and ginger crusted key west tilefish with, wok charred organic corn and mushrooms, sesame-miso vinaigrette.

After a refreshing Intermezzo at China Grill, continue with oxtail ravioli in fiery red curry tomato-shiso sauce;  followed by lamb shank with hunan sauce, orange peel, sambal, curry, accompanied with Anthony’s creamy polenta, roasted root vegetables. To end with a sweet note, chocolate three Ways.

This “BYOW” Eight-Course Tasting Dinner” is priced at $60.00 per person (tax & gratuity not included). Reservation are Limited and can be made by calling China Grill at 305.534.2211. China Grill is located at 404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

The Miami Beach U12 team, coached by Andrew Sachs, advanced to league cup by finishing in the 4th seed after league play. After falling behind 2-1 in the second half of the semifinal, Miami Beach rallied to a 3-2 victory with goals by Jaime Danguillecourt and Alan Varela in the last few minutes. In the championship final, Miami Beach dominated the Shenandoah team with strong defensive play, paving the way for a 2-0 victory. The win marks the first championship victory for the U12 team.

The Miami Beach Soccer Club consists of 4 teams – U9, U10, U12, and U14 that compete throughout South Florida in various leagues and tournaments. The U12 and U14 teams are currently headed to the Florida Youth Soccer Association Region Cup, which puts the top teams in South Florida against one another for a shot at the President’s Cup championship for the State of Florida!

For more information about the Miami Beach Traveling Soccer Program, please contact Edith Guerra at 305-861-3616. Look for future events and other Miami Beach Parks and Recreation programming in your Recreation Review, call our offices at 305-673-7730 or visit our new and improved website at www.miamibeachparks.com.

On Monday, January 11, 2010, Lincoln Road’s pedestrian experience expanded to a new block at its western edge between Lenox Avenue and Alton Road. As part of a public/private partnership, the City of Miami Beach and UIA Management/Robert Wennett, developer of 1111 Lincoln Road, open the new promenade and public plaza at the 1100 Block of Lincoln Road. The block was previously a vehicular street, which was closed and replaced with a new pedestrian plaza, in keeping with the Lincoln Road blocks to the east that expand to Washington Avenue.

“We are very excited to unveil and open this extraordinarily beautiful west entrance to our historic landmark — 12 months ahead of schedule,” said Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower.

The new plaza features interactive public art by New York artist Dan Graham. A water garden with native trees and other features use Morris Lapidus’ legendary designs as inspirations. Other features include special lighting, a Pedra Portuguesa finished surface, new sidewalks and curbs, and drainage improvements. In addition to the pedestrian plaza expansion, the developer built a new, multi-use structure on the north end that adds 250 parking spaces and includes retail, residential and office space at 1111 Lincoln Road.

Raymond Jungles, a Miami-based landscape architect, designed the public plaza and pedestrian promenade in collaboration with Swiss-based architectural firm of Herzog & de Meuron, the architect of the 1111 Lincoln Road project. Herzog & de Meuron are the designers of the Bird’s Nest Stadium for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the Miami Art Museum.

The City of Miami Beach entered into a development agreement with UIA Management LLC on March 14, 2007 for the design, development and construction of improvements to the Lenox to Alton Road portion of Lincoln Road. The total project cost of $6.2 million was funded by Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency (Historic Convention Village/City Center RDA).

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NEW PUBLIC PLAZA AND PROMENADE
Raymond Jungles, a Miami-based landscape architect, designed the public plaza and pedestrian promenade in collaboration with Swiss-based architectural firm of Herzog & de Meuron. The new pedestrian plaza is highly organic in nature, including groupings of mature cypress and oak trees surrounded by ponds of water. The black and white striped pavement pattern is composed of pedro portugesa stones, each individually hand laid in the style of both, Roberto Burle Marx, the visionary Brazilian landscape designer of Copacabana and Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Morris Lapidus streetscape pattern for Lincoln Road.

Conceptual artist Dan Graham was commissioned to create an interactive reflective glass pavilion situated in the middle of the public plaza.  The pavilion is shaped as a peanut in homage to the Fontainebleau’s original pool and is titled  “Morris’“ after architect Morris Lapidus. The artwork was commissioned as part of the Miami Beach Art in Public Places (AIPP) program.  This program is sponsored by the City of Miami Beach and exhibits works of art in public places other than museums to enrich the public environment.

CAR PARK @ 1111 Lincoln Road

Concurrent to the launch of the new promenade and public plaza is the opening of the Car Park at 1111 Lincoln Road, a project by developer Robert S. Wennett, president of UIA Management. The Car Park is at the heart of  Wennett’s visionary new structure encompassing retail, parking, residential and office spaces located at the 1100 block of Lincoln Road.  Wennett’s objective was not only to create a unique shop-work-live experience, but also to build a fully open architectural structure with breathtaking panoramic views surrounded by public spaces that are both wholly original and welcoming – a unique urban experience. Wennett engaged the Pritzker-Prize winning architects Herzog & de Meuron to design 1111 Lincoln Road.  Among the firm‘s most widely recognized projects are the transformation of a power plant into Tate Modern in London, the de Young Museum in San Francisco, and more recently the National Olympic Stadium in Beijing. The architect of record is Miami-based Charles Benson & Associates.

The Car Park is open to the public 24 hours a day. The hourly rates are: up to one hour, $4.00; up to two hours, $8.00; up to three hours, $10.00; up to six hours, $15.00; up to 12 hours, $25.00; and up to 24 hours, $30.00.

RETAIL/OFFICE SpACE

1111 Lincoln Road hosts 40,000 square feet for 13 retail concept stores; 110,000 square feet of office space; a 300-space multilevel parking facility; four restaurants, one on the roof top with ocean and bay views; an event space for concerts and art openings; and five high-end residences.

Office space is occupied by creative office tenants like MTV and Nickelodeon Latin America.  Retail and Restaurant space is leased by MAC Cosmetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Estee Lauder; Tokyo-based Adidas Y3, the Yohji Yamamoto line of footwear and apparel; Journelle, a New York based women’s lingerie store; Osklen, the contemporary casual lifestyle apparel from Brazil; Coltorti and italian multibrand designer boutique; Alchemist featuring Rick Owens, Martin Margiela and Chrome Hearts; Swiss-based Nespresso, the European espresso and food bar; Taschen Books from Germany; Inkanta design store; Babalu gift store; Artsee Eyewear from the New York Meatpacking district; and Shake Shack, the burger and shake Danny Meyer concept from New York.

There, expert Asian chefs are introducing a new menu featuring a variety of fairly priced traditional and exotic tropically-infused sushi created with the artful direction of China Grill Management’s corporate chef Luke Rinaman and Blue Sea head sushi chef, Sukhum Temp and expertly executed under the watchful eye of Delano’s executive chef Maria Manso.

The Blue Sea’s “sushi bar,” covered by a rectangular glass dome, sits at one end of the twenty five-foot long communal Eat-In-Kitchen table, and is where the Blue Sea menu originates. Among the delightful new appetizers ( Zen-Sai) being featured is Spiced Creamy Tuna Tataki, slightly seared tuna, chopped, dressed and serve “up” over wakame seaweed with house-made sesame crisps ($12); Hamachi Usuzukuri, topped with melon & ginger ice and drizzled with aged balsamic ($14); Wild Coho Salmon Tartare, topped with a ripe olive & soy tapenade and crispy pickled ginger ($13); BBQ Eel Sunomono, glazed eel on rice vinegar dressed watermelon and avocado ($9); Lobster Avocado & Fried Tofu, sliced butter poached lobster with ginger wasabi and yuzu dressing ($16), and Diver Scallop Dynamite, baked with masago and black tobiko ($14), to name just a few.

Individual Nigiri & Sashimi include Tuna, Fatty Tuna, King Salmon, Yellowtail, Fluke, Eel/Unagi, Sea Eel/Anago, Japanese Squid, Japanese Octopus, Alaskan King Crab, Madagascar Blue Shrimp, Scallop, Soy Marinated Salmon Roe and Sea Urchin, starting at $5 per piece.

Blue Sea’s new Maki Rolls are impressive creations. The expanded selection includes your basic California Roll but with your choice of kani kama (half $6/whole $10), blue crab ( half $9/whole $16) or king crab ( $22 whole); Yellow Jacket Roll, hamachi & jalapeños wrapped in yellow soy and nori with a side or blue crab salad ( 5 pcs $14); Sesame Crusted Tuna Tataki Roll, with avocado, spicy tuna mousse, cucumber & scallion topped with tataki and eel sauce drizzle (half $8/whole $14); Smokey Roll, a riceless roll with smoked tuna, smoked salmon, BBQ eel, smoked caviar & cream cheese in nori pinwheel (5 pcs $15); Rock Shrimp Dynamite Roll, baked kani kama California roll topped with rock shrimp dynamite (half $9/whole $16); Surf & Turf, poached Maine lobster wrapped in American wagyu beef Carpaccio (half $14/whole $26); Wagyu Tartare Roll, American wagyu, cornichons & wasabi rolled in crunchy rice (half $12/whole $21); Kinoko Roll, a vegan vegetarian option of Japanese mushrooms wrapped in white soy topped with crispy enokis & truffle oil (5 pcs $12), Cuban Roll, pork belly crisps, black soy beans, scallions & cream cheese in brown soy paper (half $7/whole $12); Mexican Roll, scallop, shrimp ceviche with avocado, red onion, tomato & jalapeño ( half $8/whole $14), and many more.

Served 6 days a week, Monday-Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Blue Sea’s alternative cuisine is lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol. Blue Sea and famed Blue Door & Plat Bleu restaurants at DELANO, are located at 1685 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, Florida. For reservations and information, please call (305) 672-2000.

“We are honored to welcome Ambassador Vimont to the Festival this year,” notes Mel Dick, president, wine division and senior vice president of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. and himself a recipient of the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur from the French government.  “We are pleased to host the principals from the greatest Champagne houses, and to celebrate the prestige and elegance of Champagne.”

Ambassador Vimont will host an exclusive Champagne lounge at Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best, sponsored by Bank of America, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on Friday, February 26, 2010.  The celebration of Champagne, France’s most famous export, will add flair never before experienced at this illustrious event.  Champagne will accentuate the sampling plates assembled by celebrated chefs and an international array of fine wines – each recognized as superior by Wine Spectator – will provide another welcome opportunity to try something new and refined.

The Festival is also pleased to honor one of the most celebrated French culinary icons in the United States.  The 2010 Tribute Dinner will honor world-renowned chef from Lyon, France, Daniel Boulud – recipient of the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur from the French government for his contribution to the advancement of French culinary culture.  Sponsored by Bank of America and part of The New York Times Dinner Series, the celebration will take place at the Festival host hotel, the Loews Miami Beach.  Food & Wine’s Gail Simmons – once the special events manager for Chef Boulud’s restaurant empire – will host the special tribute evening.

Some of the world’s most highly regarded chefs will celebrate Chef Boulud’s talent and pay homage to a career that foresees many years and accomplishments still ahead.  His own executive chefs will prepare the reception courses, including Zach Bell, Café Boulud (Palm Beach, FL), Jean Francois Bruel, Daniel (New York, NY) and Olivier Muller, DB Bistro Moderne (New York, NY).  Dinner chefs include: Paul Bartolotta, BARTOLOTTA Ristorante Di Mare (Las Vegas, NV), Michael Laiskonis, Le Bernardin (New York, NY), Nobu Matsuhisa, Nobu (South Beach, FL), Gordon Maybury, Loews Miami Beach (South Beach, FL), Eric Ripert, Le Bernardin (New York, NY), and Claude Troisgros, Blue Door at Delano (South Beach, FL).

French wine, spirits and cuisine will also be featured at the Celebrate France! tent at the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village.  On Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28, this unique environment will delight guests with a variety of quality wines and spirits, creamy cheeses, and more.  The Celebrate France! area will also offer guests educational opportunities through culinary demonstrations focused on French cuisine and mini wine seminars at “Le Tasting Bar.”

Tickets for all Festival events can be purchased online at www.sobewineandfoodfest.com or by calling 877.762.3933.  Follow Festival Founder and Director Lee Schrager all year long at www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.

Philippe Martinez, the internationally renowned producer of over 30 films including “Modigliani” starring Andy Garcia, “I Could Never be Your Woman” starring Michelle Pfeiffer and “The Flock” starring Richard Gere, acquired the rights from LionShark Entertainment, a subsidiary of BMax Holdings, which will also serve as executive producers on the project. Some filming will take place in Miami Beach.

“In the book I was instantly struck by not only the enigmatic and contradictory nature of Mayor Daoud, but how the various story lines interconnect during such a pivotal time in one of the world’s great cities,” says Martinez. “Alex was a larger than life personality whose impact on Miami Beach is truly part of America’s history.”

Daoud, three-term mayor of Miami Beach, was a driving force behind the rebirth of the city, but ultimately served time in Federal prison for corruption. “The decadence suggested by the book’s title is what initially drew me to read ‘Sins of South Beach’,” said Ben Rizzo, principal partner of BMax, “but the depth of the story and the incredible real-life characters are the reasons that I immediately knew this would make a magnificent movie.”

Martinez says, ”Daoud tells a story chock-full of sex, drugs, violence, corruption, and murder that ultimately exploded into the transformation of the South Beach that we now know today. Much like Miami Beach itself, Daoud was a study in contrasts: the consummate public servant who routinely took drastic actions to protect and serve citizens, while simultaneously straddling the lines of propriety and legality. But, it’s also very obvious to me that there were many other individuals who were just as corrupt, if not more so, than Alex, and who reaped benefits far beyond that of Mayor Daoud. Therefore, I’m truly excited to bring this riveting story to the screen and fully develop those characters as well.”

“Transforming ‘Sins of South Beach’ into a movie with the caliber of a filmmaker like Philippe Martinez is the fulfillment of a life-long dream,” says Alex Daoud. “The sacrifice, the sufferings and the sorrows of the citizens of Miami Beach during the Mariel crime wave were horrific. Now their stories will be immortalized on the big screen.”

For a limited time, blowout services will be available for only $30. The salon is also introducing two editions of the Express Yourself package: (1) A single process touch-up with a manicure and pedicure is only $90 (a $110 value); (2) A shampoo, blowout, manicure and pedicure is only $75 (if flatiron is necessary, $15 will be added). The Works package will include partial highlights, blowout, manicure and pedicure for $195 (a $295 value). All promotions will run until December 21.

Known for her masterful hair designs, Vaso Spirou’s self-titled Salon Vaso offers the latest in hair and nail treatments. Salon Vaso features a full-service hair menu for men and women including color, cut, style, relaxers, straighteners, specialty hair treatments, conditioners and party packages. Other services include manicures and pedicures. All treatments offer complimentary glasses of Prosecco and wine. Salon Vaso was featured as the only Miami salon to receive the “A Cut Above” honor in the August issue of Allure Magazine. The “A Cut Above” directory highlights star stylists from across the country.

Salon Vaso is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm. The salon is open on Sunday and Mondays by appointment only. Salon Vaso is located at 1500 Alton Road, 2nd Floor. Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, please call 305.674.7470 or visit www.salonvaso.com.

Select a seat in the spacious dining room or dine outside on the lovely garden patio and enjoy a succulent herb roasted turkey with homemade gravy, cranberry-balsamic marmalade and a selection of FIVE side dishes to share at the table. Husband and wife chefs Frank and Andrea Curto-Randazzo are crafting yukon gold mashed potatoes, Italian sausage and sweet onion stuffing, brown sugar bourbon sweet potatoes, cheesy broccoli casserole, almond studded green beans, roast brussels sprouts and a crisp and garlicky caesar salad to help fill your several starch requirement. Did we mention your table gets FIVE selections?!

Once you’ve feasted upon all the gourmet classics, share some pumpkin, chocolate pecan or Florida key lime pie topped with fresh berries. Talula provides a lot of delicious choices to help make guests feel thankful. Dinner service starts at 3pm through a very civilized 9pm so early birds and night owls can celebrate the best of the season in the warm embrace of the family… and nobody gets stuck doing the dishes.

We wish each of you every happiness of the holiday!

Talula Restaurant is located at 210 23 Street just across the street from the brand new W Hotel on South Beach. To reserve your spot at Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday November 26, call 305-672-0778

Luna Corner Pizza opened on November 16, 2009 and brings gourmet Italian pizzas to the MiMo District. The fast casual restaurant offers guests a “taste of Italy” with its fresh, authentic pies and exceptional customer service. The Neapolitan-style pizzas are made with top-shelf, high quality ingredients imported from Italy, including multi-grain dough, extra virgin olive oil, Italian meats and cheeses and organic San Marzano tomatoes. Created, baked and ready in under five minutes, the pizzas serve 4 to 5 people with half size options and by the slice. Luna Corner Pizza is ideal for on-the-go patrons, with quick and easy pick-up or delivery available.

Luna Corner Pizza’s location, 69th and Biscayne, is the first domestic outpost for the Amatruda family. The family has been specializing in the art of pizza making in Crema, Italy for over 40 years. They opened the first Luna Pizzeria in 1968, when the idea of the “pizza” was still unknown. The family decided to expand their business and launch Luna Corner Pizza internationally in China and France. Luna Corner Pizza stays true to the Amatruda family’s authentic Italian pizza pie, making them one of the most sought after delicacies.

Luna Corner Pizza offers five signature flavors and weekly specialty pizzas. Menu options will include the Margherita (Italian style mozzarella, Italian style Parmigianino and fresh basil), Salciccia (Italian style mozzarella, Italian sausage, onion and fresh basil), Hawaiano (Italian style mozzarella, prosciutto cotto and fresh pineapple), Salame Piccante (Italian style mozzarella, salame piccante and fresh basil) and more. Weekly specials may include pizzas such as the Napoli (Italian style mozzarella, capers, anchovies, olives and basil) and Verdure (Italian style mozzarella, green pepper, eggplant, zucchini, onion and basil). The restaurant also serves authentic Italian desserts by the famed Dolcemio by La Donatella, such as apple pie, profiteroles, tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Guests can also enjoy sparkling Italian sodas, San Pellegrino and more.

Luna Corner Pizza’s design was inspired by modern Italian aesthetics with contemporary LED lighting illuminating the colorful space. The focal point is the state-of-the-art kiosk, with a traditional Italian stone oven. LCD television screens and insightful quotes from legendary Italian personalities, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Giorgio Armani, Andrea Bocelli and Sophia Loren, accent the walls.

Luna Corner Pizza is located at 6815 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138. To place your order or for more information, please call 305.507.9209 or visit www.lunacornerpizza.com.