Interesting

I don't think I have ever put pen to paper ad lib style like I am now. I have always put thought into what I was going to write. Always planning it out to make sure it has a point and makes sense. In this case, I am merely writing to write. I just need to. Writing is good like that. It allows you to put things into words in ways only typing out the letters allows you the freedom to do. One is physically constructing the words as one goes along. It is like building a puzzle or putting one block on top of the other. The web is very interesting. Who would have ever thought that we would be sharing our thoughts, pictures and lives online so freely and so deliberately? No one did really. It just happened and now it is like second nature to jump online and give a rant. Although I am a writer, I have help abstained from partaking in such extremes as I still hold some traditional values such as privacy. It wasn't until recently that we allowed the web into our lives and now we pretty much cannot live without it, can we? Personally, I have been off Social Media for several weeks due to the fact that I locked myself out of my iPhone where all my social apps are logged in so I fell off the circuit and at first it was like being George Clooney floating alone in space, the only one out there alone. Then after a while it felt good to be floating in that quiet abyss, not having to depend on the thought provoking images flickering through my lens at all hours of the day. It felt good. But now it is time to drift back into the light, log back in after resetting all the passwords I forgot and get back to reality.

An Open Letter to Men on Dating Sites

Whatever you do please don't pucker in your pictures, you all know who you are. 

Men please never, ever post images of yourselves with females. Although it's better than not posting any images of yourself at all!! 

Seeing pictures of you with a hot female makes women wonder if everything is a game for you, not how much more appealing you are because you're with another woman.
In reality, who are we to judge here? We are both guilty of being on dating sites to begin with.
At least there are those of us who are honest from the start and say things like, "Only here to have fun" or "I would like a serious relationship." Honesty is the best policy and this way expectations are set right from the start. It doesn't mean you'll be married tomorrow but it just starts you off on a level playing field. 

I don't know how to feel about guys posting pics of themselves with their children or worse with other people's kids. I just don't get it. I mean one image might be okay if it's your niece or nephew and it happens to be a good, clear image of you. In reality you should avoid this and especially do not post several images with kids and on top of that blot out their faces. This implies you are going through a nasty divorce and don't want any issues with your ex. It's really unnecessary. Also with all the cyber creeps trolling these sites night and day, do you really want to subject children to this environment? If family values are important to you, it is something you can say in your profile or share about yourself once you meet the other person. Posting images with children is in poor taste and is a little over kill don't you think? If the kids are yours, it's kind of hard to imagine being someone's step mom when we haven't even exchanged two words with each other.  

And stop posting pics of you with your moms you guys. It's hungry.
Dudes if you really must post a pic with a female because that's the only image you have where your biceps look perfect, please do not blot out or blacken her face!!  That's just plain rude and weird. What do you not want us to see? An ex-girlfriend? Even worse! Just crop her out completely or don't post the image at all. I'm sure you can find at least one or two clear images of you alone and of what you look like currently, not ten years ago. We don't want to see you with another woman and no that does not make us fantasize about how much of an amazing lover you are or does it confirm that you are capable of getting laid. What it does is turn us off and make us swipe left. 

And speaking of swiping, please don't ask us to swipe right. It's been done to death and is "used car sales-y." It's like saying swipe now before the sale ends. Just don't do it...

Don't post pictures that don't look like you. Also don't let the only pic you post be one of you with 20 other people. I'm too busy to pull out a magnifying glass and try to decipher which one is you. Do yourself a favor post a clear, recent photo of yourself and if you don't have one or think you are not hot enough to have someone take one of you then maybe you are probably not ready for a dating site. That, or you lack confidence in yourself and confidence is sexy. Darling, you'll need a thicker skin for these dating sites, it's a jungle out there. 

Don't post a pic of you and your twin, what do you want to do, have a threesome? 

Pictures with you not in them aren't cute, or funny or clever. 

Don't frown in your only photo.

Don't pose with anything over-sized that makes you look smaller in the pic. You don't want "you imagined as small" to be our first impression of you. What were you thinking?

And why does everyone insist on posting a selfie of themselves in their car? More than two selfies is too much. Please don't! 

And for goodness sake if you must post a pic of you with someone because you don't have any other images of yourself, for the love of everything good, please don't let the person you are posing next to be extremely much hotter than you! Hello?? What were you thinking? Would you like to hook us up with your friend?  

And for clarification, I must ask, did a guy actually post a picture of a rug as his only profile image?!!

The dating scene is hard enough guys so why make it harder on yourselves. Have a clear, recent, authentic photo taken of you to use as a profile pic, smile in it, have your intentions clearly stated and please think before you post! 

The Axe Sharpens Their Swing

From Interview with Ms. Commish for Cafe Magazine - Dated 2/24/2010

The Axe and the Oak

When it comes to music Miami has always been the kind of city you either love or you love to hate. There has always been something lacking when it came to the city's musical landscape. Now the city that was founded on swampland and marshes, industrialized by drug lords and extorted by countless politicians is contending with other major cities in art, cuisine fashion, performance and music.

There is something very interesting bubbling under the streets in Miami and it's not glitter and spandex. There are a slew of exceedingly gifted musicians paving the road less traveled, taking performance art and fine art to unexpected places and creating a renaissance in Miami never experienced before.

In comes, The Axe and the Oak. A band made up of three members; guitar and vocalist Sander Galt, bassist Myles Kaplan and drummer Fernando Subirats, serving up music reminiscent of rockabilly and psycho-billy and adulterated by Surf, Punk Rock, Death Rock and even Gothic influences.

These Miami natives met early in life. Galt and Kaplan played in a punk band together as teens and Subirats began playing with Galt in the mid-nineties for a band called Sift, where they experimented with performance art music. Then in 2007, drawn together by forces unknown, they joined and their interest in 1950's Rock and Roll led them to a distinctive sound within Miami's already eclectic music scene.  

They wouldn't call themselves a Rockabilly band although their sound draws on memories of when Elvis reigned king. They fall more along the lines of bands such as the Stray Cats and the Cramps on account of their "spooky twang" and dark psychedelic tone.

With songs like "Darkside," "Vampire" and "B-Side," one can see they are inspired by much more than pompadour haircuts and rumbles in the alley. Maybe their collective backgrounds in Punk, New Wave, 80's and Goth has something to do with it.

Thankfully this unassuming, musically gifted trio is not pretending to be something they're not. Galt seems like a throwback to a nineties Goth Punk but when you hear him sing its like Jim Morrison and Nick Cave had a love child (if those breakthroughs in science and time travel were available) and doesn't make any apologies for it. Subirats' broad interest in music led him on a self imposed journey to India to study the Tabla, while Galt and Myles interests expanded with Punk, New Wave, Goth and early Rock and Roll.

This band's brand of psychedelic rockabilly conjures up "Dark Southern Americana," while staying true to its Miami roots. They are currently working on their first album.

*Please note information provided above may not reflect the subjects current details or status.

One Million Sounds - @millionyoung

Past interview with Ms. Commish for Cafe Magazine originally dated 5/5/2010

Millionyoung

Ever wake up one morning and wish that euphoric feeling from last night wouldn't end? Well, once you hear Mike Diaz (a.k.a. Millionyoung) you won't have to.

Millionyoung evokes in his music the intensity of House and Electro, and combines them with acoustic guitars and airy vocals. "It's odd because when I wrote the music I wasn't sure what genre it would fit into specifically. The short answer I gave people was, electronic, which is how iTunes first had me listed," says Millionyoung.

Born to Cuban and Puerto Rican parents, the 22-year old musician remembers how as a kid at big family gatherings he would dance and sing the whole night away. Those memories left a big impression. "I feel at this point its mostly instinctive or subconscious, but I definitely tend to make music that people can all dance or sing-a-long with," said Millionyoung. 

Millionyoung studied film in college and found a special interest in film scoring but after graduating with an AA at Palm Beach Community College and finishing a year at Florida Atlantic University, he decided he'd take a brief hiatus from school to begin work on a full-length album. Once he's finished recording and things settle down from touring, Million Young plans to go back and continue his studies in film to hopefully learn more about scoring music for movies. 

His travels have had a definite influence on his music. "Last March when I went on tour we stopped in Canada for a few days and it was really interesting. I had never been that far north now out of the country, and I was really curious to see what it would be like. Everyone we met was incredibly nice and it was cool seeing people there as enthused about my music as I am about Canadian bands like Metric or Broken Social Scene," he said. 

Follow @datmillionyoung

Millionyoung takes "do it yourself" to new level, playing symphonic sounds coupled with sparkling guitar riffs, glittering melodies and beats over prerecorded laptop tracks. The guitar is his instrument of choice. He admits he still has a lot to learn too and when working on, or even listening to music, he tends to focus more on structures and the way songs are produced rather than the way any particular instrument is played. 

With over 3,000 online fans, a sold out EP and a strong blog following, it seems Young's keen ear and distinct ability to compose music is reaching the masses faster than anyone could have anticipated. Young is causing a stir on the indie music blog circuit: he's received a bevy of positive reviews from sites like Pitchfork and Gorilla vs Bear and when his "Be So True" EP was released on iTunes in January of this year, it remained in the top 10 in Electronic for four weeks. 

With recent gigs at South by Southwest (SXSW) and a line-up of future tour dates stretching across Atlantic, this Puerto-Cuban" with a knack for being "indie-pendent" is showing no signs of slowing down. 

Songs from his EP have been licensed for everything from compilation cds to video games. Songs like "Cynthia (Letting Up Despite Great Faults Remix)," "Chlorophyl," and his latest endeavor, "Love is all Around," a remake of the Mary Tyler Moore theme song are quickly garnering indie praise on blogs like Weekly Tape Deck, Cause=Time and Musicphile-osophy. Until now, Young has recorded all of his music on his laptop using acoustic and electric guitars, a few midi controllers and AbletonLive, a music producing software. 

Millionyoung recently started performing live with Awesome New Republic (ANR) and thinks the result has been fun and feels the fans are really going to have a great time at the shows when they tour in May. "We've been trying a lot of interesting approached that have really brought the songs to life" Millionyoung says.

Millionyoung will be playing shows at in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Montreal and Toronto and then will be traveling abroad to perform in Amsterdam, Berlin and London.  

Listen on iTunes

Like him on Facebook/millionyoung 

Find him on Twitter - @millionyoung 

The xx concert at the Fillmore Miami. They packed the HOUSE!

I was swept away last night at the xx concert in the Fillmore Theatre. Maybe I'm dating myself when I say this but if you're a child of the 80's like me, you'll know what I mean when I say that if the Eurythmics, the Cure and Depeche Mode would have had a threesome and had kids, they would have given birth to the xx.

With eerily depressing melodies that tend to sooth your broken heart and make your hips sway and lyrics that remind you of a distant past, the xx truly are something special...

Performing to a sold out audience, this group which originated in England, really gave it their soul. You could feel the energy permeate through the crowd. Their voices travelled through the air and filled the entire space and everyone was instantly mesmerized.    

Last nights xx concert was a magical, amazing experience for all who were there. It was interesting to see how surprised and pleased they were by the outcome of the crowd and whole heartily thanked us several times for being there. It was a special moment.  

I was so happy to be invited by my fabulous ladies and we had a phenomenal time running into dear friends such as FigureM while we were there. If you haven't heard of the xx by now, you need to click on a new screen and listen to them. You won't be disappointed.

And in bed by midnight doesn't hurt either! I do have to keep up my beauty rest, you know.... hahahaha

M-Commerce era ushers in "Minority Report" style advertising. But are consumers ready?

"Hi sir, did you enjoy those v-neck sweaters last winter?
On sale now, aisle 9!"

Remember Minority Report when Tom Cruise walks into the Gap and is greeted by a hologram simulation of a sales person who asks him how those v-neck sweaters worked out for him?

Stephen Spielberg's imagination set it up so that by reading the consumer's retina, the hologram would know specifics about his last purchase and politely remind him that he needs to stock up on some more.

This is called Biometric Technology and if it still seems a little far-out and far fetched to you, the truth is, in today's mobile commerce (m-commerce) era, it is soon be a reality.

Companies are now using mobile phones to track consumers buying habits and also use them as tracking devices that are triggered when a customer walks into their store. By gathering your data, they will be able to place messages that will be activated by your mobile device when you walk into the store.

I've always said that what happens in movies tends to happen in real life and this time I'm right! Ha! This movie came out in 2002 and it was set in 2054 and look it is only 10 years later and we are already hearing how companies are planning to use this technology.

2012 was the year mobile commerce really boomed. Consumers were browsing on their smart phones and tablets and more importantly entering their credit card numbers and hitting BUY. In 2012 alone, mobile sales jumped 11 percent amounting to $25 billion. More and more people are using iPads, kindles, other tablets and smart phones which are ideal for shopping from anywhere at anytime.

My first concern and first question was, "Hey how about my privacy?" And then I learned that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued privacy protection guidelines for companies such as Facebook which are already using facial recognition technology to identify people in photographs. The FTC predicts that advertisers will soon be placing cameras in public areas to display targeted ads based on the consumers age, gender, mood or other characteristics.  

"The FTC recommended companies that use facial recognition technology take steps to protect the personal data they collect and delete unnecessary personal data. They should also consider the sensitivity of the information before collecting it. For example, advertisers should not use the technology in bathrooms, locker rooms, health care facilities or areas with lots of children, the FTC said."

Given the privacy issues around this new technology, are consumers safe? Are we going to have the choice to opt out of it if desired? As cool as it sounds, everyone should take a moment to look into this and read up on our rights because sooner or later we are all going to have our first Minority Report moment at the Gap....

The Jetsons are here.... I'll be Judy!



The First Modern Family

Remember George, Jane, Elroy, Judy, Astro and Rosie? It was a 60's sitcom featuring the original "modern family" based in 2062 who enjoyed all the perks and amenities that came with technology and science but experienced all the same mishaps that regular families go through.

For those of us who grew up watching the Jetsons (during the 60's 70's 80's), I think we can all agree, it was definitely a fun, eye-opening show that made us dream of possibilities we never thought would be possible in our lifetime. Well guess what, those possibilities are now here!

During the last few weeks I've been seeing so many advances being made in all areas of our lives from how we drive our cars to how we work and suddenly it dawned on me, "oh my goodness, we're living like the Jetsons!"

As bizarre as it may still sound to some of you, we will probably be driving flying cars before 2062! We already have apartments in the sky like the Jetsons, robotic house mates, voice activated homes and today there are even more advances being made than any other time in history. The Jetsons show aired at the same time as the Flinstones, another family sitcom based in prehistoric, cavemen times. This article will show you we've come a long way from the Flinstones and we are definitely going to surpass the Jetsons in our lifetime!



Baxter the Common Sense Robot

Meet Baxter the robot. For $22,000 you can now have a robot who senses your movement and responds to you with facial expressions. Robots in this environment have up until now been kept away from human beings for safety reasons but this robot senses movement and moves slower. Its the first robot to have a common sense capability which is huge.

The NY Times describes it as "not creepy, but benign, perhaps even disarmingly friendly. And that is intentional." Also saying that "it is a significant bet that robots in the future will work directly with humans in the workplace." Also a former Apple executive for IPhone/IPad calls the development of this robot "a true Macintosh moment."

Dr. Brooks who developed Baxter, predicts that "soon, robots will be mingling with humans, routinely and safely." Right now Baxter comes equipped with a big red safety button (e-stop) you can press that immediately shuts him down but the Dr. says at some point we will all get over that. It will be just as necessary as the Locomotive Acts of the 19th-century where British laws required that early automobiles be preceded by a walker waving a red flag.



Insane Stratosphere Jump

The following might be the coolest thing you or I have ever seen. It just happened last week and it blew my mind! A guy got ballooned up out of our atmoshphere and did a freefall jump from the earths stratosphere. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is the second layer of the earths atmosphere. On Sunday morning Oct. 14, 2012, Felix climbed to 128,100 feet (39,045 meters) in a helium-filled balloon, AMAZING isn't it?

The guy in the picture is Felix Baumgartner and he is now the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall and broke two other world records for highest freefall jump and highest manned balloon flight.

While millions of people worldwide tuned in live, they watched Felix's journey back to earth lasting 9:09 minutes(4:22 of that time in freefall). People watched the ascent and jump from their living rooms and through live stream on the Internet, reminiscent of the first walk on the moon by Neil Armstrong which was televised all over the world in black and white. To me this seemed very symbolic and curiously timely being that Neil Armstrong just passed away in August. We could almost say this jump happened during his lifetime.    

It took 5 years for Felix and his team to prepare for and was "designed to improve our scientific understanding of how the body copes with the extreme conditions near space."

Then we have what is probably one of, if not, the most important advancements of our time. The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine which was just announced this month.


John B. Gurdon
Badass #1 circa 1962



Shinya Yamanaka
Badass #2 circa 2006



Two men from two completely different times jointly discovered "that mature, specialized cells can be reprogrammed to become immature cells capable of developing into all tissues of the body.

This revolutionizes our understanding of how cells and organisms develop." Textbooks have been rewritten because of it and new research fields have been established. These men have shown that specialised cells can turn back the developmental clock under certain circumstances.


And ofcourse nothing can be complete without including Google, how can we leave out a company that has revolutinized our generation so much we made it a verb.

Driving for Dummies

Google has developed a self driving car. Yes you read it right ladies, you'll be able to do your make up with both hands while driving!!! Guys you can shave on the way to work! Heck you can even catch up on your reading!

At the end of September these cars were made legal in the State of California and Google has already been testing the cars on the road in Nevada, which passed a law last year. But both Nevada and California still require the cars have a human being behind the wheel who can take control of the vehicle at any time.

Funny though, the only accident reported after testing 300,000 miles was a fender bender that took place while a human was in control of the wheel. So far, they've tested with Toyota Prius Hybrids and the Lexus RX450h crossover. Sebastian Thrun heads up the project who also co-founded Google's Street View.



Sooner than we know it, life is really going to change for us. Advancements are being made that will alter our daily lives forever. 

It will be as easy as Jane and Rosie sitting in their living room watching soaps while letting everything take care of itself.



Jane and Rosie enjoying clhores and beauty regimines

If we are not careful (actually when are we ever careful right...?) we will definitely experience repercussions when people become too lazy and complacement which reminds me of a little movie I love called Wall-E, if you haven't seen it, now would be a good time to.

These advances will change the make up of what we call normal and alter what humans need and want. It will completely change our behavior forever but if we go into this era wisely, we may just be able to optimize our performance while still keeping our own two feet planted on solid ground...    

Something new has Blossomed in Wynwood and its called Bloom

Well ladies and gentlemen, please excuse my recent hiatus but after endless rounds of soul searching and redefining myself, I decided I'd pick up right back where I left off so here I am. It all comes full circle and The Commish is back at what she loves to do, talk about life and food.

Typical to Miami flair, this little restaurant has an ambiance like no other. A fresh modern feel with natural touches welcomes you as you enter through an outdoor reception area where the watering hole awaits perfectly situated for you and your friends to have a quick drink before dinner.

The drinks are superb. The one you see here which after tasting them all turned out to be my favorite, was the Pacaya. It has papaya fruit, honey, cilantro and orange and it is absolutely is delicious! The tattooed bartender there is a favorite of mine, I was his customer at Mercadito where he used to tend bar. Now he is shaking it up here with great jokes and these fabulous drinks.

They have an outdoor seating area which looks like a city garden, very cool but we decided for indoors for the Miami summer heat. The indoor dining room is bright and airy with a casual yet chic feeling to it. They serve local market and street food like you would find while traveling in Latin America and Asia but its served on delicate plates instead of your typical styrofoam you get while abroad and it is so fun to eat. Everything is served sharing style or at least thats what we did and got to try a little bit of it all.

We tasted everything from Tuna Yuke Seaweed “Tacos”,  to Braised Oxtail Rice Tamales. We tried the Miami Spice menu while it was still going and got to try a little of everything. The Korean short rib arepas were to die for and the Salmon tiradito was one of my favorites.

Then the dessert, which I must tell you give the word "rich" a run for its money. I'm not sure if it was the Cola Float or the Shaved Ice Bomb but whatever it was, it was yuuuuummmmiiieee. Peanut butter chunks, thick icecream, milk, syrup and crumbs swirled together to give you the thickest shake you've had in a while. So thick in fact they actually serve it with a giant straw to assist you in your devouring efforts!

All in all Bloom gets two thumbs up from me for ambiance, food quality, service and flair and I will definitely be back, who knows, maybe with you next time!

Cheers!

Can I get a Lift? An Exploration into the Awkward Elevator Ride..

Ever been on an elevator ride and felt a really awkward feeling? It's like you are stuck at close proximity with people you know nothing about for an indefinite period of time and the silence is so uncomfortable and the awkwardness so thick you can cut a knife through it?

Yes that is the old, faithful awkward elevator ride. Part of you feels like spurring a conversation but you don't want to be that guy that starts a meaningless conversation about the weather or sports that you can't even finish because before you know it the person is jumping out on there floor!

And when I say jumping out, I mean jumping out! We are all guilty of it too. As soon as you here the bell ring for your floor a sensational feeling overcomes you as the  doors open and the freedom beckons you to wisk yourself out as soon as humanly possible.

Its quite a spectacle I must say, I am guilty of it too. Why start a conversation if you can't finish it anyway? Then there are the pointless little things we do to look like we are too busy to acknowledge eachother such as checking our email, looking down at our watches, tapping our feet or searching your purse for a mint that you won't offer anyone anyway. Its really all so silly.

Why must we pretend not to know eachother or better yet, not care to know eachother for that matter? Its like we're all too busy to even nod at eachother and say hello... what is up with that?

The best elevators are the ones with tv's in them because it gives everyone a perfect distraction from having to interact with each another. I'm going to try being pleasant for a change and nodding at someone next to me, and maybe just maybe, it might make my next elevator ride a little less awkward...

QR Codes: The new thing in Advertising

We've seen these Quick Response (QR) codes recently on mobile devices like our Blackberry's and Iphones. Until now these little cubes have worked as an electronic signature of sorts. They are litte square's that look like a sku on steroids and work as a way of scanning your mobile device to link with another mobile and send them your contact info.

Well you are soon going to be seeing these little codes everywhere on everything from advertisements, products, clothing tags and more. It's going to be a way to get more information on any given something. You would scan the code just as you do now with your mobile phone and immediately be taken to the website or a slideshow or video that will explain more about the product or thing being advertised.

Each square will be like a personal identification or address, almost like a social securty, email or product sku.

Its the wave of the future but it just hasn't caught on yet. There's an artist that is using it as a way to show a snip-it of her singing and to direct people to her tour dates. Advertisers are using it in airports to promote products and soon you'll see it everywhere from movies to bus stops.

I'm looking forward to seeing what we'll think of next. But for now I think my code is pretty hot, maybe its cause it has Ms Commish writen all over it! ;)

Online Dating Experiment

I never thought I'd be the type of person to try something like this. Is there a specific type of person who dates online? It always seemed like something foreign to me. Online dating has always been something I hear people talk about and always wondered why it is that people do it? Did they do it cause they were desperate? Were they really happy with the person they found? And how many duds did they have to suffer through to find "the one."

I've heard success stories about people who met on Facebook or Myspace and got married and are still together and I've also heard horror stories about terrible encounters with people that lie about who they said they were. Its scary if you ask me. I mean its hard enough dating someone who "comes recommended," even that holds no validity anymore. Those that come recommended actually tend to be the ones who screw you over even more! It's like when do you know its okay to let your guard down a little bit?

With this online dating, its like you've never even heard of the person until they found you on this site where thousands of people sign up to and visit everyday. Who monitors these sites?

Who's to say they are cool people, or that they are who they say they are or better yet even safe for that matter? I don't know it all seems even more difficult to me. Online dating seems to have been created to help people bring walls down and lower inhibitions but it seems more like the opposite. I don't know if I could ever take someone I meet on one of these things seriously.

I highly doubt I'll meet my prince charming on one of these things but I'll give it a try for old curiousities sake and we'll see what happens. Who knows, it may actually be worth a few late night chatting sessions with some complete strangers.. Ha!

Keep you posted..

Is anyone else crazy about "Crazy About You?"

This new restaurant-lounge located off of Brickell Bay Drive not only gets thumbs up for ambiance and stunning outdoor views but a high-five for good eats and great prices!

Upon walking in and being awed by the airy, bohemian-chic ambiance and beautiful wine cellar, we were tempted to have a seat in the Moroccan inspired lounge but quickly noticed the fully stocked bar which was flanked by a large flat screen TV and went straight for it and started ordering.

One of my favorite things on the menu were these little "Short-rib Mini Burgers with Shoestring Fries" that were absolutely to die, I literally licked my fingers.

The decor in the main dining area is also chic but more romantic. White linens drape the tables, while candles and dim lighting provide a warm glow that is perfect for a sexy night out with someone special.

During my first visit, I sat at the bar and had drinks and food while watching the Heat game and although the game was a disappointment, the food that night definitely was not. We also tried the Applewood BLT Pizza which is exactly what it sounds like; a BLT sandwich on top of a pizza and boy let me tell you, it was darn good!

The next time I went, I sat outside during the day and enjoyed the ocean breeze and sunlight while tasting dishes from the Cheese Casserole with Chorizo to the Serrano Ham Croquettes which taste like little puff clouds of heaven.

That day I had the Ricotta Spinach and Salmon Cannelloni's which weren't that great but that doesn't take away from my experiences there thus far. The food is by no means 5 star but it is good and fairly priced.

For 15.75 to 19.75 you can enjoy an entree along with an appetizer and there is only a 10 dollar charge for sharing. A glass of wine will run you $4 and the drinks are reasonably priced.

The service is still a little raw but for a place that just opened a couple of weeks ago, its okay. Let's just hope they tighten their bolts and fine tune their service staff before foot traffic begins to pick up.

I must say that the best part about experiencing good food and good ambiance is being with good company and at the end of the day that's all that truly matters.

Enjoy!

Katana Japanese Restaurant: novelty or gastronomical experience?

I recently visited a little restaurant named Katana, that serves up raw fish by way of small wooden vessels called "streaming boats" that wiz by on a makeshift river in the center of the room. This restaurant that serves up little plates of carefully adorned assortments of sushi and sashimi, has got it down to a science.

Each plate has different colors or markings that symbolize different price ranges from the green plate which is 1.50 to the black plate which is 3.50. But don't be fooled, if you enjoy eating as much as I do, you'll find yourself making a trip to the ATM midway through your meal, so be wary but dig in! As quickly as the plates pile up, they are swiftly removed from your counter to make room for more.

One thing you also should keep in mind is that the place is tiny. I sat at the counter and had some trouble getting in and out to use the restroom. Once you wiggle your way into your seat you may not want to get back up again.

This definitely isn't the place to go have a relaxed dinner for two or for a business gathering but it is a place to go with a buddy for lite fair,on-the-go, although the wait can sometimes be up to 30 minutes depending on the night.

They do have a couple of booths available but those fill up fast as you'd expect and the rest of the tiny restaurant consists primarily of a U shaped counter with small wooden chairs that wrap around. A server takes your order usually from behind the counter and most of the dishes are made in the back kitchen. I guess I'm a big fan of open kitchens so I kept trying to peep behind the curtain to see what was going on back there. It would have been cool to see my food being made.
There are also other items you can order ranging from classic appetizers to tempura bowls, noodles and of course edamame. The desserts are primarily tempura and they carry Japanese and domestic beer and saki.

They've apparently been at this since 1993 and the place is always busy, so they seem to be doing something right.

All in all, I had a fun experience for the novelty of it but I have to be honest, I wasn't blown away by anything on the menu but I did have a good time.

They have late hours, it's simple sushi that's cheap and served in a fun environment. Great place to add to the cities repertoire of distinctive eateries.

Kanpai!!

Gigi the new place to eat

Hello my fellow foodies, my fellow lovers of gastronomic experiences I introduce Gigi's. A new little hot spot eatery located on N. Miami Ave and 34 St that is not only a good place to eat but also as it turns out, a tremendous place to hang out and just drink tons of sake.

This place that just opened say maybe 5 weeks ago has been making locals like myself salivate. From its infused melon appetizer and their little Gigi buns to the tuna snack which is to die. It is all good at Gigi's.


I've tried just about every thing on the menu and let me just tell you you need to have the soft shell crab dish (not enough places I've been to in Miami serve this and it is so good here) just remember the whole thing is completely edible so don't worry.

Then there's a bowl with pieces of beef, cabbage, mushrooms and the thickest pasta you've ever seen and is soooo good I've had it a couple of times. And please do yourself a favor and use as much of the spicy sauce that they have on every table, you won't be sorry.

Where do I begin with this place except to tell you that it must be checked out and you must take friends and you must say the Commish told you first, because that is what I do best my dear, telling you about food..

Bon ape tit!

Miami's Little Hidden Treasure is Lost and Found..

There are very few places you can go to that are not all about the hype in Miami and this ladies and gents is one of them. This little Mexican restaurant nestled next to an all night sports bar on 36 street is so unpretentious you would miss it driving by if you weren't careful.

I personally am a strong believer in supporting our locally owned eateries because its these places that make up the thread that we tend to lack when it comes to this city's cultural. Too many restaurants open up and close up before you even get to really know the place. Thankfully Lost and Found is one of the little spots that have remained open through the ups and downs of the recent economy. This isn't the only reason why I visit though. Its really something else.

Food and ambiance are the two things that keep me coming back to a place. Any place can get me through the door, heck if you know me, you know that I'll stop off and try just about any place at least once just to find out what its all about. But if you can't make me feel good while I'm there, then there's really no reason for me to go back. Who wants to eat somewhere that the food is great but you leave frowning? Not me..

Hence, Lost and Found. Every time I go there I leave with a smile. It kinda feels like an old western saloon in Mexico in the middle of a tropical city(if that makes any sense) Its dim lit, warm and friendly. Foods good, and selection is good. And its funny cause every time I've been there they seem to be playing snow sports on tv which is kind of "cool" especially in this Miami heat.

There are tables outside and the bar stools are those really neat ones that are the shape of your butt. Perfect for sitting for hours while you sip down some cold ones and eat all the tacos you can handle. Oh and the chicken soup is fab I haven't even tried a lot of the menu cause the last 3 times I've gone I've ordered the soup!

Definitely go check it out and invite a friend. Oh and be sure to check out the napkin art, I think there's a few up there worth framing and hanging up for sure!

Hasta luego!

Last comic standing...

Miami is one of those cities where you never really know what you are going to get. And last night was one of those nights. I've always been a sucker for a good laugh and therefore have been frequenting the Miami Improv since the late nineties. If that is any indication of how old the Commish is then don't bother doing the math cause you'll never get it! Lol

Anyway, last night was an exceptionally special night because of all the times I've gone to see comedians, during my very few years on this earth, last night was actually someone that I know! Local comedian extraordinaire Elvis Anderson took the stage and it was a real treat.

It was New Faces of Comedy night and 13 local comedians jumped on stage to strut their stuff. Some were a bit greener than others but for the most part they garnered laughs and held their own.

Aside from one guy who was too under the influence to complete a sentence, and another guy who made to many 'feces' references for anyone's liking, it was refreshing to see just regular folks get up there and face the crowds.

Its not easy being up there behind those lights and in front of such a big crowd so I definitely respect and support them.

One thing I found especially amusing was being made the butt of the joke by my friend Elvis! I know you're wondering, "Now why would anyone enjoy that?"

Well, because the experience of a comedian actually telling a joke about you on stage is quite exhilarating, you should really try it some time! It's like that feeling you got when your teacher gave you a big gold star in front of everyone in class, it just feels good!

It was like nothing the Commish has ever experienced before and let me tell you I've seen a lot!

All in all it was a good night in the Grove. And also good to see the old Greene Street cafe is still alive and well which is where we took the after party for the mandatory "Walker fix."

Till next time and remember, "What is life if you can't laugh about it!"

Cheers!

Disposable You...

Like the pair of brand new shoes you've only worn once to the various pairs of cuff links you have for each day of the week, as much as you may not want to admit it, you yourself have become disposal. But unlike the “spoils of war,” your traces do not remain long after the battle is over…

Human beings as individuals have become a transient item.

We have become another one of the many replaceable items in our homes or in our closets that get substituted for something newer and better when the use for that item is no longer required. But my question is, when did human beings become disposable?

Eliminating somebody’s traces from your life has almost become an art form. No longer are we compelled by morals or principles to look someone in the face and explain what it is that is bothering us. It is much easier to just get a new one.

You don’t hold a tie up in the air and say, “Hey friend, our relationship has run its course," do you? So why would you do that with a human being? It’s all much too complicated and takes up way too much time and much needed energy. Energy that could be spent doing something much more productive like crunches, or better yet calling the next person on the list...

We no longer look at each other as valuable, or worthy for the sake of the relationship. We see each other as items and are constantly asking ourselves, “What is this person doing to better my situation?”

We forgot how the person was there when you least expected. We forget how they made us laugh when we were down. We so easily forget all the amazing things that make that person who they are and that garner that person at the very least a final conversation. What did that person do to deserve such treatment, care for you?

Imagine how much happier we would all be if instead of when asked, "So whatever happened to Bob?" one could proudly say, "Well he was a great guy and he's in Alaska right now photographing seals," rather than recoiling in embarrassment and saying, "I have no idea, he left me without a trace..?"

Unfortunately, Miami has bred self indulgent, narcissistic individuals who have no sense of remorse what-so-ever for what they do or who they do it to.

They do not hold themselves accountable for their actions so why should others? Then we wonder why this city is such a nightmare to date in? What we don’t realize is that we ourselves have brought forth this kind of unrealistic cut-throat environment.

Granted, I am not trying to toot my own horn or win the Medal of Honor for my services here; I’m just saying this has gotten out of hand.

Since when is it okay to accept a gift or a favor from someone without returning it ten fold? Since when did it become okay to specifically date someone until “the one” comes along and either sweeps you off your feet or makes you fall head over heels?

We’re all guilty of it.

Where is our sense of compassion for one another? No one looks each other in the eye anymore. We’re like little hamsters running in our cages all alone in our wheels, going no where fast..

We all have feelings. People have feelings. It shouldn’t be so difficult to say sorry to someone. Saying sorry doesn’t mean you are wrong and they are right. It means you acknowledge the other individuals point of view enough to meet them half way on the subject.

Whatever happened to being courteous and caring about the well being of others? I mean if I ever found myself in a tight spot, I would like to believe that a complete stranger would step up to help me, but these days I’m not so sure anymore..

A human being is not an item to be toyed with for a while and then turned in for another model. A person is not merely a “warm body” or a “decent date” or a “good listener,” that is there to fill the role for your convenience. People not only have feelings but they also have better things to do than to be catering to your needs all day.

Maybe, if we all stopped trying to over compensate for our poor judgment and lack of personality by worrying about our appearances and buying nice cars and big boats, we might find the time to work on ourselves from the inside and maybe just maybe become better human beings in the meantime.

Hopefully disposable human beings will just be another fad or something like white jeans and we'll all go back to valuing one another.

I don’t know, I’m just sayin…

So here's the "Shake" down on the Shake Shack

The Shake Shack just opened today and of course I had to go over and see what all the fuss was about.

Word is that in NYC people wait up to 1 1/2 hours in line for a bite of one of these burgers. So I had to go see what was going on because if there are two things I love in this life, they are burgers and shakes!

I ordered a classic cheese burger which came crispy on the edges with melted American cheese on top and let me just say was absolutely delicious!

One bite and I wanted to go back and stand in line to order another one but my waistline immediately denied the request!

The strawberry shake I ordered was thick and creamy and reminded me of an old school malt shake from back in the day although my friend said it reminded him of MC Donalds.

But either way was really good so if you're into a good shake like me, see for yourself and let me know what you think.

One of us ordered some cheese fries which in my opinion could have used a bit more cheese to really be considered cheese fries but the consistency of the fries was spot-on.

The ambiance was nice and airy although the line went on and on and there were no seats available to save your life. They were playing Radiohead which instantly put me at ease and made the wait that much better.

And I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing,when you're hungry, but the smell in there is absolutely intoxicating and keeps you salivating as you wait.

All in all the Shack gets a good hearty shake from me. Just make sure you go with a friend and start some good conversation for a wait of about 30 minutes minimum.