June ..... already?

Quick update for those few who follow ....

... Twist yearly "renovations" going on

... planning Disney trip with Mr. S for his birthday (6/19)

... Mr Astor has a birthday coming up ....

... planning the 4th of July weekend up to Mantoloking, NJ with Mr. S and looking forward to it .... Who will get to cook? hmm? (Yes, he will make the bread pudding...)

... Planning Nicholas's 11th birthday sailing party in Coconut Grove...

... Gettting mom to go to Puerto Rico or Virginia with her best friend

Keeping out of the rain, but loving the thunder storms when watching TV & Movies with Mr S.

Keep hydrated and enjoy the start of Summer!!!!

A night at the theater - "Chicago"

Ziff Ballet and Opera House Lobby
Courtyard/Side Enterance

Lobby ceiling

Theater's Nautilus Ceiling...supposed to help with the acoustics

The Stage

Tonight Mr S and I will be going to the closing night of Broadway Musical Chicago at the Adrienne Arsht Center. Sofia Vergara will play Mama Morton.

I got bought the tickets really early, so we have box seats for the performance. I really like when we have "date nights". We will have dinner, dress up, head to the theater, enjoy some champagne and sit for the show.

Mr S was horrified that I had never seen this show live, but I counter attack with that he has never seen The Sound of Music. Well ... at least we still have things to learn from and teach each other....

This is a lovely theater and the pics are of the Ziff Ballet Opera House where the performance will take place. I took them during the grand opening week. The odd shape of the buildings and the over run in building costs was partly due to the fact that the sound and acoustics of the performing arts center was designed first and then the buildings were constructed around that.

Pridelines Fundraiser

Pridelines is an organization that assists Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning youth. Their work saves lives. They will be having a fundraiser this Friday at the Florida Room in the Delano Hotel and the suggested donation is only $10.00 (but you can give more!).

Their organizers worked with me in reaching a wide range of people for the Winter Party Family Picnic and we are already planning for 2010. Please support and help if you can. Thanks!!!

In The Heights - Documentary 5/27 on PBS

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Season in Florida is at an end and the kids are starting to get out of school and romp around the town for the Summer.

In South Beach it is "Urban Weekend" a.k.a. "Hip Hop Weekend"...the police put up barriers and close off areas and streets. There is a "paddy wagon" ready to take people away and the dress (or is it the undress) code consists of really short skirts/shorts/dresses (sometimes without panties) and really high heels and lots of "bling" ... baggy pants, no shirt, tank tops, t-shirts, lugz, timbs, grill, chains ... loud music ... We get a large group of tourists with less revenue to the local businesses. Some businesses make less money this weekend and some choose to close.

Whatever your opinion, I welcome them to area and deal with it. I do have fun with some of the people when they are down and the women are usually the ones that have and spend the money with the occasional pro sports athlete or singer/rappers making a cameo....

My godson finished school this week and he received some awards. We are having a BBQ on Saturday to celebrate. Mr S has to work and we will get together in the afternoon. We are planning to see the new Terminator film on Sunday and Monday will be up in the air, but I want to see Tiffany's show at the Palace.

I am helping Mr S with work this month, and Wednesday I have a Miami Recognition Dinner Meeting....

I hope all of you have a fun and safe weekend. Please take some time to remember, pray and thank all our veterans and soldiers....

Peace.

Just letting the weekend come and go....

No meetings, no family obligations, just me and Mr. S letting the weekend come and go .... maybe meet friends out, do a movie, eat, sleep, catch up on the week's shows saved on DVR ... or maybe just a couch day .....

The Shore Club - Penthouse

I was asked if I had more pics of the Penthouse at the Shore Club....of course I do! ... and a few more of the view from the top. The entry is by elevator and there is a private elevator if you do not wish to use the spiral staircases to go from level to level. Level 1 is the entry/living room/dining room/balcony area. Level 2 is the master suite. Level 3 is the pool and outdoor patio area. Enjoy!

Miami Recognition Dinner - Kick Off Event

Michael, Liebe and David

View from the top

Liebe and David (Co-Chairs for the Miami Recognition Dinner)

Tuesday night, Mr S and I were at the Kick Off Event for the Miami Recognition Dinner (MRD). The Dinner is an Event to be held on October 17 at the Fountainbleau and LIV Night Club on Miami Beach and benefits many local organizations while recognizing an LGBT local and national person/hero. The local honoree for this year is Michael Adler of the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

The Kick Off event was to announce the local honoree and gather possible table hosts and sponsors. I am on the Dinner Committee and it was our job to shmooze. The evening was hosted by The Shore Club an was held in the 3 level penthouse of The Shore Club.

The Shore Club is a sponsor for the MRD and donated the food, beverages and space for the evening's event. The whole evening was casually elegant, the weather cooperated and everyone had an enjoyable evening.

FYI: I'll be approaching people to host tables, purchase tickets, advertise or sponsor .....

Have a good week!

Happy Mother's Day!

Dad's mom/my grandmother "Ita", Cousin Carlos Luis, Mom's oldest sister Aunt Noemi "Titi Mimo", Me, My big sis Irma and the nurses on the day I was taken home from the hospital after being born.

Cliff, me and our moms (May 1965)

Mom now

Mom, me and my sisters at Bayfront Park 1969

(Where Bayside Market Place is now)

Mom in Puerto Rico

Mom at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee 1950's

Pardo's Chicken

The Band....they gave us a copy of their new CD.

Dante (my sister's high school boyfriend), Cecilia Torres (Public Relations for the restaurant chain and Dante's 2nd ex wife).

The Band: El Gordo Magico

New Album: Poder Tropical

Peruvian potato omelet, fried plantain, grilled chicken, quail egg

Inca Corn, fries, Peruvian Fried Chicken

Pardo's Chicken (Peruvian Restaurant)

2312 Ponce De Leon Blvd

Coral Gables, FL 33134

305.529.2475

Good food, nice people, family friendly, live music, reasonable prices....

My cousin took us out for dinner as a "thank you" for taking care of Nicholas the week she was in Wisconsin for work and getting the house packed and moved to Miami. The Brookfield house was sold and now we begin the process of finding the new one in Miami? Coral Gables? South Miami? West Miami? Pinecrest?.....