I just got back from the better part of a week in South Florida, and I am happy to report that I sustained only 300 mosquito bites. I hadnt been to Miami in 15 years, and through exhaustive research, Ive found that, at least as a city, it still kinda sucks. For example just today, four pedestrians were hit by a single car downtown; in fairness, it IS a Wednesday. Miami is a weird town, man. I feel like a total dipshit for not knowing a lick of Spanish. Im almost 40 and I speak one language. Thats embarrassing. The Cuban food there is amazing. The Peruvian food is amazing. The street art in Wynwood is amazing. The architecture, at least the art deco South Beach is known for and the little other historic stuff Miami has preserved (victorian, mid-century) is pretty great too. The contemporary condo architecture is a snooze a minute. Jai-alai seems to be on its death bed -- the main arena its played in has the same signage its had since Miami Vice and its covered in mold, and as Miami resident Jared Zech pointed out, the ads inside havent been updated since Skoal was allowed to advertise and Sunkist was two logos ago. The Marlins game had more fans than jai-alai (about 15 more fans) in their stupid spaceship built by their fraud of an owner. The Phillies lost (Fire Ruben Amaro), and the Marlins didnt even have the decency to hit a homerun to light up their goofball neon dolphin and flamingo sculpture. Speaking of, South Floridas wildlife is also pretty great. Whats left of the Everglades are really special (and will be totally underwater in 40 years or so), and the mosquitos aside, the lizards, the fish, the gators, and the birds are all totally Florida: ibises, egrets, herons, and of course, flamingos. The ones pictured here are at Hialeah Park, a nearly 100-year-old horse track with strong Philly ties -- to Joseph Widener, who bought and improved the track in the 1920s and imported the flamingos that eventually made a habitat of the place, earning it official Aububon Society sanctuary status. All in all, a fine reconnection to Miami, but Im happy to be home in Philly. Bonus points: locally roasted coffee (Panther), locally brewed beer (Key West Sunshine Ale), Molinas Ranch roasted pork (a top ten meal ever) and sugar cane batido (just kidding, that actually made me want to puke), local Key Lime pie a.k.a. crack on a plate, gator bites that made me feel guilty eating, Tom Petty in an outdoor amphitheater in his home state, and a four-month-old chihuahua puppy runt who fits in your pocket. You my dawg, Munchy. Go head, Miami.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 03:09:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015