And Now for Something Local

When I run into friends & acquaintances here at home in Florida I sometimes hear “You’re here in the USA?  I thought you were out of the country.”  I think to myself “Well, I can pack my bag in a few minutes & I’m ready to go but yup, I’m here!”  John & I live in South Florida, USA & although it might seem like we’re always traveling outside the USA, we do, in fact, spend most of the year here in Florida.

We enjoy being near family & friends in this beautiful part of the world.  We especially enjoy it in the winter when most days are sunny & in the 70s F & the nights are in the 60s F.  However, our summers here in South Florida can be brutally hot, in the 90s F during the day with close to 80% humidity.  The heat & humidity are enough to make anyone pack their bags & seek cooler climes!

Speaking of packing my bags, I find that having a packing list that I refine for each trip works well for me.  Without a packing list I’m tempted to take far more than I’ll ever need or use on my trips.  After each trip I edit the list to delete items I never used.  I’ll write more about my packing tips in a future post.

Since we moved to Florida in the early 1990s John & I have taken day trips to explore the state.  So, over the last few decades we’ve been able to explore Florida beyond the theme parks in the Orlando area & have had a lot of fun doing so.

Last week John & I took a ride to Miami Beach for lunch at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar  & I can sum up our experience in one word – WOW!  From the moment I called Yardbird to request a lunch reservation & was greeted cheerfully by Mersa (sp?) I had the feeling that lunch would be a pleasant experience.  The Yardbird is in Miami Beach in an unassuming looking building that gives no clue about the fantastic industrial ambience inside.  Inside the Yardbird the floor to ceiling glass is complimented by the exposed wood beams, ductwork & an open kitchen.

John & I were hit by the same thought – all of the staff looked happy to be there, paid close attention to their guests & made us feel welcome.

We were escorted to one of the high-top tables giving us a great view into the open kitchen.   Rachel, our Server, was a delight & reminded me of the professional European restaurant staff I’ve encountered over the years.  Rachel discussed the menu with us, made some recommendations & when I ordered their Watermelon Sling drink (Midnight Moonshine, Aperol, fresh watermelon juice, lemon & a sprig of rosemary) smiled & said that it was a favorite afternoon drink as it’s cool & refreshing; and, she was right.

For lunch John had the Shrimp Po’ Boy with fries that were so delicious it would have been a crime to let any ketchup touch them.  I had the fried chicken (crispy & delicious – yum!) Lunch Plate Express that came with spicy watermelon cubes & a biscuit.  All of the items on their menu are homemade including the tasty Honey Hot & Bourbon Maple sauces for the fried chicken.

John noticed that a gentleman standing by the kitchen was checking every dish leaving the kitchen & we learned later that the gentleman was Elliot Gonzalez, the Executive Chef.  Elliot came to our table twice to chat with us & to ensure that all was to our liking.  As the Servers walked by with dishes for other tables I thought … we’ll have to keep coming back here to try those dishes as they look fabulous.  When I asked where the Ladies’ Room was, one of the staff actually walked me to it which was a nice touch.  By the way, even the restroom was lovely.  The warm & friendly atmosphere in Yardbird, delicious food & beautiful ambience just confirmed my initial “WOW” upon entry.  Yardbird Southern Table & Bar is now on my list of favorites.

John suggested that we check out the Wynwood Walls which is near the Miami Design District, a former industrial & warehouse neighborhood in Miami.  So, after lunch so we headed to the Walls which was an excellent find on his part.

In the 1980s when John & I were still living in Brooklyn, New York we attended an Art Show at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.  The Terminal was built in 1918 to serve as a military depot & supply base & was very active in World War II.  For those Elvis Presley fans it might be fun to know that he deployed from here to his military assignment in Germany in the late 1950s.  The Art Show at the Terminal was most unusual to me as I didn’t quite understand the art.  One installation was a group of people clad in white Tyvek coveralls, carrying a long length of PVC pipe & tooting as if they were playing a musical instrument.  I found the other memorable installation when I turned a corner & saw two people standing in front of a hole in the wall & commenting on its meaning.  Well, the hole in the wall was an empty fire extinguisher cabinet cutout in the wall.  I thought to myself, if this is “art” then I’m a monkey’s uncle (or aunt!) or I’m just not sophisticated enough to appreciate this art!

I’m happy to report that I didn’t “suffer” this same thought when we visited the Wynwood Walls as the art on display is beautiful, moving & fascinating to see.  In the early 2000s, the Goldman family bought several warehouses in this area & started a Street Art Center.  The warehouse walls, lacking windows, pose a wonderful canvas for street artists.    Street artists from around the world exhibit their work on the walls & in the warehouse galleries.

The Walls had plenty of visitors the day we were there but given the layout of the area with pedestrian paths & some grassy areas, didn’t feel crowded.  It was a beautiful, sunny & not too warm a day so strolling around checking out the art installations was most enjoyable.

Readers, thanks for checking in to read my latest post.  If you live in South Florida or plan to visit here, I highly recommend a meal at the Yardbird Southern Table & Bar & a visit to the Wynwood Walls, both now on my “must see” list for people visiting Miami.