Palm Beach Bike Ride

Sunny Palm Beach day...

What is that peeking over the hedge?

Oh, Hello Richard Meier!

a serious game of croquet

Bethesda-By-The-Sea

Palm Beach Synagogue

Miami Quiceanera

When we were visiting the historic mansion Vizcaya in Miami in February, we noticed that there seemed to be a lot of ladies taking bridal portraits in the gardens.  Then I noticed that these "brides" were young...and had multi-colored dresses.  Hmmm...

Do you see the poofy dresses in this picture? (click to enlarge)

There is is!  Two of them!

giving attitude

more covert picture-taking

So then we had some wine with lunch, and brainstormed this poofy dress phenomenon...

could it be....Quinceanera photos?!

Quincineara is like a coming-of-age party for Latin American ladies when they turn 15.  

Apparently we had stumbled upon the best place in Miami to take photos!  Never ones to waste such an opportunity, and knowing that my birthday was coming up, we promptly scouted locations for my "Treinta y uno" photos.  Behold:

bashful

confident

regal

What do you think?

:)

We Go To Miami and Hang Out in a Parking Garage

Herzog & de Meuron's 11 11 Lincoln Road is a mixed-use development recently completed near the pedestrian shopping street of Lincold Road.  Take the elevator to the top of the parking garage and get some great views of Miami Beach!  Of course, only archi-dorks like ourselves will hang out in a parking garage and think it's awesome...

 

Cole and Ethan checking the views, the columns, and their phones

 The top floor parking deck that also double as event space (someone even got married there).  The wood-wrapped stairs connect to the owner/developer's penthouse on the roof.

Ft. Lauderdale - a little history with a Tennessee connection

So... Andrew Jackson really had an issue with the Native Americans (yes he was a little judgemental back in the day).  The Seminole tribe were concentrated in the area of present-day Ft. Lauderdale and Gen. Jackson wanted them gone.  He decided to call on his trusted friend, Captain William Lauderdale from Sumner County, TN, to come take care of the issue.

Captain Lauderdale and 400 mounted horsemen rode down from Tennessee and fought the Native Americans for the land. They built a small fort in the area.  The fort not only survived later wars, but the area around it began to grow and flourish and came to be known as the town of Ft. Lauderdale.

Today Ft. Lauderdale and Davie, FL look like this:

Ethan and Rob throwing the disc

Nice beaches, no evidence of any wars.  And the town of Ft. Lauderdale still bears a Tennesseean's name!  Woot woot!

Ft. Lauderdale - Bonnet House

Having an afternoon to kill, we decided to check out one of Fort Lauderdale's Historic Places: The Bonnet House.  This turned out to be an awesome lesson in history, architecture, and Florida coastal development patterns.  I think I read about it on a blog somewhere...so glad that I have wasted so many hours reading blogs!

...and Bagels

Breakfast in Boca (or anywhere in South Florida) consist of: smoked fish, dried fish, kippered fish and…bagels! The Jewish delis have the familiar vibe of your corner mom & pop diner, with a distinctly different menu. You won’t find bacon and eggs here! Once you can accept the idea of fish for breakfast, it really is pretty awesome!

Boca, Bar Mitzvahs...

To understand a Bar Mitzvah in Boca Raton, one has to first understand the familial bond forged when a culture is transplanted. My dad grew up in a tight-knit Jewish community in Brooklyn, NY. On his block and in his small apartment building, he grew up surrounded by family and friends; most of whom had recently emigrated from Eastern Europe. Like so many other families like mine, these relationships stood the test of time and, of course, the move to Florida.

I don’t know what number or how many times removed Michael and I are, but that technicality is moot. Put a bunch of Jews in a room and we are all family!

Arlene and Stacey

Let me set the stage for this experience: Imagine generations of strong traditionalism crossed with the flash of south Florida panache ala Will Smith’s “Welcome to Miami” video. . .

The brothers Levine

Jews + Hip Hop = “White Hot”

This was the theme of the Bar Mitzvah party thrown by our hosts, my cousins, the Myers! The party in the evening was awesome, to say the least. I vaguely remember having a Bar Mitzvah of my own, but I can tell you with absolutely clarity that I didn’t have simulcast video projections of the dance floor, I didn’t have fly girls, and I didn’t have a pimp ass white suit!

The Bar Mitzvah makes his paparazzi entrance!

Ethan and Steph gettin' down

 
Attention to detail is an understatement. I mean, my cousin has a white hot art deco inspired Logo! If Michael wanted to launch his own men’s clothing line or fragrance, his brand has been established!

Even though the party was awesome, let’s not forget that we were celebrating a coming of age (actually called “becoming a Bar Mitzvah”). Diligent study of the Torah and a personal commitment to tradition are a necessary step towards becoming a Bar Mitzvah. The party is the icing on the cake.