Thursday, September 6, 2012

I love my Antenna!

Clear Stream Micron Indoor Antenna $99


One year ago we cut the cord. The cable cord that is. We called up the cable company that we would no longer be needing their services. We even went so far as to have them unwire the house. I'd like to say the plan was to stop watching TV altogether, but it wasn't. The real story is that we were tired of paying $200 a month to watch crappy reality shows that weren't even in HD unless we paid even more. Some cable companies offer HD everything automatically, not Atlantic Broadband.

I thought when we cut the cable we'd spend a lot less time in front of the television. While we do watch a little less, we watch a lot of Netflix, YouTube and, mostly, great shows in HD on our new antenna. This year I got to watch my first Olympics in high definition.. for free! What a revelation. My new favorite channels are ones I didn't even get with cable, especially Create (heavy on the cooking shows with Jacques Pepin, Julia Child and Ming Tsai). The other interesting thing is that most network channels have sub-channels you don't have with cable, like NBC has 6-1 (the usual), but also 6-2 (local videos a la Plum TV). It's certainly a case of quality over quantity. There are only about 30 channels, but unlike cable, I can almost always find something to watch, usually on one of my THREE PBS channels. One thing I don't watch is crappy reality shows. No Hunny Boo Boo, no Basketball Wives or Hip Hop and Love in Atlanta. So, if you're addicted to those, you might have some trouble, but maybe it's time you went to rehab.

Lava HD $57 Outdoor Antenna on Antenna Deals
 

Monday, August 27, 2012

South Beach Hurricane Survival Kit

It's easy to find checklists for hurricane preparation, batteries, cash, water yada, yada, yada. But after living through a number of storms myself, I realize "just the basics" isn't that much fun, or effective. So I'm making a list of some of personal items I've accumulated over the years which make storms -- and the inevitable power outages that go with them -- so much more bearable.




Eaton Red Cross Hand Crank Emergency Radio. $80

This is an awesome 4-in-one. I have an earlier version, but the idea is the same: a radio, flashlight, cell charger and emergency siren!  Can be used with batteries or a hand crank. Perfect for finding out where the storm is, or just jamming WVUM.





Perrier Lemon in glass bottles

I stopped buying bottled water for home consumption years ago, so why would I run and buy as much as my shopping cart will allow in a storm-induced panic? I wouldn't. Instead buy something you actually want to drink that's water-like. Something that will hydrate you, but not sit in your cabinet for years after absorbing the taste of plastic (which is what used to happen to my hurricane water). Instead, clean and fill up the bathtub - just in you wind up with a boil water notice or something like that. YOu can also keep empty gallon water bottles around and fill them with filtered water just before the storm. Et voila-- water rations with virtually no BPA!








02 Cool Battery Operated Fan $29 at campingworld.com

Ok, you're gonna need batteries for this, but if it's August in Miami and your power is out, well, you're gonna need it. When not in use, it folds away and is totally portable and great for other uses too.. like, uh, camping. This one is 10", mine is 14".









When you're at the store, get stuff that doesn't need to be refrigerated, like oranges, apples and raw almonds. You could even use the power outage as a chance to go on a raw foods diet. Just fruit nuts and dehydrated snacks like tasty Kool Ranch Kale Chips. If you do that you'll have tons of energy by the time you have to get back to work. Totally. Serious.





Faber-Castell Soft Pastel 72 Color Set $38

Yes, really. Art supplies are the best for storms. What else are you going to do, stuck at home, no power, no TV, not internet. Pastel! Have a contest, do a portrait of the dog, whatever, it's just fun. Don't forget to get pastel paper, eraser and a few brushes for blending too.






Just because the power is out doesn't mean your environmental consciousness goes out the window. The LED light runs for 2 hours straight, which is more than you need for fumbling around in the dark each night.





This little cooler keeps ice frozen for 5 solid days. FIVE. That's normally plenty of time to get the juice back on. Here's how the seasoned pros do it: empty the ice from your fridge and place in cooler a few hours before the storm so your fridge has time to make more. Then add all the most perishable items and all the other stuff you are going to want to access. Do this while the power is still ON if you can. That way you do not have to open your fridge if the power goes, which it will keep all but the most perishable items in decent shape for a day or so. One caveat: raw meat only stays safe for 4 hours in the fridge once the power stops. If you are anticipating a storm, remove all uncooked meat from the fridge and cook it. Then put it in the cooler and nibble for days!








Smart phone chargers are everywhere and with batteries lasting longer, the car charger isn't as nesesary as it once was... unless your power is out. A lot of people don't have home phones anymore, and if they do, there are electrical cordless numbers that can't be counted on during outages. Either keep a retro non electro phone around or have a car charger handy so you can go in your car and charge it up. After, of course, the 120 mile an hour winds die down. 




Because you can't color ALL day, break out some board games and rediscover some old-school fun. Although I don't know why I think it's fun, my husband always beats me. Except once, a few years ago and I still have that score card in the box. Just remember to keep a dictionary handy for disputes. 


So what's missing from the list? Plenty, I'm sure. Candles? You've already got those, right? And booze - I did not forget the booze. My advice is not to buy more, but instead to finish all those weird, random bottles in your liquor cabinet that have been sitting there forever. Somebody's going to have to eventually drink that Jagermeister and Peach Schnapps.  This way, you can all catch a little buzz without going crazy. You don't want a "Let's finish all this beer while it's cold" situation. After all, if this is a big storm, and you've chosen to stay, you might just need your wits about you, especially if you're in a house or anywhere near the eye of the storm. Good luck!

Friday, August 24, 2012

The new Big Fish: Estiatorio Milos

Milos' cold case


Everyone who's anyone has been talking about Milos, which is sure to be the hot restaurant in Sofi this season. What are they saying? That the place is beautiful, the food is exquisite and... some of the most expensive food they ever had, Greek or otherwise. One friend told me she and her husband spent $200 on a whole fish her first trip there. Sure, they give the price of the fish per pound, but if you want to stay solvent, you better ask how much it weighs. Another friend told me she went on a double date there and everyone at the table ordered freely, because they were feeling a bit "celebratory." Fortunately, her date was a big enough fish himself so the party didn't end when the bill came to $1000 per couple. True story.

So when I had a chance to go, I was excited, and a little nervous. Could it really be that expensive? Yes, and no. There is plenty to eat at different price points. Some whole fish cost more than others so if you get a big one that's $50/pound, yeah, your bill will be high, but it will also be a lot of food. Entrees are priced at the usual South Beach fancy restaurant price of $38-$45 or so, which might be a good option if you don't want any surprises. But, there are other ways to experience Milos and it's beautifully designed dining room more reasonably. The first one is the Pre/Post Theater dinner menu which runs 5-7pm Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 5pm til close. This gives you four courses from a $49 menu filled with succulent classics like the Charcoal Grilled Mediterranean Octopus, the Lavraki (Mediterranean Seabass from Cephalonia), Lamb Chop and their famous Baklava. The other way is with the $20.12 lunch menu that is making a buzz. It offers three courses in good sizes and a few pricier options for a $10 supplement.

There is even a third, more casual option. Go for a quick bite at the marketplace tucked off to the side of the restaurant. There they sell the top quality items they use in the kitchen like sea salt, olive oil, aps and other tapas style dishes on a long communal table. I imagine affluent Sofiers might swing by and pick up Milos' version of "to go" on a causal Tuesday night. My take on the place? Go. The ingredients are obviously of the highest quality, the food is delicious, clean, perfectly seasoned.

Beautiful, but a bit cold... bring a sweater!



The secret to perfect fish

730 First Street, Miami Beach 305.604.6800

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Juvia: A View From the Top!

Hamachi Espuma



Ever since Juvia opened earlier this year I've been hearing people talking about it. The views, the design, the romance. The food? Well, that was a subject of much debate that ranged from superlative statements like "Best meal of my life!" to "Not worth it." with some claiming their first time was amazing but they were disappointed on return. What to do? With uneven reviews from friends and high prices, it wasn't quite on the top of my list. But then I finally got a chance to go and see what all the fuss was about for myself. It's the views, stupid! 

Like their other restaurant in St. Barth, Bonito (I've been, it's good!), the views are spectacular. And the ambiance is unlike any other restaurant in Miami. It's sexy, but in a sophisticated way that feels more like... somewhere else. Not anyplace that actually exists mind you, just somewhere you wished would. And the views are spectacular by day or night. The food, is secondary, which not to say it's not good, it's just hard to compete with that view. But it tries. Hard. A few things I had could even fit under "best ever." Those included the buttery Hamachi Espuma (above), the Sea Scallops Plancha and then, the "candy bar" dessert. All amazing, all were recommendations from our waiter. He did not specifically recommend the Korean Marinated Short Ribs, which Yannick ordered anyway. They had pretty good flavor, but they were very, very dry. So the lesson here is that the menu might be a bit uneven, so it's best to ask the waiter what is best and pick from those selections.

So is Juvia worth it? Most defiantly, especially for a special occasion and I don't mean big birthday parties either, I mean the kind of celebrations that are best done à deux. Tête-à- tête, if you know what I mean ;)

Juvia's view down Lincoln

Juvia menu

Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Gap Stole My Name!



When I was little, I rather hated my name. And because my mother kept my hair short, people didn't know if I was a boy or a girl, and my name, well, it didn't give them any further clues. I could never find never barrettes, notepads or other fun personalized trinkets with my name on them. At some point, around high school, I started to appreciate the uniqueness of my name. But now, many years later, my name seems poised not to be so unique any more. And the fact that The Gap has turned my own personal brand into a cut for jeans doesn't make me as happy as it might have when I was, say, seventeen. What's worse, they are made for some other fictional Hadley, one with no curves and that's definitely not me.

The truth is, I've kind of liked being (more or less) the only one all these years. While there is a website, a registry for all the Hadleys in recent history, in all of my years I've never met another one, and neither have most the people I meet. Once, years ago, a friend of a friend I wasn't so sure about asked me if she could name her daughter Hadley. I told her I'd rather she didn't. Was that mean? Am I selfish? Perhaps. But now it seems there may not much chance of stemming the tide of Hadleys to come, so I might as well just face that I've been paving the way for a new generation of "Hadleys" everywhere.


Saturday, July 21, 2012

Former 944 Interns take Fashion Week Swim!

Me and Simonett


These are the days when reporting from the front lines really gets interesting and South Beach really does live up to it's sexy reputation. Thursday marked the beginning of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach. But it's not quite like Fashion Week in New York. This one sees women on that catwalks in skimpy swimsuits instead of ready to wear (out the door) fashions and hooked-in locals rarely get shut out from shows they really want to attend. As an editor, I'm on the lists, but connected non-media and buyers can usually wiggle their way in as well, making the shows much more social than other cities. It doesn't hurt that they do these at night, after all the buyers are done perusing the biggest swim trade show in the world at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and more recently, Salon Allure at the W.

On Thursday at Soho Beach House, I attended an event thrown by a former 944 intern-turned-serious-stylist, Rachel Russell. It is called Style Saves and it's a fundraiser to help disadvantaged children get back to school duds. While waiting for the show to begin, I caught up with another former 944 intern, Simonett Pereira who is now a fashion blogger. I must give her props - blog looks fab.  Never say an internship can't change your life! Check it out www.fringemiami.com.


Friday, July 20, 2012

Beauty in Ohio: Swans at Buckeye Lake


Get too close and they'll hiss like Naomi Campbell

Buckeye Lake was always filled with ducks. Lots and lots of ducks. But now, they have become replaced by hoards of Canadian Geese, which the locals hate because they settle on land and leave such a mass of droppings everywhere it is impossible to avoid stepping in them. (See the strings below that were installed by my husband as a barrier to keep the geese in the water and off the yard.) The geese are still there, but lately there have been a new breed of visitor: swans. The most recent sitings have involved a husband and wife team with a brood of four cygnets. 

They are so cute, but if you come close -- they will hiss. One day my mom decided she must feed them - with the only thing she had on hand - saltines. While I implored her not to, I didn't have any hard fast evidence as to why this was bad for them. She did it nonetheless and was excited when they ate some of it. I have since learned that it is very bad to feed these birds, because the typical foods people try to give them are harmful to their intestines, and keep them from eating their nutrient-dense diet of super foods like algae. The only time it is ok is if it is winter or late fall / early spring and their natural food is not available. Then it is ok to give them natural popped corn, cooked brown rice or lightly steamed vegetable scraps. Got it? Good! If you don't believe me, stop by Wild Birds Unlimited in Dublin and let tell you what they think. Whatever you do, just don't tell them my mom gave them saltines! 


Pappa swan in Buckeye Lake

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Things to do in Ohio: A Romp in a Field of Corn


The first time we saw it was quite a trip. Late one winter night in early 1995, some friends and I were driving around having a "That 70's Show" kind of time, when we stumbled upon a field of concrete corn.  We couldn't believe our eyes (or those ears), so we pulled over to take it all in. At first we giggled and then we were in awe at the installation of 109 eight food ears of corn. Why hadn't we heard about this? Where did this come from? Where the hell were we? (Lost, that's where.) They were all legitimate questions that we might have known the answers to if we hadn't all been in college, living outside of Columbus.



We dubbed it, ominously, "The Corn" but its real name was "Field of Corn" and it was a commission by the Dublin Arts Council by artist Malcolm Cochran. The idea was  to create the sculpture in the very spot where Sam Frantz once planted the very first hybrid corn. He created "Corn Belt Dent Corn," a  double cross hybrid, and so a field of concrete corn was erected in his honor after the Frantzs donated the land. Field of Corn is set on the fringe of an office park and the intersection of Frantz and Rings Road, and failed to be taken seriously by, well, almost anyone for many years. It's been painted, defaced by drunken teenagers, and jokingly called "Cornhenge" by locals, but the truth is everyone kind of loves it, if only for its complete and total randomness. And while it may be a monument the precursor of GMO corn, Field of Corn is more enduring and endearing than most art installations and certainly worth a detour.





Tuesday, June 19, 2012

How to have fun in Ohio: A Ride in the Testarossa


The Ferrari materializes in front of Mom's house


Returning to Ohio is always somewhat of a "Back to the Future" experience for me. But this time, I really felt it when my cousin Rob Case took me for a ride in his "new" 1991 Ferrari Testarossa. I couldn't help but feel a little Doc 'n Marty when he picked my up in this bucolic Ohio burb of Muirfield to go for a drive. 


watch full screen to experience!

prancing pony


original lipstick red interior


Back to the Future



Passion for cars runs in the family, but Rob takes it to another level. He has painstakingly rebuilt the entire car, restored the leather and made it look, and run, like new.  It really is breathtaking, but I know him, now that he's done, he'll probably sell it soon and it's on to the next thing!


Beautiful!



Thursday, June 14, 2012

Jugofresh - Open for Life - or 2pm, whichever comes first


Jugofresh is the newest and hottest thing among Miami Beach's smart set. It is a beautiful little organic juice bar that has taken design cues from the Cowshed, and hot yoga teacher customers from Whole Foods. It's a great place to go get juice on a fast, but in my case, I'm coming here to break it with one of their delicious "blended beverages".

But there are issues, there are.. rules. Essentially, they are the "Juice Nazis" of Miami Beach, and just like Seinfeld's original Soup Nazi, the lines are long, the rules are strict (no changes to juice recipes, cold-pressed never centrifuge!) and subjects willingly go back day after day until the last Gogi Lemonade or Mylk Shake is gone.  Which is around 2pm, when they close. I know, I know, 2pm?! But remember we're playing by their rules, not ours.

That said, they have already expanded their offerings beyond just juice to include some food. Raw, vegan food that is. See menu below:



Perhaps their indifference to walk-in customers has more to do with the fact that their core business is the juice cleansing clients, who get an entire day of juices for $75. These people take priority and have first dibs on the Allow Meow H2O. And personally knowing how much work it is to make juice I would say it's a pretty good deal if you've got the scratch.


devotees

Chia Seed Pudding

Sugar Sherm - my reward for making it 4 days!

from the outside

They deliver if you're on "the program"




4 Days of Just Juice - the recipes

My fridge during a cleanse


When I juice cleanse, I pull out my big Breville juicer and make all of my own juice and put them in assorted glass jars that I have on hand. I usually press enough for two days so I don't have to clean the juicer every day. (Lazy, I know.) I label them so I remember exactly what's in each one, I have to avoid cucumbers but they are valuable during a cleanse so I make them for Yannick. Here are some yummy new combinations that I came up with this time around.

Beet - Grapefruit

Honeydew-Ginger - Lemon- Parsley- Kale

Carrot-Ginger-Lemon

V8- Tomato, Celery, Cilantro, Basil, Parsley, Carrot, Lemon, Cucumber

Master Cleanse Water - Lemon, Cayenne, Honey

Juice Beet Greens by themselves and take with water for shot before a tastier juice, same with kale


Remember, the more sweet juices you have, the more blood sugar fluctuations the hungrier you'll be. If you want to stave off hunger while you're doing this, strain the juice (digestion shuts down when there is no food or fiber and you are less hungry), and stick with vegetable juices of the low sugar variety (that means limit carrot and beet and fruit juices!)

"Lunchbox" for Yannick complements of Blue Print Cleanse - use an ice pack

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Secret Juice Bar Hidden in a Texaco









Yes, you read the headline right. In a total moment of serendipity (and I don't me the new ice cream place on Lincoln Road), I found a juice bar in the most unexpected place the very day before I started a juice cleanse.  It had to be fate, the gods giving this particular fast their seal of approval. Anyways, I was heading south on Alton Road, stuck in traffic when I noticed I was almost out of gas. Fortunatly there were two gas stations to my right. I picked the first, the slightly cheaper Texaco. You know, the one with the car wash. So as I'm pumping my gas I realize there is a carrot juice-slinging bunny taped to the pump advertising wheat grass shots, smoothies and fresh squeezed juice....inside.

As it turns out the owner of the Gourmet Carrot, which used to be downtown, and then on West Avenue, has opened up a little juice bar in the back of the gas station's convenience store. How very... convenient. This little perk definitely makes the case for making this gas station your gas station. Stopping for a delicious, healthy sandwich or fresh apple ginger juice kind of takes the sting out the annoying (and increasingly expensive) task of filling 'er up!

www.carrot-express.com 






Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Alexis Sample Sale





The queue at 9:45am
 You might have heard a buzz about a brand called Alexis after their most crowded sample sale ever last week. I first encountered Alexis as an editor at 944. I later had the honor of writing the brand up for Ocean Drive for which I wrote the following:

Alexis
The sophisticated resort wear line replete with maxi dresses and gorgeous flowing fabric, has been embraced both by Miami’s jet set and fashionable ladies of leisure from Jakarta to Abu Dhabi. Ambitious founder Alexis Barbara, who can model her own designs better than most, launched her namesake brand at the tender age of 22. Now married with two kids in tow, she’s planning “Little Alexis,” fashionable kids clothes even mommie dearest would love. While we wait for chic onesies, check out Alexis’ peacock-hued resort collection and new slacks for spring.
Available at Intermix, Neiman Marcus Coral Gables, Bloomingdale’s Aventura 
 - Hadley Henriette for Ocean Drive

It was only after reporting on it that I really got excited enough about the brand to brave their semi-annual sample sale, which is not only well attended by my friends, but hundreds of other Miami-based Alexis enthusiasts. So I braved the traffic and headed out early am to their airy white warehouse adjacent to Tropical Park. They opened the doors at 10am as promised and everyone entered as calmly as possible. Inside there were racks of printed silk items, the type of flowy resort wear she is famous for, as well as packages of slinky cotton casual separates, which interested me most, but where the hardest as it was strictly verboten to open them up and try them. Overall the discounts weren't quite as deep as I expected, averaging 50-60% fairly pricy items, but I still think it was well worth the trip. I had a pressing appointment and, therefore only had a forty minutes to shop, which may have been a blessing in disguise my bill stayed under $150 and I avoided the two hour line for the register! Phew!
A quick checkout for me an a cool silver bag

The scene at 10:30am