Barbara Parker 1946 - 2009

Miami for Obama

kinda makes up for that Republican National Party Convention (somewhat)

Greetings from the police state of Los Angeles!

Whatever gripes I might have about the current state of journalism, at least I don't go around clubbing reporters or shooting them with rubber bullets. The LAPD veterans still don't seem to understand that their behavior looks like it came from the worst of the dictatorships around the world.

Kudos to Beth Dunlop for her inimitable insight into the saga of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, on the heals of her riff on the Carnival Center, in the March and April editions of Ocean Drive. Few and far between are the architectural critics who can so knowledgeably champion responsible development. Architectural criticism is so much more than commenting on the veneer. In Miami, to be against the construction of yet another crass condo tower in a flat real estate market ...well, it's nothing short of treason. Barbara Capitman would be proud.

If you still had dry eyes at the end of last night's Gilmore Girls, then get outta my kitchen! And Veronica Mars is back, too! How cool is that? Gee... am I allowed to be watching this? VM has been one of the best written programs on television as far as I'm concerned, so excuse me if I don't watch anything where a contestant can get voted off.

"The Perfect Fake" by Barbara Parker

Anyone who knows me knows I love maps. And I love mysteries. Especially by Miami authors.

I had the good fortune to be covering the Miami International Book Fair the year that Barbara Parker's first mystery was published, and I've read every one since then as soon as I could get my hands on it.

"The Perfect Fake," Parker's newest mystery, not only centers around Miami and maps, but the Miami International Map Fair, which is kind of like the ultimate Star Wars fan convention for lovers of maps. I doubt that anyone in Miami is better suited than Barbara Parker to craft a first rate page turner from it.

My only mistake was starting it as we went through Daylight Savings Time, as it is one of those books that makes you hang on for just one more chapter a couple of times over before going to bed.

If there's one question I hear posed to mystery authors as opposed to most writers of fiction, it's the old stand-alone or series conundrum. Here, Parker has deftly shown she can give her series heroine a rest as she returns to a stand alone, yet keeping her beloved Gail Connor conected to the story, but just out of sight.

The only thing that sucks about reading books is that they take a year or more to write and can be devoured in a matter of hours.

And Miami is so far away at times....




If you click on the header at top you'll be taken to a picture of one of the scenes from The Perfect Fake. It's not Miami, but I won't give away any more of a spoiler. Click on the link to the left for Barbara Parker's website for a bunch of cool visuals that go with the book. It'll soon be evident why Barbara Parker is one of my favorite authors!

They wouldn't dare...

As 50 million viewers around the world tuned in last night, we saw Adam Rodriguez get shot at the end of the first half of a two parter.

Now, I'll admit, CSI: Miami isn't exactly Shakespeare. In fact, the only reason I turn it on is to see Miami, and see how they fool around with Miami-Dade geography. Apart from the establishing shots, most of the show is filmed in various sites around LA. It's always fun (for me) to see what stands in for Miami in Los Angeles.

Adam Rodriguez I'm sure is more of an actor than just a pretty face... but, he is one heck of a pretty face. While speculation runs around various message boards about his fate (I won't reveal any spoilers here), I'd just as soon see Caruso's character get offed before anything happens to Rodriguez.

It seems every time I get to liking something too much on television, it seems to get taken off...

It's only January, but it seems we have a hands down winner for the 2007 "There goes the neighborhood" award

A Malibu estate was quietly sold to the son of an 'alleged' (no one has lived to say for sure) cannibal dictator, who threatened to kill the American ambassador in 1996. Teodoro Obiang purchased the home next door to Matthew Perry for more than $35 million. That should be reason enough to keep me out of the 'bu for the foreseeable future...

Miami may still be the current undisputed champions for wackiness, and they did get OJ Simpson, but I guess Southern California has found a way to make up for all the runaway film production by challenging Miami's preferred status as home to foreign torturers and henchmen.

My score is 32 out of 101 - how about you?

Photo by Lactoso

Criticial Miami had a great post yesterday that got me meditating on a favorite subject of mine. Miami Beach 411 had a list of things to take out-of-town visitors to when in Miami. But why just visitors? It would be interesting to put locals to the test to see how much of their city they have truly experienced--whatever city they live in.

I'd bet there are at least 101 places to discover about whatever place you happen to be in that could change your state of mind, broaden your horizons, and make you a better resident. An entire blog could probably be dedicated to lists of places to add to their list (actually, I think there's already a bunch of 'em). Among the links to the left are any number of sites that list adventures for numerous cities. Why not make a list of your own?

I should bust outside and hit some of the places on my list myself, while the weather beacons...

mini miami

mini miami
Originally uploaded by miami fever.

Is this cool or what? Wouldn't it be great to have a miniature model of Miami? I've seen ones of San Francisco, New York and parts of LA (done by the WPA in 1940); but I didn't get to see the maqueta of La Habana. Maybe after the soon-too-come-celebration dies down... In the meantime, miami fever's photos oughtta get him some kind of award from the grand Poobahs.