Orchid Festival at Fairchild--March 12-14

It's the 8th Annual International Orchid Festival at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Starting this Friday, March 12 and running through Sunday, March 14, attendees can enjoy lectures, garden workshops, and walking tours through a wonderland of exotic orchids.

Green thumb and orchid enthusiasts can also choose from over 10,000 orchid plants from more than 50 vendors.

To view the entire program and schedule your day, CLICK HERE.

Don't forget to print out your $5 coupon found on their website or this website on left hand column!

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Arts Festivals Throughout Florida

A wooden, foldable, flexible butler! Yes that is the piece of art I purchased from a local arts festival as a gift to my sister for her new home to help her entertain guests.

Jeeves, as I Christened him, extends his arms with slight bend in elbow to hold a serving tray with neat rows of hors d'ouevres. Jeeves is uncannily flexible. He can bend backwards and his belly becomes a tabletop. What butler isn't multitasking or multifunctional?

Jeeves is only one type of art at a host of arts festivals that dot the Florida map in wintertime. In the past I've purchased the traditional prints or posters and invested thrice the sum for matting and framing. The end result is a personal piece that is eyecatching and one that I never tire and continue to admire.

The artists that display their work come from all across the U.S. and it's no easy task. Most drive across the country and the fees to present are a significant investment from $400 (at the Las Olas Art Festival) to $800 (at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival).

Whether you want to enjoy a typical Florida winter day and spectate or start planning to purchase a piece in near future, there's something for everyone. Besides who doesn't enjoy acquiring one-of-a-kind artwork and saying " I discovered this at an arts festival". (Keep in mind some art festival charge admission. Coconut Grove started as free, then started charging $5 and jumped to $10 this past year). As a small-time entrepreneur, I can relate to these artists. I always try to make some type of purchase to support their dream and efforts. It's a win-win.

Treat yourself and purchase a piece of art as a gift for a friend, family member, or charity. Another idea is to buy a piece and donate to your charity of choice that may use your gift to adorn their organization or use to auction for fundraising efforts. Eitherway it's a blessing for them.

See the list below of arts festival throughout Florida in the next two months or visit http://www.artfestival.com/

March 6,7
22nd Annual Las Olas Art Fair, Fort Lauderdale
13th Annual Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival, Delray Beach
9th Annual Downtown Venice Art Classic, Venice

March 13, 14
22nd Annual Art Fest by the Sea, Jupiter

March 20,21
46th Annual Key Biscayne Art Festival
6th Annual Coral Springs Festival of the Arts

March 27, 28
8th Annual Downtown Sarasota Art & Craft Festival

April 3,4
42nd Annual Mandarin Art Festival, Jacksonville

April 10,11
21st Anniversary Hyde Park Village Art Fair, Tampa

April 17, 18
4th Annual Seaside Craft Fair, Hollywood Beach

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Ménage à Trois - At Kimpton Hotels

Always wanted to try a ménage à paw but never had the opportunity? That's right a couple plus a third--your pooch!

Kimpton Hotels is the first full service hotel company to welcome pets! Dogs, cats, and other animal companions are welcome at this upscale chain and they have thought of everything!

Beginning with a well-rounded HosPETality program, Kimpton Hotels consider the pets along with their parents from the moment they step foot at the entrance. A "red carpet", doggy water bowl greet pooches from the car to the lobby. Next hotel rooms are outfitted with pet beds, dining bowls and pet treats.

It gets better--there is no deposit or weight or size restrictions! No discrimination here! To ensure Kimpton Hotels remain "up to snuff", are the Directors of Pet Relations--they're all dogs! These directors even advise the Presidential Pooch--Bo.

Cats are welcome too! Although at Happy Hour it would be best to check which pooches are cat friendly. My dog loves cats so no cat fighting at our next Happy Hour at the Epic Hotel in Downtown Miami--a Kimpton Hotel!!!

So on your next trip, instead of paying pet sitter and missing your four-legged children, bring them all! I used to bring my dog and two cats on road trips and hide the cats. No more!

Enjoy your next US vacation or trip with your best friend!

Key West Conch Shell Blowing Contest

Get ready to pucker up for the 48th annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest, which gets underway at 1 p.m. March 6 in the tropical garden of Key West's Oldest House, 322 Duval St.

Nicknamed the Conch Honk, the lighthearted competition salutes Key West's seafaring heritage. Contestants are judged on quality, duration, loudness and novelty of the sounds they make, with trophies awarded in multiple age categories.

Details: For info on the Conch Honk, check out http://www.oirf.org/ or call the Old Island Restoration Foundation at 305-294-9501. For info on visiting Key West, call 800-527-8539 or visit http://www.fla-keys.com/.

If you go, and you are searching for a hotel to stay overnight, I highly recommend the Orchid Inn. CLICK HERE for my review and pictures.

Update MARCH 7:
and the winner is....

A sixth-generation Key Wester, who first blew a conch shell as a child, played two shells simultaneously to take top honors Saturday in the island's 48th annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest.

Clinton Curry, 36, followed his two-toned toot with a portion of composer Aram Khachaturian's Sabre Dance on a single shell, earning applause from several hundred spectators.
``The thing I like best about blowing the conch shell is that it helps preserve the culture of Key Westers,'' Curry said.

The contest drew more than 40 entrants, ranging from children to senior citizens, who were judged on the quality, novelty, duration and loudness of the sounds they produced.
The top group entry and audience favorite was a self-described ``Conchestra,'' whose 22 members performed a conch-shell accompaniment and offbeat dance to a recording of the Village People's YMCA.

The contest's youngest entrant, 6-year-old Katie Worth of Big Pine Key, won the children's division.

The fluted, pink-lined conch shell has been blown in the Florida Keys since the early 1800s, when seafaring settlers used it as a signaling device. Native-born islanders are commonly called Conchs, and the Keys are known as the Conch Republic.


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Chefs Hosts "Perfect Pairing" Session

For Wine and Food aficionados, a unique opportunity to learn from expert chefs about the perfect wine and food pairing happens next Saturday, March 13.

Get upclose and join Govind Armstrong, Executive Chef and owner of 8 oz. Burger Bars in Los Angeles and Miami, and Andrea Robinson, one of only 16 women worldwide to hold the title of Master Sommelier, for an event that will change the way you dine and entertain. Andrea will pour forth a lesson on wine and introduce her new stemware collection, “The One”TM, while Govind does the cooking. She'll also demystify the subject of wine and food pairing and put your culinary and entertaining mind at ease.

Afterwards, they’ll share the basics of proper wine and food partners - as well as their tasty meal - with you! Andrea and Govind will be available to sign copies of their books after their presentations.

It all takes place March 13, 1pm
Macy’s Home Store at Aventura Mall
Culinary Kitchen, 2nd Floor
19535 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Fl 33180

Food/wine enthusiasts and epicureans wishing to reserve a seat for the event should call 305.682.3352. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

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Miami International Film Festival

If Miami's rollercoaster weather has beset you with multiplex blues after being shunned indoors for the winter record dips, fear no more! The 27th Annual Miami International Film Festival is around the corner. March 5- 14, 2010.

If you have never experienced the festival, get ready for global culture and stories delivered to your backyard!

Forget the Hollywood style movies. These films are a "slice of life"--neorealist, contemporary, radical and thought provoking. Eschew the typical bells and whistles of fluid editing or must- have music and speaking parts. Films may feature stretches of hypnotic silence to laser in on the character's action, inner thoughts and struggles. Endings are not always happily-ever-after but rather anything goes--tragic endings or absurd twists. Expect the unexpected.

The festival presents over 115- feature-length films from 45 countries, including five world premieres and 22 North American premieres.

Prices for tickets are $12.00 (less for senior citizens and students) and films are shown at different venues. Which one to choose? Well it depends on your degree of exposure to foreign films and your comfort level for edgy, radical films.

If this is your first time, a safe start is a light comedy featuring local favorite Andy Garcia in City Island about a dysfunctional Italian American family.

A safe documentary to consider is Nobody Knows about Persian Cats, an Iranian entry where the director takes you through the underground music scene in Tehran, where all Western-style music is prohibited. Based on real people, places and events.

Click here for an abbreviated summary of each film presented by the festival.

For a more comprehensive snapshot with comments on editing, cinematography, director's credits and awards, CLICK HERE for Miami New Time's summary of each film.

These exclusive treasures, like an exhibit on tour, do not reach mainstream big screens. Enjoy them now.

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Play Tennis with Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters!

Think you can return Andy Roddick's serve? Exchange groundstrokes with US Open women's champion Kim Clijsters? The opportunity of a lifetime is up for grabs as The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne and Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center presents the one-of-a-kind Ultimate All-Star Tennis Experience Tuesday, March 23.

Just 40 tennis aficionados will have the opportunity to test their skills in a Round Robin qualifying tournament, in which the top players earn a chance to play with and/or against the tennis legends Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick, and Guillermo Canas and can forever tell friends they played against the world's top players during the Sony Ericsson Open.


Round Robin Tournament – The 40 participants will complete a round robin mixer, where each round changes partners and opponents. Participants will play a minimum of four-five rounds of double and mixed-doubles matches. The top six qualifiers will earn a once-in-lifetime opportunity to take on Power Server Andy Roddick (fastest serve on the circuit) or Comeback Sweetheart Kim Clijsters.

Return on Roddick – The top three men will have their shot at returning the world’s fastest serves from Andy Roddick, who set the record with speeds of up to 155mph. Those that return two of three will win a Wilson racquet and a signed tennis ball.

Challenge the Champ – The top three women will face 2009 US Open winner Kim Clijsters on the courts for a 2-point match. Those that claim one of the two points will also win a Wilson racquet and a signed tennis ball.

Following the tournament, the players and pros will mingle over champagne, hors d’oeuvres and live music in the tennis garden.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE OR SPECTATE
Player entry fees are well-priced at just $175 per person, which includes a two-hour round robin tournament, the chance to qualify for the Return on Roddick or Clijsters Challenge, plus three spectator passes and access to the champagne reception. Those who prefer to watch court-side may purchase a Spectator Pass for $45 per person, including viewing of all tournaments and exhibitions and invitation to the champagne reception.

It's tennis fever and you can start sweating that fever before the Sony Ericsson main event. Proceeds benefit the Great Miami Tennis Foundation which administers education and tennis programs to more than 1,000 children weekly in Miami parks and schools.

For more information or to reserve a player or spectator slot, please contact Mark Chellas at (305) 365-4300 or mark.chellas@ritzcarlton.com.

For information and tickets to the Sony Ericsson Tennis Open, CLICK HERE.

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