Legs drape from the limousine onto the red carpet, fans are cheering behind the red velvet stanchions and the paparazzi are asking arriving attendees to turn and smile for the camera.  They are talking to you. Yes You!

Welcome to the Oscar viewing party at the Tampa theater. But this is no ordinary viewing party.  The hotel, built in 1927, leverages its historic roots and time period architecture and marquee to cleverly recreate the Oscars experience from Hollywood, California to Tampa, Florida.  The cities have much in common--warm weather and palm trees...



Local residents, movie goers, fashionistas, celebrity sycophants, aspiring actors, musicians and directors are encouraged to dress in the time period or as their favorite actor, which means you are the center of attention.

This year I attended with a local friend.   To experience the event to the fullest, we hired professional makeup artists and chose dresses to match our inner Oscar attitude. A decophile, I chose to dress in the time period while my friend Fallon chose a fashionable contemporary dress. We were a hit.

The event was everything we imagined. First the informalities.  Upon arrival we headed to the ticket office to show proof of purchase. Then we were directed to a short line where a limousine scooped us up for a ride around the neighborhood and dropped us off at the foot of the red carpet.



Christine Michaels & Fallon Kubecka in limousine on their way to Oscar viewing party



Christine Michaels & Fallon Kubecka descend from limousine. Paparazzi await

The cheers roared as we sauntered down the red carpet. Fans feverishly called out our names and eagerly reached out in hopes of obtaining an autograph.





In true progression, as we unpeeled ourselves from the hands and grabs of fans, Fallon and I walked towards the entrance of the theater when emcee Roan Jivers (a spoof of comedienne Joan Rivers), approached us for the customary "who are you wearing?" and other Oscar line of questioning. Her response. "Fabulous dahling, fabulous".

Fallon Kubecka, emcee Roan Jivers, and Christine Michaels



Roan Jivers interviews me, Christine Michaels

Fallon posing with former Oscar nominees

More paparazzi photo requests

Watching the Oscars inside the Tampa Theater

Little did I know many Oscar-nominated actresses  were wearing red lipstick.

There is no escaping the paparazzi even on the way to restroom. Actors have no privacy in public eye.

Everytime I would drive or walk by or patron this restaurant, I immediately felt transported to New York City--the bistro-like setting, the dark wood storefront with long windows and "wine and cheese" etched in the glass window, and the inviting signage.  For those who know me, I love cats, especially black cats, and I appreciate jazz music.  Le Chat Noir offers live jazz music in a wine cellar! What's the big deal or "novedad" as they say in Spanish?  Read on!


If the name rings a bell, that is because "Le Chat Noir" is the name of the first modern cabaret which opened in Paris in 1881 by impresario Rodolphe Solis.  This 19th century establishment introduced a place where guests could sit at tables, drink wine and enjoy a variety of stage shows with a master of ceremonies that interacted with regular guests.  But the name "Le Chat Noir" is most known for the iconic poster by artist Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen featuring a black cat.



Outside the front door, a painting of a blues jazz black cat signaled of what to expect-- a dark mahogany interior, shades of burgundy and orange, piano notes, and a staircase leading to the wine cellar and the "action".  As it was daytime, around 4pm, the live jazz music was scheduled for later in the evening. 

Hanging light fixture

But this historical tale is not over. A bright yellow sign is permanently affixed to the front window.

This establishment was a designated bomb shelter in the 1960s in preparation for a possible war. The current wine cellar was the protective bunker for locals. There were very few "basements" in Miami and I wonder the origins of the building.  Another project to add to my list of historical research!


For the moment I wanted to take a break, enjoy a small meal, glass of wine and absorb the ambience, the perfect escape from the everyday bustle.



Le Chat Noir is mostly known for its wine and live jazz music. But they also serve lunch specials. I enjoyed a tasty turkey Panini sandwich with choice of soup of the day (potato soup) or salad for only $6.99!! What a great valu !  The wine was additional. Normally $10-12 a glass but I sweet talked the manager for an equally enticing lunch special ($6.50)

Malbec wine from Mendoza  Argentina and Turkey Panini

As I was about to leave, two gentleman sat down at the opposing outdoor table smoking cigars. The talkative and amiable Italian manager greeted them as regulars and introductions were made.  Miami continues to grow as a cosmopolitan city attracting visitors from around the world.  Phil Katz is a native Miamian (a rarity) and Zhenja Prokhorenko is former professional tennis player from Russia. New friendships were made.



Phil Katz, Zhenja Prokhorenko, Christine Michaels

I plan to return to Le Chat Noir one evening for jazz music and more wine. 

The restaurant opens daily at 12pm for lunch except Sundays, and live jazz music performances during the peak season is as follows:

Tuesday 7pm-11pm
Wed. & Thurs 9pm-12pm
Fri & Sat 10pm-1am


 Be sure to visit for lunch or evening entertainment. And ladies, if you visit in daytime, warning! There's a Macy's directly across the street.

Here's to charming bistros, good wine, food, and company; and great jazz music at night!

This delicatessen was uncovered on my Instagram feed--the power of social media! Someone I follow kept posting photos of this scrumptious international cuisine from faraway countries like Serbia. Let the food adventure begin!



Europa is inconspicuously tucked in a row of restaurants but strategically just south of the main 5th Street in South Beach--the trendy SoFi area. (translation Sofi = South of Fifth Street).  The décor immediately transported me to old world Europe, the warm, brick walls lined with shelves and occupied by rows of wine bottles.


From the glass case I chose the inviting Burek -fine golden brown layers of phyllo dough, interspersed with a white cheese.  A cuisine from the former Ottoman Empire, the Börek is a family of pastries with variations in countries of former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia), other Balkan countries (Turkey, Albania, Armenia, Assyria, Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Crimea and Moldova) and North Africa  (Tunisia and Algeria).

The most popular and common version is a soft, white cheese filling either feta cheese, or ricotta cheese or cottage cheese, and a leafy green like spinach or parsley.  On the side I was served a type of yogurt. My burek was the Serbian variation cooked in a round dish with white cheese and spinach.

While thin in appearance it was rich, very rich but delicious. The idea of minced meat or diced lamb as served in East Arab left me wanting to sample more.

Other cold case displays were sheep’s milk cheeses, caviar, salmon paté, pickled herring, stuffed cabbage and basturma (dry cured spiced beef). Adorning the case are jars of cherries soaking in a bath of rum! (I want to be a cherry).

A white wine would have been a better complement but red wine is their house special. Enjoying a late lunch around 3pm. I had the whole restaurant to myself. While I dined, a gentleman walked in and ordered a German specialty to go. It was evident that the restaurant is frequented by locals and knew the owner, Timea, on a first name basis.


My palette and adventurous spirit elevated by the experience, I studied the blackboard menu and asked Timea for other suggestions. She convinced me my next order will be Cevapi, a small veal-and-beef sausages served with Serbian lepinja pocket bread, raw onion shreds, kajmak (sour cream cheese) and red pepper spread. SOLD! Doesn't take much convincing as a meat lover.

For dessert, she recommended custard-filled Hungarian Napoleons called kremes. My waistline is beckoning an end the culinary trip to Europe. My food explorations mean more gym time.



Europa is added to my preferred list of local establishments for authentic international, neighborhood cuisine. I look forward to returning soon! (Thank you Sasha!! aka Alex)  Who's ready to join me?

Europa Delicatessen & Gourmet Market
425 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
305-534-0070