@LincolnScoop

The Scoop: What you need to know for Memorial Day Weekend 2012

LincolnScoop — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:40:18 +0000

I’m not sure why you would stay in South Beach this coming weekend, but in case you are, below is a memo we received from the police department regarding safety and procedures:

“THINGS TO KNOW FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2012

EXPECT HEAVY TRAFFIC CONGESTION

The following roads will be altered or closed from 7p m Friday-7am Tuesday:

- Ocean Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic 24 hours a day from 5^th-15^th Street from Friday 7:00a.m to Tuesday 7:00a.m.

- Collins Avenue will be northbound traffic only between 5^th-15^th Street 24 hours a day Friday 7:00a.m. to Tuesday 7:00a.m.

- From 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights), Washington Avenue will be southbound only from 5^th-15^th Street.

- Proof of residency will be required to enter the following residential areas: 1) North of 5^th Street to Lincoln Road from Washington Avenue west to Alton Road. 2) South of 5^th Street to Government Cut. 3) Dade Blvd to 41^st Street and Pine Tree Drive.

DUI Check Point:

- MacArthur Causeway (east bound) starting Friday, May 25, 8:00 p.m. and continue through Saturday, May 26, 2012 ending at 5:00 a.m.

- DUI saturation and enforcement throughout Saturday and Sunday. Enforcement will take place on all major streets in Miami Beach.

License Plate Readers will be activated on the MacArthur Causeway causing traffic to be reduced to one lane.

Plan for a high volume of traffic on the MacArthur Causeway and Julia Tuttle. The Venetian Causeway will be used as an entry point for residents.”

IMPORTANT POLICE DEPARTMENT PHONE NUMBERS:
Emergency: 911
Non-emergency: 305-673-7901

I hope everyone has a great weekend regardless if you’re evacuating or sticking around.
Good luck and godspeed!

The Scoop: The Paradise Fund Miami launch party!

LincolnScoop — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:07:24 +0000

Drinking is fun, but drinking for a cause is way better! This is why you and all your friends should join me this Friday at the launch party for The Paradise Fund‘s Miami branch at the fabulous Shelborne South Beach hotel, in partnership with Menin Hotels.

Menin Hotels and The Paradise Fund are committed to children’s health, welfare and education. The Paradise Fund and Menin Hotels are toasting their partnership to fundraise for The Paradise Fund’s Haiti Education Mission and Children’s Relief Fund for children who are displaced, suffering from illness or ravaged by war and natural disaster.

Guests to this event will sample hors d’oeuvres from Vesper American Brasserie and sip on signature cocktails from Atlantico Rum.

Tickets are only a $30.00 donation if purchased in advance or $50 at the door, and you can click here to purchase them. Donations are tax-deductible and much appreciated!

Click the flier below or visit their website for more information.
SEE YOU THERE!

The Paradise Fund Miami launch party
Friday, May 11 from 9pm-Midnight
Location: Shelbourne South Beach
1801 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Ticket purchases: http://www.eventbee.com/event?eid=892195275

The Paradise Fund Miami Launch Invite (click to enlarge)

The Scoop: Alma Mexicana

LincolnScoop — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:50:10 +0000

Because we apparently needed a new Mexican place on Washington Ave, now there is Alma Mexicana!
A few weeks ago I wrote about the new Baja Fresh and how I was less than pleased with it, but I am thankful to report that Alma ranks much higher in my book! The place itself is much smaller than Baja but luckly it was not very busy when I went. The vibe is also completely different, but this may be due to the fact that everything doesn’t feel so “corporate” and mass produced.

Alma Mexicana tasted very fresh, the staff was friendly and the food definitely tasted delicious and authentic. I went with 3 friends who all ordered different types of tacos, and they were all very satisfied with their meals. As for me, I ordered a quesadilla which I do not recommend since it was way too greasy…

The bottom line is that if you’re hungry for Mexican food and are on the East side of SoBe, Alma is the way to go. Check out some pictures below!

Alma Mexicana
1344 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-695-0880
http://almamexicana-restaurant.com/

The Scoop: 4th Annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade & Festival

LincolnScoop — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:31:42 +0000

Gay Pride was this past Sunday (April 15) and I was more than impressed with the scale of this event. Ocean Drive was PACKED, the floats were great and the whole thing was even bigger than last year. The people in charge of throwing this event deserve lots of kudos because it truly was very organized and well put together, and it seemed like everyone in attendance was having a great time!

The place to be was outside of Palace Bar, where during the parade the fabulous Tiffany Fantasia was doing an amazing job as the MC. If she had her own reality show, I’d watch it because she was seriously working it. She was an awesome hostess.
The parade’s Grand Marshall Chaz Bono seemed to be having a great time and Mayor Matti Bower was werking it next to some hot bitch in an American flag bikini.

Favorite Float: Chalk Miami
Favorite Queen: Geraldine
Favorite Moment: the Legacy Couples

Biggest crowd pleaser: Bear Nation float
Most shameless: The CW’s “The Catalina” reality show stars

I wish I could tell you about the festival afterwards, but I don’t remember any of it. All I know is that the drinks were flowing and we had a great Sunday Funday, so mission accomplished!
My only complaint is that I really wanted to watch Wynter Gordon and JoJo perform, but I couldn’t find any info on what time they were supposed to go on stage and that was extremely annoying. I wasn’t about to stand around all day waiting for them, and event promoters need to understand that. Information is power, so publicize things and you’ll have a happier crowd!!

Check out some pictures below and share some of your own with us on Twitter! (@LincolnScoop).

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Across The Bridge: It Girl Expo – THE PICTURES!

LincolnScoop — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:43:23 +0000

For those who missed it, here are some pictures from the It Girl Expo which we posted about last week!
The event was super fab and we had a great time with all the exhibitors, as well as our fellow Miami bloggers!

Check out some pictures below and keep checking in for news on the next one!!

It Girl Expo entrance

The very appropriate pink carpet!

Entrance

Big Apple Theme

"It" Blogger Pass

MeInto.com's Blogger Corner

Tarzan's Cup Exhibition

Across The Bridge: It Girl Expo (EXCLUSIVE COUPON CODE INCLUDED!)

LincolnScoop — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:39:55 +0000

This one is for the ladies (and all those who love them)!

By now you already know how much I dislike having to cross the bridge for ANYTHING! Basically, I believe that whatever the mainland folks can do, we can do better on the beach and without having to drive. Once in a while, however, there comes an event worth getting in my car for and, trust me, the It Girl Expo is that event!

@LincolnScoop will be there mixing and mingling (and drinking!), and one of the coolest things about the event is that it will be covered entirely by local bloggers (including yours truly!), so make sure you come say hello to us at the MeInto.com Blogger’s Corner!
Check out the info below and don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code for an extra great deal on tickets!

“The first lifestyle shopping expo of it’s kind hits the Miami scene. The It Girl Expo is a playground for ladies with over 50 vendors offering everything from free cocktails to a live mini obstacle course and a beauty bar sponsored by Nordstrom.

This It Girl Expo brings women an A-list experience and all of the latest and hottest products and services women need to maintain their fabulous lifestyle in 30,000 square feet of space dedicated to all things girly. Lifestyle categories represented at the Expo include fashion, beauty, entertaining, fitness, health and travel.

The event will provide women with an experience like no other and will even feature the Meinto.com blogger’s corner with many of South Florida’s hottest bloggers in residence blogging and tweeting live from the event. Local and national brands have pulled out all of the stops for South Florida women, including runway Fashion shows, bra fittings complete with a trampoline to “test the merchandise,” and fabulous swag bags for VIP ticket holders with merchandise valued at over $50!

The event is one stop shop for women to kick back, relax, get pampered like a celebrity and learn about the latest and greatest products and services available on the market. Many of the brands featured have launched within the last year and some vendors have even traveled from New York to show their wares to South Florida women.”

Sounds good?? Every It Girl knows how to shop smart and save money, so @LincolnScoop is hooking our readers up with $5 off their ticket!
Please use the coupon/promo code Scoop at checkout (ONLY valid for advance online purchases) and don’t forget to come holler at us at the Blogger’s Corner! SEE YOU THERE!!!

It Girl Expo
Location: SoHo Studios
2136 NW 1st Ave
Miami, FL 33127
February 29 and March 1
VIP Early Entrance: 5:30pm
General Admission Entrance: 6:30pm
http://itgirlexpo.com/

Across The Bridge: Tobacco Road’s 1st Annual Tomato Tomatina Festival

LincolnScoop — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:00:09 +0000

I don’t party across the bridge often, mostly because it involves driving and that means I can’t drink etc, but this sounds like fun to me!
Check it out:

“Take that anger to Tobacco Road on Saturday where an arsenal of 25,000 ripe tomatoes will be at your disposal to throw indiscriminately at random strangers for the first annual Flying Tomato Smash & Bash. The fun starts at 2 p.m. with live music, then participants can register at 3:30 p.m. for $10 to join in the tomato toss, which begins at 4 p.m.

Taking inspiration from Bunol, Spain’s Tomatina festival which brings thousands of rowdy folks together each year to toss 90,000 lbs. of tomatoes, Tobacco Road’s party should be just as wild and messy.

Tobacco Road’s 1st Annual Tomato Tomatina Festival, Saturday, Feb. 11. Party Starts at 2:00 p.m., Registration at 3:30 p.m., Tomato Fight at 4 p.m. Participants $10, spectators free. Tobacco Road, 626 S. Miami Ave., Miami.“

Tobacco Road
626 South Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33130-3016
http://tobacco-road.com/

The Scoop: Baja Fresh South Beach

LincolnScoop — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:30:35 +0000

When we heard a Baja Fresh was opening up in South Beach, my friends and I were all really excited to have another option for Mexican food around. The problem is it seems like we were the only ones who shared this feeling.

I live on the other side of SoBe and don’t have much reason to go to Washington Ave often (especially during business hours), but the few times I’ve passed the location since the doors opened I couldn’t help but notice how empty it always is. So I posted on Twitter about it, and the response I got was a loud and collective “HUH???”. It seems people don’t even know that the restaurant is there, and I can’t blame them as I have not seen any promotion done for the place, something I cannot understand.
I have to say, however, that the gays of SoBe are very aware the place is there, and every gay I know (and I know a lot of them) has already been to it at least once. Even the day I went to eat there, there was a couple of them eating there with their cute lil’ gaybies. It was adorable. This probably has to do with the location, since they walk right into it when leaving 12th Street Beach, The Palace and Twist (welcome to the gayborhood!), but I digress…

ANYWAYS, the place is super cute and the large glass windows allow for some great people watching on Washington Ave. One thing I’ve always like about Baja Fresh is the way their menu is organized, which makes ordering extremelly simple and less of an overwhelming experience.

We got our food and, as cheesy as this sounds, it tasted very fresh. This isn’t surprising since that is what this brand claims to be all about, but my burrito really did taste as crips and good as it was promised.

If I have one complaint, it is about the quesadilla: it just simply did not have enough cheese! Of all ingredients, why would you skimp on the cheese on a freaking quesadilla??? The chicken and the tortilla were both very tasty, as was the guacamole we ordered on the side, which I guess is a good thing but doesn’t quite make up for it.

Overall, it was a good experience and I’m glad that I went and tried it, but I hope they’ll soon be able to work outwhatever kinks are keeping the crowds from going there, otherwise I just don’t see how they’ll be able to stay in business.

Baja Fresh
1200 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone number: 305-674-9983
www.bajafresh.com

The Scoop: Serendipity 3

LincolnScoop — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:13:52 +0000

Huge confession: People in South Beach DO eat (!); it’s hard not to when our gastronomical options are becoming more enticing, chic, … and just down right delicious.

Saturday night was a true noshing fête for us as we made our first visit to the Miami installment of Serendipity 3. A NYC transplant, it might sound familiar thanks to that kitschy (but awesome) rom-com of the same name, featuring John Cusack and Kate Beckensale in NYC eating in the original Serendipity. Our visit was completely impromptu – we basically laid out all of our fab options for the night, and decided we needed something mellifluous in our lives (it’d been a long week!).

We arrived at midnight, and were seated outdoors; not before taking a few snapshots of the details inside, which included a fully-stocked bar and stain glass decor (think swanky speakeasy meets 1950s ice cream parlor).

The menu has a child-like whimsy that makes you feel like calories do not exist; exactly what you want to feel once your pupils graze the perfect amalgamation of savory, sweet, and alcohol this place has to offer. Amongst the burgers, “Golden Opulence Sundae” (only $1,000!) and their famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate was our craving: the Outrageous Banana Split. It was offered in a “cowards portion” as well, which we clearly are not. Needless to say, our only mistake was ordering one.

We massacred it. Delish!

Definitely going back – there’s so much to try, especially the vodka spiked frrrozen oreo hot chocolate!

Serendipity 3
1102 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-403-2210
www.serendipity3.com

The Scoop: Chalk Grand Opening

LincolnScoop — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:41:20 +0000

First of all, let me start off by wishing everyone a happy new year! I hope everyone’s new year’s eve was as fabulous as mine. I went to South Point park at midnight, where we could see all the fireworks from South Beach and Downtown, it was fantastic.
Also, my apologies for the lack of updates lately. My new year’s resolution is to post a lot more, so stay tuned!

Last night I went to the grand opening of Chalk, which is a much needed South Beach-style ping-pong/billards lounge.I loved the place and have lots to say, but let me start off with the negative about last night’s event specifically: The invitation I received indicated there would be open bar from 9-11. NINE to ELEVEN. Someone please explain to me why at 10:05 the bartender told me the open bar was over?? I don’t mind buying drinks but don’t lie to me, ok? That’s rude.

ANYWAYS, the place has been on soft opening for a few weeks and several of my friends had already been. I heard mixed reviews (I’m looking at you @jasonbatkinson) but was excited to check it out for myself.

We got in without any hassles, although by the time we left there was a long line outside.

The building used to be home to Washington Federal Bank, and it could not look more different from it’s former self. The space is very well utilized, with the ping-pong tables in the center, billards tables on the side and lots of room around it all to hang out and get to the actual bars.

The entire venue is beautifully decorated, as I said, South Beach style with bright colors and very chic. The music selection was a refreshing mix of everything you don’t typically hear in SoBe, from 80s to pop to even some indie rock. I hope that they can maintain everything clean and looking good the way it is now. (Seriously, this place is not going to work if it starts to resemble that shithole next door.)

Overall, Chalk is a great hangout spot and I hope they can keep the crowds coming. There is nothing else like it in SoBe so it is good to finally have a place to go and chill that is not a shady bar with sketchy people (I still love you, Kill Your Idol!).

Check out some pictures below and follow us on Instagram as well. Username: lincolnscoop

Ping Pong Tables

Pool Table

Chalk Miami

1234 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139

305-532-8662

http://chalkmiami.com/