Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wishing everyone a day filled with fun and happy memories!

Bulldog Barbecue: Miami Barbecue from a Top Chef Contestant

Burgers and barbecue are often cooked by self-trained ordinary pit masters, but at Bulldog Barbecue in Miami, you'll enjoy food from Top Chef contestant Howie Kleinberg. And it likely won't disappoint, as customers find it to be some of the best brisket around. Get it served as a platter with cornbread, slaw, and your choice of traditional sides.

Bulldog offers offer both a tomato and mustard based barbecue sauces. There are an array of specialty burgers as well, and for those that like spicy, “The Heat” burger is a must with its pepperjack cheese, bacon, jalapeno marmalade and fried pickled jalapenos. Complement your meal with the homemade lemonade or a thick milkshake. Bulldog brings the no-frills barbecue tradition to South Florida.

Bulldog Barbecue
15400 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33160
(305) 940-9655
www.bulldog-bbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bulldog-barbecue-miami

25 Creative Valentine’s Day Ideas for Couples:

25 Valentine’s Day Ideas for Couples:

Are you still looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other? We decided to help you out by listing 25 creative ways to tell the special person in your life, “I love you.”

1. On small pieces of paper, write down every kind of kiss that you can think of. 
(Examples: passionate, on the cheek, etc.)

Then fill an inexpensive red felt bag with your “kisses” and give it to your spouse. Ask your spouse to pull several pieces of paper from the felt bag, and then give your sweetheart whatever kind of kiss is described.

2. Make a book about why you love your spouse and why you are thankful for him/her.  
The woman who sent this idea wrote, “He loved it! Said it was the best gift he has ever gotten.  And it helped me to focus on the things I love about my husband and not his shortcomings.”

3. Take your sweetie on a scavenger hunt.
Ask him/her to answer riddles to find the clues to items that you placed somewhere around town. The last item should give instructions that lead to your Valentine’s Day activities.

4. After enjoying a candlelight dinner for two at home, give your spouse a massage and watch a romantic movie.
The woman who suggested this wrote, “Last Valentine’s Day when I got home from work, my husband … had our bedroom set up with a candlelit table for two. He is NOT a cook but he made an awesome meal … grilled steak, sautéed shrimp in lemon, garlic, and butter, a vegetable, and [he] bought a chocolate fountain that was flowing—surrounded by fresh fruit for dipping. After dinner he led me over to his homemade massage table. … We ended our special night with a romantic movie.

5. Surprise your spouse with a special getaway together.
The man who suggested this made reservations at a bed and breakfast, arranged for childcare, asked for time off from work for himself and his wife, and packed his and her bags. When he asked his wife to go to lunch on Valentine’s Day she was in for a wonderful surprise. “The little bit of effort I put into that weekend paid off huge for weeks to come.”

6.  Give your wife a dozen roses.
On each stem attach a note for a future date—to do something that she would enjoy (example: Go to the symphony).

7. If possible, go on a date with your spouse to a restaurant that you enjoyed when you first met.
After you order your meal, take some time to write down favorite memories from the past year. Then share your lists.

8. Have 11 roses delivered to your wife, and then give her a 12th yourself while reading her a love poem.

9. Fill a large box with helium balloons and special gifts for Valentine’s Day.
The woman who suggested this said that her gifts included “new sleep shorts for him and a new nightgown for me, a box of chocolate-covered strawberries and red napkins … some new candles, and a romantic CD. He got the hint. And loved the weekend.”

10. Create an intimate Valentine’s Day evening at home, without the children.
The woman who suggested this idea said that she and her husband “enjoyed planning the menu, shopping for the meal, and ultimately preparing the meal together. Cooking to soft, romantic music can really be a turn on! While dining, the same soft, romantic music is a wonderful mood-setter. Dinner was followed by just the two of us having the whole dance floor, our den, to ourselves. I won’t say what all this led to, but it was a truly romantic night that would not have happened at the local restaurant!”

11. Order food from a take-out restaurant and have a picnic for all the Valentines in your family on your living room floor. The person who suggested this said, “The kids look forward to this every year. When we tried to change it, they wouldn’t allow it … it has become a tradition. The kids see the value of family and a loving marriage.”

12. Privacy and weather permitting, watch a romantic movie on your deck or patio.

13. If you are separated across the miles, send a care package filled with things that are red.

14. Make a meal with symbols of love.
Examples: Write I love you with string beans, make a tart in the shape of a heart.

15. Hide little heart candies in your spouse’s shoes, coat, car, etc. 
The woman who suggested this said that she’s been doing this for decades. “Now a couple of the grandkids help me with delight.”

16. Wives, show up at your husband’s office before lunch.
Call him from the parking lot and tell him you are going to take him for a lunch rendezvous and that you will be waiting for him whenever he can take a break. Wear a nice outfit and tell him you have something sexy on underneath for when he gets home. Take him to a nice place for lunch and back to the office. Give him some great kisses telling him how glad you are to be married to him, and tell him you will be waiting for him when he gets home. 

17. Fill a jar with Valentine candy and notes for your spouse.
Examples of notes are: Good for a backrub, 10 kisses, etc. Notes could also express your love and respect: “I am so glad that God blessed my life with such a great husband like you.” Individually roll each note and tie it with a ribbon.

18. Surprise your spouse by taking a vacation day from work and enjoy Valentine’s Day at home.
Have a relaxing morning together on the porch, deck, or patio. Then go to a favorite restaurant for lunch.  The man who suggested this idea had also reserved a spa treatment and tanning session for his wife. “While she was doing that,” he says, “I went home and made her a special dinner.”

19. Write a poem for your spouse and frame it. 

20. On individual note cards, write why you love your spouse. Insert these cards in a small photo album. 
The woman who suggested this idea began her album with a honeymoon picture and introductory note card, and ended it with a love note.

21.  Surprise your husband when he comes home from work on February 14.
Place a welcome sign on the kitchen table and leave a trail of red foil-wrapped Hershey kisses to your bedroom.

22. With roses in hand and permission from your wife’s boss, go to her workplace and read a love poem to her.
The woman who shared this idea said, “I am a teacher in an inner city school. Last year my husband dressed in my favorite suit and tie, came to my school with roses in hand.  He got permission and assistance from the office staff to open the speaker system into my classroom and proceeded to read a long and beautiful love poem to me.  He then came to my classroom and presented me with the bouquet of roses which I received while wiping my tears of joy and love for this wonderful man whom I have been married to for just under 30 years.”

23. Make a special “14 Reasons I Love You” Valentine’s Day breakfast for your sweetheart.
On his/her plate, leave a letter or card listing 14 reasons that you love your spouse.

24.  If possible, send a card postmarked in a town that has a romantic name such as Loveland, Colorado; Valentine, Texas; or Romance, Arkansas.

25. After your spouse goes to bed, tape notes to his car’s steering wheel with reasons that you love him, or decorate the bathroom mirror with lipstick kisses or Valentine’s window clings.

Have fun on February 14, and remember: Love is not meant to be given and received on just Valentine’s Day. Instead, it’s to be practiced every single day of the entire year.

 

Try Cold-Brew Coffee at Panther Coffee

You may have had trendy pour over coffee, but have you tried cold brew? Miami’s Panther Coffee, including its location in Wynwood, offers this unique brewing method. For a cold brew, the grounds are steeped in room temperature water for 8+ hours, resulting in a smooth and flavorful cup of joe, without the bitterness associated with normal brewing methods! For traditionalists, Panther Coffee offers standard brews as well. Customers are consistently impressed with customer-service here; baristas are friendly and knowledgeable paired with the trendy but relaxing ambiance makes it an all around great coffee-run experience. If you like what you taste, you can buy their beans to brew at home. Don’t pass up the baked goods, as their cookies get rave reviews. Panther also serves beer and wine – come in for their summer happy hour for buy one, get one half off for all beer and wine from July through September from 5 p.m. to close.

Panther Coffee
2390 NW 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 677-3952
www.panthercoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/panther-coffee-miami

Super Bowl 48: The Seattle Seahawks vs. The Denver Broncos (Whose Going to Win?)

Super Bowl 48: Tonight Live at 6 pm on Fox

I hope you're ready, football fans, because it's finally time to crown the next Lombardi Trophy winner, as the AFC Champion Denver Broncos take on the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 48 tonight (Sun., Feb. 2, 2014) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Denver comes in having set multiple regular season records offensively, lead by QB Peyton Manning who himself set a new high mark with 55 touchdowns. The Seattle Seahawks bring the number one ranked defense lead by cornerback Richard Sherman, who led the league with 8 interceptions and his memorable post-game comments.

Who do you think is going to win the big game?

Send us your preditictions on one of our social media accounts!

Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers will both be performing during the Pepsi half time show.

In the words of the Terrell Owens, an ex-NFL football player, "Get Your Popcorn Ready!"

Super Bowl Information

WhenSunday, Feb. 2, at 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Watch: Fox

StreamingFox Sports Go

MobileNFL Mobile app

Spread: Denver (-2.5), according to Vegas Insider

Four Innovative Sports Websites for Thinking Fans

For sports fans, one of the best parts of the web has been the rise in the number of websites producing high-quality content about sports. Whether its by using statistics in inventive ways to offer new takes on our favorite sports to presenting thoughtful, nuanced, and well-written essays on the culture of sports, these sites go beyond simple box scores:

Grantland
Grantland is a website devoted to articles from beloved sports writer Bill Simmons and a team of talented contributors. This website makes predictions, discusses player trades, and examines sports culture as a whole in a smart, literary way.

Hoops Hype
Hoops Hype is a division of USA Today Sports that examines the sport of basketball in a way that you won’t find on any other media outlet. Made specifically for the most devoted basketball enthusiasts, Hoops Hype features long-form articles, player biographies, transactions, and statistics with impressive depth and detail.

Football Outsiders
With the goal of bringing objective analysis to the sport of football, Football Outsiders features new, in-depth statistics that you won’t find anywhere else. The site also releases articles discussing new approaches and challenging conventional ideas in football.

The Wages of Wins Journal
Run by a group of stats-centric sports fans, Wages of Wins attempts to explain how sports work in a new, innovative way. Wages of Wins contributing writers discuss their predictions and opinions with a keen analytical eye.

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink is a vibrant Miami bistro that has earned a huge number of fans for consistently turning out uber-yummy dishes crafted from fresh, local ingredients. Refreshing specialty cocktails, craft beers, and savory noshes to munch with your drink like Steamed Mussels, Chili Chicken Wings, and Crispy Hominy with Chili and Lime are part of what pleases patrons here. Full entrees include Wood-oven Roasted Swordfish, Bone-in Ribeye, and Whole Poulet Rouge Chicken. Sunday Brunch combines a luscious array of sweet and savory dishes like Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Duck Confit Hash, Breakfast Pizza with smoked bacon, Monterey jack cheese, and egg, and Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with Cheese Grits. Be sure to save a spot in your tummy for one of Pastry Chef Hedy’s luscious desserts, like Peach Hungarian Shortcake or Brown Butter Cake with bing cherries. 

130 NE 40th Street
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 573-5550
 

Rok:Brgr: Miami’s Burger Gourmet

If you love gastropubs and gourmet burgers, try Miami’s Rok: Brgr. Their 17 specialty burgers combine creative flavors and ingredients to make a memorable meal. Most start with handmade patties using fresh Certified Angus beef and are cooked to order. The “King James” burger is one of their more popular offerings, topped with Brie, Kurobuta pork belly, red onion marmalade and truffle aioli. The “Bacon Jam” with Brie and the house maple bourbon bacon jam is a close second. These burgers can be expensive, but regulars find value in the difficult to replicate taste and great service. If you want a Rok:Brgr experience on a budget, stop in on Monday night, when all burgers are $10, but there are specials every day of the week. Regulars find the patio to be the best place to dine.

Rok:Brgr
5800 SW 73rd Street
Miami, FL 33143
(305) 663-6099
www.rokbrgr.com
www.yelp.com/biz/rok-brgr-miami-2

A Chic Night out at Miami’s RedBar Gallery

With deep red walls adorned with eclectic local art and a full bar, you can see were RedBar Gallery gets its name. This art gallery and lounge in Miami occupies a small space, but offers a lively weekend atmosphere. DJs play a variety of music from techno to pop. You’ll see the art in a new way and if you see something you like, all paintings are available for purchase. Visit on the weekend for dancing and affordable drinks, or stop by weekdays for a cozy and relaxing after work drink. The last Friday of each month RedBar hosts fashion happy hour from 5-10 p.m. with 2 for 1 drinks, live music, and trendy fashions to peruse.

RedBar Gallery
52 SW 10th Street
Miami, FL 33130
(786) 316-0303
www.redbargallery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/redbar-gallery-miami

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2014!

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