ENDLESS SUMMER REVISITED
In 1966, the crown jewel to ten years of Bruce Brown surfing documentaries, The Endless Summer hit the big screen. And Bill Whiddon hit Suniland Theatre and was “forever hooked.”
Carlos Valdes & Bill WhiddonAfter sixteen years in the corporate world as Creative Director for Herald Media, Bill teamed up with Carlos Valdes, a fellow passionate surfer and paddle board buddy to open BLUE WORLD PADDLE Surf & Skate. They incorporated in late August and opened the 1700 sq. ft. showroom & retail store on November 6th. It’s there you’ll find paddle boards, skate boards, surf boards and kayaks. They also have top-of-the line performance and UV clothing apparel.
Bill has been surfing and on the water for some fifty years. His preference now is paddle boarding where you can “enjoy what we have in South Florida. You get on the water, rather than relying on the next wave.” Carlos has been surfing and paddling for years. He managed surf and beach-culture life style stores for some while. Together, they’re the perfect fit, with a deep passion and understanding of the sport. They founded the “Cocoplum Navy” six years ago. Other paddle boarders join in for training three times a week and on Saturdays go to Hobie Beach for more fun.
With SUP (Stand-up Paddle) there are both recreational and competitive uses. Paddle boards in size from 7.5 foot to 14 foot, and those larger boards for racing are made with carbon fiber.
The mainstay of the store is for recreational paddle boards for families and kids, with boards of 10.5-11 feet. There are boards for fishing and even yoga on a board. Get this, the Rackham “fishing boat” comes with a tackle rack and Yeti cooler. Now, that’s happening!
BLUE WORLD PADDLE Surf & Skate
6400 South Dixie Highway | 305.669.4675
MELLOWING IN SOMI
MELLOW MUSHROOM is a state of mind, a culture, a way of being. Born out of the free-wheeling hippie culture, they’ve been “keeping it mellow” since opening their first location in Atlanta in 1974.
Vince Landis and Sebastian Eilert reviewing plans.With some thirty locations throughout the states, for forty years, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers has been serving up fresh stone baked pizzas to-order in an eclectic, art-filled and family-friendly environment. Each Mellow Mushroom is decidedly unique, with original artwork, different design styles and custom signage.
Architectural renderingSOMI’s franchise owner is no stranger to South Miami. Vince Landis, a former Chief of Police, delightfully returns to South Miami, as “it’s a good fit for the concept.” He and his son Grady have operated the franchise in Athens Georgia for the past eight years.
Vince brought in local architect Sebastian Eilert AIA, to design a “Miami-look” for the 6500 sq ft location. The mission is to “create a good family experience within a long space,” says Eilert, designing dining seating, the bar and kitchen. Unique artwork for the SOMI Mellow Mushroom includes a vintage VW bus, old airplane seats, a 3-D mushroom, key art pieces and a surprise to be revealed at the grand opening.
Serving not only its unique pizza made with fresh ingredients and meats, at SOMI, they’ll have the first self-tap beer table, a full bar with craft beers 52 beers on tap. Mellow Mushroom will be open seven days for lunch and dinner.
Watch for the grand opening in mid-January.
MELLOW MUSHROOM at The Shops at Sunset Place
NOW THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
Mark Richman, the founder of Beverly Hills Café and restaurateur for over thirty years is getting ready to open his latest concept called “Everything ENTERTAINMENT!” a restaurant and lounge located in the former Outback space in the Municipal Garage building.
With one and a half years in the making and $600K into the build-out with an entirely new kitchen, dining and lounge space, huge bar and a giant movie screen, Richman is looking for a mid-January launch date.
Mark asks, “Where can a couple enjoy a concert, have convenient parking, a great dinner and drinks with four hours of entertainment for $100?” It’s at Everything ENTERTAINMENT! which will have 175 dining seats, 115 couch seats and 15 bar stools. Each seat has an unblocked view of the movie screen which will be showing concert videos.
The first run of concerts with each one being shown for the week include: Pink, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Celine Dion, Cold Play, U2, Rod Stewart, Strip, Eagles
and Rihanna.
Says Richman, “I wanted to create something that is glamorous and affordable casual, elegant dining.” Get ready, here comes Everything ENTERTAINMENT! The venue will be open from 4p – 4a.
Municipal Garage at 73 Street and 58th Court (Parking entrance)
Cynthia and Chris welcome you.
OPEN AGAIN….
After a seventh month absence from Sunset Drive at the entrance to The Shops at Sunset Place, Marhaba Mediterranean Restaurant has now re-opened up the street at 5861 Sunset Drive.
Owners Cynthia & Hussein Lamaa and Christopher Padrotti have been greeting their former customers at the elegantly new Marhaba, which provides for 140 guests, with both inside and outside seating. There is also a large TV screen for viewing Middle Eastern entertainment and sporting events. The restaurant is also available for private parties.
Come and experience the world of Marhaba….
5861 Sunset Drive | 305.666.9600
FROM MALL TO MAIN STREET
Fifty-five years ago, a little shop on Biscayne Boulevard introduced Miami to modern design housewares, furnishings and accessories. It was founded in 1959 by Judith Arango and her then-husband, the Modernist architect Jorge Arango. The store then became a fixture at the Dadeland Mall for some fifty years.
After rent increases at the mall forced the owners David and Marianne Russell to rethink retail business, they retreated to their Bird Road Arts District warehouse, where they mounted exhibitions and ran a pop-up store.
And quite fortuitously, very recently they came upon the mid-century modern storefront available on Sunset Drive and quickly decided to move back onto main street. The SOMI shop will also have a gallery wall dedicated to rotating exhibitions, and Marianne Russell looks forward to having designers participate in the local SOMIartwalk© each month.
5864 Sunset Drive | 305.661.4229
SOMI HAPPENINGS
Annual Parade of the Elves
Sunday, December 7, 2p
On Sunset Drive
SOMIartwalk©
Friday, December 12, 6-9p
In the South Miami Town Center
SOMIartwalk©
Friday, January 9, 6-9p
In the South Miami Town Center
Rotary Art Festival©
Weekend of February 21 & 22
On Sunset Drive
