Miami Fun Guide » FunBlog

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

Mary Tuttle — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:06:38 +0000

Yardbird caters to a sophisticated, mature crowd– fancy table linens included. It’s a great family style restaurant that encourages patrons to share big and small entrees. Superior service is guaranteed. Try the Brunswick Stew, Lil’ Bit of “Meat Loaf”, and the Corn to the Third Power.

Y-U-M.

Make reservations. Outside seating and valet parking available.

Sparky’s Roadside Barbecue

Mary Tuttle — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:51:45 +0000

It was almost dinner time, Papa was out-of-town, and I had a craving for hush puppies, so I decided to google “hush puppies miami.” The first place to pop up was Sparky’s, located in downtown Miami– right across from the First Street Metro Mover station. It’s not the best kid-friendly area in the early evening (with a lot of homeless guys loitering outside the corner bar nearby), but it’s walking distance from Biscayne Blvd. and Bayfront Park. Once inside Sparky’s, though, it’s a cozy country-style diner with loud music, eclectic decor and friendly, earthy people. The place seats about 50.

Life slows down a notch when you step into this unassuming storefront restaurant. Greeted by Sparky himself, we sat at one of the wooden picnic tables and soaked in the indoor atmosphere. The girls enjoyed the birdhouse collection on the west wall. Mostly young men frequent the place, but while we were there another family with a couple of kids came by and got some dinner to go.

What about the hush puppies, you ask? They were okay, but we’ve had better. Some of the other sides– like the baked beans and waffle fries– were SUPERB! And the mac-n-cheese was as good as Abuela used to make. Some of the reviews we read raved about the fried pickles but we weren’t adventurous enough to try them (maybe next time). The ribs were also tasty, especially with the different squirt bottle sauces including apple cider, habanero-guava and a yummy traditional-style house blend. The burger wasn’t bad either.

Menu items are moderate-to-pricey, but overall it’s worth going off the beaten path to checkout this hidden gem. We’re sure to return for lunch (maybe order the fried pickles!) and try some of the homemade desserts.

Reviews by Kids: Islas Canarias

Anna Tuttle — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:33:59 +0000

This “authéntica cocina cubana” is a family-owned restaurant that has been in good business since 1977. And there’s a reason behind it: their amazing homemade food! This Sunday, I visited this restaurant for the first time. I had read on the internet that their dollar croquetas were delicious, so I decided to try the ones with ham. And they truly proved to be “the best croquetas in the world”. One of the benefits of going to restaurants with your family is that you get to try several dishes at one time. So I was also able to try my sister’s churrasco. My mom ordered a chicken salad; her only complaint was that the dish seemed to have been plated earlier in the day, drying out the tomato and pickle on the side. My dad’s favorite part of the meal was the delectable side of black beans and rice that has always been one of the stars of Cuban cooking.

This restaurant features a private room for banquets and business meetings, along with a few murals that I especially enjoyed studying. The largest and most prominent of these pays homage to several famous Latin music stars (including Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Gloria Stefan, and John Secada). Check out a picture of it on their website. The service was acceptable, although some of us were missed when water glasses were being refilled. In addition, the bathrooms were clean and neat. Overall, I would recommend Islas Canarias for its family environment and tasty food.

Important Info:

Address: 13695 SW 26 Street, Miami, Florida 33175

Phone number: (305) 559-6666

Website: http://islascanariasrestaurant.com/about_rest.html

The Power Is in the Dough

Mary Tuttle — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:31:49 +0000

Looking for more protein, less carbs and great taste in your Italian night out? Search no more! Check out Power Pizza, with four convenient locations in South Miami, Pinecrest, Kendall and Doral. For the extra healthy, try the whole wheat crust pizza or the multigrain pastas. Everything on the menu is made with high quality, natural ingredients, so there isn’t the guilt! The menu also has healthy chicken wings that are baked, not fried. Papa Rick and I tried the Most Popular! Protein Delight pizza with FIVE kinds of meat and the spinach salad, and we’re planning to go back for more. True to their promise, we felt satisfied and not heavy after eating there. Try and see for yourself! Power Pizza offers family-priced dine-in, take-out, delivery and catering.

Miami Spice – August 1- September 30, 2011

Mary Tuttle — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:00:54 +0000

Now celebrating its tenth season, Miami Spice is a great late summer opportunity to eat and see delightful restaurants around the city, places you would normally not patronize because of their pricey menus. The selections are eclectic, with multi-course meals (Lunch $22, Dinner $35) to choose from. So bring a friend or the whole family and bon appétit!

P.S. Foodies, checkout this site, for a listing of Miami’s top culinary events.

Hurricane Season Is Here: Be Prepared

Mary Tuttle — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:48:04 +0000

We are right smack in the middle of hurricane season and at the height of activity here in South Florida. If you planned a vacation at this time, the arrival of a hurricane may seem like a party crasher and ruiner of plans, but it doesn’t have to be. Look for the silver lining in every cloud and be flexible with your plans!

You can enjoy the great weather we get when hurricanes don’t strike, or you can do like the locals and take off to Disney World or to the Florida Keys, whichever you decide is safer. If a hurricane IS imminently arriving on our shores and you decide staying in Miami is best, be sure to get needed water and food supplies and to find a safe place for you, your loved ones, and your rental car (think higher levels of a parking garage for the car). Some hotels do the work for you, so you can lay back and ride out the storm. Ask questions and get any additional information you need from hotel staff on the premises.

So far this year, hurricanes have been veering east of us into the ocean, so it is important to stay tuned to the source for accurate information, the National Hurricane Center. Be safe and prepared, and enjoy some Miami fun!!

Tax Free Weekend for School Supplies Returns to South Florida

Mary Tuttle — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:42:42 +0000

Everyone loves to save money, and some of us love to shop! Well, mark you calendars for the upcoming Florida tax free weekend, which runs from Aug. 12-14, 2011. Residents and tourists like can purchase tax free books, clothing, and footwear ($75 or less) and school supplies ($15 or less) and other back-to-school items. This is the only sales tax holiday I know of in Florida, so have at it! You’ll save 6-7% on sales tax, depending on the county. Check out Florida’s list of tax exempt and taxable items before heading out on your shopping adventure. Single-parents and other savvy shoppers, check out this site for more information and tips.

Maniac for Mangoes

Mary Tuttle — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:51:18 +0000

This weekend is the delicious Mango Festival at Fairchild. Check out their website for times and costs.

http://www.fairchildgarden.org/

If you are on a budget, you can always go when it’s free. Check this out: Free Days at Fairchild
The first Wednesday of every month until November
and every Sunday in August
This month: Wednesday, July 6, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Enjoy the beauty of the Garden for free. Visit our rainforest, conservatory, Edible Garden and more, then take a complimentary guided tour on one of our brand new trams.

Library Museum Pass Program

Anna Tuttle — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:37:19 +0000

Miami-Dade Public Library System has a program now in the summer for families to go visit museums and zoos around Miami-Dade for free. The places available to visit are:

- Deering Estate at Cutler
- Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens
- History Miami
- Miami Art Museum
- Miami Children’s Museum
- Miami Science Museum
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
- Zoo Miami

Each pass is good for a family of four to visit one of the museums one at a time, and it is only valid for seven days after it was checked out. Passes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and they will not be replaced if lost or stolen.

Check out this website to learn more about the passes:

http://www.mdpls.org/news/entry/museumPass/museumPass.asp

Kid Review: Big Pink

Anna Tuttle — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:15:04 +0000

Trying to plan a special birthday? Why not try Big Pink, a restaurant in South Beach and a great place to go for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner? Everything they serve is BIG, hence the name. My family went there recently for my 11th birthday, and we had an awesome experience. We tried a few of their milkshakes, which were very sweet, but appetizing. I got the 3 Egg Breakfast; which includes 3 eggs, any style, 2 slices of toast, homemade fries, and a choice of sausage or bacon. My sister tried the malted waffles. The waiter was very attentive to our requests, and the bathrooms weren’t dirty. You might say that the prices are a little high, but I’d say that it’s well worth it.

Extra Info:

Big Pink menu (not including breakfast menu): http://www.allmenus.com/fl/miami-beach/47912-big-pink-restaurant/menu/

Address: 157 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139

Phone Number: (305) 532-4700