By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

While many would argue that “family vacation” is an oxymoron, there are a few places that offer exciting, entertaining and relaxing activities for the whole family, without depleting the college funds. The Florida Keys and Club Med Sandpiper are excellent “island” getaways for Florida families that don’t require a plane ticket. Washington D.C., the premier family travel destination, is a short, inexpensive flight away, with loads of affordable hotel accommodations, and the history of the world and our nation at your fingertips. The best part? Most of D.C.’s world-famous museums and attractions are absolutely free. InWeston has hand-picked a few favorite recommendations for your next family adventure.

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Shake Shack on Mother’s Day!

Show your mom some sweet love this Mother’s Day and take her to Shake Shack for a single cup of custard on the house. You read that right, it’s on us! Not all offers are too good to be true! Your mom is special, so you should treat her to something delicious.

SuViche Wynwood and NBA Playoffs

SuViche Wynwood will be offering an extended Happy Hour during all Miami Heat NBA playoff games. Guests can enjoy 2-for-1 drink specials and SuViche’s Happy Hour food menu at the bar or at any inside tables throughout the duration of game. Every playoff game will be projected inside the restaurant on a 120-inch screen as well as on the bar TVs. Drink specials include Sours, Chilcanos, well drinks, beer, sake and wine.

ROOFTOP at E11EVEN at Brickell Restaurant Week

ROOFTOP AT E11EVEN will be participating in the upcoming Brickell Restaurant Week beginning May 12th through 19th. The downtown favorite rooftop restaurant is celebrating Miami’s growing culinary scene with a special $35 four-course prix fixe dinner menu. Boasting signature design highlights such as state-of-the-art retractable roof, firepits, communal tables, and comfortable lounge seating that line the wood plank deck, the space also features an intimate 50-seat indoor dining room with sprawling floor-to-ceiling windows and a bustling open kitchen. The savory and inventive Restaurant Week menu include a choice of Chilled Tapas, Hot Tapas, Small Plates and Desserts.

STINK!

STINK! is a new documentary film that has screened all over the country and is coming to Miami! To ensure the screening, the sale of 100 advance tickets is necessary. Please purchase tickets at http://www.area23a.com/tickets/. STINK! opens with a foul smell, a pair of kids pajamas and a single father trying to find out what that smell could possibly be. But instead of getting a straight answer, director Jon Whelan stumbles on an even bigger issue in America, which is that some products on our store shelves are not safe — by design. May 11th is our screening date for the Miami area! Check out the trailer here and purchase your tickets today!

14^th Annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ® will celebrate its 14th annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala, by welcoming back model and television personality, as well as co-founder, Daisy Fuentes, for an evening of fine dining and Latin music at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Miami. The annual event raises funds to help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Cuban-born American journalist and one of Time magazine’s “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America,” Cristina Saralegui, will be recognized for her commitment to giving back and educating the Hispanic community. For more information about tickets, sponsorships and auction items, visit stjude.org/miamigala or contact Barbara Mari at (800) 278-3383 or Barbara.Mari@stjude.org

The Gift of NuBody 

Give your mother an unforgettable, revolutionary spa treatment designed to help her get rid of that stubborn fat and treat yourself while you’re at it. NuBody’s FDA Approved Strawberry Laser Lipo offers laser contouring with immediate results. Get slimmer with every visit, reduce fat, and remove stretch marks. The procedure is painless, non-invasive, hassle free and there is no downtime.  Packages include laser lipo treatment, massage and oxygen chairs, muscle toning on state-of-the-art vibration units, and nutritional guidance to assist in meeting weight loss goals. NuBody’s team of fitness and nutrition experts will optimize you and your mom’s weight loss goals. Call today for a free consultation! (954) 564-BODY (2639) or visit YourNuBody.com

South Street Headhouse District serves up the best tastes and sips of the city during South Street Spring Festival, on Saturday, May 7, from 11:00am to 8:00pm. Philadelphia’s largest annual spring block party announces 30+ restaurants, bars, bakeries and food trucks that will fill the 12 blocks of South Street and surrounding streets. Brauhaus Schmitz will return with Maifest on the 700 block with with German beers, dancers, music, food, flower crowns and even a Maypole. The giant all-ages outdoor party will also include a new Philly Taco eating contest featuring a Jim’s Steaks cheesesteak wrapped in a giant slice of Lorenzo & Sons pizza. South Street Spring Festival is free and open to the public. Rain or shine. For the full schedule and roster of events, visit www.southstreet.com and follow @officialsouthst #SouthStFest on Twitter.

By: Mary Jo Almeida Shore

Miami’s got no shortage of great restaurants. Here are a few places we’ve recently discovered. Whether you crave good a flame grilled burger, an authentic lobster roll or an Argentine parrillada, our picks are sure to delight your palate.

BurgerQ’s Flame Grilled Burgers 

There’s no need to track BurgerQ on your GPS, as the aroma of the perfectly flame grilled burgers will guide you to this trendy, quality burger restaurant in Downtown Dadeland.

Burger lovers will rejoice in the unique flavor that can only come from an open-flame grill. The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients, and boasts a one-of-a kind “beer wall” where you can select from as many or as few of the 16 craft beers on tap as you’d like to sample.

Friendly owner-operators, husband and wife team Gabriel and Maria Teresa Argüello have created an extensive menu of signature burgers and sandwiches. Our favorites were the mushroom, dripping with house-made truffle mayo and the onion jam. You can also build your own burger and be sure to try the fantastic onion rings. Also save room for a shake or dessert.

The menu at BurgerQ was designed to re-create the spirit of a traditional burger and barbecue spot: casual, welcoming, and ideal for the entire family, serving southern barbecue inspired dishes such as grilled-to-order burgers, fresh salads, and handmade signature shakes. The sides and accompanying home-made sauces are worth a mention.

“We are so appreciative for the welcome we have received by the city and local community. We designed our space to be inviting, with “earthy” textures, open layout and kitchen, and retro-upscale décor. As owners, we are elated to share our “backyard BBQ” concept. We look forward to serving our local community and hope they appreciate what we have created,” stated Maria Teresa. From our perspective, the Arguellos have far exceeded their goal!

BurgerQ is located at 8970 SW 72nd Place, Miami, FL 33156 in Downtown Dadeland. Visit the restaurant online via www.burgerqrestaurants.com on Social via @BQBurgers.

Izzy’s Fish & Oyster 

For an authentic New England experience, head to Izzy’s Fish & Oyster, acclaimed chef and restaurateur Jamie DeRosa’s highly anticipated second venture in Miami Beach’s vibrant South of Fifth neighborhood. Izzy’s serves the freshest, genuine New England fare combined with expert service, quality ingredients, and the best lobster roll this side of Kennebunkport.

“It was important for me to create a space that gives diners a chance to casually meet and connect with one another through the verve, tradition and excitement that lives within New England and its cuisine,” said DeRosa. “With trips to this region representing a large part of my childhood’s food culture, the menu will introduce dishes and ways of cooking that are familiar to this landscape. Beyond the kitchen, everything from the design to the hospitality will be committed to transcending the guest. For some, it will be reminiscent of similar memories along the coast and, for others, a first sense of quintessential New England right here in Miami Beach.”

The restaurant’s décor, just like the food and drink, celebrates the spirit and nostalgia of the seaside shacks that dot the coast, juxtaposed with the casual sophistication of Miami Beach. The petit, airy 40-seat interior space welcomes with grey stone-tiled floors, antique tin and reclaimed wood ceilings, ornate details of metal mesh suggestive of lobster traps and plush leather banquettes. The gleaming raw bar harboring the fresh catches of the day also resonates with the sounds of oysters being shucked and prepared in that moment, with a full vantage point of the action from the sleek, 15-seat white marble bar. There’s also a 20-seat outdoor café.

Alongside executive chef/partner DeRosa is chef de cuisine William Crandall, who maintains the fresh, simple and focused menu direction while enhancing the natural sweet, salty, grassy and briny flavors of the seafood. This approach is especially applied to the Raw Bar selection, which presents six ever-changing varietals of east coast oysters exclusively from Island Creek Oysters in support of its Farm & Foundation. Don’t miss Clams with lemon salsa, Ceviche with chili, cilantro and citrus and PEI Mussels bruschetta-style with white balsamic. The Bay Hopper, a shareable shellfish platter provides (four each) oysters, clams, mussels and shrimp with blue crab salad and ½ lobster.

The menu offerings are defined by way of Starters, From The Basket, Maines and Port & Starboard Sides. Signatures, both traditional and creative, include an indulgent Maine Lobster Roll- {our favorite) available in a hot preparation with lobster butter or cold with lobster mayo, New England Clam Chowder and Yukon Potato Gnocchi with oysters, American caviar and fresh herbs. Additional highlights include the Sugar Snap Salad, Fried Clam Bellies, and the Painted Hill Farms Sirloin Burger. For dessert, we recommend Classic Whoopies, made with a marshmallow fluff filling; a slice of Boston Cream Pie and Grandma Celia’s Lemon Meringue Pie. Go ahead- try all three! Izzy’s Fish & Oyster is located at 423 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. For more information visit: http://izzysmiami.com.

Novecento 

Founded in New York by Hector Rolotti in 1991, Novecento is an Argentinian bistro-style restaurant boasting 12 locations in 10 cities, spanning across four countries. South Florida, their most penetrated market, includes four locations – Brickell (2004), Key Biscayne (2010), Aventura (2013) and the brands latest expansion into the trending Midtown Miami district (2014).

Corporate Chef and COO of Novecento, Gabriel Medici, has shaped the brands fare to showcase a refined take on a blend of Pan-Latin and Argentine flavors. This culinary cross section, where South America influence meets French techniques, comes to life with approachable and robust entrée-sized salads, pasta dishes ranging from spaghetti to gnocchi, hearty fish and chicken dishes, and more than five cuts of beef. Novecento is not only a celebration of culture, but a celebration of family.

The menu immediately draws you in, with a wide offering of familiar favorites. While each menu is location specific, signatures include a selection of sandwiches like the Lomito Novcento beef tenderloin, mozzarella, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on a baguette; meat entrees like a Ojo de Bife 16 oz. grilled rib-eye steak, sautéed spinach and roasted sweet potatoes to a Milanga Novecento a choice of lightly breaded beef with the option to add “A Caballo” two fried eggs on top, “Napolitana” with ham, cheese and tomato sauce or “Suiza” with Swiss cheese; as well as handcrafted beef, spinach & cheese, chicken & ham, and cheese Empanadas. Signature Picadas, sharing platters, are also available at each location and range from authentic Argentinean fare of grilled meats and empanadas to more traditional meat and cheese platters with offerings of nuts, olives and toast. Novecento’s signature dessert includes Panqueques con Dulce de Leche y Helado warm crepes, Dulce de leche, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

The beverage program includes a wide selection of international boutique wines, together with the addition of a full service bar. Signature cocktails range from $7 to $15 and include the Mojito Novecento made with Bacardi Superior Rum and Bacardi Limon; Classic Dewar’s 12 on the Rocks 12 year’s aged Scotch Whiskey on the rocks. All locations offer a daily Happy Hour from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., which includes 2-for-1 drink specials and bar bites; Wine Tuesdays with 50 percent off wine bottles; and Thirsty Thursdays with 50 percent off bottles of champagne and sparkling wine. Other weekly offerings include a Cigar Wednesdays and Pasta and Burger specials. For more information, visit: http://novecento.com.

On Wednesday, May 4 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., Rittenhouse Row celebrates the 2016 Spring Festival Preview Party presented by Capital One. Guests will enjoy and sample cuisines from Rittenhouse Row’s best restaurants, cocktails created from their best bartenders, informal modeling of spring trends from Rittenhouse Row member boutiques and salons, and a silent auction with Rittenhouse Row experiences and merchandise. The event will take place at the Westin Philadelphia; for tickets and more details http://rittrow.ticketleap.com/the-2016-rittenhouse-row-preview-party/

Seaspice and Design Techo

On Wednesday, May 11, Seaspice will host a fundraising event benefitting Design Techo, a charity that mobilizes our youth globally and empowers them to eradicate poverty, transform slums into sustainable and organized communities, while highlighting what makes Brazilian culture beautiful. The 4th annual fundraising evening will be filled with musical live performances including Brazilian Singer Rose Max, pianist Ana Nikolec, a Brazilian Carnival by Escola de Samba, a demonstration by Capoeira Escola and a rock concert by Latin band Pampa y la Via, as guests are welcomed with complimentary caipirinhas and hors d’oeuvres. Often credited as leading force in the revitalization of the Miami River neighborhood, Seaspice is no stranger to breathing life to forgotten communities and their dedication to Design Techo is no different!

Please be advised that the minimum donation is $30.

Estrella Damm Chef’s Choice

This May, Barcelona comes to Miami with the Estrella Damm Chef’s Choice at numerous restaurants throughout Miami’s best neighborhoods. Beginning on May 14 and continuing through May 29, Miami locals will be able to enjoy three course meals with an “arroz” (rice) entree, curated by Miami’s top culinary talent, paired with an Estrella Damm beer at each of the participating restaurants. Prices vary per restaurant.

In Barcelona, friends and family love to get together for big meals often including arroz and an Estrella Damm beer. To share this fun and tasty tradition with Miami, Estrella Damm is hosting Chef’s Choice throughout various Miami neighborhoods.

From traditional Spanish paella, to risotto and fried rice, each venue will put its own spin on an arroz dish, while highlighting favorites from their signature menus. Staying true to its ties to the culinary world, Estrella Damm is passionate about bringing the community together in a social atmosphere to explore the wide variety of restaurants in the heart of Miami.

Participating venues include: Market at EDITION, 1111 Peruvian Bistro, Coya, Toro Toro, Pinch Kitchen, Pisco y Nazca, Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Tuyo, DECK Sixteen at Hyatt Centric South Beach, Finka Table & Tap, BYBLOS, La Mar, Vagabond Restaurant and Bar, Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard Spa, Jimmyz Kitchen, Apeiro, Wynwood Kitchen and Bar, Brasserie Azur, and more.

Chef’s Choice will continue through May 29, and Estrella Damm encourages locals and visitors alike to grab an Estrella Damm and enjoy this gastronomic feast for the senses!

Digital:   Facebook /EstrellaDammUS

Twitter @EstrellaDamm

It’s Time to Save Ferris Beuller Once Again!

Still as hilariously irresistible as the day it was released in 1986, FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF returns to cinemas for two days only this May, just in time for its 30th anniversary.

Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) present John Hughes’ venerated comedy as part of the TCM Big Screen Classics series. Audiences can take the day off to join Ferris, Sloane and Cameron in more than 650 theaters nationwide for two screenings each day: 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time.

Adding even more fun to the 30th anniversary celebration, the event includes special interviews with John Hughes and other cast members about the movie, and TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will present all-new commentary for FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF both before and after the feature.

Matthew Broderick stars as a delightfully charming high school student who, with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck), ditches school to enjoy one perfect day as a kid with no responsibilities. The beloved comedy about Ferris’ wild adventures in the Windy City during a single, glorious day off continues to be enjoyed, quoted and revered 30 years after its theatrical debut.

Tickets to TCM Big Screen Classics: FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF can be purchased online from Fathom Events.

While you wait for this special event, enjoy the next title in Fathom’s TCM Big Screen Classics series with Marlon Brando’s incendiary performance in “On the Waterfront” in theaters this April 24 and 27.

In addition to the special theatrical screenings, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is also available on Digital HD.

The Miami Rail’s FUN-Raiser

Join in on the fun and support The Miami Rail at this year’s FUN-raiser on Saturday, May 14th from 8pm – 11pm in Miami’s Design District at The Palm Court Event Space. THE THEME IS PROM!!!  So be ready to slow dance, drink the spiked punch and maybe even make out in the kissing booth!  This year’s FUN-raiser has a special mission of helping allocate the funds needed to hire the first full time Editor in Chief.  This is critical to the success of the Miami Rail, Miami’s only culturally specific magazine of note, and they can only do it with your help.

Tickets are $125 each or $200 for a couple and can be purchased by visiting www.miamirail.org/spring-2016-funraiser. The Miami Rail is a 501C3 and as such all ticket sales are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.