Blog No. 14 of 2025
Hello there and happy Friday!!! Been back in the MIA since Monday and I’ve got lots to tell you about our time there and also this past week.
We had so many adventures in Durham, NC where we spent the weekend visiting Michael. We were there until Monday when we flew back on very delayed flights. Phew, what an adventure it was getting home.
Chicken and waffles at The Flying Biscuit.
Durham Central Park
The whole gang at Fullton Mall before dinner at Doc B’s. That’s Grant in the white shirt, his wife Esther in front and their kids Lucas in white shirt and Levi in peach shirt.
Elizabeth, Michael and Nick walking through the Life & Science Museum in Durham, NC.
Me and a gorgeous butterfly in the Butterfly Garden at the Life & Science Museum.
Michael and Vance at the nature trail by Michael’s apartment.
Nature trail view
View at the Life & Science Museum
Us having dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House with Sous Chef Michael paying us a visit.
Terminator keeps watch over gamers at Boxcar Bar + Arcade.
I’ll share some pictures of the fun we had in NC where we visited the Life & Science Museum, Boxcar Bar + Arcade an adult arcade where you can have brews or booze while you play, the gorgeous Duke University Campus, Durham Central Park, the Durham Food Hall and some great little shops, all in Downtown Durham. Had some amazing barbecue at The Blue Note Grill and then walked through a monthly open-air market with great music and cool vendors. We had dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse where Michael works and got to meet the whole staff who treated us so great. The food was great too, we ordered a feast and shared everything. We met up with our nephew Grant and his wife Esther and their kids for dinner in Cary, NC at Fenton Mall where we had dinner at Doc' B’s Fresh Kitchen. That was a really fun night it was wonderful seeing them and we really appreciated that they drove all the way from Wilmington, about two hours away. Michael took us to a lovely nature trail near his apartment where we enjoyed the scenery, laughed and took a ton of pictures. And on our last day we visited Falls Lake State Recreation Area in Wake Forest, then drove around the NC State Campus and had lunch at a cute local chain The Flying Biscuit before heading to the airport. It was truly a stellar weekend.
Back in Miami…
Nick and I went to the Marlins game on Tuesday night and watched them beat the NY Mets. It was a Best Buddies outing where I watched in awe as Sofia, a Best Buddies participant, played God Bless America on the violin during the 7th inning stretch.
Me, Chef Michelle Bernstein and my sister Ana at the Sra. Martinez Grand Opening.
Then last night, I went to the Grand Opening of Sra. Martinez in Coral Gables. My sister Ana joined me where we saw lots of people we knew, enjoyed chatting with lots of other people and most of all, noshed on delicious bites served up by Sra. Martinez herself, Chef Michelle Bernstein who owns the restaurant with her husband David Martinez. If you’ll recall, Vance and I dined there with our friends a few Saturdays ago. As for my recommendations from the menu, let’s just say everything is good!
Tonight, Vance and I are meeting our friends Kevin and Michelle to pay one last goodbye to the Emerson Dorsch Gallery which is closing its doors this weekend. Our friend Brook Dorsch who opened the gallery in 1991, although we went to his first spot before his big space in Wynwood, is leaving his beautiful space which is now in Little Haiti. I will miss that space so much, we had such good times there and they will leave a void in Miami’s arts community. But I understand because Brook and his wife Tyler who now live in Asheville, NC are doing amazing things for artists up there.
I also wanted to share a few event ideas for you for this coming week…
The Miami Film Festival which goes through April 13. Click on the link to see our Artburst Miami article about the Miami-made films and also see the entire schedule.
The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair which ends this Sunday.
A trio of plays around Miami. Click here to read about shows at Zoetic Stage, GableStage and Actors’ Playhouse.
Easter egg hunts because Easter is almost upon us and if you have little ones or know people looking for Easter Egg Hunts there are several happening and some are this weekend. Click here to find one in your neighborhood.
And finally, I want to share the Editor’s column from Biscayne Times where my Editor Mary Damiano mentions the article I wrote about Carl Waisanen. Click here to read it. And click here to read my latest article for Biscayne Times on author Rochelle B. Weinstein and her books that are an homage to Miami and North Carolina. Also, a link to my article on Art on the Plaza at MOCA in North Miami.
That’s all for this week, I’ll be back next Friday probably writing the blog from Merritt Island. Have a great weekend and week everyone!
