Miami Spice: March 2005

My Personal Chef

This is Edwin. Edwin is the Sous Chef at Akairo, which is without question one if not the best Sushi restaurant in all of South Beach. Benny, the chef has incredible talent in his composition and presentation. I basically eat here anywhere from 3-4 times a week. I'm what you call a regular. We now have two special rolls that I help create: 1) Lisa Roll = hamachi, shiso leaf, fresh mandarine orange; AND 3) Spicey Seattle = salmon, avocado, kimchee, shiso leaf, chive, rolled with tobiko and sesame on the outside with slivers of jalepenos placed on each piece (YUM).

Best Sushi in SoBe

tamago towers! - benny just invented this for me this past week.

Typical view from my seat....

View from my Dinner Table.

This spot really starts to happen around 9pm. Its always so interesting to watch what walks in. This week is still spring break for some. The midwest twentynothings cruised in this evening ordering bloody marys with california rolls. Nice combo...as Edwin and I just shook our heads. I know...I'm a total sushi snob.

Lost Friend

The amazing bike below has become my best friend in Miami. A dear friend introduced me to Gary Hobbs; master bike builder and an avid cyclist in Coos Bay Oregon. I spoke to Gary in early January of this year about building me a new bike for my adventures in the flat lands of Florida ("my tour of duty"). Gary confirmed my selection and said that no other production bike is built and cared for like the Merckx. Gary help me put together not only a dream bike, but a bike that rode like a dream. Upon receiving the bike in early February, it was immediate bliss and I corresponded with Gary several times thanking him profusely for the unending joy this two wheeled object continues to provide me while in Miami.

Sadly, I learned today that Gary died after a long battle with Leukemia just a couple weeks ago. I'm stunned as Gary was headed down to California for some riding after we spoke. I'm reminded again today (thankfully) that we all need to live, ride, love, see, be as if it were our last days. It will soon be my anniversary for such lesson (April 19th).

Merckx MXM 2005 model (lotto domo racing edition). Pure mono formed carbon. Campy Record, FSA K-force stem, cranks, handlebars; Topolino wheelsets (dreamy).

Tennis Anyone?

I went to a tennis match for the first time in my life. It could not have been a better sighting with Venus Williams winning her match at the NASDAQ 100 in Key Biscayne. Her play was full of grace and power; nothing like 120mph serves coming at you. She won in straight sets. It was pretty fun watching this event...and all the Columbians who came out that night to see there countrywoman be defeated. Go Venus!

Here is Venus winning her match 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday Evening

The Wellness City....

So what have I been up to???? Well....besides continuing to be in denial about the superficial, plastic world I'm living...AKA Miami Beach, I manage to escape and fill some pretty big shoes. The past few weeks have been really fun professionally. Last week I found myself in Atlanta spending two solid days with the CFO and CEO of a $10 Billion dollar company (can you say playing with the big boys) and tomorrow I will tour the CEO of Clevland Clinc around Miami. I continue to work hard behind the scenes to get CR to a significant place and venture in Seattle. The concept as I told developers today is to make the city or larger context a wellness region; an authentic community focused on fostering good will, health and happiness. It would be an environment that brings together all the strengths of indigenously grown institutions, including Bastry, Fred Hutch, UW, local biotechnology, local althletes and practicioners into a highly collaborative community. Wow. I could imagine once the energy exists within this community (much like that present on the ranch) there is no limit to the depth of industry, practice and people it could and would attract. Fun. More on all that later...

Seattle Visitors

Today begins my 4th month of living in Miami. As a temporary assignment with uncertain ending, it continues to be a learning experience.

This month my Miami Beach colleagues took me out to get "made-up" and it felt more llike October 31st to me...asI long for the casual, yet natural me that can be expressed in the Pacific Northwest. Today...I am ever thankful that my friends elected to visit me and bring me some Seattle cheer.

This Sunday...with the good weather that shall land upon us - Sunny at 72 degrees...Di, Suze and I head down to Key Largo for a little snorkeling. Di has made several attempts to see dolphins and our hope is that she either sees them or her energy helps push those recently beached ashore to move off shore. Either result and we all would be happy.

Di Diving for Turtles...hey they're protected!

Home Sweet Home

This is my house in Seattle. You would actually think that it was in Tucson...but I got a little inspired about colors when I was in Tuscanny in 2003. I must confess, it changed the neighborhood...physically and emotionally for me. I love this house. Each passing month, this house patinas; mostly from some neighborly help. Our local homeless guy Lawrence has helped beautify the yard and generally takes currency in Pancakes , cash and catfish. He is a thin, black not brown skinned man with dreds from Louisianna who always carries a toothless smile an eager to work ethic up and down the sidewalks of 77th street. Everytime I go home...I look forward to catching a few glimpes and brief conversations with Lawrence, because no matter who you are...he makes you feel good about yourself because you can't help but give something to the man who has nothing but a collection of rocks (he freely donates to your yard) and the change that happes to be left in his pocket.

Front of my house in Seattle...HOME!

Maidenform Fashions

Here is the South Beach scene in front of Prime 112. We had so much fun this evening, Di spyed the fashion statement behind (the maidenform look under a strapy top) that she did the subtle shove of Suze at time of snap. Nice move Di! The chick eventually caught on to our antics...and seemed to enjoy the attention. My friends...that is what SoBe is ALL about. Get me outta here! :)