Everyone in Miami who likes to dine out has been waiting for the Miami Spice list of restaurants that will be offering prix-fixe discounts from August 1 through September 30th. One of the most popular and fun things to do in Miami is to take an airboat ride through the Everglades. Lionel Messi. the World Cup soccer champion from Argentina, is the talk of the town! And as loud as i am, i noticed years ago that once I turned 60, I was being more and more dismissed as an important person, so I am really excited that Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a fabulous new podcast for older women who feel “invisible!”

The 2023 Miami Spice Restaurants

Everyone in Miami who likes to dine out has been waiting for the Miami Spice list of restaurants that will be offering prix-fixe discounts from August 1 through September 30th. We call it that time of year again to enjoy some of the finest restaurants in the 305 at affordable pricing! Restaurants participating in Miami Spice will be offering three-course meals at $30 and $35 lunch (and brunch options as well) and dinner at  $45 and $60 specials.

This is a complete joy. While we know that restaurants have been financially suffering because of the pandemic, many folks feel that the prices of dining out have just gotten too high for their budgets. They are forced to stay home and cook for themselves. Miami Spice is an opportunity to dine out and control the costs. Some restaurants might even extend their price specials after Miami Spice officially ends.

Here’s the big news! There are 150 restaurants that signed up for Miami Spice. Here’s the lineup so far.  New ones will be joining very soon. Be sure to check for updates.

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau website

Everglades Airboat Safari

Even though it feels like someone is holding a very hot hair dryer over our heads these days in Miami as temperatures reach in the high 90’s, tourists are still thrilled to be here. It may seem strange to you, but Miami is still a big summer destination for Europeans and South Americans. One of the most popular and fun things to do in Miami is to take an airboat ride through the Everglades. There are very few places on earth where you can get up close and personal with alligators so you might as well do this activity from a safe  yet adventurous specialty boat.

The half day ride takes you under the mangrove tunnels and through marsh grass to see wildlife such as alligators, turtles, deer, and birds in their natural habitat. After the boat ride, you can enjoy some free time to explore the various alligator exhibits.

The Everglades  experience begins the moment you arrive. If you enjoy the boat tour you can also get a private airboat tour for a more up close and personal look at the alligators. The Everglades National Park is known for its vast wildlife, many of whom you’ll meet on your airboat tour. There are also endangered birds you won’t find anywhere else to small creatures that live among these wild alligators. You’ll see Florida as few people do.

The Everglades’ marine life includes more than 200,000 alligators, so you’re guaranteed to spy quite a few on your Everglades tour! American crocodiles and fish, including large mouth bass,  blue gil and catfish, are also frequent guest stars on the tour.

More than 28 different snakes – a few of which are venomous – also call the Everglades home, alongside the beautiful and elusive endangered Florida panther.

The beauty of this offering is that transportation is included from Miami Beach to the Everglades in an open air bus. How glorious is that? If you need air conditioning there is plenty of seating inside the bus. You meet at 835 Washington Ave. This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Read more about Everglades Airboat Safari – https://www.viator.com/tours/Miami/Everglades-Airboat-Safari/d662-5408P24?mcid=56757

Messi Miami 

Don’t even think about visiting Miami unless you know about Lionel Messi. He is the talk of the town and you will be an outcast in the Magic City if you don’t show lots of enthusiasm for the World Cup soccer champion from Argentina. Messi has signed on to become a player for Miami’s Inter Miami soccer team. Yes, that’s the one David Beckham is a part owner of and the reason he moved to Miami.

Beckham has been in the news a lot because he is negotiating a permanent location for an Inter Miami stadium.  At the moment, the DRV PNK Stadium is the  official home ground. It is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press reported that the stadium has an usual capacity for 19,100 spectators. “However, the arrival of what is considered one of the best players in history forced some modifications and an increase in the capacity, which is expected to be between 2,000 and 3,000 more people.”

Lionel Andrés Messi,also known as Leo Messi, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Miami is a huge soccer town. Most call it soccer, some (futbol) football. Ever since word got out that Messi was coming to Miami, the local newspapers and TV stations have devoted large chunks of coverage to this big deal. People are literally dancing in the streets. Miami desperately needs him.

AP pointed out that Messi is joining a club that has the fewest points in MLS (Major League Soccer) and is mired in an 11-match winless streak. “Inter Miami opened the season with two wins and has gone 3-14-3 since. It has 12 MLS matches left this season, and is 12 points out of a playoff spot — so it’s going to take a ton of wins just to have a chance.

AP reported, “The club previously announced that Messi’s deal will be for 2 1/2 seasons and will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually — putting the total contract value between $125 million and $150 million in cash alone. There are other factors, the value of which isn’t known.”

Last Sunday Lionel Messi made his official debut when he walked out from behind a curtain at the DRV PNK Stadium. The Miami crowd went nuts. Messi walked directly to David Beckham for a big hug. That made it official.

AP reported that Messi said, “I’m sure we’re going to have many wonderful experiences. Almost every seat was filled despite horrible weather conditions that delayed the show, and nobody seemed to mind soaking rain that pounded down throughout the evening. “I’m very much moved to be here in Miami. I want to thank you on behalf of my family, for the kindness that you have given me.”

Let’s hope he brings lots of wins to Miami. Thank you Messi. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Has A New Podcast For Older Women Who Feel “Invisible”

That’s Me. As Loud As I Am I Noticed Years Ago That Once I Turned 60 I Was Being More And More Dismissed As An Important Person 

I can’t believe how lucky we all are that a major public personality like Julia Louis- Dreyfus has started a podcast to help women truly enjoy their golden years as well as set the record straight about their extraordinary value, wisdom, common sense, and ability to communicate.

I talk about this topic all the time with my Miami girl friends who are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. Many feel less important and less respected in today’s world. Most of them had substantial positions in the workforce but as they got older they noticed that their voices were no longer heard as much as they used to be. This was not true for their male counterparts. My friends resented this, but instead of trying to correct this, they just retreated into the backgrounds.

Julia’s podcast addresses both personal and business challenges for older women. It’s encouraging to hear other women talk about a wide variety of topics that I often think about but never hear addressed by others my age.

The podcast is called “Wiser Than Me” because Julia hopes we can all learn life lessons from notable women who are willing to discuss the challenges they faced growing up and during their careers. These are not whining sessions. They are consciousness raising discussions that can help change the perceptions of older women. You will laugh and cry. You can’t imagine the difficulties senior women are still experiencing.

The Emmy award winning-est actress of all times has already spoken to Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, Amy Tan, Diane von Furstenberg, Isabel Allende and Fran Lebowitz. So many more are lining up to join in on this new awareness journey.

Before I report on the first interview with Jane Fonda, let me officially introduce Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus. Born  January 13, 1961), Julia is an American actress, comedian, and producer. Wiki says, “Often described as one of the greatest performers in television history, she is widely known for her roles as various characters on Saturday Night Live (1982–1985), Elaine Benes on Seinfeld (1989–1998), Christine Campbell on The New Adventures of Old Christine(2006–2010), and Selina Meyer on Veep (2012–2019).

Her list of accolades makes her one of the most awarded actresses in American television history, and she has received more Primetime Emmy Awards and more Screen Actors Guild Awards than any other performer.

Julia is so perfect to host this podcast. She asks daring questions that provoke high profile women to reveal personal stories that they never told before but will hopefully help future female generations stand up for themselves.

For example, when Julia was interviewing Jane Fonda, she was quick to point out that women are their own worst enemies. Instead of supporting each other, she found a number of women so competitive that they tried to dampen her career.

Kathryn Hepburn was a classic example of an aggressive female competitor who tried to beat Jane down when they were working together on On Golden Pond in 1981. Hepburn told Dominick Dunne that Jane Fonda had “no soul.”

She knew Dunne would repeat that to Fonda. It was an attempt to let Fonda know she was second banana and Hepburn was the star. She was never friendly on the set and never gave Jane an encouraging word. It was always about reminding Jane she was a four time Oscar winner and Jane would never catch up. You have to listen to the podcast to hear Julia’s responses.

Jane said that she got verbally abused by men that she worked with as well. Write Paddy  Chayefsky once asked her if she had any talent other than being Henry Fonda’s daughter. Jane’s response was just to move on. She feels she never had the confidence that she has now. She was taught to feel that her strength came from hooking up with stronger men.

Obviously, how we viewed Jane was not exactly what was going on inside her head. She said she never gave herself the chance to pick the right companions. She met plenty of men who would have been the right type for her but she didn’t have the mindset to know how well-suited they were for her.

Instead she suffered through three marriages. She knew it was time to leave each one of these relationships when she started fantasizing about planning their funerals. You have to listen to the podcast to get the full impact of the seriousness of this discussion. Jane doesn’t want to marry again or even have sex with anyone. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my days putting in the effort. I have so much more to do.”

As far as sex is concerned, her Rabbit vibrator does the trick. She loves sex but refuses to get undressed in front of a lover. Julia said it was difficult to believe that Jane’s body was not as perfect as it could  possibly be at 85 years of age. “Oh, you don’t know,” Jane answered. “I have scars, nicks, dents, etc.”

She said one of the most important pieces of advice she can give older women who are feeling depressed or discounted is “stay strong through exercise. Keep moving. I actually have muscles at my age. I do the same exercises as I did years ago but I do them extra slowly. I am also careful about the strength of the weights. The whole idea is to keep active and have a purpose.”

Jane doesn’t have time to worry about what others think. She is busy fighting the big oil companies who are destroying the planet. This part of the conversation in the podcast is so important that Julia said she was going to join Jane in her efforts. Listen to the hour long segment. It could add vitality to your existence.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus/id1678559416