Many restaurants have special private dining rooms, but the one at RED South Beach is like a stage set. And now I’m a Swifty.  A group of my friends in our 60s and 70s went to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie and had a blast. From Swifties to Golden Girls, there’s a new pop-up experience called, The Golden Girls Kitchen. And Nelson DeMille and son, Alex, have a new book out and they were at Books & Books this past Tuesday.

A Magical Dining Experience 

RED South Beach, ranked by many magazines to be one of the top 10 steakhouses in the country, has a special private dining room that I will be using to impress guests in the future. Our friends, Gail Williams and Dawn McCall actually hosted a birthday party for their best friend Cris Sweeny in the private room I am referring to last Sunday.

The room is decorated in the celebration colors of silver and black with one wall devoted to the wine collection. The wall opposite the entrance houses a 75-inch Samsung. Perfect for silently watching sports and entertainment shows. I know that many restaurants have private rooms but this one is like a stage set. The front glass wall allows other diners to peek in without being too intrusive. It’s very magical looking. Occupants feel like they are VIP’s.

Our group, (clockwise, Eliot Hess, Cris Sweeny, Me, Claire Lardner, Dawn McCall, Chris Harder, Sage Sweeny-Lardner, Diana Alejandro, and Gail Williams) had a very pleasant night because all nine of us were all able to share one conversation and actually hear each other without the usual disturbing ambient noise.

The restaurant is owned by Chef Peter Vauthy. RED South Beach is definitely the place to celebrate life’s special moments. By the way, the restaurant offers hand-crafted cocktails that are unique and guaranteed to make sure you are going to have a good time. GET MORE DETAILS.

Back To the Future 

I’m just letting you know that the Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie is not just for teenagers. A group of us in our 60s and 70s decided to become Swifties last Saturday as we gathered together to attend the premiere of the movie at the Regal South Beach Cinema on Lincoln Road. We had a blast.

The movie is three hours long. Don’t worry about your senior muscles stiffening up because you will not be sitting for very long. You will find yourself dancing in the aisles with the young ones. It won’t take you more than a half hour to get you into the groove. Before you know it, you will be moving your body like you were 18 again.

I wasn’t a Taylor Swift fan before I saw the movie, but I sure am one now. Trust me, you have never seen a concert like this one, ever.

They didn’t have the special effects and staging capabilities like they have today when we were teenyboppers. Even though you are watching a movie, you can see all of the action. It’s mesmerizing.

By the way, for those of you who have grandchildren this is the perfect venue to share with each other. It’s a true bonding experience. You are all watching the same performance, but you are looking at it differently. They are looking at it for inspiration and we are reliving our concert going days.

I promise that you will get lost in the music and feel ageless. Taylor Swift is genuine and the real deal. Totally G rated. While her songs are about boyfriend breakups, they are still wholesome. The entire movie is just a totally awesome experience. You will thank me. GO SEE IT.

The Golden Girls Kitchen

I thought when I moved to Miami that I would become friends with the Golden Girls: Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia. Only kidding, but I have to admit that since I moved to the Sunshine state, I do dress very Golden Girlish. Even though I feel most comfortable in black, I do go crazy wearing flowery colors because otherwise I look like I’m getting ready for a cold New York winter.

I do have the right wardrobe for the exclusive new dining experience: The Golden Girls Kitchen. Yes, Miami now has a pop-up Golden Girl Kitchen. I can’t wait to go. It’s a great selfie opportunity. That might sound ridiculous to you, but in my social media works it counts a lot.

The Golden Girl Kitchen is only in town from November 10th – December 31st.  Price starting at $34 person.

Let’s go together so we can sit around the kitchen table and gossip. See you there!

Location:

Golden Girls Kitchen

350 NW 24th S,

Miami, FL 33127

Get the details.

If you go, expect to be completely immersed in the world of The Golden Girls!

You will be sitting in a chair in The Golden Girls Kitchen. This custom, detailed dining experience is inspired by the girls’ favorite iconic Miami hangouts, as well as other memorable moments from the beloved franchise.

During your visit you will also experience the Rusty Anchor Bar for a selection of specialty cocktails and mocktails centered around the beloved series.

You can also snap a photo in Blanche’s Boudoir, complete with shag carpet and a palm print bedspread, or pretend to chat with the ladies through the girls’ yellow kitchen phone.

Each ticket includes a 90-minute reservation as well as your choice of a Golden Main + slice of cheesecake. There will be additional sides, desserts, beverages, and exclusive The Golden Girls Kitchen merchandise to add on arrival.

Nelson And Alex DeMille Always Make Miami Their Second Stop On Book Tours  

Bestselling author Nelson DeMille wasn’t shy about telling his fans, who came out to see him at Books & Books this past Tuesday, that he missed the good old days of book publishing. “For 30 years I would write a book and then go on the road around the United States to do greet and meets at my favorite bookstores. Now most of them are gone. It’s wonderful to have a very successful establishment like Books & Books. This is a place that people rely on for recreation and education. Books & Books is very much part of the community.”

Nelson co-wrote Blood Lines with his son Alex, a screen writer. Simon & Shuster asked Nelson to co-author one of his novels with another writer because that was becoming a popular trend in book publishing. After unsuccessfully trying to work with a few other writers, Nelson asked his son if he would take on the assignment with him.

Alex agreed to work with his dad but their collaboration is very different from most other partners. They don’t write together. They agree on a direction and then they write different sections of the book. Alex writes in Brooklyn and Nelson writes in Garden City. They edit each other but they are pretty much in agreement about most of their content. They both admit their partnership is unusual.

Nelson said the two of them also agree on what copy they won’t allow the publishing house to change. “The younger generation has their own ideas about what works in a storyline. We don’t let anyone mess with our copy if we don’t agree.”

It’s so wonderful to hear authors talk about their writing process and what it takes to get a book published. There were many surprises. The biggest eye opener that we heard last Tuesday is that Nelson has never been to some of the places he writes about. It’s startling to learn that because he is so detailed when he discusses the journeys of his characters. When someone asked him how he managed to accomplish that he smiled and said, “Years ago I had to spend hours in a library looking up the information I needed. Today, I have Google and YouTube.”

Nelson may miss the good old days of publishing, but he sure loves the new conveniences. We all do. GET THE BOOK.