After writing something, whether it be a poem, short story, expose or feature article, it's always good to have someone else read it before submitting it for publication. A fresh pair of eyes often catches the mistakes that we as the writers miss in our own work. Recently I found two great sites for just that: FanStory and Critique Circle. Each of them allows you to read other's submissions, review books, poems, stories, etc. and submit your own work for review. In addition, if you don't have time to sit at a computer and read others' works, FanStory allows you to print out the pieces. Then later, you can return to the site after having read the work and comment on it.
A few things to know:
1. FanStory does not require you to be a member, but Critique Circle does if you want to submit work (it only takes a few minutes to sign up though don't worry)
2. As with any site on the web, be cautious about material that you post. Anyone can comment on your work, so I would advise you take all comments into consideration, but remember that not everyone who reads your work is your target audience. So don't get discouraged.
3. The sites are very user friendly and full of other writer's who need your help. Even if you don't have something to submit, it could be a great way to get your creative juices flowing and help out a fellow writer in the process.
http://critiquecircle.com
http://www.fanstory.com
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
2008 Presidential Campaigns
The War in Iraq, medical care and insurance, global warming and the search for alternative fuel sources are just a few of the most hotly debated and important issues to Americans. They are surely to be the focus of the upcoming presidential campaign. Each of the presidential candidates has their own ideas of what is best and why they are the best person for the job. Our job as journalists is to take those ideas and present them unbiased to the public so that it can make the most educated decision possible as to who is the best person to lead our country into the future.
In order for us to inform the public about the candidates and campaigns of the 2008 election, it's important for us to know the issues and people as well. Below is a list of the campaign websites for the top candidates in the upcoming election. On their sites you will find messages to the voters, summaries of that candidate's stance on key issues, contact information, the candidate's political and personal biography and more.
Hillary Clinton: http://www.hillaryclinton.com
Barack Obama: http://www.barackobama.com
John Edwards: http://www.johnedwards.com
Rudy Giuliani: http://joinrudy2008.com
John McCain: http://johnmccain.com
In order for us to inform the public about the candidates and campaigns of the 2008 election, it's important for us to know the issues and people as well. Below is a list of the campaign websites for the top candidates in the upcoming election. On their sites you will find messages to the voters, summaries of that candidate's stance on key issues, contact information, the candidate's political and personal biography and more.
Hillary Clinton: http://www.hillaryclinton.com
Barack Obama: http://www.barackobama.com
John Edwards: http://www.johnedwards.com
Rudy Giuliani: http://joinrudy2008.com
John McCain: http://johnmccain.com
Friday, April 13, 2007
What's important to Americans?
A few summers ago I had the opportunity to intern at one of the most prominent market research and polling companies in the business, Zogby International (http://zogby.com). Based in Utica, New York, and with and office in Washington D.C. Zogby polls the country to find out what is important to Americans and what they are talking about now. While all of their polls cannot be accessed without being a client, on their website, there is a section entitled "Trends Over Time" that is quite beneficial.
As journalists, we need to know what is going on in the world, and in our country. What are Americans talking about now? Have our opinions and stances on certain issues evolved or regressed? To answer these questions, Zogby has created a list of questions and issues and taken them to the public. A group of skilled writers and communication specialists create the questions; employees in the call center talk to the people, and the results are complied, analyzed and sent to every major news source in the country.
With such a thorough and unbiased work ethic, who wouldn't want to benefit from such information?
Another important, and more widely known, site used to pick Americans brains is the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov.) Here you can find all the information for the censuses conducted on American households. Information such as annual income, population statistics and racial and ethnic diversities can all be found here. In addition to the reports and statistical information, which can be overwhelming for some, there are maps, charts and graphs to easier illustrate the results.
Recent press releases and news from the bureau can also be access on its site.
As journalists, we need to know what is going on in the world, and in our country. What are Americans talking about now? Have our opinions and stances on certain issues evolved or regressed? To answer these questions, Zogby has created a list of questions and issues and taken them to the public. A group of skilled writers and communication specialists create the questions; employees in the call center talk to the people, and the results are complied, analyzed and sent to every major news source in the country.
With such a thorough and unbiased work ethic, who wouldn't want to benefit from such information?
Another important, and more widely known, site used to pick Americans brains is the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov.) Here you can find all the information for the censuses conducted on American households. Information such as annual income, population statistics and racial and ethnic diversities can all be found here. In addition to the reports and statistical information, which can be overwhelming for some, there are maps, charts and graphs to easier illustrate the results.
Recent press releases and news from the bureau can also be access on its site.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Need a job?
When the time comes each week for me to create a new topic to blog on, sometimes it takes a bit more research to come up with something worthwhile. However, while contemplating this week's blog, I realized that I was completely overlooking the obvious: job sites. As Southern grandmas tend to say, "If it had been a snake it woulda bitten me!"
As a senior about to graduate college, I am scanning the job market daily looking for employment as a journalist in the next month. There are two main sites that I use regularly and have been beneficial in the past when I was in search of an internship or summer job.
The first site is http://www.craigslist.org. Essentially, Craig's list is the Internet version of the classified pages of a newspaper. Anything and everything you could want are listed on CL, including jobs. Whether you are looking for a job in advertising, writing, television, public relations or a myriad of other fields, CL has a section of jobs for you to comb through. Employers form all over the globe post openings on the site on a daily basis. From Madrid to China to Ft. Lauderdale or New York City, there is an individual page for each city.
In addition to having jobs broken down by industry, they are also listed by part-time and full-time. Plus, if you happen to find a job that requires you to relocate, then you can also use CL to find a new home. There is an entire section devoted to apartments, flat-shares, house swaps and roommate searches.
I have used CL for both of these reasons and been very successful on both accounts.
More recently, I was introduced to MediaBistro (http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/). This is THE site for the media industry. Book publishing, PR, television, magazines, newspapers, etc, MediaBistro has it.
Just like CL, the site has new job listings every day. You can even customize your search by city, industry, date of post, full-time, part-time, freelance and internship. Plus, once you sign up for a free membership (which is required to few multiple job postings) you can customize your email settings so that you receive the latest job postings for the industry and location of your choice.
After many hours of combing the web in search of the most valuable media job sites, these two have proved themselves to not only be easiest to use, but also the most relevant.
As a senior about to graduate college, I am scanning the job market daily looking for employment as a journalist in the next month. There are two main sites that I use regularly and have been beneficial in the past when I was in search of an internship or summer job.
The first site is http://www.craigslist.org. Essentially, Craig's list is the Internet version of the classified pages of a newspaper. Anything and everything you could want are listed on CL, including jobs. Whether you are looking for a job in advertising, writing, television, public relations or a myriad of other fields, CL has a section of jobs for you to comb through. Employers form all over the globe post openings on the site on a daily basis. From Madrid to China to Ft. Lauderdale or New York City, there is an individual page for each city.
In addition to having jobs broken down by industry, they are also listed by part-time and full-time. Plus, if you happen to find a job that requires you to relocate, then you can also use CL to find a new home. There is an entire section devoted to apartments, flat-shares, house swaps and roommate searches.
I have used CL for both of these reasons and been very successful on both accounts.
More recently, I was introduced to MediaBistro (http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/). This is THE site for the media industry. Book publishing, PR, television, magazines, newspapers, etc, MediaBistro has it.
Just like CL, the site has new job listings every day. You can even customize your search by city, industry, date of post, full-time, part-time, freelance and internship. Plus, once you sign up for a free membership (which is required to few multiple job postings) you can customize your email settings so that you receive the latest job postings for the industry and location of your choice.
After many hours of combing the web in search of the most valuable media job sites, these two have proved themselves to not only be easiest to use, but also the most relevant.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Money, Money, Money, Money....MONEY!
So much of our world today depends on money. As it's been said, "Money is what makes the world go round." Sad as it may be to admit it, this is a fact that we live with. Business, commerce, stocks and trading are what keep us sustaining and moving forward.
With there being such a focus on business, and for that matter, honest business practices, we as journalists need to have access to the most relevant and up-to-date information about what is going on in the business world. As many may know, public companies, those that have shares traded and managed on the New York Stock Exchange, must file reports quarterly and annually with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, anytime these companies will be talking to analysts about company profits, incoming revenue and stock, it is necessary for them to file these meetings with the SEC. This ensures that the public is aware of these discussion and helps to prevent insider trading. Following these discussions, a report is then written up detailing the information discussed and then filed with the SEC. All of these reports and more can be found on the SEC's website at http://sec.gov.
When it comes to private companies however, getting financial information is not quite as easy. Because these companies only have their stock opened to a select group of people, and not the general public, they are not required to file reports with the SEC. But, it is still possible to find this information simply by going to the company website and looking for it's "Investors" page. Many companies post information about the company and it's financial heading for their investors to see on their website.
Another useful site for any business reporter is Business.com (http://www.business.com). This site is both a search engine and index of all things business. Whether it's advice on how to start a business, a search for a particular business or just information about business in general in today's world, this site can help you access the most relevant information.
It allows you to type in your search criteria or allows you to narrow your search based on its indexed categories. In addition, when clicking on a specific index category, a list of the most popular searches, and links, comes up in addition to the generated results. This can be useful whether you're not exactly sure what you're looking for in a particular category, or you want to find out what others are searching and talking about in the business community.
With there being such a focus on business, and for that matter, honest business practices, we as journalists need to have access to the most relevant and up-to-date information about what is going on in the business world. As many may know, public companies, those that have shares traded and managed on the New York Stock Exchange, must file reports quarterly and annually with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, anytime these companies will be talking to analysts about company profits, incoming revenue and stock, it is necessary for them to file these meetings with the SEC. This ensures that the public is aware of these discussion and helps to prevent insider trading. Following these discussions, a report is then written up detailing the information discussed and then filed with the SEC. All of these reports and more can be found on the SEC's website at http://sec.gov.
When it comes to private companies however, getting financial information is not quite as easy. Because these companies only have their stock opened to a select group of people, and not the general public, they are not required to file reports with the SEC. But, it is still possible to find this information simply by going to the company website and looking for it's "Investors" page. Many companies post information about the company and it's financial heading for their investors to see on their website.
Another useful site for any business reporter is Business.com (http://www.business.com). This site is both a search engine and index of all things business. Whether it's advice on how to start a business, a search for a particular business or just information about business in general in today's world, this site can help you access the most relevant information.
It allows you to type in your search criteria or allows you to narrow your search based on its indexed categories. In addition, when clicking on a specific index category, a list of the most popular searches, and links, comes up in addition to the generated results. This can be useful whether you're not exactly sure what you're looking for in a particular category, or you want to find out what others are searching and talking about in the business community.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
InfoPlease and Book Release information
Recently I was introduced to a site called InfoPlease (http://www.infoplease.com/). It not only contains a keyword search engine and index like many other search sites do, it has a loads of useful information. As their slogan, "All the knowledge you need" states, this site really does deliver an immense amount of information on a variety of subjects.
For example, you can search for statistics and polls (political, population, most popular movies and names etc), look up information on government officials, business reports and more.
The site also has an almanac, encyclopedia, atlas, dictionary and other electronic forms of research tools commonly used. Just think about all of the outlets and types of media you would go to when looking for information, the endless number of websites you could scour and roll them all into one; welcome to InfoPlease.
About.com is becoming a very popular reference site on the web. It has a multitude of information and I highly encourage you to check out all it has to offer, specifically as a more reliable alternative to Wikipedia. However, the section of About that I am most interested right now is the "Bestsellers" book section. Here you can find a database of recently released books organized by month as well upcoming releases with accompanying cover art. As an avid reader, I find this site very useful and as would other readers and journalists as well who are doing book reviews.
You can access this section of About.com directly by going to http://bestsellers.about.com/.
For example, you can search for statistics and polls (political, population, most popular movies and names etc), look up information on government officials, business reports and more.
The site also has an almanac, encyclopedia, atlas, dictionary and other electronic forms of research tools commonly used. Just think about all of the outlets and types of media you would go to when looking for information, the endless number of websites you could scour and roll them all into one; welcome to InfoPlease.
About.com is becoming a very popular reference site on the web. It has a multitude of information and I highly encourage you to check out all it has to offer, specifically as a more reliable alternative to Wikipedia. However, the section of About that I am most interested right now is the "Bestsellers" book section. Here you can find a database of recently released books organized by month as well upcoming releases with accompanying cover art. As an avid reader, I find this site very useful and as would other readers and journalists as well who are doing book reviews.
You can access this section of About.com directly by going to http://bestsellers.about.com/.
Friday, March 9, 2007
D'LUXE Magazine: Assignment 1
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Joshua Kaufman, the Editor-in-Chief of D'LUXE magazine, a new fashion and lifestyle mag here in South Florida. He provided me with a copy of the latest book and I was even more interested in working for him. Luckily, I made a good impression and Josh offered to send a few freelance stories my way.
Due to scheduling conflicts I wasn't able to write the first story he gave me, but the second was just around the corner. Last week I had the chance to sit down and interview Ivonne de la Vega, a coutoure fashion designer based in Ft. Lauderdale. De la Vega was just coming off dressing both Gloria Estefan and Mary Hart for the 79th Annual Academy Awards and was gracious enough to sit down and talk to me. It was definitely an incredibly exciting and memorable experience for me.
My profile on de la Vega will be published in the April/May issue of D'LUXE coming out at the end of this month.
Due to scheduling conflicts I wasn't able to write the first story he gave me, but the second was just around the corner. Last week I had the chance to sit down and interview Ivonne de la Vega, a coutoure fashion designer based in Ft. Lauderdale. De la Vega was just coming off dressing both Gloria Estefan and Mary Hart for the 79th Annual Academy Awards and was gracious enough to sit down and talk to me. It was definitely an incredibly exciting and memorable experience for me.
My profile on de la Vega will be published in the April/May issue of D'LUXE coming out at the end of this month.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Search Engine Spotlight: SuperPages and Ask.com
Powered by Idearc Media, SuperPages is exactly as its name suggests: the super version of the yellow and white pages combined. With its easy to use tabs and a number of listings, SuperPages is easy for anyone to use. When searching for a business, whether by it's name or category, the results include an address, phone number, map (and driving directions if you type in your starting place), website link (if registered) and a business profile. You can find your listing by using the search engine, where you key in your own words to look up, or through the index, entitled "Consumer Center". This feature allows you to narrow down your search, starting with general categories and gradually getting more specific.
Another really helpful feature of this site is that the "People Pages" allow you to find someone by doing a reverse phone number search. So, for example, if you only have a phone number, but do not know or remember the name of who it is, you can enter it into the search engine and it will generate the name of who is registered to that number. Assuming the number isn't unlisted of course. This same feature also allows you get an address for that person and map of the residence or business.
Ask.com, formerly AskJeeves.com, is another very useful search site. While I was less than impressed with the results generated by the main search engine, others I have spoken with are avid users of this site. Therefore, I will leave it up to you to decide if you like it.
However, I will point out, that Ask does have some great features outside of its search engine. Some of these include a currency converter, weather reports, blog and podcast searches, city maps and directories, images, current news from a variety of top journalism outlets and much more. The variety of tailored searches, that are EASY to use, on this site are enough to make me want to frequent it more often.
One of my favorite aspects of Ask.com though is its site preview feature. When the results of your search are listed, many if not all, have a little set of binoculars underneath the link to the site. By rolling your mouse over them, you are given a preview of that website without leaving the search engine. This way you can easily see if that listing is what you are looking for without having to waste time clicking on each result and using your browser's "Back" button to check out the next one.
SuperPages is located at http://www.superpages.com/.
Ask is located at http://www.ask.com/.
Another really helpful feature of this site is that the "People Pages" allow you to find someone by doing a reverse phone number search. So, for example, if you only have a phone number, but do not know or remember the name of who it is, you can enter it into the search engine and it will generate the name of who is registered to that number. Assuming the number isn't unlisted of course. This same feature also allows you get an address for that person and map of the residence or business.
Ask.com, formerly AskJeeves.com, is another very useful search site. While I was less than impressed with the results generated by the main search engine, others I have spoken with are avid users of this site. Therefore, I will leave it up to you to decide if you like it.
However, I will point out, that Ask does have some great features outside of its search engine. Some of these include a currency converter, weather reports, blog and podcast searches, city maps and directories, images, current news from a variety of top journalism outlets and much more. The variety of tailored searches, that are EASY to use, on this site are enough to make me want to frequent it more often.
One of my favorite aspects of Ask.com though is its site preview feature. When the results of your search are listed, many if not all, have a little set of binoculars underneath the link to the site. By rolling your mouse over them, you are given a preview of that website without leaving the search engine. This way you can easily see if that listing is what you are looking for without having to waste time clicking on each result and using your browser's "Back" button to check out the next one.
SuperPages is located at http://www.superpages.com/.
Ask is located at http://www.ask.com/.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
A Discussion with President Bill Clinton
On Thursday, March 1, former President Bill Clinton stopped by the University of Miami's Coral Gables campus to speak to members of the university community. As it was a closed event, only university staff, faculty, students and alumni were provided with tickets to attend. Perhaps the most visible person in attendance, besides Mr. Clinton himself of course, and UM President Donna Shalala was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Flashbulbs illuminated the Bank United Center upon his entrance and didn't stop until 10 minutes after the President began his speech.
Due to time constraints, President Clinton announced gave what he said was an abbreviated version of his normal speech. He began by saying, "I believe every responsible citizen must be able to ask and answer five simple questions." They are as follows:
1. What is the fundamental character of the 21st century?
Clinton: Interdependence
2. Is it a good or a bad thing?
Clinton*: Both. The ways that it is good are self-evident. Just look at this crowd here. The UM student body is more diverse that it was 30 years ago. The result of that diversity is a better audience to speak to. There are three reasons why it's bad: a) it's unequal (half the world is poor, 1 billion people have no clean water etc.), b) it's unstable (we're vulnerable to disease, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism etc), c) current world is unsustainable (with the way our climate is changing, people are depleting our natural resources)
3. How should we change it?
Clinton*: Work from interdependence to integrated community on the local, national and international scales. Share the opportunities and responsibilities of keeping our world alive and thriving. We should embrace the simple idea that the differences between us are interesting, but our shared humanity matters more.
4. How do we do that?
Clinton*: We need a new security policy, to push diplomacy ("It's not possible to jail, kill or occupy all of our adversaries"), stress cooperation and improve at home (policies, standards etc).
5. Who's supposed to do all this?
Clinton*: "We ALL have to do something." Government is important, but we need more aggressive policies. Policies like more efficient energy sources so we can reduce the damage that global warming is doing to our planet.
Clinton then continued to speak for 15 minutes on the change his life has taken since leaving the White House (going from politician to private citizen), his personal views on what he would do to if he were still president and his current public policy endeavors.
Following his speech, there was a short question and answer session facilitated by President Shalala. Questions were submitted by students and selected prior to the event.
Overall, I thought it was a great experience to hear such a great president speak about the state of the world today, after he's left office. However, his speech was riding on the coattails of Al Gore and unfortunately seemed to fall a little flat in comparison. Nonetheless, he is still President Bill Clinton, and I personally hope not the last Clinton we will see in the White House.
*Denotes paraphrasing of Clinton’s words.
Due to time constraints, President Clinton announced gave what he said was an abbreviated version of his normal speech. He began by saying, "I believe every responsible citizen must be able to ask and answer five simple questions." They are as follows:
1. What is the fundamental character of the 21st century?
Clinton: Interdependence
2. Is it a good or a bad thing?
Clinton*: Both. The ways that it is good are self-evident. Just look at this crowd here. The UM student body is more diverse that it was 30 years ago. The result of that diversity is a better audience to speak to. There are three reasons why it's bad: a) it's unequal (half the world is poor, 1 billion people have no clean water etc.), b) it's unstable (we're vulnerable to disease, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism etc), c) current world is unsustainable (with the way our climate is changing, people are depleting our natural resources)
3. How should we change it?
Clinton*: Work from interdependence to integrated community on the local, national and international scales. Share the opportunities and responsibilities of keeping our world alive and thriving. We should embrace the simple idea that the differences between us are interesting, but our shared humanity matters more.
4. How do we do that?
Clinton*: We need a new security policy, to push diplomacy ("It's not possible to jail, kill or occupy all of our adversaries"), stress cooperation and improve at home (policies, standards etc).
5. Who's supposed to do all this?
Clinton*: "We ALL have to do something." Government is important, but we need more aggressive policies. Policies like more efficient energy sources so we can reduce the damage that global warming is doing to our planet.
Clinton then continued to speak for 15 minutes on the change his life has taken since leaving the White House (going from politician to private citizen), his personal views on what he would do to if he were still president and his current public policy endeavors.
Following his speech, there was a short question and answer session facilitated by President Shalala. Questions were submitted by students and selected prior to the event.
Overall, I thought it was a great experience to hear such a great president speak about the state of the world today, after he's left office. However, his speech was riding on the coattails of Al Gore and unfortunately seemed to fall a little flat in comparison. Nonetheless, he is still President Bill Clinton, and I personally hope not the last Clinton we will see in the White House.
*Denotes paraphrasing of Clinton’s words.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
An Evening with Al Gore
"I am Al Gore and I used to be the next president of the United States." With an opening like that, Gore automatically brought the audience to his side. Whether Democrat or Republican, one couldn't help but to find the humor in what was such a controversial election as was held in 2000.
Since is unsuccessful presidential race, Gore has become the public face of global warming. Though the environment and its well being was a large part of the work he did while in the office of Vice President, it is his recent movie and lectures entitled "An Inconvenient Truth" that have really brought the issue to the forefront of the news. Global warming is no longer something we as citizens of this planet can ignore. It's an issue that no matter your religious beliefs, politics or nationality, affects us ALL. Therefore it is up to all of us to do something to change the dismal future we are headed towards.
During his one and three quarter-hour presentation at the Bank United Center on the University of Miami's Cora Gables campus, Gore presented his slideshow "An Inconvenient Truth"; the same presentation that was done in the movie of the same title, with a few updates to include the most recent information. The damage that we are doing to our planet is astonishing and Mr. Gore illustrated that clearly with graphs, diagrams and illustrations. The subject of global warming is one that is very scientific and sometimes difficult to understand. Even so, Gore has found a way to combine the science and fact of the matter with a sense of humor and candor that makes it easy to understand, not to mention enjoyable.
When Gore made is final points and the lights finally rose, I, along with many other attendees, were shocked at how quickly time had passed. Gore had engaged and enamored his audience to the point that the length of the presentation, though longer than intended, was no longer an issue. It was the topic at hand that took precedent.
Following his presentation, Mr. Gore took questions from the audience. As could have been anticipated by many, the question of whether he would consider another run for the presidency arose. To my dismay, as I am a huge supporter of Mr. Gore and his efforts to help the environment, he confirmed that politics is no longer on his agenda. He stated that he was flattered by the desire expressed by so many, but that he had found another path and was enjoying the work he was currently doing.
If you'd like to learn more about global warming, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website at: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/. In addition, information on Al Gore and his presentation "An Inconvenient Truth" can be found at http://www.climatecrisis.net/.
If you have not seen the movie, a recent Academy Award winner, I implore you to make the effort to do so. Though global warming is a large issue, there are many things we as individuals can do to make a difference. The first step is to become educated, so go to your nearest video store and rent the movie that has affect so many people and policies already. Then head to the polls next December and cast your vote for the candidate with the clearest, most realistic policies in regards to energy efficiency. This is an issue that touches us and can no longer afford to be ignored.
Since is unsuccessful presidential race, Gore has become the public face of global warming. Though the environment and its well being was a large part of the work he did while in the office of Vice President, it is his recent movie and lectures entitled "An Inconvenient Truth" that have really brought the issue to the forefront of the news. Global warming is no longer something we as citizens of this planet can ignore. It's an issue that no matter your religious beliefs, politics or nationality, affects us ALL. Therefore it is up to all of us to do something to change the dismal future we are headed towards.
During his one and three quarter-hour presentation at the Bank United Center on the University of Miami's Cora Gables campus, Gore presented his slideshow "An Inconvenient Truth"; the same presentation that was done in the movie of the same title, with a few updates to include the most recent information. The damage that we are doing to our planet is astonishing and Mr. Gore illustrated that clearly with graphs, diagrams and illustrations. The subject of global warming is one that is very scientific and sometimes difficult to understand. Even so, Gore has found a way to combine the science and fact of the matter with a sense of humor and candor that makes it easy to understand, not to mention enjoyable.
When Gore made is final points and the lights finally rose, I, along with many other attendees, were shocked at how quickly time had passed. Gore had engaged and enamored his audience to the point that the length of the presentation, though longer than intended, was no longer an issue. It was the topic at hand that took precedent.
Following his presentation, Mr. Gore took questions from the audience. As could have been anticipated by many, the question of whether he would consider another run for the presidency arose. To my dismay, as I am a huge supporter of Mr. Gore and his efforts to help the environment, he confirmed that politics is no longer on his agenda. He stated that he was flattered by the desire expressed by so many, but that he had found another path and was enjoying the work he was currently doing.
If you'd like to learn more about global warming, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website at: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/. In addition, information on Al Gore and his presentation "An Inconvenient Truth" can be found at http://www.climatecrisis.net/.
If you have not seen the movie, a recent Academy Award winner, I implore you to make the effort to do so. Though global warming is a large issue, there are many things we as individuals can do to make a difference. The first step is to become educated, so go to your nearest video store and rent the movie that has affect so many people and policies already. Then head to the polls next December and cast your vote for the candidate with the clearest, most realistic policies in regards to energy efficiency. This is an issue that touches us and can no longer afford to be ignored.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Communication Week 2007, Part II
The second panel I attended for COM Week was entitled, "Courtrooms and Newsrooms: Exploring the Line Between Law and Journalistic Ethics - Is Our Legal System At War With the First Amendment?" The discussion was moderated by Sam Terilli, a practicing lawyer and the best professor the University of Miami has, in my opinion at least. While the panelists started out on track, with debate over the antics portrayed by the judge in the Anna Nicole Smith body-custody case, it quickly veered off. Soon, courtrooms didn't seem to have a place in their talks and it was more focused on simply ethics and the media in general.
Being a student in a class that discusses just that on a weekly basis, I was particularly interested to see what a panel of lawyers thought about ethics in regards to the media. They confirmed just what I suspected: when it comes to ethics, they as lawyers are not there to judge. Their role is to tell the media outlet whether running a particular story is LEGAL, not whether it is ethical or not. The ethics of the matter is then left to be determined by the editor, producer or writer of the story.
Overall, I thought it was interesting to listen to a group of lawyers sit around and discuss ethics when it isn't exactly something they are known for. However, there was one panelist, who will remain nameless (but could be recognized by anyone who attended the session), who was positively BORING. Never have I heard one person ramble so much about absolutely nothing! It is sad to say, considering the other great minds that sat on the panel with him, but this gentleman stole the focus and unfortunately left the audience a bit disenchanted.
Being a student in a class that discusses just that on a weekly basis, I was particularly interested to see what a panel of lawyers thought about ethics in regards to the media. They confirmed just what I suspected: when it comes to ethics, they as lawyers are not there to judge. Their role is to tell the media outlet whether running a particular story is LEGAL, not whether it is ethical or not. The ethics of the matter is then left to be determined by the editor, producer or writer of the story.
Overall, I thought it was interesting to listen to a group of lawyers sit around and discuss ethics when it isn't exactly something they are known for. However, there was one panelist, who will remain nameless (but could be recognized by anyone who attended the session), who was positively BORING. Never have I heard one person ramble so much about absolutely nothing! It is sad to say, considering the other great minds that sat on the panel with him, but this gentleman stole the focus and unfortunately left the audience a bit disenchanted.
Communication Week 2007, Part I
This past week at the UM School of Communications it was Communication Week. During this week event, there are different panels and discussions that students can attend all related to the different fields of communication. The first of two discussions I attended was one entitled, "Integrating into the Public Relations Profession". This panel consisted of a group of four UM graduates, at different stages in their careers, coming to speak with students about their experiences in PR.
Each panelist graduated at different year from UM, giving students a broader idea of the directions a career in public relations could take. They talked about thier own experiences of how they got into the field and advice they had for those seeking to pursue the same career. Much of the advice was all things I have previously been told, but would be truly helpful to those just beginning to think about PR. Advice like to be assertive and make your voice heard in your firm--you have a better chance of getting more responsibility this way--and to keep your options open and be willing to learn from others.
However, the common theme running through the discussion was to get an internship early and build your experience base. Each of the panelists stressed how important it was to get experience in the field. For many, it can make the difference as to whether you are hired for a position or not. Education is important, but if have no real-life experience in the field, then you could be passed over for someone else.
Overall, for the novice interested in a job in public relations, I thought this panel was very educated, experienced and helpful.
Each panelist graduated at different year from UM, giving students a broader idea of the directions a career in public relations could take. They talked about thier own experiences of how they got into the field and advice they had for those seeking to pursue the same career. Much of the advice was all things I have previously been told, but would be truly helpful to those just beginning to think about PR. Advice like to be assertive and make your voice heard in your firm--you have a better chance of getting more responsibility this way--and to keep your options open and be willing to learn from others.
However, the common theme running through the discussion was to get an internship early and build your experience base. Each of the panelists stressed how important it was to get experience in the field. For many, it can make the difference as to whether you are hired for a position or not. Education is important, but if have no real-life experience in the field, then you could be passed over for someone else.
Overall, for the novice interested in a job in public relations, I thought this panel was very educated, experienced and helpful.
Coming Soon: Clinton and Gore
Just wanted to give you a heads-up that next week I will be attending speeches by both Al Gore and former president Bill Clinton. They will speaking here at UM on February 28 and March 1, respectively. Look forward to my posts that recap each of the events. Al Gore in particular, speaking on his documentary An Inconvenient Truth and the state of our planet, should be particularly interesting. I can't wait!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Real Estate Info
So I was just introduced to this recently, but if you're interested in real estate information (i.e. sale prices, appraisal value, land size, taxes etc) then there are two great sites you can check out.
1. Zillow (www.zillow.com). It's really easy to use and full of information relevant on both privately and business owned real estate. One word of caution: currrently the site does not support the Safari browser on Macs, so if you are a Mac user, you'll need to download Firefox to access Zillow.
2. Portico (http://indorgs.virginia.edu/portico/personalproperty.html). This site is my personal favorite. You start by choosing the state you want to access property infomation in, then just follow the step-by-step set-up as you narrow your search down. When you are within the correct county or parrish, you are directed to the appropriate government website that holds the public records for that area. There you can choose to search by property owner's name, business name, address or even tax bill number.
Two great resources for real estate info.
1. Zillow (www.zillow.com). It's really easy to use and full of information relevant on both privately and business owned real estate. One word of caution: currrently the site does not support the Safari browser on Macs, so if you are a Mac user, you'll need to download Firefox to access Zillow.
2. Portico (http://indorgs.virginia.edu/portico/personalproperty.html). This site is my personal favorite. You start by choosing the state you want to access property infomation in, then just follow the step-by-step set-up as you narrow your search down. When you are within the correct county or parrish, you are directed to the appropriate government website that holds the public records for that area. There you can choose to search by property owner's name, business name, address or even tax bill number.
Two great resources for real estate info.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Taking a European Coach Tour
When it comes to vacations, everyone is always looking for something fun, new and exciting. But everyone in the group wants to go to different places. How are you to solve this problem? One option is to take a coach tour around Europe and hit all of your group’s favorite spots in one trip. With new companies popping up all over, Europe, the choices for places to visit are endless. So whether you’re a student ready to see the world or a family looking for a bit of adventure, a coach tour may be your hassle free answer to fun and culture.
“My tour was amazing. It let you focus on all the fabulous things you were seeing instead of worrying about how to get around or how you were going to eat or where you were going to sleep,” said Sarah Erhardt, 21, a study abroad student who took a Contiki Tour in April.
Last April, I got the chance to take one of these trips. In 15 days, I visited six different countries and had the time of my life. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I would recommend to anyone who loves to travel. In order to make your travel experience easier, there are a few things to remember:
Make a plan before booking a trip. It’s important to decide first where you want to go and what you want to see before booking your tour. Do you want to spend a day or two in numerous different cities across Europe, or do you want to take your time and explore each one more thoroughly? This is an important question to ask yourself in that there are a variety of tours out there to choose from. When you have a better idea of the type of vacation you want, and what you where you want to visit, it will make narrowing down the options much easier.
Also, decide on how many days you want to travel. Groups such as Contiki and Global Coach Tours have a variety of trip lengths available. There are weekend, seven-day, 14-day and month-long trips available among others, depending on the type of adventure you are after.
“There were a lot of different places we wanted to see and we figured that if everything was already organized it would be much easier to go everywhere with the time we had. We were right, we made it to six countries in 15 days and have some crazy, ridiculous adventures to remember it all by,” Erhardt said of her experience.
Once your trip is booked, it is time to look at the excursions offered on your tour. Most tour companies have a few city tours built into the cost of the trip. Additionally, there are also a variety of other outings that you can participate in for an additional fee. On Contiki’s European Whirl tour, a 17-day trip to six countries, each city offers a different optional event. While in Venice, you can take a gondola ride along the city’s canals, or take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is often beneficial to take advantage of these group excursions in that the costs are usually less for large group bookings.
However, before you decide to book yourself on each of these offered trips, talk to others who have gone on the tour. Many company websites have message boards where travelers can post their opinions, advice and comments regarding their trip. Also, check out Myspace.com and Facebook.com. Both of these online social databases have become increasingly widespread with memberships over seven million users each.
But with so many users, how are you to find someone who has taken your trip? Simple, just do a search for you tour company and see if they have a page set up. Since the expanse and growing popularity of these sights, many businesses are taking note and joining their online communities.
Here is your direct pass to access members of their groups of whom you can contact for information. Ask them questions: what tours should I take? Is there anything that you particularly disliked? An excursion not worth the money you paid? Something I definitely should not miss? These are all important questions to help you determine what the best way to spend your time is.
After going on my Contiki trip, and joining the Contiki Facebook group, a girl from contacted me across the country that was getting ready to go on the same tour I had taken. Through this vein I was able to give her the helpful tips I had learned while traveling.
If group outings are not what you have in mind though, do some research before you leave on each city you will be visiting. There are a variety of travel guides, Lonely Planet and Frommer’s for example, that cover all of the information that travelers want to know about many cities all over the world. This will help you to be a better-prepared traveler and able to plan your days in each city ensuring you make the most of your time.
At the top of most people’s lists when traveling is shopping. Indeed, half the fun of traveling for many is finding the unique, cultural items they acquire while on their trip. Since a coach tour will take you to multiple cities and cultures, lots of shopping expeditions, at least for most people, are bound to be on your itinerary.
With that said, it is important to set a budget. After all, you do not want to spend 300 Euros on that leather bag in Florence, when you’ve still got another week and half of traveling, eating and shopping to do. Find out if the cities you will be visiting specialize in any type of craft. For example, Germany is known for its ceramic beer steins, Venice for its lace and crystal, and Florence, as mentioned earlier, for its leather. This way you will know what you want to save for along your trip.
“Don’t forget you have to tip your driver and tour leader,” advises Erhardt,. “The bank will only let you withdraw a certain amount of cash each day, so plan ahead.”
Next up is nightlife. Since your days are now scheduled with tours, wandering around the city, shopping and like, it is time to look at your evenings. Are you looking to dance the night away in a club? Or do a few beers in a local pub sound more your speed? Many larger European cities, such as London, Paris, Munich and Rome are recognized for their exciting nightlife. But, each of these, as most of Europe, has many different types of nightlife. Some cities specialize in pubs, more low-key types of bars, while others have high-energy, music-thumping discos. Here is another time where a travel guide will come in handy. Look up the types of nightlife in the cities you will be visiting and gauge what you may be interested in.
When it comes to packing your clothes, BE VERSATILE! Versatility in clothing is a mandate for any traveler, particularly if your coach tour is a longer one. Due to the number of passengers and the storage available on the coach, tour companies put a limit on the size and weight of your luggage. As a result, packing can become a bit difficult.
When attempting to pack, many times I turn to my brother, the fashion know-it-all, for help. His best advice has always been, “Dress in layers and take clothes that transition easily from day to evening.”
This way, no matter the changes in weather you may incur traveling from northern to southern Europe, you will be comfortable. T-shirts, polo shirts, lightweight materials, sweaters, button-down shirts for the men and dresses for the ladies are a good start. In addition, pay attention to dress codes for the country and places you will be visiting. Some cultures have different ideas of what is appropriate dress for men and women that we do in the United States.
For instance, wearing open toed shoes and having exposed shoulders is considered offensive in churches across Europe and particularly at the Vatican in Vatican City. Take that into consideration when packing, as you do not want to miss out on an experience because of unacceptable clothing.
Choose clothes that pack easily and don’t need to be ironed or hung up, as hangers are not always available on some of the camping tours. At the same time, bring a variety of styles so that if you find yourself in a cabaret in Paris, a pub in London or St. Peter’s Basilica you will always be dressed appropriately.
Make sure when you’re packing to leave room for souvenirs. While some shops will ship your purchases home for you at a set fee, many will not so it’s important ot leave room for them in your luggage.
Adele Holmes, 27, a Contiki tour leader reminded those on my trip to remember to save space for all that they’ll be buying.
“I tell all of my tours ‘this may be your only time here, so just buy it!’ After a while some learn not to ask me for advice on purchases if they want to save money,” she said.
Finally, remember your camera, and film if necessary. If taking a longer trip, a worry of many travelers is that they will fill up the memory card on their digital cameras. However, this is not something you need to worry about. In many European cities, there are internet cafes and photo shops that allow you, for a small fee, to download your pictures onto a CD. This way, you’ll never have to skimp on taking pictures and will still be able to fully document your European adventure.
Happy traveling!
“My tour was amazing. It let you focus on all the fabulous things you were seeing instead of worrying about how to get around or how you were going to eat or where you were going to sleep,” said Sarah Erhardt, 21, a study abroad student who took a Contiki Tour in April.
Last April, I got the chance to take one of these trips. In 15 days, I visited six different countries and had the time of my life. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I would recommend to anyone who loves to travel. In order to make your travel experience easier, there are a few things to remember:
Make a plan before booking a trip. It’s important to decide first where you want to go and what you want to see before booking your tour. Do you want to spend a day or two in numerous different cities across Europe, or do you want to take your time and explore each one more thoroughly? This is an important question to ask yourself in that there are a variety of tours out there to choose from. When you have a better idea of the type of vacation you want, and what you where you want to visit, it will make narrowing down the options much easier.
Also, decide on how many days you want to travel. Groups such as Contiki and Global Coach Tours have a variety of trip lengths available. There are weekend, seven-day, 14-day and month-long trips available among others, depending on the type of adventure you are after.
“There were a lot of different places we wanted to see and we figured that if everything was already organized it would be much easier to go everywhere with the time we had. We were right, we made it to six countries in 15 days and have some crazy, ridiculous adventures to remember it all by,” Erhardt said of her experience.
Once your trip is booked, it is time to look at the excursions offered on your tour. Most tour companies have a few city tours built into the cost of the trip. Additionally, there are also a variety of other outings that you can participate in for an additional fee. On Contiki’s European Whirl tour, a 17-day trip to six countries, each city offers a different optional event. While in Venice, you can take a gondola ride along the city’s canals, or take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is often beneficial to take advantage of these group excursions in that the costs are usually less for large group bookings.
However, before you decide to book yourself on each of these offered trips, talk to others who have gone on the tour. Many company websites have message boards where travelers can post their opinions, advice and comments regarding their trip. Also, check out Myspace.com and Facebook.com. Both of these online social databases have become increasingly widespread with memberships over seven million users each.
But with so many users, how are you to find someone who has taken your trip? Simple, just do a search for you tour company and see if they have a page set up. Since the expanse and growing popularity of these sights, many businesses are taking note and joining their online communities.
Here is your direct pass to access members of their groups of whom you can contact for information. Ask them questions: what tours should I take? Is there anything that you particularly disliked? An excursion not worth the money you paid? Something I definitely should not miss? These are all important questions to help you determine what the best way to spend your time is.
After going on my Contiki trip, and joining the Contiki Facebook group, a girl from contacted me across the country that was getting ready to go on the same tour I had taken. Through this vein I was able to give her the helpful tips I had learned while traveling.
If group outings are not what you have in mind though, do some research before you leave on each city you will be visiting. There are a variety of travel guides, Lonely Planet and Frommer’s for example, that cover all of the information that travelers want to know about many cities all over the world. This will help you to be a better-prepared traveler and able to plan your days in each city ensuring you make the most of your time.
At the top of most people’s lists when traveling is shopping. Indeed, half the fun of traveling for many is finding the unique, cultural items they acquire while on their trip. Since a coach tour will take you to multiple cities and cultures, lots of shopping expeditions, at least for most people, are bound to be on your itinerary.
With that said, it is important to set a budget. After all, you do not want to spend 300 Euros on that leather bag in Florence, when you’ve still got another week and half of traveling, eating and shopping to do. Find out if the cities you will be visiting specialize in any type of craft. For example, Germany is known for its ceramic beer steins, Venice for its lace and crystal, and Florence, as mentioned earlier, for its leather. This way you will know what you want to save for along your trip.
“Don’t forget you have to tip your driver and tour leader,” advises Erhardt,. “The bank will only let you withdraw a certain amount of cash each day, so plan ahead.”
Next up is nightlife. Since your days are now scheduled with tours, wandering around the city, shopping and like, it is time to look at your evenings. Are you looking to dance the night away in a club? Or do a few beers in a local pub sound more your speed? Many larger European cities, such as London, Paris, Munich and Rome are recognized for their exciting nightlife. But, each of these, as most of Europe, has many different types of nightlife. Some cities specialize in pubs, more low-key types of bars, while others have high-energy, music-thumping discos. Here is another time where a travel guide will come in handy. Look up the types of nightlife in the cities you will be visiting and gauge what you may be interested in.
When it comes to packing your clothes, BE VERSATILE! Versatility in clothing is a mandate for any traveler, particularly if your coach tour is a longer one. Due to the number of passengers and the storage available on the coach, tour companies put a limit on the size and weight of your luggage. As a result, packing can become a bit difficult.
When attempting to pack, many times I turn to my brother, the fashion know-it-all, for help. His best advice has always been, “Dress in layers and take clothes that transition easily from day to evening.”
This way, no matter the changes in weather you may incur traveling from northern to southern Europe, you will be comfortable. T-shirts, polo shirts, lightweight materials, sweaters, button-down shirts for the men and dresses for the ladies are a good start. In addition, pay attention to dress codes for the country and places you will be visiting. Some cultures have different ideas of what is appropriate dress for men and women that we do in the United States.
For instance, wearing open toed shoes and having exposed shoulders is considered offensive in churches across Europe and particularly at the Vatican in Vatican City. Take that into consideration when packing, as you do not want to miss out on an experience because of unacceptable clothing.
Choose clothes that pack easily and don’t need to be ironed or hung up, as hangers are not always available on some of the camping tours. At the same time, bring a variety of styles so that if you find yourself in a cabaret in Paris, a pub in London or St. Peter’s Basilica you will always be dressed appropriately.
Make sure when you’re packing to leave room for souvenirs. While some shops will ship your purchases home for you at a set fee, many will not so it’s important ot leave room for them in your luggage.
Adele Holmes, 27, a Contiki tour leader reminded those on my trip to remember to save space for all that they’ll be buying.
“I tell all of my tours ‘this may be your only time here, so just buy it!’ After a while some learn not to ask me for advice on purchases if they want to save money,” she said.
Finally, remember your camera, and film if necessary. If taking a longer trip, a worry of many travelers is that they will fill up the memory card on their digital cameras. However, this is not something you need to worry about. In many European cities, there are internet cafes and photo shops that allow you, for a small fee, to download your pictures onto a CD. This way, you’ll never have to skimp on taking pictures and will still be able to fully document your European adventure.
Happy traveling!
Coconut Grove: The Jewel of Miami
Beyond the sun and sand of South Beach, the clubs of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue and the businesses of Downtown Miami lay Coconut Grove. Tucked away south of the city and just north of Coral Gables on Biscayne Bay, “The Grove” as it is known by locals, is a spot that shouldn’t be missed by anyone traveling to South Florida.
As you drive down Grand Avenue, cutting through the main section of Coconut Grove, you are immediately bombarded by the exciting atmosphere that makes the Grove so special. During the day, women are shopping in the many stores offered in and around CocoWalk, men make their way to catch the latest sports event over at Sandbar Sports Grill, children enjoy a milkshake at Johnny Rocket’s Diner and boat owners dock in the harbor to catch a bite to eat at Monty’s Stone Crab and Seafood Restaurant.
And then the sun sets and the Grove comes alive with an all new type of energy. The nightlife of Coconut Grove begins to take over. Men and women, both dressed-to-impress, are on the street making their way to their favorite watering hole for a few drinks and some dancing, families are enjoying dinner at one of the local restaurants, couples are watching a beautiful sunset over the bay and others are sitting back taking in the excitement that is unfolding before them.
Settled in 1834 by Bahamian seamen, the Grove is now home to many restaurants, shops, hotels, nightlife, art museums and Miami culture. Whether you are looking for a great seafood spot, a family friendly atmosphere or cultural flair, Coconut Grove has a restaurant to meet your needs. Situated on Biscayne Bay, Monty’s Stone Crab and Seafood Restaurant offers an array of seafood dishes to suit anyone’s taste. The menu features all-you-can-eat stone crabs, peel & eat shrimp and a variety of other seafood dishes. Favored by locals and tourists alike, Monty’s has both indoor and outdoor seating. So whether you want some relief from Miami’s heat or want to take in a sunset under a tiki hut, Monty’s can accommodate you. While enjoying your food, you could end up swaying to the beat as live music is often played here.
“I think the music is really fun and it really compliments the atmosphere,” Zoe Schwartz, 20.
However, if seafood is not what you are after, you may prefer to go cultural and stop over at Café Tu Tu Tango. One of three main restaurants in CocoWalk, Café Tu Tu Tango’s menu features a variety of exotic cuisine served tapas-style. Run under the philosophy “Great food, like great art, was meant to be shared,” all food portions are miniature sized to allow patrons to share and sample all that the restaurant has to offer. Live entertainment is also often present as local artists paint their masterpieces right next to your table.
Right across the breezeway from Café Tu Tu Tango is The Cheesecake Factory. Created by Oscar and Evelyn Overton, it is renowned for its numerous varieties of cheesecake. The lunch and dinner menu offers over 200 selections to suite everyone’s cravings including salads, pastas, pizzas, seafood, steaks, sandwiches and many more. The featured dishes are Chicken Madeira, Cajun Jambalaya Pasta, Miso Salmon and The Factory Burger. But don’t fill up on your main course, because The Cheesecake Factory has 50 different flavors of luxury cheesecakes to choose from. Some favorites include Dulce de Leche Caramel, Oreo, Chocolate Mousse and the classic Original cheesecake. For anyone who’s a strawberry lover, you must try the Fresh Strawberry cheesecake on your visit; it has been the most popular cheesecake there for 28 years.
“The cheesecake is phenomenal. I’ve tried a million different flavors and they are all good,” says Rachel Ewy, 19, a student from Naples.
While you let your food digest, before a night on the town, why not catch a movie at AMC CocoWalk or stop into some of the shops situated around the CocoWalk for some retail therapy? With numerous movie screens, AMC shows all of the latest releases in a cool, relaxed theater.
The Grove’s retail economy caters to a wide variety of customers. There is Maui Nix Surf Shop for the surfers, Coco Cigar for the cigar connoisseur, Victoria’s Secret and White House Black Market for the women, FYE Music for the whole family plus many more options for everyone else in between.
After some great food and a shopping expedition, you are bound to need a little rest. By checking into one of the numerous hotels in the area, you can catch a few Zs before getting ready to sample the nightlife of the Grove. There are a variety of two through five star hotels around the Grove including the DoubleTree, Wyndham Grand Bay, Hampton Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Residence Inn, Sonesta Hotel and Suites and the Commodore Inn. Prices range from approximately $140 a night at the Commodore to $320 a night at the Ritz-Carlton.
Now that you are rested and dressed-to-impress, it’s time to hit the town. First stop is Fat Tuesdays, located on the second floor of CocoWalk in between The Cheesecake Factory and Café Tu Tu Tango. Here you can sample one of their signature frozen drinks while enjoying the lively atmosphere of this open air bar.
From there, head over to the Coconut Grove Playhouse or Improv Comedy Club. Host to many nationally known comics, the Improv is sure to deliver few side-splitting laughs before you venture back out onto Grand Avenue.
When the act is over, take your party down to Sandbar Sports Grill. During the day, Sandbar is a fun spot to watch your favorite sports team play while enjoying some good old fashioned American cooking. Come night time though, the tables are cleared away to make a dance floor and the music is pumped up, converting this restaurant into a happening hot spot for many 20-somethings in Miami. DJs spinning all of today’s hits on request keep the dance floor moving until close.
“Sandbar is definitely the place to be on a Friday night,” says Paul Bonitz, 22.
Then it’s time to head over to Mr. Moe’s Restaurant & Bar to close the night. Open until 5:00 am, “Moe’s” features Karaoke Tuesdays, Bull Riding Wednesdays and Live music all weekend on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It also offers drink promotions during happy hour and special events. With a log cabin décor, renowned American cuisine, 32 flat screen TVs, a 95-foot long bar, arcade games and pool tables, Moe’s keeps the party going until sunrise.
After a day of movies, shopping, local food and an exciting night out, a relaxing day is sure to be called for. If being pampered is your idea of relaxing, stop over at the TanSolaire Body Spa and book a few treatments to help you drift away. However, visiting a museum and taking in some local flavor may be more your speed. If this is the case, be sure you don’t miss the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Built by James Deering, an agricultural industrialist, the property includes a house filled with art and furnishings and 10 acres of garden. You may also want to venture on to the Barnacle Historic State Park and the Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium before leaving the area.
No matter what your interests, Coconut Grove has something to offer you. Situated just south of downtown Miami, the Grove sits on the shores of Biscayne Bay and is home to a variety of restaurants, shops, hotels, nightlife, museums and Miami flair. Eat at Café Tu Tu Tango, shop at Koko & Palenki, see a show at the Coconut Grove Playhouse and enjoy a frozen Margarita at Fat Tuesdays. Sample it all! But definitely make sure to check out Coconut Grove on your next visit to South Florida. It really is a jewel not to be missed.
As you drive down Grand Avenue, cutting through the main section of Coconut Grove, you are immediately bombarded by the exciting atmosphere that makes the Grove so special. During the day, women are shopping in the many stores offered in and around CocoWalk, men make their way to catch the latest sports event over at Sandbar Sports Grill, children enjoy a milkshake at Johnny Rocket’s Diner and boat owners dock in the harbor to catch a bite to eat at Monty’s Stone Crab and Seafood Restaurant.
And then the sun sets and the Grove comes alive with an all new type of energy. The nightlife of Coconut Grove begins to take over. Men and women, both dressed-to-impress, are on the street making their way to their favorite watering hole for a few drinks and some dancing, families are enjoying dinner at one of the local restaurants, couples are watching a beautiful sunset over the bay and others are sitting back taking in the excitement that is unfolding before them.
Settled in 1834 by Bahamian seamen, the Grove is now home to many restaurants, shops, hotels, nightlife, art museums and Miami culture. Whether you are looking for a great seafood spot, a family friendly atmosphere or cultural flair, Coconut Grove has a restaurant to meet your needs. Situated on Biscayne Bay, Monty’s Stone Crab and Seafood Restaurant offers an array of seafood dishes to suit anyone’s taste. The menu features all-you-can-eat stone crabs, peel & eat shrimp and a variety of other seafood dishes. Favored by locals and tourists alike, Monty’s has both indoor and outdoor seating. So whether you want some relief from Miami’s heat or want to take in a sunset under a tiki hut, Monty’s can accommodate you. While enjoying your food, you could end up swaying to the beat as live music is often played here.
“I think the music is really fun and it really compliments the atmosphere,” Zoe Schwartz, 20.
However, if seafood is not what you are after, you may prefer to go cultural and stop over at Café Tu Tu Tango. One of three main restaurants in CocoWalk, Café Tu Tu Tango’s menu features a variety of exotic cuisine served tapas-style. Run under the philosophy “Great food, like great art, was meant to be shared,” all food portions are miniature sized to allow patrons to share and sample all that the restaurant has to offer. Live entertainment is also often present as local artists paint their masterpieces right next to your table.
Right across the breezeway from Café Tu Tu Tango is The Cheesecake Factory. Created by Oscar and Evelyn Overton, it is renowned for its numerous varieties of cheesecake. The lunch and dinner menu offers over 200 selections to suite everyone’s cravings including salads, pastas, pizzas, seafood, steaks, sandwiches and many more. The featured dishes are Chicken Madeira, Cajun Jambalaya Pasta, Miso Salmon and The Factory Burger. But don’t fill up on your main course, because The Cheesecake Factory has 50 different flavors of luxury cheesecakes to choose from. Some favorites include Dulce de Leche Caramel, Oreo, Chocolate Mousse and the classic Original cheesecake. For anyone who’s a strawberry lover, you must try the Fresh Strawberry cheesecake on your visit; it has been the most popular cheesecake there for 28 years.
“The cheesecake is phenomenal. I’ve tried a million different flavors and they are all good,” says Rachel Ewy, 19, a student from Naples.
While you let your food digest, before a night on the town, why not catch a movie at AMC CocoWalk or stop into some of the shops situated around the CocoWalk for some retail therapy? With numerous movie screens, AMC shows all of the latest releases in a cool, relaxed theater.
The Grove’s retail economy caters to a wide variety of customers. There is Maui Nix Surf Shop for the surfers, Coco Cigar for the cigar connoisseur, Victoria’s Secret and White House Black Market for the women, FYE Music for the whole family plus many more options for everyone else in between.
After some great food and a shopping expedition, you are bound to need a little rest. By checking into one of the numerous hotels in the area, you can catch a few Zs before getting ready to sample the nightlife of the Grove. There are a variety of two through five star hotels around the Grove including the DoubleTree, Wyndham Grand Bay, Hampton Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Residence Inn, Sonesta Hotel and Suites and the Commodore Inn. Prices range from approximately $140 a night at the Commodore to $320 a night at the Ritz-Carlton.
Now that you are rested and dressed-to-impress, it’s time to hit the town. First stop is Fat Tuesdays, located on the second floor of CocoWalk in between The Cheesecake Factory and Café Tu Tu Tango. Here you can sample one of their signature frozen drinks while enjoying the lively atmosphere of this open air bar.
From there, head over to the Coconut Grove Playhouse or Improv Comedy Club. Host to many nationally known comics, the Improv is sure to deliver few side-splitting laughs before you venture back out onto Grand Avenue.
When the act is over, take your party down to Sandbar Sports Grill. During the day, Sandbar is a fun spot to watch your favorite sports team play while enjoying some good old fashioned American cooking. Come night time though, the tables are cleared away to make a dance floor and the music is pumped up, converting this restaurant into a happening hot spot for many 20-somethings in Miami. DJs spinning all of today’s hits on request keep the dance floor moving until close.
“Sandbar is definitely the place to be on a Friday night,” says Paul Bonitz, 22.
Then it’s time to head over to Mr. Moe’s Restaurant & Bar to close the night. Open until 5:00 am, “Moe’s” features Karaoke Tuesdays, Bull Riding Wednesdays and Live music all weekend on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It also offers drink promotions during happy hour and special events. With a log cabin décor, renowned American cuisine, 32 flat screen TVs, a 95-foot long bar, arcade games and pool tables, Moe’s keeps the party going until sunrise.
After a day of movies, shopping, local food and an exciting night out, a relaxing day is sure to be called for. If being pampered is your idea of relaxing, stop over at the TanSolaire Body Spa and book a few treatments to help you drift away. However, visiting a museum and taking in some local flavor may be more your speed. If this is the case, be sure you don’t miss the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Built by James Deering, an agricultural industrialist, the property includes a house filled with art and furnishings and 10 acres of garden. You may also want to venture on to the Barnacle Historic State Park and the Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium before leaving the area.
No matter what your interests, Coconut Grove has something to offer you. Situated just south of downtown Miami, the Grove sits on the shores of Biscayne Bay and is home to a variety of restaurants, shops, hotels, nightlife, museums and Miami flair. Eat at Café Tu Tu Tango, shop at Koko & Palenki, see a show at the Coconut Grove Playhouse and enjoy a frozen Margarita at Fat Tuesdays. Sample it all! But definitely make sure to check out Coconut Grove on your next visit to South Florida. It really is a jewel not to be missed.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
My Recently Published Stories
Recently I decided that even though this blog was originally created as an project for one of my journalism classes, I might as well take advantage of my web space. Last fall, a class I was taking on writing travel features worked on a previously started National Parks project. It was our assignment to write three stories about different aspects of one of the national parks in the South Florida area. I chose Biscayne National Park in Homestead, Florida and wrote three stories on different points of interest of the park. Below is a list of the web addresses for those stories as well as their topics:
Camping at Biscayne National Park
http://com.miami.edu/parks/biscaynecamp.htm
Maritime Heritage Trail (a series of shipwrecks in the parks water territory)
http://com.miami.edu/parks/biscaynewrecks.htm
Stiltsville
http://com.miami.edu/parks/biscaynestilts.htm
The site also contains many other stories by current and former students about other parks in South Florida as well as national parks around the country.
Camping at Biscayne National Park
http://com.miami.edu/parks/biscaynecamp.htm
Maritime Heritage Trail (a series of shipwrecks in the parks water territory)
http://com.miami.edu/parks/biscaynewrecks.htm
Stiltsville
http://com.miami.edu/parks/biscaynestilts.htm
The site also contains many other stories by current and former students about other parks in South Florida as well as national parks around the country.
Businesses Annual Reports
Whenever you're writing a story or profile, it's necessary for you as a journalist to do your homework. Well I've found a great site for when your topic is businesses. The Annual Report Service allows you to access the annual financial reports for many companies for FREE. Unlike other sites where a membership fee is required, this site allows you to access these reports at no charge, simply by signing up for a free membership. Searches can be conducted by a specific company name, sector or by browsing the alphabetized list of reports.
http://www.annualreportservice.com/
http://www.annualreportservice.com/
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Speaker: Harry Smith
Today I had the opportunity to listen to Harry Smith of the CBS Early Show speak at the University of Miami School of Communications. It was really interesting to hear a journalist speak candidly about his experiences in the field as well as comment on his collegues' and competition's work. He talked about his own experiences in reporting, travel and his opinions on the state and direction of news today from both a professional and consumer's perspective.
During the Q&A session, Smith was asked about his thoughts regarding the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. Though he is a member of the CBS team, Smith did acknowledge that he thought NBC was "probably the best" in the nightly news market now, with CBS falling in third after ABC. He wasn't afraid to criticize his praise another network and express his true feelings about his own. However, he did follow that up with mentioning that the CBS Evening News has improved greatly in the past few months, saying that anytime there is a shift in a network, it takes a while for things to work themselves out and settle down. Furthermore he encouraged the audience to keep checking back on the news in a couple of months; he has no doubt that it will continue to improve and find it's rhythm.
For more information on the CBS Early Show or Evening News, visit their website at: http://www.cbsnews.com.
During the Q&A session, Smith was asked about his thoughts regarding the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. Though he is a member of the CBS team, Smith did acknowledge that he thought NBC was "probably the best" in the nightly news market now, with CBS falling in third after ABC. He wasn't afraid to criticize his praise another network and express his true feelings about his own. However, he did follow that up with mentioning that the CBS Evening News has improved greatly in the past few months, saying that anytime there is a shift in a network, it takes a while for things to work themselves out and settle down. Furthermore he encouraged the audience to keep checking back on the news in a couple of months; he has no doubt that it will continue to improve and find it's rhythm.
For more information on the CBS Early Show or Evening News, visit their website at: http://www.cbsnews.com.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Government Reference (part 2)
Ok, so in my search of all things government and law related, I have stumbled across another website that holds records of court cases. It's called the Global Legal Information Network and is located at http://www.glin.gov. When first accessing the page, you are presented with a search bar to find information. It's not the easiest site to search through results for, but if you're willing to put in the time, you can find access to a multitude of info; including laws for a long list of countries besides the United States.
Government Reference
I just found a very beneficial site for government information within the Library of Congress website. http://thomas.loc.gov/links/. Specifically, this area of the site allows you to search for specific members of both the Senate and House of Representatives, access their contact information. If you are unsure of the name for a specific representative, you can also search by political party or state. The site also allows you to access all records of treaties, resolutions, bills and other documents discussed and passed by Congress since 1988.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Amazing Motion Picture Catalog
I just found the most amazing website for movie archives. The American Film Institute has cataloged all of their movies dating as far back as 1893. There is extensive information on each movie including a synopsis, complete credits, distribution company, release dates, production dates and more. Anything you could want to know about an individual movie is here in this catalog.
Not only that, but it's easy to use as well. Once entering the catalog, you can access AFI's top films of recent years or begin a search for particular movies. A great feature also is the extense of the "Advanced Search" feature. Here you can get lists of movies with particular actors, directors, producers, and within a specified period of time. Overall this site is great for anyone searching for info about the many facets of motion pictures.
To access the site, you must go through the University of Miami's Library website at: http://www.library.miami.edu. Once there, you need to log-on to the server with a university issued ID and your personal password. Then click on the "Databases & Indexes" tab on the left sidebar. You will then have access to all university databases. Click on the "Communications" link and you will find the catalog under the name "American Film Institute".
Not only that, but it's easy to use as well. Once entering the catalog, you can access AFI's top films of recent years or begin a search for particular movies. A great feature also is the extense of the "Advanced Search" feature. Here you can get lists of movies with particular actors, directors, producers, and within a specified period of time. Overall this site is great for anyone searching for info about the many facets of motion pictures.
To access the site, you must go through the University of Miami's Library website at: http://www.library.miami.edu. Once there, you need to log-on to the server with a university issued ID and your personal password. Then click on the "Databases & Indexes" tab on the left sidebar. You will then have access to all university databases. Click on the "Communications" link and you will find the catalog under the name "American Film Institute".
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Welcome!
Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog. I'm a senior journalism major at the University of Miami. I am creating this blog as a project for my "Reporting and the Internet" class. I hope that you find the sites useful for your research. Please let me know if you have an suggestions or comments regarding this site. Thank you and happy researching!
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