Trick or Treat

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Dirve-In Movie Night

The City of Doral is hosting a Drive-In Movie night.

Where: JC Bermudez Park

Date: Saturday, October 18th

Time: 7:30 pm

Movie: Under the Moon Rated PG-13

Donations: $5.00 per car

Hispanic Art Exhibit

There will be an Art Exhibit – Hispanic Art Expression, in the Doral Park. It will be held on Friday, October 17th from, 6:30pm-9:30pm with a cocktail reception.

I Found Them!

So this is where the cab drivers at the Dolphin Mall are.

They’re always there. Huddled under trees waiting for customers while they engage in conversation amongst themselves.

I briefly spoke to one of the cab drivers that said they have significant concerns about the increase in crimes that have been committed against taxi drivers since the beginning of the year. I will write more on that when I get more details.

I am assuming that staying safe is pretty much the topic of conversation between them these days.

That sucks!

Shape Up

One of the nicest personal training studios in Doral, l that I have seen, is B-fit. The studio has been in Doral for about 9 years and its ran by Rafael Toruno, the owner. Rafael has been a trainer for many years, and is a mastermind in helping people get into shape. This is the guy you want training you!


The ambiance in the studio is soothing and welcoming with their wood floors and modern décor. Beside personal training classes, the studio offers Yoga and Zumba classes weekly.



They also have B-fit Healthy Food, which is sort of a café. The café offers delicious healthy meals that are made with organic or natural products.

So you get a workout and a meal in the same place. Pretty good.

Love the concept.

Absentee Ballot

It’s no secret that voter’s registration is up since the last Presidential Elections. More Americans are eager to show their support to our Motherland and be participants in one of the most significant elections in history.

If you want to cast your vote but will not be able to make it to the polls, you can vote by way of Absentee Ballot. You can request one in writing or in person. Once received, just make your selections, and then return to the Miami-Dade Elections Department.

If this process sounds appealing to you, you can contact the Miami-Dade Elections Department. The deadline for Absentee Ballots is October 29th.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!

Where Are All the Books?

Doral’s public library is located on 58th Street and 107th Avenue. The library was built in 2003, but perhaps we’ve outgrown it.

The intention of having a public library is to make books accessible to the residents. But the few times I have stopped in to check out a book, the library doesn’t seem to have it. Not because the book has been checked out, but because they simply don’t carry it in this branch. Those times, I have had to drive to the branch in Hialeah, which is a real inconvenience.

A larger single standing building would make more sense than a small facility in a strip mall. Perhaps then residents would be more drawn to libraries like the good old days.

On another note, it would definitely cost money to build a bigger and better library. So who will pay for that? Well, taxpayers would. Are we willing to have our tax money pay for the purchase and construction of a new and improved public library? I believe that the prevailing consensus would say No!

My situation with the public library did not fulfill it’s purpose, but we must take the good with the bad. With the economy on the brink at the present moment, maybe a spiffy library should be put on the backburner for now.

Like my mom always says, “be careful what you wish for.”

Halloween at La Covacha

Listen up all you night club partiers. Want a hot place to party down to on Halloween night? Check out La Covacha.

La Covacha is having a costume party on Friday, October 31st. The party starts early with Happy Hour at 5:00pm and will continue till 5:00am.

So put on your scariest face and get your groove on right here in Doral.

More Than Just a Pharmacy!

I stopped by the Doral Family Pharmacy a couple of days ago and I have to admit I was impressed with their operation, so much so that I decided to write about it. The establishment is almost like a one stop shop. It’s a pharmacy, and a natural health store all together.

The owners, Melinda and Ronny, started this business about 7 years ago in Miami Springs and later decided to move it close to their home in Doral. They came up with a great set up that consists of a pharmacy and a bistro/mini market in the same shop.

The pharmacy not only fills prescriptions and carries normal pharmacy stuff, but they also carry organic and natural toiletries. But that’s not all; the shop has a bistro with a couple of tables and chairs where customers can order sandwiches, smoothies and other quick bites and even order groceries. Not just normal groceries, the organic healthy stuff.

I don’t know all the details for ordering the groceries, but if you’re interested, you can stop in and talk to Melinda. The address is 3601 NW 107th Avenue, Doral.

One last thing, every Friday they have a food and wine tasting at the bistro for customers. It lasts all day until 7:00pm.

Great concept, I love it!

Spooktacular Halloween Party

There will be a Spooktacular Halloween Party at the mall on October 31st. The party will start at 5:30pm till 9:30pm and will be held in the Ramblas Plaza.

There will be face painting, music, games, plenty of candy and a best costume contest. The excitement is for all ages, so dress up in your best costume and join the party.

A Little Cuban Fast Food in Doral

El Rey de Las Fritas recently opened in Doral. You’ve probably seen some of their other locations through out Miami, and now we have one too.

It’s not a fine dining restaurant, but a modest small eatery that serves Cuban fast food. El Rey’s serves different Cuban dishes, but their specialty is Frita (Cuban burger).

I ran into Julio and Jose who were finishing their lunch and seemed to be enjoying it all too much.

OOH IT’S SO GOOD!

Dude, Where's My Car?

This happens often at Dolphin Mall. Customers can’t remember where they park their cars. They walk up and down the parking lot hoping they’ll spot their car, and if that doesn’t work they’ll click the alarm button on their key rings so they can follow the sound. I think they get excited about finding a close parking space and forget to look at the colored parking area. But what do I know?

Luckily it didn’t take long before this couple found their car.

Security on Wheels

Dolphin Mall security, Dolier, has a sweet job. He patrols the mall’s parking lot on a three-wheel scooter. How cool is that!

When on the job, Dolier is scooting away till 4:00pm. He assists with directions, makes sure the parking lot is safe, and of course makes time to smile for the camera. Periodically he checks in with police officers that are also in the area.

Another perk I noticed from the scooter patrolling was saving gas. This is always an advantage while patrolling the mall.

The job must have its down side, but it sure seemed like a whole lot of fun!

Deadline for Voters Registration

Yesterday was the deadline for new voters to get registered and any last minute changes for existing voters before the next presidential election in November. The turnout was unbelievable.

The election building in Doral reached its full capacity in their parking lot and all entrances were closed off. People had to be redirected to the parking lot in the JC Bermudez Park next door.

We got a sneak preview of the amount of voters coming forth to vote and I think these elections will definitely make history.

Funny McCain Palin Posters

I picked up these posters from the McCain Palin Campaign office today, and I wanted to share it with the readers.

Want to be a Score Keeper?

The City of Doral is looking for volunteers for the 2008 Fall Youth Basketball Season. They need score keepers. Don't worry if you don't have experience, they offer training.

You can sign up at the Doral Park Community Center.

For more information, visit www.cityofdoral.com.

Exercising Outdoors

Have you seen the slight change in temperature? It doesn’t feel as hot and sticky as a couple of months ago. This is the time of year when I change from working out indoors to the outdoors. I get to enjoy a little bit of the fresh air while I get my exercising done.

I like to go to the JC Bermudez Park. It’s on 87th Avenue and 30th Street. It has a nice view of the lake in the center of the park. Some people like to sit across from the lake while they meditate.

There is a pathway where you can walk, run, or roller blade. You also have access to the bars to exercise arms and abdominal. Not too many people go in the mornings, so you can put your full attention into your workout or you can take it light and admire the view.

The park is a nice change of pace and if you are tired of being closed up in the gym, you should try it.

Archies Pizza

If you want a good pizzeria, right here in Doral, try out Archie’s Pizza. It’s located on the Doral Plaza on 41st next to the Subway’s.

It’s a small cozy pizzeria that serves awesome pizzas. The service is good, and the prices are reasonable.

Go try it you’ll like it.

Homeowner's Association

I was reading the Miami Herald this morning, and I came across this article regarding homeowners association. Since the majority of homeowners here in Doral have homeowners association, I thought I would share.

Q:I am living in a homeowner community. For the last two to three years, some homes have eyesore violations. The management company has sent letters, but they have not fined or solved the problems. Can residents do something to make the board and the management companies enforce the community rules? Can the residents take legal action toward the board and management company?

A: To fine a homeowner for a rule violation, the board must follow strict requirements listed in the statutes and you must have the right to fine in your documents. Because of the complexities, I do not recommend this action. It would be best to turn the matter over to the association attorney for legal action to correct the problem.
Yes, members can sue the board and Management Company, but is that the best way? It is like suing yourself and you will be responsible for legal costs. In the past, I have recommended that you write the board a letter about your concerns. Recently I have come up with a different approach. That is, to become involved in the solution, and volunteer to work with the board.

Why is it that management companies are so quick to raise maintenance fees and enforce it severely but when it comes to enforcing community rules, which is why resident’s pay maintenance, they look the other way?

www.miamiherald.com

Demographics of Doral

I found some data that I wanted to share with you about Doral. This is a rough estimate, but I think it is helpful in giving an idea about the community.

The population in Doral is approximately 20,438
Men 10,134 men and women 10,334 women
Married males 4,882 Married females (like I said this is an estimate)
Population between 24-44 years old 8,911
Whites and Hispanics are the two controlling races in Doral.

White population is estimated at 17,173 (I never knew that there were that many Whites in Doral)

Hispanic population is estimated at 13,784

Workers over the age of 16 9,767

Population that drive cars, trucks, vans, or motorcycles 9,082

Foreign born and not US citizens 9,078

Naturalized citizens 3,753

From same state 3,661

Bachelor’s degree 3,902

Master’s degree 2,685

Median Household income $53,060

And there you have it folks, the demographics of Doral in a nutshell.

If you would like to read specifics, you can go to my source for this data http://www.epodunk.com/

Happy Hour at Applebees

Applebees on 36th Street is a hot spot for Happy Hour on Friday nights. I went last night and it was packed with people. It was a nice crowd and although the place was full, there was room to move around comfortably.

Throughout the night spurts of people would come in. There was a small waiting period of about 15 minutes, but not longer than that. People were chatting eating and drinking. What can be better than that?

At about 9:00PM I didn’t see many people coming in, so I figured the place had died down a bit. A few minutes later I decided to leave. When I walked outside there was a crowd waiting to get seated. But no one seemed to be anxious or bothered. People were just chillin waiting to be called in. My kind of place.

I don’t know for how much longer people kept coming, but I am speculating that at least for another 2 hours. Which is fine for Happy Hour in Doral.

I found Applebees to be enjoyable and I will definately be back.

Event at Dolphin Mall Tomorrow

There will be an event tomorrow, October 4th from 3-5PM at the Dolphin Mall. There will be a character appearance by Elmo, music, face painting, giveaways and much more.

The event is being sponsored by the newly opened Miami Children’s Hospital Doral Center.

Lunch at Dolphin Mall

I went to Dolphin Mall yesterday, and was surprised at the lunch crowd in Charcoals Latin Grill in the Ramblas Plaza.

The crowd was diversified with business people, tourists and local shoppers. Everybody seemed relaxed and enjoying themselves while they ate. That is always pleasant to see.

One thing they all seem to enjoy was that Cuban cuisine!

BaZZura in the Neighborhood

I found a café today with a peculiar name, Bazzurra. It is a Colombian fast food eatery located at 10437 NW 41st Street, in the Winn Dixie strip mall.

I spoke with the owner of the café, Joanna, and I just had to ask her why she had named it Bazzura, which means trash in Spanish. Although she did explain it to me, I didn't quite grasp the reasoning. But you have to admit it is a catchy name.

The café opened about 3 months ago. The prices are reasonable and there is even a selection for vegetarians. The décor is casual yet upbeat with pick nick tables and silver walls simulating trashcans. The décor definitely fits the name.

The idea for this eatery comes from Colombian culture where after a night out in the town it is customary for people to go to late night casual eateries. For this same reason closing time at Bazzura is 2:00am and will soon be extended to 5:00am.

I think the concept is fresh and different. I wish Bazzura much success.

Early Voting Starts Monday, October 20th

Doral, among other cities, will start early voting on October 20th for the Presidential elections on November 4.

The location for Doral is: Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections, 2700 SW 87th Ave.

The times and dates are as follows: October 20-24th, 7:00am-3:00pm
October 25th, 9:00am-1:00pm
October 26th, 1:00-5:00pm
October 27th-31st, 11:00am-7:00pm
November 1st, 9:00am-1:00pm
November 2nd,1:00-5:00pm

Photos of Yoga

Here are some pictures from the Tuesday Yoga class at Hinomaru Karate School.

Classes are are small and personal. They are guided by the instructor Vic Munoz.

In addition to the Yoga classes, Vic Munoz conducts seminars and workshops.

For more information you can contact Vic at vicmunoz@globalwealthcoach.com or visit http://yoga.meetup.com/679/.

Obama Supporters Group in Doral

I found an Obama Supporters Group in Doral, and I wanted to share the information with you. Although I do not know the specifics about the group, I do know that they are meeting tomorrow night.

The meeting will take place tomorrow, Thursday, October 2, from 5-8:00PM at the Doral Park Country Club. By the way, this is a great night to have the meeting because it's Ladies Night at the club, and drinks have special prices. The meeting will be followed by a vice-presidency debate party right there at the club.

I also know that they are looking for more supporters, so if you would like to support presidential nominee Barack Obama, now is your chance.

The Doral Park Country Club is located at 5001 NW 104th Avenue, Doral.

Do You Like Smoothies?

Doral has a few smoothie bars in the neighborhood. I usually visit Planet Smoothie, which is located at the Doral Plaza (41st Street and 97th Avenue). They have a good selection, and they offer different combinations that are satisfying for all times of day. My favorite is the Twigs and Berries, which has fruit and yogurt. It’s yummy! Some of their other smoothie combinations include fruits with oatmeal (yes, oatmeal and its delicious) fruits with acai (antioxidant), fruits with peanut butter, fruits with protein powder and more. They also have healthy munchies like nutritional bars and pita chips.

The service is really good, and although you may have some customers ahead of you, you never have to wait long. I can’t say there has been one time that I have gone to Planet Smoothie, and had bad service, maybe that’s why I keep going back.

Listen, we all complain about not having enough hours in the day, and that is the reason we make poor nutritional choices. A smoothie is a great option for grabbing a meal on the go. It’s healthy, and you don’t feel bad after you have one. Next time you are pressed for time, and don’t have time to eat a full meal, remember this post. You’ll feel better!