Another beautiful morning in South Florida

This shot was taken at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort in Marco Island, Florida. It’s a masterfully decorated place, with all the amenities you would want in a “weekend getaway” resort. It has several restaurants, including a small ocean side café where this photo was shot.

Two floors up, The Terrace at Sale e Pepe restaurant provides both fine and casual dining experiences; and, if you prefer your dinner al fresco, request outside sitting for spectacular sunset views - a light ocean breeze will keep the summer night air delightfully cool.

One Hundred Pennies Make a Dollar

The U.S. penny is a coin worth 1 cent, but it costs more than 1.6 cents to mint. Canada plans to abolish the penny sometime this year, and my guess is the U.S. will eventually follow. That will be a sad day for me, but I understand the logic behind it. The reality is that it costs more than a cent to produce a penny, and that’s just one of many financial drawbacks to the general use of pennies. So, in the spirit of historical trivia, here I present a few interesting facts about the penny.

1. The word “penny” was introduced around 790 A.D. by King Offa, the English Emperor who ruled Mercia from 757 to 796. The word penny referred to an English coin made entirely of silver.

2. The word “penny” was originally used to describe any sort of coin, not just the small denomination that is known for today.

3. When the U.S. started producing pennies in the 18th century, the official name given to the coin was the “one-cent-piece”. The term didn’t stick, and we continued using the British term “penny”.

4. The first American penny was designed by Benjamin Franklin. On one side the words “Mind Your Business” are set below a sun and sundial; on the other side “We Are One” is encircled by a 13 link chain representing the original colonies.

5. The modern day phrase “a penny saved is a penny earned” is attributed to Benjamin Franklin. The origin can be traced to the Welsh-born English poet George Herbert; in a circa 1633 publication of proverbs, Herbert writes “a penny spar’d is twice got.”

6. The first Lincoln penny was issued in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It’s the first time a U.S. coin bears a picture of a President.

7. The original penny was completely made of copper. That amount has decreased significantly since the rise in price of this red metal, and today’s pennies are made up of only 2.5% copper - the other 97.5% is Zinc.

8. During World War II, copper reserves were saved for military use, prompting the production of zinc plated steel pennies in 1943. The “steel penny” was also often referred to as the “wartime penny”

9. U.S. military bases overseas stopped handling pennies in the early 1980s, and all transactions are automatically rounded up or down to the nearest five cents.

10. There are about 150 billion U.S. pennies circulating around the world today.

I have a few of those pennies in a tin jar at home, and I have no intentions of parting with any of them any time soon.

Go Marlins!

Today is the season opener of the new Miami Marlins, and the first regular season game in their brand new ballpark. The Marlins' new stadium is located in the Little Havana section of Miami, and it covers approximately 17 acres once occupied by the unforgettable Miami Orange Bowl. The stadium will provide cover from the rain by a state of the art retractable roof, and provides seating for over 37,000 fans. A truly first-class home for the new Miami Marlins – Good luck guys!

Ron Magill at the Intercontinental at Doral Miami

Ron Magill, renowned animal expert and Zoo Miami’s goodwill ambassador, made a special appearance at the Intercontinental at Doral Miami this past weekend. Magill brought along some of his animal friends from the zoo, and shared some of his insights of the animal kingdom with children and parents who made it out to the hotel for this unique brunch event. Magill’s friends included an Albino Burmese Python, a Patagonian Cavy, and the Eurasian Eagle Owl. Children had an opportunity to interact with Magill, pet the python, and even pose for photographs with Ron and the Patagonian Cavy. It was a fun and memorable time for children and grownups alike.

2012 Sony Ericsson Tennis Tournament

If you like tennis, you’ll love the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Every year, the top tennis talent from around the world comes together at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park for a tournament that will leave you craving for a new racket. The Tennis Center at Crandon Park is located in beautiful Key Biscayne, and matches are played throughout the two week tournament at the Main Stadium, the Grandstand, and seven other courts, so watching some of the game’s top seeds up close and personal is almost guaranteed.

In addition to day and evening games, the event is filled with additional entertainment and activities for fans of all ages, including player autograph signings, Zoo Miami animal displays, Bombay Sapphire Lounge mixology demonstration, and meet and greet sessions with the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders. This is definitely one of South Florida’s annual premier events, at a time when the weather is at its best – don’t miss it! 

(for more photos of the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open tournament, click here.)

Happy First Day of Spring

Historic Charm Meets Culinary Delight.

A historic charm meets a culinary delight is the best way I can describe my dining experience this past weekend at Bistro Soleil, at the Olde Marco Inn, in Marco Island, Florida. The Inn is one of Marco Island’s oldest structures, built back in the late 1800’s. Inside, the restaurant is cozy and charming. Beautiful crystal chandeliers light up the interior, including one previously owned by Guy Lombardo himself, a stunning 2000 prism glass chandelier that hangs above one of the larger dining rooms. Directly in front of a modest and cheerful bar, a piano separates a few high-tops from the dance floor, and around the piano, several stools provide sitting comfort for those who enjoy the nightly live music close up and personal.

Qu'est-ce que la recommandation du chef?
Being in a French cuisine restaurant, I felt it appropriate to start with a cup of their classic French onion soup. It was just the right blend of beef broth, caramelized onions and a touch of wine; all cooked to perfection and served piping hot with a light toping of melted Gruyere cheese. For my main dish, I went with one of Chef Denis’ specialties, the Tilapia Denis. A seared fillet, complemented with crab meat, and topped with a lemon caper butter sauce. The mix of flavors was amazing; the tanginess of the lemon and capers, blended perfectly with the crabmeat and tilapia. For desert, I had the Tarte Tatin. A traditional crispy warm apple tart accompanied with vanilla ice cream, topped with richly-flavored syrup of balsamic vinegar reduction. I completed my meal with a Golden Cadillac digestive, and then relocated to the piano bar until the place was ready to close.

I highly recommend this true gem to anyone who enjoys a great meal, a pleasant atmosphere, and good music. Bistro Soleil is located at 100 Palm Street, Marco Island, Florida. The phone number is 239-389-0981.

Photo Op

Sandia Peak Tramway

Cibola National Forest, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is home to the Sandia Peak Tramway. At a stretch of 2.7 miles from base to peak, it makes this the longest aerial tramway in the world. The Sandia Peak stands at 10,378 feet above sea level, and on a clear day, the views from the top are a true marvel. This one is a "must see" for any vistor.

Photo Op

Chevy Corvette



The Corvette was named by Myron Scott after the 17th century French Navy warships of the same name. These ships were fast, small, and very maneuverable. The French used them mostly to patrol and protect ports and coastal territories. Corvettes were also used by other European navies to support the bigger and slower frigates during close range sea battles. At about the same size as a sloop-of-war, and able to carry 4 to 8 small guns on it's deck, these fast Corvettes must have also been a favorite vessel of pirates, for quick in-and-out attacks, during the golden age of piracy.