It's John Lermayer Day
Plus, watch me make an ass outof myself on MTV's Remote Control, VIce Versa opens, and Milly is adorable
Today is Summer Solstice, the rise of the Strawberry Moon, and John Lermayer Day. Lermayer was so much more than a trailblazing bartender — he was a force of nature. A lot of Miami hyperbole is tossed around but this much is true - without Lermayer, Miami bartenders might still just be serving Red Bull and vodka to the tech bros who imbibe in the Magic City. Lermayer co-founded Sweet Liberty and, sadly, died at the age of 45 in June 2018. A few weeks later, the City of Miami Beach proclaimed June 21 as John Lermayer Day.
Each year on this day, Sweet Liberty remembers its cofounder with a celebration. Starting today at 8 p.m. head out and raise a glass to someone who helped weave the fabric that is Miami hospitality. Pursue Happiness!
Raise a glass at Sweet Liberty 237 20th St suite b, Miami Beach; mysweetliberty.com.
Yeah — That’s Me on an MTV Game Show
Back in 1989, I was living in New York City, going to college, and working on Wall Street as a research analyst. This was the era of MTV and its (at the time) nonstop music programming except for one thing — a trivial game show called Remote Control. Hosted by Ken Ober, the show also started the careers of Adam Sandler, Colin Quinn, Denis Leary — and Laine. For some reason, this popped up on YouTube. The quality is really terrible, and a parrot is squawking in the background, but if you want a laugh, here ya go!
Miami Bartender Extraordinaire, Valentino Longo, Opens Vice Versa
Summer may spring eternal in Miami, but if you want a taste of the Eternal City, then Vice Versa is worth a visit. Bartender Valentino Longo, along with the Jaguar Sun team, have opened Vice Versa in Downtown Miami, adjacent to the Elser Hotel.
The bar offers classic Italian cocktails paired with pizzas and small plates (by the way — if you go for cocktails in Italy, you’ll receive some small plates complimentary — like maybe some olives, breadsticks, cheese, and salumi.
Longo has created a menu featuring Italian spirits, vermouths, bitters, and amari. The bar’s initial menu offers 14 drinks in three categories: Negroni Family, Martinis, and Signature Cocktails.
Cocktails include a forced carbonated Americano, a Sbagliato, a NEgroni, and a Negroni punch. Martinis include a classic called the Avanguardia, and an Affogato Martini with pistachio gelato. The cocktail I’m most interested in is the Italian Vice — which tips a hat to the lemon granita stands found all over Sorrento and Positano — which I miss greatly and, if not for a $3,304 vet bill, I would be visiting this summer (sigh).
Jaguar Sun’s chefs Carey Hynes and Justin Flit have created a menu of bites meant to play up the cocktails. Appetizers include a wood-fired flatbread with chicken faat, chives, and cultured butter, a Caser salad, and house-made culatello and coppa
Neo-Neapolitan pizzas include acClam with white sauce, the “Bad First Date” with tomato sauce, taleggio, and pepperoncini; and Sopressata with tomato sauce, thai chili, and hot honey. Dolce Vita!
Say ciao at 398 NE 5th St, Miami; viceversamia.com.
Milly is a Sweetie
Each week, I take a look at pages and pages of dogs available for adoption at MDAS, but somehow, Milly really got my attention. I mean look at her — her cuteness just jumped through the computer screen at me, so imagine how she’ll be in person.
Milly is a spayed one-year-old — which means she still has puppy energy for all your beach days and activities yet she’s old enough to know better. In a nutshell, she’s perfect.
Milly is in foster care, but she’s still up for adoption — so make the call! Her number is A2562124. Adorbs!
Batch Gastropub is the sponsor of our dog adoption section. If you adopt one of these guys (or any dog because of the Miami Checklist), Batch will supply you with a gift card for the amount of the adoption fee. So get a dog, get a burger…or something like that. Contact me for details.
Milly is one of hundreds of dogs available at Miami-Dade Animal Services. If you’re looking to bring a new best friend into the family, this is the place to start your search. Adoptions are only done in person, and you should bring a current picture ID and proof of current address. Dogs older than four months carry a $65 adoption fee and puppies are $85 — all dogs come home fully vaccinated, are dewormed, and have been spayed/neutered. In other words, adopting a dog is the best deal in Miami. Gorgeous!
Get Milly at Miami-Dade Animal Services. 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral; 305-884-1101; miamidade.gov/animals
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