Tragedy Befalls La Mar's Favorite Bartender (Here's How to Help the Family)
Plus, a Miami Raccoon is the Cadbury Easter bunny, the Salty Donut is in Aventura for Easter, and there are four Frenchies to adopt at MDAS
Here’s How to Help Ivan Amaya’s Family
Last evening, La Mar’s big anniversary soiree was cancelled due to a tragedy in the La Mar family. Ivan Amaya, a talented young bartender at the restaurant died. Here are the details, according to the Go Fund Me:
Ivan was just starting his life. He had a great job, just got married, and had plans for a great future in the hospitality industry. If you met him, you loved him from the start from his off the wall stats, to wanting to try whatever random liqueur behind the bar just because. There are no words right now, but this world doesn’t give us too much time to grieve. He was my best friend and he was a great husband and a great brother and son.
We would like to give Cristina and her family some time, so any and all questions please reach out to Jennifer Marrero.
These funds will be given directly to Cristina to handle costs with funeral arrangements and out of pocket costs that arise with circumstances like this. Also, she will be out of work, so funds to keep up with monthly expenses.
More information about funeral/memorial services will be out shortly.
If you would like to help Ivan’s wife, Cristina, here’s a link to the Go Fund Me.
Miami cantinero, Julio Cabrera, posted a tribute to Amaya on Instagram, saying, “I was at La Mar last night celebrating its 10 Anniversary, he was working behind the bar. He went outside to say hello and we were talking for some minutes. He was so young and cool guy!! Before leaving I went to the bar to say goodbye to Ivan without imagining that an hour later an accident would take his life forever. RIP brother. Miami lost another beloved bartender.” Condolences.
A Raccoon from Miami is the New Easter Bunny
Easter is tomorrow, and a local raccoon has been named the Cadbury Bunny for 2024. The two-year-old raccoon named Louie won the starring role in a Cadbury commercial and a $7,000 cash prize, beating out 30 finalists for the top spot.
And, like any celebrity these days, Louie fashions himself something of a “renaissance raccoon”. Born in Miami in 2021, Louie is billed as a “social media influencer, fashion icon, fitness model, food connoisseur, and artist.”
In case you were thinking that this Loius sounds like the typical Miami influencer type, Louis is more than just a pretty masked face. He is a passionate philanthropist and is partnered up with Samadi Wildlife Rescue to help raise funds for a new rescue location!
The raccoon has nearly 400,000 Instagram followers, as well. Miami trash pandas rule!
The Salty Donut is Popping Up in Aventura for Easter
Good news for peeps who live in the northern parts of Miami-Dade (and Southern Broward: The Salty (or the Salty Donut) is coming to Aventura. Right on the heels of opening its Coconut Grove shop, The Salty Donut announced it will open a spot in Aventura at the Esplanade.
If you can’t wait (and you should never wait to get some doughnut action), head out to the Esplanade at Aventura tomorrow, Easter Sunday for some doughnuts at the Salty’s pop-up trailer. The Easter Bunny will be there for photo ops from noon to 3! Hop to it!
Hop on over to the Aventura Esplanade, 19505 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 31; saltydonut.com.
There are FOUR FRENCHIES at MDAS
This is an urgent message for anyone thinking of buying a French Bulldog - DO NOT BUY A FRENCHIE!
I have a Frenchie. Luna saved my life when I was at my wit’s end after losing my Mimi. She is my everything. She is my daughter. She was also rescued from a puppy mill at the age of five. My girl was subjected to an endless cycle of breeding until she was used up and discarded. Thankfully, a group of kind angels came in and rescued this gorgeous creature and brought her to me.
I am not saying do not have a Frenchie — I am saying that Miami is full of Frenchies at shelters that are abandoned when people no longer want them.
And let me make this clear (since I learned the hard way): Frenchies are prey-driven (they may go after small animals, cats, and even other dogs). They are stubborn (those ears are purely decorative), They have allergies, back issues, breathing problems, bad gas, and they snore.
Adopting a Frenchie is like adopting a large, smelly, expensive fur-covered meatloaf.
If you’re still reading this and still want a Frenchie then I applaud you — but only if you adopt one. And you’re in luck — there are currently four Frenchies at MDAS waiting for adoption:
Eula is a one-year-old female Frenchie and her number is A2572589
Bob is an eight-year-old male Frenchie and his number is A2572212
Kevin is a two-year-old male Frenchie and his number is A2572055
Rocky is a three-year-old male Frenchie and his number is A2492993 French kiss!
Batch Gastropub is the sponsor of our dog adoption section. If you adopt one of these guys (or any dog because of Miami Checklist), Batch will supply you with a gift card for the amount of the adoption from MDAS. So get a dog, get a burger…or something like that. Contact me for details.
These Frenchies are some of the 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.
Get French kisses at Miami-Dade Animal Services. 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral; 305-884-1101; miamidade.gov/animals
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