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The Restaurant at W South Beach (RWSB), owned and operated by Miami’s acclaimed KNR Hospitality Group, is officially open. For the new concept, located in the former Dutch Miami space, Executive Chef Josh Gripper and Executive Sous Chef Mario Alegre have created a “Roots American” menu, influenced by their respective upbringings—Gripper’s American South and Alegre’s Puerto Rican heritage. Combining both chefs’ Caribbean inspirations and channeled through the spectrum of Gripper’s classical French training, the menu, very much anchored in traditional comfort food, reflects a diverse melting pot of flavors. RWSB features a new menu including the debut of Sunday Brunch from noon – 4PM. “We wanted to offer our own interpretation of timeless dishes as well as contemporary items,” said Gripper. “We’re excited for fans and the uninitiated to experience RWSB, knowing they will all enjoy the same exceptional dining experience they have come to expect at W South Beach.” Highlights include Yellowtail Crudo with fresh avocado ponzu, and pickled fresno and French Toast topped with lemon cream, toasted hazelnut, and apple. Enjoy creative dishes such as Kale Frittata with Meredith Farms feta; Jerk Chicken & Waffle dressed with habanero syrup and a side of pikliz (a Haitian condiment with pickled cabbage, carrots, bell peppers and Scotch bonnet peppers); Steak & Egg Burrito with pico de gallo; and Duck Hash & Sunny Side Eggs with red eye gravy. Click below to view larger image > On the lighter side: a Smoked Salmon plate with the classic accoutrements and avocado toast on sourdough bread with poached eggs. And Sunday Funday would not be complete without refreshing libations—brunch goers can enjoy $30 bottles of Rosé, or cocktails on offer are: Mimosa, Bellini, Michelada and Bloody Mary with an option to upgrade to 2-hour bottomless for only $25 person. Lunch and Dinner plates exhibit the same sophisticated sensibility with pizzas and pastas made in-house; locally sourced fish; prime cuts of meat; and garden-fresh produce. Notable dinner dishes include Grilled Octopus – caldo de pescado and crispy yucca; roasted beet salad with goat cheese, almond, and prosciutto; Ricotta Ravioli with fava bean and summer truffle; and Smoked Pork Chop with English peas and spiced baby carrot. RWSB is located inside W South Beach Hotel & Residences, 2201 Collins Avenue, in Miami Beach. For more info visit www.rwsbmiami.com or call (305) 938-3111 By Miami Living Staff, Images courtesy of RWSB

FIBO USA is returning to the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) November 6 – 8, 2020, following a successful debut at the MBCC in 2019. Registration is now open for the fitness industry event where you will find what you need to reach your goals with cutting-edge group fitness classes, future-focused education, energetic interactive experiences, and an exhibit hall featuring the freshest innovations shaping the marketplace. FIBO USA is an industry summit, education program, and fitness festival all in one heart-pounding experience. Backed by the long-running success of FIBO Global Fitness—the world’s leading event for the fitness industry—FIBO USA has arrived to help you enhance your health and fitness performance, both personally and professionally. In 1985, FIBO was founded by Volker Ebener and Kurt Thelen to fill the need for an event dedicated to FItness and Bodybuilding. Since then, the health and fitness industry has rapidly evolved with the FIBO brand at the forefront—fueling and shaping the industry. Now, more than 30 years later, FIBO is stronger than ever representing all sectors of health and wellness industry worldwide. Click here to register. By ML Staff. Courtesy of FIBO

Join us as we welcome back fan favorite Keba to perform from Deering Estate for a Virtual Concert as part of the Summer Cabaret Series. Keba will perform a fusion of Pop, R&B and Soul in the historic Great Hall of the Stone House at Deering Estate, the same intimate setting where guests have enjoyed the concerts for over ten years. The free virtual concert on Saturday, June 27th at 7 p.m. will be presented on Facebook Live. From the comfort of your home you can set up your table, like our regulars do, with snacks and a bottle of wine, then sit back and relax or get up and dance if you desire!  For more information, please visit the Deering Estate website. Cultural Arts Programming at the Deering Estate is made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc. More about Keba Growing up on a small island of West Indian traditions, Keba’s earliest influences included Calypso and Soca music as well as her mother who was a piano enthusiast. Keba also grew up to the sound of Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, The Supremes and music from 50s American movies. Discovering her own voice became a way for her to connect with the world around her and cultivate self-confidence. Like many immigrant families, the pursuit of career opportunities in America signaled a new beginning and shift in identity. For Keba that meant completing a degree in Chemistry and pursuing a stable career path. But as her passion for songwriting and music grew, she decided to redirect her path and ignore the expectations of those who told her she was too inexperienced and impractical to have a full-time music career. In 2013, she debuted Wildfire, her first studio album, which she composed in collaboration with producer Erik Nunez and released under their independent label, Labrat Music. Since then, she has earned international recognition for her original songs at several songwriting competitions. Her powerful vocals and electrifying stage presence deliver live shows that move audiences to their feet. Keba made her international stage debut as an opening act for Jill Scott and Kool & the Gang at the 2015 Tobago Jazz Experience. In 2016, Keba embarked on a European tour of Portugal, France, England and Spain. In 2018, she released the original EP, FILMSTRIP to mark the eve of her transformation from a girl into a woman. As Keba evolves, so does her unfiltered honesty about the complexities and power of being a woman. As an independent artist determined to blaze her own trail, Keba’s songs inspire others to express themselves and make their own dreams come true. By Miami-Dade

After being notified Friday night by the Miami-Dade Police Department of reports that New Normal rules were not being followed at three Miami restaurants, City of Miami Police checked on the sites and shut them down for violating Miami-Dade Emergency Order 23-20. “The safety and welfare of all the residents of Miami-Dade County is paramount during this pandemic,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “There will be zero tolerance for establishments that do not follow the rules to protect our community from the spread of COVID-19.” The three restaurants were Astra in Wynwood, Swan in the Design District and El Secreto Bar & Grill in Little Havana. The owners of non-compliant businesses may face a $500 fine and up to 180 days in jail. In order to reopen, businesses that have been closed due to noncompliance must take 24 hours to review the New Normal Guidelines and also take all necessary measures to meet the requirements. These businesses must also submit an affidavit demonstrating that they have completed the necessary steps to reopen. On Friday, MDPD conducted 10,220 business checks, mostly in unincorporated areas of the County, and warned 45 business of non-compliance for mostly lesser violations. "Everyone must take personal responsibility to help stop the spread of this virus," Mayor Gimenez added. During Miami-Dade County’s “Yellow Phase” restaurants can operate at 50 percent capacity indoors and their employees and patrons must follow all rules, including wearing masks at certain times and always social distancing. By Miami-Dade Gov

Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade (BGCMD) is thrilled to accept new members for its 2020 in-person Summer Camp, “Virtual Club” Summer Camp, and in-person Sports Conditioning Camp. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing efforts/CDC guidelines, BGCMD is offering a smaller, limited in-person Summer Camp and Sports Conditioning Camp. “We are excited to offer our summer programs while taking every precaution to ensure the safety and protection of all youth in our programs ― the No. 1 priority of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade,” said Alex Rodriguez-Roig, president of BGCMD. “These positive programs are very important to keeping our youth members engaged during the summer months.” In-Person Summer Camp Program Just like the after-school program during the school year, the Summer Camp program enables children to learn values such as friendship, honesty and teamwork by providing a safe and secure environment where they can develop into productive and independent young adults. It is offered at the Hank Kline, Northwest, Kendall and South Beach Clubs, and staffed by qualified full-time and summer staff. Children participate in fun indoor activities such as arts and crafts, computer room, game room, table games, movie room, basketball and much more. Outdoor activities include organized group games. Members are placed in groups of nine members per one adult staff. The in-person Summer Camp program is open to all boys and girls ages 5–17 (must be entering kindergarten in the fall; cannot turn 17 before Sept. 1, 2018), and runs Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; however, counselors are available to supervise children from 8:15 a.m.–6 p.m. A free nutritious lunch and afternoon snack is provided daily at no additional cost, or children may bring their own lunch. At each Club, awards will be given to recognize the boys and girls who have made a positive contribution to the Summer Camp program. To register, parents must come in person to the specific Club where their child(ren) will be attending the Summer Camp program. Mailed or faxed registration cards will not be accepted. Children will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is filled. The price for the in-person Summer Camp program starts at $200 for the entire summer and is available at the following Clubs: · Hank Kline Club, 2805 SW 32 Avenue Miami, FL 33133 · Kendall Club, 9475 North Kendall Dr. Miami, FL 33176 · South Beach Club, 1200 Michigan Avenue Miami, FL 33139 · Northwest Club, 10915 NW 14 Avenue Miami, FL 33167 For more info visit bgcmia.org

I arrive at Bar Margot at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta around lunchtime. It is the last Saturday of February. The restaurant is hosting a number of patrons, including This is Us’ Justin Hartley, who is dining at an adjacent table. I spot Tika seated nearby and wave; she is wrapping up lunch with a girlfriend. She joins me at my table; the waiter brings over her leftover glass of Chardonnay. Tika is dressed in an olive green athleisure set and her black hair is in long braids that flow down to her hips. She is undoubtedly a classic beauty, but her beauty is further accentuated by her warm, animated personality (her sweet thank-you text message after our interview, with spot-on GIFs, cracked me up) and ever-present grin (we laughed a lot). So refreshingly affable, I barely believe Tika when she tells me (later on in our interview) that fans might be surprised to find out that she is actually introverted. “They wouldn’t recognize that when they see me in interviews, but in my life, I’m the quietest one in the room,” says Tika, who prefers reading a book or curling up on the couch and not talking over socializing. “I know I have to do it because I’m in this business, but it takes a lot for me to actually cut through that and like, suit myself up and go talk. I could just be quiet and disappear. Sometimes, at family gatherings they’re like, ‘Where’s Tika?’ I’m out. I’m like in the room, door closed, nobody knows where I am. I’m like, Do I need therapy? I’m in therapy, but I’m like, Do we need to talk about that?” She laughs and flashes that gorgeous smile of hers. Tika has much to smile about. The Queens, New York-born actress has been working in the entertainment industry for over fifteen years now, appearing in films alongside Hollywood heavyweights (Ride Along 1 & 2, Get on Up, The Old Man & the Gun) and in highly-acclaimed TV series (One Life to Live, Gossip Girl, The Haves and the Have Nots), but this past year has brought with it a whirlwind of achievements. You could say that Tika has been busy, but that would be an understatement --she completed her script, launched two businesses, saw her new TV series [Mixed-ish] reach “hit” status, and watched her latest film [Sonic the Hedgehog] gross $306 million worldwide and become the highest-grossing video game film adaptation of all time in North America. At the time of our interview, Sonic the Hedgehog was thriving in theaters. “It was almost like I was wondering if I was working a job ’cause I was like, we’re having so much fun,” Tika says about working on Sonic, the video game franchise published by Sega. “James Marsden and I, all we would do was laugh. Literally, the entire... I’m like, Are we getting anything done? And we did. Jeff Fowler, the director, made it such a fun set that you couldn’t do anything but be happy to be there, and we were. We were just super happy,” Tika gushes. The role of Maddie --the wife of town sheriff, Tom, played by James Marsden-- sort of fell into her lap. Surprisingly, Tika’s audition happened at their table read. “James was there and all these… Neal Moritz, who is a huge producer. The table was super long, super intimidating, and I was there and I was like, I’m reading a role that’s not mine yet.” She laughs. “I knew I wanted to be a part of it because Sonic was something that I grew up on. I just knew this is going to be special, fun... After that, they’re like, ‘Yeah, you got it!’ --right at the table,” she laughs. In addition to James and Tika, Sonic’s cast includes Adam Pally, Ben Schwartz, and Jim Carrey, who portrays Dr. Robotnik. “Jim Carrey came on set, it was like, he’s so kind. I think people expect him to be this like, I don’t know what people expect super superstars to be, but every time people are like, ‘How was he to work with? Was he nice?’ I’m like, ‘He’s so kind to us.’ So, it was a dream come true.” It was a treat to see Jim’s eccentricity back on the big screen (I saw Sonic in theaters the night before my interview with Tika). Tika and I recollect our introduction to Jim via the Fox sketch comedy series, In Living Color. “Mmmhmm, that’s when I first saw him. That’s why working with him or being in a movie with him is every actor’s dream, because I grew up watching him and he became this superstar from there. But, he’s also an incredible person to be around. We all had dinner like, two weeks ago, and he’s incredibly grateful for the support this film has had, because he really hasn’t done a film in a really long time. He just kept saying, ‘We are so blessed.’ And I just took that in; he’s still grateful at this point in his career,” she muses. Presently, Sonic is the second highest-grossing film of 2020. And to think, Sonic almost missed its mark. After Sonic’s first trailer (in 2019) received negative reviews, the studio delayed the film three months to do a redesign. “I’m super surprised that Paramount actually listened to the people. People who are superfans of Sonic, they know Sonic, and they know the world. And they [Paramount] listened, which does not happen in our industry… And it was probably the best thing they did, because it’s #1 two weeks in a row,” says Tika. Recently, Tika wrapped up the filming of the first season of ABC’s new TV series, Mixed-ish. When the trailer for this sitcom first debuted, I was intrigued. The prequel spin-off of Black-ish chronicles Rainbow ‘Bow’ Johnson’s early years and her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the 1980s and her family’s assimilation from the hippie commune to the suburbs. Tika plays Alicia Johnson, a mother of three (Bow, Johan, and Santamonica) and a lawyer, who works for her father-in-law, played by Gary Cole. Mark-Paul Gosselaar portrays Alicia’s husband, Paul Johnson. “Alicia is a very smart, but vulnerable, very free, and open woman, who is kinda quirky and silly --that’s kinda where Bow gets her quirkiness and her not-so-great dancing moves. It’s a role that I’m so grateful that I was able to get, and that Kenya Barris [creator of Black-ish and Grown-ish] saw parts of Alicia in me enough to say, ‘Can you come read for the role?’ It’s part of this really cool universe, which not only tells something funny, but is also socially impactful --you learn something, but without being beat over the head. I’m just grateful to be part of this planet, of the -ish universe,” says Tika. I’ve been watching Mixed-ish since its premiere and have fallen in love with the Johnsons. The entire cast is bursting with personality, especially the youngest Johnson, Santamonica, aka Santi, portrayed by Mykal-Michelle Harris. Santi is unbelievably sassy and hilarious. “Oh my God, she’s fantastic --all the kids are: Ethan William Childress, Arica Himmel, Mykal-Michelle Harris, they are so well cast and they deliver every time. They are part of this fantastic show, where I’m happy to play their mom.” Working with Mark-Paul every day has also been a pleasure. “We get along almost too well that I would keep looking over my shoulder like, What’s going to happen in Season Two? ’cause we get along so well. We’re neighbors actually [in Los Angeles]. We didn’t even know until we started working together. He’s such a thoughtful actor, he’s a family guy, and he’s just nice. And he’s grateful to still be in the business, after all this time, to be working, so I feel like he teaches me something every day. He also directs. Hopefully, he’ll direct an episode of our show.” With Mixed-ish set in the ’80s, Tika and the cast get to dive into the extreme fashion of this era. “The clothes are fantastic. The makeup is amazing --just the colors, the tone, the essence of what was going on that time socially. There were big changes in the ’80s, going into the ’90s, so it’s just fun to play around with that.” ABC recently announced that Mixed-ish will be returning for a second season. “It’s overwhelming because you want to live up to what these two [Black-ish and Grown-ish] have done success-wise. But I feel like we’ve created our own little hub of what we are and we kinda had to because we’re pre what you see now. The take is, we’re the reason why Bow is Bow, y’know what I mean? We’re the family you get to see pre everything you see now, so it’s exciting to create that.” In addition to acting, Tika has been producing and developing her own projects. In 2016, Tika co-produced with John Legend, her first film, Southside with You. In the film (an official selection of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, which was sold to Miramax), Tika portrays former first lady Michelle Obama. What was it like playing Michelle? “It was amazing. What I loved was we weren’t trying to emulate them or who they are right now, we had to imagine who they were through books and through her brother's book… We didn’t have a lot of love stories with black people as the leads at that time. I just thought it was interesting to dissect their first date, and everybody can kinda see themselves in that.” Did Michelle comment on it? “She didn’t. I was like, Oh my God, did she hate it?” Tika laughs. “I know we got the thumbs-up to do it… and there wasn’t going to be any backlash. I understand though, it’s hard to... your relationship is on-screen and somebody’s taking that and putting it up there, you don’t... so, I don’t know. One day, when I see her, I’ll ask her,” she says with a smile. Southside with You was Tika’s first producing credit, but she had been laying the groundwork for its success for a while now. “I always tell people, little nuggets of life experience and things that don’t work, all add up... I tried to produce a long time ago, a surfing thing; my ex was a pro surfer. And I just found these videos of me putting money into it, and having a videographer, so I’ve always wanted to do it. It’s like, all those bad times or things that didn’t work out lead to the thing that you were supposed to be doing --that’s what you worked for. Yeah, producing is like, my thing, man.” Tika smiles. She relishes taking a small idea and bringing it to fruition. Being on the ground --obtaining the financing, making it all work, producing stories that wouldn’t otherwise get seen -- is a thrill for her. Once Tika had a taste of producing, she knew she wanted to do more. “You also have a seat at the table, where you’re like, ‘Mmm, I don’t believe that’s right’ or just trying to make it the best it can be and having a say in the creative.” Right now, Tika has a few irons in the fire. “I have something I’m working on with Amy Poehler that we’re producing together. A few writers I'm excited to work with. Some original ideas. I am about to sell my script that I wrote with my co-writer, Kay Oyegun --she’s an amazing writer. Just keep pushing it forward,” she says with a smile. The movie script is a dramedy in the vein of The Farewell with laughter, she tells me. The themes are sisterhood and family. “Just something that’s really close to my heart.” Tika finished writing it last year on her birthday (June 20) while she was in Hawaii. “It was just something I couldn’t stop, because it’s a story that just needed to get out. It was also a healing thing, too. It turned out to be something fantastic that people really love, so I’m excited about it,” she beams. With the United States under a stay-at-home order for the last couple of months, Tika has been quarantining with her fiancé and The Haves and the Have Nots co-star, Nicholas James and their daughter, Ella. Fortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t affected Tika’s momentum. In late March, Tika and her partner Thai Randolph (EVP and General Manager of Kevin Hart and Lionsgate’s Laugh Out Loud network) launched two new businesses: lifestyle ecommerce site, SugaBerry (SugaBerry.com) and The Suga podcast via Stitcher. “It's like the Goop for black moms,” says Tika about SugaBerry. The idea for SugaBerry [“Like grandmas in the south: ‘Gimme some suga’ --kisses.”] materialized while Tika was pregnant with Ella. “It’s kinda correlated to the book I'm turning into a movie with Amy Poehler ’cause I was looking for a space or a community of just mamas or brown mamas online… I found small ones later, after digging… I just felt like there was a hole missing from the marketplace where people were not paying attention to this group of women who are highly-educated, that have money to spend, and who are not being catered to luxury-wise or mid-luxury-wise.” Tika pitched her idea to Thai, who was like, “Let’s do it!” Tika is very involved with SugaBerry. “Thai is like, ‘I’ve seen so many different celebrity-endorsed things or people who start companies and they’re not very involved, but you are so involved in everything.’ I just want to make sure it’s something that I also would love,” says Tika when we connect a second time in mid-May via phone. “It’s almost like when I give gifts; I like to give gifts that I would want and not send back or return. So, I just want to make sure that we’re giving information, and giving the sweetness of life with things that I love as well. Even during COVID, we’ve been able to put resources up, whether it’s about our stimulus checks, things to do with your kids at home, taking care of yourself, raising a kid in the TikTok generation, to the indulgence of being everything to everyone. The indulgence of talking about the conversations that need to be had. It’s happening, it’s all happening, so we’re excited.” On The Suga podcast, a branch of SugaBerry, Tika and Thai interview experts and celebrity guests. “The Suga talks about all things motherhood, or if you’re undecided or an auntie or want to get in on the fun. Things that we don’t always get to talk about or be in the conversation about, especially for black women or women of color, in general. We don’t spill the tea, we share the suga.” Kelly Rowland, Vivica A. Fox, and Tia Mowry are just a few of The Suga’s past guests. “We’re thriving and surviving and lifting people up in the meantime,” says Tika. “We launched this whole business while this quarantine situation happened. It’s going great, man. It’s also been therapeutic for me and Thai because we’re never home this much, we’re either on set or in meetings and things like that. Being home, consumed by your child and your husband, basically, everything’s home, so it’s just been very therapeutic to kinda be validated by other women in feeling... whether it’s the pressures... or spending more time with your family or working on your own relationship even more. It’s just brought things more to the forefront, so it’s been very therapeutic.” They also provide a wealth of resources for mental health, wellness, parenting, love, etc. “It’s just been very, very cool to do in the midst of all this. We have a great list of amazing people that are lined up for a second season. We’re super excited that people want to come on and share their story and share their resources, so we can all remain connected.” Even though Tika is home, she is busier than ever and has been taking meeting after meeting and reading a ton of scripts. “I’m excited to start pitching some things. It’s crazy, because all the writers are home, so they're all able to work on their day jobs, but also the other stuff they’ve been developing, so all these scripts I’ve been developing have been coming in, which has been super exciting.” Tika has also been recording her voiceover work for TBS’ animated space opera series, Final Space, from home. “I’ve been working like a crazy person. I feel like I’m more busy at home than I am in the street! It’s insane. It’s definitely kept my mind off all the craziness that’s been happening around us. Just trying to focus on positivity.” Tika Sumpter as the cover star of Miami Living Magazine WE WANT MORE Do you ever get out to Miami? “I’ve been to Miami once. I think I didn’t know what to expect. Oh, everybody's in shape? I’m going to put my towel back on.” She laughs. “Um, that’s the Miami I saw. I was like, ‘Holy hell.’ And I stayed at, what is that hotel? It’s a very snazzy hotel. It’s huge, blue…” Fontainebleau? “I stayed there and I felt so, again, this is my introverted...” She gasps. “I don’t know if I belong here,” she whimpers. “It was just so big and all the women were just gorgeous and the men were like, y’know.... But I need to go there now. I need to do Miami-Miami. I need to go to that really famous club that everybody goes to, that people can’t get into.” LIV? “LIV. Is that still good? I feel like I need to do Miami --go to all the restaurants, party, and go to the pool. Once I workout more, I think I’ll go back,” she laughs. What are you watching on TV? “Semi-ashamed and semi-not, ’cause I’m on a set all the time, sometimes you just need a getaway from... not that I need to make an excuse for what I’m watching, but I’m like, I can’t watch another movie. I don’t want to watch anything. I just want to watch reality TV. I just want to watch 90 Day Fiancé. I’m hooked on this show. I tell people about it like I tell them about this Disney Cruise. Whoever created that show is a genius, that’s my show.” What artists are you listening to? “So, I have Spotify now… so late to everything. I love the new Justin Bieber album. He has this one song. I have to put this out, I couldn’t stop listening to it. I always think of when they're singing, I'm like, I'm in the video. I’m like, Oh my God, that’s such a sweet song, like, he’s talking about me. But I don’t care if it’s him, you just feel like that girl, y’know? It’s just such a good song. It’s not “Yummy,” it’s the other song that’s probably really popular. But anyway, I like his song, I thought it was really cute.” You did a music video. “I have. I did one with Jason Derulo,” she sings his name and laughs. How was it doing that? “I did Jason Derulo’s “It Girl” and then I did a video with Mos Def a long time ago with the black girl who is in The Bronx Tale. It was such a good set. I was like, Oh, I don’t mind doing this again. I was Jason Derulo’s It Girl; this is when I was on Gossip Girl. It’s like a love story. It was fun,” she laughs. “Super sweet guy.” Words and interview by Vanessa Pascale. Keep up with Tika on Instagram: @TikaSumpter, SugaBerry.com (Instagram: @TheSugaBerries), Twitter: @IamTikaSumpter, and The Suga podcast.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on June 21st since 2015. And the first International Day of Yoga created a record for the largest yoga class, and another for the largest number of participating nationalities. The idea of International Day of Yoga was first proposed by the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. He stated: Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day. — Narendra Modi, UN General Assembly Following this initial proposal, the United Nations held informal consultations on the draft resolution, entitled "International Day of Yoga", on October 14th 2014. The consultations were convened by the delegation of India. In 2015 Reserve Bank of India issued a 10 rupees commemorative coin to mark the International Day of Yoga. REACTION An Associated Press report in 2015 noted that the first "International Yoga Day" involved "millions of yoga enthusiasts" who "stretched and twisted", as well as Modi and members of his cabinet. It stated that the main road in Delhi had become an exercise area for the occasion, and reported that while Modi was speaking of "peace and harmony", some people in India thought the promotion of yoga was a partisan Hindu operation. It reported that a sequence of Surya Namaskar (sun salutations) was dropped because Muslims objected to the implication that the sun was the Hindu god of the sun, Surya; the chanting of the Hindu sacred syllable "Om" was also dropped. Others considered that the money spent on the event might have been better spent on cleaning Delhi's streets. The Christian Science Monitor wrote in 2016 that the 2014 United Nations resolution had been "wildly popular" but noted that yoga had a "meditative component" and had become known as not only a form of physical exercise but also a mental and spiritual practice. It gave as evidence the 2015 sermon by Pope Francis cautioning Roman Catholics about the idea that yoga could be a path to God; it noted, too, that Modi had replied to the charge that the Day was intended to promote Hinduism with the words "Yoga is not about the other life. Therefore, it is not a religious practice". The Week stated in 2015 that the government of India's purpose in holding International Days of Yoga was to have yoga recognised around the world as "India's cultural property", citing India's minister of yoga, Shripad Yesso Naik as stating "We're trying to establish to the world that it's ours." The Week wrote that this was not likely to succeed, not least because many types of yoga were already being practiced in the Western world. The article noted that Christian evangelicals agreed with the Indian government that yoga was "primarily a Hindu spiritual practice", but quoted the scholar of religion Ann Gleig as saying that most Western yoga was markedly changed by being in the West, and was devoid of religious content; the "ironically" agreeing views of strongly religious Hindus and Christians were "historically flawed". Gif image by Sarito, a graphic artist originally from Venezuela and currently living in Zürich. Her designs seek to honor the female gender, reflecting strength and delicacy in one voice. She likes to project a positive world, full of flowers, light, and love. Contact Sarito at zazzle.com/sarito, facebook.com/Saritos.Ink and @saritos_ink on Instagram. Textual inserts courtesy of Wikipedia. Please support Wikipedia by donating today.

“So much of American cuisine is about big portions and piling on the add-ons. You get hot dogs and pizza with ‘the works’  and hamburgers ‘all the way.’ At Uchi, one of my primary goals was to take the sushi bar experience and bring it into the whole restaurant. Our staff picks up on what the customer likes and dislikes and guides them through a more educational and interactive experience. I want people leaving Uchi having tried things they never would have expected … and having barely touched their soy sauce dish. Below are a few tips worth knowing about really enjoying sushi. Things You Wanted to Know About Sushi But Were Afraid to Ask Soy Sauce-a little (or none) goes a long way Don’t put your sushi in the soy sauce. You don’t sit rice in soy sauce, if you even use soy sauce. You should wipe only a small amount of soy Try to use as little soy sauce as possible. Especially if the restaurant serves your sushi with other yakumi, or sauces and accents that are meant to go with your order. The Japanese never serve soy sauce with sushi. You have to ask for it. There’s a reason for that. Wasabi—not like butter Don’t make a paste. You’re not supposed to make a paste, mortar, putty, or anything gloppy with wasabi and soy sauce. I’ve seen so many people take their wasabi “paste” and spread it on their sushi like they’re buttering toast. Then they line up the pickled ginger on top like roof shingles. You can’t even see the fish! And when they eat it and the wasabi knocks their eyes back into their head. Pickled Ginger This is used to cleanse your palate. It’s not to eat with your sushi. Not only is it pickled, but it’s ginger. Two really strong flavors. So when people put that on their sushi, you know what they taste? PICKLED GINGER! Order one at a time Sushi is a delicacy if you eat it one bite at a time right when it’s made you’re eating when it’s at its best. That long paper list they give you at many sushi places makes people think they have to order everything right then and there. When you place a large order, the chef makes all of it at once, which takes time, which makes the first piece old by the time they’ve finished the final piece. Then, when it gets to your table, it sits even longer as you work your way through it. If you want mediocre or bad sushi, order it that way. If you want good sushi, don’t order it all at once. Then…Eat your sushi immediately when you get it With fresh French fries, you have only a few minutes to eat them before they’re soggy and gross. Same with sushi. It’s supposed to be cold fish and warm rice. Eat it when it’s served. Otherwise it’s just dying on your plate. A word about chopsticks You don’t need them as much as you think you do. Sushi was originally made to eat with your hands. The only time you need chopsticks is for sashimi. Everything else, you can eat with your hands. Even nigiri, which is a piece of fish served on a small pod of rice. Cheap Sushi is an oxymoron Half-price appetizer sushi …cheap sushi … that’s a bad idea. Sushi should not be used to save money. It means you’re eating bad fish. Period. Skip the Spicy Tuna Roll The two most popular sushi rolls in America are: The California roll and the spicy tuna roll. California because it’s delicious. It’s the perfect combination of cucumber for texture, avocado for creaminess and a little fat, and crab for sweetness. California rolls are great. On the other hand, spicy tuna rolls come from sushi chefs in America trying to get rid of their older tuna with spicy mayonnaise. I would eat 1,001 things at a sushi bar other than a spicy tuna roll. Respect your sushi chefs The good ones really know what they’re doing. If you have a chance to eat sushi, always do it at the sushi bar. Every sushi chef has a stash that they want to share. Just trust they’re going to give you something good. Bigger is not better Sushi is supposed to be bite-sized, and the rice is supposed to fall apart in your mouth. It’s a delicacy. It’s supposed to be small, simple, and clean, not overloaded with rice and a bunch of other crap. Don’t be high maintenance It’s okay to ask for the occasional substitution. But when it comes to taste, the customer is not always right. Some substitutions are simple and that’s fine, like a California roll with no crab. That’s fine. But if you come to Uchi and ask for Hamachi belly, cut extra thin, with no skin, on small rice balls, with a slice of lemon on top, and spicy sauce on the side, the answer will be, “No.” Sushi rice It’s supposed to be warm and it’s supposed to be soft. It’s not supposed to be sticky, hard, or crunchy. Sushi has everything to do with the rice, not the fish. You read food blogs that don’t know what they’re talking about, saying they had sushi fall apart on them (probably because they soaked it in soy sauce), and that the rice was too soft.Would you rather the rice besuper sticky so it can absorb a lake of soy sauce and still maintain some structure? Gross. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. What to know about mackerel (saba) This is the number one type of sushi fish that is known for food poisoning. Saba is a very oily and particularly strong tasting fish. It’s the cheapest fish you can buy, and most restaurants cure it with salt so they can hold it for a long time. Some restaurants hold it for up to a week or ten days. That is where the food poisoning comes in. Some people really like saba, but if you don’t trust the sushi restaurant, it’s not smart to order this stuff. Note: At Uchi, we buy all of our mackerel fresh and cure it in-house each day. Whatever is not used that day is then moved to our grilled mackerel dish, Saba Shio. After that, whatever is not used is discarded. Beware of too much Escolar Not many people know this, but escolar is a natural laxative. It’s a great fish to use for sushi, but order it only in small amounts. There are some big horror stories attached to it and those who have consumed too much of it. Sake It is meant to be enjoyed when it’s very fresh and cold. It’s amazing how well it goes with sushi. It’s so clean and delicate. A lot of people don’t know how to enjoy sake. They’ll order a bottle of hot sake and sip on that for their whole meal. It’s disgusting.  In Japan, the only time they drink warm sake is at festivals when it’s cold outside, sort of like how we drink mulled wine at holiday festivals. You wouldn’t drink that stuff on a regular basis, though, especially because it’s made from cheap wine. Guess what?  Warm sake is also cheap. If you’re going to pair your sake with sushi, be sure to order cold sake. Don’t mess with the warm stuff. One bite nigiri Nigiri is the sushi rice pressed together with a slice of some sort of fish on top. You really shouldn’t take two bites. It’s supposed to be one bite. Unfortunately, some restaurants get carried away with the size of their nigiri. If it’s just too big, hold it with your fingers. Smear a dab of soy sauce on top of the fish (not the rice) and take a bite. Then take the second bite without setting it down Clean your plate If you’re in Japan or in a real Japanese restaurant, don’t ever, ever, ever leave anything on your plate. You eat everything. Their philosophy is, “We’re an island nation. We barely have enough resources. So when you have something on your plate, you better be thankful for it. And you better eat it.” Avoid pre-sliced sushi If you go to a sushi bar and everything is pre-sliced, it’s not a good sushi bar. You see pre-sliced sushi at a lot of restaurants. It means it’s cheap. It means the restaurant is cutting corners. They’re not paying attention to the product or respect to the fish. They’re exposing the fish to more air, which is breaking it down and ruining its texture. Colorful fish does not always equal fresh fish Ever seen someone take a look at a block of bright red tuna in a sushi case and say, “Man, that tuna looks so fresh!” There are five kinds of fish that Americans typically consume for sushi: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, eel, and a whitefish. You can buy any of those fish in a precut, preformed, preweighed block. You’ll notice the tuna is really red, and the salmon is really orange. That’s from the nitrates used to package the fish. Many sushi restaurants order that way because the fish is cheap and they don’t need skilled labor to make their sushi. Bottom line: If it doesn’t look natural, it probably isn’t. uchi Miami is opening soon in Wynwood (Summer 2020) 240 Northwest 25th St. Miami, Florida 33127 For more info visit uchi Miami. My ML Staff. Images courtesy of uchi

With most restaurants now offering a takeout options due to Covid-19, why not support our local restaurants? It is a great way to enjoy a tasty meal while practicing the necessary social distancing. Tanuki Miami Modern Pan-Asian eatery serving an extensive array of Chinese & Japanese fare in a chill setting. Note: Order directly at Tanuki's website and get a 5-10% discount. Menu: tanukimiami.com Order: tanukimiami.com Phone: (305) 615-1055 (orders can not be done over the phone) Address: 1080 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Apple A Day Natural Food Market Quaint health-food market features all-natural grocery items, supplements & organic prepared fare. Menu: Apple A Day Order: grubhub.com Phone: (305) 538-4569 Address: 1534 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Bella Napoli Pizzeria Casual, nondescript pizzeria in a strip-mall location serving wood-oven pizza & Italian classics. Menu: Bella Napoli Pizzeria Order: grubhub.com Phone: (305) 672-1558 Address: 1443 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Boulud Sud Miami Chef-driven dining room serving refined Mediterranean fare. Menu: bouludsud.com Order: doordash.com Phone: (305) 421-8800 Address: 255 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131 Plant Miami Refined, artfully presented vegan/raw cuisine & organic wine served amid airy, modern surrounds. Menu: sacredspacemiami.com Order: ubereats.com Phone: (305) 814-5365 Address: 1443 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 The Capital Grille Miami Outpost of the upscale steakhouse chain offers classic American fare & a clubby, refined setting. Curbside Takeout & Delivery Menu: thecapitalgrille.com Order: thecapitalgrille.com Phone: (305) 374-4500 Address: 444 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131 Zucca Stylish place for house made pastas, steaks & other Italian fare, with wine & inventive cocktails. Delivery available Menu: OpenTable Order by calling: (786) 580-3731 Address: 162 Alcazar Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134

The Shop in Pop Up Shop is reopening Friday, June 19, 2020 at noon with a celebratory cookout with food provided by local Jamaican cuisine favorite Sparky’s Jerk Cuisine (@sparkysjerkcuisine_). Come and enjoy shopping new arrivals from Levi’s, Renowned LA, Muehleder, and Z Malan and discovering new brands while still adhering to important safety standards. Considered NBA royalty, co-founders Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Calyann Barnett - longtime Miami based style icon and stylist to celebrities - hand select a curated roster of designers for the space, which has included Public School, Ports V, and Carmelo Anthony’s Melo Made x Maxhosa collaboration in the past. The Shop in Pop Up Shop will also continue to expand its online offerings, allowing participating brands to tap into their loyal online shopping audience. With new brands and events added every day, customers can follow along at @theshopinpopupshop and at www.theshopinpopupshop.com. The Shop in Pop Up Shop is located at 285 NW 26th St in Wynwood, Miami. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of The Shop in Pop Up Shop

Perhaps the most important question now about COVID-19 is the degree to which a prior infection protects from a second infection by the new coronavirus. This affects vaccine development and herd immunity and is something for each of us to consider as antibody tests are now available. I am a physician scientist and have a Ph.D. in microbiology as well as an M.D. My clinical specialty is internal medicine and I subspecialize in infectious diseases. I am working on one approach to COVID-19 vaccination while also caring for hospitalized patients. Here are my responses to common questions surrounding tests and what they can tell you about immunity. What are the different types of COVID-19 tests? The nasal swab PCR test that we have all seen in the news, and which 22 million of us in the U.S. have used, reflects whether you are currently infected with the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This test detects the genetic code of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in your body. If you have a positive nasal swab PCR result, you not only have the infection, but you are potentially infectious and should stay isolated until recovered. In contrast, the antibody test determines if you had COVID-19 sometime in the past. It is measuring your body’s immune response to the infection, something that occurs over days to weeks after the infection starts. The antibody can appear after the infection is resolved, or even while you are still infected. Can the immune system cure COVID-19? The answer here is a resounding yes. In all but a tiny percent of cases – maybe 1 in 100 – the immune system naturally eliminates SARS-CoV-2 from the body. This is very encouraging for vaccine development, as making an effective vaccine should be much easier than for HIV or hepatitis C virus, for example, where the immune system often (for hepatitis C) or almost always (for HIV) fails. SARS-CoV-2 differs from these two viruses because it has a so-called proofreader gene that prevents mutations from being introduced during viral replication. Do antibodies work to prevent a new coronavirus infection? The answer here is maybe. Molecular model of the Y-shaped antibodies (blue) binding to the spike protein (red) of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. If the antibodies bind the region of the spike protein that binds to the ACE2 receptor - the gateway to infecting human cells - then the antibody will prevent infection. Image by Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library, Getty Images We know that in a test tube antibodies against the virus can neutralize it. That is, they can prevent the virus from entering into a human cell and causing an infection. But not every antibody is equally capable of preventing the virus from causing an infection. The very best antibodies are ones that neutralize the receptor binding domain of the new coronavirus spike protein that attaches to the host cell’s ACE2 receptor. The RBD is on the tip of the spike protein and is the part of the spike that touches ACE2. Antibodies against RBD block the very first step of viral infection, which is when the coronavirus attaches the human cell membrane. If my antibody test is positive, am I immune? Another maybe. Clouding the interpretation of a positive antibody test is that we do not yet know if antibodies against RBD make people immune. We also don’t know how much of this antibody against RBD is needed to ensure protection. Complicating things further is the fact that not all of the antibody tests for COVID-19 measure antibodies against RBD. Some tests measure antibodies against parts of the virus that are not needed for cell entry. These antibodies that are not against the RBD will recognize the virus but will not block it from infecting human cells and triggering viral infection. So only antibodies that block the spike protein from connecting to the ACE2 receptor are guaranteed to provide immunity. And only antibody tests that measure the amount of these antibodies can predict immunity. We will have a better understanding of the ability of antibodies against the RBD to protect from infection this summer when large phase III vaccine studies start. This is because these vaccines are designed to make antibodies against the RBD. A man getting his coronavirus antibody test. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Should I get an antibody test? If you are curious whether you had COVID-19 in the past then yes, it makes sense to be tested. Be aware, however, that some of the tests to date have shown a high number of false positives. If you do have antibodies, do not assume you an invulnerable to the new coronavirus; you might be just as susceptible as someone who has no antibodies. So even if you do have antibodies, wearing a mask indoors and maintaining social distancing is still key for all of us as we cope with the continued threat from this pandemic. William Petri Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia. Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today.

Crystal Cruises’ Serenity will sail from the Cruise Capital of the World this October. The cruise line recently announced its new itinerary from PortMiami to the Caribbean. Itineraries include: Sunkissed Chic, Miami to San Juan, embarking October 1, October 15 and October 29: calling in Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (maiden call); St. John’s, Antigua; Gustavia, St. Barts (overnight); and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. Tropical Interlude, San Juan to Miami, embarking October 8, October 22 and November 5: calling in Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Costa Maya, Mexico. “The cruise industry is vital to our economy, contributing $6.3 billion in direct spending to Florida on an annual basis and supporting approximately 34,200 jobs,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “More ships and cruise activity support not only our local workforce, but also small- to medium-sized businesses in our community.” “We are excited to welcome Crystal Serenity to the Cruise Capital of the World," said Vice-Chair Rebeca Sosa, Chairwoman of the Tourism and the Ports Committee. “We thank the cruise line for entrusting the PortMiami family with their luxury ship.” Click to view larger image > For booking inquiries and additional info visit Crystalcruises.com By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Crystal Cruises