Best Day Ever: NBC's Tom Llamas shares his top Miami spots
The son of Cuban immigrants, the Belen Jesuit Prep graduate and former Telemundo reporter took over for Lester Holt as the show's anchor earlier this month. (He's also the anchor of Top Story with Tom Llamas on NBC News NOW.)
Given his Miami roots — and his frequent visits back home — we wanted to know what his perfect day in Miami would look like.
☀️ Morning activity: At my parents' house, it's drinking Cuban coffee and hanging out with my dad, reading the newspapers outside and enjoying the weather.
If we're at the beach, taking a walk with my wife early in the morning.
☕ Best place for breakfast: CasaCuba. I normally have a cafe con leche, croquetas, pan Cubano and scrambled eggs.
🎣 Favorite afternoon activity: Going to the beach or going out to fish.
🍗 Favorite place for lunch: El Mago De Las Fritas or The Sports Grill, which I think has the best wings in Miami.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eater
3 days ago
- Eater
A Supersized French Bistro Swings Open Near Amazon HQ2
D.C. hospitality brothers Ian and Eric Hilton are at it again, this time with an all-day brasserie for National Landing. Bar Colline is H2 Collective's massive metropolitan answer to the charming original (Cafe Colline), which debuted in 2020 in the tree-lined Arlington suburb of Waverly Hills. Bar Colline's rustic-chic interior. Mykl Wu/H2 Located a 14-minute drive away (269 19th Court S.), the new Bar Colline joins offshoots of other familiar favorites like dumpling spot Bar Chinois and Cuban cafe Colada Shop at the foot of JBG Smith's new Grace and Riva apartments. H2's longtime chef Brendan L'Etoile imports staples from the 5-year-old original, including its top-selling steak frites dunked in bearnaise, croque madame, and duck confit. The big difference this time around? It's over three times larger, with room for 230 guests along with a big patio decked out in string lights. More space means there's more room in the kitchen to produce extra dishes like chickpea fritters, chilled corn soup, and weekly specials. Hours to start are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The sizable setup also allows for more walk-ins than the first. Mediterranean seabass at Bar Colline. Mykl Wu/H2 'We have a larger assortment of smaller plates for a quick lunch-type thing for people who can't linger and need to get back to their desks,' Ian Hilton tells Eater. Chinese chef Peter Chang also went the same menu route for his National Landing edition of Baltimore-born NiHao. 'I remember this area full of government contractors hanging out at nondescript buildings,' says Hilton, of the artist formerly known as Crystal City. 'It's gone through major changes and it's nice to see people walking around all the time, even in 100 degrees.' In late 2023, the tech-driven neighborhood welcomed an all-outdoor food hall called Water Park across from HQ2. The Amazon effect 'has brought ancillary businesses in and an assortment of retail,' Hilton says. The area is also now home to sit-down options for Mexican (Taqueria Xochi, Tacombi) and pisco (Peruvian Brothers), but Bar Colline fills somewhat of a French food void. Bar Colline's arrival on Friday, July 11, coincidentally comes just in time for France's annual Bastille Day festivities (Monday, July 14). A massive private dining room for up to 16 guests is outfitted with its own AV system. Mykl Wu/H2 H2's Parisian cafe game started with Chez Billy Sud a decade ago in Georgetown, followed by Cafe Colline in Arlington and Parc de Ville in the Mosaic District (which is currently closed for renovations). A 50-foot wraparound bar slings spritzes, local beers, and wines, with daily happy hour that includes $6 red, white, and rosé pours from 3-6 p.m. Just beyond the dining room, an outdoor patio surrounded with trees seats 40. Red, white, and rosé pours are just $6 during happy hour. Mykl Wu/H2 Bar Colline is H2's latest large-scale project this year. Its third area outpost of El Rey – its biggest to date, with 300 seats inside and out – debuted along the Navy Yard waterfront this spring. Other El Rey taquerias sit in Ballston and on U Street NW, and its prolific portfolio also includes Players Club, Solace Outpost in Falls Church and Navy Yard, Crimson, American Ice Company, and recently opened golf bar Muni. Compared to red tape he's used to in his hometown of D.C., the opening timeline across the Potomac was relatively seamless – around 18 months from start to finish, he says. H2 co-owner Eric – yes, that Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation fame – has taken a step back from the DJ touring world to spend more time on the brothers' joint hospitality business. Next up: restoring and redeveloping Potomac, Maryland's Normandie Farm, the nearly century-old landmark leased by H2 in 2022. 'It's a labor of love that's taking a long time to do,' says Ian Hilton. 'We can focus some attention on that after we get Colline on solid ground.' The dining room has room for over 200 patrons. Mykl Wu/H2 Eater DC All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
4 days ago
Cuban women embrace extravagant nail art despite economic hardships
HAVANA -- Cuban women are embracing extravagant nail art with many willing to spend the money to have extremely long and intricate nails despite the economic obstacles. While over-the-top nail designs have long been common elsewhere, in Cuba they stand out because most Cubans have little disposable income and procuring the embellishments isn't easy. A deepening economic crisis makes almost every aspect of life in Cuba challenging for the population; long lines for buses, power outages and shortages are part of everyday life on the island. For those who have mastered the work, whether from online video tutorials or visiting manicurists from other countries, extravagant nails have become an important source of income in Cuba's limited private economy. Recently, Cuban manicurist Marisel Darias Valdés spent nearly six hours applying and decorating the acrylic extensions for a client. She set up a nail salon at her home in Havana, where she displays the specialized, imported products that are expensive and very difficult to obtain in the city. The nails that Darias decorated for her client, Mariam Camila Sosa, were at least an inch (2.5 centimeters) long. Sosa chose the cartoon character Sponge Bob because it is her daughter's favorite. The designs of the paintings and nail decorations are varied and all handmade. With this level of detail, Darias said she could not handle more than two clients per day. 'Before it was a half-hour service,' she said. 'They were table manicures, natural paint and that's it; now it's all become art, it's not just fix them and you're done.' 'Cuban women are very vain. They may lack food, but their nails, hair, eyelashes, and feet always have to be well-groomed,' Darias said. There is no official figure on the number of these specialized businesses, but since the pandemic, the small private spaces have flourished, and some have turned it into an art form. Manicurists have also learned to become content creators with sophisticated social media accounts to promote and sell their services, taking advantage of Cuba's not-always-reliable connection to the internet. Manicurist Dayana Roche showcases some of her numerous social media postings. 'It is the fundamental tool to attract the public, the clients. And you have to create a lot of content (on social media) networks because that's where everyone sees your work,' said Roche. It's a way of earning a living. Some are university graduates, but this job offers a good alternative to low wages in a tough economic scenario. Each client agrees with their manicurist on the cost of the service, which can range from $10 to $40. That's a lot of money in a country where a monthly state salary is around 5,000 Cuban pesos (about $13), although many families rely on remittances from relatives abroad and state subsidies. The materials are brought into Cuba from the United States or Panama by the manicurists themselves or relatives, or they are bought from resellers in Cuba. A small bottle of professional nail polish alone can cost $15. Miralys Maura Cruz and her sister go about their daily domestic chores with surprising agility despite their crystal-adorned 2-inch nails. 'Without my nails, I'm nobody, I know they are not cheap, and nails are a luxury, it's my luxury,' said Cruz.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Cuban women embrace extravagant nail art despite economic hardships
HAVANA (AP) — Cuban women are embracing extravagant nail art with many willing to spend the money to have extremely long and intricate nails despite the economic obstacles. While over-the-top nail designs have long been common elsewhere, in Cuba they stand out because most Cubans have little disposable income and procuring the embellishments isn't easy. A deepening economic crisis makes almost every aspect of life in Cuba challenging for the population; long lines for buses, power outages and shortages are part of everyday life on the island. For those who have mastered the work, whether from online video tutorials or visiting manicurists from other countries, extravagant nails have become an important source of income in Cuba's limited private economy. Recently, Cuban manicurist Marisel Darias Valdés spent nearly six hours applying and decorating the acrylic extensions for a client. She set up a nail salon at her home in Havana, where she displays the specialized, imported products that are expensive and very difficult to obtain in the city. The nails that Darias decorated for her client, Mariam Camila Sosa, were at least an inch (2.5 centimeters) long. Sosa chose the cartoon character Sponge Bob because it is her daughter's favorite. The designs of the paintings and nail decorations are varied and all handmade. With this level of detail, Darias said she could not handle more than two clients per day. 'Before it was a half-hour service,' she said. 'They were table manicures, natural paint and that's it; now it's all become art, it's not just fix them and you're done.' 'Cuban women are very vain. They may lack food, but their nails, hair, eyelashes, and feet always have to be well-groomed,' Darias said. There is no official figure on the number of these specialized businesses, but since the pandemic, the small private spaces have flourished, and some have turned it into an art form. Manicurists have also learned to become content creators with sophisticated social media accounts to promote and sell their services, taking advantage of Cuba's not-always-reliable connection to the internet. Manicurist Dayana Roche showcases some of her numerous social media postings. 'It is the fundamental tool to attract the public, the clients. And you have to create a lot of content (on social media) networks because that's where everyone sees your work,' said Roche. It's a way of earning a living. Some are university graduates, but this job offers a good alternative to low wages in a tough economic scenario. Each client agrees with their manicurist on the cost of the service, which can range from $10 to $40. That's a lot of money in a country where a monthly state salary is around 5,000 Cuban pesos (about $13), although many families rely on remittances from relatives abroad and state subsidies. The materials are brought into Cuba from the United States or Panama by the manicurists themselves or relatives, or they are bought from resellers in Cuba. A small bottle of professional nail polish alone can cost $15.
