Latest news with #Jimbo's
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
The Shoreline: Reclaiming the Miami-Dade I grew up in
I am a lifelong Miamian. I was born and raised in the city of Miami, but like so many in the 305, my weekends belonged to Crandon Park. I rode my BMX bike over the Rickenbacker Causeway, spent countless hours on Hobie Beach, and learned life lessons playing bocce ball at Jimbo's and eating at Sir Pizza, where everyone knew everyone. My Miami was about community, parks and beaches. We roamed freely, fearless and unsupervised, drank from garden hoses and watched our neighborhoods grow — sometimes for better, sometimes not. Over the years, I've seen firsthand how road projects and population growth changed the face of Miami-Dade. That experience shaped my passion for urban redevelopment that puts people and communities first. The Underline, which reclaimed forgotten space and returned it to residents as green, resilient and vibrant public space, proves that when we think bigger and work together, Miami-Dade can deliver. For years, the Rickenbacker Causeway — one of Miami-Dade's most iconic corridors — has been a patchwork of missed opportunities: nine lanes of speeding traffic, unprotected bike lanes where too many lives have been lost, an obsolete Bear Cut Bridge and weekend traffic jams that turn paradise into a parking lot after every storm or event. We have tried to tweak around the edges for too long. Miami-Dade residents deserve more than 'more of the same.' Instead of simply fixing an old bridge and repaving a congested highway, this plan boldly reimagines the Rickenbacker as a destination, not just a pass-through. Cars and trucks would travel on elevated viaducts 25 feet in the air, providing uninterrupted access to Key Biscayne, Crandon and Bill Baggs State Park, while below we reclaim hundreds of acres of asphalt and transform them into expanded beaches, lush parks, outdoor 'old Miami' casual food options on the water, shaded pathways and fully protected lanes for pedestrians, runners, cyclists and families. But this isn't just about aesthetics. The Shoreline is about resiliency, safety and sustainability. It embraces Miami-Dade's new stormwater standards, which require 80% pervious surfaces. By removing impervious asphalt and replacing it with permeable parkland, we reduce flooding, protect our coastlines and build infrastructure that can withstand rising seas and stronger storms. We have an opportunity to build something as bold as the people who call Miami-Dade home, just like the pioneers who first planned these communities over a century ago. Cities like Atlanta, with its BeltLine, and New York, with the High Line, have shown that transformative redevelopment is not only possible—it is essential to sustaining quality of life in urban areas. These are not just parks; they are economic engines, gathering places and symbols of civic pride. Why should we have to leave South Florida to experience and enjoy world-class greenways? Why can't Miami-Dade lead the way? The Shoreline offers real solutions to very real problems, balancing the needs of commuters, cyclists, beachgoers, MAST Academy students and everyone who loves Virginia Key. It gives something to everyone—from the morning cyclist to the family barbecue, from the commuter headed to work to the student walking safely to class. And yes, it comes with a price tag, one that reflects the magnitude of this once-in-a-generation opportunity. But doing nothing, or settling for a cheaper fix, will cost us far more: in lost lives, lost land, lost resilience and yet another lost opportunity. For too long, Miami-Dade has been criticized for thinking small and applying bandages to generational problems. The Shoreline breaks that cycle. It is not just a bridge or a road, it is a functional amenity that makes a statement about who we are and the Miami-Dade we want to leave for the next generation. The Miami-Dade I grew up in was built around community. With The Shoreline, we have a chance to build that Miami again — stronger, safer, greener and for everyone. But this vision will only become reality if we choose to make it happen. The Shoreline is ready. The need is urgent. Now it is up to all of us — residents, advocates, businesses and public officials — to come together and finally build the Miami-Dade we deserve. Raquel Regalado is a Miami-Dade commissioner representing District 7.
Miami Herald
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
A really creepy thing happened to Kevin Bacon on ‘Wild Things' set in Florida, he says
Kevin Bacon had a very Florida thing happen to him while filming 'Wild Things,' in — naturally — Florida. In a recent Variety interview to promote his Prime Video series 'The Bondsman,' the Hollywood vet was quizzed about some of his most iconic lines over a 40-year plus career. At about the nine minute mark, Bacon is seen as Ray Duquette, a crooked cop in the 1998 R-rated dark thriller. Shooting for the flick about two high school girls who cook up a twisted money-making scheme with their guidance counselor began in the summer before it opened. Portions of it took place in the fictional upscale Miami suburb of 'Blue Bay.' The school where much of the drama unfolded was actually Ransom Everglades in Coconut Grove. Other spots locals will recognize: Jimbo's in Virginia Key, Star Island in Miami Beach and Coral Gables City Hall. Bacon, 66, recalled that during one night out in the Everglades, the crew stumbled upon something amiss in the murky swamp water. 'All of a sudden, I hear across the walkie-talkie: 'Hey, I think I just saw a floater.' And it was a body that was floating by,' he said, adding, 'It was kind of indicative of the vibe of the movie.' The circumstances surrounding the corpse and how he or she got into the water are unclear. Though shocking, this is not a new story. Director John McNaughton also regaled Entertainment Weekly with this macabre gem while on a press tour for 'Wild Things' more than two decades ago. He said that after the grisly discovery, production had to be halted while law enforcement arrived and combed the scene. 'We called the police,' McNaughton told the outlet. 'They actually grabbed the body and kept it from getting into our shot.'
Miami Herald
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Remember Jimbo's? Let's celebrate the beloved Miami fish shack in a few ways
Every year around his birthday on April 6, James 'Jimbo' Luznar threw a party at his famous fish shack Jimbo's Place on Virginia Key, where everyone and anyone could drink beer, eat fish dip and revel in being part of a Miami tradition. From 1954 to 2012, when it was shut down by the city of Miami, Jimbo's was the place Miamians in the know gathered to hang out, play bocce and drink. The annual party drew thousands, from bikers to models to regulars and a famous face from time to time. The spot also became a backdrop for TV shows, including 'Flipper,' 'Gentle Ben,' 'Miami Vice' and 'Dexter,' and even made it to the big screen in movies like 'Porky's.' A former Merchant Marine who worked the shrimp boats, Luzner died in 2016. But a new Virginia Key watering hole is committed to celebrating for his legacy. From noon until 10 p.m. April 13, Gramps Getaway, sister bar to Gramps in Wynwood and located in the old Whiskey Joe's space next to the Rusty Pelican, will be honoring Jimbo and his legacy with a day-long free party. Expect live music from the Jack Shealy Band, a Jimbo's look-alike contest and limited editions Jimbo's hats and shirts from @sunandsons. You can eat your weight in fish dip and remember the good times, even if you weren't around to live them. Let's go through the Miami Herald photo archives to see what Jimbo's looked like through the years:
