Archive for April, 2017

The Joys of Miami in the Summer

Summer in Miami is the time to get creative while exploring your cooling off options. Slather on sunscreen, pack a lunch, or scope out the menu at local digs to make the most of your daylight hours.

Biscayne National Park

Just a short drive from Miami Beach, Biscayne National Park is a gem in Miami. Book a snorkeling adventure or simply buy a snorkeling mask and venture into the waves. The salt water is so refreshing on a hot day that most will insist on staying wet until sundown. Make sure to wear sunblock and pack a picnic.

The Everglades

One of the world’s unique ecosystems is The Everglades, also called The River of Grass. Endangered birds soar overhead while lizards sun themselves out in the open.  An airboat ride gets you closer to the aquatic life underneath the rolling greens. Take pictures of the wide spectrum of wildlife, from birds to fierce reptiles.

Homestead

Most visitors are surprised to find that Miami has a rural area. Leave behind the sand and iconic buildings of Miami Beach to experience Miami’s farms. Pop into the dozens of U-Pick spots to hand-select the finest summer fruits and vegetables, including strawberries and corn. Avoid the tractors and bring an appetite.

The Beach

Everyone wants to be on Miami Beach during the summer. The sunrise welcomes breezes that return after the near-daily afternoon shower. This respite allows visitors to change clothes and take a siesta after a filling lunch. Play in the waves knowing that the whole city wants to be where you are now.

Miami during the summer is an experience not to be missed. By staying on the Beach, you will have access to the delights of the city with options to venture outwards and explore other areas of the Magic City. Delight in all the city has to offer during the hot season.

Landmarks on Miami Beach

Miami Beach is a jewel along the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. Historical landmarks complement the amazing nightlife and exclusive dining scene. A day in the famous Florida sunshine can include a trek to these timeless gems.

Art Deco Historic District

Art Deco was a response to the opening of King Tut’s tomb in 1923. Bold geometric shapes and an abundance of gold paid homage to ancient Egypt, and scores of hotels and residences sprung up in this ornate style. Every January, the Art Deco Festival celebrates the iconic designs and looks toward the future of architecture. Wear comfortable shoes and prepare to look up at all the grandeur.

Vizcaya Museum

John Deering built a luxurious residence that topped all others in South Florida between 1914-1922. It attracts more than 170,000 visitors each year and is a preferred location for private celebrations. The garden and home located on Biscayne Bay has been turned into a museum housing an international collection of art that curates 2,000 years of human imagination. Browse the collection and walk about the grounds enjoying the famous orchids.

Freedom Tower

The Freedom Tower is part of Miami’s Hispanic culture. Built on the design of a Seville lighthouse, it was once the home of The Miami Daily News and Metropolis newspaper.  In 1962, it was ground zero for the biggest cultural shift the Magic City had ever experienced. Fidel Castro’s regime forced many to flee Cuba for a better life, traveling 90 miles in shark-infested waters. New citizens were processed, vetted, and received medical attention in a southern version of Ellis Island. Visit the museum on the first floor dedicated to the struggle for freedom the Cubans experienced.

Lincoln Road

Lincoln Road stretches from Collins Avenue to Bay Road in Miami Beach. Paved in the 1920s, it was christened the 5th Avenue of the South. Following the 1960s national trend of pedestrian malls, cars are forbidden on Lincoln Road. The landmark is a study in great design paired with the hottest retailers. Sit outside at one of the fresh air bistros after a day of shopping and do some of the most exciting people watching in the world.

Takeaway

Art Deco has been chic starting in the 1920s and continues to be so, as seen in Miami’s celebrated district. John Deering’s Vizcaya home has been converted into a museum that incorporates natural elements and an exclusive art collection. The Freedom Tower is a cultural landmark of Miami’s welcoming nature, symbolizing hope. Lincoln Road is the 5th Avenue of the South and awaits your visit. Make a schedule and visit these historic landmarks to experience the Magic City’s timeless gems.

Panama SEO Sample

Dance is the ultimate non-verbal communication. It can convey a story with synchronized moves and gestures. Many cultures all over the world use dance to keep their traditions alive for past and future generations.

As the bridge connecting South and Central America, Panama is a mix of Spanish, Indian, African, and European cultures. Its natural beauty and warm personality have made it a hit among tourists. When traveling the world, it is a joy to find the uniqueness of each country.

El Tamborito, which means ‘the little drum’ in Spanish, is Panama’s most popular folkloric dance, celebrated for its vibrant costumes, lively themes, and three-drum percussion core. Originating in the 17th century, the national dance took on its modern characteristics in the 1940s. The dance focuses on couples and the art of courtship.

The cantalante, a female singer, leads the dance and keeps time with rhythmic chorus clapping. Feet stomp and the chanting of coplas, or harmonic poems, create a lush soundscape. Lyrics focus on lust, sexual tension, and the frustration that one experiences at Carnival, which takes place between February and March. The beat centers on three drums: the Caja, the Repujador, and Recapidor.  Performers include the cantalante, female singer, and the estribillio, a group of clappers.

The Caja is the smallest drum, and it produces staccato tones. The Repujador provides the masculine element and is the base of the song. Long and slender in shape, the Recapidor creates feminine properties.

During the courting dance, men traditionally knock the floor with their boots while the signature dance move for women is to curtsy as the crowd claps the beat. With shuffling steps, women move their colorful skirts as men make protective gestures. La Pollera is the name of the women’s bright skirts with two large ruffles that mimic the Spanish styles popular in the 17th century. Men wear El Montuni, a long-sleeved shirt that harkens back to cowboys.

There is a distinct courtship element to this dance. Trying to play hard to get, the woman does not smile. Instead, she moves with her skirt and spurs the man’s advances. He works to maintain eye contact. The audience is intended to participate, which is characteristic of African tribal dances where the entire community is involved.

 

How to Cut Your Teeth

Clients have opinions on writing, but not necessarily the ability to put them into action. That is the first thing you must learn as a writer: how to separate unhelpful criticism from productive feedback. The second is how to work with unclear instructions handed down from someone who may have studied writing, but has never been published on any platform. Flow, storytelling, and creative elements might be considerations for criticism you hear as a writer. Let’s decode them together.

Flow

Flow is how all your carefully chosen words flow together. Read your work aloud. Go to a quiet area and enunciate each word. Non-writers call this “mouth feel,” and the words you have selected may not sound the same when spoken out loud. Take a video or a voice note and listen to all the words coming together. As a writer, you may have just been happy to find useful words, but you have to make sure they are all compatible.

Which of these examples flow?

Example 1: Start a style dialog with our catalog.

Example 2: We went to the shoe store for sandals.

Example 3: We went to the shoe store; I bought sandals.

Example 4: The small locomotive car, Number 4, came clanking, stumbling down from Selston with seven full wagons.

Takeaway: Make audio recordings part of your revision process.

Storytelling

Storytelling is how your product appeals to consumers without giving a pitch. Furniture, clothes, and automobiles all have a unique story to share. Storytelling differs from selling, as one wants to share, while the latter wants to market. Consumers have a short attention span, so try to come up with a five-second story, not a pitch, about the product.

Product: a desk with electrical outlets built into the frame

Storytelling: Forget headphones; imagine completing homework or writing your novel (finally!) with white noise coming from gently crashing of waves courtesy of the Hansen desk. Built-in electrical outlets allow you to pick ideal workspaces to ignite creativity.

Selling:  The Hansen desk lets you do work from anywhere!

Takeaway: Practice creating five-second stories for products.

Creative elements

Creative elements are ways to make a product less assembly line. Most clients appreciate creativity as long as it isn’t “too creative”. Groupon’s copy is highly creative and does the nearly impossible job of also being funny. Once their style guide became available online, the mystery of how Groupon balances imagination and humor was solved.

Whatever can be tied to the product works if it comes across as a natural progression of thought; too much of a stretch, and it’s struck. For example, ‘Bob the Unicorn made a mad dash for Delilah’s gluten-free ice cream down a glittering rainbow,’ does not work because the association is not clear. A unicorn is not normally a match with ice cream.  Squirrels would make a better choice, only if there is some sort of nut offering on the menu. Bernice the Squirrel happily waits in line for the nutty deliciousness of Delilah’s gluten-free praline ice cream.

Takeaway: Write down the most common product associations to give your imagination practical guidelines.