New restaurants aim to help turn Miami Health District into a destination

Gorgonzola pizza with white truffle oil, Chilean sea bass, imported Italian prosciutto and craft beers are run-of-the-mill fare in Miami’s trendier neighborhoods from Miami Beach to the Miami Design District. But such a trendy menu isn’t what you would expect on the edge of Overtown in the area broadly known as Miami’s Health District.

The opening last fall of two high-profile restaurants, Balans and Thea Pizzeria and Cafe, at the University of Miami’s Life Science & Technology Park is fueling optimism that the neighborhood sandwiched between the Jackson Memorial Hospital campus and Overtown is on an upswing. Long dominated by rundown industrial and commercial buildings, the area is now slated for additional retail and residential development.

The two restaurants, at 1951 NW Seventh Ave., are owned by local industry veterans with a history as pioneers in Miami’s urban neighborhoods. They say the same early indicators that brought them to Wynwood and Miami’s Upper East Side are drawing them to the Health District.

“When you go into an underserved area, there’s more pressure to make a more interesting place where people want to come,” said Thea Goldman, the owner of Thea Pizzeria. She learned the art of redevelopment for her late father-in-law Tony Goldman and opened Joey’s in Wynwood with her then-husband. “It’s fun to surprise people. They come in a little trepidatiously. There is a curious crowd that will come. They just have to be enticed. Wynwood proved that. Restaurants can ignite a neighborhood like nothing else.”

GROWTH PLAN

What attracted Goldman and Balans’ owner Prady Balan to the Health District was the growth plan for UM’s research park. Both restaurants are on the ground floor of the park’s first 252,000-square-foot building, which opened in June 2011. Four additional buildings are planned for the eight-acre biotech research park. The building is currently about 75 percent leased with a mix of offices and laboratories; plans for a second building call for a mix hotel rooms and offices, which could begin construction later this year, pending a deal with UM.

The goal is to create a thriving commercial center feeding off the $200 million in research conducted annually by the nearby University of Miami Miller School of Medicine on the Jackson hospital campus.

Both restaurateurs say developer Wexford Science & Technology, which leases the land from UM and developed the first building, made deals that were attractive enough to support a long-term approach to the area.

“I knew that it was going to be highly challenging, but I was bored in life, so I thought I would do something daring,” jokes Balan, who has successful restaurants in South Beach and London and pioneered eateries on Biscayne Boulevard and Brickell Avenue. “It probably will take three years. Slowly but surely people do come over. They are liking it and becoming regulars.”

Balan figures all he needs is to attract 10 percent of the 55,000 people a day who work or visit the Jackson Memorial Hospital. Miami’s Health District is the second largest in the country, behind only Houston. To attract those customers to the restaurants at the park, Wexford offers a daily free lunch shuttle to the Jackson campus. The park also offers free valet parking or free gated parking for restaurant visitors.

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Jury awards girl sexually assaulted on school district bus $1.7 million

WEST PALM BEACH --
Minutes after a jury late Wednesday awarded a mentally challenged Pahokee girl $1.7 million for the trauma she suffered when she was raped on a Palm Beach County school bus when she was 3, the girl’s mother rushed toward those who had given her daughter a second chance.

“Wait,” she called out just before they filed out the door. “I want to thank all of you.”

In turn, she hugged each of the four women and two men who rejected the school board’s claims that her daughter wasn’t hurt by the 2007 attack. School board attorneys argued the girl was too young and too mentally disabled to understand what a 15-year-old emotionally disturbed youth did to her on the bus filled with special needs kids.

With tears streaming down her face, the mother looked at the girl’s father. Both heaved sighs of relief.

“It means a lot to me,” she said of the verdict. “My daughter finally got justice.”

The School Board never denied the girl was molested. Both the bus driver and the aide who was on the bus to protect the students were fired. The aide, Grenisha Williams, was convicted of child neglect in connection with the incident and put on probation. Sexual battery charges were filed against J.C. Carter, the youth school police said assaulted the child. The School Board even changed policies, decreeing that young children should no longer be allowed to ride buses with older kids.

But, the district never agreed to compensate the now 9-year-old girl for the trauma that her attorneys argued exacerbated her considerable learning problems.

“I think the jury got it,” attorney Stephan Le Clainche said.

Despite School Board attorneys’ claims to the contrary, he said: “The jury realized that any child of a tender age who is the victim of physical or sexual violence is going to carry the stain of it their entire life.”

But, he acknowledged, the battle is far from over. Under Florida law, government agencies in 2007 could only be forced to pay $100,000 for injuries caused by their wrongdoing. (The cap on so-called sovereign immunity, that comes from the English concept that the King can do no wrong, has since been raised to $200,000.) But to get more than $100,000, the girl’s attorneys must now persuade a typically stubborn Florida Legislature to life the cap so the girl can get the $1.7 million the jury said she deserves.

“We have a long road to go,” Le Clainche said. The $100,000 will barely cover the court costs that included paying $25,000 to a psychiatrist who persuaded the jury that the girl carries deep psychological scars that will take years of counseling and private schooling to salve.

The mother said she was well aware of the looming battle. “I’ve been waiting all this time. I guess I can wait some more,” said the mother, who lost her job as a cook when the always shaky economy in the Glades got even worse in the recent recession.

Jurors declined comment on the verdict, as did attorneys representing the school board. Attorney Scott Krevens said they don’t comment on pending litigation.

But the two sides argued their cases vigorously Wednesday in their last appearances before the jury after a five-day trial.

Attorney Tom McCausland, one of the school board’s two attorneys, suggested that the jury give the girl $250,000 for the pain she endured on the day of the attack and $31,000 for family counseling.

“A quarter-million dollars is a way of saying we’re sorry it happened,” he said.

Le Clainche bristled at McCausland’s suggestion that the money was an apology and not a recognition that the girl needs years of therapy.

McCausland insisted the girl has no memory of the attack. “Her brain has not been able to form to grasp the event,” McCausland told jurors. “This very, very heinous act, fortunately, is not something the girl remembers.”

Le Clainche translated McCausland’s argument this way: “Your harm is worth nothing because you’re already damaged.” Then, he added, “That is an incredible, outrageous defense.”

The psychiatrist hired by the girl’s team testified that the attack stymied the girl’s emotional and intellectual growth. A psychologist hired by the school board told jurors trauma doesn’t affect cognitive development.

In the end, it was clear the jury accepted the long-standing child-rearing concept that early childhood development impacts a youngster’s entire life.

About two hours into their deliberations, the jurors sent out a question: “Can the possibility of future sexual problems be considered as future pain and suffering?”

Circuit Judge Glenn Kelley said they could.

Less than 15 minutes later, they announced their verdict.

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Matt Lauria Zosia Mamet Talk Really Really Girls Parenthood and Mae Whitman

There are no shows I adore more right now than Parenthood and Girls, so you can imagine the jubilation coursing throughout my body when Matt Lauria and Zosia Mamet signed on to co-star in MCC Theater's production of Really Really.

RELATED - Parenthood & Girls Are Two of The Year's Best Shows

And once you watch my interview with this dynamic duo, you'll really (really) understand why I adore them so much. 

Not only will Lauria and Mamet make you desperate to see their stage show, but you'll find out what lies ahead on Girls this season, how Matt fills Zosia with a fiery jealousy and how they rank in my double-double competition! Watch!

For more on Really Really, click here!

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Retailers report strong January sales

Major retailers including Macy's and Limited Brands are reporting strong sales in January as shoppers went back to the stores after the winter holidays to take advantage of clearance sales.

Twenty retailers reported on Thursday that revenue at stores opened at least a year — an indication of a store's health — rose an average of 5.1 percent, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.

That's above the mall trade group's 3 percent estimate and marks the highest reading since August 2012 when it rose 6 percent.

The worry, however, is whether shoppers, particularly budget-conscious consumers, will keep spending as they deal with rising gas prices and a payroll tax hike that took effect last month.

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Register for our free Business Plan Bootcamp

Whether you are planning to enter the Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge or want to refine a short business plan you already have, our free Business Plan Bootcamp later this month can help.

Melissa Krinzman, a veteran Business Plan Challenge judge and managing director of Venture Architects, will be leading a panel of experts who will give you advice on crafting a short business plan aimed at grabbing the attention of investors — or judges. If you are entering the Challenge, we encourage you to bring your entry with you because the panel will critique critical sections of the short plan.

Panelists include:

•  Richard Ginsburg, co-founder of G3 Capital Partners, a mid-market and early stage investment company.

•  Steven McKean, founder and CEO of Acceller, a Miami-based tech company, and a Challenge judge.

•  Mike Tomas, CEO of Miami-based Bioheart, president of ASTRI Group and a Challenge judge.

Time, date, place: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus Auditorium (Room 1261, Building 1, 2nd floor).

To register: It’s free, but please register here.

Parking: Free parking at the MDC garage at 500 NE 2nd Avenue. It is important to note that the entrances are on NE 5th and 6th Streets.

You do not have to enter the Challenge to attend our free boot camp, but we hope you will. The Challenge deadline is March 11.

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Ex-police sergeant expected to surrender in Miami hit-run

A former Miami police homicide sergeant is expected to surrender to authorities on charges he ditched his car at an Interstate 95 car wreck.

A judge signed off on the warrant Wednesday for Juan “Johnny” Herrera, a longtime homicide investigator who retired after the Sept. 8 accident that injured four University of Miami students in a taxi.

Herrera will be charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Florida Highway Patrol investigators believe that Herrera rear ended the taxi on I-95 south near the Southwest 25th Road exit at about 3:40 a.m., then disappeared after leaving the car on foot. DNA taken from blood on the car’s airbag eventually placed him behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz that night.

Investigators, who found a six pack of beer in the car, could never test Herrera’s blood alcohol content because he was not at the scene.

Herrera is well known to viewers of The First 48, the A&E reality show that follows Miami homicide detectives as they investigate real-life murders.

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Mariah Carey Records a Song for Oz The Great and Powerful

As if Sam Raimi's Oz The Great and Powerful isn't already one of the most highly anticipated movies hitting theaters soon, it just got another huge boost -- Mariah Carey has recorded a new song for the film!

The song is called Almost Home and will be released on February 19.

Pics: New Bewitching 'Oz The Great and Powerful' Posters

"Almost Home has a message that works beautifully with the film," the new Idol judge says of the song she both co-wrote and co-produced. "It's a feel-good record, evoking the feeling of reaching your home and being with people that you love."

Famed artist/photographer David LaChapelle will direct the music video, who's worked with Mariah in the past on 2001's Loverboy.

Video: 'Oz The Great and Powerful Trailer

Starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz, Oz The Great and Powerful hits theaters March 8.

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NYC should be prime spot for Vegas-style table games: Skelos

State Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos said today that New York City should be considered a prime destination for a full-fledged casino - and particularly noted the popular Aqueduct Resorts World gambling parlor could be converted into a resorts-type gaming complex.

Under current law, Aqueduct is only authorized to offer slot and electronic table games. But New Yorkers will vote in a referendum this fall on whether to legalize up to seven Vegas-style casinos in the state.

James Messerschmidt

Resorts World Casino in Ozone Park.

Gov. Cuomo wants the first three casinos to be built upstate to boost tourism.

But Skelos said the Big Apple should be part of the mix. "New York City should be considered," the Long Island lawmaker said following a Crain's breakfast. "Aqueduct should be considered."

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Sweetest Android Jelly Bean phones

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for Android Jelly Bean phones to ship, we’re glad to see a flood of handsets with the coveted software. Some older phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx, also have received this significant upgrade, but these smartphones rolled straight off the assembly line boasting Google’s most modern OS. From the pure flavor only a true Nexus device can bring, to the tricked-out tweaks phone designers like to bring to the table, chances are good there’s a Jelly Bean handset here that will suit your tastes.

HTC Droid DNA

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)

The good: This beautifully designed phone features a quad-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 4G LTE, a sharp 5-inch screen, an excellent camera and long battery life.

The bad: Its large size makes it tricky to fit in tight pockets, and it lacks both an SD card slot and a removable battery.

The cost: $99.99 to $199.99

The bottom line: With quad-core power, 4G LTE, a lovely 5-inch screen and a stunning design, the $199.99 HTC Droid DNA may be Verizon’s best Android deal.

HTC One X+

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)

The good: Has a quad-core processor, 64GB of storage and Android Jelly Bean, plus a great camera, all for $199.99.

The bad: The battery life is short. The phone also lacks an SD card slot, and its battery can’t be removed.

The cost: $169.99 to $509

The bottom line: Although it does have some flaws, the $199.99 HTC One X+ is currently the best Android buy on AT&T.

LG Nexus 4

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)

The good: The competitively priced phone delivers a pure and polished experience with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, it’s powered by a snappy quad-core processor, and it’s packed with new photo-editing and camera features.

The bad: Construction is solid but uninspiring, its call volume is too low, and it lacks 4G LTE.

The cost: $299 (currently sold out)

The bottom line: While the LG Nexus 4 wins on internal performance and user experience, anyone shopping for an unlocked phone should consider a comparable LTE handset first.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)

The good: Oodles of screen real estate make this phone terrific for videos, games, and reading; and its improved stylus aids productivity. A blazing quad-core processor, a great camera and strong battery life round out the advantages of this Android 4.1 phone.

The bad: The huge display makes it unwieldy to carry, and hiccups in the S Pen stylus and apps can slow you down. The pricey Note 2 isn’t a suitable tablet replacement across all categories.

The cost: $139.99 to $299.99

The bottom line: In the Galaxy Note 2, Samsung delivers a powerful, boundary-pushing device that gets a lot right. Yet its complicated features and high price raise questions about its purpose.

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International Noise Conference celebrates its 10th anniversary at Churchill’s Pub

Frank Falestra is standing at the backyard bar of Churchill’s Pub, tinkering with a lighting board that has a broken switch.

It’s an urgent repair because the switch controls red light.

“Red is important at a rock bar,” he says.

Falestra, better known as Rat Bastard, is hailed as the godfather of Miami’s noise scene and the founder of International Noise Conference, an annual festival celebrating musical nonconformity.

Every year, the festival draws hundreds to three-decades-old Churchill’s Pub, where noise fans and other revelers gather to sing, dance, screech and, sometimes, bloody each other’s noses.

International Noise Conference will kick off its 10th year starting 10 p.m. Wednesday at Churchill’s, 5501 NE Second Ave. The festival continues at 9 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Falestra, 54, expects more than 100 bands to show up. That number is about the same as the last few years, but the fourth night of the festival is new, thanks to funding from the Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge.

Admission to the festival, as always, is free.

“We keep the money thing completely out of it,” Falestra said. “That’s probably why it’s still going.”

There are only two hard-and-fast rules for musicians performing at INC: no laptops, and get off the stage in 15 minutes or less.

The laptop rule is to prevent the show from getting boring, Falestra says.

But the time limit? Artists have flown all the way from France and Australia to perform at INC. And they only get 15 minutes?

According to Falestra, a 30-year veteran of the Miami music scene, that’s all you need to get the point across.

“Usually 20 minutes of anybody is too much,” he said. “Like the Foo Fighters. You wouldn’t want to see them for 20 minutes. Ten minutes would kill you.”

Page 27, a Denver-based noise band, has one of the farthest commutes on the set list this year. Like most of the other bands, INC is the only show pulling Page 27 away from its hometown this time of year.

But member John Gross, 35, said the band is looking forward to the networking opportunities as much as the brief set. The best part for him, he said, is going to the tables in the back of the bar to trade CDs, tapes and records with other bands. “You end up finding a lot of music that you don’t see anywhere else,” Gross said.

The first two days of the festival, which feature local bands almost exclusively, are heavy on different music genres. Thursday is usually the most outrageous night. Sometimes, Falestra says, people get naked.

Many of the bands will play noise sets regardless of their typical musical style. This might include an avant-garde mix of improvisational drumming, playing non-musical objects such as sheets of glass or screaming into a microphone.

Novice noise fans shouldn’t be afraid, though. In spite of its name, INC doesn’t require that every set consist of noise. It’s possible to hear something approaching listenable music at the show.

Although he disdains the pop-punk bands that flood college radio stations these days (he has a particular distaste for Green Day), Falestra said he’s not averse to tossing more mainstream acts into the lineup to keep things from getting predictable.

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