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Aventura Confidential

Holiday Season Starts in Aventura 

I dressed up as Johnny Damon from the Boston Red Sox, which got a number of high fives from guys and plenty of “Who is this loser?” comments from most women. Ironically, that’s the response I get on regular nights.

By Jon Warech
Columnist

Everywhere else in the country, the leaves are changing, the air is starting to cool and the sun is setting at three in the afternoon. Although it is hard to tell here in Miami, holiday time is upon us, and it all started last week with Halloween.

All Dressed Up and No Place to Go

There are several things I like about Halloween: creative costumes, the excuse to party and the all night marathon of Roseanne Halloween episodes on Nick at Nite, to name a few. Halloween is one of those holidays that goes in cycles. When you are a little kid you put on your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume, go door to door begging for candy, come home and vomit after eating too much. Then you grow up, think putting on a costume is not cool, egg a few houses and call it a night. College rolls around and the fraternity or sorority has big parties where girls come half naked and guys put on a big hat and call themselves a pimp. Somewhere in the mid-twenties you regress and all of a sudden that Ninja Turtle costume is a big hit again. You ride that out until you have kids of your own and they are embarrassed to be seen in public with you. It’s a great cycle.

But Halloween is one of those holidays for everyone – except on South Beach where the drag queens don’t know what to do with themselves. I dressed up as Johnny Damon from the Boston Red Sox, which got a number of high fives from guys and plenty of “Who is this loser?” from most women. Ironically, that’s the response I get on regular nights. When Halloween falls on a weekend, though, the parties are even better and I have to admit I had a great time.

The one downside was the lack of trick-or-treaters. I got a bunch of candy to pass out to little Ninja Turtles but we didn’t get any takers. It worked out, since I ate most of the candy before Halloween night began. Nonetheless, it’s the middle of football season, the temperature is dropping from the high 90s to the mid 90s and the holiday season is officially upon us.

Aventura’s “Welcome Back” to Burdines-Macy’s

Just in time to start holiday shopping, the new and improved Burdines-Macy’s opened its doors last week with a few special events. In an exclusive preview last Tuesday, the store – which is catered to menswear and home design – hosted an evening of shopping, progressive dining, entertainment and more to benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida. Chef Michael Chiarello, founder and creator of the award-winning specialty foods and exclusive home decorative and cookware available at his NapaStyle Shop in Aventura’s new Home Store, prepared recipes from his latest cookbook, Michael Chiarello’s Casual Cooking. Guests sampled the delectable offerings and got autograph copies of Chiarello’s book.

On Thursday I went to a more open to the public event at the store featuring hip-hop icon Mase, who was on hand to sign autographs, take pictures and promote P. Diddy’s Sean John clothing line. The rap star, who disappeared from the music circle for five years before releasing hit album Welcome Back this year, was as popular as ever, and fans lined up to get a glimpse of the celebrity. The first 100 customers to make a $50 purchase of Sean John merchandise from the Men’s and Home Store received a V.I.P. pass to meet Mase.

After chatting with Mase and getting the VIP treatment without buying anything (I love this column), I did a few laps around the store to check it out. A department store just for men definitely has potential. If you check it out, some of the new lines include D’amage denim, INC, Calvin Klein, Michael by Michael Kors, Mark Ecko, Versace and H Hilfiger. If you are at the mall this week, and you know you will be, pop in and check it out.

To Do List

* The City of Aventura is offering Winter Camp for children ages 5 to 12 years old at the Community Recreation Center. Register your children for fun-filled days that include games, sports, activities, field trips, arts & crafts, theme parties and more. Registration fee includes snacks, lunch, field trips including transportation, and all program and activity supplies. Winter Camp begins on Monday, December 20 and concludes Friday, December 31, 2004. Camp hours are Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lunch is not provided on Fridays. Aventura residents may register on a priority basis from November 22 – December 16, 2004 and registration is $350 for two weeks or $200 weekly. For more information, call 305-466-3883 or e-mail crcenter@cityofaventura.com.

* The City of Aventura has a brand new program for Community Recreation Center members between the ages of 5 – 12 years old. The Cultural Arts Recreation Program, Monday through Friday from 3 – 5 p.m., is a 30-day pilot program designed to enhance social skills through a wide variety of activities. Recreation and cultural activities include drama games, arts & crafts, and instruction in sports, music and many other areas. Registration is $60 per month and includes all equipment and materials. For more information, please call the Community Recreation Center (3375 N.E. 188^th Street) at 305-466-3883 or e-mail crcenter@cityofaventura.com.

* The holidays are upon us, and Aventura Mall is celebrating the start of the season in grand style, with two spectacular programs: The First Annual Family Tree Lighting from 6 – 8 p.m. in the center Court on Friday, Nov. 19, followed by Santa’s Arrival and Character Parades on Saturday, Nov. 20, with Character Parades at 10 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. For more information, call 305-935-1110 or visit www.shopaventuramall.com.

Send all comments, questions and news items to JonWarech@aol.com.