Miami, FL
Three bars in Miami and Miami Beach were just voted the best in North America
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The cantineros of Café La Trova have been honored as one in all North America’s 50 Finest Bars for 2022.
52 Cooks
It’s no secret Miami is house to many bars.
Many, many bars.
And three of these bars have been simply named the very best in North America.
A brand new annual checklist that celebrates the cocktail trade, North America’s 50 Finest Bars introduced its first group of winners in New York Tuesday evening, and three native sizzling spots made the minimize: Café La Trova in Little Havana at no. 6; Candy Liberty in Miami Seashore at no. 11; and Damaged Shaker in Miami Seashore at no. 32.
The checklist was created by 220 drinks specialists from Canada, the USA, Mexico and the Caribbean.
50 Finest Bars praised Café La Trova for its “conventional (and theatrical) cantinera fashion created by Constantine Ribalaigua at Havana’s El Floridita. Usually, the bartenders are busy throwing Resort Nacionals (rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, easy syrup) by way of the air or dramatically shaking a Daiquiri (rum, lime juice, easy syrup). But, the dinner jacket-uniformed employees additionally discover time to choose up maracas and play together with the home Son Cubano band.” (El Floridita made the checklist, too, at no. 40.)
Grasp Cantinero Julio Cabrera, co-owner of Café La Trova, mentioned the popularity within the inaugural checklist means loads to the employees on the retro Cuban bar and restaurant.
“It isn’t simply recognition for our arduous work,” mentioned Cabrera, who with Chef Michelle Bernstein opened Café La Trova in 2019. “It’s recognition for all the pieces we signify — the Miami cocktail group; the genuine Cantinero fashion; and the Latin immigrant group who come to this nation to observe their desires.”
Candy Liberty was famous for its large menu and classics from its late creator, mixology grasp John Lermayer, who died in 2019. 50 Finest Bars praised drinks just like the basic Large’s Milk (rum agricole, darkish rum, condensed milk, passionfruit, pressed lime, cinnamon) in addition to new creations just like the Banana Negroni (scotch, Italian bitters, vermouth, recent banana, Szechuan pepper, sesame oil, chocolate bitters, smoke).
Positioned on the Freehand Miami resort, Damaged Shaker caught voters’ consideration with its laid-back outside bar and colourful and unique tiki drinks, such because the Shaker Hopper (gin, creme de cacao, creme de menthe and amaro coconut-milk foam).
Gabriel Orta, founding father of Damaged Shaker, says that whereas the standard of cocktails, meals and repair are all necessary, the general ambiance of the venue makes it particular.
“After we began, there was no bar scene, simply nightclubs or dive bars or eating places,” he mentioned. “What we at all times needed was to create a spot that makes you’re feeling good. We needed individuals to come back in and be themselves. That’s the sensation once you stroll into the property. . . . It’s a spot that seems like house.”
50 Finest Bars named Attaboy on New York’s Decrease East Aspect the very best bar in North America. It doesn’t actually have a menu: Every drink is custom-made for the visitor after a chat with the bartender.
Café La Trova, 971 SW Eighth St., Miami; www.cafelatrova.com
Candy Liberty, 237-B twentieth St.., Miami Seashore; www.mysweetliberty.com
Damaged Shaker, 2727 Indian Creek Dr., Miami Seashore; www.brokenshaker.com
This story was initially printed June 8, 2022 12:46 PM.

Miami, FL
Phoenix Suns coach candidate Chris Quinn helped Miami Heat stay together this season

Introductory news conference for new Suns GM Brian Gregory
The Phoenix Suns hold an introductory press conference for their new general manager, Brian Gregory.
The Miami Heat experienced one of their toughest seasons in recent memory.
Going 37-45, Miami suffered its first losing record since 2018-19.
The Jimmy Butler drama ultimately led to trading the star forward just two years removed from him leading the Heat to the 2023 NBA Finals.
The Heat emerged from the play-in to make the playoffs as an eighth seed only to have the Cleveland Cavaliers sweep them in the first round. Miami lost Game 4 by 55 points, suffering the worst margin of defeat in a game to close a series.
Through it all, Chris Quinn remained steady.
League sources say the Heat’s associate head coach helped keep Miami together and made sure the team didn’t go “sideways.”
Now, Quinn is a head coach candidate for the Phoenix Suns, who also experienced a disappointing and drama-filled season that ended with just 36 wins and the firing of Mike Budenholzer after one season.
Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Dave Bliss, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego, Suns assistant David Fizdale and Quinn are candidates for the job, league sources confirmed to The Arizona Republic this week.
Quinn has been an assistant under Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra since 2015. He previously worked as an assistant for the Heat’s G League team, Sioux Falls Skyforce, in the 2014-15 season.
He also played three seasons for the Heat, with the first two under Pat Riley (2006-08) and the third one for Spoelstra (2008-09).
Quinn is Spoelstra’s “right hand man” when it comes to in-game adjustments, sources say. He has been in contention for NBA head coaching vacancies in recent years.
Quinn’s ability to connect with players is deemed impressive. He’s big on player development as evidenced by him leading the charge to have coaches available 24/7 for players to work on their game.
A Notre Dame graduate, Quinn played a role in the development of shooting guard Tyler Herro, who became a first-time All-Star for the Heat this season.
Herro averaged a career-high 23.9 points in his sixth NBA season out of Kentucky.
Quinn was a director of player development on the collegiate level at Northwestern before joining the Heat.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
Miami, FL
ICE nabs Venezuelan murder suspect in South Florida during CBS News Miami ride-along

A man wanted on two counts of murder in Venezuela was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Broward apartment building on Thursday.
CBS News Miami was there for the arrest of the man—whose identity ICE has asked us not to disclose—as part of a ride-along with the law enforcement agency.
With growing questions and concerns about immigration enforcement and removal operations, CBS Miami had been requesting a ride-along since the new administration took over in January.
That request was granted Thursday, and our cameras were rolling for the targeted enforcement operation arranged by ICE.
CBS News Miami did not have any control over which operation we were allowed to witness.
Operation begins with briefing and strategy in Miramar
The day started around 10:30 a.m. at the agency’s facility in Miramar with a quick rundown of the plan.
“He’s a foreign fugitive wanted for double murder out of Venezuela,” one man explained to the team. “The other male, the friend who was helping him with the car issues—we’re going to try to arrest him too… He hasn’t been accounted for by us yet, so we’re going to try to get a two-for-one.”
After a moment for questions, the team geared up with protective equipment and headed out.
ICE Assistant Field Office Director Mitchell Diaz said they are simply continuing the work they’ve always done.
“This is what we do every day,” Diaz said. “There’s no change from this current administration to the prior administration or any other administration before that. We want to make sure that we’re protecting the community, the public, and national security.”
Surveillance leads agents to Broward arrest
Thursday’s investigation led officers to an apartment building near Sunrise. Surveillance had suggested the target would leave for work around 1 p.m. By 1:50 p.m., agents had him in sight.
ICE requested that his name and face not be shared publicly as the case remains pending. Officials say the man, in his late twenties, is wanted in Venezuela for two counts of first-degree murder, organized crime, and aggravated assault.
Records indicate he traveled through Colombia and Brazil before entering the United States illegally. ICE reports he has been a fugitive since 2018. He will face an immigration judge in the U.S. before being returned to Venezuela to face charges.
Diaz emphasized that immigration arrests like this one are administrative, not criminal—though that doesn’t mean they’re without risk.
“There are always nerves. The officer safety aspect of it—this is like every law enforcement agency,” Diaz said. “These are brave men that are going out there every day to ensure that not only national security but the community and the public are safe from these individuals.”
Questions surround immigration practices and public perception
ICE recently touted the arrest of more than 1,100 undocumented immigrants in Florida over the span of a week in an operation dubbed Operation Tidal Wave. But Diaz insisted that these were not “raids” as some critics describe.
“These are targeted enforcement actions. Raids are different,” he explained. “A raid could be based on employment inspections just to ensure that the employer is following U.S. laws and immigration laws. A lot of these individuals that may be part of a raid may be working with fraudulent documents, Social Security numbers, and fraudulent employment cards. So raids are completely different than what ICE does as to fugitive operations.”
During the ride-along, officers also arrested a second individual who admitted to being in the U.S. illegally.
Following the arrests, the team returned to Miramar, where both individuals were fingerprinted and processed to determine if they appear in any law enforcement databases. They will remain in ICE detention until they appear before an immigration judge in the coming days.
CBS News Miami asked ICE about reports of people being arrested outside immigration courts. Officials stressed that such arrests are part of targeted enforcement, not random sweeps.
We also inquired about concerns over parents being deported without their children. ICE responded that parents are given the choice to take their children with them or to leave them in the custody of someone within the U.S.
According to ICE, individuals with a final order of removal—or who illegally re-entered the U.S. after being previously deported—are subject to immediate removal. Others, they say, are afforded due process under immigration law.
Miami, FL
8-Year NBA Player Retires From Pro Basketball

Tyler Johnson most recently played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season when he was a member of the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers.
The 33-year-old has also spent time playing overseas.
On Wednesday, Fresno State Men’s Basketball announced that Johnson will join their coaching staff (h/t Alberto De Roa of HoopsHype).
Via gobulldogs.com: “FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State men’s basketball head coach Vance Walberg is proud to announce the addition of former Bulldog standout and NBA veteran Tyler Johnson to the Bulldogs’ coaching staff as an assistant coach.”
With the news, Johnson’s playing career has likely come to an end.
Johnson played eight NBA seasons.
He is most known for his time with the Miami Heat where he spent part of five years.
In 2016, Johnson landed a $50 million contract as an undrafted player.
Via AP’s Tim Reynolds (on July 10, 2016): “365 days ago, Tyler Johnson had a busted jaw, a partially guaranteed contract and a most uncertain future.
Tonight: $50 million from Miami.”
During the 2017 season, Johnson averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 43.3% from the field and 37.2% from the three-point range in 73 games.
He also spent time with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns (in addition to the 76ers, Spurs and Heat).
Johnson finished his NBA career (eight seasons) with averages of 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest while shooting 42.6% from the field and 36.0% from the three-point range in 354 games.
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