This past Sunday I attended Barcamp Miami in the Grove. Barcamp is a collaborative event for Web Developers, Creative Folks and Entrepreneurs. This is a somewhat casual gathering where the goal isn’t so much on selling but on sharing ideas and meeting like minded individuals.
It was a very down to earth and laid back style of sharing ideas where speakers would announce their topics via a schedule matrix and post it notes. No rigid scheduling or pageantry to worry about just people wanting to talk about something they are passionate about.
The first speaker I sat down for was the CEO of a web based book keeping firm called FreshBooks. His presentation centered on the decision making process behind his company’s name and shed some light on the process. As a grassroots entrepreneur this opportunity for free knowledge was appreciated. The information was reaffirming in some areas where it was cool to see someone else had gone through the same thought process for this type of thing.
The Grove was a great setting for this event. The weather was excellent and Lunch at Mr. Moe’s is always good. Each time I’ve gone I’d had something new there and I have yet to have a bad experience.
Kudos to the Barcamp: Miami people for putting on a good show!
Coconut Grove Grapevine has a cool photo set from the event and some more thoughts, check it out.
Archive for February, 2009
For a long time Buffalo Wild Wings was just another one of those places that would advertise incessantly down here despite the fact the nearest location was either on the Space Coast , Orlando or Naples. (Sonic and Red Robin , I’m looking at you.)
This was the case until a few days ago when I decided to stop by their new location in Cutler Bay and I must say it was a nice experience. Wings, Burgers and your regular fried staples like chicken tenders, cheese sticks and the like are accented by a selection of sauces that spans the top of the menu. Ranging from Regular BBQ to Spicy and Tangy varieties. The food doesn’t really set itself apart from most of your other major chains but if I had to compare it to anything I would say it is a step above Denny’s in some areas and on par with Hooters with some of the other offerings on the menu. But is food really the reason to come to this place?
If you have ever seen a Buffalo Wild Wings commercial you will know that they pride themselves on being a great place to watch sports and hang out with your friends and I’ll go ahead and state here that this place lives up to the advertising and then some. Food be damned the beer menu is where its at. Where else can you grab Labatt Blue and chase it with some Pabst Blue Ribbon and then get all classy with some Stella Artois ?
As a said earlier the food is so-so and it pretty much lives and dies on which sauce you decide to drench it in but where this place succeeds is in catering to a large group. The food comes in some pretty big servings so sharing and dragging a meal out over the length of a ball game is fine.
The layout also helps to this end. All the cheesy sports memorabilia is on the walls, no canoes or vintage bicycles hanging off the ceiling and into your meal. Aside from some load bearing columns the place is wide open this allows for really good viewing angles on all the TVs in the place.
Pretty much every table gets a TV and some areas get the interactive gaming TVs in case there aren’t any good games on or the people in your group have some social anxiety issues.
Final Verdict:
For what it is the food is just fine. The portions are great for a large group to munch on while kicking back with cold ones from the large beer menu and catching your favorite game. The only kink I would say this place has is that the service is still a bit new and my not be up to date on whats being offered but all in all I would recommend it to any team looking to grab a few beers and chicken wings after a softball game or just people looking for a place to catch a game on the tube.
I will be making drive down south come football season that’s for sure.
Buffalo Wild Wings
CUTLER BAY (#3438)
Southland Mall
20505 S Dixie Highway, Suite 555A
Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Phone: 305-238-8850
If there is anything I’ve learned from TV it is that not all plots have to make sense so lets pay no mind to the last year of inactivity and pick up where we left off shall we ?
Lots of places to review so lets carry on… check back soon!