DaedrianM Brief Encounters

Julian Marley
Continuing the Legacy

 I was flushed with excitement when I received news that I would be interviewing the son of the Legendary Bob Marley, Julian Marley. With wails and manes like that of his father, Julian Marley has been performing roots rock reggae for most of his life. It is difficult to talk about Bob’s children without referring to the Legend himself. He created this beautiful music that inspires us, all over the world, Reggae Music. The blood runs intensely through the veins of his children, where they continue to spread love and unity through their music and encounters with others. Julian, the self-taught musician has grown into a man of his own, and has created his own identity, while keeping the legacy and memories of the true foundation. In his new album, Awake, he touches on the injustice within the society, and encourages everyone to break down the barriers and to be open and free.

Talking to Julian, I could not help but notice how IRIE he was. There was a sense of calmness about him which draws me back to an interview that was done many years ago with his dad, where Bob was extremely calm and irie throughout the interview. I managed to get a few secrets out in regards to what gives him the energy while on stage, how he spends his down time (playing football and music) and what truly inspires him.

The final stop of the Awake Tour, Julian Marley and the Uprising featuring Stephen Marley and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley will be at the Arsht Center, Miami on November 22, 2009. The brothers will blaze the stage with soulful tracks from the album as well as roots-reggae, street-energy hip hop, bubbling dancehall, R&B and reggae combinations. Be prepared to be Jammin’ all night to the vibrant beats and vocals from Julian and his brothers.
One Love _Daedrian McNaughton

PGM: Welcome back to Miami, welcome home and congratulations on the success of your new album-Awake.

PGM: On your title track the lines, “For many years we have been lost in our tears, for many years the prophets have spoken and still can’t find no peace of mind, when will we wake?” Explain those lines to us and to what were you referring at that time?

JM: We were referring to life and freedom of mankind. The words our prophets have spoken, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, so many great ones have spoken so many words of wisdom. From that time to this time, have I seen any great changes? A few things have gotten better, no longer any racial barrier but now everyone feels the pain. Awake is dealing with the system and freedom of the mind.

PGM: What was your inspiration for this new album and why have you decided to name it as such?

JM: God is our first inspiration, life in general and also knowing that my music is…I find myself writing a lot of social songs, my songs are geared for togetherness. So fi mi di inspiration is jus’ life (The inspiration is just life). The things we see everyday, good and bad. We have to find a way to translate it and put it in music. Yuh have songs like tings’ aint cool,…..everyday so much war, so much fighting, so much tings going on, tings aint cool no more, can’t be fooled no more. The wise men followed the guiding star and without guidance we will not go far. Even the rulers need guidance. Yeah…the whole world inna a state yuh know (The entire world is in a state).

PGM: Your brothers Damian Jr. Gong and Steven have joined you on this album, where are Kymani, Robbie, Rohan and Ziggy? They are not apart of this album, why is that?

JM: Well Robbie does not sing, neither does Rohan. When we work on the album, we wish everyone of our family is there. Sometimes everyone is doing their thing, its not every time you can get everyone in one place. So sometimes it goes like that. The last album, Ziggy played on…..and so did Rohan too. A so it go sometime eh nuh (That’s the way it goes at times).

PGM: What would you say is the main ingredient that kept you and your brothers together as a family and as the children of a Legend?

JM: LOVE!!!!…yeah

PGM: What is the message you would like to get to your fans through your songs?

JM: Unification for everyone. Freedom!!!!! Once we are free in our minds in our hearts in our spirit then we will love each other and be able to do other things. Until our minds are free we will be segregated, selfish …..Once the barrier is broken then things will be open….

PGM: Your final performance is set here in Miami at the Arsht Center, what influenced your decision in making Miami your final stop on the tour?

JM: Well this is where we are most times. So we are in Miami, we live in Miami also, it’s always good to seal it right at your home front. Yuh know wat a mean?

PGM: Do you believe you music has cut across all genres? Is it accepted throughout the world?

JM: Yeah.. We don’t really make one kind of music. It crosses all borders. We have fans all over the world, in Russia…Reggae music is our foundation music, but we love other music to yuh kno…like jazz, blues, pop, dancehall, funk everything as long as there is something that draws me into it. I have no barriers with music..I love all kind of music.

PGM: You are already celebrated as a Marley, the son of Bob Marley. How did you feel or what was your experience like when you performed on the world’s stage in Beijing, China during the 2008 Olympic Games alongside the world’s fastest man  Usain Bolt?

JM: It was a great experience supporting our Usain Bolt of Jamaica. It was great. A waan tell yuh, a didn’t even see him (I want you to know, I did not see him). Yeah mi neva get fi see him because the Olympics is such a big event that we had  3 different venues and everything was working simultaneously….yeah. We did 2 performance in 1 day. We performed…….It was a good celebration before the race and the final one as soon as the race was finished. We watched the race on a big screen in a different location. As soon as he won it was time for us to perform.

PGM: What do you do to keep the memories of your dad alive? Would he be proud of you today if he were alive?

JM:I would feel so. We keep his memory alive by breathing everyday. Even when you do not hear about us or you don’t see us his vibe is very live..yuh know wha’ a mean?

PGM: Have you accomplished what you’ve intended from the Awake Tour?

JM: Yes…We have accomplished a lot by coming out to the people and delivering the message live…yuh know what a mean….

PGM: How was the reception during your tour?

JM: Yeah mon wi getting a good reception. It was great…

PGM: You are constantly on the go…how do you manage to keep the energy going?

JM: Well you know, you have to keep fit, yuh haffi (you have to) eat good food and you have to keep motivated.

PGM: What do you eat, Julian, C’mon, tell mi wha’ yuh eat?

JM: Then that will be giving away all the secrets….steam fish and hard ground food like yam, potato, dasheen, bananas an’ dem ting deh an yuh steam fish and okro. (A Jamaican dish, favorite among locals)

PGM: Julian, thank you so much for talking with us. You, your brothers and the entire Marley family are true inspirations for us all. We celebrate the Bob Marley’s legacy everyday in our lives. We wish you success in all your endeavors. BLESSED

*****Tickets for THE AWAKE TOUR: JULIAN MARLEY AND THE UPRISING FEATURING STEPHEN AND DAMIAN “JR. GONG” MARLEY are now on sale.  If purchased prior to Nov. 2, 2009, tickets range from $19.50 -$39.50. Tickets can be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office at (305) 949-6722 or online at www.arshtcenter.org. Ticket prices will be $24.50 – $44.50 after Nov. 1, 2009.

*****During a “Giving Thanks With The Marleys” initiative, The Ghetto Youths Foundations is asking attendees to bring non-perishable canned goods to the event. These donations will be given to CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational and Emotional) Homes for Children to help feed over 170 young adults who have aged out of foster care and provide food for families in need during the Thanksgiving holiday.  CHARLEE is a private not-for-profit social service agency created in 1983 in Miami-Dade County, caring for children ages 0-23 years old that have been placed in foster care due to abuse, abandonment and/or neglect. What started as a small group home program, serving 30 children, has grown to become one of the largest foster care providers in Miami Dade County, serving approximately 1,400 children each year.

An Extravagant affair
Conversation with Joe Sabatini, Founder of Festivals of Speeds, Miami
November 2009
By Daedrian McNaughton

Festivals of Speed Miami to Benefit the Injured Officers Assistance Fund will roar up on the lawns of Bayfront Park on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 with an exclusive line up of the world’s finest exotic cars, motorcycles, aircraft, yachts and luxury lifestyle products. As a prelude to the main event, there will be an exclusive reception, Yacht Hop where guests will enjoy fine cuisine, champagne, fine wines, and other premium cocktails while perusing the magnificent displays assembled by Festivals of Speed.

Premier Guide Miami was able to track down the man that is solely responsible for this extravagance. Joe Sabatini is the founder of Festivals of Speed, a combination of an exotic-car show and luxury lifestyle products display. We found Joe on the docks at the Epic Marina making last minute preparations for his big Miami event, the first of many  to come. As expected, he was multi-tasking, giving directions, and talking to me at the same time, keeping the flow of things.

PGM: How did you manage to come up with such a fitting name for this event?

JS: Festivals of Speed was started about 6 years ago and it just seemed like a perfect name to have at an event like this. It really is a festival and everything here goes fast, so its kind of natural. There is actually an event oversees in England, the Goodwood Festivals of Speed, it seems, like minds think alike.

PGM: Why have you chosen the Injured Officers Assistance Fund to be the charity to support?

JS: This particular charity, for 2 reasons. First and foremost it is a great cause and its locally based. Although it’s a statewide charity for Injured Officers Assistance Fund. They were founded and started here in miami. Secondly, one of the main car collectors that I’ve dealt with over the last years is the gentleman that founded it, Mr Michael Fux, and he is a local businessman, very, very generous, donated to a lot of charities. Founded this after coming across an officer that was wounded, and realized that there were additional funds needed to help these guys and gals out. So I just thought it was a natural, it was one of the people that we knew and it was a great cause. I think it was a natural, although there are a lot of great charities here and I felt we would start with this one.

PGM: What were some of the challenges you faced in putting together Festivals of Speed Miami?

JS: Nothing major. Just like everything else its just a lot of coordination, and its really a good group of people, a lot of good comrodity. The different car clubs bring out their owners and their members, and the dealers come out and show the latest and the greatest. It just take some logistics and plannings, no major challenges, gotta take your time that’s about it.

PGM: Miami is famous for many things including flashy cars, and a high end lifestyle. Why did you think this was an appropriate venue?

JS: We added Miami after doing Orlando, St. Petersburg, New York and California, because Miami and south Florida is the epicenter of exotic cars in the country. Pretty much Florida and California are the main car centers, and this is long overdue. We have had a lot of people down here asking us to come down here. So it is the perfect venue, perfect weather, and almost an unlimited amount of exotic cars to invite.

PGM: We recently hosted the Miami Auto Show and of course they featured antique as well as other exotic brands. Do you think that you can top such an event? What makes Festivals of Speed different or unique?

JS: We go way beyond that actually because we don’t just show a  standard brand new Rolls Royce, Phantom, Bentley or Ferrari. We actually have access to manufacturers at my last event, Festivals of Speed Orlando. They  air freighted 4 cars from France and Germany to be on sale at that event. At this event it is a prestine high line event attended by predominantly just high network individuals that are true gear heads. We tend to get some of the very, very special and unique cars, including what you will never see or you rarely would see at an auto show like that. We get real serious vintage cars, We get $5-$10 million worth of Ferrari, Lamborghinis, those kinds of cars, so its not a challenge to top typical auto show. 

PGM: How has the response been so far?

JS: Phenomenal. People love it. I am here at the epic hotel right now watching all the yachts park, and you can’t keep people away between the yachts and the exotic cars. They are just totally enjoying the whole scenario.

PGM: What do you hope to accomplish from this event?

JS: Really the main goal is to raise a lot of money, a lot of funds. 100% of the proceeds goes to the charity. Frankly that everybody comes together, whether they are high network individuals or they are just young girl or young boy who just have that sparkle in their eyes for looking at an exotic car. Everyone has a great, beautiful day in Bay Front Park. November weather in miami, you can’t beat it. I just really want everyone to have a good time.

PGM: So tell me, how many of these luxury vehicles do you actually own?

JS: I don’t own any of these exotic vehicles like this. I own them for just the events, but that’s just it. Unfortunately I do not have a garage for those Rolls Royce, Phantoms, Lamborghinis, Ferraris as much as I would like to have them, maybe one day, but not now.

PGM: What do you own?

JS: The car that I drive as far as a sports car would be one of the new corvettes. An affordable daily driver that I can easily maintain, my tire changes don’t cost me $40, 000, so I am very happy about that. I’ve got 2 sons in college and another one on the way, so I am pretty happy.

***Tickets for the Festivals of Speed Miami receptions can be purchased in advance online and for the Sunday event, on site at Bayfront Park. As for the Sunday event, tickets are $20.00 U.S. per person with children under 12 years of age entering free. VIP Packages are also available.

For more information on Festivals of Speed Miami, please visit www.festivalsofspeed.com.

For one night only, Joan Rivers, Emmy Award-winning comedian, author, actress, playwright, television talk show host, fashion commentator, and winner of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice, will dazzle Miamians with her brilliance.

The ever energetic, high-spirited and ridiculously funny Joan Rivers spent some time talking with us this morning on her upcoming performance in Miami. She had me laughing from the introduction to the end of the interview. Of course, she is a comedian, what did you expect. She holds nothing back, she tells it like it is and if you don’t get it, too bad.  No need for a lengthy introduction, the interview says it  all.

You still have time to purchase tickets to see the iconic comedien at the Adrienne Arsht Center on November 11, 2009. Please call the box office at (305) 949-6722 or online at www.arshtcenter.org. Ticket prices range between $34.50 and $69.50.

Here is the interview: Joan Rivers talks with Premier Guide Miami’s Daedrian McNaughton.

PGM: I am glad you are performing in Miami and I am excited to talk to you about your performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us.

JR: Ask me what you want to ask me..I will answer what you want to hear.

PGM: Recently at the “Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers”, Kathy Griffin referred to you as her inspiration and a trailblazer for women. Do you feel that you have paved the way for female comedians?

JR: Couldn’t care less

PGM: And why is that?

JR: Couldn’t care less, because I think, these people think that they have done something, its so boring and so stupid and so pretentious. I have a great career and I do what I do. I do my career and I never thought I was a trailblazer I never speak of myself in those terms. Its very sweet of Kathy who is my friend to say that.

PGM: You are a comedian, author, actress, playwright, television talkshow host, fashion show commentator and winner of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice. How do you manage to keep up with all of these activities in your life?

JR: Oh whatever, yeah yeah….I just love the business and I think most of us, like Steve Martin is a performer, a comedian, an author. When you really look around most of us are writers and do other things also. Also, very few comedians these days are just comedians. We all write our own materials… most of us write books…  most of us do more than just stand up.

PGM: Is there a secret to your level of energy?

JR: That’s just luck. I think my grandmother must have been raped by a Cossack. You know what I mean? My family has a lot of energy, in the family, I have an aunt that never stops. My sister and I laugh sometimes because the energy in the family is extraordinary. It’s also… I really think that anyone that turns down any oppurtunity in life is an idiot. My God if somebody says to you, “Do you want to go to Russia for four days?” “yes! yes! yes! yes!” Always yes. I never say no.

PGM: Is that because you only have one life to live?

JR: Absolutely, I really do. I have done such amazing things in my life like a trip to Nepal, been to Russia in the dead of winter. How many people can say they have  spent four days in St. Petersburg, in real Russia with big heavy coats and boots, it was great. I’ve been to China, India and always on the spur of the moment things that people say, “you wanna go”,  and I say, “yes”.

PGM: Why have you decided to share your performance and work with Miamians? (Why Miami?)

JR: Cause they are paying me.

PGM: Is that the only reason? You don’t love us that much?

JR: I am a performer, I do my Stand up all around the country and when they call up and they say, “Do you wanna play Miami? You go, “great”. It’s fun, it’s a great area, there are a lot of young people. I hate the term hip, but it’s hip and I love it. Everytime they say, “Do you want to go to Miami?” I say “yes”.

PGM: So share the secret, how much do they pay you?

JR: Who knows. I have not seen a check in 15 years, it goes right to my account. It goes right pass my head.

PGM: You have had high and low points in your career and you seem to be a survivor. To what do you attribute that?

JR: Move forward. Never, never dwell on the past. You can’t change the past, so for God’s sakes move on.

PGM: Looking back on your career, are there mistakes that you have made that you would do differently today? What would you say was your biggest mistake?

JR: I don’t know, you know every choice has two paths out of it, so you don’t know. What would I have done differently? I don’t know. They offered me Oprah’s day time show before Oprah was offered it, and maybe I don’t think I would have been Oprah, so I don’t know what would have happened.

PGM: Do you think you would have made a greater success than Oprah has?

JR: Oh no, I think that everything was right when she came along. She was smart, she was bright, she was African American, she was an all package.

PGM: Through your experiences, what wisdom would you pass on to someone who is trying to make it in this life?

JR: Marry a very rich person. I don’t care if you like him or you don’t like him. Marry a very rich person and get a great prenup.

PGM: What can we expect from your Miami performance?

JR: Just everything that’s annoying you as a reader, annoys me and we are going to talk about it. I hate thin people, I hate fat people, I hate old people, I hate young people, I hate children, I hate…I am sick of everything. I hate terrorists, and they all get their share of venom.

PGM: So can you give us a preview?

JR: No, it sounds so awful. No, but its fun. I think I have never been working better. I think I am really… I hate those terms, but i really…The only good thing about age is that it frees you to really say what you wanna say. I think if, my God, I have worked like this on a stage when I was 30 years old, how exciting that would have been. It is so much fun, I am having such a good time.

PGM: Have you done anything special while you have been here?

JR: Visiting of course friends. Miami is always friends that live in Lauderdale, Live in Palm Beach, and there are always friends that you see when you are here which makes it lovely.

PGM: Well thank you so much for your time Ms. Rivers…..

JR: You got the jokes, I love you…

The Miami International Wine Fair 2009
Conversation with David Bernard, Co-founder of The Miami International Wine Fair
By: Daedrian McNaughton

The Miami International Wine Fair is owned and managed by VINTRADE LLC, a South Florida-based corporation established by David Bernard and Madrid-based Emporio Ferial S.A., an international event planning and production company that organizes dozens of wine shows year round, including Iberwine which benefits Educate Tomorrow.

Over the past seven years, Miami has been home to the country’s leading wine trade show and Florida’s largest wine tasting event. The fair has attracted more than 6,700 attendees, presented more than 1,500 wines from 20 countries. No wonder why Florida (including Miami) is ranked number 2 as the largest region in the U.S in wine consumption. Although cutbacks were made, organizers of the fair are very pleased with the outcome and considered it a booming success. Wines that were exhibited and sampled by guests were moderately priced and can be found at your neighborhood grocer or your local wine retailer.

Organizers are very optimistic for the future as they plan to reintroduce the Collectors Club (VIP area), expand exhibit space and present up to 2000 wines. We caught up with David Bernard who explained the increase in attendance to the fair and what’s next.

PGM: Isn’t it fairly remarkable that in these harsh economic times you have shown such large increase in attendance and interest in the 2009 Wine Fair? Can you attribute a reason to this increase?

DB: Even though we are aware of the economic downturn, alcohol and alcohol sales similar to entertainment have actually seem to defy the rest of the sectors and tend to do well during a recession. Within the industry, the companies that do suffer are the restaurants. Restaurant sales are actually down by over 10 percent, but sales in supermarkets and food stores and other retail outlets are actually up by a greater percentage in terms of volumes, so total wine consumption in the US have actually gone up by amost 1 percent which is remarkable not only because of the current crisis because in many of the developed countries in the world consumption is actually going down for a number of other reasons, so it is a good market and it is a good sector to be in.

PGM: Why did you choose Miami initially as your city to showcase the International Wine Fair?

DB: The reason for Miami is quite a few reasons. First of all, Florida was growing significantly (when we started the wine fair) in terms of wine consumption and would soon overtake NY as the largest market on the East Coast and the 2nd in the country. Just as we predicted in 2004, that’s when Florida took over New York. Florida is now the 2nd largest in the market right behind California. Somewhere between 55 and 65 millions gallons of wines consumed every year. It accounts for about 8 percent of total consumption in the country. When you think of Florida, you think Miami and Miami Beach, it is a wonderful destination that attracts millions of people every year with the wonderful beaches to host affairs. In addition to that we look at Miami not just us in the wine business but in many other sectors, we see miami as the point that connects a lot of different countries worldwide. It tends to be a great connecting point for Europe and with Latin America, both of which happens to be great wine producing regions.

PGM: Are you saying there are a lot of drinkers here in Miami?

DB: Yes there are. It’s not only the per capita consuption it is the growing consumption in florida which it is, but population as a whole has increased dramatically in the last 10 years. Typically it’s coming down to 2 things, not only that people are moving in Miami and Florida as a whole but also you have to realize that Florida has 80 million tourists per year. As you can imagine, tourist do tend to drink more when they are on vacation than when they are in their daily life. The interesting thing about Florida is that it is a huge market but it is really spread out, so when we started the wine fair we wanted everybody to come down to Miami from Florida state, people from Orlando, Tampa, Palm Beach, Naples, and we accomplished that, and in the last two years we have been focusing on making this a nationwide event so that our buyers and visitors come from and represent every single state in the nation and we have already accomplished but obviously every year we need to work harder and harder to increase the number of people who are from outside the state to attend. We  have importers, retailers, distributors and restaurant chains from every single state in the country, from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean this year.

PGM: Do you foresee expanding the fair to other cities or venues throughout the US or do you feel the success of the Miami event is sufficient for the industry?

DB: We see a market opportunity that we are attacking aggressively to host another event of similar size, but obviously it will take us a while to get it to this size but, with the same goal in mind in Southern California and we are  already working to making this happen for April of 2011.

PGM: On a personal note, what is your favorite red or white?

DB: Well at the end of the day I end up drinking more red. By the way I am a big wine drinker, I het into this because of a passion of mine. The truth is I enjoy white wine with the right dish and at the right moment, so even though I may end up drinking more red, if I am having more seafood or if I am having some stone crabs at Joe’s in South Beach I will not be having a glass of red. I would have maybe a glass of chardonnay or pinot noir.

PGM: Do you have any recommendations for someone who is unfamiliar with wines as to what their intial purchase should be?

DB: I do and this is in my personal experience and everybody in the sector. You have to go out and taste as many wines as you can. It  doesn’t mean get drunk or drink more than you can handle, it just means taste as much as you can, go to trade shows, go to tastings, go to your local retailer, it is the only way to learn. You can study it, you can read but at the end of the day if you don’t expose your palate to as many wines as possible you will never be able to categorize them in the right selling frame and be able to appreciate it in the future. It’s just about tasting as many wines as you can.

Initial purchase for someone who is unfamiliar with wines…..I always think that you should develop a relationship with your local wine retailer or a wine retailer that you respect or that guides you in the right direction. The best way to go about it is try to find something that you like, lets say that you find yourself comfortable with pinot noir, ok, drink some pinot noirs, first understand the category and once you have a few, move on. Open your palate to as many different categories to as many different varietals as possible. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. I think it is also a great exercise to try different bottles at different price points, if you can’t afford it all the time, get together with a friend or 2 and chip in to buy a slightly more expensive bottle also go into local retail tastings you always get the opportunity to taste a bunch of different wines. By the way this is remarkable as it doesn’t happens everywhere in the world as it does in America, every single retailer here has daily tastings where they have easily 5,6,7 bottles of wines open. I recommend going to those tastings because typically you get to taste good grades of wines and all you have to do is buy one bottle. It ends up being a very affordable way of learning about wines, a good site to learn about this is www.localwineevents.com.

PGM: What do you envisage for future events in addition to what you have already exhibit at the Miami Wine Fair?

DB: In terms of the wine fair, we are going to see couple things, for example we are bringing the Collectors Club back. The Collectors Club was our VIP section where we had only high end wines available for the public to taste. We eliminated that this year, because we did not see a significant demand for $50 and $60 bottle wines, so we are bringing that back. We do feel that in 2010 we are definitely going to be coming out of the crisis, and the fact that the us economy has just posted its first quarterly growth is certainly a good sign. So we are predicting that we are coming out of this slump and therefore the Collectors Club will come back and that’s an amazing little component of the fair. We will also have a larger show. We predict about 80, 000 square feet, we are not being overly aggressive about the increase in growth with respect to this year and  probably closer to 2000 wines to taste from 20 different countries, so at the end of the day a fair is a fair. We have huge tastings, great seminar programs, the collectors club, and various events, celebrations and other networking opportunities.

Premier Guide Miami would like to thank Mr. Bernard for taking the time to talk with us.

For more information on the Miami International Wine Fair, visit www.miamiwinefair.com

No Ordinary Fishing Boat.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2009
October 2009
Conversation with Michael Myers, Bertram Yacht’s COO/President
By Daedrian McNaughton

The golden celebration of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show withstood the test of times. Although the turnout for this year’s show was reportedly lower than last year, exhibitors reported positive interests and serious buyers.  The show has been around for 50 years, with an extravagant display of large and small yachts from around the world. 

There were several new features and introductions at this years show. However we became particularly interested in the Introduction of the Bertram 511. The Bertram family is headquartered in Miami, and has been a part of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, since its inception.

Known for it’s sleek fleet of luxury sports fishing yachts, Bertram certainly knows how to please its customers. They unveiled a fully loaded 511 with amazing features and with all the amenities of home and some and a price tag of around $1.2 million. The amenities include generous storage integrated into the standard mezzanine deck in the cockpit, ample seating which allows every angler to relax while trolling the high seas waiting, for the next bite, a large fish box with removable tub in the cockpit sole, can be used to store the days catch, along with a second fishbox that is located in the transom. This is no ordinary fishing boat.

The minute you embark on the Bertram 511 you feel at home. It is very open and inviting, with a sense of spaciousness  throughout the yacht. The 511 exudes a new edge and modern appeal from its previous predecessors, without compromising the traditional look of a Bertram boat. It offers a full wrap around windshield that is designed to withstand the roughest offshore conditions, yet interior storage is not compromised. This unique new feature also makes for an incredible 360 degree view of the surrounding water, while out in the ocean, and is a great asset for capturing the wide open seas, with a clear view of what lies ahead.

                    ”It fishes good, it rides good and it brings you home“.
                           _Sunny Parks, South Carolina, A loyal Bertram Owner.

The Bertram family have people coming back for more, like Sunny Parks who is a current Bertram owner since 2006. Sunny owned several fishing vessels and when he was first introduced to Bertram he sold all others and made Bertram the one. He stopped by during the show to preview the 511 and to say hello to the team. When asked about his current purchase he said he was quite happy and comfortable with it. It is quite obvious that they deliver excellent service and their product is a superior brand.

Richard Lemar, Bertram’s Chief Engineer took us on a tour while Micheal Myers, Bertram’s President and COO talked with Premier Guide Miami about his new Bertram Family.

PGM: Give us a brief history on the Bertram family.

MM: Bertram has a very rich heritage and  history not only in America, but around the world. Bertram was founded in 1961 by a gentleman by the name of Richard Bertram. He worked on a new boat design with a famous American Navel Architect by the name of Raymond Hunt. They won a race that was conducted for many, many years from Miami to Nassau. They won that race not just by a little bit but by 2 hours a head of the nearest competitor,  and that basically put Mr. Bertram in the boating building business up until that time he was a boat broker and he says he had so may yachtsmen waving check books at him he could afford not to be in the boat manufacturing business. So he begun building boats in 1961 and in 1962 was when we opened the facility we are currently in now in Miami near the Miami International Airport. We are known as luxury sports fishing yachts and we offer a very fine balance between sports fishing  and luxury cruising you can use both. Many of the boats that we have build are for certain international markets, some are used primarily for cruising while here in America many of them are used for sports fishing and cruising.

PGM: How long has Bertram been apart of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show?

MM: Since the show started. This is one of the biggest  boat shows in the world and Bertram has been apart of this forever.

PGM: How has the market conditions affected sales over the past year?

MM: The market conditions are very tough, and  you will  have to be living in a cave not to recognize the fact that discretionary purchases are certainly something that has been reduced over the last year since the global economic meltdown. Bertram has such a fine name, a high brand equity that not just in the U.S., we sell boats all over the world. We ship boats all over the world, we are especially big in  the US, Italy is a big market for us, Venezuela, Panama,  Australia, Greece, and Japan. It’s truly a wonderful brand, it’s recognized in all the countries in all the major boating markets around the world, so we are making through these times. We have been through some tough times in the past, and the boating industry certainly goes with the economy but on the other hand its not a better time to buy a boat than right now. We are seeing some signs of activities out there, people are out buying boats. We still have ways to go, but I think we have hit bottom and I think we have started to bump along started to come back up again.

PGM: Why have you decided to launch the 511 at this show?

MM: Just like any industry making good, you have to come out with something newer and better and  this is a new revolution of a 50 plus foot boat.

PGM: What are th special features of the Bertram 511 and what makes it different from all the other models?

MM: The 511 Bertram is being introduced here at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. What makes it somewhat unique to many of our other models is that it has a complete forward windshield, a nice 360 degree view as you enter the salon. It also has  half size windows in the master state rooms and in the master guest state room, so a lot of the natural light comes in. The cockpit has a large size cockpit for a boat this size. On the bridge, there is  U-shaped  seating which is really nice for conversing, discussing and having a social atmosphere. Of course it is a Bertram which means its built very rugged,  very  robust and the ride is second to none.

PGM: What major changes or improvements will  you introduce next? What can we expect from the Bertram family after the Boat Show?

MM: We are working on the 800 and that will be a flagship of the Bertram line up that will be introduced sometime in the 2010 calendar year. 
 
 About Michael Myers

Previously President of Boston Whaler and Brunswick’s Saltwater Boat Group Division, Michael Myers joined Bertram Yacht in its Miami headquarters on January 7th, 2008. Myers holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and has 28 years of managerial experience, including 8 years at General Electric and 20 years in the marine industry.

For more information on Bertram, please visit http://www.bertram.com/

For more information about the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, please visit www.showmanagement.com.

The Premier Guide Miami team would like to thank the Bertram team for all their support.

Photos courtesy of Bertram Yachts 

Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup Miami
JR and Loren Ridinger Talk Charity
Conversation with JR and Loren Ridinger
October 16, 2009-Eden Roc Miami
By: Daedrian McNaughton
Photos by: Winston Delawar

 We all have a story to share about one of the most chronic diseases of our time, cancer. We have all been affected by cancer in some way or another whether through family members, close friends or even ourselves. The Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup is ignited by the desire to help Jackson Memorial Foundation, International Kids Fund (IKF) and Holtz Children’s Hospital, and takes place November 20th and 21st, 2009, in Miami.  Participants’ will each raise a minimum of $25,000 online to enter their personal car which gives them the chance to draft a Celebrity Navigator such as Eva Longoria Parker; Adam Rodríguez, Actor, CSI: Miami; Lennox Lewis, former World Heavyweight Champion and many more. The higher the driver’s fundraising amount determines the draft position earned to select the Celebrity who will accompany Drivers on their Scavenger Cup adventure throughout the city.
Rally for kids is geared at raising funds to support kids who are affected by this chronic and dreadful disease and to improve their lives in the hopes that one day we may find a cure.

We met with JR and Loren Ridinger, principals of Market America at a recent press conference held at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, to announce Eva Longoria Parker as honorary chair of the first Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup Miami. JR and Loren are passionate supporters of the cause, and encourage everyone to do the little they can to help make a difference for the children who suffer from this horrible disease. We hope you will get inspiration from this and support the cause. We will rally until we can celebrate a cure. Do your part every little counts.

PGM: What was your inspiration for getting involved with Rally for kids with Cancer? 

JR/LR: Eva and I are very close friends, we vacation together we do everything together. I think that children are very special. When she came to me with the idea I could not say no. I am a mother, I have a 17 years old daughter and I can’t possibly imagine what it would be like if I had a child who was suffering with cancer. I feel its an obligation to give back. God has been good to us and we have to give back. 

PGM: Do you have a personal story you would like to share? Is there anyone in your life who has been affected by cancer?

JR/LR: My mom died of cancer at the young age of 52 and I have a lot of friends who suffer from breast cancer. Its a horrible disease but to see children suffer for me its a killer. I can’t stand it and I feel that they don’t have a voice and they don’t have the medical attention they need. I felt this was a great way to get people involved and it’s fun. 

PGM: How is the Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup fundraising different from other charitable events in Miami?

 JR/LR:Its not like the traditional charities where you go to an event or you are seated in a ballroom and everyone is all ”dolled” up. In this event everyone gets out there, they will put their uniforms on. Everyone will be racing to do these amazing lifetime events at seven pitstops, and they’ll get to do all these exciting things. That alone is worth the money, but they don’t have to give the money themselves. They can raise it through the website or send it out to all their friends. We did that by just sending it out to all our friends.

PGM: How much have you contributed?

JR/LR: We have not given anything as yet. We are going to give and we will give big.

PGM: How much have you raised so far?

JR/LR: Close to about $50, 000 just by putting it on our sites. Some people give $1, $5, $10, just like going to church, $5, $10. It’s been amazing, nobody has put up that much.

PGM: Were there any challenges?

JR/LR: No, sometimes the website would go down but that’s ok, that’s technology. It’s been very exciting for us. We still have a whole month to go, and I am so excited. I am pushing it to everyone. I don’t care if you can afford to give $1(give it), every dollar makes a difference.

PGM: You mentioned putting the fun back into fundraising, how do you intend to achieve that in the Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup Miami?

JR/LR: Putting the fun back into fundraising…Whenever people talk about fundraising everyone starts wondering, especially here in Miami. Miami is a city that’s notorious for tons of fundraising events. You know what event is happening tonight, before you know it, it becomes a social event. Well this is more about doing something great but having fun while doing it. Our gala ball that takes place on November 21, 2009 is Jewels and Jeans. I love that because people can come in their blue jeans, they can put their jewels on if they like, they can wear their tennis shows, but you actually have a good time doing it. The secret pitstops that we can’t tell anyone about what’s going to take place at these stops. The different celebrities and the things that they get to do at these pitstops make the event itself fun. You will also get to hear the kids stories and you get to meet them.

I think sometimes there are so many charities but you don’t get to hear from the kids. You attend these big events and you are like, ok… What’s happening? Where are the kids? I love this one because you can actually touch and feel and see these children and to help them get the care they need.

PGM: You are heavily involved in the community, why have you decided to participate in so many charitable activities and organizations?

JR/LR: I do alot already with my work, and Market America takes a big chunk out of our time. I just feel like God has been really good to us. We are parents, and I think that there is nothing more responsible as a person than to give back to the community. We are blessed to do well, then you have to give back.

PGM: How involved is Market America with Rally for Kids?

JR/LR: We are very involved. We are involved with numerous amount of charities, but this one is really dear to us. I’ve always said, I am a sucker for anything that has to do with kids. I have one but I should’ve had a million more. I look at these children as our own, and I mean that. Sometimes you may hear others say, “oh, that’s not my kid it can’t happen to me”, but it can. I did the American Heart Association Red Dress Fashion Show during Funkshion Fashion Week . I get the impression that people who do these events think they cannot have heart disease, but my mom did at the age of 42. I feel like we have an obligation, and I always feel like there is a right time and a right place. Tony, Eva, Jr and I are very dear friends. When Eva came to us, saying they needed us to rally behind them, it was an easy decision.

PGM: Thank you for talking with us and we wish you all the best in your endeavors.

To support Rally for Kids with Cancer, and join JR and Loren’s team click here. Make a donation, anything you are comfortable with, every little bit matters and it all adds up.

 For more information on Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup in Miami, click here.

One star general and a chaplain in the Army. I was very honored to have had the opportunity of interviewing this gentleman and general, Brigadier General Donald L. Rutterford. As a flight attendant, I am able to meet and interact with people of different backgrounds, social status and creed. General Rutherford was one of those people. I was also told by my team mate that it is very rare that one gets to see the Army General (so I should make the best of it).

After receiving a brief lesson and introduction about symbols and stations in the army, I realized that the general would be a great story. The General has served in the US Army for 32 years, active duty for 20 years and has one of the highest rank in the military, one star general. For 28 years he has been a priest where he counsels his team mates. He has devoted his life and time to helping others where needed. In theme with “My Miami” the General shares his experience in Miami. People visit the Miami area for work, fun and sun, but the general’s visit was more work than fun in the most unusual way. 

Most of you are very familiar with the events of hurricane Andrew and the damages it caused the state of Florida. Hurricane Andrew, devastated Florida in August of 1992 and disrupted the lives of many. We often talk about what great city this is for fun and sun, this time it was for act of humanity. In order to get the state and city from the destruction and to aid displaced residents, army brigades were dispatched all over Florida to facilitate. This was the occasion that the General visited the state, no sun, no fun. He was greeted with sights that would have been intolerable to the average person. He is trained for situations like this and his expertise took over.

We are currently in the hurricane season, and there are notices all over the Miami area for residents to be prepared. The General’s advice to the residents and visitors of Miami; be prepared and if there is a warning to get out…get out. The city can be rebuilt, normalcy can be restored but you will never get your life back.

Below is a brief Q & A with Brigadier General Donald L. Rutherford. It has been a very unusual visit and many assignments and engagements later, therefore, the General was not able to remember the names of these places.

DM: It’s an honor to be in your presence and having the opportunity to have this discussion with you. Have you ever visited Miami?

DLR: I have. My first visit to Miami was in August of 1992 during hurricane Andrew.

DM: Where did you stay?

DLR: My brigade stayed at a Coast Guard Station and Homestead Airforce Base. We were basically bouncing around helping so we did not have a stable station. I can remember the very first night we arrived, it was under rough conditions. I found a patch of grass, made a bed from a poncho liner which is the army blanket, I put my bug spray on. I woke up the next morning on a putting green at the 5^th hole. On my second night, I slept at the drive thru of a Suntrust Bank. Another memorable night I spent at the County Court House where I stacked law books to make a cot in the law library.

DM: What were the conditions here on your visit?

DLR: As it was during the hurricane, the city was in a deplorable state. It was very devastating. Various areas were heavily affected where residents were displaced, stranded and had no support or ways of evacuating. I remembered rescuing a lady whose house was completely covered in water. She has been there for several days. The water has seeped into her pores causing them to rot. We had rescue support team that was able to get her the proper medical treatment. There were similar cases all over the city.

DM: What were you commissioned to do in Florida?

DLR: My team and I were called in to help the survivors of the storm.

DM: How do you feel about people in the Miami area at that time?

DLR: When things are bad, humanity gets very good. The people of Miami all came together in rescue efforts to help their neighbors. They appreciated what the soldiers did for them.

DM: Where is home?

DLR: I am from upstate New York and I have not lived there for over 20 years. I have returned for visits. In the army, home is where the army sends you. Home is where needed.

General Rutherford has devoted his life to serving in the army and his country. He is very passionate about what he does and enjoys making a difference in someone’s life everyday. We thank General Rutherford for his time and most of all for his service to this country and his efforts to heal the wounds of this country. We hope his next visit to Miami will be one of fun and sun.

 Donald L. Rutherford
Brigadier General, USA; graduate, The State University of New York at Albany (ROTC) with advanced degrees from St. Bernard’s Seminary of the University of Rochester and the United States Army War College; ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Albany; served as the Command Chaplain, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Command Chaplain Multi-National Corps Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad; currently Deputy Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Army.

_Daedrian McNaughton

It’s very simple. Here I will upload information on my everyday run-ins with celebrities, politicians, TV personalities and the likes. These are my encounters.

Just to name a few Bill C, Lionel Ritchie, Maxwell, Bill Bennett, Soledad Obrien and the list goes on.