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For older, wiser Bangles, the road is more fun
Sep 6th
Things aren’t so manic for the Bangles these days.
The all-girl band known for "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like an Egyptian" saw a career that was a rollercoaster ride during its ’80s heyday.
But the band’s singer-drummer Debbi Peterson says today’s Bangles, which include singer Susanna Hoffs and her sister,earrings, guitarist Vicki Peterson, are different.
"We don’t go on the road so much. We all have kids,discount tiffany," Peterson says. "In the ’80s we were on the road for six months at a time and when we weren’t on the road we were making an album. We were living and breathing the Bangles."
The Bangles made their mark in much the same way at the Go-Gos — an all-female group whose members played their own instruments and who weren’t brought together by a male Svengali figure.
"That’s what I want people to know about us," Peterson says. "We played instruments,tiffany on sale, wrote songs and sang. It wasn’t a manufactured thing."
Albums such as 1984′s "All Over the Place,tiffany," 1986′s "Different Light" and 1988′s "Everything" kept that dream alive and made it good to be a Bangle.
The best part of it, she says, outside of performing for hordes of fans, was meeting many of their peers: riding in an elevator with Keith Richards, recording with Prince, having dinner with Duran Duran.
"It’s those fun little things we were able to do that otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to do. Some of the things I don’t even remember."
But things soon soured. As the band’s popularity grew,buy tiffany, Peterson says, the record label pushed Hoffs into the spotlight at the expense of the other band members.
"We felt like sidemen. We all put our heart and soul and sweat into it. We felt the powers that be were making us into something we weren’t, and that was frustrating."
Peterson says it was stressful watching the group become Susanna Hoffs and the Bangles. That, coupled with some tours in the late ’80s during which "weird things were happening and everything went wrong," led to the dissolution of the group.
After going their separate ways, the members reformed and in 2003 released "Doll Revolution." The group is currently working on a new album with producer Matthew Sweet.
Before getting back together, they all had to discuss their feelings about Hoffs.
"We realize she’s obviously going to get more attention," Peterson says. "But it’s not that important. We’re older and wiser, and we have different priorities going on."
KRATZER IS ‘OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN’
Sep 5th
The University of Florida issued the following news release:
Dave Kratzer has served The Gator Nation for nearly 24 years, including more than four as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and almost 20 as the former Director of the Reitz Union. In addition, he is now serving his country as a newly appointed U.S. Army Reserve ambassador.
Kratzer, a retired Army Reserve Major General, was recently appointed as an ambassador by Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command.
"It’s an honor," Kratzer said.
Army Reserve Ambassadors are private citizens who serve as liaisons between the Army Reserve and the community. Ambassadors are spokespeople and representatives for the Army Reserve, and are resources and mentors for soldiers and their families.
Ambassadors have a status equal to that of a two-star general. There are two ambassadors per state who serve three-year terms. At the end of their terms, they may apply to be appointed for another three years.
Kratzer’s own military experience makes him well-qualified for the ambassador position. After Sept. 11,thanksgiving earrings, 2001, Kratzer was deployed to Afghanistan for six months, returned to the U.S. for five months,tiffany, and deployed again to Iraq and Kuwait for a year.
"The University of Florida has been wonderful in their support of me," Kratzer said. "I left twice and came back, and my job was still here."
His experience overseas helps him relate to what soldiers are going through now that he serves as a mentor to them. Returning reservists may face financial troubles, job loss,tiffany earrings sale, post-traumatic stress or family issues after being away from home.
"I think they (the Army Reserve Ambassador program) specifically wanted me because I could talk to soldiers and their families," Kratzer said.
Kratzer’s various duties as an ambassador include attending events such as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Workshop. The Yellow Ribbon Program reunites soldiers from across the United States after they return home from duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.
For the 30- and 60-day reunions, the soldiers and their families receive an expense-paid trip to Orlando, where many take the opportunity to reunite with men and women with whom they served while stationed overseas.
"The idea is to bring them back together," Kratzer said.
Ninety days after the soldiers returned home, they were invited to a soldiers-only workshop in Jacksonville. The program provided counseling and information regarding employment and the GI Bill. Kratzer addressed the group of soldiers at the recent reunion.
"We help them try to find out what kind of help they need," Kratzer said. "There’s a lot of one-on-one time provided, and a lot of laughs as well."
As an ambassador, Kratzer attends a variety of events. Recently, Kratzer attended a deployment ceremony for a unit in Orlando. He also assists the US Army Recruiting Battalion by supporting such events as GatorNationals, a national drag racing event at Gainesville Raceway, where the Army’s No. 1 racing team drew the attention of approximately 2,000 people.
At UF, Kratzer works with the Collegiate Veterans Society, a voluntary student organization that numbers more than 440 student veterans on campus. He recently assisted the Collegiate Veteran’s Society and UF’s Student Government in planning the dedication ceremony for the new Veterans Memorial at the Reitz Union Amphitheatre. The memorial consists of a fountain, The US and State of Florida flags, a commemorative marker and five granite pillars representing each of the five military branches. The ceremony, hosted by the Collegiate Veterans Society, included a Navy flyover and a speech from a four-star general.
Kratzer also is the chair of the ROTC Advisory Committee on campus,tiffany cuff Links sale, which includes keeping track of ROTC’s numbers and academic standings. The committee oversees the Army, Navy, Marines and the Air Force at UF.
As an ambassador and former commander, Kratzer has seen a lot of support from soldiers,thanksgiving day 2010, and he enjoys the opportunity to reconnect with them.
"Any day you can spend with soldiers is a great day," Kratzer said. "This is my opportunity to give back to them."For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.
Lady Dragons earn second win
Sep 4th
They’re only three matches into the season,thanksgiving day celebration, but the strides the Monte del Sol Lady Dragons (2-1) made in Wednesday’s 15-25, 25-12, 25-7, 19-25, 15-13 win over Santa Fe Waldorf in volleyball was enough to impress head coach Emily Carlson.
"This was a very intense win for us,tiffany cuff Links clearance," Carlson said after her team’s nondistrict match at Fort Marcy. "The girls,thanksgiving cuff Links, they were getting everything down and making plays when they had to. As a coach it was fun to watch. It was amazing, actually."
Monte del Sol had only five missed hits all night. Its efficiency was key as Waldorf extended the match to a decisive Game 5.
"We pulled together and didn’t give up," Carlson said. "Each time they got close,thanksgiving bracelets, we pulled out a big play."
Seniors Monique Lujan and Kamille Archie-Payne — the only upperclassmen on the Monte del Sol roster — led the way with a combined eight service aces.
Lujan added two kills and four blocks while Archie Payne chipped in with a kill,tiffany, a dig and two blocks.
Freshman Erin Brooke finished with three aces and three kills, helping Monte del Sol keep the ball in play with a solid night as the back-row specialist.
Outside hitter Aisha Herrera helped the Lady Wolves storm back to force a decisive fifth game with three aces and three kills.
Woman accused in Bi-Mart pharmacy robberies
Aug 31st
After a Vancouver pain clinic lost the ability to prescribe painkillers, Larae Corzine a year ago said her family was in dire straits.
Her husband, Steve, was a longtime patient at the Payette Clinic,tiffany, which forfeited its rights to prescribe opioids last year after federal agents linked the clinic to the overdose death of an Oregon teen.
Corzine told a newspaper reporter in April 2009 that other doctors in town wouldn’t see her husband, who she said suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, because they were afraid he was addicted to Oxycontin. She said her husband was in pain, was not an addict, and needed help.
"The pain is 10 times worse than it’s ever been," Corzine told The Columbian last year. "He’s vomiting and shaking. I’m surprised he hasn’t gone into seizures."
Now, the distressed wife is behind bars and charged with three Vancouver pharmacy robberies and an attempted robbery on a fourth occasion. The alleged drug of choice: Oxycontin.
The 39-year-old Vancouver woman was arraigned Thursday on the most recently filed charge of first-degree attempted robbery relating to a June 18 holdup attempt at the Vancouver Clinic pharmacy, 501 S.E. 172nd Ave.
Corzine also is charged with three counts of first-degree robbery relating to the April 20,bangles, June 14 and June 18 holdups of the Bi-Mart pharmacy, 11912 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.
She is being held in the Clark County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail.
Trial has been set for Oct. 18.
Corzine was first arrested after the June 18 Bi-Mart robbery when a suspect sped away from police in a green Ford Taurus and crashed into an SUV at Northeast 63rd Street and 58th Avenue. In the collision, both cars were knocked off the road and the Taurus caught fire, deputies said.
After taken to Southwest Washington Medical Center and later jailed, investigators allegedly linked Corzine to the other robberies through surveillance video and witness identifications,money clips, according to court documents.
In each robbery, the bandit had a black gun tucked in her front waistband and made threatening requests for Oxycontin. In the Vancouver Clinic Pharmacy holdup, the robber said, "Give me Oxycontin 80 (mg) — I have a gun,earrings," according to court documents. She then counted down from 10.
Two pharmacy clerks escaped into an office, called 911 and the robber fled.
Corzine’s case isn’t the first evidence of fallout from the Payette Clinic. Of the 800 former patients,bracelets, the Drug Enforcement Administration estimated that half were physically dependent on narcotics. The clinic remains open under a new name, Walnut Grove Medical and Mental Health Clinic.
In September 2009, another former Payette patient, Harold Andres Jr., was sentenced to four years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to three Safeway pharmacy robberies earlier that year for oxycodone.
Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.
Lenoir woman arrested on drug charges
Aug 31st
Drug agents with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office ICE Unit and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation made an arrest tied to a violation of pseudoephedrine transaction limits.,necklaces
Crystal Jean Barnes, 27, of 3684 Townsend Lane, Lenoir, was arrested earlier this week and charged with one count of exceeding pseudoephedrine limits.
Agents with the ICE unit and SBI routinely check pseudoephedrine logs provided by pharmacies for unusual and/or frequent purchases of ephedrine-based products. By law, pharmacies are required to obtain valid identification of any person buying ephedrine-based products.
According to state law,watches, no person shall deliver to any one person, attempt to deliver to any one person, purchase or attempt to purchase at retail more than two packages containing a combined total or more than 3.6 grams of any pseudoephedrine products per calendar day or purchase at retail more than three packages containing a combined total of more than 9 grams of pseudoephedrine products within any 30-day period. The limits do not apply if dispensed under a valid prescription.
Barnes’ name appeared frequently in several pharmacy logs, drawing the attention of drug agents.
During their investigation,tiffany, agents discovered that Barnes had been to several pharmacies in Caldwell and Burke counties to purchase ephedrine-based products. They determined by the amount and frequency of the purchases, along with additional details gathered during the investigation,Atlas charm bracelet, that Barnes was contributing a main ingredient for the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Court records indicate that Barnes was charged by Lenoir Police Department with possession with intent to sell/deliver methamphetamine on June 11 of this year.
"We will continue to arrest people who are contributing to the manufacture of methamphetamine or any other illegal drug," Caldwell Sheriff Alan Jones said. "If you are supplying ingredients for a meth lab, you are just as guilty as the person cooking it."
Barnes was placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $5,Charm bracelet,000 secured bond and has a district court appearance in Caldwell County scheduled for Sept. 21.
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office always in search of information involving the use and distribution of illegal controlled substances. Information from citizens often proves valuable in solving drug cases, and any information provided will remain confidential. Anyone with information regarding illegal drug use and activity can contact the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office ICE Unit at 828-757-1178, Lenoir Police Department Narcotics Division at 828-757-2145 or Caldwell County Crimestoppers at 828-758-8300.
Women’s Bureau program helps boys learn respect
Aug 29th
The Women’s Bureau has a new program aimed at student-athletes that’s designed to help young men learn to treat women with respect.
The program, called Coaching Boys into Men, CBIM,key rings, is designed to help prevent violence by teens and young adults toward themselves and others, especially the girls and women in their lives. The program has been around since 2001 and started in North Carolina.
Unlike past programs, CBIM targets coaches and their athletes. Coaches need only spend five minutes a week, for a total of seven weeks, giving a prewritten message to their athletes.
The message for each lesson is broken into points on flip cards in an easy-to-use notebook. Each lesson is one page.
Coaches and players both sign a pledge saying they will show respect toward women, not violence.
Lessons include personal responsibility, insulting language, bragging about a sexual relationship and how disrespectful that is to your partner, disrespect to women and girls,money clips, responsibility with physical strength, when aggression crosses the line, no excuse for disrespectful behavior, and helping your teammates.
According to the program’s website, since CBIM’s start, thousands of coaches have signed up in support.
The program runs in collaboration with the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. CBIM sees it as important to target athletes because so many of their peers look up to them; if they set a good example,tiffany, others should follow.
Principal Matt Stinson and his football coach at Lane Middle School have come on board, but other schools have been slow to join in.
"I contacted high schools in Fort Wayne last year and got little response, so this year I am trying middle schools," said Candice Hall,pendants, Women’s Bureau prevention and outreach specialist.
Hall believes by having coaches deliver the message, young athletes will be more open to the ideas.
The program’s curriculum suggests a game night where student-athletes ask fans to pledge themselves to following the program guidelines.
"CBIM literally recommends only five to 10 minutes a week; the coaches don’t have to do anything but read these cards," Hall said. "If people would take a few minutes to let me show them this, they would see that it won’t take much time."
Hall thinks a younger group will be more receptive to the message. She is working with IPFW in hopes of getting student-athletes involved so they can act as role models and come to schools to spread the message.
"Kids really look up to college athletes," she said.
The curriculum materials are free for the program. The only expense the Women’s Bureau incurs are the hours that Hall has devoted to get CBIM to take off. That cost is covered by a grant to the Women’s Bureau.
"I am really excited to have Lane Middle School doing (this),rings, and we will continue to do this throughout the year," Hall said.
Treasury Announces End of Global Engagement Tour o
Aug 24th
News from America.com and the Washington File,tiffany
U.S. Department of the Treasury,pendants, Press Release, Washington, DC, August 20, 2010
Treasury Concludes Three Weeks of Global Engagement with Governments, Private Sector on Iran
Levey, Cohen, Glaser Wrap Up Eight Country Tour; Urge Robust Worldwide Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1929, Outline Financial Provisions of New U.S. Legislation on Iran
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the conclusion of three weeks of face-to-face global engagement on Iran with governments and the private sectors in Bahrain, Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, Lebanon,money clips, South Korea, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led by Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Stuart Levey; Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, David Cohen; and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, Daniel Glaser. Treasury’s leading officials on U.S. sanctions crisscrossed the globe this month, meeting with senior government officials to urge U.S. partners and allies to take bold steps to ensure rigorous, comprehensive implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929 to bolster the impact of the Resolution and additional measures imposed by the United States, European Union and others in recent weeks. Treasury also briefed government officials and banking sector leaders on the financial provisions of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act (CISADA) and the new Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations (IFSR) issued this month by Treasury.
Focusing on key financial and commercial centers across the globe, Levey,Charm pendant, Cohen and Glaser traveled to Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to strengthen sanctions efforts and underscore the importance of strong implementation of UNSCR 1929. They were joined by State Department and White House officials to implement the President’s direction to apply targeted financial pressure to deny Iran’s access to the international financial system and further sharpen the choice for Iran. In meetings with senior government officials, bank regulators and banking sector leaders, Treasury officials highlighted the impact that the latest round of sanctions have already begun to have on Iran’s economy – including the Government of Iran’s inability to attract foreign investment, develop its oil and gas fields, acquire financial services and maintain financial relationships with the international community — and making the case for concerted action to persuade the Government of Iran to change its behavior.
"As international pressure mounts and its economic isolation increases, Iran will attempt to seek out new channels to access the international financial system for illicit purposes," said Levey. "It is incumbent upon governments to put into place the appropriate mechanisms to protect against this threat. The U.S. will continue its outreach to governments and the private sector around the world to prevent Iran from exploiting new banks and unwitting partners in furthering its nuclear and missile programs."
During their travels, Treasury officials briefed regulators and members of the banking sector on the financial provisions of CISADA and outlined the potential for foreign financial institutions continuing to do business with individuals or entities designated by the United States to lose access the U.S. financial system. At roundtable discussions with banking associations, Treasury continued its dialogue with the private sector on the need for enhanced vigilance with respect to Iran’s continued efforts to engage in a range of deceptive measures to conduct illicit transactions and evade sanctions. U.S. officials also highlighted the need for intense scrutiny from both regulators and financial institutions of all transactions involving Iran to combat attempts by Iran to establish new and expand existing financial relationships as sanctions tighten.
WIPO ASSIGNS PATENT TO SPINAL SIMPLICITY
Aug 24th
Publication No. WO/2010/093353 was published on Aug. 19.
Title of the invention: "INTERSPINOUS PROCESS IMPLANTS HAVING DEPLOYABLE ENGAGEMENT ARMS."
Applicants: Spinal Simplicity LLC [US/US]; 10995 Quivira Road Overland Park, KS 66210 (US) (All Except US).
HESS,Charm bracelet, Harold [US/US]; (US) (US Only).
Inventors: Hess,Atlas charm bracelet, Harold; (US).
According to the abstract posted by the World Intellectual Property Organization: "Spinal implants include an elongated body portion dimensioned and configured for percutaneous introduction into a target interspinous process space,cuff Links, at which interspinous distraction and/or spinal fusion are desired. The body portion can include a threaded outer surface, or alternatively a smooth surface. The body portion can include one or more interior cavities, and can include deployable engagement members adapted and configured to move in tandem between a stowed position retracted within the interior cavity of the body portion and a deployed position extended from the interior cavity of the body for engaging adjacent spinous processes. An internal drive assembly for selectively moving the engagement members from the stowed position to the deployed position can be provided, as can a elements for locking the engagement members in a deployed position."
The patent was filed on Dec. 29,tiffany, 2009 under Application No. PCT/US2009/006730.
For further information please visit: http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/ia.jsp?ia=US2009/006730
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
Back-to-school clothing budgets mean saving on sup
Aug 21st
Parents and guardians equipping their children for the upcoming school year say they look for deals on supplies to save extra money for new clothes.
With schools around the region opening their doors within the next few weeks, parents and children are hitting the stores and combing the shelves for the needed gear.
Students from elementary school through high school say new articles of clothing that meet current style standards are just as crucial as new pencils and paper. For parents, that means hundreds of dollars in additional spending this time of year.
"The clothes — that’s what kills you," said Kirsten Edler, a mother of four from Maryland visiting family in Portsmouth. She said that when one of her children wants a certain brand,tiffany, anything else is inadequate.
On Sunday, she was at Walmart in Rochester with daughters Hannah, 17, and Isabella, 14, to pick up some school supplies. Edler also has two sons: Ian, a first-grader, and Nicholas, a 19-year-old college sophomore. Surprisingly, she said it is more expensive to supply an elementary school student with the needed gear than it is to buy what her other children need.
Once they are old enough to work, she expects them to buy most of their own new clothes. Her college-aged son is pretty much set with his Macbook, she said,pendants, but she has to buy for her younger son paper, pencils, markers, glue, a backpack, composition books and more.
To save money, she goes through newspaper advertisements to see what’s on sale each week. For a store like Walmart that she visits regularly, she said she can hold off on buying certain items until they go on sale. There was a $4 pack of colored pencils in the store Sunday, but she refused to buy them, knowing they will be on sale later on.
"I will wait for a week because it’s a store I frequent anyway," she said.
Sophomore Isabella said she is not picky about supplies and like other high school students likes to have a little fun with them. She purchased a folder with Toy Story characters on it, and said other girls in school like things with Disney princesses on them.
"I just like to play around a little," she said.
The girls said the "Indie" clothing style is fashionable — plaids, bright colors, retro graphic T-shirts and sun dresses.
At Journeys in Newington’s Fox Run Mall, store employee Chris Musk said Vans, Converse, Osiris and Sperry Top-Siders are the hot brands right now. The top-siders are boating shoes, while the others come in diverse colors and funky designs.
"Colors attract the younger crowd," Musk said, noting it is interesting the brands and styles from decades ago "are still relevant today."
Rachel Feniger, 16, from Hampton, was in the shoe store Sunday trying on gray Vans and pink Converse All-Stars. She could not decide between them and picked them both, saying she was not concerned with saving money.
"They’re shoes that match a lot of stuff," she said.
However, she passed on a pair of pink striped socks that glow in the dark.
At the Macy’s in Fox Run Mall, a mother and daughter from Portland, Maine, came down Sunday to find sales and escape Maine’s sales tax. Linda Olore and her 8-year-old daughter, Sophia, who is entering the third grade, found good deals on a gray dress, pink plaid skirt with matching knee-high socks and a neon green pair of shorts.
"My fashion sense is anything very bright, bold or unique that has its own personality," Sophia said.
Olore said she lets Sophia pick out what she wants to wear as long as it is appropriate. Concerning herself with her daughter’s style is not too important because "there’s bigger fish to fry," she said.
The Olores are fortunate in that Sophia’s school district does not send home a list of required supplies. Usually during the year, the district will ask for some donations, Olore said.
Like others interviewed, Olore said she will look in newspaper inserts for sales on school supplies at Walmart or Target.
At the Somersworth Walmart, Kaylie Sabo, 13, an incoming eighth-grader at Barrington Middle School, and her grandmother, Claire Sabo, looked to buy all the supplies Kaylie’s school district asked her to get.
Since Walmart carries notebooks, dividers, binders,tiffany, pencil sharpeners, white out, calculators and pens and pencils at low prices, it is the most convenient place to shop for back-to-school, Sabo said. Any savings are a help since Kaylie estimated it cost hundreds to buy her new wardrobe as she likes the styles offered at retailers like Hollister and American Eagle.
"And I’m not done yet,necklaces," she said.
More dining discounts add ‘Miami Spice’ to the men
Aug 18th
When the economy was booming, some of Miami’s higher-end restaurants didn’t see the benefit of Miami Spice’s discount dining. Others participated but didn’t readily promote the menu. They saw no need to cater to bargain-hunters.
Not anymore.
With the South Florida economy still sputtering, a record number of restaurateurs are looking at the two-month, off-season promotion that starts Sunday as a key tool for generating extra business. Last year, restaurants sold 150,000 Miami Spice meals during August and September.
"We get a whole different clientele with Miami Spice," said Nicola Siervo, partner in KNR Restaurant Group, which credits Miami Spice with boosting sales 20 percent last year at Quattro Gastronomia on Lincoln Road. That success is why Siervo is adding the program this year at Solea in the W South Beach.
"This is a perfect program for this kind of economy because people can still afford a nice dinner," Siervo said. "Hopefully, once they try it,tiffany, they’ll be back."
Already 119 restaurants have signed up for the program, offering the three-course Miami Spice meals at $35 for dinner and $22 for lunch. Restaurants participating for the first time include Miami Chart House,bracelets, Rusty Pelican, Texas de Brazil, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, D. Rodriguez Cuba, Mr Chow, STK and Charlotte Bistro.
This year, more restaurants are even offering the Miami Spice menu on prime weekend nights.
"Restaurants know that by being in Miami Spice, it puts people in seats," said Steve Haas, chairman of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and Miami Spice founder.
Broward County has a similar program, Dine Out Lauderdale, which takes place Oct. 1 — Nov. 11.
But the summer is tough for Cooper City restaurateur Aboud Kobaitri, owner of La Brochette Bistro. Although business this year is better than last, his customers are still coming less often, ordering cheaper wine and splitting more meals.
"You try to survive almost year by year to see if you can make it," said Kobaitri, who opened the restaurant in 1993.
Restaurant sales in South Florida and across the country are still struggling to rebound to the 2007 peak levels. Nationally total restaurant sales growth,Bead bracelet, adjusted for inflation, declined 1.2 percent in 2008 and another 2.9 percent in 2009, according to the National Restaurant Association. That’s the first time since the industry began keeping stats in 1970 that it has hit such a rough patch.
This year, the National Restaurant Association is predicting a decline of 0.1 percent, as consumers slowly start to return to dining out. For Florida, sales in 2009 were $27 billion and are expected to reach $27.6 billion this year.
"It’s the case of the tortoise versus the earth worm," said Dennis Lombardi, an executive with restaurant consulting firm WD Partners. "It’s going to be a slow, long drag back. Restaurants with higher check average felt the impact first and they’re going to come out slower."
While most restaurateurs in South Florida believe that they’ve seen the bottom, the road to recovery is a bumpy one.
At Pascal’s on Ponce in Coral Gables, owner Pascal Oudin says one night he’ll serve 60 people and the next night it will be 30.
"I cross my fingers and touch wood every day to thank God that I’m still around," said Oudin, whose business rebounded close to 10 percent this year, but is still down 20 percent from the peak. "Business isn’t what it used to be. I don’t know if it ever will be."
While Oudin has participated in Miami Spice since the program’s creation in 2002, he admits that he didn’t typically offer his top menu items because he didn’t want to lose money. Now he’s stepping it up, adding dishes like braised Colorado lamb shank and grouper with Mediterranean mussels.
"I was conservative," Oudin said. "This year, I’m going to let it go."
That’s the approach Red Steak used last year during Miami Spice and Marketing Director Rosemary Staltare credits it with putting the restaurant on the map.
Then a 6-month-old Miami Beach restaurant, it planned a Miami Spice menu with premium items like lobster tails and filet mignon. Staltare estimates the value of the dinner menu they were selling for $35 would normally have cost at least twice that.
"We were newbies and people were skeptical about whether we were going to survive or not," Staltare said. "Miami Spice was a great launching pad for us."
The Forge is already enjoying sales this summer about 40 percent higher than before it closed in 2009 for renovations. But owner Shareef Malnik decided that participating in Miami Spice would help attract a wider demographic to the restaurant, which reopened in March.
Malnik has tried to dispel the image of The Forge as a special occasion or expense account meal, lowering the average check about 25 percent to $85 per person.
"The dining population is out there," Malnik said. "Restaurants need to be able to adapt to what diners want."
Having an established name and reputation in the restaurant industry also pays off even more than ever these days. With consumers dining out less often,tiffany, they want to make sure the meal justifies the cost.
"There is no room in the middle anymore," said John Hart, general manager of Mr Chow in Miami Beach. "You have got to either be great, where people say yes it’s worth the money, or you have to be really cheap, where people say I’m going for the value."