The plan for this morning was breakfast with Miguel, an old friend from my days in Miami. On the way, Herbert drove through Little Havana, Brickell, Downtown, and the Upper Eastside so I could see the changes that had taken place since I left Miami in 2006. I could hardly recognize the central core of the city.
We met Miguel at Jimmy’s Eastside Diner, a neighborhood hangout that remains a popular institution. It was great to catch up with Miguel and hear about what’s been going on with him and the historic districts that I used to regulate.
 |
| Tim, Sarah, Miguel, and Herbert |
Since today was Christmas Eve, Herbert had decided to host a Nochebuena dinner at his home. For Cubans, Nochebuena is a time to get together with family, cook, and enjoy an evening meal. No one throws a dinner party like Herbert, and it was just like old times. Herbert always sets the most elegant table, and everything was done to perfection.
 |
| A Beautifully Set Table for a Wonderful Group of Friends |
Tonight, he was excited to show off a set of porcelain sculpted hands, a gift from our friend Stephen. Created in the 1930s by Gio Ponti, a renowned Italian designer, the hands became the perfect holders for place cards and a wonderful addition to Herbert’s vast collection of mid-century art.
 |
| Herbert Thanking Stephen and Explaining the Design of the Hands |
The champagne and cocktails were flowing, and the meal was excellent, but the best part of the evening was visiting with some of my old friends, as well as meeting new ones. I don’t believe I had seen Rolondo or Stephen in almost 15 years, so we had lots to talk about.
 |
| Old and New Friends - A Memorable Evening |
No comments:
Post a Comment