Pembroke Pines

Whole Foods Pembroke Pines Turns 1: Celebrate by Getting Free Stuff

Most people tend to love their own birthdays. And why wouldn't you? For one thing, everyone is supposed to go along with whatever you want. And better still, you get presents.Whole Foods Pembroke Pines is turning 1 on Thursday. And rather than expecting anything from you, the store is celebrating wi ... More >>

The Wearing (and Drinking) of the Green

RA Sushi Featuring New Year's Resolution-Friendly "Skinny Pairing" Menu

Here's the thing about New Year's resolutions: Hanging a new Twilight calendar on the wall doesn't give one any special powers to quit smoking or stop dropping F-bombs with the kids in the car. But even if you're the sort who'd never vocalize a resolution, there's a good chance that come January, yo ... More >>

Recap of Sixth Annual Sweet Dreams at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Photos)

Even the most sugar-crazed sweets addict probably had to take a knee at some point during the sixth annual Sweet Dreams, which went down this past weekend at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. To call the dessert-focused special event decadent would be a gross understatement. I'll be eating nothing but ... More >>

Scotchy Scotch Scotch, Down Into My Belly: Glenmorangie Scotch Pairing Dinner November 1

Wine pairings have been around for quite some time. And it's certainly no secret that we like our craft beers around here. But we are always looking for new and exciting ways to get alcohol into our bodies and so spirit pairings were destined to become a thing.And now they are.The Pub Pembroke Pines ... More >>

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Wants to Meat You in Pembroke Pines

If you always wished you were an Oscar Mayer wiener, now's your chance to "meat" a few people that actually are.They're called hotdoggers, and they're the brand ambassadors who take the Wienermobile for a spin. 

Bid Farewell With Fish

Following the Money Part 2: Juvie Prison Operator Has Ten Tallahassee Lobbyists

Ever wonder why Florida has outsourced the care of hundreds of troubled kids to private companies? Yesterday, we reported that prison operator Youth Services International donated $88,000 to Florida politicians in the past five years. The Sarasota company's donations have greased the wheels for roug ... More >>

Minnesota Counties Stop Sending Kids to Youth Services International Juvie Lockup

For more than a year, New Times has been investigating Thompson Academy, a publicly funded, privately run juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines where teens have alleged they faced physical and sexual abuse. Most recently, the lockup's top administrator, Craig Ferguson, left his post while unde ... More >>

BREAKING: CCA Sues Pembroke Pines in Federal Court

​Well, that was quick. Pembroke Pines commissioners voted last night to rescind a contract to provide fire, EMS, water, and sewer services to Southwest Ranches, in opposition to a planned ICE detention facility being proposed by Corrections Corporation of America.CCA responded immediately with a h ... More >>

CCA Threatens to Deprive Residents of Money if They "Reject" Immigration Detention Center

​Hey, remember that ICE detention facility that prison contractor CCA is trying to build in a remote exclave of Southwest Ranches? Opponents of the project are still raising hell.For months, the people organizing the protests against the facility have been met with a rebuttal from town officials t ... More >>

Sierra Club Formally Opposes Southwest Ranches Detention Center

​Along with agitated residents and the entire city government of Pembroke Pines, here's another addition to the list of opponents to the planned immigration detention facility in Southwest Ranches: the local branch of the Sierra Club.The group released a formal resolution today opposing the constr ... More >>

Red Light Cameras Capture Highlight Reel of Florida Car Crashes

​Place a few all-watching eyes at intersections throughout South Florida and reckless driving takes on a whole new meaning.American Traffic Solutions -- the Big Brotheresque company that operates about a dozen red light cameras in Broward and another 26 in Miami-Dade -- scoured its footage for the ... More >>

Southwest Ranches Mayor, CCA and ICE Honchos Dodge Accusations at Public Meeting; Pembroke Pines Officials Stage a Revolt

Photos by Stefan KamphSouthwest Ranches Mayor Jeff Nelson, ICE Director Gary Mead, and CCA exec Tony Grande​Mike Machak, who has the unenviable job of public affairs manager for prison contractor CCA, stood at the door of the Southwest Regional Library in Pembroke Pines, looking at the line of opp ... More >>

History Repeats Itself in Southwest Ranches, NIMBY Capital of Broward County

And they have been, for a dozen years.​"The new jail planned for southwest Broward County will go in a barren area where the county puts things that nobody wants," wrote David Fleshler and John Maines at the beginning of a story in the Sun-Sentinel.At stake was a plan by the Corrections Corporatio ... More >>

Southwest Ranches, Pines Residents Rally Against Immigrant Pen and "Cone of Silence"

Photos by Stefan Kamph​The Pulp tried to attend last night's meeting of the Southwest Ranches town council, but BSO Deputy Lee Roselli and Cmdr. Wallace Haywood wouldn't let us inside the council chambers. So we remained outside with the 50 or so local residents who were loudly protesting an immig ... More >>

HellzaPoppin Features the Lizard Man, Food Trucks This Weekend

​If you like freaks and geeks, then you're going to want to head out to Seminole Casino of Hollywood on Saturday for your fill of carnival delights when food trucks meet the HellzaPoppin Revue featuring the Lizard Man, a living breathing man/iguana. Other acts include fire-eaters, a wolf boy, and ... More >>

Salsa Fiesta Opens Second US Location in Pembroke Pines

​Salsa Fiesta opened its second US location in Pembroke Pines last Wednesday, six months past a projected March opening due to construction delays. CEO and owner Cesar Olivo introduced the sixth location of his fast food chain from Venezuela to Miami in 2009, reported Miami New Times critic, Lee K ... More >>

Good Food for Good Causes

Woolf Photography​Seems there's never any shortage of disasters on a personal or national scale. Here's two benefits that try to help ease the pain.  At Coco Asian Bistro & Bar in Fort Lauderdale, chef-owner Mike Ponluang is hosting a "Party for a Purpose" on Saturday, June 4, from 11:30 ... More >>

Shops of Boca Center Mall to Get Brio Tuscan Grill

Brio Tuscan Grill in Tampa​Upscale casual Brio Tuscan Grill, part of the Ohio-based Bravo Brio Restaurant Group chain, is slated to debut in the Shops of Boca Center mall sometime this fall.  The 8,400-square-foot Brio will be the chain's fourth SoFla location, joining fellows in Hallandale B ... More >>

In Alleged Sex Assault at Thompson Academy, Polygraph Results Are Murky

​This week's New Times cover story explores allegations of abuse and violence at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines. One of the most disturbing allegations, outlined in a federal class-action lawsuit, involves a 15-year-old boy who says he was twice forced to have ora ... More >>

Restaurant News: Caliente Kitchen to Dish Free Tacos, RA Holds Sushi-Sake Class, Max's Grille Opens for Breakfast

​•    This "free" shit is starting to get out of hand. . . not that anyone is complaining. Following on the heels of CG Burgers' handout of complimentary burgers is Caliente Kitchen's free Taco Bar. Better move your chimichangas quickly, though, as the DIY taco bar will only be op ... More >>

Dodge City's Water Plan Looks Like Another Financial Disaster

Don't trust Pembroke Pines; don't ever trust Pembroke Pines. It's run by a private contractor, City Manager Charles F. Dodge, in a secretive and dubious way. The city manager is aptly named -- Charlie dodges close scrutiny while he cozies up to the vendors in the town and makes multi ... More >>

RA Sushi's Onehope and Pink Roll Special Benefits Breast Cancer Research

Keep hope alve.​I've gotta give props to RA Sushi. The chain does a whole lot for charity. It annually gives to Nicky's Week charities to benefit childhood cancer research, and now it's doing the same for the Connie J. Goodale Breast Cancer Foundation.RA Sushi is doing it with its new Onehope Char ... More >>

Cocktail for a Cure: the Hope-tini

​The Village Taverns (there's one in Pembroke Pines and one in Boynton Beach) are putting up the Hope-tini as a Cocktail for a Cure. With each sold through October, $2 goes to breast cancer research.Here's the recipe, so you can make it at home -- after you've given at the bar, of course! Village ... More >>

Weed Seekers Need Online Update -- Stat!

​Wanted -- a few potheads who can get some research done and can form a few articulate sentences about their experiences. Webehigh.com, an international website that directs would-be stoners to the nearest dealer, whether that be in Bangladesh, Lithuania, or Papua New Guinea, is ser ... More >>

Pho 78 Vietnamese Kitchen Opens in Sunrise

John Linn​Mark down another Vietnamese restaurant in West Broward to try. Pho 78, the second location of the Pembroke Pines-based eatery, is now open in Sunrise. The restaurant specializes in pho (pronounced fuh) that most respected of Vietnamese soups that is completely customizable. It offers a ... More >>

Quickie's Burgers & Wings: Fast Food, but Good

Daybreak

Flickr: Take It 21A sand crane in Chapel Trail Preserve, Pembroke Pines.​

Free Roll at RA Sushi Friday -- If You "Like" Them

​In honor of International Sushi Day this Friday, RA Sushi in Palm Beach Gardens and Pembroke Pines is offering anyone who "likes" them on Facebook a coupon for a free Tootsy Maki roll. It's kani kama crab mix, shrimp and cucumber, rolled in crunchy tempura bits, and drizzled with a sweetened ... More >>

No-Bid Contract for Pines Outsourcing Goes to Favored Contractor

Courtesy of Greensource Power Systems Inc.Shawn Hiester's companies have already earned millions from Pines.​The founder of the private firm set to receive a controversial, no-bid outsourcing contract in the City of Pembroke Pines has a long history of raking in millions of dollars in business fro ... More >>

Morning Juice: Boynton Family Battles Stingy Insurer; Murder Near West Palm Park

​A rundown of local news items on this Wednesday morning:A Boynton Beach family is devastated by an insurance company's decision to renege on a guarantee that it would pay for the residential treatment of Ryan Crofutt, 25, who needs treatment for brain damage and was prepared to receive therapy at ... More >>

Morning Juice: Savage Beating of Teen in Deerfield; Corruption Questions in Deal for Rock Pits

​Let's see what's happening in South Florida.A 14-year-old girl at Deerfield Beach Middle School was beaten nearly to death by a boy after classes ended Wednesday. A 15-year-old boy, Wayne Treacy, has been arrested and will be charged with attempted murder. It's the same school where Michael Brewe ... More >>

Bueller? Pines Leaders Fumble Tax Calculations

Flickr user: HeneghanCan you calculate your tax hike?​Pack City Hall with more than 150 angry citizens and any governing body would get a bit anxious. But at Wednesday night's budget hearing, the Pembroke Pines city commissioners appeared to be auditioning for Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? An ... More >>

Final Fourth

Get Out From Under the Covers

Another Government Perk: Random Days Off

Flickr user: hatter-incHow your local government spends its Fridays.It sure is sweet to be a government employee during the Great Recession. Wilton Manors just became the latest local city to announce it will save money by taking Fridays off, following the example of Pembroke Pines and the police de ... More >>

Maybe I’m Crazy? Probably.

Claire Mitchel Tribute

It's a Small World

Asian Array

In Search of the Elusive Boba

A Savior Out West

'Burb Dogs

Scarier than man-eating pit bulls is the felon who owns them

Best Mall in Broward

Riverland Shopping Center

Close to Home

If it wants to survive, Massimo's Grill needs to bring its solid-but-unspectacular fare to a higher level

A Frenetic Fest

This year's Fort Lauderdale International Film Fest offers everything from terrorists to overamped adolescents

Letters to the Editor

Letters for January 25, 2001

Letters to the Editor

Letters for January 11, 2001

Best Neighborhood Restaurant

La Brochette Bistro