Gone But Not Forgotten In Miami (Fort Lauderdale, Kendall: townhouses, transport, parks)

[antiunion]

Originally Posted by noland123

I thought it would be memorable to name well-known people and places that were a part of Miami at one time but are no longer here. Who are some of your favorite well-known celebrities who have died and what are your favorite places or establishments that have been demolished?

Jackie Gleason, anywhere they tear down the old and put up new takes away from a town. They did that to Datona Beach, you couldn't pay me to go back there.

[Slyman11]

Wags was a great place.

[Kathleen1971]

We used to eat at the Wags on the corner of Marlin all the time. At least until a roach once crawled across the table and my Grandma announced they were now on the banned list.

[Carol Jo Robinson Pettit]

Re: things no longer in Miami.....Alec and Bonnie Gibson on their show.

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

I have one that qualifies although it won't be well known: Little Bird Baptist Kindergarten, on the south side of Bird Road at about 85th avenue, closed more than a year ago. The building has now been converted into a Cycle World.

Little Bird was my first formal schooling; nursery school and kindergarten in the early to mid '60s. It was also the site of a very strange memory that I finally pieced together several years ago, from nursery school at age 4:

Mid day on a Friday we were enjoying normal play time in the classroom when suddenly the two female teachers huddled together in the front of the room. I can still picture the serious looks on their faces as they leaned forward and talked. Everyone else was still playing but I stopped and watched them, from my spot near the back of the room. Within seconds the day changed dramatically. Both teachers instructed everyone to return to our seats. Instead of waiting they helped round everyone up so there would be no stragglers.

I'm not sure how long we sat in our seats. But it was extremely quiet, not the norm. Then the teachers said we would be leaving early for the day. They formally marched us out of the room and toward the street at the back of the building, the standard pick up area. The parents had been called to get their kids. I remember standing on the cement slab under the overhang while all my friends left, one by one. Very few words were spoken. The teacher held my hand as a waited, one of the last to leave. My grandmother had to come and get me since my parents were still at work.

For literally decades I occasionally thought about that strange day but it never made sense until I happened to see the class picture in my parents' home several years ago. At bottom right there was a sign with the year: 1963-64.

Of course. It jarred me immediately. That had to be November 22, 1963, JFK's assassination. I always remembered the oddity had been on a Friday, with many days passing before class resumed. JFK was killed on a Friday.

At least I have a memory of where I was that day, to go along with images of other defining moments from my generation, like the moon landing in 1969. My dad has always insisted I paid attention to the JFK TV coverage alongside him for days and days, but I have absolutely no memory of the tragedy other than that odd day at Little Bird.

I remember the JFK assassination, I was in 9th grade. Our principal, a big burly guy, came on the PA system in the middle of an afternoon class. He was crying as he announced the shooting of JFK. He dismissed the whole school for the day. The school bus ride home was always rowdy, but not that day. We were all quiet. Got home to South Miami and my mom was ironing with the old b&w TV on, with Cronkite reporting live. She told me the president had died.

[miamiworshipper]

I think this is the most interesting thread,especially for people like me,newcomers,who digest those memories of Miamians & become connected with the history of this great city...
Keep the comments coming...

As an immigrant newcomer,I think my first impression about Miami,was by watching a James Bond movie,Goldfinger I think,shot in Miami Hilton.
I was impressed with the underground passage with looks of the swimming pool. Does that hotel still exist..? It must be 50+ years old new...I Think in America usually they demolish 50+ years old buildings...

Then came the classic "Scarface" & the notorious "Miami Vice " series...
Then ,Stallone with "The Specialists ",including scenes at the same house used in "Scarface " ( I checked,it is in Ibiscus Island,for sale for some ...14m ).
Then the series which persuaded me to move to Miami,the CSI Miami. Those aerial shots sold me...
Also the movie "Miami Vice "....is inspirational.

"Bad Boys 2 " & " On any Sunday " would portray Miami idillically,if they didn't contain some disgusting scenes ...

I am eager to visit Miami to check out if the impressions I have from movies & series prove to be accurate or false

[Eldemila]

Me!!!!!!

[elias9193]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

Last night I had to turn off that Best video halfway through for precisely that reason. Incredibly depressing.

I don't live in Miami anymore, I left in 1990 and I do return from time to time and I can't believe how Miami has deteriorated in the last 20 years. Its a shame
buts its obvious to me that if you buy the right people with enough money you can build whatever you want where ever you want with little or no consequence. There is no rhyme or reason for some of the zoning I saw this past summer it really reminded me of some third world country.

[miamiworshipper]

Originally Posted by elias9193

I don't live in Miami anymore, I left in 1990 and I do return from time to time and I can't believe how Miami has deteriorated in the last 20 years. Its a shame
buts its obvious to me that if you buy the right people with enough money you can build whatever you want where ever you want with little or no consequence. There is no rhyme or reason for some of the zoning I saw this past summer it really reminded me of some third world country.

Can u elaborate on the changes u saw happening through those 20 years ..?

[elias9193]

Originally Posted by miamiworshipper

Can u elaborate on the changes u saw happening through those 20 years ..?

Well if you look at Miami and how its been built up theres no planning or very little put in to the planning, you see strip malls everywhere. Theres no centralized areas designated to high density population growth and then add all the amenities that that area is going to need like parks and recreation transportation, retail development, pedestrian sidewalks and such. Instead its just spread out everywhere,
who ever has the money does whatever they want. Thats all I'm going to say I've hi-jacked this thread enough but you asked me so I told you.
I still love Miami but I love more what it used to be not so much what its become.