The Florida Page – June 2012

MAJOR EVENT FOR FOOTBALL FANS. Double cup winners Chelsea are playing AC Milan in Miami on Saturday, July 28. Whether a Chelsea fan or not, it’s a rare treat to have a mighty English team play here. In soccer-crazed Miami, with resident Argentinians, Brazilians, Colombians, not to mention thousands of us residents Brits, French and German soccer fans they sold 20,000 tickets the day news broke. The match will be played at Sunlife Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. One of their executives attended FABB’s May British Network (see ad this page) to promote the event to us. Miami’s British Consulate-General is hoping to arrange some local outreach events with the visiting Chelsea players. “It’s another way of showcasing how great Britain is”, Consul-General Kevin McGurgan told me. We Florida Brits may organise tailgating parties or groups to the match and will be drive down from all parts of Florida. For ticket info: www.sunlifestadium.com.

■  NEW BRITISH BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Cape Coral west Florida. Pete’s Fish and Chips (239) 458-2447. Owner Peter Rushton is British, so presumably he knows his batter. Head out with a hungry belly and check out his chippie.

■  BEATLES LEGEND Ringo Starr returns to Florida for the umpteenth time, with his All Starr Band June 30 at Hard Rock Casino, Hollywood, FL. Ticket info: Call (954) 327-ROCK.

■ BRITAIN’S MOST BELOVED car the Aston Martin, favourite of the Prince of Wales, is on display. But not just any random beauty – it’s the famous one from the first James Bond Films. The Dezer Classic Car Museum in North Miami showcases this fabulous example of British engineering and other classic collector cars. Call (305) 354-7680 for opening times.

■ LONDON FLIGHTS … ANOTHER BRANSON FIRST. On Upper Class flights to London this summer Virgin Atlantic passengers (my life-long fave airline of choice) could be drinking with Sir Richard Branson. Sort of. The always-pioneering billionaire has created “Little Richard” ice cubes in his image. They really look like him, complete with long locks and toothy grin. “His schedule prevents him from drinking with passengers in person, so Sir Richard wanted to be with them in spirit, “said a Virgin spokesman. The ice cubes were made to celebrate Virgin’s new in-flight bars, the longest in the air.

■ UK-USA LANGUAGE IRKS 1) The Aquafresh toothpaste TV commercial uses a cutglass British voiceover pronouncing it Arquafresh. There is no r in Aqua, as in aqueduct, aquatic etc. What grates is they hire a British actor then have him say it as no British person would. So might as well have used an American. I did a voiceover on a Fox TV station a few years ago for a programme about Henry VIII and his six wives. In the studio when they gave me the script I observed that no English person would speak like that. Instead of the telling me to mind my own business and to shut up and read, this savvy American producer welcomed my input. She wanted it to sound authentic, so encouraged me to tweak as I saw fit. 2) There’s a US TV programme about selling real estate called Curb Appeal. Surely to God as it went through a zillion pre-production checks before airing, somebody would noticed it should be spelled kerb for pavement, not curb for curtail.

■ CRUISE NEWS: From now till September 23, 2012 Cruise and Maritime, with a Ft Lauderdale office, is offering a different way to see the UK: short explorer cruises sailing from Liverpool / Milford Haven / Isles of Scilly / Cork Ireland and other ports. See their colour ad this issue for details.

■ British Band Coldplay play June 29 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Ticket info on www.livenation.com.

■ IN THIS JUBILEE month, here’s a heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for 60 flawless years reigning over us loyal subjects. I believe having a monarch distinguishes us from non-descript nations and he / she is a unifying force giving us British a feeling of belonging. Historians say our country will likely never enjoy another Jubilee because the chances of any one person reigning for 60 years are nigh impossible. It would take the early death of a reigning monarch to force his young heir to ascend early. (That’s what happened to this Queen, of course).

■ PINK FLOYD FANS! June 15 in Ft Lauderdale and June 16 Orlando. Roger Waters, (www.rogerwaters.com) the co-founder of the legendary British band, is bringing back the historic production of “The Wall.” His aural and visual masterpiece will be performed in its entirety featuring a full band and state-of-the-art production. Ticket info: www.livenation.com.

■ BRITISH CLUBS CORNER
1) British Women’s Club of Weston. Call Dawn (954) 305-8400.
2) Caledonian Club of West Florida, for local Scots. Call Pauline (941) 485-5199.

Looking for British clubs in your corner of Florida? No space on this page to list them all, so drop me an email with your name, city, contact and phone number and I will reply with details. Put UJ Club info on subject line.

The Pub Pointe Orlando (407) 352-2305 British theme pub has recently opened. Part of an American chain, I don’t know how authentic it is, but it’s in the British tourist epicentre so at least you’ll find fellow Brits in there and English football.

■ BRITISH-AMERICAN Chambers of Commerce hold business and social events throughout the year. Phone each direct for current info.

FT LAUDERDALE BACC: President Roy Yates (954) 942-7330.

ORLANDO BACC: Offices (407) 226-7251.

TAMPA BACC: Call (813) 221-7243 and ask for Joanne.

ALSO: Florida Association of British Business (FABB).

■ COLUMN SUBMISSIONS: Just opened a British business in the last 3 months? Email details for possible publication here to britishflorida@aol.com Your name, city and daytime phone necessary.