Fashion Treasures

It is time to save and be intelligent about the way money gets out of the pocket. Months ago, Americans used to buy more than what they need it, but today they are more aware of their purchases.

American Eagle Trade Group is a wholesale distributor and exporter of sale brand name department store clothes and shoes for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. The company has been on business since 1993 and five years ago opened an outlet store between Liberty City and Hialeah that combines the pleasure of shopping with prices that allow a family to dress in style.

“My main goal is to find good fashion at good prices” said Beatriz Marshall, co-owner and fashion buyer of the store. “ I shop every day at the market to find the best deals.”

And it seems to work, most of the pieces that they have are tagged at 70% off the retail price. For example, a Guess blouse that is sold at the mall for $59.00 can be found here for $24.00, a difference that translates into outstanding savings.

Other brands as BCBG Maxazria, and Ralph Lauren can also be found at the store. The three basketball court-size warehouse is divide in departments that satisfy the needs of people of all ages, from babies to adults, from diapers to computer accessories.

Ana Paz, resident of Little Havana, drives up to the limits of Liberty City to find home décor bargains. “I bought all that I need it for the princesses’ rooms. I come here every two weeks and I always find nice things for my house.” Said the mother of two girls.

On top of the already low prices, customers are welcome with a discount color-chart, big red-price signs and microphone savings announcements, all designed to help buyers find incredible fashion treasures.

As usual, patience and time are key to sort thousands of shirts, blouses, pants, jackets and shoes. The quantity and space of the outlet could be overwhelming but the payoff is worth it,

Residents of Liberty City, Little Haiti and Hialeah are the main clientele of the store and also part of the workforce. Kurt Marshall, co-owner and president, said that he has people from each side, referring to his location, and that he has jobs for anyone who wants to apply. finding a complete outfit for men for less than $50.00 is definitely a motive to go around the racks.

The 3690 North West 62^nd Street outlet is a good place to find everyday items at economic prices and even a good beginning for a small business because its owners give extra reduce prices to people who are just starting.

American Eagle Trade Group

3690 N.W. 62^nd Street

Miami, FL 33147

(305) 634 4766

Second Location -Outlet Store

The Mall of the Americas.

7795 West Flagler Street.

Miami, FL 33144

Adler Guerrier

For many, driving in Miami is synonym of long hours behind the steering wheel plus a dossis of chaotic behavior, but for one artistic mind, this everyday activity was an opportunity to showcase some underestimated spots of the Magic City.

Adler Guerrier, native of Haiti and Miami resident since his teenage years, created a vibrant and multi-material showpiece called Out To Lunch. The installation is the product the journey of its creator between two points; Coral Gables, where he lives and the city of Hollywood where is now exhibiting.

Guerrier drove by many places and created what he called a “Down to the block kind of work,” a collection of video projections, photos, and sculptures, that portraits common images framed on a passenger’s point of view.

The 34 year-old artist has also explored the city in different ways, in 2008 Guerrier took Liberty City as

a place of inspiration and created BLCK-We wear the Mask, an installation of what was happening in 1968. During those years, the youth in Liberty City was going trough a period of rebellion, the women were fighting for their rights and politics were a hot topic in district 5. The idea of the project was to link a vibrant community of Miami suburbia with what was happening in the country.

Right now, the local artist is exhibiting his pieces in different galleries around the world. Represented by David Castillo gallery in Miami, Adler Guerrier has given Miami a protagonist role and Liberty City a spotlight in the world of art.

Out to Lunch

Monday through Saturday; noon-4 p.m., Sunday through May 23

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, 1650 Harrison St.

$7 adults; $4 seniors, students and children 4 to 13; children under 4 free

954-921-3274;

ArtandCultureCenter.org

Edison Post Office

The idea about covering the possible closing of Edison Post Office in Liberty City came out when Lauren, one of my classmates, talked about the story that was on the Miami Herald. The Story http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/01/26/1446038/liberty-city-residents-protest.html was about the protest that the residents and some members of the union did to show their resistance to the closure.

Lauren and I went to the post office and we try to get some information. While Lauren was talking to the employee of the office, I was trying to talk with some of the customers. I was lucky because I could talk to two of them.

Kendrell Jackson told me that she had had the box for about three years. She said that she had filled out a survey that asked some questions about the use of the post office. The survey was done six months ago and she expressed that she was worry about the closure. “They need to keep it open, if not I will have to go to the other office that it is far from here.” She said.

We didn’t get much information from the employee who told Lauren that she didn’t know about the situation because she was doing just a replacement for the day. We try to find a flyer or something posted informing about the possible closure but there was nothing around the area.

We grab out things and we went to Martin Luther King Post office. That place is super big but it is kind in the middle of nothing, very shocking because the Edison Post Office is near to many small business and residences. When we asked if somebody could tell us about the closing, they told us that if Edison is close the office that will take their business will be Little River Station. We took the information that the not very nice lady gave to us and we went to the other office.

When we got to Little River, we did the same thing. We search for flyers and we asked for the closing of the nearby post office. The lady who help us, gave us the name and phone number of the contact person in the media department. We called her but we got just her voice mail.

MLK – My First Day in Liberty City

The first holiday of the year was also the day when I visited Liberty City for the first time. I remember that I was very excited because we will have the opportunity to see the community honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

It was almost 11:00 a.m. when I arrived to the MLK Park. The day was perfect, the sun was out and the temperature couldn’t be better. I parked near to the stage and I took my camera a notebook, my mission was to go to all the booths and get as much contacts and information as I could. But before doing that, I walked around the park to see what was going on. People were doing the setting of the tables and the food section was already cooking.

When I finished my brief tour, I went to the first booth that I saw when I arrived to the park. It was one promoting the Census so I started talking to the people who were there.

My FIU sweeter made me be more recognizable, so it was easier for me to let people know who I was. Paulette Darm or better known as Sister Soul Jar quickly introduced herself; She said she was a community leader and that she was proud to volunteer for the 2010 Census Campaign. “We need our community to understand how important is that we get counted.” She said.

Other volunteers from the same table gave me lots of pamphlets and magazines with information about non-profit organizations that were making an impact in the sector, so I took all of them and I also asked them for their names and phone numbers.

I didn’t stay much longer at the park because I wanted to see what else was going on around the area. I went back to my car and I drove to the African Heritage Arts Center located at 6161 NW 22^nd Ave. This place it’s known for educating and promoting emerging talent in the performing and visual arts by providing classes in different disciplines. Even though the arts center was closed I took some pictures of the buildings and one of the neighbors, who is also a Rapp

artist, told me a little bit more about the center and was kind enough to gave me a CD with two original tracks of his music.

I left the African Heritage Arts Center and I ended at 62 Avenue, which is one of the main streets in Liberty City. While I was driving, I felt part of a parade because I had to drive

very slowly behind four customized cars that were jumping on the street. On the sidewalks, people of all ages were dancing and having BBQs next to enormous speakers that were like walls of sound.The experience in Liberty City couldn’t be better and I’m glad that Professor Reisner asked us to get the sense of the community by attending the MLK event. My next trip will be more specific, I want to visit the arts center and maybe attend a class.

When it was Just an Idea

Last semester, I took a class that pushed me and made me taste the bitter/sweet flavor of journalism. Some of the papers that I turned were given back to me with not very flattering comments and many corrections written by professor Neil Reisner.

After the class was done and I was able to move on to the next level, I decided that I wanted to continue the same line of work, so I registered with the same professor knowing that it will be hard and that I will had to put lots of effort.

The semester started and I knew that we would work on a special project, an online newspaper that will cover Liberty City. For many people, that was a deal breaker but for me was a great opportunity and also another personal challenge where I will have to succeed.