But now that Wade has left Miami with a ton of goodwill, a helping of nostalgia, and a number-three-size hole in its heart, this one might be the last.
Hell, this isn't even the first or second or third mural with his face on it. Sure, there have been plenty of homages to Wade in Miami throughout his career. Viewers can recognize the neon pinks and blues of the Heat's new Vice jersey resting on his shoulders. The All-Star guard gazes serenely out of the mural, a calm intensity in his eyes. There, on a wall of a combination gym and spa, Wade's visage stands out in front of the characteristic backdrop of Miami street artist Disem, who painted the wall to honor the legend before his retirement. But there's one place fans can still go to pay homage to the greatest athlete South Florida has seen in decades (and maybe ever, depending upon whom you ask): Little Havana. When Dwyane Wade finally hung up his Miami Heat jersey and retired from the game earlier this year, it marked the end of an era. As the geographic center of Miami's arts scene continues to shift, Locust's lasting reign over the corner of NW 39th Street and North Miami Avenue is a welcome constant. To celebrate its 20th birthday last September, the space staged the exhibit "20/20: Twenty Artists/Twenty Hours," which was exactly what it sounds like: a marathon art show in which 20 artists or collectives presented newly commissioned works, one per hour. And though its surroundings have grown fancy and staid, Locust has maintained its alternative, independent spirit. The gallery has highlighted local talent as well, like the Miami-born Cristine Brache. In the past year, the gallery has commissioned and presented work by artists such as Philadelphia's Jennifer Levonian and Eva Wylie and Chicago's Bethany Collins. One of a dwindling number of Design District galleries, Locust boasts a uniquely experimental process that brings in exciting talent to create one-of-a kind shows in its ever-evolving space. But Locust Projects has not merely survived the development of its surroundings - it's also thriving. Before long, the rent is not so cheap anymore, and artists move on to another undiscovered neighborhood. Their galleries increase both the hipness of the neighborhood and demand for its real estate. The cycle of gentrification is hard to break: A not-so-hip neighborhood with cheap rent attracts artists. Plus, anyone who's covered the Dolphins for three decades without committing ritual suicide deserves as many awards as possible.
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Then-University of Miami football star Dwayne Johnson called Shapiro for advice before going into pro wrestling and becoming the Rock.
#4001 DALLAS GAY BAR TV#
As NBA coach Stan Van Gundy said when Shapiro hit his 25th anniversary in 2015: "It's more of an accomplishment in Miami that they haven't run him out of town." (He's also succeeded on TV in South Florida while speaking with an unabashed Boston accent.) Shapiro covered Alex Rodriguez's draft into Major League Baseball. His connections in the region are pretty much unparalleled - he even hosts a Sunday-night talk show on WSVN with the Miami-based mega-agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is all but certainly the most powerful player representative in the NFL. Flash-forward nearly 30 years, and Shapiro is essentially the dean of South Florida sports reporters. The Miami Marlins and Florida Panthers didn't even exist yet. Steve Shapiro began reporting on sports in South Florida almost three decades ago. She regularly shows love to local nonprofits too, including La Liga Contra el Cancer and Habitat for Humanity, so her community outreach goes well beyond telling locals when to hunker down. In addition to fulfilling her role as a meteorologist, Gonzalez is also a proud wife, mother, and dog-mom to Brownie Bear the Schnauzer, all of which fans have come to know through her social media posts.
Gonzalez doesn't stop with just the on-air info either: She provides video updates, tweets, and more across her social platforms throughout the day. Regardless of how grumpy your pre-coffee self may be, it's hard to be moody after she dishes the forecast (regardless of how much rain is coming). You can catch Gonzalez on WSVN weekday mornings from 5 to 10 a.m. In a climate where the weather can change by the minute, she always keeps it real, explaining some of the most complex scenarios in an easy-to-digest fashion. Born in Miami, WSVN's Vivian Gonzalez has guided the city through Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina and seemingly every other named storm since 2005.