Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Sebastian Eilert named AIA Miami - Sustainable Design Architect of the Year 2011

At the wonderful 57th Annual Design Awards & Installation gala of the AIA Miami, held Saturday night at the amazing Gleason Theatre in Downtown Miami, many deserving Architects and design related professionals were recognized.
The Silver medal was presented to John R. Forbes, AIA; the People's Choice was awarded to Jenifer Briley (who also received the Excellence in Architecture and Sustainable Building awards) and the Sustainable Design Architect Award was given to your truly, Sebastian Eilert, AIA of Sebastian Eilert Architecture.

It is a great honor to be recognized by my fellow practitioners in these challenging times for the efforts put forth to make South Florida more sustainable, one project at a time...

THANK YOU!!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Burgerliscious event in Coral Gables - 11/03/11

Register for the mouth watering Burgerliscious event taking place next Thursday, November 3rd at Ponce Circle Park. Join us from 6:00-10:00PM for some gourmet burgers and beer pairings courtesy of Sam Adams!

Purchase VIP admission and get unlimited access to the Brown Forman VIP Tent!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

See you all there!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

USGBCSFL GreenWoring tonight - Brickell Irish Pub 7 pm

Join us for the
Miami-Dade Branch GREENWORKING event at the Brickell Irish Pub!

Come unwind with the Miami-Dade Branch and enjoy an an evening of GREENworking at the Brickell Irish Pub. Expand your network while you mingle and meet with other branch and chapter members in a casual, fun atmosphere.

Our networking events are always highly attended so be sure to rsvp!

Complimentary cocktails from 7-8PM
Suggested $10 donation (tax-deductible)

Business Casual Attire
Educational Presentation: LEED Credentialing Update

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Rooftop Gardens in places like Austin Real Estate

Guest contribution from James Kin. Similar climate in Texas...


The recent craze to hit city dwellers is rooftop gardening. Rooftop gardening, as its name suggests, is when people garden on their rooftops. Rooftop gardening can make an urban outdoor space more appealing and colorful. It can also be an opportunity for people to grow their own vegetables as a sustainable food source. This practice is a fixture of the Austin real estate scene, as Austin, Texas evolves into a place that embraces big city life and nature at the same time.
So, now that you know what rooftop gardening is, you might want to know how it works. A rooftop garden is installed in layers to prevent unwanted leaking and damage to buildings. Layers are also essential to ensure that there is a sufficient amount of soil for plants to grow. There are five layers that are required to successfully start a rooftop garden. Below are the five layers in the order they must be installed on the roof.

• Waterproof layer
• Roof membrane
• Filter sheet
• Moisture blanket
• Soil and plants

People who want to make the task of installing a rooftop garden less arduous can purchase a pre-packaged rooftop garden kit. These rooftop garden kits come with all the supplies you will need to start up your garden. They are also reasonably priced and come in both small and large sizes to suit your needs. If the idea of building the garden on your own is still intimidating, there are many professional landscapers who can assist you. Professional landscapers will ensure that your garden turns out to be a beautiful addition to your home. However, hiring a landscaper will significantly increase your costs.
It is important to keep in mind that not all kinds of plants grow well on a rooftop. Your choice of plants should depend on your personal taste, the design of your roof, and the climate in your area. If you are a novice rooftop gardener, you may want to look into low water plants, Alpines, moss, ferns, sedum, and succulents to start out. These plants grow will in most conditions and do not require too much upkeep. If you are interested in growing food in your garden, tomatoes and bell peppers are relatively easy to grow in most areas.
You don’t need a green thumb to start a rooftop garden. If you purchase a pre-packaged kit and plant things that do well in most climates, you will find yourself with a beautiful garden in no time.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

GASC Miami Family Night - September 30, 2011. 6:30 pm.

Join the German American Social Club of Greater Miami for our Family night- an evening of fun and games!

September 30, 2011 from 6:30 to 11 pm...

Monday, August 29, 2011

Winzerfest Miami - September 10, 2011

The German American Social Club will a Winzerfest on Saturday, September 10, 2011 @ 6:30.
This is sure to be a wonderful event!




Friday, August 26, 2011

Brickell Green Space - Miami Parkland

A project to increase the public green space in Brickell, increasing quality of life and making Brickell a better place!

Why a Park?

There is a critical shortage of public space developing in Downtown Miami and especially Brickell. As occupancy rates and population continue to increase there are limited options for the expansion of public space to handle the increased need and demand by our citizens. We must act as a City immediately to secure available lands for the health, quality of life and livability of our community.

The Park

Brickell and Downtown as a whole need more centrally located active parkland for people. An active use park measuring at least 5 acres is proposed. The be similar in nature to Margaret Pace Park or Kennedy Park, both very successful parks within Miami. The new Brickell Park could contain a running track, sports field, flexible open space, trails, gardens and a riverwalk promenade.

Starting today we are launching the campaign through www.brickellgreenspace.com and as a architecture/urban planning professional I wanted to make sure you were among the first to know. I hope we can count on your leadership and support in our drive to increase public green space within Brickell and Miami by becoming a signatory of the petition and joining our cause! Please help us spread the word by sharing this email or our website to your friends!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Upcoming event with “Mesothelioma cancer”

“On September 26, 2011, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation will hold its eighth annual Mesothelioma Awareness Day. First organized in 2004 by several Meso Foundation volunteers, this organization is proud to sponsor this event which has grown to help raise both awareness and funding for this devastating disease.
Mesothelioma cancer that results from asbestos exposure. Symptoms of this cancer are generally difficult to notice and may not appear at all until the disease reaches its later stages. However, this annual event hopes to dispel some of the mystery surrounding this disease by educating about the risks of developing this cancer.
For more information regarding Mesothelioma Awareness Day, go to www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com.”

Thursday, August 11, 2011

USGBC SFL Miami Brach - GREENWorking @ Blu Martini. 8/12/11

Miami-Dade Branch -- Summer Cool-Off Dinner & GREENworking Blue Martini (Mary Brickell Village) 900 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL
Date: 12 Aug 2011 5:00 PM

Join us for the Miami-Dade Branch Summer Cool-Off at Blue Martini in Brickell
Come enjoy delicious complimentary appetizers and entrees with the Miami-Dade Branch and Blue Martini in Brickell. Expand your network while you mingle and meet with other branch and chapter members in a casual, fun atmosphere.

Our networking events are always highly attended so be sure to rsvp!
Suggested $10 donation (tax-deductible)

Business Casual Attire
Educational Presentation: LEED Credentialing Update



More information and online registration: Miami-Dade Branch -- Summer Cool-Off Dinner & GREENworking

Monday, July 11, 2011

Miami Soccer festival at Kendall Soccer Park - July 30-31, 2011

The Kendall soccer park, located at 8011 SW 127th Avenue will host soccer festival on July 30-31 that will be free and open to the public! Presented by Soccer 5 USA and Miami-Dade Parks, the 2 day festival will have varying co-ed teams playing 11v11, 7v7 and 5v5 tournaments. For information, call 1-888-575-2976 for team entry fees and look for other notices in the Herald and other publications. It is bound to be a great festival!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The instant-on Generation - Excellent article by Bruce Turkel

A great article about observatios of our current generatin and trends by Bruce Turkel. See more of his writing at his website:

www.TurkelTalks.com

The Instant On Generation

I was a kid back in the dark ages of transistor radios. If a friend told me about a cool new song, I’d tune in to WQAM and wait until they played what I was waiting for. Usually it would take an hour or more if the song was hot. While I waited I’d get my cassette recorder plugged in and loaded so I could tape the song. Invariably, I’d miss the beginning and inadvertently record my mom calling me for dinner over one of the verses.

Sometimes I had a little allowance money burning a hole in my pocket and wanted to order something from the ads on the back of my comic books – sea monkeys, say, or X-ray specs. I’d get my mom to write a check, put it in an envelope and root around for a stamp. Then I’d drop it in the mailbox and wait the four to six weeks the small print warned me about. I’d religiously check the mailbox every day after school but that didn’t make the package arrive any sooner.

Things are different today. When my daughter gets a text message about a great new band she has to hear, an MP4 file of the actual song usually accompanies the SMS. If not, she can go to YouTube or the iTunes store, download the song to her phone and listen to it right away.

If my son wants to buy something, he can simply order it online and have it Fed-Ex'd to him in a day or two. And while he waits he can track his package as it wings its way across the country. No one over 45 actually cares where the package is until it arrives in their hot little hands but younger consumers need to know when it’s in Tulsa, when it’s in Memphis, and when it’s on the delivery truck.
Of course if it’s a book he wants, he can just one-click order it on Amazon and have it transmitted to a Kindle, iPad, or laptop in less than 60 seconds.
These buyers are labeled by a lot of names these days, – Generation X, Generation Y, Echo Boomers, Millennials – demographic titles based on when they were born. But I think it would be more accurate to name them psychographically, based on the trait they all share: their instant gratification addiction. My genius friend David calls them The Instant On Generation – the hordes of people who have grown up with the “what have you done for me next” demands of digital technology and don’t know how to function in an analog environment.

Unfortunately for them, world events are conspiring to make things very difficult for Instant-ons. Thanks to the combined effects of a burgeoning world population, expanded financial opportunity in the under-developed world and the democratization of technology, there are more people on airplanes, more people in restaurants, more people consuming natural and man made resources, and more people traveling around the world than ever before. And while Instant-ons are perfectly happy to zoom along in their digital environments, finding their friends on FourSquare, making reservations onOpenTable, and communicating with each other 24/7 across Facebook and Twitter, the sheer number of people expecting immediate service in the carbon universe is an unscalable mess that slows everything down.

Before you start pining for the good old days, remember that things weren’t that fast before. It’s just that there were far fewer people clamoring for service and those people were way more willing to wait their turn. But older consumers didn’t grow up with the instant reward and response of videos games. They didn’t grow up with the instant gratification of flash frozen prepared foods heated in a microwave. And they didn’t grow up with a 24/7 communication device glowing greedily in their pocket.

Tomorrow’s consumer did, and tomorrow’s marketer is going to have to figure out how to successfully service people who live the lyrics to the Queen song: “I want it all and I want it now.”

Talking about today’s sped up world, Steven Wright said, “If you put instant coffee in a microwave you almost go back in time.” Funny thing is I don’t smell coffee. I smell opportunity. Specifically, how to make Instant-ons happy? An improved customer experience is one way: think Disney World’s line management techniques or the TSA security experience at Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport. Here in Miami, wealthy wannabe American Instant-ons can even hire people to stand in line for them at immigration.

But all of these solutions are just Band-Aids. The true moneymakers will be the ones who figure out how to reconcile Instant-ons’ digital expectations with analog reality.

Friday, June 03, 2011

Renewable Energy Lecture and Exhibit - Coral Gables Museum. June 03, 2011 7pm

Join me tonight for the openign reception and lecture on Renewabe Energy and Germany at the Coral Gables Museum...
June 03, 2011. 7 pm.

Friday, May 27, 2011

European focused property management in Miami

I am very happy to share another quality find for services in the Greater Miami area. Swiss Property Management is absolutely in line with the high expectations that SEA stands for and provides to its clients. For property management, maintenance and other services related to upkeep. Take a look at them. Here is some more information in their own words:

About us:
Swiss Property Management Corp. was established in Miami 2010.
Founder and Owner Oliver R. Oberhauser is an Austrian citizen, born and educated in Switzerland. He has been working in the Banking Industry in Switzerland and the US for almost 20 years. During this time he was involved in Real Estate transactions (Residential & Commercial) in Switzerland, Germany, Spain and the United States. Oliver is fluent in German, Swiss German, English and French.

Our goal is to provide highest quality of service and customer satisfaction. We do it the Swiss Style:
Reliable, Professional, Tailor Made

Our Services:
House Care
We take care of your house or apartment when you are travelling or living abroad.
Payments
We manage payments for you (Electricity, Water, Gas, Taxes, Insurance, etc.)
Site visits
Regular site visits make sure that everything is in order with your property.
Maintenance / Repair
If you need a plumber or your A/C is not working you can contact us 24/7. We can provide you with the professionals you need.
Landscaping / Pool Services
We work closely with Landscape Architects and Gardeners. Pool Services and repairs available.
Supervision of Construction
If you are remodeling or building an apartment, house or office, we supervise the construction and make sure that your quality standards will be achieved.
Rentals
If you want to rent your home, we help you find a tenant and manage the whole process. Move in/out, Keying, Collecting Rent, Reporting, Cleaning, Tenant Relation.
Cleaning / Pest Control
We can provide you with a cleaning team and take care of Pest Control.
Concierge Services
You need pick up at the Airport? Want to rent a car, a yacht or even a plane? Do you want a case of Red Wine or Champagne? Let us know, we can organize it.
Network of Professionals
If you need a Tax Attorney an Immigration Lawyer, CPA, Doctor, Dentist, Realtor, Architect, Interior Designer, Banker etc. let us know. We know the right professionals.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Family Night @ GASC Miami - Friday May 27, 2011

As one of the directors of the German American Social Club of Greater Miami, i would like to share the following:

The German American Social Club will again have a Family Night this Friday, May 27, 2011. Please join us for this fantastic event of games and fun. We hope to see you all then on Friday.

11919 SW 56 Street (MIller Drive)
Miami, Florida

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

USGBC South Florida - GREENWorking - networking event. May 19, 2011 Viceroy

A nice event from teh USGBC South Florida Chapter coming up this Thursday May 19, 2011 at the Viceroy in Miami.

"Join us at the
Miami Dade & The Keys Branch's GREENWORKING event at Club 50 (Viceroy at Icon) in the heart of Brickell


Come unwind with the Miami Dade & The Keys Branch and enjoy an an evening of GREENworking at Club 50 in the heart of Brickell. Expand your network while you mingle and meet with other branch and chapter members in a casual, fun atmosphere.

Our networking events are always highly attended so be sure to rsvp!

Complimentary well-drinks from 7-8PM

Suggested $10 donation (tax-deductible)

Business Casual Attire"

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

2011 EPA Earth Day Events and What You Can Do

In Washington DC - Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17 for Earth Day on the National Mall. With more than 40 interactive exhibits, kids and adults can have eco-fun with hands on activities, art, music and storytelling. Visitors will learn how to. Also, the 7th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on April 15-17 on the Mall features environmentally friendly, sustainable technologies developed by college student teams from across the country.

Around the country - EPA offices around the country are listing events and activities in and near your community. Events range from easy, family-friendly events to more strenuous volunteer environmental cleanup opportunities. For example, there's a Mystic River cleanup in Massachusetts, Auntie Litter's Parade in Birmingham Alabama, the Mountain Area Earth Day Fair in Evergreen Colorado, and many, many more. See the events page to find events, dates, and times near you!

Events page: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm for DC and around the country.
ONLINE ACTIVITIES

Pick 5 for the Environment. Join others in the US and around the world and commit to small steps that fit your lifestyle, but are powerful actions that help protect the environment.
http://www.epa.gov/pick5

State of the Environment Photo Project - Starting in April 2011 and over the coming year to Earth Day 2012, EPA is inviting photographers to submit photos on the state of the environment as they experience it, to add to the Documerica project. Read more about the history of Documerica and how to enter your photos.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1667216@N23/

Sign up to get a daily environmental tip by email during April, and listen to the daily audio tip podcast.
http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm

Join us on Facebook and share your Earthday experiences, or use hashtag #earthday on Twitter.
http://www.facebook.com/epa
http://twitter.com/search?q=%23earthday
On the go? Get your daily tip from EPA's mobile site!
http://m.epa.gov
¿Habla español? Aprenda más acerca del Día del Planeta Tierra y de lo que usted puede hacer para ayudar a proteger el medio ambiente. Escuche los podcasts ambientales. Inscríbase para recibir un consejo por correo electrónico en abril.
http://www.epa.gov/earthday/espanol

Thursday, April 07, 2011

University of Miami - April 08: The Economic and Ecological Case for Good Urbanism


The Economic and Ecological Case for Good Urbanism
April 8th, 12:30 pm

In this eye-opening presentation Joe Minicozzi presents cutting edge research that reveals the dramatic impact that different types and patterns of development have on the fiscal health of our communities. If you are looking for the fiscal foundation for creating sustainable communities don't miss this lecture!! Bring your elected officials, your planning staff, your real estate developers and brokers, your property tax assessors!! You will see the plans, buildings and places in your community in a whole new light by the end of this lecture.

Description: Joseph Minicozzi, AICP is the Executive Director for the Asheville Downtown Association. He also partners with Public Interest Projects, Inc. (PIP); a private for-profit real estate development company focused on historic preservation, urban infill, and investing in business start-up in downtown Asheville, NC. Joe is a founding member of the Asheville Design Center, a non-profit community design center dedicated to creating livable communities across all of Western North Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Miami and Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard University.

Cost: Free and open to the public
Location: Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center, Glasgow Lecture Hall, 1215 Dickinson Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146
More information: mredu.arc.miami.edu

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

April 10, 2011 at the GASC - 1st Annual Friendship Soccer Cup


Please see flyer for the upcomign Friendship Soccer Cup at teh German American Social Club in Miami. 11919 SW 56th Street (Miller Drive), this sunday: Arpil 10, 2011.