// …WITHOUT WHOM THIS ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE

THIS ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE...

JULIET IZON

Juliet Izon has covered food, travel, and entertainment news for publications including Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, and Zagat. She also writes about everything from new motherhood to marriage on her blog, Juliet’s Married. In this issue of Ocean Drive, Izon learns the story behind the more-than-600store beauty empire European Wax Center, from its cofounder David Coba. Where do you go for a night out in Miami? I love sipping cocktails outside at Juvia. What are you looking forward to in September in Miami? The International Ballet Festival of Miami. It’s a fantastic way to see some of the best dance companies from all over the world.

GARY JAMES

A regular contributor to Ocean Drive, South Florida-based photographer Gary James specializes in fashion, portrait, and product photography. He is the director of photography for The Guild 5 Forty Five, creating images for brands, restaurants, editorial clients, and more. James photographed the confectionary delights at Cindy Lou’s Cookies and famed chef Michael Schulson’s inventive new Japanese eatery, Monkitail. What’s the most challenging aspect of food photography?

Not eating too much. What was it like shooting at Cindy Lou’s Cookies? A sign saying

COOKIES and another saying

LOVE hung behind Cindy [Kruse] and [partner] Eric [Paige] as I stepped into the bakery. Imagine that feeling and then top it with the smell of cookies.

BECKY RANDEL

A Miami-based freelance writer and copywriter originally from Connecticut, Becky Randel is a frequent contributor to Ocean Drive, as well as People and People.com, About.com, Thedailymeal.com, and W magazine, among others. Randel gives us a behind-thecurtain look at the Diplomat resort’s Monkitail through an interview with chef Michael Schulson in “No Monkeying Around.” What did you enjoy most about your visit to Monkitail? I write about a lot of restaurants, and few of them offer something original. Monkitail’s robatayaki menu is a cool, new take on an “old” technique. What do we need to try? The “smoked” Monkitail cocktail was like nothing I’ve had before. I don’t even like bourbon but could have sipped this all night.

JON WARECH

Writer Jon Warech has covered entertainment and pop culture for Us Weekly and AOL’S Mandatory.com. His work has also appeared in the New York Daily News, Vibe, the Miami Herald, and ESPN the Magazine, among other publications. In addition, he coauthored the book Slam-dunk Success with Byron Scott and Charles Norris. In this issue, Warech spotlights Miami’s greatest, from the Dolphins to Heat legend Udonis Haslem and hometown sensations Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull. Tell us about your interview with Udonis Haslem. UD and I were in the same graduating class at the University of Florida, so I’ve been following his career for what feels like a lifetime. His loyalty to the Heat and the city of Miami never ceases to amaze me, but it’s still surprising how much time he puts into all his businesses.