Red Rooster Overtown is the legendary Marcus Samuelsson's flagship restaurant in Miami. I've been following Marcus' career since 1999, when he was the head chef at Aquavit, a Swedish 🇸🇪 restaurant in NY. Trekking there from WPB was one of the first things I did when I moved to S. Florida. I hope you'll love it too.

Dinner will be chicken and fish served family-style. Please lmk if you don't eat either of those or have other food preferences.

Practicing gratitude has changed my entire life - so for me, this is how turning 50 must begin. That said, many of you are of different or no faiths. ALL are welcome but not obliged to attend this portion. Prayers will go from 6:00 to 6:20. If you plan to attend, please arrive at 6 so we can start on time. If you don't, please aim for 6:30.

Before the pandemic, I started an Instagram blog called 1FAMALAY to celebrate the diversity of the West Indies. The name is based on a popular soca song by Skinny Fabulous, Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, and others. Potential copyright or trademark infringement aside, I stopped during the pandemic because I felt the moment called for celebrating our shared humanity. Happy to report that there are now many, on and off social media, doing an amazing job in this space.

October 24th is United Nations Day.

Look HOT, stay COOL, so we can feel Hot-Hot-Hot! It's October in South Florida — hace calor🔥 The venue is outdoors. There will be fans but no AC. Please don't wear anything that weighs more than five pounds, combined — but keep it family-friendly-ISH.

Don't like theme fêtes? Be grateful it is not dancehall themed.

Expect a mix of Chutney, Soca, 90s Dancehall, Country, and 80s soul and rockers. For a preview:

I haven't seen many of you in a while and would like to maximize our time together. There will likely be an event on Friday night. Details coming…

Clyde Killens Pool Hall — where great musicians, like Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, and Sam Cooke, played and partied in the days of segregation.

There is no shortage of hotel options in Miami. The most popular areas, South Beach, Brickell, and Wynwood, are 20, 15, and 10 mins away by car, respectively. I'll be staying in Brickell and am looking into getting a block of rooms - stay tuned. In the meantime, here are a few nearby options:

Overtown is a historic neighborhood, with the blight of gentrification fast encroaching. There are safety concerns. Please DO NOT WALK to the restaurant - take an Uber / Lyft.

Please VOTE! It's free. I'll even let you vote for whomever you want ⭐ Midterm elections are on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. Otherwise, let's just keep growing our friendship.

I like kids — I LOVE your kids. I am close to capacity for the venue, but if it's a choice between you bringing your kiddos or not coming, please lmk and I'll work it out.

Kindly reply by Oct 1st via text. Please lmk if you're bringing a guest, your email address (if you think I don't have it), and any dietary preferences or restrictions.

How do I feel about turning 50? I'm ready! I've been telling everyone - even those who hadn't asked.

I live in West Palm Beach, which is 2 hours from Miami. I will be arriving on Friday and heading back on Sunday.

As we celebrate 250 years of America's independence, consider adding No Passport Required (on PBS) to your watchlist. As the title suggests, the show — hosted by chef and TV host Marcus Samuelsson @marcuscooks — celebrates the fact that you can experience so many cultures here without crossing the border.

The first episode features my own: the Guyanese community in Queens, apparently the second largest immigrant group in New York. Marcus and Chef Raymond @raymondzmohan (Mon Repos, Guyana) of Lolo's Seafood Shack tour Sybil's (where I have spent boatloads of $), Little Guyana Bake Shop, and even do a bush-cook.

There is even an episode (Season 2, Episode 6) highlighting the Boston community of the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner of our hearts — Cape Verde. 🇨🇻

What struck me most was Marcus' commentary, which — from my experience — is spot on. He seamlessly understands the immigrant journey, the sense of belonging, or not belonging. You've probably heard the story: he and his sister were born in Ethiopia 🇪🇹 during the famine and adopted by Swedish 🇸🇪 parents when their mother died. Because of the complexity of his upbringing, Marcus gets what it's like not to fit in completely. In the Ethiopians in DC episode, his wife — who is Ethiopian — has to explain certain customs to him, because although he was born there, he doesn't know them all. He is an insider simultaneously observing from the outside.

I, like many, have a complex background and more often than not don't fit in — even amongst my "own people." I've heard this from many 1st- and 2nd-generation immigrants, multi-ethnic people, and others. I am here to tell you: you belong.

All ah we a 1Famalay! 🫶🏾
#1famalay