Versailles_rally Once again the landmark Little Havana restaurant
Versailles became the focus of attention for the Cuban exile community
in Miami.
Friends and fans of Cuban reggaeton star Elvis Manuel gathered there
for most of the morning Friday to demand that the U.S. Coast Guard not
repatriate the artist who at that moment was believed to be aboard a
cutter in the Florida Straits.
While the Coast Guard later said that Elvis Manuel was not aboard a
cutter, but that his mother was, his friends and fans still turned out
to show solidarity with the star and to try to gain information about
his whereabouts.
The case reaffirmed Versailles' reputation as the Cuban exile
community's traditional rallying point wherever a major Cuban crisis or
event arises. When Fidel Castro took ill in July 2006 or when he
resigned in February, many exiles turned at Versailles to express an
opinion. The picture above shows exiles celebrating outside Versailles
on the day it was announced that an ailing Fidel Castro was turning over
power to his brother Raul.
Felipe Valls Sr. opened Versailles 35 years ago without ever
imagining that eventually the restaurant would become a sort of town
hall-style gathering place for Cuban Americans in Miami.
But as Miami Herald staff writer Tere Figueras Negrete revealed in a
story Nov. 20, Versailles now is an important element in the area's
"Cuba plan'' when Castro dies.
The restaurant has drafted its own post-Castro plan calling for
employees to cordon off the parking lot and control traffic. Parking
spots have been assigned for media outlets to record the expected street
celebrations on Calle Ocho.
-- Alfonso Chardy
April 11, 2008
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2008/04/little-havana-r.html
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