Kampong Twilight Tour

The Kampong is holding a Twilight Tour on Thursday, May 23, 5-7 pm. They are celebrating the arrival of some of their best mangos by making a delicious Kampong rum punch and providing a sampling of their home-made mango chutneys. 

Also there will be steel drum music by Othello, walking tours, and of course the natural beauty of The Kampong at dusk.  

This event is free to members, and there are a few tickets available to the public for $20 each. RSVP at 305-442-7169.


The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden | 4013 South Douglas Road

Big Ang's Miami Monkey opens today

Hey Mob Wives fans! Big Ang is in town to film her reality show "Big Ang," the spinoff of Mob Wives, and a lot of it will be taking place at her new bar, the Miami Monkey, sister bar to her famous Staten Island Drunken Monkey! The Miami Monkey opens today at 1330 Ocean Drive, South Beach -- 2 pm.

"How You Doin?" She says it like she means it

Went to see talk show queen Wendy Williams last night at Books & Books in Coral Gables. It was a packed house. Lots of fans showed up to hear Wendy speak about her new book, "Ask Wendy ."

Wendy was very sweet and funny, she signed autographs after taking questions from their audience. 

The embarrassing thing was that my friend reserved us seats by contacting Books & Books and we were the only ones who did that. So we literally had the front row center seats. I didn't want to sit there at first, I felt foolish, but I was sort of forced into it and I'm glad I was. I was feet away from Miss Wendy the whole time!

We met people who drove down from Tampa and Port St. Lucie just for this event! Talk about dedicated fans!

Memory Training Workshop at Dynamo

A Memory Training Workshop is being held at Dynamo Art Cocowalk on Sunday, May 26, at 5 pm

Amanda Pike, PhD, ATR, a registered, clinical art therapist employed by the Miami-Dade school district, is teaming up with Dynamo Art Cocowalk for a workshop that uses the creative process to enhance the physical, mental and emotion well-being of individuals of all ages.

Each session is 90 minutes, with all art supplies included, and you can get a special price: $69.00 for a session (regular price $150.00). Email arttherapycs@gmail.com or call, 305-707-5106, by May 20 to register for the memory training session. Tell them you read it in the Grapevine.

For more information: http://arttherapyconsulting.com

We're surrounded by crooks

People all over town are talking about the little Red Headed creep and her gang. No matter where you go, this is the topic of conversation and the interesting part is that so many people have seen her/them. But no one does anything. She's like a ghost. Her name is Bamby by the way, and the police are quite familiar with her.

Apparently she and her gang were living at the Metrorail Station, this alone should have thrown up a red flag, the police knew about it but nothing was done. When finally the police surrounded the Metrorail Station, the gang fled and took up "residence" in the center Coconut Grove neighborhoods. It pushed them inside the Grove.

They are drug heads according to those who know, they steal things and resell them to fences, which are part of the problem.

There is this other guy who lives behind one of the hair salons, they let him live there. The guy goes out on his bicycle in the day, burgles stores, lots of times it's CVS and he goes around on his bicycle and sells the stuff to people, mostly to the employees at stores in the Grove. They think nothing of paying $5 for a $200 item, they don't ask questions and the guy goes on his merry way.

Crooks -- all of them, the ones stealing and the ones buying the stolen stuff.

The other day a friend drove by in her car, she beeped, I walked over to say hi, when I left the cop behind her gave her a ticket for that. Today I was stopped by  friend as I came out of the gym, he also paused in the street and we talked a bit. Luckily a cop wasn't behind him or he would have been ticketed.

Is this what the police resources are being used for? We're a little village for god's sake, we are going to stop and say hello to each other in the street.

We need a photo of the Little Red Headed Creep and fast so that people can know exactly what she looks like before she gets wize and dyes here hair to another color, like blue or something. She was seen at Flanagans, at a gallery, at a shoe store, at so many places. If there was actually a photo circulating, people would know it the second they saw her and not as an after thought.

Save the Coconut Grove Playhouse

From the group trying to save the Coconut Grove Playhouse's Facebook page:

"The Playhouse needs you to make a call to Anne Peery of Florida Trust for Historic Preservation at (850) 224-8128 and tell her that the Playhouse long ago deserved to be placed on her organization's endangered historic sites list. They have not made their final decision but it looks certain she does not feel the Grove Playhouse deserves to be on that list. We have submitted the application with several letters of affirmation seemingly to no avail. Please, we need your help....or rather the Playhouse needs it. It is difficult to understand why gas stations are on the state's historic sites list but not the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Please give her the facts of the history of the place and explain that, yes, there have been some small changes to the Playhouse but nothing significant since the 1950s that diminish its historic importance. Does anyone have one minute to make such a phone call? If there's no answer please just leave her a voice mail message."

Vote today in the "Truckin' Amazing" contest

I just voted for Ms. Cheezious in the Live's Truckin' Amazing Cook-Off Contest being held by the Live with Kelly & Michael Show. 

You can vote for our local favorite here.

You can vote once and the voting ends Saturday, May 18 at 8 pm!

The Little Red Haired Girl and gang

Sounds like a Peanuts cartoon, but it's getting serious out there. The girl with the bright red hair and her gang have hit the Center Grove now. A business owner saw the red headed girl and a tall boy come into their store last night. They had two other young white males with them. They attempted to take things from the store, but the sales associate yelled out to them and they rapidly left.

If anyone has any sort of surveillance system, perhaps you can check and see you capture their images around your store.

They had been hitting houses in the North Grove but now apparently are going into stores.

If you see anything, please call the police at 911 or 305-579-6111 (for non emergency).


UPDATE: On Friday, midday, this girl with the red hair and tattoos, tried to break into a house in Silver Bluff near SW 27 Avenue and 25 Terrace. A neighbor confronted her and she took off on her bicycle. She was with two white guys, one had a silver pick up truck and the other rode off with her on a bicycle.

Someone somewhere must have pictures taken with their home or store security cameras!

CocoWalk plays backdrop for tv commercial

Now that Burn Notice is leaving us, hopefully commercials and other tv projects will move in to take their place. Earlier this week CocoWalk hosted a crew from MacGuffin Films, who filed a Cialis commercial. Actor Ed Burns, directed the commercial. He is shown here, with CocoWalk Marketing Director, M. Peggy Quatro on set.

This is the Client side, where the clients, ad agency, producer, and director sit and watch the monitor of the filming. Earlier in the week Telemundo took over Grand Avenue and they filmed across from CocoWalk and up and down Grand for one of their telenovelas.

Final concert of the season for MCC

The Miami Children's Chorus showcases the diversity and artistic excellence of our South Florida youth in "Let The Children Sing." This exciting program marks the completion of the MCC 2012-2013 season and will feature all three MCC ensembles performing traditional and contemporary multicultural choral works in English, Spanish, Shona, French, and Czech, with a cappella singing, chamber orchestra, and percussion ensemble. 

This project of the Miami Children's Chorus is supported, in part, by grants from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and the City of Coral Gables. 

For more information about the Miami Children's Chorus, and a complete season schedule, visit www.miamichildrenschorus.org or call 305.662.7494. 


The event is Sunday, May 19, 4:00 pm at New World First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables  (536 Coral Way, Coral Gables).
Admission: 
 General Admission $20 Adults | $5 Students, Seniors & Children - In Advance
 General Admission $25 Adults | $10 Students, Seniors & Children - At the Door
 Tickets can be purchased by calling 305.662.7494 or emailing amendez@miamichildrenschorus.org

Be on the look out

More break-ins yesterday. This image was taken on Lincoln.


Repeating what was posted the other day: There have been a bunch of burglaries in the North Grove in recent days. Houses on Swanson, Lincoln, Calusa and Jefferson have been hit, and Palmetto, in the Center Grove was also burglarized.

A young couple was witnessed at the scenes, they are between the ages of 17 and 20. She has straight hair, shoulder length which is bright red, he has dark short hair, they ride bikes or a kick scooter.

The police and Public Service Aides are aware of the incidents and CSI has taken fingerprints. Hopefully a police sketch will be out soon.

Please be on the look out and call 911 or 305-579-6111 (for non emergency) if you see anything strange or resembling the couple.

The Grove may be dark this 4th of July

At the BID (Business Improvement Meeting) Thursday morning, Coconut Grove's 4th of July was discussed. We may not have fireworks at Peacock Park this year. Nothing is definite at this point, but it looks as if the Chamber of Commerce is out of the fireworks business. And I can't say that I blame them, for one thing, not many people knew the Chamber was putting on the event and another thing, it wasn't really put  on too well because it lacked funding. So it was a thankless job for the Chamber.

In the past, the Chamber tried to make money on the event by selling beer and drinks and hosting food vendors, which were few and far between. The best year was when there were food trucks, but the Grove is so prejudiced against the trucks, that they won't be back, so a few vendors are set up and it really doesn't matter because people bring their own picnics, which I don't blame them for either.

It all came down to the fireworks which were not really appreciated by the crowds because they felt they were too short. Figures go from about 9 to 12 minutes, but at $1000 a minute as the cost, it wasn't much.

One other event that has disappeared is the Coconut Scavenger Hunt, that was a lot of fun, but it ended up all falling on my shoulders and I've been going up north for July 4th week these past couple of years, so there is no Coconut Hunt any more, as all of my helpers, and there used to be plenty, have all flown the coop. In the last year or so, we didn't even paint the coconuts, we used the left over ones, but I was stuck lugging them around, making up the clues then physically hiding them early on July 4th morning, which took hours. 2011 was the last year.

For a couple of years we had the fire shows and cirque du soleil shows with Cirque du Grove. Those were held the whole 4th of July weekend.

2010 may have been the peek year for 4th of July in Coconut Grove, even Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr. where here! There was something going on from morning to night.

CocoWalk still has the hot dog eating contest and The Barnacle still has their old fashioned picnic, but the two big events, the Coconut Hunt and the Fireworks seem to be a thing of the past, although as I said, maybe not the fireworks, there is hope that the City of Miami will bare the cost and throw the show, but with other fireworks put on by the City, like in downtown at Bayside, and with Coral Gables and Key Biscayne putting on fireworks shows, I don't see it happening here unless a group steps up and takes the event on.

It is expensive at $1000 a minute, this is a great business. we read about high tech jobs, this is a high priced techno job. The BID has offered $8000 to the Chamber to put on the event, but the Chamber pays $50,000 or more for the whole park event with music, food, drinks and fireworks and they don't really reap any rewards. I brought up the fact that the Chamber should do it just for the sake of keeping the tradition alive, but that's easier said than done.

So right now, it's not sure if we'll have fireworks in Peacock Park this year. Above you see our Grove Spider-man, Shaun, he isn't even around anymore. So much is changing in the Grove that made this place the Grove. I do hope the US flags go up in June before Flag Day as they usually do. At least that gives us some semblance of 4th of July.

South Florida's Got Talent contest

The Alhambra Orchestra is presenting South Florida's Got Talent on Sunday, May 19.

This is a free classical concert showcasing the amazing young winners of the orchestra's annual concerto competition performing music of Chopin, Bruch and Khatchaturian.  

Free admission, free parking  (donations requested). No reservations needed except that large groups should call in advance. For information, contact 305-668-9260, 

Ransom Everglades Middle School is the venue (2045 S. Bayshore Drive), 7 pm is showtime.

For more information: Call 305-668-9260.

How you doin'? Meet Wendy Williams

Wanna meet Wendy Williams? You can. She'll be at Books and Books in Coral Gables, this Saturday, May 18, signing her new book, "Ask Wendy" and if you know Ms. Wendy, she'll be handing out advice just for the asking.

Here popular tv show is on daily in Miami on Channel 7 at 10 am, live from New York. And Wendy says it like she means it. The most popular part of the show is the Hot Topics where Wendy dishes the celebs of the day, but next popular is the Ask Wendy segment where the audience gets to ask Wendy life altering questions. On Saturday, you can do the same at Books and Books. The event starts at 7 pm.

Wendy has helped her viewers cope with everything from backstabbing girlfriends and deadbeat boyfriends to crazy mothers-in-law and jealous coworkers. Fans trust Wendy, even when her advice is tough to hear. She's earned her reputation as "the friend in your head."

On tv, Wendy only has a few minutes to respond to each audience member, but in here new book, "Ask Wendy," she goes deeper, answering questions sourced from viewers across the country. No question is off-limits and no situation is too outrageous for her to take on. Wendy shoots straight from those womanly hips of hers to help you manage all the crazy that comes into your life --  keepin' it real by drawing on the personal experiences that have shaped her unique perspective. Wendy reveals never-before shared intimate secrets about struggling with weight, navigating rough times in her marriage, and learning to accept herself. Along with the usual girlfriend, boyfriend, and family drama, Wendy straight-talks on topics like style, body image, and office etiquette, and of course she tackles your wildest sex questions. If you've dealt with it, Wendy has a solution for it.

Books and Books is located at 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables.

Miami's first ever Butterfly Migration Parade

On Saturday, May 18, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is hosting Miami’s first-ever Butterfly Migration Parade, a day full of butterfly-themed family fun. Participate in the whimsical parade down Old Cutler Road from 8:30 to  9:30 am, then spend the day at Fairchild from 9:30 am to  4:30 pm to join in fun activities like the butterfly costume contest, live music and butterfly viewings. Tasty treats are provided by the Glasshouse Café and food trucks.

Make sure to visit the Wings of the Tropics exhibit to marvel at the thousands of vibrantly colored butterflies swooping overhead. Admission is free for parade participants, Fairchild members and children 5 and under, $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up, and $12 for children 6-17.  

The Butterfly Migration Parade begins at 8:30 am at the entrance of the neighboring Matheson Hammock Park. The road will close to vehicular traffic from approximately 8:15 to 9:45 am until all the participants have entered Fairchild. Led by Grand Marshall Isabelle Scott, Miss Miami United States 2014, a cavalcade of colorful floats, decorated cars, musicians, dancers and performers will proceed down Old Cutler Road. Be sure to spot familiar faces from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the Coral Gables City Commission as they make their way down the path. 

After the parade, visitors can enjoy fun butterfly-themed activities, food trucks and live music at Fairchild. The Wings of the Tropics butterfly exhibit in The Clinton Family Conservatory will be fluttering with motion throughout the day. Don’t forget to spread your wings and wear your best outfit for the butterfly costume contest at 11 am.

It’s not too late to partake in the parade. If you’d like to join the colorful caravan, please contact Leslie Bowe at lbowe@fairchildgarden.org or 305-667-1651, ext. 3338. 

There is free parking for participants and spectators in the west side of Old Cutler Road and the North Entrance or the Lowlands at Fairchild. Parking is also available with a waived fee at Matheson Hammock Park. The Matheson Hammock Park entrance is located at 9610 Old Cutler Road. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is at 10901 Old Cutler Road.

The Maniac was handing out UM tickets

The Miami Maniac, the University of Miami's baseball mascot was in town yesterday, running around Coconut Grove handing out tickets to this weekend's games! 

UM will be playing the final regular season series for this year's Miami Hurricanes baseball season beginning today, May 16, against Georgia Tech. The series runs through Saturday. More info here.

"Someday We'll All Be Free" to be presented

The Center for Ethics and Public Service is presenting the Historic Black Church Program, Oral History Film, "Someday We'll All Be Free: The Desegregation of Miami." 

The Event is Saturday, May 18 from 6 to 8 pm at Elizabeth Varrick Park (3255 Plaza Street).

This is an evening to celebrate the campus-community Oral History Film Project and it's partnership with the Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance, Ransom Everglades School and the University of Miami School of Communication.

Admission is free. Everyone is welcome.

Miami Community Leadership Forum

Residents throughout South Florida are invited to sharpen their leadership skills at the two-day Miami Community Leadership Forum on May 18 and 19, hosted by Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF). The Forum is free to attend and will be held at the Frankie Rolle Center (3750 S. Dixie Hwy.) in Coconut Grove. 

Panelists from across the non-profit, local government, and private sectors will guide participants on a series of topics that cover community and leadership issues. Among the distinguished panel of speakers is David Lawrence Jr., Chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida.

“The Community Leadership Forum is one part of our ongoing series of workshops that seek to bring together residents from all over Miami-Dade County to exchange ideas and learn ways they can be active leaders in the development and change of their communities,” says Ryan Shedd, Leadership Training Coordinator for NHSSF. “After participating in several of our Community Leadership Training events, our community partners have gone on to establish neighborhood associations, service organizations, and advocacy groups!”

In partnership with The Collaborative Development Corporation, the Forum will guide 100 South Florida residents through a series of activities and workshops, including leadership training, self-exploration and skills assessment, management skills, and their understanding of community issues and policies. A special focus of the Forum is to provide training to residents of Miami-Dade’s diverse urban core neighborhoods, including Liberty City, Brownsville, Little Haiti, Wynwood, Allapattah, Overtown, and West Coconut Grove, to capture their interest in becoming more effective leaders within their communities.

Seating is limited and residents can sign up for free by contacting Ryan Shedd of NHSSF at 305-751-5511 ext 1152. Program materials, lunch, and refreshments will be provided. Attendees will also receive a Certificate of Completion for attending both days of the forum.

NHSSF is a local nonprofit organization that collaborates with residents and other stakeholders to stabilize neighborhoods and develop sustainable housing.

Will a restaurant make it in Peacock Park?

One thing that concerns me about the RFP at the Glass House at Peacock Park is that many restaurant owners who were approached about leasing the Glass House felt that there was not enough going on in the park to attract people. This threw up a red flag in my mind.

To that I say, there is plenty going on in Peacock Park. It's called Nature. We don't need anything else to be going on there. If the restaurant is good enough, people will come. Look at Peacock Garden Cafe. It's hidden between the hotel and a grave site and library, yet it is one of the most popular restaurants not only in Coconut Grove, but dare I say Miami?

But I doubt anything more commercial would be added to the park simply because of the neighbors next door at The Cloisers. They rubbed people the wrong way over the years with their complaints of noise in the park and wanting their own personal traffic light on Main Highway. But to be honest, in this case I don't see them going for commercialization in the rest of the park which is next door to their residences. They can barely tolerate the events that take place there now -- the Arts Festival, Taste of the Grove, Christmas festival, soccer games, beer festivals, etc. So I am sure they are going to want to keep out anything more than a small restaurant in there.

But we keep talking about a restaurant. The place is really not set up for a restaurant now. While the city is willing to bear the cost of a grease trap and oven hoods, etc. Some other business may come in with a better idea and it could possibly not be a restaurant.

I have to laugh over one thing. So many people who probably never set foot in the park unless there is a large event going on, are so up in arms about what happens there. I don't know why it has struck such a nerve with them.

Maniac on the loose!

We have a lot of maniacs running around Coconut Grove, after all, they put the NUT in Coconut, but there will be a "real" maniac on our streets today -- the UM Mascot the Miami Maniac will be in the Grove today and he'll be handing out UM baseball tickets.

The University of Miami will be playing the final regular season series for this year's Miami Hurricanes baseball season beginning this Thursday, May 16, against Georgia Tech. The series runs from Thursday through Saturday, with gametimes set for 7:30 pm Thursday and Friday, and 1 pm on Saturday.

So look for the Miami Maniac today between 1 and 2:30 pm or until all the tickets are handed out!

Red headed burglar and boyfriend on the prowl

There have been a bunch of burglaries in the North Grove in recent days. Houses on Swanson, Lincoln, Calusa and Jefferson have been hit, and Palmetto, in the Center Grove was also burglarized.

A young couple was witnessed at the scenes, they are between the ages of 17 and 20. She has straight hair, shoulder length which is bright red, he has dark short hair, they ride bikes or a kick scooter.

The police and Public Service Aides are aware of the incidents and CSI has taken fingerprints.

Please be on the look out and call 911 or 311 if you see anything strange or resembling the couple.

International Piano Festival starts Thursday

The Miami International Piano Festival is presenting the 16th season of the Discovery Series. From Thursday, May 16 through Sunday, May 19 in Miami Beach, the spectacular series of concerts feature rising artists, prodigies, and notable masters of the piano. 

The festival will be held at the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Road).  Special concerts on Saturday include a chamber music concert featuring three prodigies on piano, cello, and violin and on Sunday the festival finale includes a celebrated artist that will paint live before the audience inspired by classical piano works. 

Don't miss the special offer available on Saturday and Sunday, when you purchase any $50 seat you will receive the other concert on the same day at no cost!  You will get to enjoy two fantastic performances for the price of one concert on the same day.   

This special offer is only available for purchase at the Colony Theatre Box Office or by calling 305-935-5115.  Use code:  TWOFOR  to receive this special offer.

For tickets info Click Here. 

Too much road rage

I just heard on the news about a boy being run over by a bus in Broward County; a bus he was trying to catch! This reminded me of what I saw last week right here in Coconut Grove.

I was in my car, stopped at the light at 27th and Aviation, facing the BP station, going west. I watched as the bus came down the block, from the US1 direction and it raced by a guy who was trying to board it! They guy was at the BP station under a tree, trying to stay out of the hot sun, as the bus approached, he came out to the street with plenty of time and put his hand up to stop the bus. The bus just kept on going!

I know the driver saw him, there was no way not to see him. But apparently the bus driver felt that the dude should be standing at attention waiting for the bus and not run out from the shade to catch the bus. I tried to get the number of the bus to report it, but he was too busy illegally speeding down SW 27 Avenue for me to get the info.

What the hell is wrong with people? What's with all the road rage?

Ever try to cross the street from the Coconut Grove Bank parking lot to get to the Bookstore or anywhere on Florida Avenue? It's a game in futility trying to dodge cars speeding down Mary Street. There is no courtesy, no one lets anyone cross the street, you can stand out there all day, and not one car will stop or slow down to let people cross.

While I don't always like these speed traps or cops who hide around the corners to see if people go through stop signs, it really is needed there.

CONsERvATIONS: Tidal Surge at Vizcaya

Vizcaya's owner, James Deering, was an environmentalist. By building his house close to the water, Deering was able to preserve much of Vizcaya's inland native forest. Want to know more? Join "Conversations" on conservation and, hopefully, Deering's passion for environmental preservation will ignite your own.

Tidal Surge: An Inside Look at Efforts to Protect Vizcaya from Rising Sea Levels is being held Wednesday, May 15 from 6:00-9:00 pm.

Do you have questions about their strategies for protecting Vizcaya's living collections from sea level rise? 

Meet with the staff and neighbors on the scenic patio of our Café and Shop for Science Café where you can connect with Vizcaya's Chief Horticulturalist, Ian Simpkins, and leaders of The CLEO Project on Climate to learn about sea level rise, its impact, what Vizcaya is doing and your role. 

This is a chance to meet and greet like-minded people over a glass of wine, in the unique, historic and environmentally relevant setting of Vizcaya.

Tickets $15; available onsite only beginning at 6:00 pm on the evening of the program. Wine and cheese included. Additional snacks available for purchase.    

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and European-inspired estate on Biscayne Bay, is located at 3251 South Miami Avenue. For more information, go to www.vizcaya.org or call 305-250-9133.

Vigil for Bella in Peacock Park

Many of you may have been following Bella's story on Facebook at the Pray for Bella page.

Bella was born in 2002 and became paralyzed and diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in 2007. She has battled cancer 5 times over the years, always going into remission.

There is a Prayer Vigil in Peacock Park tonight, May 13, at 6:30 pm. You are asked to wear red and bring a candle. Bella was brought home from Miami Children's Hospital and is in hospice care now. 

You can read about Bella here.

At The Bookstore this week

The Bookstore in the Grove is having a Craft Beer Tasting, Tuesday, May 14 from 6 to 8 pm to celebrate National Craft Beer Week.

Taste some special brews along with some special bar snacks.

Then on Thursday, May 16, The Dave Barry caravan of insanity rolls into Coconut Grove when Dave visits The Bookstore for a book signing and commentary on his new book, "Insane City."

Champagne will be served (courtesy of nearby neighbor, The Ritz-Carlton Residences), along with wine, mini-empanadas, and other snacks.

The book event starts at 7 pm.

25 books will be offered in a raffle, you could win one that night.

Parking is free at the Oak Avenue garage with ticket validation.

The Bookstore in the Grove is located at the corner of Florida Avenue and Mary Street at the Mayfair Atrium (3390 Mary Street).

3rd Annual Run for Relief 5K for Haiti

The 3rd Annual Run for Relief 5K for Haiti is Sunday, May 19 starting at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove.

A post-race award ceremony and entertainment will take place in the park.

Pre-registration fee: $25, Race Day Registration Fee: $30. All money raised will be given to Project Medishare, an organization dedicated to building sustainable health care in Haiti. Last year, $40,000 was raised.

Starts 7:30 am

For more information and to register: http://runforrelief5k.org/

The comments

As always, we have our conflict with the comments section, which has always been an ongoing frustration.

Many people enjoy the comments, many don't. Many don't like anonymous comments but many anonymous comments are quite interesting. Some people tell me that they won't read the Grapevine if there are comments, although I always wonder what possesses them to click that "comments" button and read if they don't like them.

I read a lot of online publications and I honestly don't read the comments. I don't know why, maybe I just don't have the time.
When I changed the format and stopped anonymous comments, there literally were no comments for months! People couldn't figure out how to comment with the codes and all and the stories just lay there. Interestingly enough, when I post the stories to Facebook, there are plenty of comments because it's easy to do.

For a couple of years, I completely stopped the comments totally, but I do feel that they add to the stories.

So anyway, I am going to be moderating the comments more closely and the ones that are rude and don't add to the stories won't make it through. I try not to censor things, but some comments really are turning people off and they really are rude.

I can block a person's ISP and they won't know it, to them it appears as if their comment is going through, so please forgive me if your ISP is blocked by mistake, but let's be civilized here. I really am trying to be nice in my writing and that should really set the tone for intelligent conversation without the rude people butting in, who by the way, can't spell and don't know grammar. What's that Abraham Lincoln saying? "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

If the comments don't add to the conversation, they will be trashed. 

Celebrate Shavuot at Chabad of the Grove

Celebrate Shavuot, commemorating the day the Jews received the Torah at Bet Ovadia Chabad of the Grove on Wednesday, May 15 at 5 pm.

There is a children's program planned and wine and cheest tasting for adults.

Hear the ten commandments! Eat Cheese cake and Ice cream (only because it's customary).

This is free and open to the public.


Chabad of the Grove is at 3291 Franklin Avenue.

Fox on the Fairway at Actors' Playhouse

We don't have the Coconut Grove Playhouse, but we're lucky enough to be a hop, skip and jump to Coral Gables, where we can enjoy the Actors' Playhouse.

Playing now through June 2 is "The Fox on the Fairway," a screwball adventure about love, life, and man's eternal love affair with golf. Written by Ken Ludwig ("Lend Me a Tenor," "Moon Over Buffalo"), the author hits a hole-in-one with his tribute to the great English farces of the 30's and 40's.

Two rival country clubs, Quail Valley and Crouching Squirrel, prepare for their annual grudge match. A massive private wager is made between the two CEOs just before the best player switches teams. Filled with mistaken romance, dreadful attire, emotional mulligans and silly shenanigans, "The Fox On The Fairway" is a "tour-de-course" of rapid-fire chip shots and frenzied miscommunications.

Performances at Actors' Playhouse are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm., Sundays at 2 pm with a special weekday matinee scheduled for May 15 at 2 pm. Ticket prices range from $15 to $48.

Actors' Playhouse | 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables | 305-444-9293.

Remembering Maggie

Maggie James was memorialized on Friday night with a big party in her honor at Berries in the Grove. Maggie requested the party rather than a sad wake. She passed away a week before.

Maggie always had a smile on her face and she was involved in so many Coconut Grove events from the King Mango Strut to so many gallery openings and showings. You know I always believe the orbs that show up in photos are people. Well if you look to the very right of this photo, you'll see one orb trying to get in the picture. I think that's Maggie at her own party.


In 2008, AnnaMaria Windish-Hunt had a special Christmas gift for so many of us. It was a personalized piece of art, we were each set in our own element. Maggie was one of the Village People, equating her with being one of the Grove's village people. You can see my piece here, just so you can get an idea of what the project was about. Maggie was a part of those fun years when every day seemed like a holiday in the Grove.


Here's Maggie (top center) in 2009 at a clown themed Breakfast with the Artist, which was very popular back then.

The photos on the older stories at the link above are much larger and they don't fit the new format of the Grapevine, that's why they overlap like that.

More friends at Friday's memorial party. Bob and Eileen Brennan with AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt and another friend, Vivian.

Ultra Music Fest brings in Ultra Bucks

Turns out, just as we suspected, the Ultra Music Festival, which was held over two weekends in March,  rather than it's usual one weekend, drew record crowds and brought record money to the community. Hotels and restaurants in the downtown area of course benefited the most.

Unlike many suspected, the crowds did spend money and spent it outside of Bayfront Park before, during and after the event. Only two emails of complaint came into the Bayfront Park Trust about the noise and crowds.

While it did shut down most of downtown Miami those two weekends, it was well worth it in this poor economy. Tim Schmand, the Trust CEO said overall there was a $1.1 million increase in assets. He went on to say that Ultra contributed $1.2 million to to the park Trust.

In Coconut Grove, the major benefit of large events is the trickle down to the local businesses. During the King Mango Strut or Bed Race or 4th of July events, the goal is to bring crowds in who in turn spend money locally, whether it be just for the day at stores and restaurants or at hotels for the weekend.

For the condo owners in the downtown area who don't really care for large events in Bayfront Park, it was explained that the events pay for the upkeep of the park. But as I stated, the Ultra Music Festival is going back to just one weekend next year, so those residents can breath a sigh of relief for one less weekend anyway.

Sports art featured at McCall Gallery

Our own Erika King is having an artist reception a the Williams McCall Gallery along with the work of sports illustrator Larry Johnson. Both will be presented tonight, Saturday, May 11 from 6 to 9 pm.

Erika is known for her collages of the Miami Heat and other Miami-based collages.

This event is very special to me since I am a friend of Erika's and Larry is a man after my own heart having been the editorial sports cartoonist for The Boston Globe, The National Sports Daily, ESPN's Quickie page and other publications for over 30 years.

The exhibition will be on view through May 25. The artists' reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Williams McCall Gallery | 110 Washington Avenue, CU-3, Miami Beach | 786-359-4321

New art creations on old fire house items

I wrote last week about The Miami Fire Fighters Charitable Fund Organization. The Inaugural City of Miami Paramedic & Firefighter Gala is tonight, May 11, 2013 at the Miami Hilton downtown. Six artists were given old fire helmets and vintage fire extinguishers and this is what they came up with. The pieces of art will be auctioned off tonight.

Above, how can you not love this Superman image, which really does tie in with the firefighters as so many of us look at firefighters as super men. Rick Abrams painted this hat. Rick is a graphic designer/artist whose work encompasses a wide range of disciplines including engineering and architectural design. Born and educated in Miami, he currently works out of his studio in DeLand, Florida.

Federico Carosio III, created this helmet that is very abstract with layers of different acrylic colors. Federico is a self-taught artist whose work captures the intense light and rich colors of South Florida like no photograph can. Carosio’s eye for detail can be seen in the photo-realism of his early pop-art paintings, while his abstracts and sculptures reflect the bold colors of his native Colombia. 

Ed King, created the black helmet with the bright orange flames and hearts. Many of you know Ed from his many showings in the Grove from small galleries to the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Since 2003, the award winning neo-pop artist has been living his dream of creating fun and inspiring artwork for clients all over the world. His use of vibrant colors, black outlines, and his signature stitching has won over the hearts and minds of people everywhere.

Nick Varsalona painted the patriotic fire extinguisher at left and Marcy created the fire extinguisher with the dalmatian, at right.Nature inspires Nick. "The diversity of flora and fauna on this planet have always fascinated me. Whether my work is commissioned-based or personal, I always incorporate the element of nature. I've always tried to capture the subtle/bold differences of objects within the composition in an effort to understand and appreciate each entity's uniqueness. "

Nick was born and raised in Miami and continues to reside here. He began to paint and draw when he was about 3 years old, and attended various prestigious magnet schools. After graduating from New World School of the Arts, he went on to earn his BFA degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD.
Marcy is a visual artist, from passionate dancers caught in mid-swing to a pulsing salsa beat, Marcy's work is quite eclectic. Her life and art embody the bridging of traditional Cuban culture and modern American dynamism: Literate in the romantic Spanish sentiments of the past, yet comfortably situated in the unaccented English currents of contemporary Miami.

Jacqueline Roch created the blue helmet with Koi fish. I always remember Jacqueline as being one of my favorite Coconut Grove Arts Festival poster painters. She did the mango poster for the 2009 festival.

Born in Los Angeles, California to Argentinean parents, she was raised in Miami Beach and attended Dade County Public Schools and was one of the first talent magnet program graduates. As a child she was formally trained in traditional oil painting by local Miami Beach artist Angela Sanchez. After graduating from Beach High, she went on to study at Parsons in New York and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Miami in Coral Gables. 

It's a wrap for Burn Notice

According to a blurb in the Huffington Post today, season 7 will be the final season for Burn Notice. The USA Network has pulled the plug.

I had been going back and forth with one of the producers suggesting that after all these years of being in Coconut Grove, that they should have the Grapevine in a scene. You know, they can use our nameplate and Sam or Michael or someone could be reading a headline pertaining to that episode and the Coconut Grove Grapevine would be the publication they would be reading.

It would be a little homage to the Grapevine and also a little inside joke for those that know who we are.

We'll see what happens. In the meantime, that's it for the burned spies around here.

They have been shooting around town and June 6, 2013 is the premier of the final season.

Commissioner Sarnoff was joking at a meeting recently about being the first to be sitting on a bulldozer come November 1, so he could be the first to strike the first blow against the Expo Center. It will be sad to see it go after so much history, but the new condos across the street can breathe a sigh of relief now, they will not have to look at the ugly structure and Coconut Grove's umpteenth park can go in on the land there.

Here's a bunch of Burn Notice stories we did over the years. They aren't in order, but here they are.

Gallery event at Bakehouse Art Complex

Tonight, May 10, is First View/Second Friday at the Bakehouse Art Complex (561 NW 32nd Street, Miami). If you've wondered where a lot of Coconut Grove's artists have gone, here's where.

The Bakehouse event is from 7 to 10 pm.

First View / Second Friday happens each month with the opening reception for the month's exhibition. This month's theme is "Papering," at the Audrey Love Gallery at the complex. The exhibition brings together recent artworks from artists working at the Bakehouse. Despite their use of varying techniques and multiple themes, these artists are united by their use of paper as a primary medium.

The exhibit is on view through May 25. And in the Swenson Gallery, on view through June 7, see "The Nature of Silence," works by Gerbi Tsesarskaia and Tina Salvesen. 

Admission for tonight's reception, which will feature wine and live music by composer Liza Seigido, is free for Bakehouse members and $5 for non-members.

For more info, please call 305-576-2828.

Lovely Maggie James

I hate to have to bring you the news about our friend Maggie James (a long-time Coconut Grove resident). Maggie passed away last Friday, she had been battling cancer for sometime. The last time I saw Maggie was in March at the Gifford Lane Art Stroll and she looked super, I assumed she was very well.

Tonight, Friday, May 10, she is being honored at Berries, from 5:30 to 7 pm. There will be a mix of co-workers, family and friends to carry out her wishes – no funeral, just a party.

I never saw Maggie without a smile on her face, so I am smiling up at her right now.

Berries is at 2884 SW 27 Avenue.

Lou Gehrig's 10K run/5K walk this weekend

The 12th Annual Lou Gehrig's Disease 10K Run and 5K Run/Walk is taking place Saturday, May 11 in Coconut Grove. The event starts at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive) at 7:30 am.

Proceeds from this event  will go to support persons living with ALS in the tri-county area. The course stays in Coconut Grove, up and down and around South Bayshore Drive, starting and ending at City Hall.

Registration is $30 for adults and $15 for kids 14 and younger. 

For more information and to register, please go to www.alsrecovery.org.

Mother's Day brunch / tea offered at Fairchild

Thank your mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and any special woman in your life at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on May 12. Attend the Mother’s Day Brunch, Mother’s Day Tea, or just bring the family to explore the garden’s 83 acres, including the new Wings of the Tropics butterfly conservatory, for an unforgettable Mother’s Day.

Held in the Garden House from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, the Mother’s Day Brunch features the flavors of Europe with this year’s theme, “A Taste of Italy.” Travel through the Eternal City with dishes like Chianti laced rosemary roast beef, roasted Tuscan vegetables, fresh baked focaccia and more at the Savory Station. Enjoy classic brunch items with an Italian twist, including cornetto pastries, ricotta coffee cake and sweet Italian sausage at the Breakfast Station. Complement the main course with tre colore, Caesar and caprese salads.

The whole family will love the Dessert Station complete with a gelato bar, mini cannoli and baked biscotti. Buon appetito! Brunch is $55 per adult and $27.50 per child 5-12 years old. Free for children 4 and under. See the full menu for more details. For reservations, please call 305-256-8399.

As part of the garden’s Afternoon Tea series, visitors can take part in the Mother’s Day Tea at 3:00 pm upstairs in the Visitor Center overlooking the beautiful garden. Lovely volunteers will serve unique and delicious teas with sweet and savory snacks while Mom relaxes with the soothing melodies from live music by guitarist Rob Friedman. The tea is $27 for members, $37 for non-members and $17 for children 12 and under. For reservations, please call Marnie Valent at 305-663-8059.

Fairchild is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Admission is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors, $12 for children 6-17 and free to children 5 and under and Fairchild members. For more information, please visit www.fairchildgarden.org.

A month of Mainly Mozart

Miami Music Project and the Coral Gables Museum are presenting the 20th season of the Mainly Mozart Festival. From Sunday, May 12 through June 16, the dynamic series of chamber concerts (Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm) will be held at the beautiful Coral Gables Museum, with the exception of the Special Festival Finale Performance on June 16 at UM's Maurice Gusman Concert Hall!

And be sure to attend the two free, Mozart For Children, interactive performances (Saturdays, May 25 and June 8 at 3 pm).

 This season's schedule features esteemed local ensembles and soloists performing Mozart masterpieces on every program. Bring the family to take part in Mainly Mozart this season and be inspired by the diverse programs, insightful commentary, and the some of the most beloved pieces in chamber music repertoire.    

 For more information, visit: www.mainlymozart.com.

You may get tickets here.