Sundays at Berries

Berries has to be one of my favorite places, even though I do complain about them at times.

There's an interesting phenomenon that goes on there on Sunday mornings. It may happen at many places, but I have noticed it here.

The place is calm and peaceful about 10:15 or so. In fact, you can be the only one there eating breakfast. It's nice. All of a sudden, people show up; singles, couples and families, one party at a time. They are all trying to get in before breakfast is over. I think they stop serving breakfast at 11:00 am.

So the place goes from this nice little oasis to this hustling and bustling restaurant in mere minutes. It is nice though because everything about Berries' ambiance is nice.In fact, the breakfast crowd seems like one big family. Everyone is friendly toward everyone else and it isn't as if people are just there at their own tables. They sort of vibe with everyone else in the place. People comment to each other and say hello, they share newspapers and ask about what others are eating. It is really a great place. It has an "old Grove feel."

What is up with the Loggerhead?

The staff at the Loggerhead (Flannigan's) is a bit stiff these days.

I feel like I am in a 5-star restaurant, and I don't like it. Where are the days when the staff was friendly and acted like they were your friends.

Now it is "no sir," "yes sir." And it appears as if the staff is not allowed to breathe. They are very unfriendly now and too robotic.

This madness must end. This is a sports bar-restaurant, not the China Grill. If the new management wants us to return as regulars, which we currently are, they better loosen up and drop the pretense. The staff obviously hates it and so do the customers.

Start July 4th weekend at Gallery Vincent

Kick off to the long 4th of July weekend in the Village of Coconut Grove. A reception in Gallery Vincent on the 1st floor of Mayfair in the Grove is being held Friday, July 1, 2005 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. See paintings of the recent Fred Hunt Poinciana workshop as part of the Royal Poinciana Festival. Meet the artists. The event is free!

For more info: www.oneearsociety.org

Captain Bligh recounts Bounty Mutiny

The most famous of all mutinies, that of the British HMS Bounty, has become ideal fodder for popular history and legend. It has generated five films and countless books. Set in the islands of the South Seas, the revolt involved a host of colorful characters, including the tyrannical Captain Bligh, the aristocratic Fletcher Christian, numerous uninhibited Tahitian women, and a fascinating group of seasoned sailors.

Actor and scholar Robert Dawson impersonates Captain Bligh, and relates the exciting events surrounding this mutiny this Wednesday, June 29 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased at the door.

Lecture starts at 7:30 pm. Complimentary wine and cheese from 7:00 pm

US-1 and 20th Avenue (2000 South Dixie Highway), Coconut Grove Free parking. Info: 305-860-2499

Have you seen Sadie?

Has anyone seen Sadie?

She is small to medium in size and is brown with black stripes. Her tail is curly and her ears stick straight up. She is very gentle and very afraid of thunderstorms, that is why she ran off.

If you do have any info, please email us and we'll contact the owner, Kenny.

More overdevelopment

This is the corner of 27th Ave. and Bird Ave. More over-priced development. What next? The Loggerhead (Flanningan's)? Is that land too valuable to be a restaurant/bar now? Hope not.

Finally, a little sun

This lone kayak-er was seen off Grove Isle, in the bay, where kayaks belong. Unlike the street kayaks we saw earlier this week. Let's hope the sun stays for awhile.

Grove needs a good supermarket

I just saw three guys from Milam's checking out the Pubix in Coral Gables. Maybe they finally got the hint that the Grove needs a decent supermarket.

I told them that I had driven all the way from the Grove to the store at the old Coliseum location in the Gables at Douglas and 16th Ave. because I like Publix better.

But I have to admit, it might be a good thing if Publix would check out Milam's deli. They have the best deli counter in town.

New traffic trap in the Grove

There is a new "all way" stop at the quaint intersection of Aviation and Bird Ave. And to enforce this stupid thing is a cop car, sitting there in wait to give unsuspecting motorists moving violation tickets. This quiet little area apparently needs more traffic enforcement. What next, a traffic light?

Another bi-product of over-development in the Grove.

Barnacle Fourth of July

Every Fourth of July, the Barnacle holds an old-fashioned picnic on their grounds. There are lots of contests and games. It is a nice Grove tradition that remains in spite of all the changes in our village. Hopefully, we will be all dried out by July 4th. Hopefully we will be all dried out tody!

Water, water everywhere

The Grove was a river yesterday. In our neighborhood we had to navigate by kayak. We weren't sure if our backyard or front yard was on the bay.

Circus at Le Bouchon

Here are a few pictures from the "circus" held at Le Bouchon a couple of weeks ago.

Grove needs an old fashioned diner

Coconut Grove needs a nice old fashioned diner for breakfast. There is nothing like that here.

The closest thing was the Latin American Restaurant on 27th Ave. and US 1 and now that is gone. Across US 1, off of 27th Ave. is Coral Bagels and that is close, but not worth the trip. It is a total dump. Why it is always crowded, I still have not figured out.

The place is putrid. The food is average and not that good, the ambiance, well, there is no ambiance. The acoustics are so bad there, that it splits your head open every time the bus boy throws a dish into his cart. And he hasn't figured this out yet, so he continues to lob plates into the cart driving everyone mad.

It is so loud in there that you cannot hear the person across from you when they are speaking, yet with the acoustics they way they are, you can hear the guy at the table clear across the room.

The red plastic cups they serve drinks in are chipped and broken and just the thought of putting your mouth on the rim is gross. I would not have a cup or glass like that in my house for my own private use, yet they feel it is ok to serve restaurant customers like that.

The coffee mugs are all different promotional mugs with advertising on them. I guess customers bring in their own business mugs and leave them. It seems like a clever idea, but it is tacky. The walls have not been painted since day one and I shudder to think what else has not been cleaned in there. Take out takes forever, but sitting at a table is surprisingly fast. The portions are small and it appears as if everything they do there is second rate. It seems to be all about saving money.

Suggestion: Add $1.00 to each thing on the menu and raise the extra money to class up the joint a bit. In fact, it is not even good enough to be called a joint.

No letters, please. This is just my honest humble opinion.

Another Grove lover from afar

AC's Ices

I received the following letter, I thought I would share it since it really makes a person feel proud about living in the Grove:

"I live in St. Petersburg, Florida, I am 34 years old and love Miami! I was born and raised in Tampa, and have been to Miami maybe a total of 5 times in my life But hate to leave when I do go there. I have a beautiful wife and daughter, she is 5, and I took them to Kennedy Park back about 2 years ago. I was introduced to Kennedy Park by a colleague I used to work with back about 4 years ago, and ever since, I have been entranced, with that part of Miami's lifestyle, look, feel, smell, EVERYTHING!!! I miss it so much....

"I just wanted to tell someone how much I love that area as well as Miami itself, there are so many different things to do, see and eat in Miami, its like leaving the U.S. and still being here. I love it and thank God for its presence.

"I wish I could live there, I just wanted to email you to thank you for placing this info on the net for all to read and enjoy. I sometimes take day trips away from my desk at work (in my mind)dreaming of being in Miami, walking through the Grove, hanging out at Cocowalk enjoying the day with my daughter especially at Kennedy Park. (By the way, A.C., I believe, is internationally known I think, The Ice Guy) I can't wait to go back down.

"Till then, again, I thank you and keep up the good work on the blog and if possible please try to include more photos to help me visualize all the cool places there, also maybe include some of the different types of restaurants, and shops perhaps any entertainment (movies) venues types of info. I think it would also be beneficial to all who are interested in seeing the different things to do and goings on so everyone could come down to enjoy the beauty that is Coconut Grove, Kennedy Park and South Miami."

The Grove, This Blog and the Miami Herald

I have to laugh. A lot of our blog entries end up in The Neighbors section of The Herald. Guess they don't have reporters there. I write something today and it ends up there in a few days.

I just read a report somewhere that said future newspapers will be compilations of blogs, websites and others things. Guess it is starting now at The Herald. Just scan the internet for stories, why leave your cushy office and actually do the foot work?

I made a mistake in one entry and the mistake ended up in The Herald. So I know they are lifting stories from here. I guess I should be honored but I feel like I've been burglarized.

The Tree-Man Trust was a nice story. Let's see how long it takes to make it into newsprint.

Tree-Man Trust

L ast summer after our many hurricane near misses, I was standing out front with our maintenance man, figuring how we were going to lift the trees that had fallen into the street. They were recently planted by the city in the swale area and they got pretty big. The high winds had knocked them down.

Just as we were discussing this, a car pulls up and a small man gets out with tools. It was Jim McMaster, president of Grove Tree-Man Trust. I didn't know who he was or what Tree-Man Trust was, but I soon found out that this was a wonderful volunteer group that actually helped in situations like this. The group started after some damn fools cut down the huge, lush banyon trees in front of the Double Tree Hotel. Double Tree? There isn't even a single tree there now.

Jim, my maintenance man and I got the trees up and they have been standing ever since.

This week a couple of guys from Tree-Man Trust came buy to prune the trees. This is all volunteer work and really an incredible thing for the Grove. These guys protect trees from damage and from developers.

If you want more info, please click here.

Jewelry store robbed yesterday

Levinson's Jewelers was broken into yesterday. Two men broke the front glass and took off with two expensive watches. These brazen jerks did this right on Main Highway in the middle of the da. A big bang alerted the whole street.

A sledgehammer was used right on the busy intersection. It happened in a matter of seconds.

Peacock Park kickball

Every weekend, especially on Sundays, Kennedy Park is awash with people. From the dog run area to the soccer players to the volleyball players, there is lots going on. Even A.C. always has a long line for his delicious ices.

Now Peacock Park is drawing a group for kickball. The Friends of Peacock Park have formed a Sunday evening informal group. To get more info, call 305-441-8511.

Sunday mornings in the Grove

Sunday mornings in the Grove are so peaceful and quiet. Up until about 11:30 am, it is a nice little Village, before the shoppers and out-of-towners and lunch crowds arrive.

There are lots of bikers in their gear all over the streets, but they are strangely quiet as they pass along the shady streets in their multi-colored spandex.

The restaurants and cafes are buzzing with people having breakfast and reading the papers and yet, they are low key and quiet. They are mostly locals, some tourists, but mostly Grove residents. There is not much traffic on the streets, South Bayshore Drive may have a car or two. From Berries to Greenstreets and even Coral Bagles, it is a small town atmosphere where everybody knows each other.

Code Enforcement

People have been emailing us lately about code enforcement issues. They want us to write about certain things in the blog, but we don't want to start pointing fingers at neighbors. You can report code enforcement issues to Irain J. Gonzalez via email: IGonzalez@ci.miami.fl.us .

Irian can help you with dogs barking, trash pick-ups, illegal structures, etc.

You may also contact Homer Whittaker of the NET office (Neighborhood Enhancement Teams) at: hwhittaker@ci.miami.fl.us

Tropical Storm Arlene

Arlene has been making it pretty ugly in the Grove these past couple of days. Here's a partial view of Grove Isle through the wind and rain.

The good part is that she is in the Gulf and not even near us. Today should be a bit more sunnier.

Rain in the Grove

The only nice thing about this nasty rain we have been having is that you feel like you are in another city.

Try sitting at a cafe on Commodre Plaza or Cocowalk (covered from the elements) and you'll feel like you are in New York, San Francisco or even London or Paris. The Grove has this unique ability to change form with the weather. The best place to feel like you are in Paris is at Le Bouchon when it is raining and you are gazing out at Main Highway.

Susan Billig

Was sad to see that Susan Billig died. For as long as I can remember, she was the lady searching for her missing daughter, Amy. They were Grove people. There is even a stone bench built in her memory in Peacock Park. Her brother built it.

Every time I would think back about the Billigs over the years, I would remember the old Grove. In my mind, I could see the tie-dyed tee shirts being sold on Main Highway. For some reason, I would always picture the Taurus bar when thinking of the Billigs and Amy. I was a child during that time, but can remember how bohemian the Grove was and it was really not the type of place where the Amy tragedy would happen.

Years later, it was the Stanley Cohen murder. The Grove has grown up and no longer is the young bohemian child I remember.

Antiquated Post Office

It's amazing that so much of the old Grove is being destroyed for new chrome and glass mega-structures, but no one ever thinks of redoing the post office. We must have the most antiquated post office in the county. It is small, dingy and the people there are slow as molasses.

While I love Lisa, my mail carrier, the post office itself needs upgrading. We don't even have scales in the lobby, so we can't do it ourselves, and in many post offices from South Miami to Miami Beach, there is a new do-it-yourself center where you can actually weigh your packages, buy the correct postage and ship them without any long lines, it usually takes minutes. And the best part is you don't have to deal with the 'tudes of the employees, who always have some sort of chip on their shoulders.

In the Grove, they knocked down the old movie theater, throwing the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" out for what? They have not made any good use of the extra space. In fact it is worse than the past.

The Circus was in town

farge
Originally uploaded by flickrpix.

So Le Bouchon had their Circus on Monday. The sun came out for that after days of rain. An elephant, baby lion and clowns were part of the festivities. It was a great Monday night in the Grove. Le Bouchon makes it feel like the old days, when the Grove was the Grove.

Here are the Farges: Camille, Andreas and Candice.

Goombay between the rain drops

Milam's feeling the heat

Milam's is making changes. The employees actually smile and say "hello," now. Guess they are worried about some class moving into the Grove in the form of The Fresh Market, which plans on opening some time in August at the new Grove Harbour Marina.

Send me your gossip, stories, pictures

It's hard getting stories every day for this blog so if any of you have anything you would like posted, just email me. I have a "deep throat" in the Grove, but he/she has been quiet lately, guess things are slowing down for the summer.

There are two events in the next few days: The Goombay Festival Saturday and Sunday and the Circus at Le Bouchon on Monday. I've noticed a lot of people are finding this blog on the search engines when searching for Coconut Grove or even things that I've written about. Like someone looked up the Shaq Gym and this blog's story on the gym was under that search.

Lisa, the mail carrier

Lisa, our mail carrier has the best disposition. She always has a smile on her face, even in this nasty rainy weather we've been having lately.

Chicken Kitchen

We need a Chicken Kitchen in the Grove. That knock-off Chicken Grill, on 27th Ave., doesn't have a clue. I have to drive to the Brickell area or Key Biscayne for my Chicken Kitchen fix.

This blog now has about 5,000 readers a day. Maybe someone higher up at Chicken Kitchen is reading this and we'll have one soon.

Circus in the Grove

Le Bouchon Restaurant (recently voted "Best Restaurant in the Grove" by New Times) is having a Circus in the Grove, right on Main Highway! On June 6, at 7:00 pm, look for a big Elephant on the street (a real one!) .

Everyone is asked to come dressed in a circus-theme outfit. There will be a DJ and much more. For $40.00 per person, plus taxes and tip, you get food and all you can drink. Reservations are suggested. You may reach them at: 305/448-6060.