Grove scene

Sunday afternoon at Cocowalk
(Click on the image for larger view)

What's up with the Grove restaurants?

We had to walk out of Berries yesterday after sitting and fuming for 45 minutes, waiting for our food, when a large party of about 12 people came in after us and were served before us. We slapped money down on the table for our two iced teas and walked out. It isn't a lack of patience, it is more a case of feeling like a schmuck, sitting and waiting and being ignored. It's not a nice feeling. How long does it take for salmon and a burger?

Scotty's Landing wasn't too much better. The service there is getting worse and worse, talk about a rude and rushed wait staff. I thought it was one or two people, but the whole staff needs to be retrained in customer service it seems.

Also note to all cooks, chefs and wait staff: "Well Done" means WELL DONE. NO PINK in the meat at all. NONE! I don't send the food back because I am afraid you may spit in it, so I get my revenge by blogging about it.

The ribs had to be sent back by a friend at The Loggerhead (Flannagan's) the other night, they were cold and tough, they didn't fall off the bone like they usually do.

What is up with the Grove establishments? Is it everywhere or just in Coconut Grove? I am getting tired of paying exorbitant prices for a freaking hamburger and having it not arrive, arrive late and cold or have it arrive rare, when I want it well done. You have to beg for tomatoes at Scotty's Landing now, also. One time our jalapeno poppers were still frozen at Berries! They were served that way. And here I thought they were making them from scratch in the kitchen. Silly me.

And at Mr. Moe's they are more concerned about pushing non-stop drinks on you than serving you food. They don't realize that we aren't all on Spring Break and some of us are actually there to eat and not get sloshed, party and fly planes.

BattleBots vs Boat Sale

Today it was the BattleBots vs. the Boat Sale at the Coconut Grove Expo Center. We went to both. We actually went to the boat sale and accidentally found a hallway into the BattleBot show. The Boat Sale is free. I don't know about the BattleBots, but we ended up in there for free.

Parking is $6.00 but we ate at Scotty's Landing first, so that was free. So basically it was a fun, free day.

The BattleBot show ends today the Boat Sale is on until tomorrow. The Boat Sale is small but if you are looking for boats, it is stress free and nothing like the huge show that is held in Miami Beach in February so you can speak with the sale staff and really get info about the boats for sale. The Battle Bots are fun for robot lovers of all kinds.

Magdalene's Dreams

Magdalene's Dreams runs May 12, 19 and 26 at of all places, the Museum of Science at 3280 S. Miami Ave.

Not sure why this couldn't be at the Grove Playhouse for a longer run, but therein lies one of the problems with the lazy, inept Coconut Grove Playhouse Bored Board.

For Magdalene's Dreams tickets, please call 786-663-9312 or visit: http://whiteorchardtheater.com/

Don't forget the Titanic exhibit is still at the Museum of Science running through October.

Titanic, Playhouse Board of Directors . . . hmmm . . . interesting.
Hope the Playhouse doesn't end up like the Titanic.

Beacon Harbour neighbors are selfish

It burns me up that those residents at Beacon Harbour sold out to the Hiawatha Village Project Developers because the developers promised to pave the streets and allow access to Steele Park. Oh, and they said they would throw in a few dollars for plants and trees in the neighborhood. Nothing like selling out for a few bucks.

The developers of course would pave the streets, that wasn't an incentive and access to the park? The park is a few hundred feet away, it was worth granting a variance to save a couple of steps to a desolate pocket park that no one uses? Maybe they just felt that they knew what they were getting and they feared a larger footprint on the property so they went out of their way to speak up for the developers. It just doesn't make any sense. The rest of the neighborhood sent petitions downtown, which were totally ignored. So the five neighbors (represented by only one at the meeting) got their way and the dozens of neighbors who petitoned against the variance were ignored.

These five neighbors in Beacon Harbour are new to the area. Most moved in withing the last few months. The rest of the neighborhood consists of neighbors who have been there for up to 20 years or more. They should have the say, not some newbies who don't have a clue.

The Beacon Harbour neighbors even went against their own condo developer who was against the variance. Let's see how they feel with the non-stop noise and construction for years to come and the loss of a precious view, facing west, when the new project starts rising up from the ground. Talk about totally stupid people. The Beacon Harbour condo neighbors take the cake.

As for plants and trees promised by the developers of the Hiawatha Village Project -- the neighborhood has been improving since Pelican Reef East and Pelican Reef West started the project by resodding, replanting and cleaning up South Bayshore Court. I know for a fact that Beacon Harbour got some sod from Pelican Reef East and that the maintenance man from Pelican Reef West helps keep the sod edged properly for them. And yet they went against the wishes of these neighbors as if they didn't exist.

When they need something, I hope they don't go running to the neighbors that they stabbed in the back. They are new to the Grove, I suppose they don't get the concept here. Selling out to developers is not the way it is here. What next? Are they for the Home Depot? I hate the Beacon Harbour sell outs.

Grove on Monopoly game

Coconut Grove is in the running to be on the new Monopoly board. South Beach is winning, but if you would like to cast your vote, you can do that daily between now and May 12th. Go here: www.monopoly.com

Zoning board needs to grow a pair of balls

Last night, the City Zoning Board agreed to allow the variance requested by the Hiawatha Village Project to increase the height limit from 50 feet to a bit over 68 feet by 5 to 2. One good thing is that the original request was for 78 feet, so it is 10 feet lower. This is the property at the current Chateau Elizabeth location, 3535 Hiawatha Ave. (Click on the map to see it larger)

Not only will this allow more traffic on Glencoe (they are adding three townhouses there), but it will take away a great view from the neighbors in the adjacent buildings including Beacon Harbour and Pelican Reef West.

Once, just once, I would love to see the City grow a pair of balls and turn a developer down.

More trees, please

I see less and less trees in the Grove and we all know that Miami comes out on the bottom of most list in "tree canopy coverage." Now these fools want to do away with the little bit of trees that we have to make way for billboards.

The Douglas Road Metrorail station is a total shame. There are basically no trees in site, which would make for a beautiful station, especially when waiting to pick up someone from the train. The hot sun beats down and makes for a very unpleaseant experience. You can imagine the feeling of leaving the train and exiting into the arid sun-drenched hot hot parking lot and then getting into a
150 degree car.

Say NO to Hiawatha Village Project variance

Time is running out for the Glenco and Fairview neighborhoods to send in their "opinion cards" about the contruction planned for 3535 Hiawatha Ave. (the Chateau Elizabeth property).

We are against the variances that the developer is asking for. So is the Cocoanut Grove Village Council.

To voice your opinion, the opinion cards must be turned in by 1 pm Monday, April 24, 2006. They should be at the Dept. of Hearing Boards, 444 SW 2nd Ave. 7th floor, Miami, FL 33130 by then.

Notices were mailed out to neighbors living within 500 feet of the said property and also, some hearty souls have been going door to door handing out the cards.

The public hearing is at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive at 7pm, Monday, but the opinion cards should be brought to the downtown address by 1pm on Monday.

To reach the hearing board, please call 305-416-2030.

To have a copy of the opinion card faxed to you before Monday at 1pm, please email us at the Grapvine (the email address is at upper right), include your name and fax number and we'll fax a copy over.

Playhouse director asked to resign

Arnold Mittelman, the artistic director of the Coconut Grove Playhouse was asked to resign by the theater's board of directors. Finally, let's see some changes made. Let's see some real management.

There is no reason why this historic institution needs to go down the tubes. There is no reason why other alternatives and other people shouldn't be tried in saving this great place. How about summer programs for children? How about keeping the playhouse open all year.

While other locations have summer stock, this theater is shut down in the summer, when it is a well known fact that Miami, actually all of Florida, is now not just a seasonal place and tourists visit 12 months a year. The running of the playhouse has been treated as if we are still in the 1960s.

Here is the Herald story on Mittelman.

Tasti D-Lite going strong

This is Carnell who works at Tasti D-Lite on Main Highway. Shouldn't Carnell work at Carvel? It rhymes.

From bakery to pork tenderloins

Katherine who works at the bakery in The Fresh Market insists they have the best pastries. I think she's right. I bought a bunch for Easter and they were a big hit.

On Saturday, April 22, from 3pm - 6pm there is a free chef cooking demonstration on how to prepare Pork Tenderloin with Tarragon Dijon Sauce. No reservations are necessary. It's always busy at The Fresh Market on weekends, lots of hustle and bussle, lots of fun.

BattleBots coming to Grove

BattleBots are coming to the Grove. Gee, just what we need. Their economic impact should be $2 million to the area according to the South Florida Business Journal.

So if you are so inclined, on April 27 to 30th, the Grove Expo Center is the place to be.

Planting trees for Arbor Day

In commemoration of spring – the season of re-growth and renewal, Doubletree Hotels across America has turned National Arbor Day – the country’s oldest environmental holiday – into a two-month celebration. Volunteers from the Doubletree Hotel Coconut Grove are teaching more than 700 students they’ve adopted at Silver Bluff Elementary School, how they can show they care about the environment, by planting hundreds of crape myrtle tree seedlings in recyclable milk cartons to re-plant in their neighborhoods later this spring. In addition to beautifying the community, students are learning about the positive effects of the environmental 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) by turning collected trash into artistic treasures.

The event is Thursday, April 20 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am

Silver Bluff Elementary School is located at 2609 SW 25th Avenue.
For more info, please call: 305 856-5197

Firkin hungry

Are you "firkin hungry?" Try the Firkin and Friar Pub on Commodor Plaza. There is lots to do there, too. You can eat, drink, play pool and enjoy sports on comfy leather couches in dark wooden rooms.

Ask Todd (shown here) about the free glass of wine (or beverage) when ordering lunch.

Todd told us that "firkin" refers to a nine gallon barrel of beer used in olden England and Friar is the name given to this particular Pub, all of the chains are "Firkins" with a different name attached such as "Friar" for the Grove location. It's the old Don Quixote location with the old world charm left in tact.

They offer English, Belgian and Irish beers including Guinness, Beck's, Bass, Harp, Smithwick's Red Ale, and much more. The entire Samuel Smith collection is also on hand according to the "New Times."

The staff is quite friendly, except for one angry young lady who sat us and didn't seem to keen on us being there. But we enjoyed the outside seating area in spite of her and Todd's excellent demeanor and service made up for the nasty person who sat us.

Even the chef remembered my friend from the night before and gave him a big hello. They didn't have the lamb, which another friend ordered the night before, and the chef was kind enough to personally come out to the table to apologize for not having the item that night and then again to say hello to my other friend the next day. That was very nice and made my friend feel special.

That's a stained glass window (at right) left over from the old Don Quixote motif. It fits in well with the pool table area.

Try the French Onion Soup ($4.95) and the Coconut Shrimp ($8.75) as delicious appetizers. You can't go wrong with the Firkin Burger ($7.95) or Fish and Chips ($6.96 to $9.25) and of course what is an English pub without Bangers, Beans and Mash ($8.45).

Firkin & Friar is located at: 3148 Commodore Plaza.
Phone: (305) 443-2774

Meditation, self hypnosis and more

Thirty Two Paths, has a slew of upcoming events:

Tonight: Smudging for Purification and Blessings with Sandra Richardson
Sandra guides you through the cleansing process of Smudging, which is the burning of certain herbs to create a cleansing smoke bath, which is used to purify the body.

Cost: $12.00. 7 to 9 pm. Refreshments will be served.

Tuesday from April 18th to May 16th is The Five Elements
Sandra will explain how the spiritual realm works with nature, including Earth, the air, fire, water and ether.

Cost: $30.00 per class or $125.00 for all five weeks paid in advance. 7 to 9 pm.

Monday, April 24th - Lecture on Angel Meditation and Angelic Oracle Cards
Learn the three types of meditation: concentration, mantras and mindfulness. Learn how to meditate. Bring a notebook and pen or pencil for this class.

Cost: $20.00 - 7 to 9 pm

Wednesday, April 28th - Self Hypnosis Class with Israel Maya
Self Hypnosis is a way to establish a peaceful physical and mental state within seconds. Learn how to better your life.

Cost: $50.00 - 7 to 9 pm

For info on all of the above classes, please call 305-461-2341. Class size is limited and reservations are suggested.

Thirty Two Paths is located at 3444 Main Highway, no. 17 (right next to the bicycle store off Fuller Street). You can't miss the place, you'll smell the nice aromas from the insensce . You can also visit them on line at: www.32paths.com

Happy Easter

Playhouse reopened

Good news. Thanks to the support of Lucie Arnaz, the Coconut Grove Playhouse has reopened and the show will go on.

Incompetent playhouse officials found themselves in the red. They are more concerned about selling the land than running the operation.

Lucie Arnaz's plea for help (which maybe the board should have been doing long ago), raised $150,000 which will allow "Sonia Flew," Lucie's play, to go on. It's a shame that rather than find a plan and try to save the playhouse, the board is ready to throw in the towel and sell the place, luckily Miami's preservation board stepped in and designated the building an historic designation, so the sell-out plan was foiled.

One solution: How about actually supporting the playhouse by showing up for events. It's not clear if "Sonia Flew" will open as planned on April 21, but for updates, please visit the playhouse site at: http://www.cgplayhouse.com/.

Let's support the Playhouse. We should be proud to have this institution in the Grove.

Just say no to Wal-Mart and Home Depot

According to Blog Asheville, Wal-Mart gave up on their project and took the advice of the Asheville community and scrapped their plans to build in the beautiful mountain village. Now if only Home Depot would take a hint from the Grove residents. Enough with big box stores in small communites.

Even on Gilmore Girls this past week, they were joking about a Wal-Mart and other big box stores coming in and ruining the town of Stars Hollow. When is enough enough?

The Home Depot was given a permit by the City's planning department. While activists are planning an appeal, the scumbags at Home Depot are threatening to do away with Milam's and Walgreens if anyone decides to appeal, in their current plans, Milam's and Walgreens stay. Real class act that Home Depot.

Grove Playhouse shut down

The Playhouse was shut down, according to The Miami Herald, but Lucie Arnaz, who is in town rehearsing a play, "Sonia Flew," says the show will go on, even if in a park!

Opening day

Will anyone show up for the Marlins opening day? Hmmmm.

Most Groveites are boycotting the nasty, greedy owners. The stands will probably look as empty as the photo above for the 4 pm opener. More people are showing up for Joe Arriola's luncheon speech today. Especially if he is quitting.

All-Grove crime watch meeting

All are welcome to the Crime Watch meeting tomorrow, Monday, April 10, at 6:30 pm at Virrick Park Gym, (3255 Plaza Street). Commander Whitehead will have pictures and details of several recent burglary and robbery arrests. And all suggestions are welcomed on neighborhood surveilance issues. Learn what you and your neighbors can do to help crack down on crime.

Titanic exhibit observations

Miami gets the award for the rudest audiences.

At the Titanic exhibit this past weekend at the Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium, in the Grove, there was a little lecture in one of the auditoriums. People in the audience thought nothing of talking on their cell phones, talking to each other, slurping drinks loudly, you know, that sound the straw makes when nothing is left in the cup!

I was cringing, ready for the guy on stage to say something, but he had enough class to ignore it.

Children cried and talked non-stop, people went in and out, walked across the front of the stage as if nothing was going on. It was a total embarrassment.

The exhibit itself is great and worth seeing. The lecture I would suggest you pass up unless you can handle this rudeness.

The star show was nicer, (Phantom Ships of the Titanic) the big planetarium muffled noise and that was enjoyable. They showed what the sky looked like the night the Titanic sunk and how certain stars and planets and the Northern Lights confused people into thinking rescue ships were on the horizon.

One other thing that really was weird was that as soon as you leave the somber exhibit, you are brought into a brightly lit gift shop where you could purchase t-shirts, plates, coasters, even jewlery made from actual coal from the ship. Not too classy. Downright disrespectful.

Wine tasting

Don't forget the Friday Night Wine Tasting Series. Enjoy New World wines with Barry Alberts from 7-9:30 pm at the Mayfair House Hotel (3000 Florida Ave. - next to Cocowalk) Price: $10.00. Call 305-793-3120 for more info.

Orchids and Chihuly

The Orchid Show combined with the Chihuly glass exhibit at Fairchild Tropical Garden was a great combination this past weekend. Combined with the beautiful weather, food and drink, this was the place to be.

The Chihuly exhibit is on until May 31, 2006 and is well worth it. For more info, visit: http://www.fairchildgarden.org/

I wish my camera had not died just as I had arrived, there was so much beauty to capture. I managed to take the large picture above with my camera and the smaller one to the left with my cell phone. Hidden City blog has some incredible orchid pictures taken over the weekend and if you check the photo gallery out you can see photos of the Chihuly exhibit by night and day.

PJ's in the Park

PJ's in the Park is back April 9, 2006 in Kennedy Park (2400 S. Bayshore Drive). From 4 to 8pm enjoy games and fun. Giveaways include a Discovery Cruise, Metro Zoo family passes, and more. You can even win a free El Dorado Furniture kid's dream room.