The Barnacle

The Barnacle is so nice, for those of you who have not visited, it is worth the trip.

On March 3, from 6 - 9:00 pm the Barnacle is having the Alhambra Orchestra perform at an event called "Barnacle Under Moonlight". The concert will be out back on the lawn great lawn. Bring a picnic dinner and blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the moonrise over Biscayne Bay as the orchestra performs. They aren't "going to the dogs" because no pets are allowed (unlike the restaurants) and no alcohol (unlike everywhere elses in the Grove).

Entrance fee is $5.00 for 10 years and older. Contact: (305) 442-6866 for more info.

I would say that the Barnacle brings you back in time, but ever since the City allowed those townhouses to be built next door, most of that old-time ambiance is gone. The City really should have purchased the land and made it a park when they could have. But as usual, the City never steps up and does the right thing.

This is how Vizcaya feels about the Mercy project. The whole quiet, old-time ambiance will be gone if those monstrosities are allowed to be built

Bicyclists taking over the roads

What is this thing you see every weekend in the Grove: Groups of bicyclists taking over the roads, literally taking up one whole lane of traffic and not caring if they hold up long lines of cars.

Ever see this? It happens all along South Bayshore Drive and on Tigertail and Main Highway.

Grove scenes

The dog park on Virginia Street

Smoothie bar at Cocowalk

Caricaturist at Cocowalk.

You can click on the pictures for larger versions.

Ice cream

First Marble Slab, now Tasti D-lite -- looks like the ice cream stores in the Grove are disappearing. I remember blogging about Tasti D-Lite when they first opened on Main Hwy. I know there are other ice cream places around, I guess there were to many and they are thinning out now.

Does anyone remember when Bassett's was in the Grove in the early '80s? For some reason, I am picturing them on Commodore Plaza, but they may have been in another location.

Two new council members

Last week, The Cocoanut Grove Village Council elected two new members: Liliana Dones and Alyn Pruett. The council is now back up to nine members.

According to the Herald's Neighbors: "Dones is co-chair of the Treewatch Committee with Sarnoff, as well as an active member of Grove First and the Waterfront Working Committee, a residential group created to keep the redesigning of the Grove Waterfront a public process.

Dones is also on the city of Miami's Commission on the Status of Women and involved with the Friends of Peacock Park. Dones also has been instrumental in the beautification of South Bayshore Drive.

Pruett is an architect for design firm Wallace Roberts & Todd and director of its South Florida office. Pruett first moved to Coconut Grove in 1975 and has lived there since 1983.

Pruett is a member of the Coconut Grove Sailing Club and the Waterfront Working Committee."

Grove Gate Work being done

Harry Emilio Gottlieb sent me these pictures of the work going on at the Grove Gate Shopping Center. You can't miss it when you pass the area or even try to go to Milam's or Walgreens.

Apparently they are working on the fire system, laying underground pipes. I'm not quite sure why the Home Depot feels the need to work before anything has been finalized. Maybe it's just to be spiteful, that's Home Depot's method of operation.

I hope they don't know something that we don't. I don't trust many City of Miami officials these days. Between this and the Mercy project and other things, they don't seem to favor quality of life. Who knows what's up their sleeves. Money probably.

BOYCOTT ALL HOME DEPOTS. SHOP SHELL LUMBER. They are helpful and never spiteful.

Grand Avenue developments are stalled

Looks like there won't be much development happening on Grand Avenue for awhile.

Julio Marrero can't seem to make it work, he is insisting on raising height limits from five stories to maybe 12, but the Village Council will not allow it. The Herald has the story here.

Moron on wheels

This moron felt the need for speed today on the small back streets of the Grove. He felt the need to tailgate me for blocks and then weave in and out of traffic at very high speeds.

I almost got out of my car to punch him in the face when we came to a red light, but I felt blogging him would be better. You could barely see this punk behind the wheel, he was so short.

12th Annual Washington's Birthday Regatta today

Today is a perfect weather day for the 12th annual revival of Commodore Ralph Munroe's original Washington's Birthday Regatta, taking place at noon on the bay just off shore of The Barnacle (3485 Main Highway).

The event is open to traditional style shoal-draft sailboats (fiberglass boats permitted). The race is followed by an after-hours awards ceremony at the park.

Fees: $10/boat entry fee for participants. Park entry fee for observers is $1.00. Contact info: (305) 442-6866

Grove Isle spa critique

Tere from the Coral Gables blog was not too thrilled with her Grove Isle spa experience. Looks like Grove Isle could use some help in the customer service department. I almost booked a gift spa treatment there for someone, now I am having second thoughts.

With a name like Spa Terre, you would think they would give another Tere better service. You can read all about it here.

Alhambra Orchestra to perform

The Alhambra Orchestra will feature Paul Posnak as soloist in Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 at a free public concert at 7 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of Ransom Everglades School, 3575 Main Hwy.

Also on the program will be Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Grieg's Holberg Suite. Free parking and a post-concert reception are also provided.

On March 3, the orchestra will perform at the Barnacle state park, 3485 Main Hwy., with a $5 admission charge.

For information visit www.alhambramusic.org, or call 305-668-9260.

Red balloon test at Mercy

There was a "balloon test" today at the proposed Mercy high rise project. Vizcaya museum backers hired an outside firm to do the test.

Basically what they did was raise balloons to the height of the proposed project so they could get an idea of the absurd height of the monstrosity.

The Vizcayans are sick over the proposed project, so are most of the neighbors. But as usual, the City Commission went where the money is (and voted against quality of life) and voted in favor of the massive project even though the zoning board and Cocoanut Grove Village Council advised against it.

Results of the test will be ready next week, but after hours of trying, the balloon experts finally raised the five red, five-foot-diameter balloons to about the height of the tallest tower -- 410 feet. This is about double the height of Grove Isle.

Historian Arva Moore Parks put it best while witnessing the experiment: ''It's worse than even my most horrible thoughts, which were pretty horrible."

Grove is going to the dogs again

Last week, the Miami City Commission gave unanimous, final approval to a measure that will let dogs sit alongside owners at outdoor cafes.

Under the Dog Friendly Dining Program, restaurant owners can apply for a special permit to allow dogs in designated areas -- only at outside areas.

The program will have a three-year trial.

Citations started going out last fall and dogs were all of a sudden not permitted after being allowed at various places, including Scotty's Landing. Now it is all reversed. I saw a lot of pets this past weekend, people and their pets were taking advantage of the dining program and the beautiful weather.

And as a welcome back to the Grove: "Haute Dogs on the Catwalk" will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday at Kennedy Park (2400 S. Bayshore Dr.). Your dog can model on the "catwalk" and show off his or her favorite outfit and can play games and get pedicures and such.

Admission is free. Call 305-642-1271 for details.

Grove Waterfront Master Plan

Brant over at "Strange Women Lying in Ponds" has posted the three proposals for the Grove Waterfront Master plan. They are called "Regatta Park"; "Grove Gardens"; and "Flying Clipper". You can download the files below or by visiting Brant's blog.

I don't know if I am sold on any of them. But I do like most of what I see.

I don't understand the idea proposed in one area called "Top Priorities" where it says to remove mangroves to open up the view. Isn't that illegal? And on the same top priorities area they say they want to do environmental restoration, it sort of contradicts itself.

I don't like seeing a "coffee house" in one area and I hate the idea of amphitheaters. I do agree with restoring the baseball field in Peacock Park, they were removed after so many years. I remember watching "Absense of Malice" being filmed at one of the fields close to the water.

I don't like the pictures showing all that concrete stuff, the buildings and some sort of cement wall along the bay. I guess you can't please everyone. But most of it is pretty decent.

Here are the proposals:

Regatta_Park.pdf

Grove_Garden.pdf

Flying_Clipper.pdf

And this this link goes to the Powerpoint presentation, explaining the three plans.

Smoothie King is finally open

Looks like the Smoothie King (3034 Grand Ave.) has finally opened. Here are Mike and Raquel.

It's at the old Marble Slab ice cream place, across from Cocowalk at 3034 Grand Avenue.

When the place was empty, it was used on Halloween as a pizza and beer take-out. I got lots of beer there on Halloween night -- and some pizza. :)

Festival food

The food seems to be more popular than the art at the art festivals.

If you click on the pictures they will open larger.

Next Village Council meeting

The Village Council meets Tuesday, Feb. 20th at 7 pm at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive).

Home Depot appeal taken off agenda

The Home Depot's appeal for a special permit for its Key West-style store at Grove Gate Plaza, (2999 SW 32 Ave.), has been taken off the Thursday Miami City Commission agenda.

City Spokeswoman Kelly Penton said said the issue has been delayed because of a back log in planning and zoning issues.

No further date has been set. Interesting.

Today at the art festivals

It was cold early today, the most popular booth at the Grove festival was the Starbucks truck, seen above. The coffee tasted horrible, but it was hot and hit the spot in the cold weather.

These photos were taken at both, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and the Saint Stephen's Arts and Crafts Show. If you click on them, you can see them much larger.

Scenes from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival

These are some scenes from today.

More art

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival takes all the glory, but there are other festivals this weekend, too.

I kind of think they are piggy-backing on the main festival, but that being said, keep in mind that there is the Saint Stephen's Arts & Crafts Fair, which looks as if it is part of the big festival, but it is a separate event. That's the one at the church under the big trees. As you enter from the McFarlane Road side, get some nice Mama Mia Italian ices -- that's my yearly ritual upon entering.

And at Mayfair, the One Ear Society is promoting local artists who were shut out of the main festival. Coconut Grove's own Anna Maria Windisch-Hunt is the organizer of this event.

Coconut Grove Arts Festival is on

I'll be out and about all weekend taking pictures of the festival and posting them.

You can get all the festival info here.

The excitement is building

I was there today for the raising of the large sign above, the entrance to the Coconut Grove Arts Festival.

The excitement is building, as are the traffic jams, so avoid the downtown area if you're trying to get somewhere fast.

The stage was going up this afternoon.

The horse and giraffe (not shown), will have a lot of company this weekend.

The food court area was bustling.

It was odd to see empty tents, without any artists, but it was nice walking down the closed streets in the nice, cool weather. A lot of people are out today enjoying the weather and the build up to the art show.

Road closures

Like it or not, road closures start today for the Arts Festival. Some will be closed starting at 11 am this morning and the rest should start closing around 1 pm.

This would be sections of South Bayshore and McFarlane and environs. Please make other plans about navigating the Grove this weekend.

Work goes on

Apparently the Building Department now tells us that there is a permit to put in 8 inch pipes in the parking lot for the fire system on the inside of the building at the Home Depot/K-mart site. This is totally contrary to what the Code Enforcement Dept. said on Saturday. There was not a permit posted inside the trailer then.

These photos were taken today of the work being done and the crew.

I don't know if they have guity consciences or what, but I was in my car when I took these pictures, I didn't even know I could be seen, but the workers started yelling at me and chasing me away and I was in the right-of-way lane in the parking lot, where people are legally allowed to drive from Bird Ave. across to Taco Bell and Milam's.

If you enlarge the photo above, you can see them yelling at me. They have the perfect temperament to work for Home Depot -- at Publix, shopping is a pleasure, with Home Depot it is to antagonize the buying public and neighbors. Even the work crews have that down to a science.

It's coming

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival tents are going up along S. Bayshore and McFarlane. I can hear the Jaws music playing now. I know many neighbors who live right in the immediate area are shuddering at the thought of the traffic, crowds and noise, but most people are looking forward to the yearly event. The weather is supposed to be fantastic, so grab a sweater (maybe even a leather jacket this weekend), grab some friends and dive in. Might as well enjoy.

Happy Valentine's Day

The Grove is getting ready for tonight. All the restaurants and clubs are preparing for Valentine's lovers. Cocowalk is decorated with red balloons. This couple below was checking out the menu at
Cafe Tu Tu Tango.

Save-A-Limb Smash

On March 17th, The International Center for Limb Lengthening, in cooperation with the Bertram Marine Group, Nike, Taittinger Champagne, SmartWater, The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa and Sinai Hospital will be hosting the Second Annual Save-A-Limb Smash.

This event raises local awareness of the high number of children that suffer from these deformities. Most doctors around the world recommend amputation as a medical solution to these patients, but Dr. Dror Paley has developed new surgical procedures to reconstruct legs and arms and give children near normal function to live normal lives. Dr. Paley will be the guest of honor for the St. Patrick's night Dinner.

The St Patrick's Dinner will be held at the pool area and ship deck of the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa at 7:30pm with an open bar all evening. There will be a silent auction and an Irish tap dance performance followed by a live band.

Dinner per person: $150 all included
Dinner per couple: $250 all included
Dinner for Children is free up to 18 years old.

The event is going to consist of a tennis exhibition during the day from 11am-5pm at the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa Tennis Facility. The tennis exhibition is set up so you can play with the pros, such as, Wayne Ferreira, Oliver Gross, Laurence Tieleman and Patrick Mc Enroe Tennis' Director Damien Ward - rather than just observing, you will actually be participating!!

Tennis event: $150 per person;
$20 per child (under 18 years old)

More info here:
www.savealimbsmash.org

E-mail: tielemanhj@bellsouth.net
Phone: 305-858-9928

The waterfront

These photos were taken at the marina, behind City Hall. I don't know how we can improve on the area and really feel it should be left alone. It's quiet and calm and do we really need to redo the area, attracing large groups of people? Why mess with a good thing?

By clicking on the photos, you can enlarge them.

You can just make out the lady in the hat, in the photo above sitting, enjoying her lunch. She is so at peace. Do we need to tear this up and have some kind of stupid waterfront plan?

Chamber of Commerce luncheon this Tuesday

The Grove Chamber of Commerce luncheon is tomorrow, Feb. 13.

The theme is "Arts in the Grove: Past, Present and Future". Monty Trainer, prez of the Grove Arts Festival will speak. This year's poster artist, Romero Britto will speak as well on the subject of Arts in Public Places.

There will also be an update on the South Bayshore Drive beautification project. For tickets, please call 305-444-7270. The Chamber's website is here: http://cgcc.coconutgrove.com/

Calling all artists

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival and St. Stephens Arts and Crafts Festival are coming up next weekend, but don't forget the Gifford Lane Art Stroll (shown above). That's March 11, this year.

They are still acceping artists who must register by Wednesday, Feb. 14. Call 305-445-9698 to register.

Home Depot told to cease and desist today

The City of Miami closed down any further construction on the Home Depot/Kmart building as of today (Saturday). They were excavating the exterior parking lot without a permit; it is their fifth Code Violation and the City has issued a "cease and desist" on further construction
at this site.

If you see any further construction, please report it to Code Violations at 305-416-2099 immediately. A full report will be available Monday.

They have had illegal signage, illegal trailers, illegal fencing, construction starting before it is allowed during the day and on weekends, and last week they put up scaffolding around a U.S. mailbox preventing access to it by the public and mail collectors. This is a federal violation.

I could just imagine all the laws they are breaking at all of their current locations. They just don't care.

Steak Night and Movies in the Park

Tonight is "Steak Night", it's a silent auction and dinner catered by the Hurricane Bar and Grill. The event benefits Shake-A-Leg (2620 S. Bayshore Drive). The Click, a local band will be performing. $75 for two, $50 per person. Call 305-858-5550 for time and details.

Also, tonight is "Movies in the Park" Casablanca is playing in Peacock Park. at 8 pm.

Valentine's weekend at the Fresh Market

These young ladies were at the Fresh Market (2640 S. Bayshore Dr.) today dipping strawberries in chocolate and offering kids cupcakes that they could decorate themselves, it's all part of their Valentine's Day Weekend promotion.

They'll be there today until 3 pm and then be back again tomorrow from 11 am to 3 pm.

A "Fresh Flavors Chef Cooking Demonstration" is planned for tomorrow, too

It's a free chef cooking demonstration on how to prepare Herbed Sirloin Medallions with a Zinfandel Shallot Sauce. You can show up anytime between 1 pm - 4 pm and enjoy the demonstration. No reservations are necessary.

Grove scene

Along Grand Avenue

County getting involved in Mercy project

Looks like the County is getting involved in the Mercy hospital land mess.

There is a resolution directing the County Attorney to investigate the impact of the proposed Related Group project will have on Vizcaya. The PDF of the Memorandum is here.

There is County Commission meeting tomorrow so those so inclined may want to pop up to see what's up.

Grove art

These murals by Howard G can be seen on the
buidling at 2871 Oak Ave.

Lost dog

Some brand new residents to the Grove, lost their dog today on Ohio Street -- a female boxer, under 2 years old, brindle with some white markings. Her name is STELLA, she is very friendly but probably very freightened. If anyone has seen this dog please call Lisa at 305-778-6781 ASAP.

Letter from Comm. Marc Sarnoff

Comm. Marc Sarnoff wrote to us. Here is the letter.

I am assuming the bloggers who "do not have to be careful with the facts" are the people who comment here. Because I go out of my way to be careful about the facts I publish.

Start of letter:

I have occasionally viewed the Coconut Grove Grapevine Blog. I am often impressed with the level of discourse. Obviously, blogs have become a factor in American politics. Apparently, some bloggers think they know things that they could not possibly know and some use blogs as a way to voice their opinions as if their opinions were fact. Apparently, bloggers do not have to be careful with the facts and many voice their opinions, couched as fact with the apparent goal to hurt others.

We all have the right of free speech, thus we can equally enjoy the benefit of an opinion and a right to voice that opinion. Please do not mistake opinions for facts.

I have no ulterior motives in the Mercy rezoning issue. Of course, my goal is to make the best decision possible for the neighboring residents in the N. Grove, for the residents of Dist 2 and for the residents of the City of Miami. As I stated at the Commission meeting on January 25th, I just do not see a need to change the GI zoning to R4. I do not think that is good for the Grove. I equally have grave concern for the interpretation of the GI ordinance. My biggest concern is the proposed zoning change to an R4 designation. This is the "camel's nose in the tent" analogy. This designation could spread the development throughout the Mercy site and the LaSalle campus. If a precedent is set here, it could negatively affect every District within the City of Miami.

I love my job and representing the interests of all the residents of District 2. I get up every morning excited to be the Commissioner of this great District.

When I see a specific bloggers' comments, I understand everyone has a right to say what they want, and I realize that not every blogger supported my candidacy. No problem. What does trouble me and my family is when a blogger states things that are untrue as fact. That is wrong -- just plain wrong!

I know that there are others out there that will not support me and that is okay; we are all entitled to our opinions. I will keep working to earn everyone’s trust and respect. I just do not want to see bloggers state as facts items that are not facts. Please state them as your opinion.

Let me close by saying just because you make an accusation in an email or on a blog that does not get a response, do not treat that accusation as fact. Maybe it is not worth a response or maybe the person making the observation is just throwing up something to see what sticks. Maybe the accused is just too busy attempting to solve substantive issues. Some people have a great deal of time on their hands -- they should use it productively.

I will resist responses like this in the future. I have no agenda other than looking out for what is good for all the residents of the City of Miami. I won election in 2006 spending very little money and I may not need much money to run for re-election in 2007. I owe no one. Let me repeat, I owe no one (except my volunteers for their support and they do not want anything in return except for good government). That is one reason why I enjoy this job so much. I realize many developers might be considering raising money for someone to oppose me in 2007. At least I know how that feels as I was outspent in 2006 by 4 to 1.

I have never been a supporter of conspiracies, but they do sell papers and they look fun in print. I am sorry - there is no conspiracy here.

Thank you for listening and enduring my comments. Please keep up the intelligent dialogue.

Sincerely,
Marc Sarnoff
District 2 Commissioner

Join one, see them all

There's a new program called "Join One See Them All" which is about joining any participating museum in the county and you'll be able to particpate as a member of all the museums in the program for the month of February. Your membership will be good for the year at the museum that you join, but only for the month, will you be able to use that as a free pass to the other participating museums.

The Grove has two participating museums: Vizcaya and The Science Museum. Other museums in the program include the Bakehouse Art Complex, Bass Museum, Historical Museum, Miami Children's Museum, The Wolsonian and so many more -- 16 in all.

Get details here: http://joinoneseethemall.com/ or email: info@JoinOneSeeThemAll.com

Grove Women's Club celebrates 116!

Joyce Nelson, AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, Carol Garvin,Pres. Joni Chandler, Amny Goodhart, Lesley Snizek, Irene Munro, Claire Herrman, Catherine Messina

Last Wednesday, the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove celebrated its 116th Birthday. The luncheon was attended by over 75 members.

This beautiful piece of Grove history sits on the corner of McFarlane and Bayshore Drive. McFarlane Rd. is named after founder Flora McFarlane. The Woman's Club is the oldest organization in Miami founded in 1891. Flora McFarlane sold her homestead to help the building fund.

Times have changed. Now they need to come up the ADA code. Funds are needed to be compliant , donations are welcome.

Not unusual in the Grove developers have set their sites on this precious piece of land. Let's keep their grubby hands away.

Visit the Mayfair Farmer's Market

What's up with the Mayfair Farmer's Market? I was there today and they are down to about six booths, maybe eight, but I don't even think that many.

When it first opened, I know I said it wasn't a farmer's market, but I didn't mean it as a put down, it was just that there was only one or two vendors selling fruit and vegetables, the rest was street fair stuff.

Even so, it is a nice concept and the fruit and vegetables that are still there are very reasonable. You can walk out with a bag full of goodies for mere dollars.

I totally recommend the market. Even if you like going to the Glaser Farms organic market, the Mayfair Farmer's Market is worth the trip, too. It's every Saturday right at Mayfair, in the large walkway area.

Super Bowl party in the Grove

If you want to avoid the crowds on South Beach and don't have tickets to the big game, you can enjoy the Super Bowl in the Grove this weekend.

Coco Walk (3015 Grand Ave.) is holding a Super Bowl Mega-Tailgate Party this Sunday. A 20-foot screen will be set up at 4 p.m.

Thee will be music by DJs and some contests. The television will be outside, weather permitting, hosted by Gold Coast Distributors and the Super Bowl Host Committee.

Admission to the party is free. Call 305-772-4612 for details.

Mercy mess

Rebecca Wakefield has a good column in The Sun Post on the Mercy mess. She mentions "Grove blogs", I assume she means this one. I wish she had mentioned our name.

Movies in the park

Not sure if I am crazy about this idea, but starting in a few weeks, the City will offer movies in Peacock Park on a regular basis.

The first is "Casablanca" at 8 pm on Sat., Feb. 10th.The movie and popcorn are free.

There is no seating so bring a blanket and maybe folding chairs, I guess, if they aren't going to block anyone's view.