Seat on Village Council available

The Coconut Grove Village Council is looking to fill the seat recently vacated by Ron Nelson, who has joined Commissioner Marc Sarnoff's staff. The Coconut Grove Village Council is an elected body of nine (9) representatives who work to bring information to the residents of Coconut Grove about issues happening in the City and County government that could affect them, to provide a forum for discussion of these issues, and to bring the views of Coconut Grove's residents to our government officials. The Council meets the first Tuesday of every month at City Hall for a televised meeting beginning at 7:00 pm.

By-laws require the vacant seat to be filled by appointment until the next Village Council election, which will take place in November, 2009. To qualify as a candidate for the Coconut Grove Village Council, an individual must:
(1) Be a registered voter;
(2) Have resided in Coconut Grove for at least the twelve (12) months prior to qualifying;
(3) Not have previously served on the Council for either two (2) terms or a total of four (4) years.

Applicants are urged to submit their applications NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM ON THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2007. There is a $100.00 non-refundable application processing fee, which will be waived for any applicant who previously applied for the seats vacated my Commissioner Sarnoff and Yvonne McDonald, however new applications must be submitted by all who wish to be considered. Applications and instructions for submission may be downloaded directly from www.coconutgrovevillagecouncil.com

Timeline:
May 10 - Applications Due
June 5 - Finalists will give presentations at televised Village Council meeting.
June 19 - Decision will be made by Village Council.
July 3 - (subject to rescheduling due to holiday), new member will be sworn in and seated as member of Village Council.

Green Mayor? ROFLMAO

Thanks Old Grover.

You're invited to Paws 4 a Cause

The first annual Paws 4 A Cause is this Thursday, May 3 at the Cielo Garden & Supper Club (3390 Mary Street) from 7 to 10 pm.

You're welcome with or without your pet.

DJ Mark Leventhal is featured along with a live performance by Marger. There's a fashion show by Ana Maria Guiulfo for Ana G. and hosting the event is reporter Alex Aguiar.

There's a silent auction too. All to raise money for Pets 2 Luv, an organization that finds homes for stray animals. Tickets are $35 per person, $65.00 per couple. For tickets and info, please call 305-662-7152 ext 107.

Mental Giants at work

Me thinks thou dost protest too much

Car wash

I've been getting my car washed on Saturdays at the old gas station across from CVS on Grand Avenue. For $15.00 they do an excellent job of cleaning inside and out and for an additional fee they will wax the car for you.

I leave the car and just walk to the Mayfair Farmer's Market or go shopping or have lunch and when I'm ready, I just walk back and pick up the car. You don't have to worry about finding a parking spot this way and the car gets washed while you have fun around the Grove.

If you bring your car to any other car washes, this one makes sense since you have the whole Grove at your disposal and you don't have to just sit and wait for the car to be done like at other places.

Sierra Club's Spring Fling

The Sierra Club is hosting their Spring Fling Dinner and Silent Auction on May 4 at 7 pm at the Grove Double Tree Hotel (2649 S. Bayshore Drive). County Commish Kathy Sorenson is speaker. Tickets are $100 and available until Monday, April 30th.

For reservations, please call Maria Papazian at 305-519-0877.

I don't know why the Sierra Club would give business to the Double Tree after they massacred the huge banyon trees in front of the hotel's entrance and to this day they never replaced them. Too many weird things are going on the Grove these days. Too strange.

I tried reaching Maria Papazian to ask about this, but received no reply.

Children's Movie Festival

A Children's Movie Festival is this weekend at Teatro Abanico-Academy of Art and Minds (3138 Commodore Plaza) presented by Miami International Kids Entertainment (MIKE).

Showing Saturday, April 28th
11.30 am (movie premiere): “The Tillamook Treasure” (8-12) thanks to KIDS FIRST!
1.00 pm: Switzerland: "Globi and the stolen shadows" (6-14)
3.00 pm: Netherlands: "Knetter" by Van Lepel (6 and up)
4.30 pm: Canada: "Blue Butterfly" (10 and up)

Showing Sunday, April 29th
11.30 am: (movie premiere): “Happy Cricket” (6-10) thanks to KIDS FIRST!
1.00 pm: U.S: "the Surfer King" (6 and up)
3.00 pm: France : "La Prophétie des Grenouilles" ("Raining Cats and Frogs") (4 and up)
4.30 pm: Netherlands: "Minoes" (6 and up)

Tickets are $6 for adults- $5 for students and children sold at the entrance of the theater before the screening. "El Teatro Abanico" has a capacity of a 150 seats. For info on MIKE, visit: http://miamikids.org

Bullies

Talk about stacking the deck. Doesn't it seem a bit fishy when people are bussed in, given yellow shirts and told to sit there and shut up throughout the meeting? How much were these people paid to be at the meeting and do they even have a clue what the issue was about?

I think it is quite strange when Mercy and The Related Group have to go to such strong tactics to bully the Grove citizens. Sickening. I don't think the yellow shirts persuaded the Commission, their minds were set. But it just shows what horrible neighbors and horrible people Mercy and The Related Group are. They don't care who they hurt as long as they make their money.

Thank you Harry Emilio Gottlieb for the photos.

Bring the kids to GroveHouse Artists events

This Sunday, April 29, GroveHouse Artists is holding their first Last Sunday Art in the Courtyard event. Artists will be in the courtyard at the Heart of the Grove (3439 Main Highway).

And just in time for Mother's Day, a Children's Arts and Crafts event will be taking place on Sunday, April 29 and again on Saturday May 5, both days from 1 to 4 pm. Children, ages 5 to 10 are invited to come and create original artwork for their moms. Artists from the GroveHouse Artists cooperative will be on hand to help paint birdhouses, picture frames, make clay pots and mobiles among many other things.

First craft is $10.00 and each additional craft is $5.00. This is an excellent way for children to enjoy art, work with professional aritsts and enjoy an "old Grove feel". For more info, please call 305-445-1743

I'm sick over this decision

It's disappointing that selfish, stupid people like Michelle Spence-Jones are actually running this city. There is something radically wrong when only five people, most incompetent, are in charge of a large city like Miami.

Coconut Grove really needs to get away from the City of Miami and become its own city. We really cannot have stupid, selfish people telling us what needs to happen in our own village. It's sickening.

I am hoping, willing and praying that the 300 Grove Bay project never happens. I am hoping it is stalled in the courts for years and that the price of concrete and steel and the current real estate market make it a foolish decision to build, although I suspect The Related Group would build it just for spite.

I curse the Natoma and Bay Heights neighborhoods who took millions in bribes. I see nothing but bad for this project, it has bad karma, feelings and omens written all over it.

What happened at the Commission meeting?

The Mercy-Realated (300 Grove Bay project) Commission meeting was confusing. The voting for and against zoning was confusing. It seems like the project may happen, but in this real estate market and with all the law suits to happen, it may never happen.

Basically, three commissioners are selfish and don't care how the neighbors feel or the zoning board every other expert on the subject. I am willing Jorge Perez and The Related Group away. I am willing that this never happens and it ends up in the courts forever.

Comm. Marc Sarnoff was excellent today. He brought up six intelligent points as to why the 300 Grove Bay project should not go through. He fought for the Grove. He grew some balls.

He fought hard and made excellent points and would not be pushed around by the other commissioners and the incompetent City Attorney, who had Comm. Michelle Spence-Jones beat in the lala land department. And that is hard to do.

Sarnoff was excellent in telling the other commissioners to keep out of the Grove's business since he would not butt into their districts and make decisions on things he knows nothing about. Since none of the others have spent time in District 2, they have no rights to make decisions for District 2.

I loved when Comm. Tomas Regalado brought up the subject of reelections and radio commercials. He asked: "What does health care have to do with the current zoning?" It just shows the maliciousness of the Mercy Hospital and Related Group people. They are scaring older folks into thinking this will affect their health care. How sad that they need to go to these tactics.

It appears that none of the older folks fell for this tactic and did not call Regalado's office or Marc Sarnoff's office and ask them to change their vote. It is the other three commissioners who need to get real and change their votes.

Comm. Michelle Spence-Jones rambled on and on as usual. And then decided to screw Marc Sarnoff and vote against his and the Grove's wishes. She actually felt the hospital should whore itself, screw the neighbors and sell the land. She actually felt this was an issue of helping the hospital. What a fool. Guess the land at Baptist hospital is going to be condos next, then South Miami, Cedars and so on. It's a sad day in Miami. The Developers have won.

Comm. Angel Gonzalez has some projects that are stalled in his district for years because of legal fights. So hopefully this will happen here and legal fights will keep the ground from being broken for years.

Comm. Sanchez felt that Related should: Reduce the size of the project by 25% across the board (which concerns me, because this still allows about 300 feet or so in height), have no impact on Vizcaya by being seen from Vizcaya. Sarnoff added his ideas: limit the size, make it a large park area, open a walkway to the water, limit signage, shuttling construction workers to and from the site.

Bottom line: Status quo. Comm. Sarnoff and Regalado were against the zoning changes and project. Comm. Spence-Jones, Sanchez and Gonzalez were for it.

Tomas Regalado is very intelligent and I am always impressed by him.

Mercy-Related vote today

Today is the day for the Mercy-Related vote. Let's hope the City Commissioners all vote no. Let's hope Mercy can raise the money for their upgrade the good old fashioned way by not whoring themselves to the higheset bidder.

If the vote passes in favor of Mercy and Related, I'll post the Commissioners names here who voted for them and we will start our campaign to oust the offending Commissioners. We are going to follow the money trail. We are going to have to start some sort of campaign to make Coconut Grove it's own city.

The Commission meeting starts at 10 am today at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive). I'll post the results later today.

Where's Waldo's?

Waldo's Sports Pub and Grill is located at the old Firkin & Friar location (3148 Commodore Plaza).

They have a daily happy hour with $2.00 well drinks, $2.00 domestic pints and $3.00 call drinks. On Saturday, May 5, they are showing the De La Hoya and Mayweather fight on their 15 foot tv. For more info on their daily specials and goings on, pop in or call them at 305-443-2774.

More CocoWalk pics

CocoWalk Rocked with rock and roll and the crowd was standing room only for the headliner act of Robin Zander. To finish off the night Zydeco band Lefleur et Basile were accompanied by the Grove's own washboard band Patrick of Gifford Lane, Fred Hunt of Calusa St. and Audrey Scott also of Gifford Lane. They brought the house down.

Photos by Audrey Scott and AnnaMaria Windisch Hunt

We are a "bloggie" neighborhood

Coconut Grove has been voted # 10 on the list of "America's Top 10 Bloggiest Neighborhoods".

Thank you for being interested in the Grove and this blog. I know it is the Grove you are intersted in, but thanks for reading this blog, too. All the readers made this blog, and in turn, the Grove very bloggie!

Michael, don't speak for us all

Some joker named Michael Larimore writes a letter in today's Herald, under the Teele letter, saying that all the affected neighbors in the area are satisfied with the changes made by the Related Group on the Grove Bay project.

WRONG.

Just today I signed another petition against the monstrosity. The only neighbors who are satisfied are the homeowner associations who were paid off. The rest of us don't want the overdevelopment around us, we don't want the noise, dust, traffic and Jorge Perez in the vicinity.

Michael, please don't speak for the rest of us, most people who live in the area are against it. I live 500 feet or less from the area and I see it out my window daily. It will affect me the most. I suspect you don't even live near the area in question.

Mercy hospital meeting

Mercy Hospital wants to sell-out the Grove to the highest bidder, in this case The Related Group. Let's pray the City Commissioners come to their right minds and tell Mercy to screw off.

The meeting is Thursday, April 26 at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive), the circus starts at 10 am. Let's keep track of which City Commissioners side with the Grove. Let's hope they all side with quality of life. If they don't let's vote them all out of office and maybe find the money trail to get them out sooner.

Trust me, there is a money trail. We can easily humiliate them out of office and have them put in jail if they took money to side with Related. I am not saying this is the case, but there is no other rational reason for fucking up the Grove other than the almighty buck. Let them explain to their families and friends why they were humiliated out of office and left a legacy that is a joke. I can name many humiliated ghosts of the past --they are fools now in the eyes of the public. Let's add these politicians to the scrap heap if they side with Related and Mercy on this issue.

Also, please contact the following people and request them to please respect our zoning codes and the "Grovener Rule" that our community insisted on and that they helped pass and are responsible to honor and protect for the good of us all.

Mayor Manuel A. Diaz
mannydiaz@ci.miami.fl.us
Tel: (305)250-5300
Fax: (305)854-4001

Commissioner Angel Gonzalez -District 1
agonzalez@ci.miami.fl.us
Tel: (305)250-5430
Fax: (305)250-5456

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff -District 2
msarnoff@miamigov.com
Tel: (305)250-5333
Fax: (305)579-3334

Commissioner Joe M. Sanchez -District 3
jsanchez@ci.miami.fl.us
Telephone: (305)250-5380
Fax: (305)250-5386

Commissioner Tomas P. Regalado -District 4
tregalado@ci.miami.fl.us
Tel: (305)250-5420
Fax: (305)856-5230

Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones -District 5
MSpence@ci.miami.fl.us
Tel: (305)250-5390
Fax: (305)250-5399

City Manager Pedro G. Hernandez
pgh@miamigov.com
Tel: (305)250-5400
Fax: (305)250-5410

Is there hope for the Playhouse?

There is an article in today's Herald by Daniel Chang about the Coconut Grove Playhouse. It really doesn't say much, but it makes it seem like there is some hope for the playhouse's resurrection. My first suggestion is to get rid of that Shelly Spivack, the board chair, she sounds like a total dolt.

I still can't understand how anyone who was involved in the mess is still allowed to be on the board. The city or county should take over and wipe out the idiots running the place and replace them all.

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. Do something to help. Don't use your car today if you can help it, walk to local places instead of leaving the Grove today. Use one less paper napkin, change your light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs (Shell Lumber sells them, so does Walgreens and CVS). Get involved.

Is the Grove lifestyle slipping away?

This letter was in today's Herald. I think it sums up metaphorically exactly what is happening to the Grove:

Around 5 a.m. Sunday, a drunken and/or drugged patron of the Grove's downtown sleaze emporiums ran over one of our beautiful peacocks on Loquat Avenue.

We all love our peacocks, our dogs and cats. There is little you can do against these behemoths.

As I look into the eyes of my fellow Grovites, I see sadness and frustration as they watch this special place that they hold so dear slip away from them more each day. Mercy Hospital, a venerated and well-loved Grove institution, has sold its soul to a developer for a bank vault of silver.

Some gallant Grovites are fighting to get their Village center back by forming a Business Improvement District and returning it to a safe and clean place to stroll, shop and eat. Grovites are struggling to keep their parks, save their waterfront, protect their canopy and resist the hegemony of developers.

This morning I held a dead peacock in my arms and wept. It was not just for this beautiful bird but also for the Grove, a dying Peacock that I have come to love and feel so helpless to save.

BOB FERREIRA
COCONUT GROVE

CocoWalk's Grand Re-Opening

CocoWalk is celebrating their grand reopening. There is lots going on today, stop over and check it out!

Focusing on the positive

In the book The Secret, it says if you are against something, don't dwell on it. If you are anti-war, dwelling on the war only brings more war. This is the "law of the universe". If you are sick and don't want to be sick, don't use that word, say, "I want to be well," not "I don't want to be sick." Say, "I want to be on time," not, "I don't want to be late." Do not dwell on the thing or word you are against.

Mother Teresa said: "I will never attend an anti-war rally. If you have a peace rally, invite me." She knew The Secret.

And I bring this all up because if we do not want Home Depot or the Mercy Project, we must all dwell on something else. Instead of being against Home Depot, be for a brand new Barnes and Noble or a Kohl's in that spot or whatever else you think would be good for the area.

Instead of being against Jorge Perez and the Related Project at Mercy, be for the open land or for a low rise office building or townhomes, or whatever else you would prefer in the area. Focus on that, not on the evilness that is The Related Group.

Let's all try this. Let's all think and focus on what we want, not on what we don't want. I am serious.

City Planning office does not give a damn

Mel Meinhardt wrote this for The Grove First. The photo above is typical of the SW 8th Street Store.

How disappointing it is to the citizens and residents of Coconut Grove who have fought so hard for the past 2 l/2 years with their hearts and their wallets to save their Village from the mis-use of the former K-mart site.

Unfortunately City planning officials, along with the City attorneys, have chosen to ignore the residents, the voters, and the City Commissioners. City officials continue to ignore and misinterpret the NCD-3 Ordinance passed in December 2005 prohibiting any "big box" from coming into Coconut Grove without obtaining a Special Exception for the operation of any space over 20,000 sq. ft retail with a limit of 70,000 sq ft retail.

This law helps protect the neighborhoods: by way of example, the law forces delivery trucks to approach from arterial roads such as US-1 versus the smaller Bird Road. Without required review or hearing, the City has made unique exceptions for Home Depot as it continues to build out the K-mart store.

There is presently pending a lawsuit by the site's neighbors against the City of Miami. The aim of that suit is to require the City to obey its own laws. When our City's executive branch fails to abide by the laws the Commission passes, citizens must turn to the courts,and the residents must continue their fight.

During these legal proceedings, public disclosure of the neighbors' legal tactics would be inappropriate. We are sure all Grove residents will agree and understand our quiet determination to see this through. The Grove First, a long-standing supporter of our neighborhood, is increasingly confident of the ultimate strength of the legal strategy. We look forward to a successful conclusion of the long campaign to keep big box operations out of Coconut Grove's residential neighborhoods or remove them if they should open illegally.

That conclusion likely lies at the end of this legal phase. You may see the doors open, but don't give up. We will continue to fight to save our quality of life in Coconut Grove!

Mel Meinhardt
For The Grove First
http://www.thegrovefirst.com/ email: info@thegrovefirst.com

Ho Depot

Do you think Imus is in charge of this signage? Either way, it sure sums up The Home Depot's stance on whoring off the unsuspecting neighbors.

CocoWalk's Grand Re-Opening

The Grand Re-Opening Celebration of CocoWalk (3015 Grand Ave.) is Friday and Saturday. I didn't know they had closed, I thought they just retiled the floor.

Friday consists of a parade and entertainment by some Cajun-Zydeco and New Orleans bands. Saturday will have "all day parades" with a Mardi Gras theme. Marlins Mermaids will be signing autographs and there will be lots of bands and entertainment on the main stage.

Saturday night's shows consist of: Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Mark Farner formerly of Grand Funk Railroad, Joy Lynn Turner formerly of Deep Purple & Rainbow and Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult.

For more info: 305-444-0777 or www.cocowalk.net

Grove Business Improvement District

The Coconut Grove Business Improvement District could be a reality within a year. This is a system where where businesses tax or assess themselves to fund area improvements including marketing. Executive Director Dave Collins is excited about the idea and feels it will help improve many things including making the Grove cleaner and safer.

Busy week

This week:

The Vizcaya Outreach meeting about the proposed 300 Grove Bay Residences is tonight.

The Village Council meets tomorrow at 7 pm at the "Glass House" (2820 McFarlane Road).

Wednesday, The Village of Center Grove Neighborhood Assn. will met to recap the Vizcaya meeting. That is at 7 pm at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club (2990 S. Bayshore Drive).

Also Wednesday, the Grove Jaycees have their general meeting at Monty's (2550 S. Bayshore Drive) at 7:30 pm.

Friday starts CocoWalk's grand re-opening celebration. I'll get to that later this week.

Dog park in Merrie Christmas park?

Supposedly a dog park area was being considered for Merrie Christmas park on LeJeune Road. Most neighbors are against it, saying the park is a nice serene place now and dogs will only disrupt the area and bring people from outside the area. But according to Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, due to neighbors' complaints, the issue is off the table:

"Overwhelming voice has spoken against the dog park, and it is no longer under consideration or discussion. However improvements to the park should be listed so that we can use our quality of life dollars in the second trance to make these improvements over the late summer or early fall," said Sarnoff.

Now if the Mercy-Related thing could be settled so easily.

I know the perfect spot

According to a story in The Herald, Kohl's the department store, is looking for locations in South Florida. I know of a great one: It's next to Milam's on a nice busy intersection, with plenty of customers just anxious to shop there.

Vizcaya Community Outreach Program

As we approach the vote of the City Commission on April 26 on the 300 Grove Bay Residence Project, it seems important to broaden the consideration of the impact of that project to the Coconut Grove and city-wide perspective. To accomplish this in an effective manner, the Special Preservation Committee of The Vizcayans will host a meeting as follows:

WHAT: Community Outreach Education Meeting
re: Coconut Grove Neighborhood Conservation District and 300 Grove Bay Residences Project
WHERE: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens -- Main House (3251 South Miami Avenue)
WHEN: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Monday, April 16, 2007

All the members of Miami Neighborhood United and other appropriate groups or individuals concerned are invited. The idea to be bring together key stakeholders in the Coconut Grove and surrounding areas who have an interest in the Coconut Grove Neighborhood Conservation District and the potential impact of the unwanted mass devleopment project on the integrity of that district.

Refreshments will be provided for the meeting which should last no longer than a couple of hours from 6:30 -8:30 pm. This is not intend to be a replay of the public hearing before the City Commission on March 27, but rather intend this as a session to put this project and its ramifications into a larger context so that all can consider what it could mean in the future.

Thomas J. Strickland art show this weekend

The Heart of the Grove, the new co-operative gallery in Coconut Grove, will be hosting a three day retrospective show of the work of the late Thomas J. Strickland, impressionist, portrait painter, and "painter of the old school" who followed the tradition of Titian and Van Gogh. Tom Strickland moved to the Grove in 1997 with his wife, Ann, who still lives in the Grove.

The show will open with a reception from 6-9 pm tomorrow, April 13, in the Courtyard adjacent to the gallery, which is located at 3439 Main Highway. Refreshments will be served. The show will continue in the courtyard during regular gallery hours, Saturday April 14, 12 noon-6 pm and Sunday April 15, 11 am-5 pm.

The Heart of the Grove is a gallery and gift shop, as well as a collaboration of GroveHouse Artists and St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Its mission is to give local artists a place to show their art and in turn to bring back to Coconut Grove the essence of the "Old Grove" of the 1960's when artists were the soul of the community.

The gallery is managed by a committee of artists and members of the church and is a non-profit 501 c3 tax-exempt organization.

As St. Stephen's Episcopal Church nears its centennial celebration in 2010 it has embraced the vision of becoming "the Heart of the Grove" by offering a variety of cultural, spiritual, entertainment and public service programming to the community.

For more information contact St Stephens Episcopal Church at 305-448-2601.

Acoustic Blues

Blue Man Grove will be performing this Friday, April 13 at Pommes & Pane Cafe at Cocowalk (on the Virginia Street Side, across from the Mayfair Hotel). Showtime is 8 to 11 pm.

Coconut Grove Jaycees

The Coconut Grove Jaycees meet every first and third Wednesday at Monty's (2550 S. Bayshore Drive) at 7:30 pm.

Other upcoming events include: JCI PRIME Seminar - April 14; the General Meeting, April 18 and a Volleyball Social on April 28.

A list of events may be found at their website: http://www.jcicoconutgrove.com. For further information, you can email: mglass@gullreefinc.com or call (305) 962-4908.

Go here for more St. Patrick's pictures: http://www.jcicoconutgrove.com/irish/

The Grove and The Doors

One piece of history that will disappear when the Coconut Grove Convention Center is knocked down eventually is that Jim Morrison of The Doors (shown here at the time) was charged with exposing himself after a wild concert at that location in March 1969.

The Herald has a story today about a bunch of fans who want Morrison pardoned of this charge.

All Grove Crime Watch meeting

The All Grove Crime Watch Meeting is tomorrow, at St. Stephens Church (3750 McFarlane Road). Meeting starts at 7 pm. The new block captains will be introduced.

For anyone else interested in being a block captain, please call 305-322-6339.

Dharma Bomb at Shake-A-Leg

The Dharma Bomb will be performing this Thursday, April 12 at Shake-A-Leg's "Starlight Thursday" event.

The party is on the 3rd floor deck at Shake-A-Leg (2620 S. Bayshore Drive) from 7 to 11 pm. The cover includes an open bar and food from Basil's in the Grove. Parking is free in the Monty's lot. Cover is $15 at the door and $10 for members.

The Dharma Bomb was named "Best Pop-Rock Band" in 2000 by Miami New Times and singer/songwriter Todd Thompson (longtime Grove resident) was named "Best Piano Man" in 2004. The band plays a unique blend of funk and country rock.

For more info call: 305-858-5550 or visit: http://dharmabomb.com

Waterfront master plan meeting tomorrow

There's an open house from 3 to 6 pm at City Hall tomorrow (3500 Pan American Drive), which will allow the Sasaki Associates to show their latest set of plans for the Grove Watefront Master Plan. The advisory board then meets at 6:30 pm.

Only one plan will be shown, in December three plans were shown, you can see them here. The new plan combines the "best" of the three designs.

Preserving History -- Part 2

The following is a comment that was left on the Preserving History posting. This commenter is trying to say what I was trying to say, without being a bigot, like most of the other commenters.

I was not saying that we should leave the crime and grit that is in the area now and I am not even saying that WE have the right to do anything there. I am saying that the neighbors should have a say and that they don't want large structures, McMansions or anything that is not within the character of the area and by "character", I don't mean criminals, I mean architecture. And just like I think West Grove residents should stay out of the Mercy Hospital land scam, (many have made comments in favor of the greedy Related Group/Mercy project) I think most Grovites should stay out of the West Grove neighborhood and let the residents decide on their own fate.

I have never seen such hate and racism before and am appalled at the responses, but again, I think you are all ashamed, too, or you would not have all posted anonymously.

Here is the only comment that makes any sense, it was also posted anonymously, but the author should not be ashamed of his or her comments because they are the only thing that makes any sense and they do not put down an entire community as being thieves, rapists and criminals.Here it is in red:

Wow... a lot of hatred in this thread... a little scary. That said, it's an important topic that merits discussion. I happen to be a West Grove gentrifier of sorts.

I bought a little place there a few years ago, lived there for a bit, have rented it out ever since, and plan on returning in a year or so after building an addition to the property. On the one hand, I do believe that it is important to preserve much of the historical character of the area, particularly the Bahamian architecture. I also believe that it's important to give the deserving residents of that area an opportunity to stay in that neighborhood via affordable housing options. But I do not consider everyone who now resides in at neighborhood to be deserving.

The drug dealers, prostitutes, gangsters, and other criminals can go straight to hell as far as I'm concerned, and I am ecstatic at the possibility of them being displaced, gentrified, or otherwise gotten rid of. Good riddance! On the other hand, there are a lot of West Grovites (dare I say the majority) that are decent hard-working people whose only crime is not being wealthy. I have a feeling that they would be just as happy to see the criminals displaced as I would.

Gentrification is not in and of itself a bad thing. And frankly, it is a natural and inevitable phenomenon. The aim ought to be to direct gentrification in a way that preserves the neighborhood's heritage and provides opportunity for the decent homeowners of that neighborhood to remain and prosper.

I leave you with this.... Those who wish to preserve history (including myself) must be cognizant of the fact that a central tenant of history is the notion of change and evolution. History is not stagnant, places are not frozen in time, things change, and this is a natural and wonderful part of life. Change will continue to come to the West Grove. This is not a bad thing. Let's harness the change, and make it work for the betterment of the neighborhood and its deserving citizens.

Happy Easter

Preserving history

I like the fact that the Village West community got together last week to discuss overdevelopment in the area and the loss of character if this is allowed to happen. This is one of the oldest areas of Miami and it shouldn't be overtaken by new development.

The residents want to keep McMansions and other crap out of the area and I applaud them. High insurance rates and taxes are pushing the locals out and greedy developers are swooping in and taking away the character of the neighborhood.

Historian Arva Moore Parks suggested that making the area an historic district will help eliminate demolition of many structures. Charles Avenue was an example of a street that is important to Miami and Coconut Grove's history and changing the character would be real loss.

Seized stuff goes to auction

There's a "Public Seized Assets" Auction tomorrow, April 7, at the Ritz-Carlton (27th Ave. and South Bayshore Drive). The assets are items seized by police and federal agencies from personal safe deposit boxes, bank assets, business inventory and other items.

The preview is at noon and the actual auction starts at 1 pm.

For more info: 1-770-220-0513.

Cielo Garden and Supperclub

The Herald had a very nice review of Cielo Garden & Supperclub (3390 Mary Street). Victoria Pesce Elliott, the reviewer, praised chef Enrique Villardefrancos (shown above) as being a "chef worth watching" and Cielo as being "a restaurant worth checking out."

I didn't realize they were open for lunch, I may check them out this week.

Lights, camera, action

The Coconut Grove Convention Center (2700 S. Bayshore Drive) will be used as a sound stage for a TV show called "Burn Notice", starring Sharon Gless. Some are complaining that the Convention Center should be torn down already and made into green space, I kind of like the idea of a sound stage in that area. I don't like the cheap rent ($6,000 to $7,000 a month) for the use of the whole center as a studio though.

But the cheap rate was given to Fox TV so that they would film all around Miami and not LA, so maybe it is a good thing. They workers are currently planning and building sets in the Convention Center, I would love to get a peek at that.

Tonight in the Grove

The Coconut Grove Junior Chamber of Commerce's meeting is tonight at 7:30 p.m., Monty's, 2550 S. Bayshore Dr., it's free. Call 305-982-6711 for info.

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Shake-A-Leg is hosting some competitive fun on the bay tonight in "Wednesday Night Racing". Boats fit into two classes: Freedom and Sonar. Participants are welcome to use their own sailboat. The race committee will work out organizing one-designs or handicaps as appropriate. A barbecue follows the race. It all runs from 5:15 pm to 9 p.m. at 2620 S. Bayshore Dr.

Fees: $15.00 and only $10 for Shake-A-Leg members, $5 more for barbecue. To register and reserve a boat, or for more information, call Meredith 305-858-5550, ext. 109 or e-mail watersports@shakealegmiami.org.

Out of the mouths of firemen . . .

We live right next to Mercy Hospital and our building had a little fire the other night in the penthouse, since I am the prez of the board and I had access, I was up there with the firemen since the owners of the unit were out of town.

When the firemen looked across the sweeping view towards Mercy, one said, "I hope they aren't allowed to build that crap next door, it will ruin the whole neighborhood."

From his lips to the City Commissioners' ears and hearts.

Village Council meeting Tuesday

The Village Council meets tomorrow night at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive) at 7 pm. Overdevelopment and density levels in the Grove will be discussed also updates on what is going on with the Playhouse.

Stan Glaser has some set of onions

I have decided not to go to the Glaser farmer's market anymore, enough is enough. I paid $2.60 yesterday for one red onion, the size of a baseball. I think this makes the onions there about $5.00 to $7.00 a pound, since the onion weighed less than half a pound. Talk about having big onions. Stan Glaser has huge freaking onions to charge that. I'll stick with Publix, organic or not.