Blue Man Grove

You can click on the image to see it larger.

Condo project in trouble

Just when I thought it was a slow news week in the Grove and was wondering what to blog today, I woke up to this:

The Mercy Condo project is being reviewed by prosecutors. The Related Group has been accused of using "heavy handed tactics" in order to get the three votes needed by the City Commission in favor of the project. Herald story here.

Heart of the Grove's new exhibit opens Saturday

The Heart of the Grove reopens on Saturday, September 1 with a new Fall Exhibition of member artists' works featuring original work of local artists.

The opening reception will feature music & light refreshments in the courtyard on Friday, September 7 at 6:00 pm.

The Heart of the Grove Art Gallery and Gift Shop is located at 3439 Main Highway.

For information call 305-445-1743 or 305-979-9534

Grove at night

Photos by joelogon's Flickr

SW 27th Avenue concerns

I was watching the Village Council meeting on tv again.

It seems the big concern about the 27th Avenue renovation is the traffic circle and the FPL poles.

Many residents on 27th Avenue don't want to be inconvenienced by the traffic circle. They feel it doesn't allow convenient access in and out of their properties. One guy, I won't mention his name, was pretty obnoxious about Day Avenue and how the traffic should or should not flow there. People can be petty. Rather than care about the good of the majority, they are concerned with themselves. I see this guy on Sundays at the Loggerhead for Dolphins games, I may have a private word with him.

As for the utility poles -- they are being moved back to allow more right of way for the 27th Avenue project, but many people want the lines burried. But it seems this is a very big expense and probably won't happen. The county won't pay for it and neither will private property owners.

One thing that I don't get is that they talked and talked about the beautification project and then they want to add those ugly flashing crosswalk lights like the ones at the Fresh Market. Talk about turning beauty into ugly.

If you click on the picture above, it will open larger.

Just another Saturday in the Grove

From Liliana Dones:

While Fortunato (the dog) and I were out walking we spotted a duck poised for certain suicide on South Bayshore Drive. We tried to coax him back to the marina, where the family of ducks resides by one of the shrimp boats, but the duck misunderstood Fortunato's barking and hightailed it across Bayshore to the Coconut Grove Bank drive-through islands.

We called everyone we could think of, including our pet-friendly Commissioner Sarnoff, to come help. It's hard to find anyone on a Saturday morning, and my husband, who is a sucker for this type of adventure, is out of town.

Finally, the dashing Mr. David Collins, Executive Director of the Coconut Grove BIC, came to the rescue. While Dave coaxed the duck, Fortunato and I flagged down Officer Britt who did not hesitate to assist.

First, we tried to "arrest" the duck (i.e. force him into the back seat of the cruiser to drive him back to safety). Then, another squad car arrived and stopped traffic at the intersection of South Bayshore and 27th Ave., so that the duck could meander at leisure across to the relative safety of Seminole Boat ramp. At that point, Comm. Sarnoff called to ask how he could help, but by then the duck had reached safety through the collaboration of officers, constituents and pet.

Our thanks to David Collins, the officers, the Commissioner and all of those concerned.

Editor's comment: Where was Harry Emilio Gottlieb with his camera?

Skater boyz

Some skater boyz behind the Glass House in Peacock Park. You can click on them for larger versions.


Photos by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

A reader wrote . . .

This was a comment left on one of the posts. This is how visitors see the Grove:

"Not on topic but I am a former Grovite who visited recently after being away for four years. I just found this blog and I think it's great. But I am very troubled by something. Everything was closed and shut down. There are so few businesses, even going across US 1 on 27th. This can't all be because the real estate crash can it? It is so sad. "

Bird Bath burglarized

The Bird Bath Coin Laundry (2829 Bird Ave.) was burglarized Wednesday morning. The whole thing was caught on the surveillance cameras and will be shown on Channel 10 news tonight at 11 pm and most likely their morning and day newscasts tomorrow (Friday).

The police have no other leads and this video tape may help catch the thieves if someone recognizes the them.

Two other businesses were broken into earlier in the week as well -- these in the downtown area. It's a shame that all these crooks get away. If anyone knows anything please call the Crime Stoppers tip line at: 305-471-TIPS

Relay for Life tomorrow night

Tomorrow is the Coconut Grove Relay for Life, benefiting the American Cancer Society.

It starts at 6 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church (3400 Devon Road). Admission is free, there will be food and entertainment. More info and sign up here.

The best of the Grove

Best of Publications is celebrating the launch of "The Best of Dining & Entertainment in Coconut Grove" on Friday, Aug. 31 at Cielo Garden Supper Club (3390 Mary Street) from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Click on the image for a larger version.

Winton wants back

According to today's Daily Business Review, ousted City Commissioner Johnny Winton wants his job back and wants Marc Sarnoff out.

He's relying on an ancient English common law used by deposed noblemen. Story here.

Code violations

Just a reminder that Code Enforcement can be reached at: mdemola@ci.miami.fl.us and mcastellanos@ci.miami.fl.us . Also by dialing 311. So if you see something like The Pod or anything else, feel free. The Pod was removed because of complaints to Code Violation. It does work.

The emails are listed below to the right for your convenience. Also down there are email addresses you may need like the Governor and Mayor and City officials and such. These people work for you. Use 'em.

New artists?

I noticed that the Coconut Grove Arts Festival is alerting artists that all applications for the next festival are due in at the end of the month. I didn't realize they were accepting new art submissions, although I love the festival, I get tired of seeing the same artists with the same art year after year so new artists would be nice.

It would be so refreshing if there would actually be a turnover in artists. I can tell you which artist is going to be in which spot right now without a program. I think they need to start mixing it up a bit with new artists and possibly putting the same old artists in new locations. Just a thought.

For anyone who would like to try to get into the show, the deadline is September 1st and the fee is $45.00. You may apply at http://www.coconutgroveartsfest.com/ .

First day of school

Yesterday was the first day of school. Here's how it went down at Coconut Grove Elementary School.


Thanks Harry Emilio Gottlieb for the pics.

It happened at the Sandbar Sports Grill

So I was at the Sandbar Sports Grill (3064 Grand Avenue) for their world famous, well Grove famous fajitas. They are incredible, they come out on a big sizzling black skillet and the mixture of onions and peppers with all the fixin's are so incredible, but I digress.

Anyway, I was there and this woman walked in off the street, she looked homeless. She went behind the bar and put her hands in the limes and olives, grabbing at them. One of the girls who worked there asked what she wanted and she asked for ice, so they gave her ice and she walked out.

Then, an amazing thing happened. The bartender threw out every cut lime and all the olives. She complained about having to re-cut all the limes, there were quite a bit, but she actually dumped them all with the olives because the lady had put her hands in them.

I found this to be a unique situation because how many places would do this? I just thought it was a nice, caring and cleanly thing to do. I felt confident that they pass their health inspections without any problems.

I forgot to use my Code 33 card, but they do accept it there.

Public eyesore

From the Greening of Commodore Plaza to this. Why is one end of the Grove so nice and the other end always a mess. This Pod is a total eyesore. It's a shame that guests at the Mayfair Hotel have to exit the front door and see this a half block away.

Also this freakin' condo project has screwed up some good parking spaces for a year or more, is this Pod renter feeding the parking meter?

Greening up Commodore Plaza

I got out to Commodore Plaza too late today for the fern planting, but luckily Harry Emilio Gottlieb was there and he got these great photos of the volunteers. And thank you Sue McConnell who was also out there not only coordinating this project and getting down in the dirt, but also for giving me the names of the people in the photos. I think they need to be recognized.

LoriAnn Crouch crouches

Many people don't realize that most things in the Grove happen because of these volunteers. When you see the streets decorated for Christmas, that is not the City of Miami doing it, it's the people who live and work in the Grove doing it -- physically doing it, not just
paying for it.

It's the same with most nice things in the Grove. They happen through the Cocoanut Grove Village Council, the Business Improvement Committee, the Merchants Association and actual citizens who care to make a difference. While it seems that it's all done by magic (or the Magic City) it is done by people who actually care about the Grove. They are the ones who make a difference, they make the Grove
the Grove.

Lottie Person and Rosalie Leposky

Other volunteers, not shown, who were out there starting at 6:30 am were Kent Tate, Rocio Gonio, Felice Dubin, Carlos Munoz, Kitty Terry, Albert Martinez, Liliana Dones and her husband Santiago Villegas and Ted Stahl. Several merchants also sent employees out to help such as Greenstreets, Frameworks and Out of Africa. Haydee Wheeler, the NET Director along with the NET office's team were also there.

Wendy Kamilar and LoriAnn Crouch

The next phase will be big pots with flowering plants and the last phase will be putting bromeliads in the trees. After Commodore Plaza is done another street (not yet determined) will be beautified.

We will inform you of that when the time comes in case anyone would like to help with that.

David Collins and Len Scinto

Ron Nelson from Comm. Sarnoff's office and Jack Feldkamp

Greening of the Grove today

The Greening of the Grove is going on this morning on Commodore Plaza. I'm headed out there now. I'll get some pictures.

Grove restaurants participating in Miami Spice

I didn't mention Miami Spice sooner because it seems that everyone was writing about it. As you know, from now until September 30 gourmet restaurants all over the city are offering three-course meals. Lunch is $22.00 and dinner is $35.00.

In the Grove six restaurants are participating: Baleen (Grove Isle), Bizcaya (Ritz-Carlton), Cielo Garden & Supper Club (Mayfair Shoppes), Ginger Grove (Mayfair Hotel), GNU Restaurant (Grand Bay Hotel), and Panorama (Sonesta Hotel). For more info visit: http://www.ilovemiamispice.com/ .

Who paid the Playhouse's debt?

There seems to be some controversy over who paid the debt owed by the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Rumors are that a developer was involved. If this is the case, I don't see any difference in selling the property at auction or whoring it to a developer who is paying the
bills now.

Another thing is that many employees say they were not paid. So we'll do some delving and try to come up with an answer.

Burnin' up the Grove

"Burn Notice" just wrapped their very successful first season and will be back in the Grove for a second season. Unlike "CSI Miami," the show, which airs on the USA network Thursday nights at 10 pm, is filmed locally, based at the Expo Center right here in the Grove. It was actually retrofitted to be a movie studio for filming. You can see the exterior of the house above, which is actually inside the Expo Center.

The crew of over 100 (shown here with stars Jeffrey Donovan (in black center) and Gabrielle Anwar (next to Jeff), are mostly locals, all glad to learn that the show has been picked up for a second season. Filming for season 2 begins in January.

If you click on the photos, they will open larger. Below are Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar and Sharon Gless.

Celebrate National Rum Day at Jaguar

Today is National Rum Day and Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar and Grill (3067 Grand Ave.) is right on it. They have a new rum drink: "The Cat's Meow" made with passion fruit and dark and coconut rums, among other things.

Jaguar is serving their new concoction at happy hour tonight at special happy hour prices from 4 to 7 pm.

Victoria doesn't like Christabelle's

Wow. Victoria Pesce Elliott from The Herald gave a snotty review on Christabelle's Quarter (3157 Commodore Plaza).

In her words: "How could I stay in a city where this is what passes for fine dining?" Ouch.

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, Victoria.

Playhouse averts foreclosure

I have to give the Playhouse staff credit, they raised the money needed to prevent a scheduled foreclosure auction. They raised more than $470,000 to pay off one of their major financial burdens.

They paid off a major loan, including interest and other fees like court costs, etc.

The employees have been paid and most past due utility bills. Great job!

Playhouse nonsense

The Grove Playhouse had until this morning to come up with $470,000 or risk losing part of the property at auction.

Ironically the people owed the money are former board members, who were given "The Bike Shop" next door as collateral three years ago. What a mess.

Mental giant Shelly Spivack, the current board chair says, "It's not over till it's over." Wish she would be over with already.

Bye, bye Häagen-Dazs

Looks like another ice cream store is hitting the dust. At the end of the month, Häagen-Dazs on Grand Avenue will be gone, making way for a restaurant. Seems like the rent is going up again and they cannot afford to stay around. Same old story.

At first it seemed we were over saturated with ice cream stores, now they are dwindling fast.

The good news is, we can use another restaurant in the Grove, so better to have a restaurant than another clothing store or worse yet, hair salon.

The fun Grove

It's a shame that CocoWalk and Mayfair can't be like Commodore Plaza and have mostly local or one-of-a-kind businesses. Ever notice the really fun area of the Grove is the south end? CocoWalk and Mayfair are blah, they can't even get a farmer's market going, yet Commodore Plaza (the main shopping area when I was a kid), is fun. So is Main Highway all the way down to Cefalo's and Marcanio's.

The corporations took over the north end (Starbucks, Johnny Rockets, The Gap, Cheesecake Factory), but the best part is the south end.

Traffic circle or not?

So the SW 27th Avenue plans were discussed last week and it looks like Spring 2009 is the date for start of renovation. One of the main projects is buying the right of way from property owners so that the Avenue can be widened. That still needs to happen.

One thing bothering many is the traffic circle planned for area where Day and Tigertail Avenues meet, shown on the map above. If you click on the map, it will open larger. I have to admit, that area is a mess and accidents are waiting to happen. It is pretty wide in that area already and a traffic circle may help.

Many people complain that traffic circles are foreign to Miami drivers, but they do seem to be popping up in many neighborhoods and the big one at the Cartagena Plaza, better known as "Cocoplum Circle" seems to work just fine. It's so popular, it has it's own listing in Wikipedia here. That's a Google Earth image of the circle below.

Greening up the Grove

The Business Improvement Committee (BIC) and Grove residents will be filling the planters on Commodore Plaza with soil and planting ferns next Saturday, Aug. 18th at 6:30 a.m. We know it is early but they have to get in and get out before Saturday's heavy traffic.

The job should be finished by 11 a.m.

This is the first phase of this project. The second phase involves heavy pots and flowers. Help is also needed on Monday, Aug 20th at 6:30 a.m. - same game plan - to finish the project.

Please feel free to ask friends to join in. Pack your hat and sunscreen - work gloves and refreshments will be provided.

Please call or email Sue McConnell asap if you are interested. 305-442-9235 - mcconnell28@msn.com

New Grove gallery opens

"The First Show" is the theme of the newly opened Butter Gallery at 3135 Commodore Plaza. The gallery features works by Ross Ford (shown above) who moved over from Lincoln Road, Jay Bellichi, Phil Stapleton (a local sculptor who lives in the Grove) and Dylan Terry. For more info: 305-303-6254.

Tonight in the Grove

Alonzo Bodden, left, the comedian who won season three of NBC's "Last Comic Standing," performs at the Improve (3390 Mary Street) at 8:30 pm and 10:45 pm, Tickets are $16.05-$18.19. Info: 305-441-8200.

"Friday Night Wine Tasting Series" -- Vintages that pair well with barbecued dishes are featured with wine consultant Barry Alberts from 7 to 9:30 pm at the Doubletree Hotel, (2649 S. Bayshore Drive) Fee: $10. Info: 305-793-3120.

Blue Man Zen at Pommes & Pane Cafe at CocoWalk from 7:30 to 10 pm. Website: http://www.bluemangrove.com/

Mayfair Hotel and Spa

I was the Mayfair Hotel and Spa the other day. I hadn't been there in such a long time. I forgot how beautiful and peaceful it is.

You enter through a large wooden door, which actually opens for you as you approach. And once you enter, you feel like you are in another world.

I love the courtyard which is the same as it's always been, lush, green and sort of exotic. It is a remainder of what the whole Mayfair Mall looked like years ago.

It's a nice place to feel as if you are in "old Florida", whatever that is. You just feel it. The Jurlique Spa is there and so is the Ginger Grove restaurant, which is offering a special menu for Miami Spice month. The hotel has some great summer rates for those who just want to get away for a few days and feel as if they are on vacation, without really leaving home.

Does the Grove have a calming effect?

I noticed this interesting phenomenon while driving through the two "CG's" -- Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. It seems the drivers in the Gables are very frustrated and rude and the ones passing through the Grove are not like that.

While stuck in traffic on Miracle Mile, SW 37th Ave. in Publix's parking lot, anywhere actually in the Gables, you hear nasty car horns every other second. I don't mean cute little "beep beep", I mean people sitting angrily on their horns. More than once I felt like getting out of my car with a baseball bat but I thought better of that.

While driving through the Grove a few minutes later, and while stuck in traffic on either Bird Ave. or SW 27th Ave. or Bayshore Drive, I don't hear any car horns. People are patient for some reason.

Now I am not comparing the residents of the Grove and the Gables because the majority of drivers in both situations are just passing through each area, most likely they aren't residents of either place. But it it seems to be the Grove has a calming effect. Could this be?

Perhaps that "Whining sign" should be pointed at Coral Gables and not downtown Miami.

Before any of you start commenting, please try the drive throughs first. See what you come up with before making a negative comment about what I am saying. This happens on a daily basis. I am always flabbergasted when it happens.

Boat traffic

Let's hope the Waterfront Masterplan can address the terrible back up of traffic going to the marinas. This was the scene yesterday with folks backing up traffic on South Bayshore Drive, trying to get to the Seminole Boat Ramp. The scene is repeated at the Yacht Club and other areas along the way.

Thank you Harry Emilio Gottlieb for the photos.

Auction this weekend

Looking for a Rolex watch? How about a diamond ring? Well this Sunday, August 5, there's a public auction at the Mayfair Hotel (3000 Florida Ave.).

Assets seized by police and federal agencies are being auctioned starting at 1 pm. If you get there a bit earlier, you can check out the merchandise before it goes on the block.

Admission is free, which is nice, since many of these auction types usually charge an entry fee to keep out lookie loos.

So if you are in the market for some jewelery, rugs, bronzes, antiques and more. The Mayfair House is the place to be Sunday.

For more info: 305-441-0000 or visit: www.saauctions.net

Want a CocoWalk biz?

Have you ever considered owning a kiosk at CocoWalk? Well, one is for sale.

The kiosk features all sorts of modern day accesories for both women and men. Items like rings, bracelets, earings, collars, women's accesories like, dresses, sandals, and purses. I bought some nice things there. I am wearing one of the rings, now.

Please call Freeda at: 786-399-1477 for more info.

27th Ave. Streetscape presented at next Village Council Meeting

The next Coconut Grove Village Council meeting is Tuesday, Aug 7 at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive) from 7 to 9 pm.

There will be a presentation of the 27th Avenue street scape along with the usual shenanigans.

More Code 33 savings

Code 33 has added some new merchants and has some great deals like 20% off at Hagan Dazs (2982 Grand Ave.) and 10% off at H&H Jewelers (3434 Main Hwy.) and 10% off food at Slice 'n Ice (3024 SW 27th Ave.) -- I love their chicken parmigiana, but don't order spinach on the pizza, yuk. For more info on Code 33, go here.