"It's A Wonderful Life" to be shown in park

One of my favorite holiday movies, "It's A Wonderful Life" is planned as part of the "Fresh Air Flicks" in Peacock Park next Saturday, Dec. 8. Details to follow.

2nd Annual "Shop and Stroll" at Brenda's

Brenda's Boutique (3092 Fuller Street) is having their second annual "Shop & Stroll Event" Saturday and Sunday, December 1st & 2nd.

They are open from 12:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday and 12:00 to 8:00 pm on Sunday.

Visit Brenda's Boutique for cookies, drinks, & 20% Off Storewide!

Kick off your holiday shopping there.

This is where we need a traffic circle

Suggestion to the powers that be: Instead of putting traffic circles where they don't belong, how about putting one at 27th Ave. and 28th Lane? When drivers leave Pollo Tropical or the Shell station, for some reason, they don't take the US1 side out, so they take 28th Lane, go to 27th Ave. and they try to make a left turn into midday traffic.

This backs up traffic 1/4 mile at times on 28th Lane. Sometimes it is all the way backed up into the Shell station lot. If a traffic circle is not feasible there (where there is heavy traffic), how about a "no left turn" law from 28th Lane onto 27th Avenue? I know there really is not a four way intersection here, so maybe the "no left turn" is the answer.

In the photo above, you can see about 10 cars waiting for the one car trying to turn left all the way at the front. I was the next car back and there were about five cars behind me. I am hearing crickets at the traffic circle on Virginia and Shipping as I type this. Wish we could pick that one up and move it here.

Art affair in the Grove

Please click on image for larger version.

Friday is "Film Night" at City Hall

This Friday, Nov. 30, is Film Night at Miami City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive). "Sharkwater" an award-winning documentary will be shown at 7:30 pm and there will be a question and answer period aftewards.

This event is free.

Santa Claus is coming to town

Santa arrives at CocoWalk
on Sat. Dec. 1.

Come welcome Santa to The Grove from 1 to 3 pm.

End of Hurricane Season Party

Please click on image to see it larger.

Fresh Bitch at the Fresh Market

I have decided to boycott the Fresh Market again until they remove the bleached blond bitch from the store. You know the one, the Milam's reject who brought her sour puss demeanor and James Cagney moll looks to the Fresh Market's deli department.

I don't think I have ever seen a smile on her face, at Milam's or the Fresh Market. She's a miserable person and in the past I have avoided the store for weeks on end because of her. She is crude, rude and has no business dealing with the public.

Today I went early to avoid the large lunchtime crowds but still, this bitch was in a mood. She was the only person working with customers at the deli counter, so I was stuck with her. In the past, I have thrown my number away just to avoid her and I would start from scratch with a new number, but today I couldn't and I had to put up with her mocking attitude and sarcasm.

After her being rude to me for a few minutes, I finally threw the salmon at her and told her to shove it and I walked out of the store, not before telling the store manager that until she is gone I won't be back. The funny thing is that all the great other employees know what a bitch she is and they are all embarrassed for her. She just doesn't get it.

After I left, I went to the new Whole Foods in Coral Gables/South Miami and was treated there as if they wanted me there.

When being overcharged for food at these so called "gourmet markets" I think the staff should have enough class to mock the customers behind their backs, not to their faces. We maybe deserve to be mocked for paying outrageous prices for the same stuff you can get anywhere else. But do it behind my back like everyone else.

What I was prepared to spend today was probably her whole salary for the week. This bitch needs to understand that and see every customer that way. She needs to get out of her lifetime bad mood and fast.

The Dharma Bomb performs Thursday

Grove locals "The Dharma Bomb" will be bringing their original roots rock to Christabelles Quarter (3157 Commodore Plaza) this Thursday night, Nov 29 for a free show at 9 pm.

The show is in the special 3rd floor party room with a great deck overlooking our fair city. It is open to the public and goes until 11:30. They still don't allow flip-flops...

Reviews:
"The Best Little Neo-Classic Rock Band in Miami" Sun Sentinel 2006
"Best Piano Man - Todd Thompson" Miami New Times 2004
"Best Pop-Rock Band" Miami New Times 2000
For more info check out http://dharmabomb.com

Marc Sarnoff invites you to swearing in ceremony

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and Family

Request the Honor of Your Presence
at the
2007 City of Miami
District 2 Commission
Swearing In Ceremony

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Ceremony 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Wine and Hors d'oeuvres will be Served
Coconut Grove Expo Center
Main Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Coconut Grove
RSVP to: info@marcsarnoff.com or 305.250-5333

Grove Chamber's Holiday Countdown

The Grove Chamber of Commerce invites you to their Holiday Countdown tomorrow, Nov. 27 at Bice Bistro at CocoWalk (3015 Grand Ave.) from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Cost is $5.00 for members, $10.00 for non-members. You'll receive one free drink and happy hour prices, also complimentary hors d'oeuvres. There will also be raffles.

Live music will be provided by the Ronny Brooks Trio at 6:30 pm.

Please RSVP to 305-444-7270 or info@coconutgrove.com

King Mango Strut kick-off party tomorrow

The kick-off party for the 26th King Mango Strut season is tomorrow,Tuesday, November 27th from 7-9:30 pm at Al Fresco Restaurant (3138 Commodore Plaza).

Meet this year's Grand Marshals, Mimi Davila & Laura Di Lorenzo, the Chongalicious Girls. They will bring out the inner Chonga in all of us when they perform their hit parody song "Chongalicious".

So put on the Sharpie lip-line, gel dat hair and c'mon baby, do dat chonga. So come on out to the gathering of MangoHeads and get your strut on. If you have a group and a funny plan - great! If you want to participate and you have a group and a funny plan - great! But if you don't know what to do, don't worry, the wacky Mangoheads will give you something nutty to do.

For more information, check the our website at www.kingmangostrut.org or call the Mango Hotline at 305-401-1171.

Vultures in the park

No Peacock's in sight at Peacock Park the day after the Caribbean Festival but plenty of vultures. 7am, November 25th, 2007

Photos by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

Great Taste of the Grove expands to two days

The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce signature winter event, the Great Taste of the Grove is expanding to two days, Saturday and Sunday, January 12 and 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event, now in its 18th year, will once again take place in Peacock Park (2820 McFarlane Road).

Admission is free. Over 30 restaurants ranging from fine dining cuisine to casual favorites will be featured, each showcasing their culinary talents with an a-la-carte tasting menu ranging from $1.00 to $8.00 per dish.

In addition to offering an opportunity to sample the diverse local flavors, The 2008 Great Taste of the Grove will also feature live musical entertainment throughout both days, a children’s activity area featuring rock wall, face painting and a selection of savory sweets. Participating restaurants will be competing in the Best Coconut Recipe contest.

The Great Taste of the Grove is produced by the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, coordinated through the volunteer efforts of a committee headed, as Event Chair for the third year in a row, by Gary Ciuca of AG Edwards and Vice President of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. The Committee includes Chamber President Liliana Dones, of Creative Tools; Monty Trainer, President of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival; Manuel Alonso-Poch of The Arts and Minds Center; Anthony Noboa, Vice President and GM of Coconut Grove Bank; Haydee Wheeler, Director of the City of Miami’s Coconut Grove Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) office, Chamber Executive Director Charity Johnson and a crew of Chamber member volunteers.

The Chamber is delighted to contribute to the cultural dynamic of the City of Miami by bringing hundreds of people together for two days to experience a diverse exchange of food and music in our beautiful bayside village.

For more information please call the Chamber office at (305) 444-7270.

Coyote Ugly closes

Coyote Ugly closed on Nov. 17, without saying a word. After opening with such a bang, they went out with a whimper. Shame. Another biz bites the dust in the Grove. But again, another one just opened. Let's all give the bookstore lots of business this holiday season and of course, even after. Let's support the Grove businesses as much as possible.

Ziggy Marley performs at Island Fest

Ziggy Marley is performing this Saturday in Peacock Park at The Jazz on the Bay Concert Series. It's an afternoon and evening of island entertainment.

The gates will be open for this free event from 2 to 11 pm. Musical acts will include Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Michelle Acevedo and Crossovah with a special appearance by Ziggy Marley at 9 pm. The Jazz on the Bay Concert Series is a special project of the City of Miami's Department of Cultural Arts & Entertainment.

Happy Thanksgiving!

New bookstore opens

The Bookstore in the Grove Sneak Peek was a huge success tonight. It seemed like the whole town turned out!

Photos by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

Bookstore sneek peek tonight

Milam's donates turkeys and dinner

Needy families in Coconut Grove's Village West will celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving meal thanks to the generosity of Milam's Supermarket who donated 100 turkeys.

The turkeys were distributed to needy families by The Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance on behalf of Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and Milam's.

In addition, thanks to Milam's, The Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance will serve a Thanksgiving meal to needy people in the Community on Thanksgiving day at noon at the St. Matthew Community Baptist Church (3616 Day Avenue).

Citizens on Patrol

Thirteen Grove residents attended the Citizens On Patrol (C.O.P.) training held at St. Steven's Church here in the Grove last week.

Miami Police Community Outreach Liaision Aileen Rodriguez and Officer Alejandro Rivera, along with Neighborhood Resouce Officer (NRO) David Carpenter and Grove C.O.P. Captain Izzy Buholzer presented information about the importance of citizen participation and why C.O.P. training is an important piece of any community safety plan.

COP trainees will follow-up with a required police ride-along and other necessary activities.

For more information about future C.O.P trainings and participation, please contact Aileen Rodriguez (aileen.rodriguez@miami-police.org) or Izzy Buholzer (izzy@ibmiami.com)


All-Grove Crime Watch Meeting

The next All-Grove Crime Watch meeting will be held Wednesday, December 12 at 7 PM at St. Stephen's Church (2750 McFarlane Road), in the Great Room. Parking is free. Please come meet and hear police, residents, State Attorney representatives and others and learn how you can help make Coconut Grove a safer community for everyone.

Seat available on Village of Center Grove Board

The Village of Center Grove (VOCG) has a seat available on its Board.

If you are interested, please email Sue McConnell at mcconnell28@msn.com, deadline is Dec. 15th. You must be a paid member to apply for this seat - membership is $25.

Sue asks that you attend the December 19th meeting at the Sailing Club and introduce yourself and tell them why you would like to be on the Board. They will vote on applicants at the end of the meeting.

King Mango Strut 2007 is coming

Update: Here are the Strut pictures from the 2007 parade: here and here.

The King Mango Strut is celebrating it's 26th year on Sunday, December 30.

This year's theme is "An Inconvenient Fruit," mocking the Senator in the airport bathroom (according to the strut press release). Not sure if the theme is anti-gay or not, we shall soon see.

One group didn't seem to mind "outing" the Governor last year, whether it was the truth or not, portraying him in ladies' lingerie, as if every gay person wears ladies' lingerie, so anything goes. Gay-bashing, rumors, the works. The Grove used to be such an all-welcoming place. Now mocking minorities is in. What next black face minstrels?

Beginning at the Kick-Off Party on Tuesday, November 27, the King Mango will go to four different locations on a 4-week mission: To explore strange new ideas. To seek out new Mangoheads. To boldly go where no parade has gone before. The kick off party is at Al Fresco Restaurant at the Arts & Mind's Courtyard (3138 Commodore Plaza) at 7 pm.

This year's Grand Marshals are Mimi Davila and Laura Di Lorenzo. They are the Aventura girls, who took the YouTube and My Space world with their hit parody song, "Chongalicious," a remake of the 2006 hit song "Fergalicious." So put on the Sharpie lip-liner, pull your hair back and c'mon baby, do that chonga. They'll be making the ice caps melt a little faster as they show off their hot Chonga looks and their sizzling Chonga moves.

Then on Tuesday, December 4 at 7pm at Tobacco Road (626 S Miami Avenue), join King Mango to celebrate art and everything coming up noses at the 2nd Art Nasal. It's snot what you think.

On Tuesday, December 11, at 7pm at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus (60 Merrick Way in Coral Gables), the MangoHeads vill pump you up at the open mike night billed as, "So you think you can Strut?"

On Tuesday, December 18, at 7pm at Coyote Ugly at CocoWalk) 3015 Grand Avenue), King Mango Strut rallys the MangoHeads in the "You're Never Too Young, Too Old, Too Early or Too Late to Strut' Pep Rally. Last chance to get a group in the parade.

For more information, check www.kingmangostrut.org or call the Mango Hotline at 305-401-1171.

Puns here by Anotoinette Baldwin. :)

New crime watch program being considered

The local police are very concerned by the recent increase in the number of nearby vacant properties (abandoned by foreclosures and mortgage fraud). This is an open invitation for criminals.

A local crime watch program is being considered in the area surrounding Merry Christmas Park to be bordered by Barbarossa, Braganza, and Woodridge Avenues (including Ann Court and
Matheson Ave).

To talk about setting something up, there is a meeting tentatively scheduled for 7 pm on Dec 6 at the Glass House
(2820 McFarlane Road).

One of the biggest benefits will be local crime watch signs which the city will then provide. Apparently these signs are one of the biggest deterrents for criminal activity.

This is just a heads up to save the date and time. There will be an official flyer in the next couple of weeks sent to residents of the area.

Village Council

The Coconut Grove Village Council will not convene this coming Tuesday, November 20 at 6:30 pm at The offices of The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce on McFarlane.

Instead, it will meet on Tuesday, November 27 at the same time and location. The agenda will focus on amending the By-Laws regarding terms for Council officers and other Articles.

RoundTable in the Garden tonight

Bob & Maggie's "RoundTable in the Garden" at 3664 Loquat Ave. is tonight, starting at about 7 pm. This is the re-schedule date of the October gig that was rained out.

The theme for the evening is the same, "Celebrating Life" with the same amazing group of health professionals presenting new ideas for your consideration.

Special news for the neighborhood: They are considering becoming a historic preservation district to protect our neighborhood's character. Come out and find out about it.

Special guest is regular RoundTabler and neighbor Judge Jackie Schwartz. Judge Jackie is running again (County-wide), come out and meet her and learn why she deserves your vote.

The usual array of musicians will be playing in the garden & at the piano in the house. Sorry for the short notice. You need to come out for this one. It may be the final of the season.

Please remember that this is still a potluck and they depend on your generous contributions of food and wine to keep everyone well fed.

Trees, trees, trees

With all this tree talk, it reminded me of my post about finding a tree trimmer.

We found a great one: Montero's Tree Service, owned by Orlando Montero.

Orlando and his crew came out and did a spectacular job at a spectacular price. All the other guys we had out, including the ones mentioned in the comments section of the other posts, wanted an arm and a leg. Orlando was very fair and he and his guys did a great job.

As you can see we were overloaded with coconuts, just waiting to become missiles in a hurricane. Glad they are gone. Glad the hurricane season is almost gone.

The endless tree saga

This in from Anthony Rubino:

CL JAHN questioned whether or not the report from Lisa Hammer was widely available.

To this I will respond:

After I wrote Tom Falco, the owner/maintainer of this blog, in response to his accusation of me being a 'selfish developer', he wrote me back and asked me if he could publish my response to him. I told him that he could publish it IF he agreed to use the entire letter AND if he agreed to post Lisa Hammer's reports.He then promised to do so in a return email sent to me on Monday where he said, "Send me a link to both and I'll publish them. They have to be part of a website or something for me to link to them."I sent him the following link (below) on Monday and have asked him DAILY via email why he never published the link. He has not responded to me since Monday.

If you want to see the reports they can be found at: http://lisahammerreports.googlepages.com/home

Editor's note: I have not received any emails from Mr. Rubino about this and this was the first time I have seen the link. There is no logical reason for me not to post the link after I specifically asked for the link. Again, I didn't receive any emails from him on Monday, perhaps they ended up in the spam folder or something. But there is the link now.

Pops in the Grove

Forget Boston. Forget Philadelphia. Right in Coconut Grove, you can hear great symphonic pops on Sunday evening, November 18th , 7:30 PM at Ransom-Everglades School (3575 Main Highway).

Alhambra Orchestra will perform favorite movie music, great songs, and light classical favorites. with guest artists Beverly Coulter and friends. Music of Cole Porter, themes from Star Wars and Harry Potter, plus a bit of rock will delight the entire family. Your $10 donation helps finance the orchestra’s season of mostly free concerts, and there will be terrific door prizes.

Parking at the school is free. Alhambra Orchestra's mission is to promote classical music and music education. It is a non-profit community orchestra made up primarily of volunteer musicians. Interested musicians are invited to audition for Reginald F. Nicholson, Artistic Director/Conductor.

There will also be a silent auction, the first for the orchestra. All money raised will be used to fill funding gaps for the orchestra.

For additional information, call 305-668-9260, or email info@alhambramusic.org.

Stand up for those who can't

This Friday, Nov. 16, Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar (3067 Grand Avenue) is hosting the "Jaguar Challenge" kick off party. The "Jaguar Challenge" is a golf tournament benefiting the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis.

Eduardo Durazo Aleman and Marc Buoniconti are your hosts. The actual golf event is at the Miami Beach Golf Club. You can get more info here. Or by calling Lalo Durazo at 305-448-1690 or 305-496-3498.

Blues Band at Green Street Cafe

Please click on the image for a larger version.

Response to "tree hugger" post

I received the following letter last week from Anthony Rubino. Mr. Rubino also included the reports from Lisa Hammer, the Arborist, to support his side:

Interesting twist on your “Tree Hugger” post. You call it a “mighty Oak” and Miami Herald’s David Smiley calls it a “scraggly oak.” You also call me a “selfish developer.” Why would you say I was selfish? I live in this community just like you do and I have been more than willing to plant 8 new 16 feet Oak trees to benefit our community if this tree were removed.

Maybe you should quote Lisa Hammer, the Arborist (i.e. tree expert), where she stated, “I remain convinced that tree removal and mitigation by the current owner is in the best interest of the community, as it will prevent the new owners from bearing the cost of imminent tree removal, and provide for mitigation which might otherwise be waived if the tree is removed after it dies.” (emphasis added) Lastly, it might be fair to note that in the expert’s observations she noted that, “the stress and decline [to the tree] and not related to construction damage.”

Grove Chamber dinner

On Thursday, Nov. 15, the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce Dinner and a Movie is being held at Al Fresco Ristorante at Arts & Mind Center (4148 Commodore Plaza). Kick off of a series of foodie films accompanied by a four course dinner inspired by the movie "Dinner Rush".

The 2000 film is about a fast paced evening in a TriBeCa Italian restaurant starring Danny Aiello. Cocktails at 5:30 pm, film at 7 pm followed by dinner. RSVP to kelly@coconutgrove.com. Say "Dinner Rush." More info: 305-444-7270

Village of Center Grove meeting tomorrow

State. Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera will speak on property taxes followed by Q & A at tomorrow's Village of Center Grove meeting (7 to 9 pm) at the Sailing Club (2990 S. Bayshore Drive).

On the Agenda: a crime watch report, updates on upcoming events in the Grove (like Santa's arrival, Chamber's holiday part, King Mango Strut updates, etc.); an update on the 5 am bar closing ordinance, Code 33 report (Sue McConnell will report on new businesses).

The Litte House update

Spokesperson, Joyce Landry, requested a postponement to January, and it was granted.

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff agreed that since there was no one present from the other side, the postponement should be granted.

This item will be on the City Commission Meeting as #1 on the Planning and Zoning portion of the meeting to be heard on Thursday, January 24 at 10:00 am. It was good that so many people were there proving that there is great interest in preserving The Little House.

Mad Hatter Arts Festival today and tomorrow

If you click on the image, it will open larger.

Score another one for the Tree Huggers

Love this story about a mighty Oak being allowed to live, rather than give way to another selfish developer. I didn't realize Liliana Dones of TreeWatch and Jim McMaster of the Tree-Man Trust had such "tree power".

Adventure Travel exhibition

Award winning photographer H. Allen Benowitz has a lecture and slide show/exhibition and reception called "Adventure Travel" at the Albanico Theater at the Arts & Minds Center (3138 Commodre Plaza) on Wednesday, November 14 from 7 to 9:30 pm.

Viewings by appointment will continue through December. For info: www.H-AllenArt.com

"The Little House" appeal is tomorrow

If you have an interest in Historic Designation, please plan to attend the City Commission Chambers (3500 Pan American Drive) tomorrow, November 9th. "The Little House" appeal is #2 on the agenda after 10:00 am. There is a possibility that #1 will be postponed, so please be certain to arrive on or before 10:00 am.

The Little House, 3848 Little Ave., built in 1902, meets all the criteria for Historic Designation and the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board voted unanimously in January of this year to award preliminary designation. Permanent designation was awarded in April of 2007.

The owner is appealing this designation, mostly based on accessibility, which is not a criteria under Miami City Code, Chapter 23, Historic Preservation. Ye Little Wood is a gated community, however, the gates are open Tuesday and Friday. The Kampong has Historic Designation and is not accessible nor is the house open for tours, as are many historically designated homes throughout the United States.

If you are unable to attend this meeting and support retaining the designation, please write a letter and fax it to Joan Morris at 305-446-8564. Alternatively, send an email to yelittlewood@earthlink.net . The emails and faxes will be presented to the City Commission tomorrow. You may also reach Joan at 305-793-3172.

The house has been vacant for more than a year, and if Historic Designation is reversed, it surely will be sold to a developer and demolished.

This house was built in 1902, prior to almost all of the historic designated properties in Miami-Dade County. Following is a sampling of some historically designated properties and the year built:

1902 - The Little House
1905 - Miami High
1912 - U.S. Post Office & Courthouse
1914 - Vizcaya
1917 - Plymouth Congregational Church
1917 - El Jardin (Carrolton School)
1921 - Housekeepers Club of Coconut Grove
1924 - Marjorie Stoneman Douglas House
1925 - Dade County Courthouse
1926 - Grove Playhouse ("The Little House" was 24 years old).

Mad Hatter Festival

The Grove emerges this weekend with a wonderland of art and entertainment during the 3rd annual Mad Hatter Arts Festival 2007, Saturday and Sunday November 10th and 11th, 10 am to 6 pm.

The festival is an Alice-in-Wonderland journey into the emerging and local artists mind. So follow Alice’s white rabbit to the heart of Coconut Grove and explore this sidewalk festival, merchants specials, music, entertainment and activities for the whole family. Hurry up and don’t be late for this very important date!

The free festival goes from one end of Main Highway to the next, crossing over to Grand Avenue at Cocowalk and going up to Mayfair. There will be over 70 artists and musical acts on a number of stages throughout the area. Local merchants are participating, too. Wear your wildest hat and come out!

For more information email madhatterfestival@daisyindustries.com.

Pink wall crumbles

There goes the pink wall. Workers have been taking down the wall to make way for a new wall. One lane of US 1 heading north, will be shut down from 11 am to 6 pm daily for about four months.

Photo by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

Stuck with Sarnoff

Marc Sarnoff won the election yesterday and continues to be our City Commissioner. Only 10% of the voters showed up to vote. Very sad.

For those of you who didn't bother to get off your asses and vote, please don't complain when things don't go the way you like. I voted. So when I see fit, I will complain.

FYI, I did not vote for Sarnoff this time around. I know he is the district commish, but honestly, aside from beautification projects, I don't see what he has done while in office. The Home Depot spit in our faces and opened and the Mercy Project is a go. Those two issues concerned me, I blogged about them non-stop to the point of being sickening. I thought that Marc could possibly sway one commissioner to vote our way, just one. But the others in office have no respect for Marc and that lack of respect will never allow him to get anything worthwhile done.

We live in a selfish money-driven city. I travel often and Miami is nothing to be proud of. I know Marc is not one of the bad ones, but I feel since he is a "good one" he can't get things done in this city with the jerks that have control of the commission.

I know, maybe either of the two running against Marc would probably not have been on the Grove's side on issues, but by voting against him, I just wanted to send a message. He can't seem to get things done for the Grove, so what would be the difference if someone else was in office not getting things done? Same difference.

I've been looking for property in Cambridge, Mass. I may only live in the Grove during winter months and spend the rest of my time in a city with respect for history and quality of life.

Out to vote today

I saw a few piles of Sarnoff promotional cards around the parking lot at the Museum of Science, where I voted today. I didn't see anyone with signs or placards for any candidates today, that was surprising. Were they chased away so fast they forgot their promotional materials?

Election day

Today's election day. I am seriously considering not voting. I don't like anyone who is running. But I guess I should go out and do something. I have never missed an election day, I feel it's my obligation.

I may just vote for the underdog just to stir things up.

Blue Man Grove performing Friday

Please click the image to see it larger.

GroveHouse Artists Opening

Please click on the image to see it larger.

Sarnoff Circle?

I received this email:

Is it true that everybody is calling the new rotary on Virginia Street and Shipping Avenue "Sarnoff Circle"? I was in Milam's today, and somebody was talking to a group of people and said, "You get to my house by going down to Sarnoff Circle and take a right."

Everyone seemed to know what he was talking about. Have you heard this?

I have not heard this. Has anyone else? I like the circle but I don't see why it is needed on Virginia Street, I drove down on Saturday and there wasn't a car on the road. And on Halloween night, there were many cars, but not enough to warrant this circle.

New book store

The Herald had a story about book stores. Saying that the Book Festival was coming up and ironically, the City of Miami, including Coconut Grove, has no general interest book stores. But we do have one coming. It will be on the corner of Virginia Street and Grand Avenue at the old Banana Republic location.

What would you like to see in the new book store coming to the Grove? Other than books, of course. :)

Problems at Grove CVS store

Seems like the CVS at 3215 Grand Avenue is being pressured to clean up its act. Community leaders and police want them to start doing something about frequent robberies and car break-ins.

I have seen broken windshield glass in the parking lot more than once. I always do feel uneasy when I visit that store. I try to keep my business in the Grove and the CVS seems so much cleaner than the sleazy Walgreens at Grove Gate so I go to the CVS, but now I am having second thoughts.

Firefly party at The Barnacle

The Barnacle Society cordially invites you to The Firefly Party on Sunday, November 4 at 5 pm.

Enjoy fabulous hors d'oeurves and homemade deserts. There is a cash bar and live music by The Three Jacks.

$20 per person for Barnacle Members. $25 per person for guests. $30 per person at the gate.

The Barnacle State Historic Site is located at 3485 Main Highway.

For more information contact: Maggie Rossi rossimm@bellsouth.net

Wild Halloween night

So Halloween went on as usual last night in the Grove, in spite of Tropical Storm Noel. The weather was great, it rained for a few minutes at one point, but not much and the crowds came out.

All ages enjoyed the fun night. At midnight, it was still going strong. People were still entering the Grove.





The crowds at Cristabelle's Quarter waited in long lines to get in, there were crowds from one end of the Grove to the other. CocoWalk had the most people inside and out.

Mayfair had a stage set up and there were fewer and more subdued people there.

If you click on the pictures, they will open larger.