Happy New Year . . .

See you around the Groovy Grove tonight.

King Mango Strut was one of the best!

Harry Emilio Gottlieb got all these great close up shots at yesterday's King Mango Strut. It was a hot day, but no one minded, the crowd was enthralled. It seems that everything was covered in the parody parade from Imus to the demise of the Orange Bowl. Of course politicians were all torn apart from both parties. "Evel Knievel" was even there doing stunts.

Grand Marshals, Mimi Davila and Laura Di Lorenzo, the Chongalicious Girls (shown above), sang their way through the parade and then did a little concert at the end.

My actual parade photos are here.

Music on Virginia Street

Blue Man Grove doing their thing at Pommes and Pan Cafe at CocoWalk.

Pizza, Pizza

It didn't take long for the Cozzoli's location on Main Highway to be reopened as Boardwalk Pizza Company. They did a booming business this past weekend. Let's hope they continue that. Makes no sense to have boarded up storefronts on Main Highway. Now about the old Tacos and Crepes location next door . . .

King Mango Madness today in the Grove

The Chongalicious Girls, were a hit at today's King Mango Strut. The parade started at 2 pm and went on past 4 pm. It was a wild one. If you click on the pictures here, they'll open larger.

"Evel Knievel" did his thing.

The King and his court

The sun was hot, but the crowds were huge this year.

Hillary commentary.

Ike & Val Woods Band, who later played at CocoWalk.

Beth, the "Booty Hunter's" wife.

Endangered species.

2007 King Mango Strut today in the Grove

2 pm - Downtown Grove - be there!

Strut Day goings on around the Grove

Cocowalk will be the place for the King Mango Strut After Party. The party starts right after the parade and runs until 9pm - it will kick-off with the Ike & Vals Band and the 18 Wheelers.

Presidente Beer, the official beer sponsor for the after party, will be featuring beer specials and offering giveaways. Also, family activities will be available like face painting, a bounce house and more.


There are other things going on at various restaurants and bars in the other areas of the Grove.

The Bookstore has an after Christmas sale, you can see the tables set up outside with some nice discounted items.

Shaq 24 Hour Fitness still has their specials until the end of the year. Give Marco a call at 786-343-4967, he'll hook you up.

Qdoba needs employees. They are scheduled to open January 14th. You can apply right on site and if they aren't there today, just pick up an application, they are inside an envelope taped to the door. Qdoba is a few doors down from the gym on Grand Avenue.

The season is winding down . . .

So as the holiday season winds down, I noticed my Christmas tree is still as fresh as a daisy, well, er, as fresh as the day it was cut down. I have to give credit to the Boys and Girls Club for the quality of their trees. I guess the St. Stephen's trees are just as nice.

Barnacle's Old Time Dance tonight

Reminder: Tonight from 6-10 p.m. is the "Barnacle Old Time Dance". Kick up your heels to traditional American music played by Mudhole Control and caller Rae Newman while learning early American folk dance steps. Cost is $8 - 10 years and older. Info: (305) 442-6866.

Changes in the Cocoanut Grove Village Council

Starting in January, the Village Council will meet the first Thursday of each month at 7 pm at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive), it had been Tuesdays.

New chairman, Michelle Niemeyer, will start her duty then along with Martin Zilber, as vice chairman. Current chairman Gary Hecht will be stepping down.

Niemeyer was quoted as saying, "I have never felt the village council is about the chair at all. Everyone is elected or appointed and everyone ought to be heavily involved and part of things."

Not sure what Niemeyer is referring to. I found Gary Hecht to be very fair and low key. Guess she just means that is what the postion is
in general.

Holiday week in Coconut Grove

The week between Christmas and New Years is always such a nice time to spend in the Grove. The streets are packed, people are shopping and enjoying the restaurants. The weather has been great and everyone seems to want to be outside day and night.

The quiet streets in the morning, before the crowds show up, is my favorite time. You can grab a cup of coffee at The Bookstore or Starbucks and just stroll the streets before the afternoon masses arrive.

Countdown to the King Mango Strut

Grand Marshals, Mimi Davila & Laura Di Lorenzo, the Chongalicious Girls, will take to the streets Sunday for the King Mango Strut.

Volunteers are still needed, for more information, check www.kingmangostrut.org or call the Mango Hotline at 305-401-1171.

"Thirsty Thursday" at Jaguar tonight

The weekly tasting is in full swing. Tonight enjoy chilled wines, steak and chicken skewers plus ceviche served on ceramic spoons (see the Christmas tree) hosted by wine consultant Barry Alberts.

Thirsty Thursdays run from 7-9 pm (Thursdays of course). Cost: $15 at Jaguar-Ceviche Spoon Bar and Grill, 3067 Grand Avenue.
Ph: 305-444-0216.

Going green note: Jaguar is one of the first restaurants to do away with bottled water. They installed a new high-tech filtering system and they serve water at no charge in carafes. It actually tastes much better than bottled water.

New Year's Eve at The Improve in the Grove

This year, the Improv is having New Years Eve with Gary Owen (shown here). Gary has been host of BET's "Comic View" and has been in the movies, "Daddy Day Care" and
"Little Man."

The Improv's 10 pm show includes an assorted hors d'oeuvres platter and a champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and a complimentary ticket to see a future show.

Reservations are required and they are coming in fast, so reserved seating will be provided in the order that reservations come in. For info: http://www.miamiimprov.com or 305-441-8200. The Improv is at 3390 Mary Street, in the Streets of Mayfair.

Fitness Together joins Code 33

Fitness Together has now joined Code 33 and is offering one free training session or one free consultation. Don't forget the Coconut Grove Fitness Challenge is coming up.

The Fitness Together website is here: http://www.ftcoconutgrove.com/

Celebrate New Year's Eve at Cefalo's

Please click on the image to see it larger.

New Year's Eve at Cristabelle's Quarter

Christabelle's Quarter is having their first New Year's Eve Bash.

Sip bubbly as can-can dancers kick high above your head. Dine in a decadent mansion in good company. Be transported to Paris, circa 1850 to the Moulin Rouge where the passion to entertain offers a good time to all with music, dancers, food and drinks and other assorted pleasures.

First and Second Floor -- $175.00
Five course meal including A Bottle of Private Label French Sparkling Pierre Legendre Brut with Live Jazz and Blues Reservations at 8:30 or 9:30 pm

If you are not dinning that night, join everyone on the Third Floor At our the La Boheme Bar and Lounge for a fun filled evening featuring a Champagne toast at midnight, the best live entertainment, New Year's Party Favors, and more - Cover Charge $75.00

Reservations are required. VIP packages are available. For more information, please visit http://www.christabellesquarter.com/ or call (786) 517-5299 / (786) 517-2583.

Click here for Special New Year's Eve Dinner Menu

I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille

Wishing you a Grove-y Christmas!

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus letter here.

Pets took over the Central Business District

"Santa Paws" was one of the theme's at Family Day at CocoWalk this past weekend. Here is Santa Claus with Cachilo. Many people brought their pets out to pose for pictures with Santa on the final weekend before Christmas.

Jason and Koda were part of the Paws4You/Cadillac promotion. Every time someone test drove a new car, Cadillac donated $10.00 to the Paws4You organization. More about them here: www.paws4you.org .

Merry Christmas!

Click on the image to open the webpage and click on each deer to see what it does. Merry Christmas!

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus Letter is here.

'Tis the season for crowds, music and fun

Music filled the Grove again yesterday, above is the Oscar Salas Quintet, who where at Jaguar, and the "Good Blend" Quartet below (Tom, Roberto, Chris and Mike) on Commodore Plaza -- heading for Greenstreets. The groups would move around the area singing and playing Christmas music while people shopped and ate. The Grove's BIC - Business Improvement Committee sponsored this.

I ran into Dave Collins again, head of BIC, he was really happy and proud of the results. I don't blame him, the Grove was filled with happy people from end to end. Even the old Borders Books location was being used by a guy selling Romero Britto lithographs, all of the colors really brightened up that area of Mayfair, so from Mary Street, up Grand Avenue, around to Main Highway, up to Cefalo's, the whole Central Business District was abuzz with a holiday feel.

I said a quick hello to Sweetpea who was rushing off to get ready for the "Barnacle Under the Moonlight" event. And I ran into a lot of friends who I hadn't seen in awhile, too. If this momentum can keep going, I really see good things for the Grove. The next big thing will be the King Mango Strut next Sunday, where thousands of people will fill the streets.

I would love to see more movies in the park, but we do have Shakespeare in the Park to look forward to in January, also the Great Taste of the Grove and of course The Coconut Grove Arts Festival and St. Stephen's Crafts Fair in February. It's that season -- from Halloween through Spring, the Grove is the place to be.

Saverio Di Ricci great for last minute shopping

Karina and Marcelo from the Saverio Di Ricci store have many great Italian leather items from jackets to handbags to shoes. The store is located in CocoWalk right between Santa's house and Hibiscus Hill.

This is a great place for last minute Christmas shoppers. You can be in and out and get quality gifts -- the same could be said for Hibiscus Hill and their great one-of-a-kind items.