The county still wants to take over our fire department

Speaking of firemen, back in the news is the Fire Department issue, where the County wants to take over the fire service in Coconut Grove/Miami and a few other municipalities. Many are threatening a law suit if the County Commission decides at this Tuesday's meeting to put the issue on the November ballot.

It would be a county-wide vote, which in all honesty, if on the ballot at all, should be up to the municipalities, not the whole county. I would bet that most Grove voters would choose to keep things the way they are without the county getting involved in running out fire department. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Many feel it is just a move to improve the county's bottom line.

It's a bit like "taking the Grove back," if there was an election, the whole City of Miami would decide whether the Grove could leave and be it's own city, not just the Grove residents. We know that most of the city residents would not allow their cash cow, Coconut Grove to leave. And in the case of controlling the fire department, should the county choose what is good for individual cities?

The Miami Herald has a good story on this issue here.

Collecting for Jerry's Kids

It looks like they may be gone now, but earlier today there was a slew of local firemen collecting for Jerry's Kids (the Muscular Dystrophy Association), right in the center of town. Here's Fireman Jorge, happy to be out in the rain for a good cause.

Barnacle holds 2nd annual literacy event

September is Literacy Month and The Barnacle (3485 Main Highway) is featuring "Barnacle, Books, Birds & Boats!" their second annual literacy event on September 7. Parents bring your kids; kids bring your parents for a fun-filled Sunday with educational activities, games and prizes.

Enjoy story-telling, have fun with How to Haiku, feed your mind with Alphabet Soup, and much more. Activities are 11 am to 2 pm, rain or shine, the park is open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics are welcome, but alcohol is not permitted. The Barnacle is one of many state parks participating in this year’s Literacy Celebration where there is free entry into state parks with a library book, library card or book donation will occur from Sunday, September 7 through Saturday, September 13. Without the books or library card, park admission is $1. Children under 6 are free.

For additional information call 305-442-6866 or visit www.FloridaStateParks.org/TheBarnacle.

Some new fun things at The Bookstore

The Bookstore in the Grove (3399 Virginia Street) is having a little jazz group performing tonight at 7:30, they'll have a singer with the musicians.

For the month of September, they are offering 10% off their new line of greeting cards (min. $25 purchase).

Felice told me of some new plans for The Bookstore. She plans on a weekly community bingo game. These are fun, if you've seen them in other towns, you'll know how much fun they can be. Also planned is a once-a-month author visit -- book signing and reading, etc. I'll keep you posted on the start of these two new events.

It's a little offbeat world, well worth a visit

There's this place right on Main Highway, where if you blink, you'll miss it. But it's right between Le P'tit Paris Dolce Vita Gelato. It's Bertoni Brick Oven Pizza and Lounge (3462 Main Highway). You walk down a long alley, with lights coming up from the floor.


And as you get to the end of the walkway, you'll see these balls of light floating in air.


Look around and you'll see tables, chairs, a small bar and Mariano here, making pizza!


I'm not kidding, this little world exists right behind Main Highway from Tuesday thru Sunday, from 6 to midnight only. A little bohemian world, all unto itself.

The brick oven is going all night and the drinks are flowing. Stop in and tell them The Grapevine sent you. For more info, please visit www.dolcevitagelato.com/ or call 305-461-1322.

Rumor has it . . .

I'm not sure how to take this. It's bothers many people.

A local businessman and Grove champion just bought an interest in a restaurant outside the Grove, not too far from here, on Coral Way.

Many feel he should put his money where his mouth (and job) is. But I don't know how I feel. Guess it is a slap in the face to the Grove, but maybe there was nothing for him to invest in around here.

They move fast when they want to

Here's what the intersection at Tigertail and Crystal Court looks like now. They have added the little median curbs and it looks like there is a full stop, but on the Tigertail side. Shouldn't the stop be on Crystal Court side street?

I swear, some politician or big shot lives on Crystal Court. I am going to find out who it is. Another "government worker" no doubt.

Getting ready for a long holiday weekend

Right on cue, the day before a holiday weekend, the Grove fills up with people. There are so many people around this afternoon, it's quite nice.

New jewelery store opens at CocoWalk

Goldiamor Fine Jewelery is opening this weekend at CocoWalk, next to Victoria's Secret.

They are having an exclusive grand opening tomorrow, August 30 from 6 to 9 pm.

There will be complimentary wine and appetizers.For one night only they are offering 20% off all merchandise. Also, you may enter a free drawing to win a pair of gold earrings.

At this hour they were still putting the floor down (see the guy in the red shirt in the window) and the sign outside isn't up. Hopefully they'll be ready for the big opening tomorrow.

RSVP is required, by calling 305-444-7270 or emailing Info@coconutgrove.com

Those freakin' peacocks almost got me killed

See this garbage truck? Well this garbage man refused to move this morning and tried to actually smash into my car.

I was coming down Micanopy and there were a bunch of peacocks in the road -- surprise! And just as I passed them and tried to go onto 17th Avenue, this garbage man comes zooming around the block on two wheels. He sees me and refuses to move.

I asked him to please back up because I could not because of the peacocks, I didn't want to run them over. He refused and he came closer and closer and dared me to try to get around him.


When I got out and took photos, he said, "Take all the photos you want. I work for the government and I can do what I want." WTF! Isn't this why the world is in the mess it is now? Because those who work for the government think they can do what they want?

This is another good reason we need to Take Back the Grove and remove these rude city workers.
If you see a few dead peacocks on the road today, you'll know who did it. The Terminator here in his garbage truck.

He would not even let me back up into a driveway to get out of the way, he was after me. I think the camera finally scared him off.

The funny thing is that I had the same incident one minute before with a mail carrier, she could not pass because of garbage cans, but I got out of my car, moved the cans and we were both able to pass. In this instance with the garbage trucks, I was unable to move the peacocks fast enough for him.

Cracked tile art

Love the mosaics on the walls at the plaza off of Fuller Street. There are more than just these two.


This mosaic below is on the wall outside the new Dulce Cabana Club, which should have opened this month but is running behind schedule.

Fantastically Perfect Pink Fairy Party

Brenda's Boutique (3092 Fuller Street) is holding a "Fantastically Perfect Pink Fairy Party" tomorrow, August 30 from noon to 9 pm.

Atena wil be giving a free reading to anyone who makes a purchase at Brenda's. In addition, Anna Maria Salley will be giving complimentary hand massages. There will be refreshments and treats.

Stop by and enter for a $100 shopping spree. No purchase necessary, just stop in and enter.

Atena will also be unveiling her newest product line -- One-of-a-kind Fairy Wings. The perfect accessory for the fairies whose wings are not visible.

They are Code 33 members. So ask for your discount! If you're not a member, join now!

New York Times writes about our peacocks on Micanopy

I was just lying back, reading the New York Times and noticed that in today's paper, they have a large half-page story of our peacocks. Guess it's a slow news day in New York. You can read the story on line at the New York Times website here.

Grove Monopoly from back in the day

Harry Emilio Gottlieb came across this old Coconut Grove version of Monopoly. It brings back so many memories.

I had forgotten about a lot of these places like Cats, Regine's and Grove Nautilus.

A place I used to work for would print the Regine's posters, also Suzanne's in the Grove. They would both promote different things each week and we would do that printing. Also I see the Home Show -- that was a fixture once or twice a year at the Expo Center along with antique shows every month for Coconut Grove Cares, a local charity.

The Burdines at Mayfair brings back memories, too. Many of you may not know, but Mayfair used to be an indoor mall, very exclusive, giving Bal Harbour a run for their money, or trying anyway. They were so overpriced and out of place for the Grove that the whole thing was knocked down and made into what you see today.

That's a great lesson for those who would want to make the Grove so elitist. It won't work.


To see what the old Mayfair mall looked like, you could get an idea by going into the current Mayfair Hotel, which was part of the structure. The center courtyard was what the mall looked like only it was much larger, with many more water features.

It had sort of a hush and there was never really any foot traffic except for the clubs at night. It consisted of stores like Ferragamo and Gucci and Versace. The Burdines was so overpriced, you could actually go to Dadeland and get the same exact items for much less. But even so, it was a nice place to visit, a tourist destination -- a place you would take visitors from out of town. Maybe it could have worked today with regular stores that weren't so out of reach for regular shoppers.

Renovation of the Swiss restaurant is moving fast

The Swiss restaurant on Commodore Plaza is really taking shape quite quickly. They did so much in 12 days. I am told in about a week the black awning and lights will be up out front.

The new marble out front goes well with Christabelle's Quarter next door. There is sort of a flow to the two businesses now. John from Christabelle's is really pleased.

As you know, the Women's Fitness center next door will be the new Swiss chocolate shop in a few months. And the hair salon on the corner was sold by ZuZu. Looks like ZuZu is out of the Grove picture these days but the hair salon will go on.

One of the gym owners from the other side of the Grove was looking to buy the equipment from Women's Fitness today, but it's sold already and will be gone by tomorrow.

But it looks like pretty soon, we'll have the new Swiss restaurant to go to. They aren't sure about a name yet, they told me one, but didn't want it published because it probably will change. I'll let you know for sure when I know.

"Take Back the Grove" meeting tonight

Tonight community members of Miami and Coconut Grove will meet at Flavour Night Club (2895 McFarlane Road) at 6 pm to discuss Coconut Grove's secession from the City of Miami. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The issues, pros and cons will be presented and discussed amongst the community members.

An agenda for tonight's meeting can be found here.

The group of community members attending will also discuss and vote on a new name for the group.

"En Plein Air" art event hosted by Windisch-Hunt Gallery

The Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery (2911 Grand Avenue) will be holding an "En Plein Air Event," next month.

Basically these events are held in places like Vizcaya or the Deering Estate or Fairchild Gardens, but the Grove will work, too. Artists start with a blank canvas or sheet of watercolor paper and to make it fair, it has to be documented as blank at the beginning of the event. After the first day, the "half finished" paintings are locked up and then returned to the artists the next morning to complete their artwork. The artists compete for prize money.

This inaugural Grove event is October 4 and 5. There will be an afternoon reception on October 12 (details to come).

Awards will be given for first, second and third place and there will be honorable mention.

All entries will be exhibited in the gallery until October 30. Right now this is for oil, watercolor and acrylic, but a photography component is being worked on.

For more info, please contact Jane Harris at grovite1@mac.com

(Photo is Linda Apriletti at work at City Hall.)

What is the point of this?

There is a new median or traffic calming device being put in on Tigertail at the corner of Crystal Court. Why?

Isn't this an historic road? Is this even legal? And aside from rush hour traffic times in the morning and afternoon, when is there ever really any traffic on Tigertail? I actually had to wait a little while for this car to drive by because I wanted a car in the photo, but there were none on the road.

Perhaps it is to calm traffic for peacock crossing? Maybe a public official lives on this corner and it's being put in for his kids as a personal favor.

Whatever the case, it's just another example of tax dollars being wasted. It is not needed and it makes the road ugly.

A big hole in the ground

Out of this mess will come a new post office parking lot. I think.

This is the scene today. There's a big hole in the ground and drainage pipes seem to be part of the mix now. Someone tells me that it looks like they are shoring up things for future large construction (like a parking garage?) on the site. Maybe they are.

But for now, their main goal is to have the parking lot done by the end of September. The countdown has begun.

Woman's Club is ready to open

I ran into a happy Doreen LoCicero at the post office today, mailing out the Woman's Club's bright pink September newsletters.

She was all excited about the renovations at the club, which are almost done, in fact they are having their membership meeting on September 4, which includes a covered dish luncheon.

The clubhouse now only needs some painting done inside, but the handicapped accessible sidewalks and ramp are all done. The new entrance is on the side. The bathrooms have all been redone, the floor was lowered, the floors have all been redone, too.

Bill Hansen has agreed to split the cost of the landscaping, so that should be the next step. And Bill, who only throws the best parties, will now manage the Clubhouse property as their event planner. You can book parties, bar mitzvahs, receptions (my sister-in-law had a big birthday party there), please call 305-446-2909 or email shaneil@leadingcaterers.com

The club still needs to raise money to pay for all this, so they are open for events now. It's a great venue, right across from the water, easy walking to anywhere in the Grove. The Club's website is here: http://womansclubofcoconutgrove.com/

Come out for "Celestial Fridays" -- be mystified

Atena Komar (shown here) will be hosting a new event at Celestial Treasuers (3444 Main Highway) the last Friday of every month called, what else, "Celestial Fridays."

Atena will be presenting a new workshop, healing circle or meditation every month and it's absolutely free. The next event is this Friday, August 29 at 1:30 pm and then again at 7:30 pm. It's inside Floretine Plaza, by the fountain.

Atena is available for her inspiring fairy-inspired readings every Friday from 1 pm to 10 pm at Celestial Treasures. This is not your grandmother’s Tarot Reading.

“I do not practice scare tactics and will not tell you all the ways that you are cursed and how you should buy more services from me to 'fix' your life. I offer real, positive and empowering insight in to the issues that are affecting your life," says Atena

Celestial Treasures offers spiritual books, incense, gifts, jewelry, art and crystals along with interactive workshops and events all year long.

For more info, please call 305-297-5516 or just stop in.

Euro Sport Café to open soon

Looks like the Euro Sport Café is taking over the spot at Bird and 27th Ave, where Tigertail Realty was in the new building on the corner.

Unfortunately, because of the rough real estate market, Tigertail Realty will be closing after five years in business. Most of the agents will be joining Avatar Realty on S. Bayshore Drive.

The Euro Sport Café is owned by locals Ralph and Andrea Hoffmeier and David Packard. The new place will be a coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating.

Great location, I'm wondering about parking though. But it's always nice to see a new café or restaurant opening in the Grove.

On the other end of the building will be the new Coconut Grove Pharmacy, which is taking shape, work crews are working there today.

Election day

Did you vote today? Benny did, for the first time. His proud sister took photos of him in front of his voting precinct at the Museum of Science.

The election officials are predicting a slow turnout today, but it might be a good idea to go and try the new system. You actually do it with pen and paper now. Maybe they'll get our votes counted with this new system.

Save the date

Museum's next happy hour mixer is Thursday

The Museum of Science's next "Professional Happy Hour," called "Dance" is Thursday, August 28 from 6 to 10 pm. Members pay $10.00 and the general public $15.00. This includes an open bar and food all night.

It's one of the best professional mixers in town.The Dance Theater of Miami will be featured.

Parking is free.

The museum is across from Vizcaya at 3280 South Miami Avenue. For info, please call 305-646-4209.

Coconut Grove Arts Festival is number one again

Elena Carpenter from Miami Monthly sent me this page from Sunshine Artist magazine.

The Grove should be proud to know that the Coconut Grove Arts Festival is number one again. According to the article, the Grove festival is not just the top-rated fine art show, it is the top fine art event in the history of the 200 Best!

Nice going! Monty just got back in town for the season, nice news to come home to.

Rumor has it that the Arts Festival office may be moving into the old Borders Books location and their art gallery will be expanded. More good news!

Guarding the guard

Here's one of CocoWalk's security guards guarding Freddie the Flamingo this morning, who guards the Grove.

"Burn Notice" has part of 27th Avenue closed

"Burn Notice" is filming at 27th Avenue and S. Bayshore Drive this morning. I took this picture as I was driving now, so it's a bit blurry and abstract. I sort of like the way it came out. You can see Michael Westen's car right there.

The schedule for today's filming is here.

Arts in the parks

We have a few art installations in the Grove. It would be really great if we had more.

Many places like Sarasota, have a traveling exhibition up and down their main street (US41). It's always changing and consists of many different types of sculptures, you can see a few in the photo here. But simultaneously they have "dancing cars" -- cars standing up on end and an Andy Warhol sculpture, of him, not by him and all sorts of different styles and things. As you drive around town, you see amazing, artful things. It's lively and eclectic, and it all works.

We could do that here in the Grove up and down South Bayshore Drive.

There are some great things there now like the horse, giraffe and the bench sculptures, but how about more that would change on a continuing basis? We used to have those big rusty things at Kennedy Park for awhile. While many people hated them, many people loved them and they did add a little dimension to the park.

Different art installations up and down the parks would be nice and I don't think we need to wait for the whole Waterfront Masterplan to be completed, we should start now. Perhaps someone like AnnaMaria Windish-Hunt could be hired and run the program.

More on Code Enforcement and trees

Village Council member, Lilliana Dones sent me this:

A memo from Lourdes Slazyck of the Zoning Department to the zoning staff discusses stricter measures involving issuance of building permits in cases where compliance involving trees is an issue. It reads, in part:

Zoning Staff:

As I mentioned to some of you this week, I attended a meeting earlier this week where an issue came up about compliance with tree removal and relocation procedures. In an effort to provide for better compliance with these regulations, the Office of Zoning will immediately implement the following:

1) No building permit is to be approved by zoning where a tree removal or relocation is being proposed until such time that the applicant provides you with a copy of the final approved tree permit.
2) All permit plans which involve tree relocation and removal shall include a note on the plans that specifically state “TREE REMOVAL AND RELOCATION PERMIT REQUIRED; TO BE OBTAINED SEPARATELY.”
3) We will be ordering a stamp for our use on plans that require tree removal and relocation for our signature. Once stamped, the plans may only be signed upon compliance with #1 above.

There will be more meetings on the subject along with Director De Mola, who was out of town and unable to attend the last meeting.

Going postal

They're working on the parking lot now at the post office, as you know, hopefully they'll add one of these Automated Postal Center's inside as they proceed with improvements.

I used this one yesterday at the Gables post office and I was literally in and out in a minute.

Sure beats the long waits at the Grove post office.

Is Code Enforcement too slow on tree massacres?

Lilliana Dones, Village Council member, spoke at last Thursday's meeting about the problems with developers and the lack of responsiveness with Code Enforcement on tree cuttings.

The developers and other residents know that if they get the massacre done quickly, there is nothing they have to do except pay a fine. If they are building multi million dollar projects, a few thousand dollars in fines is just part of doing business. This is all a big joke.

More than just fines need to be put in place, I don't know what, maybe jail time -- is that too extreme? As slow as Code Enforcement may seem, they really can't be all places at all times, especially late at night and early morning hours when most of these anti-green jerks chop up the trees on purpose.

"Burn Notice" closing parts of Grove to film

"Burn Notice" will be filming in the Grove tomorrow. Special effects with two vehicles will be the main thing. This will be from 6:30 am to 10:30 am on 27th Avenue, adjacent to the Expo Center.

Part of 27th Avenue will be closed and when filming, all will be closed for the particular shot. The boat ramp will remain open.

Aside from scenes near the Seminole Boat Ramp, they will be filming at G’s Lounge, located at 3725 Grand Avenue. For some of these scenes at this location, the production is requesting to close Grand Avenue between 10 am to 2pm. Police officers will be on-site to guide traffic through a one-block detour.

If the production cannot finish the scenes during this time period, they have requested an extension to close Grand Avenue a second time from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Last Thursday's show had this scene. It looked really good on tv. And the car chase and shooting on Rice Street really looked great.

6:00 and all is well . . .

I think Freddie does a good job of keeping watch over the Grove. What would be cool would be to put a microphone inside him or something and have people ask Freddie directions and information, while he can't point directions, he'd do a hell of a lot better than what we have now.

Example:

Lost tourist: "Freddie, where can I get internet access?"

Freddie: "Well, do you have your own computer? If so, try The Bookstore on the corner or Starbucks right behind me, they have free wifi service."

Lost tourist: "No, I need to rent time on a computer to check my email, I didn't bring a laptop with me."

Freddie: "Well then, try Oasis Café right down the block in the direction my nose is pointing, next to the pizza place."

I think talking Freddie would be a hit.

Good vibrations

There are so many great coffee places in the Grove, but the most liveliest is the new Starbucks. It really always has something going on and the staff there is really always happy and seem joyful to see you. Here's Lino playing the guitar with his friend Max. Remember Lino and the banana hat? Well that hat is always on someone else's head every time you enter the place. They tell me they only have the one banana hat and they share it.

The place is always bustling, night and day, but on weekend nights it really tends to be a fun hangout for lots of different people, old and young. There's a real good vibe and energy there. It has a New York feel to it. When Lino left, with his guitar on his back, walking into the street among the yellow cabs and crowds, it really felt very cosmopolitan. The Grove is growing up.

Love to see this every day

Who needs someone in the information booths when you have a cop on a horse? This was the scene this morning in the Grove. Nice, quaint and Grovey. Everyone loved it. We would love to see more of this. Maybe everyday if the BID happens?

Village Council discusses peacocks

The Village Council met Thursday night and discussed the peacock issue. The thing here is that the folks who live on Micanopy love the peacocks, just not on their street. They are loud and dirty and a nuisance (the peacocks, not the neighbors, well actually one neighbor is).

One lady who lives on Micanopy feeds animals, mostly cats on the street on Micanopy, and that may be a big reason why the birds flock to that area. Council member, Gary Hecht will speak with code enforcement about this, but maybe they can just speak with the lady. Is this a code enforcement issue -- feeding stray animals, I mean.

The best solution, according to the neighbors would be to relocate them (the peafowl, not the nuisance neighbor who feeds them) to other areas of the Grove.

I don't know if the parks are a safe environment for the peafowl (peacocks and peahens), because of all of the people, but Peacock Park is a natural and so is Kennedy Park.

An avian expert may be brought in and perhaps the expert can come up with a solution. But that is up to the City now (another great reason why the Grove needs to start calling our own shots and not always having to defer to the City).

Next Chamber networker is at Cita's

The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce invites you to the "After Hours Club" to exchange ideas and business referrals or just meet new friends on Tuesday, August 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The networker is at Cita's Italian Chophouse (3176 Commodore Plaza).

Enjoy a complimentary cocktail and hors d ‘oeuvres with additional drinks at happy hour prices.

Plus you can buy a ticket for fun raffle prizes.

$5 Chamber Members/$10 Non-Members

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

Enjoy a night at the museum -- tonight!

The Dinosaurs of China are finally going go to be extinct at the Museum of Science (3280 South Miami Avenue). Whether you have seen them already, or would like to seem them again, you can see them in a different "light."

For the next two Fridays, the museum will have extended evening hours, with fun for the entire family. Dance to the music of your favorite artist (Miley, Joe, Nick and Kevin) and experience the cool light perception exhibit and participate in hair-raising scientific demos.

You can even take flashlight tours of the Dinosaur gallery . . . in the spooky dark. Also along with the live entertainment, enjoy food, drinks and face painting.

This all takes place the tonight and next Friday, August 29 from 6 to 10 pm at the Museum of Science. Admission is just $10.00 per person.

For more information visit our website http://www.miamisci.org/ or call 305-646-4405

Taking Back The Grove group met last night

The "Take Back The Grove" group met again last night. One of their plans is to get an actual name for the group, and drop TBTG. Also, they did not elect a mayor yet.

Their main goal now is to get more people involved. I was thinking that the "Mayor" in Denver was Glenn Terry joking around, the description sounded like him, but you can see him here at the meeting last night, so guess that was not him in Colorado.



I am told that next week they will have a "laser sharp agenda" on addressing the group's growth and also they will start tackling the practical reasons why this is good for the Grove and the people and communities in Miami. You can sign up here if you like.

Did they elect a Grove mayor yet?

Someone seems to be rushing this "Take Back the Grove" thing. I got this email last night:

"Today in Denver, CO I met a gentleman who identified himself as the mayor of Coconut Grove, but upon research, I don't see where the people of Coconut Grove have their own mayor, but rather share one with Miami. Could you please help me identify the individual? The person I spoke with rides motorcycles and is picking up a new one in Atlanta on his way home from Denver. He was approximately 6 feet tall, graying brown hair and spectacles. He flashed a small badge which I assumed to be an official seal of office or some such."

Miami 21 meeting tomorrow morning

As you know, Miami 21 is a complete overhaul of our zoning laws. In part, it is intended to avoid circumstances where twenty-story buildings can be built adjacent to single family homes, as has happened around the city. It is also intended to create walking communities by allowing mixed use residential/office/commercial environments along transportation corridors.

There have been workshops for Miami 21, including two in Coconut Grove, and there will be an open house tomorrow where the planners will show how they have mapped the South Quadrant, which includes Coconut Grove. Residents will be able to see where they want to allow buildings of various heights and so on and residents will be able to comment.

This may be our only opportunity to give our input on the mapping before the Miami 21 plan is presented to the City Commission for approval.

Again, the meeting is this Saturday, August 23, from 8 am to noon at City Hall, right here in the Groovy Grove - 3500 Pan American Drive.

The latest drafts and maps are here.

He's a local celebrity

Freddie the Flamingo in front of CocoWalk has to be the most photographed thing (person, animal?) in the Grove. Don't you think? With all the talk of peacocks, maybe he can get a peacock friend made by some artist and the peacock could join him in the fountain. Either that or one or two of the real peacocks can be brought over to roam CocoWalk. They have a hell of a lot better personality than most of the security staff there. I had to stop in traffic today to let one of the majestic birds cross the street today on Tigertail.

The party is on now for Bailey!

Sorry for the late invite, but I was just informed that today's is Baily's birthday at the Coconut Grove Gallery at Bird and Mary.

Bailey is the golden retriever mascot of the store. The party is on until 6 pm.

Snacks and drinks are available for everyone, including your pet, so bring your pets on over and enjoy.

Sales include $100 off any single purchase of $500 or more. Parking is free and they are a member of Code 33, so you can also get a discount using the card. See you there!

More filming takes over Grove streets

Here's the tv show "Gabriel" being filmed yesterday, right next to the "For Rent" parking booth. Wonder if that sign made it into the filming. You can see it is still up from the photo below. Looks like the camera is sort of facing the post office lot. Guess the old lady being filmed is supposed to be in the ghetto or something as part of the tv show. I can't image why they would want that background with all the beautiful scenery we have here in the Grove.


Photos by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

For rent, 2 x 4 square feet

I thought the parking booth was for rent until I went up and saw that the sign says it's an office that is for rent. If you click on the picture, it will open larger and be easier to read. This is the lot at Fuller and Grand.

Take Back the Grove meets tonight

Just before the Village Council meeting, you may want to check out the "Take Back the Grove" meeting, which will be at Flavour Night Club (2895 McFarlane Road) tonight at 6 pm.

Join Tony and Matt to discuss the next step in reclaiming the Grove from the City of Miami's clutches. You may sign up here.

I suggest these guys make the meetings on a day or night when the Village Council and the City Commission don't have meetings, which tend to be Thursdays. I think there is a conflict there and many neighbors and even council members might want to check out the "Take Back the Grove" meetings to see what's up, but they are unavailable.

How about Saturday's maybe 11 am or noon? It should also be something informal and not threatening so that folks show up and don't see it as a vigilante group.

Village Council meeting tonight

There's a Village Council meeting tonight from 7 to 9 pm at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive).

There doesn't seem to be much going on in the summer because the big issue tonight is the peacock issue. Concerned residents will be giving their views on the peacocks and peahens, they call it the "Big Pea Fowl Issue."

There's also an update regarding the effectiveness of code enforcement in relation to tree cutting violations.

This is sort of a light meeting compared to the Waterfront Master Plan debate including "Burn Notice" and the Expo Center last time. But the meetings are always entertaining nontheless. If you can't make it, you may see it on line at: http://videos.miamigov.com/ or it is televised on cable channel 77.

If only we could do similar

News story:
David Byrne designs nine artistic bike racks for NYC.

If only the Grove could be so sophisticated -- and green.

NY Times story here.

Tropical Storm Fay hurt their food supply

Looks like the giraffe and horse had a problem with their tree at Kenneth Myers Park thanks to Tropical Storm Fay. The tree around the art installations was uprighted today by work crews.

Photos by Harry Emilio Gottlieb, photographer at large

TV show "Gabriel" filming tonight in Grove

A tv show called "Gabriel" will be filming scenes in Coconut Grove tonight from 6 pm until 2 am.

Filming will take place on Fuller Street. And remember, don't look at the camera when they yell "rolling" and you might end up as an accidental extra.

St. Stephens is renovating in a green way

St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School, here in the Grove, is designing a new school building. They also are redoing their front office and they are replacing classrooms with retail space. The footprint will remain the same.

They have applied for a Class II special permit and this has been granted. It has been found that the proposed two-story addition is in keeping with the architectural character of the existing building. No lighting plan was submitted and that is now being required by the zoning department. Any changes will have to be reviewed by the City Planning Department.

The new school and area will be certified green, I think this may be only the second school in the county to be certified green. Some great environmental things include the capturing of rain water which will be used to irrigate the site. Vegetation will surround the structure and climb a two-story trellis, enveloping the building in a vertical garden of green. Large overhangs will allow shade and conserve energy. Roofing solar panels will be part of the plan, too.

New construction will incorporate a new front of the Mission style chapel, that occupied the site in the early 1900s. There will be no increase in students and additional parking space is not needed. The retail building will follow the zoning requirements abutting its neighbor and a setback five feet from the property line.

For a summary of all the good works St. Stephen's does, please
click here.

Post Office update

Good news and bad news. The Good news is that the post office project is moving on, they have everything roped off today in order to leave room for the parking lot workers and that's the bad news, there is only room for maybe five or six cars to park on the street today, near McDonald and on McDonald. So I would avoid the post office today if you are driving.

Hopefully they'll open some time this century

Akashi is taking shape, ever so slowly. Each time you ask them what the hold up is, they say inspections and permits, etc. The usual stuff.

But they already have the dishes inside, so hopefully they will get their permits in order.

Update: They are open. Story here.

Comfort food

I found my comfort food at Focaccia Rustica (3411 Grand Avenue). I am addicted to their lamb chops. If you haven't tried them, you should. The soup pictured below is from another day. They don't have the chicken soup every day, but when they do, that with the lamb chops is a perfect lunch. Today they have a broccoli soup.

I think a lot of people needed to get out after being house bound. Every place I passed was packed for lunch. Every table was taken at Focaccia when I arrived, as well. Could be their Miami Spice specials, too.

But now that I had my lamb chops, all is right with the world again.

Not much damage

While I was out looking for comfort food, Harry Emilio Gottlieb was out getting these pictures. Just a few remnants from Tropical Storm Fay in the Grove. We are lucky there wasn't much damage. Just a few small trees down and dirty water.

Open for biz

Looks like things are getting back to normal today. The umbrellas are going up at Johnny Rockets, I saw the UPS guys all over doing their thing. Lots of cars are starting to take to the streets.

I'm in the mood for comfort food, you know, something like meatloaf or mac and cheese. Anything like that in the Grove? I can't think of anything. We need an old fashioned diner for comfort food moments.

Horrible night

Horrible night. I didn't sleep a wink.

Now we have problems with the fire water pump and elevator at our building. The crews are coming out now to fix it all.

Our electricity was off all night and luckily came on about 7 am. Hope all is well with you. I know it wasn't much of a storm but I don't like the wind and the rain. I think next summer I am getting a place in Asheville, NC or something. I'm getting to old do go through the hurricane drills all the time. There's no way we should have to live like this if we don't have to. What do you think?

I am envying a few of my friends and neighbors now who are in Maine, Woodstock and Asheville.

Update on Charlie Brown

This is in from Deborah Crisp, oh to be in Indiana right now. :)

It's been a while since I've written you about Charlie Brown, as he has just been recuperating, and living, in an assisted living facility. He has gotten much better, and sounds good. He is walking more, and is having cataract surgery tomorrow, as his vision is extremely poor, but should greatly improve with the surgery.

Charlie feels that he will, very soon, be able to live on his own, and has started looking for places to live. So, it's time to start asking you for your assistance, so Charlie can live independently off the streets. Some of you (and you know who you are) sent me checks months ago, which I returned to you, as we had no clue if Charlie would recuperate, or how long it would take. Now I am appealing to you to write those checks again!

If you care to contribute, please make checks payable to CHARLES ELMORE and mail them to

Deborah Crisp
5921 S. Woodstrail Dr.
Columbia City, IN 46725
ddcrisp@msn.com

I will be in Indiana until about the middle of October. I will transmit the checks to Charlie when he needs them.

Thanks for your help. I look forward to seeing you all in the fall.

Nasty day to be out and about, but people are

It's a nasty day out there. Here are two pics I took from my car. There's really not anyone out on the streets, but if you go into places like The Bookstore and many local restaurants, there are plenty of people enjoying the cozy atmospheres.

In The Bookstore there are groups of friends enjoying coffee and pastries, others are working on their computers and others are enjoying the books. Local restaurants have people eating a cozy brunch or lunch as it rains outside. And even the gym seemed to have quite a bit of people inside working out. So while it's not an outdoor day, there seems to be plenty to do inside.

Looks like Johnny Rockets and many outdoor places won't be doing much business today.

They take their chocolate seriously

So it's like this. The old Anokha space on Commodore Plaza is going to be a new Swiss restaurant opening in about a month's time. They gutted the whole place and are installing new bathrooms, new walls, lighting, etc. Marble is going on the facade today. Supposedly they will be through with most structural things by the end of the week. The Swiss move on time and pretty fast. Love their timepieces and their chocolate.

Speaking of chocolate, the chocolate shop will be next door where the Women's Fitness gym was. I asked the guy working here about the "candy store," he got a bit insulted and told me it's a "chocolate shop, not a candy store." Love the Swiss. :)

The Chocolate shop will be opening in a few months, hopefully around Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's funny that the chocolate shop is taking the place of the gym, it sort of reminds me of the Jenny Craig next to Dunkin' Donuts on US1.

The calm before the storm

Some friends enjoying their last weekend before school and Tropical Storm Fay. Schools were cancelled for tomorrow (the first day and all), but Fay looks like she is going more into the gulf and may avoid us, at least we are out of the cone of activity.

Conflicts of our home supply/hardware stores

I find this good that our Home Depot doesn't have long lines of people buying hurricane supplies today. Where you see mobs of people leaving with wood planks and such at the other stores, ours is just business as usual, which means no business. I know, I know, you Home Depot lovers don't like this. I do. Since they don't have the large wood planks for sale, they don't have much business. That and no plant department was the win situation for the Grove.

Home Depot just hangs on now for spite, they don't make any money at the Grove location. I don't want to make this a Home Depot debate. You are either for them ruining our town or you aren't.

Beth Dunlop says this in today's Herald about the proposed Wal-Mart downtown, I suspect she feels the same about the Home Depot in the Grove, while we may not be urban, the Grove site is a prime site: "At a time and in a place where we should be seeking to create urbanity, a Wal-Mart -- even the nicest superstore ever built -- would mean instant squalor. Big-box stores may be a fact of suburban and -- in far too many places -- small-town life; they may be a fact of economic life. But a big-box store does not belong on this prime urban site. For decades, the civic and cultural leadership of Miami has worked to create what is still an emerging downtown cultural precinct."

But that is not what this post is about, this is about Shell Lumber.

What I don't understand is that Shell Lumber is closed. It's admirable that they maybe want to close on Sundays and don't feel the need for greed, but I think as a community service, they need to start opening on Sundays. People work on their homes on the weekends and need supplies. We saved their ass by fighting Home Depot's large store, which honestly is why they are still around, now they need to start accommodating the people that might need them on Sundays, especially when a storm is threatening.

Both these photos were taken less than an hour ago.

At least they appreciate the waterfront

Someone sent me this letter (in blue), I took the picture:

"Today I drove down S. Bayshore twice and the only people I saw enjoying our green space at Kenny Myers Park were 3 homeless guys sleeping on the "green" and one sitting on our beautiful metal sculptured bench with his garbage bag full of everything he probably picked up curbside.

Is this what we can expect when the Expo Center goes down and we get a lot more green space? Yeah like I am going to get my family out there and have a picnic in that park!"

Well, they could be bothering people at the Kwik Stop, asking people for 80 cents for the bus. But to be honest, do you think these people want to be poor and homeless? Let's cut them some slack, they add flavor and atmosphere to the Grove and they are not really as annoying as homeless people you see in other cities who are constantly bothering people. These are Grove characters, some are the link to the Grove's past.

As for green space, nothing wrong with that, just let "Burn Notice" finish at the Expo Center before anything is torn down.

What does your future hold?

And speaking of laying cards on the table, Nicky does Tarot readings at The Bookstore in the Grove on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9 pm. I took this photo last night. Pop in tonight if you need to know what your destiny holds.

She does the Tarot cards and ancestor guidance and even angelic invocations. She can be reached at 305-877-3028.

Fighting the fight since 1925

Here is an old Grove anti-annexation full page newspaper ad from June 16, 1925 sent to me from Harry Emilio Gottlieb, who got it from Miami historian Arva Moore Parks. If you click on it, it will open much larger.

Bringing beer to the streets

A bar out on the street? Now if we could only get 5 am closings back!

This bar was actually on wheels. It's an Amstel Light promotion that you may see weekend nights going around the Grove streets. This was the scene last night.

I thought they were handing out beer, but I think they were just coupons. Just as good I guess, except I can't see myself walking into the Sandbar or something and handing them a coupon.

Full Moon Friday

Lots of folks out in the Grove tonight. It's really been getting better and better. I started out the day having coffee with Harry and ended the day having coffee with Sylvia. Harry and I were at Focaccia (where else?) and a guy came up to us and asked if I was the blog guy, then when I introduced him to Harry, he was excited about meeting "Harry, the photo guy," as he called him. Sylvia and I had coffee at Starbucks, where they were giving out free samples of cakes and ground coffee to take home.

There's a nice full moon out, you may be able to see it behind Brandon's head here. It's the white dot just to the left of his shoulder, not the yellow one. It's actually big and full and of course better in person. Brandon and his buds are ready to take anyone out for a nice rickshaw ride under the full moon tonight. Look for him in front of CocoWalk.

As I was talking to Brandon, a tourist came up and asked me where Commodore Plaza was, she had tried the info booth, but as you can see, the guard doesn't even like the booth, he prefers to guard The Gap instead.

By the way, ran into Paul, the sunglasses guy at Mayfair, he is getting some nice souvenirs in to sell with his sunglasses and he would just die to man that booth. He could give info out while selling his wares. I think that's a good fit. You wouldn't have to pay anyone, he would just run his business and give out info at the same time for free.

Zip here is playing at Pommes and Pane Café tonight. I saw Olav there, too, with a bunch of friends at one of the tables. It's really a great full moon Friday in the Grove. Olav always makes you feel welcome, stop in for a drink or something to munch on. He's a great host.

Forced annexation of the City of Coconut Grove?

Matt Heitzenroder has posted an interesting account about the "forced annexation of the City of Coconut Grove" in 1925. That is here.

In 1925 97% of the voters in the City of Miami approved the annexation, interestingly enough, 87% of the Grove voters were against it. Because most voters lived in Miami and not the Grove, the item was passed with 88% in favor.

This was a time of the big boom in Miami and really, no one was forced. It was a legal vote, even though the Grove's wishes were not met. But everyone was going crazy at the time and thought that the Grove, along with all the other cities such as Little River, Allapattah, Buena Vista, Lemon City, Silver Bluff (Silver Bluff was a separate city) should be part of the big city of Miami.

Also, an interesting note: Key Biscayne used to be part of Coral Gables. Yup. There was a court case around 1941 where the Matheson family got Key Biscayne de-annexed because they were not getting any service. Now Key Biscayne, after being part of Metro Dade all those years following, is it's own city.

Sweetening up Commodore Plaza

A new Swiss candy shop will be taking over the spot on Commodore Plaza vacated by Anokha.

No opening date is set, but I love the direction Commodore Plaza is taking. Very international. If business is good they have the option of taking over the woman's fitness place next door, which has closed recently.

First aid program tomorrow at St. Stephen's

St. Stephen's is holding a standard first aid program for adults and children from 9 am to 4:30 pm, tomorrow, Saturday, August 16.

The all day class will teach the skills to recognize and care for cardiac emergencies in adults and children, including the use of automated external defibrillator (AED). The class also includes skills to care for poisoning, bleeding, diabetic emergencies, exposure to heat and cold, seizures, and injuries to bones, muscles and joints. Participants will receive a booklet and skill cards to use reference material after the course. This course meets the ECC 2005 Guidelines and OSHA requirements.

Cost: $62 / Reduced rate parking is available in the St. Stephen's lot. Call Robin at 305-448-2601 for more info.

Taking back the Grove meeting last night

So it seems that the concept of "Reclaiming the Grove" which I brought up here and here last week has caught on. Some activists had a meeting last night. The 45 minute meeting went well. Here you can see Tony Scornavacca, Jr. (who arranged the meeting, at left) and attorney Lowell Kuvin, who is well-known for suing Coral Gables successfully. Others at the meeting included Javib Camayd, from Flavour, Harry Emilio Gottlieb and Matt Heitzenroder to name a few. Matt took the above photo.

Javib offered Flavour as a meeting spot for their next pow pow which would be good since this one was outside and the weather wasn't so great. Also, I am hoping future meetings will be on weekends, when more people can attend. They are hoping to have once a week meetings.

So many people showed up for the post office meeting that time with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen because it was midday on a Saturday and more convenient.

The meeting last night was mostly a meet and greet since many did not know each other before, but things are in the works and of course there was the usual talk of un-annexation from the City of Miami. Things are still up in the air, because no one is sure legally who votes -- all city residents, the Grove residents or the City or County Commission.

Harry made three excellent points:

1. He suggests starting a petition which asks people if they would like to secede, to get various organizations to support this and demonstrate how everyone will benefit if the Grove becomes independent.

2. Do what renters do when they are not getting the landlord to fix things. Withhold funds until they do. Place Miami taxes in an escrow account until a court forced the city to do what is right for all of us.

3. Claim that Coconut Grove was illegally annexed back in 1925 in the first place. Why should a city that is 25 years old then the one next door agree to be annexed by the upstart? Determine how this annexation took place. For years everyone has said that it was illegally accomplished when most of the Grove residents where out of town in the hot summer time. (Aren't most things in Miami done this way?) Determine how many people lived in the Grove and Miami at the time. Determine how many people actually voted to annex the Grove. What was the logic to this? He proposes that the Grove was illegally annexed and that like an Indian Nation we have been cheated and we are still our own city. We want restitution and our independence returned to us.

They want to set up a trust fund and collect $300 from a bunch of people to raise around $1 million.

Another good local restaurant review

Another nice write up for another Grove restaurant. In the Herald today, a review on George's in the Grove by Victoria Pesce Elliott. Her headline, "The Party's Always on at George's in the Grove" says it all.

She mentions George's famous Nutella Pizza, which is just as good as the Tequila Pizza.

Buying crack in Coconut Grove

Somebody just did a search on Google for "buying crack in coconut grove" and The Grapevine came up. I hope they didn't find anything. I mean they found this blog, but I hope they don't find the crack.

If the person who is doing the searching finds this post -- there is no crack in Coconut Grove. Go away.

Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association
makes for some beautiful scenery

This past weekend was the BBYRA (Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association) double-handed race. This means that you can sail any boat you want, but with only two people. There were a few boats out around 33-35 feet, who usually race with 8 crew, and several smaller boats who sail with anywhere from 2 to 5 people.

Generally the owner will drive the boat, help with pulling up halyards (the lines that pull up the sails), and the crew will do everything else (trimming and tacking the jib, hoisting and dousing the sails, trimming and jibing the spinnaker, and any other minor jobs the skipper may request from his vantage point on the stern). This is an exhausting race for both skipper and crew as the heat is more draining with all the work and there's little time to jump below for more water or to hand off a job and take a break for a bit.

The smaller boats are more used to sailing with two or three, so it's not quite as difficult (although they may disagree with that!). Saturday's race had the one unusual element of not enough water under a turning mark, causing at least one deeper keeled boat (drawing 7'6") to run aground. You can see the owner, Eamonn Delisser, standing with his arms crossed in frustration, while his boat sits, sails full, unmoving atop the mud. They were able to move the keel enough to escape and ultimately won their division.

More info about racing in the bay, including a crew sign up form, can be found at www.bbyra.net.

Photo and story by Paige Brooks

Use them or get rid of them

This is a very common scene in the Grove: Lost tourists with an map standing next to the empty black information booths. It says to them, "We don't care." It really does.

They continue to please

It's amazing that I have only heard good things about Cita's Italian Chop House. Not that I expected to hear anything bad, but it's just interesting to only hear good things about a place. Here's another nice review from Kate at Kate's Plates.

Blind Mind wrote a nice review here.

Don't forget, Cita's is part of Miami Spice along with some other great Grove restaurants. The list includes:

Baleen
Bizcaya
Cita's Italian Chop House
Christabelle's Quarter
Focaccia Rustica
Nikki Coconut Grove
Panorama at the Sonesta

They all have special lunch and dinner menus as part of the program.

The Center of the Grove may be shifting

I love the Shaq 24 Hour Fitness gym. I love the equipment but also I love that fact that I always see one or two people I know every time I am there. I also see people whose face and name I know, but I don't know them personally. I see friends, neighbors, old neighbors, many Grove characters and movers and shakers. It's very cool.

I used to think The Bookstore was the center of town, but now I think the gym may be. I even saw the owner of another gym in the area at the Shaq gym! I'm telling you 24 Hour Fitness is the place. (Just don't go the time I do, I like it not so crowded).

Taking back the Grove

Hmmm, looks like people are serious about taking back the Grove.

There's a "Take Back the Grove" meeting tomorrow, August 14 at 6 pm at Peacock Park (near the Glass House), organized by Tony Scornavacca, Jr. The main topic is Coconut Grove being incorporated as a city.

You can sign up by clicking here.

Car dealership is there illegally

This new car business has set up shop at 2500 South Dixie Highway, only it is not zoned for commercial uses such as car sales, it's zoned for office space.

Phantom Property LLC owns Elite Luxury Services is leasing cars, but the city inspectors are on the case. We'll keep you updated, so if you plan on leasing a car from them, I would say do it now. They may not be there tomorrow.

Of course code enforcement missed this huge thing, they were too busy harassing Grove artists to notice this huge car leasing thing going on right on US1. A resident brought it to their attention and now they (Code Enforcement) are on the case.

Maybe it is time to take back the Grove.


Photos by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

Where were you?

Where were you when it rained today? There was a deluge about half an hour ago. I was just leaving the Shaq 24 Hour Fitness Gym and I ended up waiting it out a bit under the awning between Shaq's and FedEx/Kinko's (looking for the UPS guy) and then I ended up under the old Qdoba area. And finally I made a run for it.

Wine tasting at Fresh Market this Friday

There's a free wine tasting at the Fresh Market (2640 S. Bayshore) this Friday, August 15.

They'll be presenting wines from around the world from 4 to 7 pm. Enjoy hors d'ouvres from their deli, including cheese and seafood. Get there early, this will get crowded.

Fraternizing

What's FedEx doing at the UPS store? What is UPS doing at the FedEx store?

"Searching for the Perfect Hooters Girl"

On Thursday, August 14, Hooters (3015 Grand Avenue) is hosting the "Searching for the Perfect Hooters Girl" party.

The Hawaiian Luau-themed event will welcome Hooters girls from all over South Florida wearing their sexiest bikinis. In keeping with the evening’s theme, Hooters will be transformed into a tropical paradise including a waterfall.

Scheduled to attend are award-winning country music star Cody Mabe and Ovid Stevens of Seals & Crofts. In addition, beer specials include Presidente pints for $3.50.

The party starts at 8 pm and goes on into the wee hours. There is no cover charge.

For more information contact Hooters GM Joe Dettery at 305-442- 6004.

Lunch signs

There are lots of chalk boards around the Grove at lunchtime (and dinnertime), announcing the specials. Here are a few. The top is Mr. Moe's, can you guess the others?

Reclaiming the Village of Coconut Grove

Lets reclaim the Grove back.

1) More art on the streets
2) Art literally painted on the sidewalks
3) Musicians on the streets (yes a guy with a money bucket)
4) Flower carts in central Grove
5) Peacocks stay, whiners move
6) Bikes allowed to lock up anywhere, any light pole, encourage people
going green, don't discourage it
7) The black booths removed (they serve no purpose)
8) The security guys at CocoWalk removed, they are bullies
9) Spread some of the kiosks from Mayfair around the Grove
10) Not let the "malls" in the area call the shots
11) Not let the politicians call the shots -- let the residents decide
12) Put up the M*A*S*H signs immediately
13) Let people be if they are not harming anyone else
14) Free parking, no meters. They do that southwest Florida (Coral
Gables does it on Sundays)
15) Get the City out of our business
16) Secede from the City of Miami, be our own Village

Can you think of more things we need to make the Grove Grove-y again?

Nice crowd turns out for Miami Heart Gallery

The Miami Heart Gallery event at the Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery had a great turn out this past weekend. It's hard to believe it's summer. So much is going on in the Grove.

Lots of media was on hand, too, giving the event some nice press coverage in the newspapers and on tv. Recently I saw a tv commercial for the gallery during "Burn Notice."

Photos by Jeffrey Passage

Early voting starts today

Early voting started today at 7 am for the Aug. 26 primary elections. Our closest place is City Hall, right here in the Grove at 3500 Pan American Drive. For the list of times and other locations, please go here.

Elvis supports Coconut Grove peacocks

News item: Elvis' Peacock Suit sells for $300,000

(Text Message Recived By Harry Emilio Gottlieb)

I hear tell there is quite a big fuss being made about Peacocks in some little Florida village known as Coconut Grove.

Back on Earth, I admired that regal bird so much that I had a very special jumpsuit designed in its honor.

Sure it was a little too tight and made me sweat like a pig on a steamy Memphis farm, but it knocked the socks off of the audience and it quickly became my most favorite outfit.

I guess you could say that I and the flamboyant Peacock had a lot in common.

We both like to show off a bit and strut our stuff to get the gals attention, some folks say we make loud annoying sounds, we eat whatever is near us and we poop anyplace we wish.

I forked out $10,000 for it back in the late 1970’s when that was real money.

I just got a message on my Heavenberry that it sold at auction for a whopping $300,000.

I guess Pricilla could use the money for another facelift.

So I say to those folks that have a problem with Peacocks, don’t get “All Shook Up”, they are not the “Devil In Disguise”, “Don’t Be Cruel”, “Don't Think Twice, It's All Right”, they wont poop on your “Blue Sued Shoes”, no need to go “Crying In the Chapel”, don’t be crocking all the time like a “Hound Dog”, you don’t live “In the Ghetto", and “Viva Coconut Grove”.

Thank you, thank you very much!

Elvis

We need to reclaim Coconut Grove

There is a lot of negative energy in the Grove these days from the peacock troubles to the CocoWalk Bicycle Issue and of course Jobie's art.

But of course there are so many good things from all the new restaurants opening, to "Burn Notice" being part of our community, for now anyway, to all the tourists and people visiting the Grove these days. And speaking of restaurants, there are so many this year as part of Miami Spice, so that's a great thing.

I travel a lot around the country and many places would kill to have the beauty and atmosphere that we have here in Coconut Grove.

I can think of one headline that sums up the Grove these days: "Tu Tu Tango Out, Chilis In." But it doesn't have to be that way.

There has been more hype about Chili's than anything else around here lately. Who cares? Chilis? Where is the art? Where are the musicians? Where is the bohemia? I am even having second thoughts about the Seminole Boat Ramp now, maybe we need that mess to keep us real.

I remember when I was a child, hippies sold tie died t-shirts on Main Highway. I could just imagine the shockwaves now if someone tried doing that. The homeless guys who are the only Bohemia left from the old Grove are always harassed now.

Boston encourages artists to literally paint on he streets (you can see it right here). New York is an artists paradise, what used to be only in Greenwich Village covers the whole city now, artists are encouraged. New Yorkers would love to have live peacocks roaming the streets. Here most want them gone. Many cities would die to have a major tv show as part of the community, here some politicians want "Burn Notice" out.

Even the flower carts were recently pushed out of the Grove. Most cities have flower carts on every other corner. This photo was taken in New York last month. Here we have ugly black Gulag booths manned by menacing security guards. I can't imagine New York or any other city having guard booths like that. Again I ask, are we in Cuba or China?

Southwest Florida -- Sarasota, Venice, Anna Maria Island, all encourage art. The west coast is an artist's dream. They have little art villages, they have art in public places, they have a uniqueness that looks different and feels different and when you are there, you don't feel like you are anywhere else. Here our art is canned into neat little art shows. We need more spontaneity. We need muscians on the streets, as well.

When you are in New England, you are in unique little villages with antique shops and art villages and they are proud of their heritage. In the Hamptons in Long Island, it is one arts village after another. California has so much diversity that each neighborhood and community looks different and has its own feel.

Here in the Grove we look blah. We want to applaud Chilis and Starbucks (which I am guilty of myself here in the blog, only because I think there is nothing else going on to write about). We don't want to hold onto Grove history or glorify the unique, we want to turn the place into a mall - an outdoor mall that has the look and feel of all the other boring malls across the U.S.

On thing we can be proud of is that most of the restaurants and bars in the Grove are unique and not chain restaurants. This draws many people to the Grove -- to come and try something different.

Busy Saturday night on the horizon

Commodore Plaza is getting ready for a busy night tonight. Cita's has a few people eating an early dinner already, Somoto is filling up. I saw many tourists with shopping bags all over and of course ZuZu was up and down the street. He got me one of those free energy drinks those guys in the black truck throw around from the back. You know, you've seen them driving around.

Christabelle's Quarter had many people impressed with the outside, they were taking lots of pictures, hopefully they will go inside and eat. Greenstreet was packed as well as George's and Le P'tit Paris. Mr. Moe's always has a crowd, people love the outdoor swings and the drink specials. And as I drove by CocoWalk, it was wall to wall people. And don't forget Anokha is opening tonight at their new Virginia Street address. (You can see the old location in the above photo, still sitting empty).

It's really nice seeing the Grove fill up on weekend nights again, even with our Bohemian or lack of being Bohemian problems.

Bohemia is gone

The Grove is getting to be a terrible place to live. I used to think it was the best place in Dade County, but the powers that be, whomever they are, want to ruin it for us all.

Now the big thing is code enforcement harassing artist Eugene ''Jobie'' Steppe, who lives on Gifford Lane. It seems that they don't like his art displayed outside his house (shown above).

So in protest, Jobie has parked his van outside City Hall, with displays and art calling the City Fascists and Nazis. I am not sure why code enforcement allows this van to be parked here but they don't allow art to be displayed on the "art street," which is what Gifford Lane is.

That's where the popular Art Stroll is every year, where everyone agrees you are stepping back in time to what the Grove once was. That's where Dave Collins serves up his famous cucumber punch, from his house with the bright green door. Might the door go next? Maybe code enforcement wants that to be a plain brown now. This street has the most concentration of artists, I often think it should be a tourist attraction and that artists should all display more and make it a small "arts village."

Ironically, the same code enforcement allowed this crap to be built on Gifford Lane. These ugly townhouses shown here should have been banned.

These are total messes on artistic Gifford Lane, maybe Jobie should be let loose here and he can do his stuff to make these horrors and other horrors like it on Gifford Lane look presentable.

But the real problem here is that the Grove is turning into a homogenized place, with no character. Maria Freed said it best here.

Read this blog's archives for the past month or so, see what a horror the Grove is becoming: The peacocks have to go, bikes are not allowed at CocoWalk, the colorful flower carts on Bird Ave. were removed (although I saw one today), "Burn Notice" is being kicked out so the Expo Center land can sit as an empty lot for years and so on. We are not Coral Gables. We are not blah Bal Harbour and we don't want to be ugly Sunny Isles.

Now the artists are being shut down and are not allowed to express themselves. Are we in Cuba or China? I am totally confused.

Where has the Bohemian Coconut Grove gone? Why are we allowing this to happen?

More tomorrow.

Peeking in windows . . .

Window shopping at HH Jewels (3434 Main Highway at Fuller Street). These are the things the crooks didn't get.

Lots of summer tourists

Seems like more and more summer tourists are coming to the Grove. Large tour buses let them out, usually at CocoWalk and they spend time there. Here are a bunch of Italian students. Many don't know about the rest of the Grove, they seem to stay in the one area. This is a good reason to have the M*A*S*H signs.

Pretty rainy day

I don't like the rain, yet I have to admit, it always makes the Grove look so pretty. These guys don't mind the rain a bit, it seems, they are all ready for the weekend. Rain or shine.

Going bananas

This is Lino at Starbucks. Would somebody please go buy a banana or banana flavored drink from the poor guy so he can take that stupid hat off.

He's lucky they don't sell watermelons.

Start dusting off those chili recipes

Fat Tuesday's is holding a Chili Cook-off on Saturday, September 20 from noon to 6 pm.

All local restaurants are invited to participate and local residents may present their own chili in a judging contest.

There will be live music, giveaways and lots of activities for the kids. Restaurants will be selling their chili for $5.00, which includes beer or soda. Local residents' recipes will be judged, but not sold.

All proceeds go to Kristi House.

For more information contact: Cindy Bettner at 305-444-0777 ext 14.

Post office update

They've been pushing dirt around at the post office parking lot. Is something finally happening? I do see more piles of dirt, they reappeared after being gone, not sure what that's about.

Why live in Coconut Grove?

This in from Maria Freed, prez of Coconut Grove Park Homeowner's Association:

I'm getting an earful from the natives who are again getting restless with the continued effort to homogenize Coconut Grove. The CG Sailing Club will be a thing of the past, live-aboard sailors will be gone soon, artists are evidently breaking the law by putting their art work on their front property, and now the Peacocks should be removed. What about the iguanas that eat my Bougainvilleas or the noisy parrots that wake me up in the morning... are they also a nuisance? No amount of slick marketing campaign by the Chamber is going to undo the sanitation of our community. Folks who need a more controlled environment should consider moving across the highway to Coral Gables or perhaps up to Palm Beach... plenty of zoning laws there to keep everyone in an exalted monochromatic state.

Maria Freed
President
Coconut Grove Park Homeowners Association

Technology is amazing in the blog world

I am able to track all visits to this blog. I can tell where the people came from, which link they clicked in from, whether they found us by doing a Google search or just clicking from another website or blog, etc. I know the exact words they did a search for, enabling them to find the blog, etc.

I can tell how long they stayed, what pages they read and which links they clicked out of onto another site or just clicking off. I can tell if they left a comment, too.

Half the daily readers are from out of town, I guess they are tourists looking for places like hotels or restaurants or things to do. During Taste of the Grove season or the Arts Festival, the counters go crazy with people clicking in from all over the world looking for info on the events.

When I post a story, usually within about 10 minutes, it is already on the search engines. Amazing. So if I write about an event or store or restaurant, if someone is looking for fresh info, that usually is the first thing that comes up on the search engines.

I do a lot of "Burn Notice" stories because people are going crazy for info on "Burn Notice." Each time I blog about them, people from all over the world click in to see and read about it.

Anyway, that being said, I have added a little cool Google map to the right here. If you click on the link below it, it will open into a larger map, and hopefully, that will help people find their way around the Grove and they can navigate around, finding the places I write about.

Anokha gets the okay to open

Anokha Indian Restaurant will finally be opening this weekend. Guess all the City permit problems have been solved. For some great food and great service, stop in at 3324 Virginia Street. They open at 6 pm, tomorrow, August 9.

Ironically, Paulo Luigi's, which used to be in that location just opened in Palmetto Bay at 14151 S. Dixie Highway.

Village Council plans on meeting this month

Actually, when we posted this and said that nothing is going on this month, we were wrong, the pesky Village Council plans on meeting in a couple of weeks. We'll post that when we have all the facts.

More signs of the times

I knew it wouldn't take long for these guys to come up with sign solutions after my earlier post. But I had more tourist-friendly signs in mind. At left is Howard Beasley's (Old Grover) concept, and at right is Harry Emilio Gottlieb's.

Checking up on Micanopy

I went looking for the peacocks today on Micanopy, but there were none. Guess they were keeping out of the hot sun. Maybe we can install some peacock cams and keep an eye on them from our desktops. Peacock cam? That's NBC isn't it?

This is one of my favorite houses on Micanopy, every time I drive by, I expect to hear someone yell out, "Goodnight, John Boy!"

Sign of the times

Dave Collins and I were chatting on a corner this morning, enjoying the beautiful sunny Grove morning and again, as usual, we saw a bunch of lost tourists.

They tried to get info from the couple of maps on the streets, but those don't say much and of course the black info booths are a lost cause and we thought that maybe some of these M*A*S*H signs would work in various areas around the Grove.

I call them M*A*S*H signs because I think that is where I saw them first, on the tv show.

We could have one near CocoWalk and and various other areas so that tourists know that a block or two away there are other restaurants and stores. As I have stated in the past, many people just stop walking when they see that Jaguar is closed. So maybe some brightly colored signs could point to Commodore Plaza and say "More food/drink 1 block" or "More shopping 2 blocks" or "art galleries 2 blocks," perhaps one could say "Hotel" and point toward hotels in the area, you know, things like that. Maybe even "Internet Café" or "Bookstore." Useful things that people look for.

Maybe they could even point to the waterfront, I honestly don't think tourist who get off the tour buses even have a clue about our beautiful waterfront. One sign could point to the post office, as awful as it is, I am sure tourists might appreciate that, and maybe the Chamber or NET office would be good as a destination, too.

I took this photo at the St. Stephen's Arts and Crafts fair one year, but our signs could be similar to this and the M*A*S*H sign combined and maybe be more colorful and whimsical and it the signs would add a lot of color to the Grove as well serve a very useful function.

I honestly think four or five or more, pointing to various areas of interest would encourage people to explore the area more.

Post office garage is not happening

It's final, all rumors can be put to rest: The Miami Parking Authority will not be building a parking garage at the post office lot any time soon. A recent study showed that there are 1,029 parking spaces in the area and at peak hours, only 76% are occupied.

They are leaving the option open for the future.

Olympics summer kick-off in the Grove

Tomorrow, August 8, at 8:00 pm, CocoWalk will host a kickoff celebration for the Beijing Summer Olympic games featuring a live screening of the opening ceremony on a large screen television set on the courtyard’s stage. (Bring your bike at your own risk).

In addition to the screening of the event, Bice Bistro will add to the Olympic spirit with a dinner party debut of the restaurant’s special pre-fix Olympic dinner menu that will available throughout the duration of the Olympic games.

For more information, please contact CocoWalk at 305-444-0777 or email cbettner@cocowalk.net

Miami Heart Gallery wine and cheese event

Please click on the image for a larger version

Nothing going on?

Looks like August is going to be a quiet month around here.

No Commission hearings
No Waterfront meetings
No Village Council meeting
No HOATA (Village West) meeting
No Village of Center Grove meeting
No Crimewatch meeting
No Chamber luncheon this month

Let's just get into a hammock, get some beer, lemonade or whatever and just take it easy.

With all the problems in the world,
this is a nice problem to have

That peacock story about the birds on Micanopy Avenue has been all over the place, it started with David Smiley in The Herald and now has been on every tv news program.

I was once house hunting on Micanopy and found the peacocks charming, but again it was from afar and I never did move there; I know what a mess they could be and how loud and screechy they are when they call out.

Now Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and staff are involved and they need 60 days to come up with a solution.

We live on the water and have major problems with wayward ducks, which we don't find so charming. We put up fake owls along the sea wall and it seems to be doing the trick. The ducks seem to be gone.

Another thing I read was putting up fishing line. The ducks would get so tired of trying to cross the fishing line that they would go elsewhere, we didn't need to try that, but maybe it would work with the peacocks, you know, sort of corralling them into a certain area and out of other areas, like people's properties.

Just a thought.

Graphic by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

The accidental extras

Never a dull moment. The Grove is so small, but there is something always going on. Today I was mistaken for an extra on "Burn Notice!"

I went to Commodore Plaza today to get pictures of the filming, it's like a party there today, really fun. I ended up talking to Beth, who works at IOS, the clothing store. Well, we sat down to watch the filming and before you know it, some guy is yelling at us to stop looking at the camera when he yells "rolling" and act like we are chatting or talking or whatever -- we were "background!"

So the first thing Beth did was run in and get an IOS bag to have as part of the scenery, doesn't hurt to have a little publicity. In fact, one of the crew bought some clothing at IOS between takes and a lot of the crew was eating and shopping between takes, they do support the local merchants.

Here is Jeffrey Donovan in a scene. He spent most of the time in Le P'tit Paris, which is being used as a dressing room for him and others.

His stand in did a lot of the work this morning, but here is Jeffrey again, getting his close-up for the day, right outside Greenstreet.

That's Jeffrey in the car with the binoculars and the lady here is the director. She was calling the shots all day.

It's really fun, the crew is very nice (except when they tell us to shut up during takes and not look at the camera, which I find so hilarious). The thing is, every time I go to the set, they have the same background extras, so I guess they like seeing fresh faces appear and thought Beth and I were a couple of fresh faces.

So if our scenes don't end up on the cutting room floor, you'll see us in one of the episodes! :)

What are they protecting and hiding?

I am really disturbed by this story.

One of our readers found the bike sign at CocoWalk last night. A security guard spotted her taking a photo and in our reader's own words: "after slightly raising his voice and saying 'No Pictures!' to which I looked at him with astonishment (I mean are we in China???), he asked me why I was taking photos of the no bicycles sign and I wimped out (since no one showed for the bike-in) and I said because it was such a simple and easy to understand sign. And then politely walked my bike along the sidewalk and eventually rejoined traffic on Grand."

I have a picture of the guard but won't post it here. But I really don't understand how these security guards are permitted to treat locals and tourists like this. As I have stated before, I have seen the guards arguing more than once with the City of Miami police, right on the sidewalk in front of CocoWalk. They seem to want to make every visit to CocoWalk a challenge and a dare. They actually dare you to come onto the property it seems.

Doubletree's weekly networker is tonight

The Doubletree Hotel's "Summer Weekly Networker" is still in full swing. Every Wednesday, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, up at the pool bar terrace, you will enjoy live entertainment, 2 for 1 drinks and delicious food. Try their famous "Bra Burger."

It's on rain or shine at the Doubletree -- 2649 S. Bayshore Drive.

I only heard crickets

All you big talkers didn't show up for the "bike-in" at 6:30 today. What happened?

You all talk big anonymously here in the comments section and the wind up is that there was only one biker present at 6:30 and one security guard at CocoWalk. At least it was an even match up.

But you guys threw a "bike-in" and no one showed up. Shame.

"Burn Notice" is doing lots of filming tomorrow

Everybody's favorite, "Burn Notice," will be filming in the Grove all day tomorrow from 7 am to 8 pm.

Filming will start on Commodore Plaza and the alley behind Commodore. Two major scenes will be filmed: Actors crossing the street, which will require intermittent traffic control during this scene on Commodore Plaza (1-2 minutes at time) during film takes only and then they will be filming a scene at Le P'tit Paris (3463 Main Hwy).

As soon as these scenes are finished, they will be moving to the alley behind Commodore Plaza.

From 11 am to 3 pm, they will be filming on Oak Avenue between McDonald Street and Virginia Street. And then from 1 pm to 8 pm, filming will take place at the Mutiny Hotel, located at 2951 S.
Bayshore Drive.

The skater boyz are back

The boyz are back with their many vices. They like to hang out and drink coffee at Starbucks and they like to sit in front of Focaccia and wait for the homeless guys to come by, so they can pay the homeless guys to go into the convenience store next door and by them cigarettes.

Those crazy boyz. Never a dull moment.

Grove art news

Apparently the last Saturday Night Art Stroll was in July. The next art Stroll will be in the Fall.

The Children's Trust will be doing a wine and cheese event this weekend. We'll post the evite when ready. They are the people doing the current charity event at the Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery.

Tango lessons every Tuesday night

Learn to Tango tonight and every Tuesday from 9 pm to 1 am, at the Amadeus Bar at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove (3300 SW 27 Avenue).

Group classes for beginners and intermediate dancers are led by World Tango Champion, Monica Llobet.

Classes are $10 per person. There is a cash bar (guess to loosen you up). For more info: 305-644-4680.

New lighting being installed

Looks like the new lighting project has started on Fuller Street. This is the scene today.

Stop in at Starbucks for a free Vivanno

Get a free Vivanno smoothie at Starbucks today between 2 and 4 pm if you show your gym membership card or a Starbucks card and chat up the hotties, like this guy. The healthy blended Vivanno's are 16 oz. size and either orange-mango-banana or banana-chocolate.

The orange-mango-banana is made with a whole banana blended with all natural Naked® Juice made exclusively for Starbucks, their own Protein & Fiber Powder, 2% milk and ice. The banana chocolate is made with a whole banana blended with their Protein & Fiber Powder, 2% milk, mocha sauce and ice.

This promotion is also available August 12.

No need to have a "bike in" -- case solved

CocoWalk is reimbursing the boy for his lock, so protests are not needed. The story we did here worked. It's too bad that shaming the management was the only way to get this accomplished.

I did go looking for the sign about not parking your bikes at CocoWalk and couldn't find it. I asked a few people who work there and they didn't have a clue either. So perhaps the next step is getting signs that even the employees are aware of.

But anyway, again, a protest and "bike in" is not needed. CocoWalk has contacted me and they say that bike racks were ordered months ago and will be in stalled later this month.

Is it beer?

Are they shipping in beer now to the Sandbar Grill? Sure beats those oversized, traffic-blocking delivery trucks. You don't even know the UPS guy is around, he is in out and very quiet about it. Sorry, I make him sound like a cat burgler.

What's up with the "bike in"?

There is talk of a "bike in" or protest or something for Tuesday night (6:30) at CocoWalk because of the bike story. But I don't really know if anyone is serious about this, if anything is really organized or even if this is a good idea.

The security guards are pretty nasty at CocoWalk and I'm not sure how things will work out if a group of people show up to threaten them. I think the only reasonable person at CocoWalk these days is Mia Steirheim, leasing manager. Perhaps if a small group or even one or two people speak with her, things may change. She always comes across as very reasonable and as a board member on the Chamber of Commerce, her goal is to bring business in, not threaten the customers.

In these days of high gas prices and environmental awareness, the easiest thing that CocoWalk could do in going green is to simply install bike racks in convenient places or at least not torment those who want to ride into town and not drive. A bike or two chained to a pole is sort of quaint and actually adds to the ambiance of the area. It doesn't hurt the image of CocoWalk, it actually enhances the place and makes it more "user friendly" and "homey."

I think they want to be too sterile these days, which in turn keeps people away. CocoWalk is supposed to be fun and inviting, not threatening.

Turning the tide

More and more families are seen around the Grove. Looks like the Chamber of Commerce, the BIC and others involved are finally turning the tide to what they wished for. But I do hope the bar crowds at night are still showing up, because the Grove needs to keep that, too.

Breakfast on Main Highway

Le P'tit Paris (3464 Main Highway) continues to be a favorite breakfast spot for families. They have added much more seating outside and more room to eat inside.

Changes coming to Milam's

Milam's is making plans for expansion, now that the zoning issue is out of the way.

Walgreen's is moving to a free standing store at US1 and Bird Road and Payless shoe store will be leaving, so Milam's will expand into that space.

According to owner, Max Milam, the expansion will be a total renovation, inside and out, including new lighting, flooring, decor, and so on. Everything will be new and the larger space will allow for a larger selection of items and competitive pricing. Max Strang, local architect, designed the new store.

The exterior will feature local, natural stones including keystone and oolite bricks and a plant wall -- a "living wall." Permits were pulled and hopefully, the new store will be completed by next summer.

Learning to play soccer

Harry Emilio Gottlieb caught these little guys learning soccer techniques in Kennedy Park this past weekend in Kennedy Park. You've got to admit, our parks do get used.

Good barbecue was served up yesterday

A lot of people came out for the "Chillin 'n Grillin' barbecue put on by the Coconut Grove Collaborative.

Money raised went to community development programs.

Photos by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

Help is needed for back-to-school event

The South/West Grove “Back To School, Health and Safety” event needs support from the business community and others.

The purpose of this event, scheduled for next Friday, August 8, 2008 at Elizabeth Virrick Park, is to provide area students with those necessary supplies that will help to foster a successful school year. The South/West Coconut Grove NET is counting on local businesses and agencies to help out. A contribution or donation of school supplies would definitely ensure the success of this event and would help the students tremendously. Support is needed and is certainly appreciated by anyone who is so inclined.

If additional information is needed, please contact Karen C Cooper, Administrator of the SWCG NET at (305) 461-7063 or kcooper@miamigov.com

New signage at CocoWalk

Old Grover thinks this should be the new signage at CocoWalk. I agree.

The sign needs to be adopted

This "Adopt a Road" sign has been down for days, by the elementary school. Looks like someone needs to "adopt the sign" and give it some tender loving care.

Photo by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

Do not bring your bike to CocoWalk
if you want it there when you leave
Management is indifferent to the problem

Avoid CocoWalk if you are riding your bike there or it may not be there when you return. It seems that you can't "go green" when going to CocoWalk. They do not encourage bike riders and apparently do not want them as shoppers.

Here is a letter to CocoWalk sent from an irate mother, and below is the response from CocoWalk manager Rick Torres.

"Yesterday afternoon my 14 year old son rode his bike to meet his friends from Ransom Everglades at CocoWalk for a movie as they have been doing once a week for ages. Upon returning to unlock his bike which was locked to the sign where the bike rack used to be, he found his bike gone and his $65 Kryptonite lock cut. We went to Security only to find out they had cut the lock and taken the bike.

"I met with William Rivas and was told the mall doesn't want bicycles in front of the mall. I don’t understand this concept except for maybe wanting to keep the residents of Coconut Grove from patronizing the shops of CocoWalk. Having been born and raised in this neighborhood and my son being a 4th generation native, we have always been taught to try and keep the local merchants alive, even if we have to pay a bit more. This certainly was not the thank you I would expect.

"After retrieving the bike we looked for the sign that Mr. Rivas said was posted about not locking bikes but couldn't find one. It seems like maybe a warning could have been posted on the bikes rather than the extreme measure of cutting such an expensive lock.

"As I sit, severed lock in hand, I am left wondering where do I go from here? Will you be so kind as replace the lock so my son can continue to patronize your mall? "

Response from CocoWalk Manager, Rick Torres, in his own ungrammatical words (Rick, get a secretary who knows grammar already and buy the kid a new lock bully!):

"I’m so sorry your son and yourself had a bad experience in Cocowalk. The policy is to cut all lock to any chain bike. You can imagine how this place would look if we allowed anybody and everybody to tied their bike within Cocowalk. There is a sign in front of the property in Grand Avenue in reference to bicycle in Cocowalk. We are trying to install bike racks in order to accommodate folks like your son who may want to ride his bike to Cocowalk. In the mean time I’m really sorry this had to happen but there is nothing I can do. Thank you for writing and hope to see you in better circumstances."

Trying for a grand opening

Speaking of Grove restaurants, I dropped by Anokha yesterday. As you know, they tried to open last week. The Patel brothers, the owners, told me that they are scheduling their new grand opening for Saturday, August 9, but again, it's up to City inspectors as to whether they open.

I'll keep you posted.

Miami Spice starts today

Miami Spice starts today. During August and September, Miami's top restaurants offer special lunch and dinner deals. These Grove restaurants are participating:

Baleen
Bizcaya
Cita's
Christabelle's Quarter
Focaccia Rustica
Nikki Coconut Grove
Panorama at the Sonesta

For more info and updated restaurants, please visit: http://ilovemiamispice.com