Thoughts on Summer Rendezvous

So the Summer Rendezvous block party has run its course -- five weeks. And the good part is that everyone wants it back on a regular basis.

The restaurant owners love it, it brought lots of business to the street, the people who attended love the musical acts.

Hopefully the block parties will be back. One major concern is money, it costs a lot run and it's almost a full time job coordinating the thing. At last week's block party meeting, Dave Collins from the BID said that it takes two full days of each five day work week to plan and make happen. That's too much time.

I did suggest bringing in an event planner to get sponsors and run the block party, this way the BID can supervise, but not do all the actual leg work and the restaurant owners and others on the block don't need to foot the bill.

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff's office would like to hear from you too, his Chief of Staff Ron Nelson was at last week's meeting and he asked that people email him suggestions of what you would like or what you didn't like. Also, he would like to know that you do indeed want the block party back. Just a few lines will work, you can send that to rnelson@miamigov.com

Some suggestions:

1) Allow different vendors. I know it's all about the merchants on the street, but there needs to be some trinkets sold, cheap jewelry, sunglasses, etc. Le P'tit Paris has some things on the last night of the party, I think it adds a bit of fun and it is just expected at these type of things.

2) Hot dog cart. Chicago's Deli sells hot dogs, so perhaps they can set u a stand.

3) Sno Cones or ice cream vendor. This adds to the fun. Maybe free popcorn or cotton candy.

4) Better marketing and promotion, which is being worked on.

5) And this suggestion came to me from many: There is too much empty space. People are all cramped in their own areas, the restaurants need to put the tables in the middle in the street, so they are almost in the way of walking. Many European and South American countries do this. You don't know which restaurant is which, the tables are near each other and it allows people to intermingle, to overhear conversations and to be more festive and partylike.

Cita's tables should butt up against George's in the middle of the street, Chicago's should go right up against Mr. Moe's tables. It should be one huge mix of people in the center.

6) It's not always necessary to have a big stage, have smaller acts throughout, which I believe was done the first weekend (July 4). Have one guy playing a guitar, maybe a lady with a harp, maybe a trio at another side and people can hear this more intimate acoustic music. People can then get to know the performers, they can speak with them and mingle with them.

Maybe get Key West-like: have fire eaters, acrobats, a magician, something different each week that people just come up upon. Make the block party an event.