Peacocks Premier at Promenade Party

If you weren't at the Coconut Grove Peacock Tour Launch Party Saturday night, you were the only one missing. It seemed like the whole village was there last night, enjoying the incredible party that Heather Bettner, Peacock Tour Producer, put on. The Mayfair Promenade turned into the Peacock Promenade for the night.


Awards were given out for service, artists were thanked and lots of music filled the place. Above Commissioner Marc Sarnoff gives special recognition to Bernard Wolfson, premier sponsor of the Peacock Tour, owner of the Hampton Inn, as Heather Bettner looks on. Ed Prelaz, manager of the Shoppes of Mayfair was also given a citation for his contribution to the tour.


At left: Leo Ferre (his grandfather Maurice Ferre, past Miami mayor, is running for US Senate, so says his shirt), Sonia Succar and Meme Ferre (one of the artists, and Maurice Ferre's daughter). At right, Rosie Brown and Elizabet Chacon, two Grove artists searching for a peacock sponsor. There are a few peacocks left, so here are the artists waiting to paint them. They are in front of artist George Rodez's peacock, named Penelope.


Louis Del Borrello, whose birthday was yesterday, with Richard Issa; Art Smith and Bonnie Pickard. Bonnie runs the peacock gallery daily, she's Heather's right hand.


Liliana Dones, Renita Samuels Dixon, Patrick Sessions, Antoinette Baldwin, Boogie Man George, the DJ.


Artists included: Eileen Seitz, Cara Nusinov, Emilio Sauma, George Rodez, Dan Bondroff, Erika King, Nancy Martini, Andrea Ruggeri (with Heather Bettner at the mic).


More artists: Meme Ferre, AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, Fred Hunt, Illeana Nardo, art teacher from St. Stephens with a student, Eileen Seitz and Cara Nusinov.


Monty Trainer, Katie Contorakes, Felice Dubin, Sandy Francis, Cara Nusinov and Dan Bondroff.


Michelle Niemeyer, Marco Fuxa, AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, Jackie Good, Hope Mohr, Julie Rowell.


Barbara Ferenczi, George Rodez, Peacock lineup.


Monty Trainer (left) received a special piece of art, created by Erika King (at Monty's left). Richard Issa and David Collins from the BID presented the art.


Left: Artist Emilio Sauma and wife with family in background. Right: The Fresh Market crew with the peacock they sponsored, painted by Nancy Martini. From left: David and Janet Gutarra, Ovidio and Daisy Cuervo.


Erika King shows off her work to Monty Trainer. This peacock, for the BID, is a huge collage back and front, of all famous Grove events, people and places.


There was lots of food and drinks with two bars, one outside and one inside at a VIP area for artists, sponsors and their guests. In the next few weeks, the Peacocks will start appearing in locations all around Coconut Grove.