Gallery Walk provides eclectic mix of culture

The scene above, is one of the nicest on Gallery Walk nights in Coconut Grove. At the end of the Mayfair Promenade, the Miami Conservatory of Music provides classical music under the stars with free performances by students and staff. As people sit around the fountain and cozy up to the players, it's a very different scene than the rest of the Grove. It almost feels European. The music is incredible, but so is the setting. It's hard to see from this photo, but the lit up palm tree on Rice Street and the apartment balconies above seem so tranquil and make you feel as you are in another place as the music flows over you.


Jose Alfredo Fernandez and Hebe Lozano performed into the night to the delight of the many visitors who took advantage of the elegant performance.


This trio, Jose again, with Robert Woodus and Andres Trujillo, had the crowd calling for more. These little shows are a nice break from the rest of the Grove's hectic pace on Gallery Walk nights, which are all lots of fun.


From one end of town to the other, there was something going on, Rodez Gallery had CocoWalk covered and Chicon and Dharma had Commodore Plaza covered. Blu Moon had Main Highway along with many of the stores who are now getting into the Gallery Walk scene. The Sale Rack, for instance had their doors open and they were serving champagne. Erin beckoned me to partake as I passed by, but alas, I did not -- next time! The drum circle performed at Florentine Plaza and all over the Grove there was a nice energy. In between it all, Spider-man was spinning people around on his Rickshaw. Above is the scene at ArtWay 66 Gallery at the Mayfair Promenade.


Artway 66 is one of the main attractions, Johnny Valdes, the owner, always has something going on from new exhibits to performance art. Above, Ariel Sakowitz entertains the crowd with spoken word poetry. Last night was one of Artway 66's best nights when it came to sales. They sold a lot. They always draw a very large crowd, Johnny knows how to pack them in. He runs the gallery and also the Art Stroll outside, up and down the Promenade where there is always free music, food, drink and lots of art. Artists line up along the promenade and there is something for everyone. If you stand at the promenade, you'll see everyone you know walk by and so much of the Grove does come out to enjoy the Gallery Walk scene.


AC Fine Art draws a more sophisticated crowd, which ironically are a lot of the same people who had just come from the Promenade and did a little dance or two there, but they are more toned down when they enter AC Fine Art. The Andy Warhols, Dali's and Miro's have that effect on people -- they are more respectable around that. We'll have more on AC Fine Art later this week, and more on other galleries.

There really is so much to do on Gallery Walk nights (the first Saturday of each month). I always end up with groups of friends, who are all going in different directions, some want to eat (we tried out one of the new restaurants last night) and others want to have some champagne at one of the galleries, others want to hear the music, some want to drum at the drum circle, many want to meet the aritsts, who are proudly showing off their art. It's a nice scene and being in our little village sets it apart from many other art nights around the county. If you haven't been to Coconut Grove's Gallery Walk, it's something you should check out. It's a nice, happy experience.