Grove venues part of Dade Heritage Days

The University of Florida has honored Dade Heritage Trust (DHT) with the Beinecke-Reeves Distinguished Achievement Award in Historic Preservation. The award was presented in Gainesville last month. 

From left: Morris Hylton, III, Director of Historic Preservation for the University of Florida's College of Design, Constructin and Planning; DHT Founder Dolly MacIntyre, DHT CEO Becky Roper Matkov and DHT former President Judy Pruitt.

Dade Heritage Days are coming up from March 1 through April 30 and it's nice to see that Coconut Grove is part of the agenda. Dade Heritage Trust is holding tours and special events during the whole period. This year they are celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s Landing in Florida. There's a special event at the Biltmore, the "Voyage of Dreams" gala and many ongoing events. Honorary Chair of the gala is Ambassador Cristina Barrios Consul General of Spain; Co-Chairs are Robin and Susan Shelley.

Coconut Grove events include:

Guided Tours of The Kampong
March 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and April 3, 6, 17, 20, 24, 27
The Kampong, 4013 S. Douglas Road, Coconut Grove
Explore The Kampong – the private home and gardens of plant explorer David Fairchild. With over 2000 varieties of tropical and subtropical fruits, palms and flowering trees, and vines, The Kampong is an 11-acre jewel in the middle of metropolitan Miami. Guided tours include both horticultural and historical information, a behind-the-scenes look at Fairchild’s original plantings, as well as the office where he wrote many of his books. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. and the 2-hour tour begins at 10:30 a.m. Tour fee is $20 for adults, $15 for ages 62 and over and students with ID, $10 for ages 4-12 years, and free for children under 3. Reservations required. Visit Kampong.ntbg.org or call 305-442-7169 to reserve or for more info. 

Vizcaya Contemporary Arts Project (CAP)
Daily through March 18th during regular museum hours
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami
From painters John Singer Sargent and Gari Melchers, both extended houseguests of James Deering, to sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder, responsible for the Barge figures, Vizcaya has been a source of inspiration to artists. Through CAP, Vizcaya continues Deering’s patronage by inviting artists to create site-specific projects that provide visitors with new ways of seeing the estate. Vizcaya presents The Light Club of Vizcaya: A Women’s Picture, a project by Josiah McElheny. A New York-based artist and MacArthur Fellow, McElheny has created a 30-minute film referencing a little-known 1912 short story by German author Paul Scheerbart, “The Light Club of Batavia.” McElheny draws his characters from Vizcaya’s history and uses the estate as the ingenious setting for this narrative about the promise of modernity and utopia. The film combines footage of historical and archival documents along with current images of Vizcaya. Tickets: Regular museum admission. More info at 305-250-9133 or www.vizcaya.org.

Barnacle Under Moonlight Concert
Fridays, March 8 and April 12 at 7:00 p.m.
The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway, Coconut Grove
Enjoy a concert on the lawn of The Barnacle Historic State Park. Bring a picnic and blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the evening of music on the grounds of The Barnacle, built in 1891 by Commodore Ralph Munroe. Gates open 6:00 p.m. Music from 7:00-9:00 p.m. No pets. Admission: $7 per person for those age 10 and over, $3 for ages 6-9. More info at 305-442-6866, www.FloridaStateParks.org/TheBarnacle for more info.

Old Time Dance
Sundays, March 24 and April 28, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
The Barnacle Historic State Park
3485 Main Highway, Coconut Grove
Kick up your heels as Southern Atlantic Muse plays traditional American music while Lou Dow calls the dance steps in the Micco Pavilion on the grounds of The Barnacle, built by Ralph Munroe in 1891. Dance instruction for these traditional American folk dances is included. Dances such as circles, squares, contras and waltzes were all the rage in the 1800s, so come on out and dance like it’s 1891! Admission: $10 per person. Gate opens at 6 p.m. Dance instruction at 6:30 with dancing from 7:00-10:00 p.m. For more info call 305-442-6866 or visit www.FloridaStateParks.org/TheBarnacle.


Moonlight Garden Tours
March 27 & 28, April 24 & 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
3251 S. Miami Ave, Miami
If you think Vizcaya’s bayfront gardens are breathtaking by day, don’t miss the chance to see them transformed by the glow of a bright Miami moon. With live music in the Courtyard, the allure of Italian-inspired gardens and delicious temptations available for purchase in the Café & Shop, it’s no wonder Moonlight Garden Tours are a visitor favorite! Not all areas of the garden are wheelchair accessible and decorated rooms will not be open. Optional guided tours begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue at intervals throughout the evening. Tickets: $10 for Vizcaya members, seniors, and students with ID; $15 for non-members. Tickets are available onsite only from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on the evening of the program. Call 305-250-9133 or visit www.vizcaya.org for more info.

A PDF brochure of all of the Dade Heritage Trust events may be obtained here.