Saturday morning observations
Today was a little different than usual Saturdays, it could be because of the Lou Gherig 10k/5k walk this morning. A big part of the Center Grove was closed for the run and there weren't many joggers along the route as usual, but there were hundreds of people who started at City Hall on South Bayshore and ran up into the center village. This didn't make it any easier to get around the area due to the construction in what seems to be all the other areas. The Grove is besieged these days.
Have you noticed that some days it seems like every street is closed due to all the renovations, all at the same time? One day I went to my friend's house on Shipping, near 27th Avenue and when I wanted to leave a short time later I couldn't as three streets surrounding the exits from his house were being paved. The other day, Mary Street, the detour for 27th Avenue was closed because it was being paved. A detour for the detour was needed. I wonder if the people who plan all this out really care about the residents. I don't think so, they work like robots, no brains needed.
One day I tried to turn onto Mary Street from Bird Avenue and I was stopped and yelled at in a foreign language by some guy trying to direct traffic. I resent theses strangers in the village controlling my movements.
Back to the 5K race, at the end of the race as people went back to their cars, a lot were surprised to find their cars booted in the parking lots where they neglected to pay for parking. I am not exaggerating when I say maybe 35% of the 80 or so cars in one lot were booted. It was a sea of orange and yellow from the signs they put on the car windows and the boots themselves.
A couple was in the Bookstore for breakfast, when I walked in this morning, someone asked me to see if I could help them find something to do in the area. We couldn't. Where would you send a tourist in Coconut Grove? And this was 8:30 on a Saturday morning. Not many places to go. We ended up sending them to Vizcaya, which opens at 9:30 am and we also suggested Wynwood and South Beach, although I don't think anything is good in Wynwood until later in the day and especially tonight for their Gallery Walk.
The Grove is turning back into a small village in an odd sort of way where it's less touristy and more locals although the office workers in the day sort of fit in the middle. They are here from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday but after that there's no sign of them. It's a weird dichotomy these days.
Have you noticed that some days it seems like every street is closed due to all the renovations, all at the same time? One day I went to my friend's house on Shipping, near 27th Avenue and when I wanted to leave a short time later I couldn't as three streets surrounding the exits from his house were being paved. The other day, Mary Street, the detour for 27th Avenue was closed because it was being paved. A detour for the detour was needed. I wonder if the people who plan all this out really care about the residents. I don't think so, they work like robots, no brains needed.
One day I tried to turn onto Mary Street from Bird Avenue and I was stopped and yelled at in a foreign language by some guy trying to direct traffic. I resent theses strangers in the village controlling my movements.
Back to the 5K race, at the end of the race as people went back to their cars, a lot were surprised to find their cars booted in the parking lots where they neglected to pay for parking. I am not exaggerating when I say maybe 35% of the 80 or so cars in one lot were booted. It was a sea of orange and yellow from the signs they put on the car windows and the boots themselves.
A couple was in the Bookstore for breakfast, when I walked in this morning, someone asked me to see if I could help them find something to do in the area. We couldn't. Where would you send a tourist in Coconut Grove? And this was 8:30 on a Saturday morning. Not many places to go. We ended up sending them to Vizcaya, which opens at 9:30 am and we also suggested Wynwood and South Beach, although I don't think anything is good in Wynwood until later in the day and especially tonight for their Gallery Walk.
The Grove is turning back into a small village in an odd sort of way where it's less touristy and more locals although the office workers in the day sort of fit in the middle. They are here from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday but after that there's no sign of them. It's a weird dichotomy these days.
posted by Tom Falco at 10:15 AM
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10 Comments:
Hey you should have sent them down Virginia to Blanche Park to see what progress looks like these days.
Is Shipping paved yet? I am tired of it being a 1 lane street in front of the dog park. The dog owners seem to think it is OK to park, blocking an entire lane while sitting on a bench while their dogs run around. The other evening there were 5 cars in a row blocking the entire lane.
Can't complain today. We do have 2 great running events here in the Grove this part of the year, plus the marathon in January. This attracts hundreds and hundreds of people. My suggestion? Go out and run, bike or walk, race day or not, enjoy it out here, and then pick among dozens of good restaurants for a bite to eat.
Where would you like them to park ?
If you live too far from the dog park next to Blanche, just drive over to the dog park at Kennedy Park. No reason to partially block the streets of a neighborhood.
Perhaps you could park at The Home Depot. That way you and your dog would get some exercise
True. After many years living in the Grove I almost never drive. Walking and biking does the trick for everything, much healthier and way more enjoyable.
And if people were willing to park a couple blocks away when visiting, then walk a few minutes around.. But no, we go to a market or a mall, and spend 15 minutes driving around for the closest spot to the door..
Agreed on the parking in front of that dog park. Plain and simple this is illegal. Can I park on US1 while I get a coffee at Dunkin Donuts? If the parking garage at the movies is full can people just park in the middle of Grand?
The park was obviously meant for folks in the immediate area. Meaning, walk your dog to the park.
DK
"They work like robots, no brains needed"!?, That's a little harsh. They're on my road too, same crew for about 3 weeks and I take the time to get to know them a little, giving them some iced beverages, a place to park several of their trucks. Other neighbors have done the same, David Collins gave them his entire easement, but then that's what makes Gifford Lane so special. I think it was wise to do the entire project from 27th Avenue to McDonald in one sweep, get it over with. And I "know" they are more, much more than brainless robot like. Sure it's a mess, but traffic does continue to move briskly, which these men move with respectful firmness. And I've noticed that the drivers are the rude ones, many not slowing or stopping at the signs, most on cell phones passing close to baby carriages and folks walking dogs. All & all I feel they're doing a great job improving our community.
Jobie Steppe
Surprised that you couldn't identify places to send a couple of tourists on a Saturday morning. How about a short walking tour (or bike rental) that includes the Barnacle (open at 9:00), Plymouth Congregational Church (old schoolhouse in rear) Ransom Everglades & Carrollton (El Jardin) schools, Chabad House (Williams Jennings Bryan) and Peacock Park and down to the waterfront and Dinner Key, City Hall and the Coast Guard and seaplane hangers. I'll grant you that it would be nice if there were signs with historical information at each of these locations and a guide (great idea for the BID if it doesn't already exist) but there is lots of history and places of interest in our village if you look for it.
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