It's party time in Coconut Grove all weekend

Spam Allstars

Should be a fun weekend in Coconut Grove. There are two great events.

On Saturday, March 2, the French Quarter Block Party takes over Florida Avenue from noon to 3 pm. Bad Apples Brass Band and Spam Allstars will be performing live thanks to the Coconut Grove BID.

Thanks to the Coconut Grove BID, Florida Avenue will transform into a celebration filled with brassy funky tunes by South Florida favorites Bad Apples Brass Band and Spam Allstars. 

New Orleans specialty food and drinks will be available for sale including a crawfish boil by Shore to Door Fish Market and The Spillover will be serving their famous jambalaya. Harry's Pizzeria will be selling slices of pizza and The Salty Donut will also be selling goodies along with ice cream and beignets from Dasher & Crank.

The event is free and open to the public. 

After the block party The Mayfair hotel will be having a local guitarist playing at their Mayfair Kitchen entrance on Virginia Street from 3:30 to 7 pm with half off draft beer/wine and a $10 burger and beer special.

Then, on Sunday, March 3, The Gifford Lane Art Stroll will return for its 21st year, where else - on Gifford Lane from noon to 5 pm.

Bring your bike and leave it free with Bike Coconut Grove, on Oak Avenue, by the tennis courts, they'll do a great job of watching it while you stroll Gifford. You may have seen them at this year's Coconut Grove Arts Festival - they took in hundreds of bicycles during that three day period. By the way, if you're a cyclist, stop by Florentine Plaza (3444 Main Highway) on Friday, March 1 from 7:30 to 8:30 am for free breakfast, sponsored by Bike Coconut Grove. Bring a bike helmet to get in. Please RSVP here. 

The annual stroll, on sleepy tree-lined Gifford Lane will take place from noon to 5 pm between Oak and Day Avenues. 

It's an old-fashioned block party where artists line the street among food and drink vendors. The original art is hung on gates, clothes lines, trees, wherever it will fit. 

This year’s Stroll poster is by artist Sheri Friedman; posters will be available at the event. And live music will be performed by Jon Sullivan and Friends, known for their classic country tunes along with The Solar Dogs, the featured band for the eleventh straight year. 

As is the case each year, Gifford Lane Art Stroll will give away all of its money including a percentage of each artist’s sales to two Coconut Grove charities - the St. Stephen’s AIDS Ministry and the St. Alban’s Child Enrichment Center in the Village West. Over the years, many thousands of dollars have been donated.