Grove Chamber luncheon tomorrow
Property Tax Reform, with special guest speaker, State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera, District 113, will be on hand at this month's Chamber luncheon, tomorrow, January 15. He will discuss the provisions of the proposed constitutional amendment for property tax reform, (SJR 2D), its implementing bill, (SB 4D), and the special election authorization bill (SB 6D) as of final passage.
This January 29, Florida voters will consider the proposed constitutional amendment. Find out how it will affect you as a homeowner, a business owner, a landlord, a tenant, a merchant or restaurant.
11:30: Networking
12 noon: lunch/discussion followed by question/answer session.
$25 Members / $35 non-members (Join the Chamber at Silver Level or above, and lunch is on them). Location is the top floor of the Doubletree Hotel (2649 S. Bayshore Drive). Please RSVP
at 305-444-7270 or email to info@coconutgrove.com.
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Public input needed for new Playhouse plan
According to today's Herald, the Coconut Grove Playhouse has a comeback plan. They are holding a series of meetings, which will include the public.
The playhouse may take a couple of years to open and one plan is to retrofit the interior, making it a smaller venue, while preserving the exterior. The whole story is here.
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It was a very tasty day
The Great Taste of the Grove was really fun yesterday. I enjoyed the food, music and company. It's on again today from 11 am to 7 pm at Peacock Park. This photo above reminds me of a Georges Seurat painting. If you click on it, or any of the photos, they will open larger.
Chefs Mike and Juan, with Jihane from the Ritz Carlton's Bizcaya restaurant were all smiles and this was even before they knew they had won the contest for "Best Single Taste" for their kobe beef shown here in Jihan's hand and shown below. They also won for "Best Looking Booth."
Monty's had a beautiful booth, too, and their stone crabs were to die for. Gary Ciuca, event chairman, told me that he felt that Monty's mustard was better than Joe's Stone Crab's mustard. He may be right.
The chefs at Jaguar also had a lot of favorite selections.
"Pocket Change" performed for a good part of the day. Instead of the usual jazz, they did a lot of old Motown stuff, which the crowd loved.
It was a day to just come out, sit on the grass and soak in the atmosphere. Today -- part 2.
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Winners at today's Great Taste of the Grove
One of my favorite places, Mr. Moe's won "Best Overall" winner at today's Great Taste of the Grove.
I followed the judges around for over an hour -- Sue McConnell, Gary Ciuca and Katherine Phillips, (with Monty Trainer -- who was not a judge, but was part of the process), only to have them choose my favorite as "Best Single Taste" -- Bizcaya, the Ritz Carlton's restaurant -- for their kobe beef.
No, I wasn't a judge, but I gave them my two cents' worth before the judging even started.
Bizcaya also won "Best Looking Booth".
Tomorrow there is another contest -- some of the restaurants will be different. Come out and enjoy the food, the music and the fun.
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Great Taste of the Grove off to a fine start
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Great Taste of the Grove is today and tomorrow
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The tents are going up -- come out, have a taste
Right on cue, the guys with the blue shirts are out there today getting things set up for this weekend's Great Taste of the Grove.
Peacock Park is the place to be from 11 am to 7 pm Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the delicious food from so many Grove restaurants. And don't forget there's lots of jazz music, too.
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Angler's Supply Marine is now open
I checked out Angler's Supply Marine at 2640 S. Bayshore Drive, right next to The Fresh Market.
This is Juan Moncada, who showed me around. They seem to have everything -- tackle, marine and boating supplies and even bait. They are open every day from 7 am to 7 pm. For more info, you can call Juan at 305-854-4485.
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Back to The Fresh Market
I made my grand entrance at The Fresh Market yesterday, first time since the incident.
"You-know-who" wasn't there. Guess she was out stopping the clock at CocoWalk with that sour, menacing look of hers. She could charm the vultures out of the courthouse.
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Blue Man on Friday
Blue Man Grove is an excellent band. If you haven't heard them, it is worth stopping by. They are right on the street outside the Pommes & Pané Café on Virginia Street, outside CocoWalk, across from The Bookstore.
It's very informal, they appear as a pick up band just playing on the corner, but they are so much more. You can grab a beer or sandwich or even get some coffee from The Bookstore and enjoy Iggy and both Erics in a comfortable setting.
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Grove Arts Festival 2008 poster unveiled
This year's 2008 Coconut Grove Arts Festival Poster was unveiled 20 minutes ago. Miami artist Xavier Cortada's image is of mangroves. Cortada is involved in the Reclamation Project which promotes mangrove re-forestation throughout South Florida's coastline.
The festival is February 16-18 this year.
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More parking nightmares
Last night as we left Somoto, we came upon this scene: two or three parking attendants with flashlights giving out parking tickets. With flashlights -- like thieves in the night. These were the old fashioned meters still left on some streets. Guess they were giving Grove diners a little surprise after their meal.
This one guy above posed for me, but I blocked his face because he is just doing his job and I didn't want to single him out. Below you can see him and another parking attendant arguing with a guy who was getting a ticket.
I really feel the whole Grove parking situation is keeping people away. Either there are no parking spots or the meters are broken or they are stalking you with flashlights. I guess free parking isn't the answer because then people would park and never give up their spots, they are sort of forced out now by the time limit.
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All-Grove Crime Watch meeting tonight
The All-Grove Crime Watch meets tonight, 7 pm at St. Stephen's Church (2750 McFarlane Road).
Parking is free in the surface lot beside the church. If a parking attendant is present, just let the attendant know you are attending the Crime Watch meeting. If given a parking voucher, please bring it to the meeting to be stamped for validation.
Come meet Grove police, neighbors, business persons and the State Attorney representative to discuss any recent crime incidents in the Grove and ways to prevent future crime. Learn about becoming a block captain and joining the C.O.P. (Citizens on Patrol) program.
For info, please email Robert Loupo at rloupo@aol.com
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New Exhibition at Heart of the Grove Gallery
The Heart of the Grove
presents
A NEW Exhibition of Member Artists' Works
Featuring Original Work of Local Artists
Opening Reception
Friday, January 11, 2008 — 6:00 PM
Heart of the Grove Art Gallery and Gift Shop
3439 Main Highway, Coconut Grove
This exhibit will run through March 1st
For information call 305-445-1743 or 305-979-9534
Co-sponsored by GroveHouse Artists and
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: Noon - 6 pm
Friday & Saturday: Noon - 9 pm
Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm
Monday: Closed
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Nikki Beach ready to open this week
World-class Nikki Beach is having it's grand opening this March but it will be open to the public supposedly this Saturday, January 12. They keep changing the date, but it's worth waiting for. Nikki's signature lounge/restaurant in the Grove is located next to the Sonesta at 2889 McFarlane Road, you can easily see their new signage as you pass by. It might be a good idea to call first to be sure they are open. Phone: 305-332-4390.
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Countdown to the Great Taste of the Grove
It’s almost time to savor the flavor of Coconut Grove, January 12-13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurant lineup includes The Ritz Carlton’s Bizcaya, Mr. Moes, Al Fresco, Jaguar Cefalo’s, Monty’s, Mayfair Hotel & Spa, Charthouse, Nespresso, Sandbar, Sonesta Hotel’s Panorama, The New You Catering, CocoWalk Restaurants―including Los Ranchos, Hooters, and the new venues, Mari Nalli and Chili’s, as well as new restaurants in the Grove, Q-doba and Nikki Grove.
Music Program starts each day at 12:45 pm and goes into the evening, featuring Arts & Minds Jazz Ensemble (Classic Jazz), Randy Bernsen Band featuring Randy Singer (Classic Jazz), Arte Vivo (Fusion Jazz), and Pocket Change (R&B/Funk/Disco)
Sponsors for this year’s event include Presidente Beer, Bacardi, Nikki Coconut Grove, Coconut Grove Bank, Brickell Motors, Fast Signs, WDNA, Nestle, Barefoot Wines, Havana Cola, My City Eats, WFTL and Comcast, the Coconut Grove BIC and the NET office.
For general information or to volunteer, please contact the Chamber offices at (305) 442-7270.
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Wacky clock
This clock and its wrong time seems to be bothering many people according to the many comments left on this blog on other posts. It's the big clock at CocoWalk. Here are pictures of the front and back taken today. The actual time was 2:43 pm when the photos were taken, the clock says 5:09 on one side and 4:05 on the other.
I informed the management that people have been commenting about it on the blog and that people are annoyed about its inaccuracy all the time. Oddly enough, it was working the day of the Strut. I was using it to time the start of the parade in my head.
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Protesting Home Depot
A woman with a big orange sign was on the corner of Bird and McDonald this morning -- about 10 am, protesting The Home Depot about something. I ran out to get the info and her photo, but she was gone by the time I got there. Someone told me that someone from the City chased her away. Anyone know anything about this?
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Sailing season gets underway
The sailing season which features regattas or two almost every weekend from now through May 2008, got a great start with the Orange Bowl Jr. Youth Regatta, Dec. 26-30. Over 700 sailors and their families headed into the Grove Central Business District on Dec. 28 where the Chamber, Merchants Group, Business Improvement Committee (BIC), and City of Miami Parks and Recreation’s Special Events office welcomed them with entertainment and a discount program to enjoy our shops and restaurants.
Banners were throughout the area welcoming them.
The program, "Sail the Grove, Shop, Dine and Unwind Sailor" ID card and brochure that describes the many participating merchants’ and restaurants’ special offers will be available throughout the sailing season. CocoWalk provided goodie bags for each of the sailors and family members.
More info here: http://cgsc.org/
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Coconut Cookoff Winner
Great Taste of the Grove 2008 Coconut Cookoff winner with this year’s Best Coconut Recipe is Café Brasserie, Chef Frank Liberoni of the Doubletree Hotel.
The selection process took place at the Sonesta Bayfront Hotel on Jan 2. The judges were Linda Gassenheimer, author and columnist for "The Miami Herald," Simone Diament, Editor and Publisher of "South Florida Gourmet," and Event Chairman Gary Ciuca, Board Member of the Coconut Grove Chamber, and a graduate of the Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Program.
The winner will be featured in NBC 6’s South Florida Today on Wednesday, January 9 at 10 am. The Great Taste of the Grove is this upcoming weekend in Peacock Park.
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