You can put lipstick on a pig . . .

I am tempted to use that saying, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," because this almost seems the case with the Coconut Grove Playhouse. But it's sort of true and I don't mean that in a rude way, I just mean that the playhouse is getting an outside cosmetic make-over this weekend and I shudder to see what's inside. But baby steps is better than no steps.

P.N. Construction was hired by the state to fix the falling scaffolding and broken windows and rooftop transom that is broken and left open, allowing rain to pour in. It's just cosmetic, but it's making a big difference.

The crew came out Friday and is working today, Saturday, also, to make things right. Thanks to our friend and local activist Harry Emilio Gottlieb, this is getting done. Harry has been on top of this for quite awhile. He has been working with Victoria F. Thompson, Program Administrator DEP, Division of State Lands in Tallahassee. Weeks ago, a mysterious Grovite boarded up the front doors and painted them to match the gray paint outside after a Grapevine story ran on the poor condition of the building. It's so much nicer when you enter the Grove from the south now

Harry, in yellow, is with Pedro from P.N. Construction. I was present when Harry asked Pedro the cost of doing this job. He told us it is $5700.00. We were flabbergasted at the very reasonable price. Thanks to Victoria, the state got proper bids and thanks to Harry, Victoria got involved. So far so good. Now it's just up to the big guys who make the big decisions to make the playhouse right.

One side note, I "checked in" on Facebook yesterday from the Playhouse. I just wanted to see how it would feel to actually see someone checking in from that location. It felt good. It's been closed so long, I'm wondering if "checking in" was even a thing when the playhouse closed in 2006.