Ben & Jerry's doling out free ice cream

Looks like they never had ice cream before. As Fred Hunt's painted peacock looks on (a taste of the old Grove) the new Grove office workers head over for some Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Today, the Ben & Jerry's truck stopped by Coconut Grove, giving out free ice cream as a promotion, they did the same thing last Friday. Today, there were much more people, mostly the office workers from Mayfair, but Ben & Jerry's was here for everyone to enjoy.

We announced it yesterday on the Grapevine Instagram site @coconutgrovegrapevine, perhaps you saw it. If not, why not hop on over to Instagram now and follow us, so you'll get to see the next great promotion before anyone else knows about it.

It's weird to see this long lineup where so many of us used to hang out at Paul's sunglass hut. This used to be such a thriving area, sort of quiet now until the ice cream truck arrives.

Area Stage presents "Alice in Wonderland"

Area Stage has announced the opening of Disney's "Alice in Wonderland." The production has two casts.

Cast B, which performs on May 2, 3, and 4, is composed of actors ages 9 to 14.  

Cast A, which performs on May 9, 10 and 11, is composed of actors ages 6 to 10. 

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Lewis Carroll. This  Disney's adaptation takes the audience down the rabbit hole to join Alice's madcap adventures in Wonderland as she chases the White Rabbit, races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, sings with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game! Performed by Stage I and Stage II members of the Area Stage Conservatory, this exciting play promises an exciting adventure!

Tickets are $20-$25 for adults; $10 for students.

Buy tickets now, here.

Area Stage is at 1560 S. Dixie Highway, info: 305-666-2078.

Prohibition-era was theme at Billiards by the Bay

 As part of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau’s Sports Month, dozens of Shake-A-Leg Miami (SALM) fans enjoyed a game of pool on one-of-a-kind antique billiards tables during Billiards by the Bay, last week. Proceeds support scholarships for water sports activites at SALM. The event, sponsored by Bacardi and Brandt’s Billiard Restoration, featured a prohibition-era theme with music, open bar, food, and cigars. Even Billy the Marlin avoided scratching.

Professional billiards players Crystal McCormick and John DiToro shared some tricks of the trade, dazzling players and onlookers alike with their unmistakable flair on the felt. Tournament winners from eight teams walked away with custom-made cues worth hundreds of dollars, provided by Dan Brandt of Brandt’s Billiard Restoration. The Wannabes’ team, Bob Mark and Jason Ostrow (shown here) – long-time fans of Brandt’s work - took home first place, bragging rights, and a $500 customized cue. Second place went to Vincent Williams and Mario Coryell of The Salty Dogs; The Funabilist team made up of Wiley Hicks and Bob Schreiber came in third.
  

David Neblett

The day before, Billiards by the Bay Junior Edition took kids on an unforgettable journey. Students from Charles Drew and George Carver elementary schools took what they learned in STEM classes and used it on these antique billiards tables, dating back to 1898. They also got a little help from their new friends, pro players McCormick and DiToro.

FrameWorks presenting emerging artists

FrameWorks is presenting Gianna DiBartolomeo and Ana Garcia at the next FAM Night, Saturday May 3.

The exhibit, "Wild and Free" will begin at the party from 6 to 8 pm.

Gianna DiBartolomeo was born and raised in Miami. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from FIU. Her work has been exhibited in New York, New Hampshire, Miami's Wynwood Art District, and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Her work has been featured on MOCA's website, in Visual Overture and Miami New Times, and on the cover of Creative Quarterly.  DiBartolomeo participated in the 2014 Coconut Grove Arts Festival as one of five Emerging Artists. Her work is in numerous private collections.

A native of Miami, Ana Garcia was drawn to art and photography from a young age.  She picked up her first camera at the age of 12 and has not let go of one since.  She graduated from FIU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and has exhibited her work at the Frost Art Museum at FIU as part of the BFA exhibition. Her artwork was shown at Miami Dreams - Miami International Film Festival, and at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art. Garcia's work has been published in the Best of Photography 2011 by Photographer's Forum and in the Supermix Union of the Diverse Contemporary Art in Miami.

The FrameWorks FAM Night events are intimate and friendly, a great place to meet friends, enjoy the art and also refreshments.
     
Frameworks is located at 3196 Commodore Plaza. For info: 305-443-4581

Flower Moon Psychic Faire at Celestial Treasures

In celebration of May’s Full Moon, also known as the Flower Moon, Celestial Treasures is holding the Flower Moon Psychic Faire where guests can experience a variety of spiritual services, including psychic readings, dream interpretations, and shell readings.

The event is Saturday, May 17, from 1 pm until 10 pm with the full moon ceremony starting at 9 pm. 

During the full moon ceremony, participants can align their vibrations for success and healing by drawing upon the powerful energy of the Flower Moon.

Celestial Treasures believes the Full Moon is a time filled with power and energy, which can be directed to benefit our lives. The Flower Moon occurs during the beginning of summer and can be associated with the blossoming flowers and growing plants that mark this time of year. 

“I think this Flower Moon Psychic Faire will provide people with the perfect opportunity to take a moment from their busy lives and receive positive spiritual guidance and help. Summer is a great time for abundance and the full moon gives optimal energy during this time of year,” said Sandra Cheryl Richardson.

Psychic readings are $25; dream interpretations $25; shell readings $25; flower moon ceremony is $13 per ticket. There will be book signings by local authors. Free gift with purchase of $50 or more.

Celestial Treasures is a metaphysical lifestyle boutique honoring the vast array of spiritual paths. They specialize in offering the tools necessary for personal development including: books, candles, incense, crystals, jewelry, statues, Lampe Berger and more. Celestial Treasures also offers psychic readings by some of Miami’s most trusted psychics including Sandra Cheryl Richardson, chosen as Miami’s Best Psychic by Miami New Times in 1992,1996, and 2012.

They're located at 3444 Maini Highway, #3. For info: 305-461-2341

Short Film Festival presents new films

The 13th Miami Short Film Festival presents "Latin American shorts" at its next Monthly Screening on Wednesday, April 30, 8 pm at Paragon Cinemas 13 at CocoWalk.

Cocktail Reception 7:30 pm - Complimentary Stella Artois Drink included with ticket

Films include, "Tio Facundo," Cuba; "La Soja," Venezuela; "Shave It," Argentina; "Los Retratos," Colombia; "Ultimo Recurso," Peru and "El ultimo hielero," Ecuador.

 Tickets now on sale here: miamishortfilmfestival.com/msp 

Save the Coconut Grove Playhouse t-shirt, hats

The next Playhouse meeting is at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive) on Friday, May 2 from 6 to 8 pm.

The Save the Coconut Grove Playhouse Facebook group is selling t-shirts to promote the cause of stopping the commercial developers from turning the location into an actual t-shirt shop and mall.  You can buy a shirt or hat and wear it to the meeting. Or just purchase the items to support the cause.

The group feels that major development will take over the playhouse grounds and they feel that the building will be knocked down to make way for  a retail/condo development. The goal of the Save the Coconut Grove Playhouse group is to preserve what is there now, to repair and restore it using architect Richard Heisenbottle's design (shown here).

The t-shirt is $18, the money raised will go to fund the fight. Also available, one-size-fits-all "Save the Coconut Grove Playhouse" caps (with Broadway font, of course), for $15. 

To order, please send an email to saveplayhouse@yahoo.com. If ordering a t-shirt please indicate size.

7th Annual Music Under the Stars: Bon Appétit Miami

Support 20/20 vision and celebrate free eye care for children at the Seventh Annual Music Under the Stars: Bon Appétit Miami to benefit Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The event is Wednesday, April 30 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Dine under the stars with fabulous food from restaurants that include Whisk, City Hall The Restaurant, OTC, Shorty’s Bar-B-Q, El Carajo and many more. Enjoy delicious beverages provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Rex Goliath Wine as you browse the super silent auction that features getaways, spa packages, sports memorabilia, gift certificates for fine dining and more.

Relax to special musical performances by the Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program with a guest appearance by Latin Grammy winner Paul Hoyle (pictured). An outstanding multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Hoyle has written music for movies and TV shows and has worked with top artists such as Shakira, Julio Iglesias, Jon Secada and Albita. Don't miss this much-anticipated highlight of the South Florida philanthropic season - it's great fun and for a wonderful cause! Single tickets are $75 and $140 per couple. Call Cameron Sisser or go online for reservations. 

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired 
601 SW 8th Avenue, Miami
786-362-7515 (Cameron Sisser)
www.MiamiLighthouse.org

Village Council meeting is Tuesday

The Coconut Grove Village Council meeting is Tuesday, April 29 at the Frankie Rolle Center (3750 S. Dixie Highway). The meeting starts at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome.

Hank Sanchez-Resnik (Bike Coconut Grove) & Tony Garcia (Streetplans Collaborative) are guest speakers.

Trolley Barn/CBA 
Crime Watch 
Playhouse Committee
Trolley Service

Just a few more days to sign trolley petition

The Petition to bring the City Trolley through the Grove is coming to its end, April 30, 2014 is the last day to sign it. We've gotten a nice bunch of signatures at the petition at the Bookstore, shown here. It's on the cafe counter in a purple folder, if you would like to stop by and sign it in person.

Online, the petition is here.

Not many people have signed the petition online, more have signed it in person, I'm not sure why. I'm also surprised that many Grove businesses and restaurants, and even the BID and Village Council have not pushed the petition on their websites, newsletters or social media as a trolley service will literally bring more people to the Grove to spend money in the local businesses. There's nothing controversial about it, even our District Commissioner Marc Sarnoff signed the petition.

Hopefully we can get a big push before Wednesday, the last day to sign. Either way, I'll take the online and written petitions to the county and we can go from there. Apparently the county is in favor of our current Circulator and they do not want to change it out for a trolley. I know it's basically the same thing, although you pay to use the Circulator, but studies have shown that people prefer a trolley (or trolley-looking thing) to a bus.

Related story:
Let's get the trolley into Coconut Grove

Summer Music Camps at Music Academy

 The Miami Conservatory of Music is offering Summer Music Camps For younger children featuring "Music Discovery" where kids will enjoy hands on opportunities to explore a variety of instruments like piano, guitar, violin, voice and percussion with the guidance of professional musicians. On the final day parents can come and see them perform for the first time on their instruments!

The "Making Music" group lets children 8 and older learn and play different instruments and compose their own music which will be recorded on a computer. At the end of the camp students showcase their talent and present a mini-musical production.

Sign up now for Summer Camps at the Miami Conservatory of Music. They have groups for ages 5-7 and ages 8 and up. Register now and save $50.

Please register online by going here. The sign up by April 30, 2014 and save $50.

Wynwood Life brings culture to the streets

Just a hop, skip and a jump from Coconut Grove this weekend is the Wynwood Life Street Festival.

It's been hot out, but there's plenty of shade and drinks (and food). We had delicious ceviche, which was perfect in the hot weather under a nice, shady umbrella, listening to live music on the main stage.

It's a cultural street festival with art, music, food and fashion which started on Friday and runs through Sunday, April 27. The party is on 6th Avenue, between 22nd and 24th Streets.

Top area vendors and artists, many of whom have been in some of Miami’s most respected graffiti crews, are part of this event. Kicking off the musical line-up Friday night was Congolese-Belgian hip-hop phenom Baloji, who was brought to Miami and the Festival by MDC Live Arts. Other bands and DJs are scheduled to perform from the one of two stages throughout the weekend. At night, the neon light sculptures come on and make it feel like a mini UltraFest, only family-friendly here.

Social Media Monkey (gorilla)? There's lots of people taking selfies around the festival so you may have seen the images under hashtag #WynwoodLife all over social media.

Fresh coconut water, straight from the coconut.

Live murals and painting throughout the festival and Wynwood is an added plus.

The festival runs Sunday from noon – 8 pm.

Tickets start at $8.00 and go up from there. Get your tix here.

For all the info, visit: wynwoodlife.com

Gibson Plaza Groundbreaking Ceremony

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Xavier L. Suarez will join Pinnacle Housing Group, the Coconut Grove Collaborative, Miami Dade College Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation, and the Theodore R. Gibson Memorial Fund Inc, in the Gibson Plaza Groundbreaking Ceremony, on Monday, April 28, at 10:30 am. This affordable housing development in Miami-Dade County is being developed by Pinnacle et al., and will bring a mixed-use residential and educational complex to West Coconut Grove.  

“The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners allocated $9 Million towards the construction and development of affordable housing in District 7. This was awarded to the four partners in the Gibson Plaza development; one of the four entities developing Gibson Plaza is the Theodore R. Gibson Memorial Fund Inc., which has been in existence for over 30 years,” said Commissioner Xavier Suarez. “On behalf of the Miami-Dade County Board of County  Commissioners, and as Commissioner of Miami-Dade District 7, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to be associated with a project that I believe will spur the re-birth of the long neglected segment of our community - The Coconut Grove Village West.”

"This is a transforming catalitic project for the community," says J.S. Rashid, president of the Coconut Grove Collaborative. He feels this will promote further development in the area.

The five-story complex will include 56 apartments and an educational facility that will serve residents and members of the surrounding community. Residents will be a minimum of 55 years of age. Many of the units will include one or two bedrooms. Miami-Dade College will provide the educational and job workforce programs within the facility. Included as part of the project are an exercise room, community center, a library and a computer lab.

The monthly rent for the units will be from $300 to $1,000, depending on applicants’ income. May 2015 is the scheduled completion date.

This project has been made possible by a partnership between the Theodore Roosevelt Gibson Memorial Fund, the Collaborative Development Corporation, Pinnacle Housing Group, and Miami-Dade College through the Mitchell Wolfson, Sr. Foundation.  

The ceremony will be at 3629 Grand Avenue.

Forager Fête: evening of words, plants, edible discoveries

O, Miami, Edible South Florida, and The Kampong are presenting Forager Fête: a release party for Forager: A Subjective Guide to Miami's Edible Plants and the newest issue of Edible South Florida magazine on Tuesday, April 29 from 7 to 9:30 pm at The Kampong (4013 S. Douglas Road).

They'll have goodies from Miami chefs, including Ryan Harrison of the new Taperia Raca; Chef Bee of Oishi Thai + the new NaiYaRa (opening next year at Sunset Harbour in Miami Beach); and Thi Squire of Rock Garden Herbs

Sample two outstanding beers from New Belgium Brewing Company, perfectly paired for our dishes: Snapshot Wheat Beer and Rampant Imperial IPA

Taste exotic fruits from the subtropical Redland that Nick Bernal, commercial forager of Seasons Farm Fresh, has tracked down for sampling

Explore the grounds of The Kampong on a "fast-foraging" tour with director emeritus Larry Schokman and plantmatter's Tiffany Noé

The agenda:
7 pm - Arrival. Please bring $5 cash for secure self-parking, it's limited, so carpool if possible.
7:30 pm - "Fast Foraging" mini-tour of The Kampong grounds starring Kampong director emeritus Larry Schokman and plantmatter founder Tiffany Noé
8 pm - Creative Director Seth Labenz and Executive Editor P. Scott Cunningham provide a brief visual introduction to Jai-Alai Books, a brand-new literary publication house created by O, Miami 
8:15 pm - An intro to Forager and the newest issue of Edible South Florida, featuring a Q&A with Forager authors Tiffany Noé and George Echevarria and ESF editor Gretchen Schmidt, plus a reading of food poems by Nick Vagnoni

Tickets ares $20 each. You may purchase them here.

Party for the Planet

Zoo Miami’s Earth Day celebration – Party for the Planet – will feature fun “green” activities and entertainment for the entire family as well as animal enrichment with recycled items and/or natural materials like newspapers, cardboard tubes, bamboo, old tires, fire hoses, and more.

The Tropical Flowering Tree Society will be hosting its annual plant show and sale.  There will also be fun “green” activities and entertainment for the entire family as well as animal enrichment with recycled items and/or natural materials like newspapers, cardboard tubes, bamboo, old tires, fire hoses, and more.  

During Party for the Planet, guests can come in free of charge if they turn in a cellphone as part of the ECO-CELL phone recycling program. Not only will each person donating a cellphone enter the zoo for free on these two days, but they will also help save gorillas! Cell phones include coltan, a mineral extracted in the deep forests of Congo in central Africa, home to the world's endangered lowland gorillas. Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo's out-of-control coltan mining business has in recent years led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade. By turning in your cell phone, we can hopefully reduce the need for additional coltan … and help protect the gorillas.  

The party is Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27 from 10 am to 4 pm.

Free with zoo admission. Admission: Adult (13+) $15.95; Child (3-12) $11.95; Children 2 and under free. 

Zoo Miami
12400 S.W. 152nd Street, Miami
305-251-0400
www.ZooMiami.org

Photo walking tour of Coral Gables

Join the Coral Gables Museum and Leica Store Miami this Saturday, April 26, at 11 am for a photo walking tour of the City Beautiful. Start at the Museum, stroll the historic business district to capture some great photo opps, make your way to the Leica Store for mimosas, and end at Seasons 52 for complimentary flatbread. 

Cost is $10; call 305-603-8067 or visit the Museum website for more info.

Mi Pi opens at CocoWalk

My Pi, the new pizza place has opened at CocoWalk. You can't miss it, it's right at the top of the stairs.

At Mi Pi, you make your own pizza, you choose the protein (meatballs, chicken, bacon, ham, etc.) and/or the veggies (peppers, olives, broccoli, mushrooms, etc.) and you have at it. Sort of like Karmer's idea on Seinfeld at Poppy's.

For the make-it-yourself pizza, prices go from $7.50 per pizza for up to three toppings with each extra topping costing 75 cents each.

Or you can get pizzas from their standard list, there are about 10 specialty pizzas.

The prices vary on the specialty pizzas from $7 for the "My Pi" pizza which is marinara topped pizza with mozzarella for $7.00 and the pizzas go up to $10 for other variations 

The $9"Spartacus" consists of extra virgin olive oil topped with mozzarella, fresh garlic, chicken, black olives, red onions, crumbled feta, fresh basil and sun dried tomatoes.

The $10 "Kitchen Sink" consists of marinara, mozzarella, pepperoni, meatballs, Italian sausage, black olives, red onions, green peppers and a layer of cheddar cheese.

My Pi has specialty salads, too at $7. 

In addition, they will feature a rotating selection of craft draft beers and seasonal bottled offerings. The draft beers will be rotated on a monthly basis and include some of the most unique and complex beers from local, domestic, and imported brewers. 

My Pi Custom Pizza & Craft Beer will offer counter service and outdoor balcony seating and will be adjacent to Paragon Grove; the theater will sell the pizza at the concession stand and in The Lot Bar & Lounge. Local delivery throughout Coconut Grove will also be available.  

Auditions open for Academy of Arts & Minds

The Academy of Arts & Minds Charter High School is holding open auditions on Saturday, April 26 at 10 am.

Categories include:
Dance
Visual Arts
Photography
Chorus/Vocal
Concert Band
Jazz Band
Theater/Drama
Creative Writing

The auditions require professionalism and you must be prepared. Dance auditions for instance require applicants to perform a one minute dance piece, choreographed by themselves or a dance teacher, on one of the following dance style: ballet, jazz or modern dance. Applicants should be prepared to stay for two hours.

For the Theater/Drama auditions, two contrasting monologues are required, from a published play or book, it must be memorized.

Be a part of our own little "Glee" right here in the Grove. A&M is located at 3138 Commodore Plaza. 

Visit: aandm.net and review the requirements for each category.
For questions or concerns contact Mrs. Duchon at: MDuchon@aandm.net or call 305-448-1100.

Bike to Work Day is back

Bike to Work Day is back this Friday, April 25. 

Jeremy Gauger at Arquitectonica, the sponsor of the event, suggested making Bike to Work Day a monthly event to coincide with Miami Critical Mass. 

This time, the meeting place is at the Bookstore in the Grove (3390 Mary Street (at Mary Street and Florida Avenue) between 8 and 9 am. This is for anyone who travels for work TO the Grove or FROM the Grove and for those who just want to ride along.

Later in the day, Jeremy will lead cyclists to the Critical Mass ride downtown, leaving the Bookstore at 6:15 pm.


For more info contact Jgauger@arquitectonica.com.

Smile, you're on Coconut Grove camera

You may have seen antennas and radar-type devices around Coconut Grove; these are CCTV cameras, part of the Coconut Grove BID and the City of Miami's security initiative. It leverages the security ambassador services, BID off duty services and City of Miami Police force by adding more eyes to the streets.

A total of 10 cameras are scheduled to be installed in the first phase of the project. The cameras are only focused on the public right of way, not private property. You can see one set up in the center of the village above the Ambassador booth and the other two booths will also have cameras above them. These are not ticket enforcement cameras, they are only being used to deter crime.

The cameras will work day and night, they have night vision and zooming capabilities, they can actually zoom in and read a license plate. 



The police will be able to watch live streaming video. Right now, the Grove is the first business district in Miami using this technology.  In this photo, you can see one of the antennas on top of the Sonesta Hotel, there are others around the Grove. The project is fully funded by the BID at a cost of $46,000.

"I think the Boston bombing and subsequent solving of the case showed the importance of having a camera system in place, hopefully the community will like the fact that the BID take the community  “security” very seriously.  It’s a major chunk of our budget.  The District has historically fared well with Crime, we feel this can only make things even better on our end," says Manny Gonzalez, Coconut Grove BID director.

ERIC performing at The Grove Spot

The Epic Righteous Invincible Combo (ERIC) is back at The Grove Spot on Friday, April 25 from 8 to 11 pm.

ERIC is...

Eric Wagner on vocals & acoustic guitar; Fred Hsia on electric guitar; Bob "Bebob" Grabowski on electric upright Kydd bass and because Bobby Thomas, Jr., is currently on tour in Japan, they have special guest Sam Levine on drums.

ERIC is a unique, virtuosic, genre-defying, improvisational band featuring original songs composed by Eric Wagner and performed by Miami Jazz Masters.

Stop by for dinner and/or drinks and enjoy the show. The Grove Spot is at 3324 Virginia Street.

It's the place to be

Vice President Joe Biden was in town last week and he had lunch at Greenstreet Cafe. This isn't a great picture, but it's better than one of him sitting and eating.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade among other celebs are regulars at Greenstreet. Seems like you never know who you'll run into there.

"Meet the Wine Maker and Proprietor"

The Grove Isle Hotel is holding a "Meet the Wine Maker & Proprietor" wine tasting event on Thursday, April 24. 

The event, from 3 to 5 pm, will be followed by an exclusive Wine Maker Dinner prepared by Chef Ted Mendez. The dinner will feature wines from Bordeaux and Southern France.

The reception is at 6:30 pm and dinner is at 7 pm.

The wine tasting is $15 per person, and 4 Course Dinner is $79.

Please RSVP, it's a must: 305-860-4375.

Johnny Dread performing at Green Market

Coconut Grove's inaugural Grove Green Market season will come to an end on Thursday, April 24, with a live musical celebration from local musician, Johnny Dread. The weekday farmers market has offered the community a place to gather and listen to live music while supporting local businesses.  

The market runs from 2 to 8 pm in the Coconut Grove Parking lot. There's free parking and a free bike valet.

The market will return in October.

Friends of Chamber Music closes season

In the final concert of its 58th season, Friends of Chamber Music of Miami, South Florida’s longest running chamber music series, will present the young British piano virtuoso Benjamin Grosvenor (shown here) and the brilliant New York-based Escher String Quartet.

The concert will take place at 8 pm, Tuesday, May 6 at the University of Miami’s Gusman Concert Hall. Tickets are $35/$10 students.

Appearing together on tour this season, Mr. Grosvenor and the Eschers will be heard together in one of the most enduring chamber works of the 19th century, the Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 81 by Antonin Dvorak. In his solo portion of the program, Mr. Grosvenor will be heard in works of Mendelssohn, Schubert and Gounod/Liszt.

Mr. Grosvenor and the Escher Quartet are among the most highly regarded musicians of the younger generation.

The 21-year-old first came to prominence as the outstanding winner of the Keyboard Final of the 2004 BBC Young Musician Competition at the age of 11. Since then, he has performed with orchestras including the London Philharmonic, RAI Torino, New York Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Tokyo Symphony, and in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre, Singapore’s Victoria Hall, The Frick Collection and Carnegie Hall (at the age of 13).

The University of Miami Gusman Concert Hall is located at 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables. For further information and to order tickets visit www.miamichambermusic.org or call 305 372-2975.

It's not all that in the scheme of things

There's talk of the digital sign at the bus bench on Grand Avenue being taken down. Apparently it is against city regulations to have it there. As for Van Wagner, the sign company, so many people have brought up conspiracies and there was talk of pay offs and things like that, but I highly doubt it because of this.

See these Times Square billboards that are three and four stories high? They are Van Wagner's billboards. I was there last week and happened to notice them.

So many of the Times Square billboards belong to Van Wagner, I don't really think our little bus bench billboard is going to make enough of a dent in their business as to have shady dealings over it.

At last week's Village of Center Grove meeting, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff has a 30 page report explaining the rules and regulations of billboards and advertising. The Grand Avenue digital billboard is not legal. More to come.

Multi-chamber mixer at Sea Level in Sobe

The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, along with many other Chambers from around the county are holding the multi-Chamber mixer at Sea Level at the Clinton Hotel on Wednesday, May 7.

Mix and mingle with local professionals, promote your business, share your ideas, expand your network and have fun. 

Members $10 in advance and $20 at the door cash only Non-members $15 in advance and $25 at the door cash only/

To purchase your tickets go to multichamberevents.com.

Sea Level is at 821 Washington Avenue in South Beach, valet parking is $10 and there is plenty of street parking. 

The event is from 6 to 9 pm.

Please RSVP to rsvp@fabulousmiami.com by Monday, May 5.

Do Grove Isle developers have rights?

Gilberto Pastoriza, an attorney for the Grove Isle neighbors who are against the expansion of the island in the form of a new condo building said at a recent meeting that the plans to construct the new building and to knock down the current hotel, without the members of the condo association knowing about it, was on a fast track for approval by the city.  “The train was going full speed.  Our job was to stop the train," he said.

I don't want to take sides in the Grove Isle case, but in this case, if a building or condo is sold out is it fair for the developer to have any hold on the property and then decide to rebuild or reshape the development? Just because they owned the hotel, does it mean they control the whole island? But apparently they own the hotel land and they can build there.

Plan A is to build the tower on the location, Plan B is a spite plan where all condo amenities would be removed and five smaller towers would be built, maybe 5 stories high. Residents were told by lawyers that they don't need to choose Plan A or B and they can fight the construction project altogether. 

It appears that the majority of residents like the island the way it is. They don't want any changes.

A non-binding mediation meeting is set for April 21, but it may be delayed.

Climate Action Rally and discussion

The CLEO Institute is hosting a South Florida Climate Action Rally and climate science briefing and panel discussion with Guest of Honor U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. 

Sen. Whitehouse will end his multi-state Climate Road Trip in Miami on Friday, April 25, at CLEO’s rally, where he will serve as the moderator for the one-hour panel and featured speaker at a rally to follow. The two-hour rally will feature elected officials, local business owners, cultural and community institutions, schools and other groups taking the stage to showcase the support for climate action in South Florida. The rally will take place at Pinecrest Gardens 11000 Red Road.

The agenda:
5 to 6 pm: Climate Science Briefing & Panel Discussion (moderated by Sen. Whitehouse)
5:45 to 6:15 pm: Press Availability
6:15 to 8 pm: South Florida Climate Action Rally (with Keynote Speech by Sen. Whitehouse)

This is an important week for bringing light to climate change, as U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will be holding a field hearing on Tuesday, April 22, in Miami Beach to discuss the effects of climate change and sea level rise on South Florida.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Light refreshments and food will be provided.

CLEO offers climate leadership engagement opportunities to bridge the divide between science and society on the urgent issue of climate change. 

Sen. Whitehouse has helped lead the fight in Washington for action on climate change for years. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, he plays a key role in crafting policies to address climate change and environmental protection.

“South Florida is the area that is most threatened by sea level rise in the continental U.S.,” U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said, according to a Bloomberg BNA article. "We have a compelling story to tell."

Happy Easter!

Chamber to host Social Media Breakfast

The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce is presenting a Breakfast Seminar Series. On Wednesday, April 23, the featured seminar is "Social Media Best Practices" hosted by Ygrene Energy Fund.

The breakfast is at the Mayfair Atrium, 3390 Mary Street, suite 124, from 8 to 9:30 am.

Speaking are Nathanial Perez from SapientNitro; Chesi Madej, Miami New Times; Melissa Goodis from Eyeball Digita; Johnny Todd of Yelp and Adam Hollander of SpientNitro.

This breakfast is free for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. You may register either way here.

Erika King's Miami Heat Collages

Our friend, Grovite, Erika King, has a showing at The Studio Kanter Art Gallery (25 NW 7th Avenue of the Arts of Fort Lauderdale). It's worth the trip to see Erika's Miami Heat and NBA collages. There's an opening reception from 7 to 10 pm on Saturday, April 26, and the show will run through the Heat “Three-Peat” championship in June. Art collectors and Heat fans alike will have the opportunity of purchasing for the first time a canvas giclee Miami Heat Championship series of the Heat’s NBA titles from 2006, 2012 and 2013. 

This Miami Heat show will also include several original artworks and giclee prints of Heat MVPs LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, including LeBron’s highly collectable “NBA Rookie of the Year” collage from 2004. 

The NBA “Legends of Basketball – We Made this Game” collage by Erika will also be exhibited. This is the most important artwork ever created about the National Basketball Association and is produced by Cash McMahon, Icon Art Images and Sam Battistone, Dreamstar that features the hand signed autographs of 60 NBA greats. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and Gary Payton are included on the NBA Heat Legends piece that also features the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Charles Barkley and Kobe Bryant to name a few. NBA Commissioner David Stern has also personally signed each NBA logo on these historic collages. The producers have donated $250,000 to the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) as part of its partnership with the NBA players to give back to the older players who paved the way back in the day.  

Erika King’s Miami Heat history dates back to 1995 when she donated a team collage for the Heat Family Festival and met Coach Pat Riley. Over the years, Mr. Riley and the Heat have commissioned her to create Heat Championship collages, as well as personal tribute collages of Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway and long time trainer Ron Culp for when their Heat jerseys were retired at the American Airlines Arena. Coach Erik Spoelstra has jumped on the championship band wagon and also has commissioned Erika to create his own Heat collage. 

The artworks capture the excitement and electricity of the NBA, while showcasing the sport’s finest players in moving, colorful, vibrant images commonly equated with their on court theatrics and athleticism.  

These NBA collages provide loyal fans with a historical, lasting, appreciable memorabilia that personifies the action of the NBA.   

Erika King is an internationally recognized, Miami-based artist known for the collages she has created for luminaries of the sports, entertainment, and corporate worlds.  Ms. King’s distinctive style features her trademark use of colorful acrylic paint strokes, which connect photographic images to illustrate a compelling visual story of a career, an event, or a history of achievement. An Erika King collage provides the recipient with a unique, lasting tribute, while capturing the most significant and personal memories of one’s life and legacy. 

Betty Wright's closing reception at Kroma

The closing reception for the Betty Wright exhibit, "Living. Love. Lies," at Kroma is tonight, April 18 at 8 pm.

The exhibit celebrates conversations in art with live performance. Curated by Julia Polonyi, "Converstions in Art: Herstory: includes Mother's Love, Mr. Marley, Goovin' in the Grove, Pirates Chess and much more. 

Kroma is located at 3670 Grand Avenue. You can park on the street out front or in the lot at Douglas and Grand.

Billiards by the Bay

Something new at Shake-A-Leg is Billiards by the Bay taking place Thursday, April 24.

Brandt's Billiard Restoration along with Skake-A-Leg is offering this prohibition-era themed event with an open bar, food, cigars and a game of pool on one-of-a-kind antique billiard tables. Play alongside the Big Fish (Think Minnesota Fats), try your luck in teams and get expert advice on how to "break," shoot "bank shots" and avoid "scratching."

Prizes will be awarded to the top performing tournament participants.

“A” Players – $1,000

Early admission, 5:30 pm

Private reception with open bar, hors d’oeuvres, cigars, entertainment
Shoot balls with professionals
Tips to improve your game
Option to participate in tournament
Special gift


“Cueists” (Tournament Players) - $300 per team of two

Admission, 6:30 pm

Open bar, hors d’oeuvres, cigars, entertainment
Participation in tournaments
      Prizes include:
      *First place – one hour of private billiards instruction by professional    
        AND a $500 custom cue stick
      *Second place - $500 custom cue stick
      *Third place - $250 custom cue stick

General Admission - $35

Admission, 6:30 pm

Open bar, hors d’oeuvres, cigars, entertainment Billiards play

Shake-A-Leg is located at 2620 S. Bayshore Drive. Please RSVP to RSVP@shakealegmiami.org

Mayfair Hotel & Spa has new owners

Copperline Partners (West Palm Beach and New York) in partnership with Dallas-based TriGate Capital, purchased The Mayfair Hotel & Spa last week. 

The hotel was built in 1985 as the brainchild of Miami architect Ken Treister.   

“Coconut Grove is going through a dramatic transformation,” said Bobby Schlesinger, Managing Member of Copperline. “For us, the timing is perfect. With the addition of SapientNitro’s headquarters directly next door, and the multi-million dollar Grove Bay project, there is no better time to invest in the bright future of Coconut Grove.”

Heralding its 30th anniversary with the completion of more than $10 million in extensive renovations to the entire property and all interiors of the luxury suites, the Gaudi-inspired hotel represents one of Miami’s historic architectural masterpieces, blending Art Nouveau, Asian and Old World European inspirations.  

The Mayfair features 179 luxury suites, most with private terraces; they offer a chic rooftop pool deck surrounded by eight private cabanas.


“We are delighted to have completed the purchase of the Mayfair Hotel and Spa and look forward to partnering with Copperline Partners on this investment. Copperline, through its hotel management company Obadon, has done a fantastic job operating the hotel through the market downturn and we believe that the Mayfair is extremely well positioned to benefit from the exciting transformation occurring in the Grove”, said TriGate Managing Member Jeff Yarckin.


Copperline Partners has over 50 years of experience in hospitality and multi-family real estate management and development. TriGate Capital, LLC is a market leading real estate private equity firm focused on the recapitalization and repositioning of real estate assets and companies. 

JohnMartin's offering Irish-inspired Easter brunch

One of Miami’s oldest and highly cherished Irish gem’s, JohnMartin’s is inviting friends and family to join them for a delightful Easter Brunch.  For a great value, guests can enjoy a generous variety of holiday classics including some Irish inspired dishes.  Guests can enjoy the Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 20, from 11:30 am until 2:30 pm.   

Begin the brunch with an array of freshly baked goods, exotic fruit, domestic and imported cheeses, smoked salmon and seasonal salads.  For something more savory, a breakfast station will be available for attendees to customize an omelet.  Entrees will range from traditional roasted Leg of Lamb to JohnMartin’s novelty, Shepherd’s Pie.  To end the meal with decadence, dessert selections include an Irish Sherry Trifle, Tiramisu, Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Mousse, fresh berries and more homemade treats.   

The price for the bountiful brunch is $29.95 per person for adults and $13.50 for children under the age of 12 years old.  In honor of the holiday, Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s will be specially priced at $5.00 each.  Those interested in attending Sunday’s buffet should make reservations by calling 305-445-3777. 

JohnMartin’s has been continually recognized for its cuisine by publications that voted the restaurant “Best Pub Food” for several years. The restaurant features live entertainment every Friday and Saturday nights. They feature Trivia Night, Thursdays from 9 pm – 11 pm and Open Mic Night on Sunday nights at 8 pm.

JohnMartin’s is located at 253 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. For more information, call 305-445-3777, or visit johnmartins.com.