New family meditation classes now forming

Just a few minutes a day of sitting meditation calms the mind, body and spirit, according to extensive research. Zen Village is now presenting a Meditation Class for parents and children with Jane Morales.

Each Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm, she will teach you how to create peace and harmony within your family. Teaching children to relax will help them to focus on school work, it enhances creativity and the mind-body connection. It also facilitates healing.

Meditation also helps renew the spirit and is successful with problems related to hyperactivity. These classes are a great way to bond with your children.

Suggested donation is $29 for one parent and child, $5 each for an additional parent and/or child.

For more info, please call Zen Village at 305-567-0165 or email info@zenvillage.org

New video screens enhance tour bus experience

Miami Tour Company has now added video screens inside their tour buses. You can see a full panoramic view of what’s coming up ahead, in front of the bus.

Miami Tour comes through the Grove daily, you probably have seen their brightly colored buses passing by, and more importantly, stopping in town. They have brought a lot of business to local businesses with their daily stops. The tourists love the Grove. They stop for a drink and something to eat along the three hour tour and purchase other things as well. And hopefully, they enjoy their stop so much they come back and spend a day or two as part of their vacation.

Since their daily stops in January, thousands of tourist have stopped and spent time in the Grove.

Check out the video screen concept here.

They can cut down huge trees, but not the grass?

The Grove post office is proving to be the worst neighbor in the Grove again. They have never wanted to be part of the community and they really don't have any self respect about their own facility. A reader sent these photos in today. I avoid the post office as much as possible, so I didn't notice this mess myself.


They didn't seem to have a problem chopping down every huge oak tree in site a few years ago, but apparently, they cannot mow the few square feet of grass that surrounds the lot now.


It looks like a trail to a forest, but it's the side of the post office on McDonald Street.


This is the parking lot. The City is broke, the County is broke, the State and government are broke. Maybe today on Memorial Day, when the post office is closed, the employees could have had a volunteer half day clean-up or something. Maybe once a month concerned neighbors can volunteer to do a clean-up. The shorline needs this as well as the post office. Next week as part of the Goombay festival, one of the events is a Cemetery clean-up. We need one big broom and a lawn mower. And a leaf blower (a silent one, is there such a thing?).

Lecture series presents Miami and Grove historian

Recently, Miami historian Arva Moore Parks spoke about the history of Coconut Grove at The Kampong as part of their ongoing lecture series. Over 70 people showed up, which is a large crowd for these events. Here is Arva, left, with Ann Parsons, director of The Kampong.

Arva has a new book on Coconut Grove coming out in the fall with a full history of the Grove including lots of photos of the early settlers like the Peacocks, the McFarlanes, the Frows, and lots of current stories, as well.

Hopefully when the book is published The Bookstore will host Arva for a night of Grove history.


Photos by Sylvia Quinn

Happy Memorial Day

Everyone danced to the music of The Solar Dogs, the Grove's House Band, at Scotty's Landing, on Saturday night. Nice way to start the Memorial Day weekend. Hope you have a reflective Memorial Day.

Rehage Jewelry taking a little road trip

Steven Anton Rehage Jewelry (3162 Commodore Plaza) will be closed until June 14, 2010. They are off to an exciting trade show in Las Vegas where they are presenting their new summer and fall lines.

When they return to the Grove in June, they will be having their Summer Clearance Sale with everything 30-50% starting June 14 and going through the end of the month.

For more info, please call 441-0414 or visit: www.stevenantonrehage.com

Coconut Grove Elementary gets great FCAT scores

Looks like Eva N. Ravelo, the "Eat sh-- and die" principal at Coconut Grove Elementary had a method to her madness.

Coconut Grove Elementary is the number one school in our region with the greatest FCAT gains in 3rd grade for reading and math. All of their hard work and after school and summer tutoring programs are working.

Of course the English and Math teachers and tutors get most of the credit.

GroveHouse is presenting "Hot Tropics"

The GroveHouse Artists' next grid exhibit is “Hot Tropics." The Featured Artist for June is Wendy Wood.

The New Exhibition's opening reception is during the next Gallery Walk, June 5 at 7 pm.

Light refreshments and lots of art and artists will be on hand. The GroveHouse gallery is at the Mayfair Promenade, right next to the Improv.

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: Noon - 6 pm
Friday & Saturday: Noon - 9 pm
Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm
Monday: By Appt.

Peacocks Premier at Promenade Party

If you weren't at the Coconut Grove Peacock Tour Launch Party Saturday night, you were the only one missing. It seemed like the whole village was there last night, enjoying the incredible party that Heather Bettner, Peacock Tour Producer, put on. The Mayfair Promenade turned into the Peacock Promenade for the night.


Awards were given out for service, artists were thanked and lots of music filled the place. Above Commissioner Marc Sarnoff gives special recognition to Bernard Wolfson, premier sponsor of the Peacock Tour, owner of the Hampton Inn, as Heather Bettner looks on. Ed Prelaz, manager of the Shoppes of Mayfair was also given a citation for his contribution to the tour.


At left: Leo Ferre (his grandfather Maurice Ferre, past Miami mayor, is running for US Senate, so says his shirt), Sonia Succar and Meme Ferre (one of the artists, and Maurice Ferre's daughter). At right, Rosie Brown and Elizabet Chacon, two Grove artists searching for a peacock sponsor. There are a few peacocks left, so here are the artists waiting to paint them. They are in front of artist George Rodez's peacock, named Penelope.


Louis Del Borrello, whose birthday was yesterday, with Richard Issa; Art Smith and Bonnie Pickard. Bonnie runs the peacock gallery daily, she's Heather's right hand.


Liliana Dones, Renita Samuels Dixon, Patrick Sessions, Antoinette Baldwin, Boogie Man George, the DJ.


Artists included: Eileen Seitz, Cara Nusinov, Emilio Sauma, George Rodez, Dan Bondroff, Erika King, Nancy Martini, Andrea Ruggeri (with Heather Bettner at the mic).


More artists: Meme Ferre, AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, Fred Hunt, Illeana Nardo, art teacher from St. Stephens with a student, Eileen Seitz and Cara Nusinov.


Monty Trainer, Katie Contorakes, Felice Dubin, Sandy Francis, Cara Nusinov and Dan Bondroff.


Michelle Niemeyer, Marco Fuxa, AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, Jackie Good, Hope Mohr, Julie Rowell.


Barbara Ferenczi, George Rodez, Peacock lineup.


Monty Trainer (left) received a special piece of art, created by Erika King (at Monty's left). Richard Issa and David Collins from the BID presented the art.


Left: Artist Emilio Sauma and wife with family in background. Right: The Fresh Market crew with the peacock they sponsored, painted by Nancy Martini. From left: David and Janet Gutarra, Ovidio and Daisy Cuervo.


Erika King shows off her work to Monty Trainer. This peacock, for the BID, is a huge collage back and front, of all famous Grove events, people and places.


There was lots of food and drinks with two bars, one outside and one inside at a VIP area for artists, sponsors and their guests. In the next few weeks, the Peacocks will start appearing in locations all around Coconut Grove.

All the single ladies, now put your hands up

Last night author Tasha Cunningham had a book signing at The Bookstore for her new self-help book "So the Bastard Broke Your Heart, Now What?" Tasha is flanked above by Sandy Francis and Felice Dubin, The Bookstore owners.

Misha’s Cupcakes and Match.com sponored the event. There was complimenatry wine and delicious cupcakes and everyone who purchased a book got a pink goodie bag that included a free trial membership on Match.com.


Tasha got comfy cozy as she read from her book, as Felice looked on. There was a full audience with a very lively discussion of the do's and don'ts of intertnet dating and how to know if you have a dud on your hands. This book came about when Tasha and a few friends were blogging back and forth about those duds, which became very popular reading, and the next thing she knew the book publishers came calling.

Below, Tasha signs a book for Anna Bierman of Coral Gables as Anna's daughter looks on.


Photos by AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt

Part of Grove's colorful history is gone

We are told that Sepy Debrony died at midnight, he was 92. Talk about colorful characters, Sepy was one of the most colorful in Grove history. I had the honor of visiting Sepy's house at Ye Little Wood on more than one occasion, with a friend who was doing business with Sepy.

Sepy's house has been in more than one movie and Sepy, the Baron, was really one of the characters that put the nut in Coconut Grove, we mean this in a loving way.

Miami Memories blog has a great write up of Sepy from 2008 here.

Photo courtesy Miami Memories

Royal Poinciana Festival celebrates the season

The 73rd annual Royal Poinciana Festival is Sunday, June 13 at The Kampong. The gates will open at 11:30 am, admission to The Kampong (4013 S. Douglas Road) will be free that day.

At 2 pm, board the trolley, which will be outside the gates and take a narrated tour through Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and South Miami. Discover the history of the fiesta, useful plant information, and the most beautiful bright red specimen trees in Miami.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to see the impact of Royal Poinciana Trees in the city,” stated Ann Parsons, Director of The Kampong. “I highly recommend this tour!”

The traditional Poinciana punch and cake will be served following the 2-hour tour. Reservations are required for the tour; cost is $20 per person and ticket sales benefit the Tropical Flowering Tree Society (TFTS). Please call TFTS representative Carol Vannoorbeeck at 305.258.1086 to reserve tour space.

For more information about The Kampong call 305.442.7169 or email: kampong@ntbg.org.

The Royal Poinciana Fiesta runs from June 12 to 14 with activities scheduled at several locations throughout the city. The Tropical Flowering Tree Society website has more information here: http://www.tfts.org/.

Ferro to perform at Mayfair Promenade

Ferro will be performing on the street Saturday, May 29 outside the Mayfair Promenade from noon to 4 pm (near Pauls sunglasses kiosk). Ferro plays guitar and sings. His goal is "to build a Funky, Progressive, Rock, Latin mix and to own a unique and personal sound in the Miami streets and venues."

He has played at Tobacco Road, Casa Panza, Bayside downtown.

You can hear his sound at his Myspace page here: http://www.myspace.com/ferro

Saving Kidneys one soiree at a time

Soiree on the Isle: A Benefit for the NephCure Foundation is being held at Grove Isle, Gibraltar restaurant, on Thursday, June 3. Hosted by Miami's Leading Ladies League, the benfit is to raise money for NephCure, whose mission is to find a cause and cure for the potentially lethal kidney diseases Nephrotic Syndrome & Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

FSGS was in the headlines in 2003 when Alonzo Mourning developed the diseaseand recovered with the help of a kidney transplant. He is one of NephCure’s National Ambassadors.

Gibraltar’s Chef Jeff O’Neill will be performing his magic for the evening. Bacardi is providing the delectable spirits.

There will be a special guest performance by South Florida’s own music master Brendan O’Hara & the Big Bounce.

Celebrated Art Consultant Nick Cindric will bring some raffle surprises from his vault.

Suggested donation for the event is $30.

Grove Isle is at 4 Grove Isle Drive just off S. Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove.

Please RSVP to kramer@nephcure.org.

To learn more: Contact Kelley Ramer at kramer@nephcure.org or 305.457.4186. For more on NephCure, please visit: www.nephcure.org.

Saving the Coconut Grove Playhouse

Big news today -- Mayor Tomas Regalado and District Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, on behalf of the City of Miami, have written a letter to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvaraz and the County Commission asking them to join with the City in asking the State of Florida to revert the Coconut Grove Playhouse back to the state and then hand it over to a new board.

The letter demonstrates how inept the current board is and how they squandered money and ran the place into the ground.

You may see the letter here.

I don't remember it, but apparently the Playhouse was once pink.

Artist Eileen Seitz has made the playhouse pretty in pink on one of the two peacocks she created for the Coconut Grove Peacock Tour. This particular peacock is sponsored by Patrick Sessions for the benefit of the Village Council. The Peacock Launch Party is Saturday night.

You can see Greenstreet and the rest of the block in the scene here and on the reverse side is a tranquil sailboat scene near the Sailing Club.

But anyway, wouldn't it be great to paint the playhouse pink again? It would almost put an aura or something into the Universe and this might get the ball rolling on something good for the place to finally be taken over by a new board and renovated.

Have you joined the email list yet?

Have you joined our email list yet? Today subscribers received Half Price tickets to the play "Unreasonable Doubt," at the Actor's Playhouse in Coral Gables.

It was a Coconut Grove only special and our subscribers got it! Don't miss out on our
next deal!

Join today. The box to subscribe is at the left.

There are still many pending subscribers. After you enter your name and email address you'll be sent an email varifying that it was you who subscribed. You need to click that link we send you via email to actually be subscribed.

Teriyaki burgers and sausage on the barbie

The Fresh Market (2640 S. Bayshore Drive) will be barbecuing again on Saturday, May 29. This time they have something new for you to try -- Teriyaki Burgers with grilled pineapple and grilled Sausage and Peppers.

The burgers are $4 and the sausage is $5. Soda and water are $1. They'll be out there from 11 am to 2 pm.

Also, today, Friday, May 28, from 4 to 7 pm, there is a wine tasting inside the store.

Gently worn Armani, Versace and Pucci

The Mayfair Antiques and Collectibles Market is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Check out the vintage Armani, St. John, Versace, Pucci and many other great designers that have been gently worn. They are for sale at great prices and all differnt sizes. There is a dressing room for you to try them on.

They also have lots of great vintage jewelry and the place is full of collectible items, old books and really cool mid-century toys.

The Antique Market is at 1900 Grand Avenue, right at the Mayfair Promendae. For info, please call 786-371-1670.

Shake-A-Leg Moonlight Cruise is Saturday

Shake-A-Leg's Monthly Moonlight Sail is this Saturday, May 29. Enjoy a wonderful bay cruise at sunset on the Freedom 23' Sailboat. Cost is $25 per person.

Check-in begins at 6:30 pm with all boats departing the dock by 7:00 and returning no later than 9 pm. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to see Miami from the best spot….Biscayne Bay.

Registration is still open, click here to register. All tickets must be purchased online ahead of the event, you cannot pay at the gate. In case of inclement weather, ticket purchases will be credited to future Shake-A-Leg Miami events.

For more information on this or other Shake-A-Leg Programs go to www.shakealegmiami.org, or call 305.858.5550 or email john@shakealegmiami.org.

Vizcaya's best kept secret

Vizcaya has the last remaining strands of "Old Growth" mangroves in mainland Miami. On Sunday and Monday, May 30 and 31, as part of the Miami Science Museum's Wetland Appreciation Weekend, the Urban Paradise Guild is giving an Historic Wetland Walking Tour of Vizcaya's Mangrove's.


The tours depart the Science Museum (3280 S. Miami Avenue), they are from 1 to 3 pm. The walking tours are free, but space is limited. So arrive early.

From their flyer: "You will walk through the lush Vizcaya Maritime Hammock, enjoy the cool splendor of this mostly untouched ecosystem, and experience its vast and important biodiversity. Learn about the vision of Vizcaya's designers, and their plan for habitat preservation - over 100 years ago!Break out of the jungle to see historic Villa Vizcaya itself."

Depending on conditions, people on the tour may collect Mangrove Propagules and pick up trash.Kids are encouraged to attend. When you return to the Science Museum (MiaSci), you will plant the Propagules in the new UPG Nursery at MiaSci.

What to bring: Walking shoes and comfortable clothes, hat and sunglasses, bug spray and sunblock, water bottle or canteen. Optional: (If you plan to go into the Mangroves): spare pair of shoes and socks suitable for wet and muddy conditions.

Palm Produce is on the move

Palm Produce (and Steve Licata) are on the move from one end of Mayfair to the other. Their bags are packed and today, May 28, they will open in their new space at 2911 Grand Avenue, right next to The Bookstore.


They have a new complete selection of swimwear for men and women including Gotex one piece suits for women and bikinis to board shorts for men. New also are mens linen shirts, pants and blazers.


Classic Jams are part of the line now including vintage Hawaiian prints on clothing and accessories like pillows, throws and quilts.


Stop in today to see what's new. They are open daily from 10 am to 7 pm. They also have a second store in Coconut Grove at CocoWalk on the first floor.

Grove is the "anti-Beach" for Memorial Day

We're wondering if all those people in South Beach who want a quiet Memorial Day weekend know about Coconut Grove. Has the BID or Merchants Group or local hotels reached out?

We are after all the anti-Beach on Memorial Day, the opposite of the madhouse that South Beach has become on Memorial Day Weekend.

Do people know they can get great hotel deals at all of our Grove hotels? Do they know about the many quaint restaurants we have and our access to sailing on the bay? Do they know of our shops and boutiques and art galleries? We have bicycle rentals and cool shady tree-lined streets.

We have the Antique Market and the Peacock Launch Party, too.

Maybe if they read this they'll know now. A list of the Coconut Grove Hotels is here.

Try a Scion in the Grove and get 5 bucks

Try a new Scion in the Grove today and tomorrow. There's a crew set up in the parking lot on Grand Avenue, behind the Sonesta. The promotion is for charity, they are hoping to raise up to $30,000 for arts organizations in the cities they visit, in Miami it's the Art Center of Florida.

By trying out the car, you'll receive a $5.00 coupon good for anything in The Bookstore across the street or you can donate the money back to the cause.

Local artist David Leroi will be out this afternoon and again tomorrow and one of his art installations is on site.

Try a car, get $5 bucks for you or for charity. Good deal! The crew will be there today until 7 pm and again tomorrow from 11 am to 7 pm.

That's Cristina Chamis and Rachon Potipitak, two of the staff who will help you with the test drive.

Follow Scion's journey here:http://scionxchange.org/

Peacocks to show off at Promenade Launch Party

The Peacock Promenade Launch Party is Saturday, May 29 at the Mayfair Promenade from 5 to 11 pm. This is where the painted peacocks, part of the Coconut Grove Peacock Tour will be on display up and down the promenade for all to enjoy before they hit the streets.

Fire Brigade (above) will perform live, and DJ Boogieman George will be playing music from the '80s, '90s and today. Potions in Motion and The Fresh Market are catering the event. Barefoot wine will be providing the wine, there will be soda and water and a full cash bar, too.

A slide show will provide a look at the process that the artists have been going through to create the colorful birds.

Extended happy hour raises money for hospital

People In Crisis United had an extended happy hour event at the Sandbar on Tuesday night to benefit the children and families being treated at Holtz Children's Hospital. Above left: Niko Brammer and Angie Arana; at right: Kim Juanico, Sophie Loiseau and Marcelo Egea.


Mark Palmero, Rebecca Kibbe, George Zacur.


Rick Morgan, Heather Shatzel, Joey Juanico.


Ricky Bobby, Mark Rodonis, Kristi Dunstan, Madeleine Valdivia.

The Coconut Grove Sailing Club has a plan

There are changes planned for the Coconut Grove Sailing Club. The club feels it is being forced to make the changes in order to sustain itself. I attempted to attend last night's meeting but was asked not to because it was a private meeting.

There's a joke there somewhere about a club that doesn't want me as a member . . .

Anyway, the State of Florida now requires all moorings to be open to the public. The state is enforcing its sovereignty over submerged lands and opening them up to everyone is now required by law. So the Sailing Club now has to allow everyone access, not just club members.

By doing this, those with full memberships are losing one of the added values to having the membership. If the club cannot persuade enough people to become full members, it cannot survive.

The cash bar service was eliminated a few years ago because under the club's charter, it is not allowed to operate as a restaurant/bar and must only be open to members. To that end, here is the plan being proposed:

1) Elimination of the $1,000 initiation fee.

2) Reduction in dues: the current regular members pay $700 in dues (those with and without boats pay the same) plus $245 in other assessments for a total annual cost of $945. The proposal is that all members will pay $250 annual membership dues.

3) Creation of a variable operations and maintenance fee: this allows a cost structure that recognizes that members with boats use more of the club facilities and services than those without boats (launch, fuel, hoist etc). In the past all members essentially paid the same for the operation of the club, as part of their membership dues – which were equal for all regular members. This fee will vary from $140/$60 per month for someone with a boat on a mooring to $17/month for someone who does not own, and /or does not keep a boat at the club.

4) Charging the operations fee on a monthly basis: Another barrier to entry, and continued membership, in addition to the initiation fee, was the need to pay “up front” the $945 annual cost of member dues and assessments. The operations and maintenance fee is billed monthly through the club billing system. So - for a regular member without a boat they will be billed only $17/month.

5) Allowing current social members to upgrade to regular membership at a reasonable cost: The proposal is to return to one class of regular members – at a more affordable level for members without boats. They want to retain existing social members and are therefore offering a conversion discount. The upfront cost for a conversion a social membership to a regular member under this proposal will be $137, which is just $2/year more than the current social membership annual dues of $135. (all dues are billed in July- the start of their fiscal year).

Social members who convert to regular membership under this plan will:
1) Vote on all matters requiring membership votes, including the selection of officers – (social members do not have a vote)
2) Parking sticker for use of the club parking lot – (social members do not receive a parking sticker)
3) Monthly billing of operations and maintenance fee, and purchases at the restaurant/bar – (no more need to worry about use of credit cards)
4) Use of club kayaks, sunfish, ensigns and flying scot sailboats at very very low rates.

Win a free party cruise just by "liking us"

We are giving a Fiesta Party Boat Bayside Cruise away once we receive 1500 Facebook Fans, we have 1267 now.

We will randomly pick someone by refreshing the page at the time and the person who is in the upper left corner of the fans list is the winner.

The cruise is a site seeing cruise for 5 around the Bay (from Bayside Market Place), good to use until the end of the year. It's great for visiting friends and family. There is food and drinks on the cruise (not included), the prize is just the party cruise for five on Capt. Jimmy's Fiesta Party Boat, located at Slip #6 at Bayside Market Place.

Our Facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/coconutgrovegrapevine. If you already "like us," tell a friend! Let's get to 1500 friends.