The Grove's connection to Chelsea's wedding

Our friend Mary MacDonald's company MACCI Design Studio, in Coconut Grove, is thrilled that the Clinton family has selected the" Oldest Inn in America," 1777, the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, NY, as family headquarters for their daughter Chelsea's wedding to investment banker Marc Mezvinsky.

She's thrilled because she as have fond memories of creating a unique and respectful design for this historic inn.



From Mary:

"The Beek" design was truely a work of love. For example, we scoured the attic and found guest registries from the 1700 and 1800's where guests signed in with dip pens in old English penmanship. Rooms were 2 dollars at the time and another 25 cents for a horse. We framed pages from these books containing famous signatures and they are hanging on the walls of the lobby and library. President George Washington really did sleep there!

Each guestroom is individually designed in a tailored American Country style. Challenges included the ceiling heights that varied from six and one-half feet to eleven feet high. Historic wood flooring was discovered under carpet and restored. New bathrooms were carved out of the building for each room; no more sharing! Colors are very Americana - mostly red, white and blue small stripes and plaids.


The room where we imagine Chelsea is staying is a spacous corner room with high ceilings and large windows. The color scheme in that room varies from the norm and is yellow with gray and a touch of spring green. The bed is a four poster metal bed frame that has a wheat wreath carved and incorporated in the headboard; the same wreath that is on the first US copper penny.

As for Bill and Hillary, we suspect they will be in an opposite corner in a blue and white room that was featured in Town and Country Magazine.

"I am so proud that the Clintons love this bit of Americana as I do." says Mary MacDonald, Principal in Charge of Design at MACCI. "And I wish the couple all the happiness in the world."

Coconut Grove welcomes Grove Ink to the hood

A void was filled on Friday night, when Grove Ink, the new tattoo shop opened their doors at 7 pm sharp for a grand opening party. While they didn't ink anyone, within 15 minutes of opening, three people stopped in to get tattoos. Not a bad start.


Noel Garcia and Luis Sanchez, left, the guys behind the shop were delrious with happiness at their new venture. It's added a lot of life to the Florentine Plaza already. At right: Catrina Liott and Walker Jones. The Sandbar provided lots of nibblie things and Sangria was also served.


At left: Desiree Hart, Mike Syrvalin and Ron DeSilva; at right: Jamie Furry, Allison Sagehorn and Erin D'elia.


More fans of Grove Ink were Erin Compton, Jiny Fernandez and Christina Moreno.


Ian and Joshua Garcia with Monique Pulido.


Noel Garcia proudly stands in front of his new business with Allison Sagehorn, who owns The Sale Rack, right around the corner on Fuller Street.


Miami Donny, Rick Stoughton, Sara Guts and Hubcap Mike.


Yanni Fernandez and Larissa Assef stopped by to celebrate. Grove Ink has over 1000 designs for you to choose from and if you don't see something you like, bring your own design!


The little arcade area is alive again, Fuller Street, Florentine Plaza and Main Highway were abuzz with people enjoying a weekend night in Coconut Grove. Grove Ink will be inking today, who wants to be first?

"Munroe" is unveiled at ceremony at The Cloisters

More peacocks hit the streets this week as part of the Coconut Grove Peacock Tour. The Cloisters' neighbors had an unveiling ceremony for "Munroe," named after Commodore Ralph Munroe, one of the founders of Coconut Grove, yesterday afternoon.


Jay Ziskind, president of the Homeowners Association, gave a little speech as fans of artist, Debra Starbuck, who created Munroe, listened in. Unfortunately, Debra was out of town and could not attend the ceremony.


The cap that the peacock is wearing is reminiscent of the Commodore's cap and the bow tie was one of his signature wardrobe pieces, as well. Debra put a lot of detail and work into the piece, images of The Barnacle, Commodore Munroe's home, are present, as well as the bay and lots of flora and fauna. On the back is an old Florida map. The peacock adorns the entrance driveway at the Cloisters and is the only peacock that is lit up at night.


Other intricate peacocks that hit the streets in the last couple of weeks include this one by artist Cara Nusinov, which sits outside the Glass House on McFarlane Road. It is covered with stories and poems.


This bird was designed by artist Romero Brito and sits outside the Coldwell Banker office in the center of town.

There is one more peacock left waiting to be adopted. Anyone interested may contact Heather Bettner at 305-775-0113. There are plenty of artists ready to work on it.

Piano Jazz Cabaret at La Bottega

Merchants Meeting on August 5

There is a Merchants Meeting at the Glass House, in the NET office (2820 McFarlane Road) at 9 am.

On the agenda: Sail the Grove, The Great Grove Bed Race, Halloween, Mad Hatter festival, White Party and Snow Days.

The police liaison meeting follows at 10 am.

Grove Ink Tattoo opening tonight in Coconut Grove

This may be a first for Coconut Grove and also for the whole City of Miami. There is a new Tattoo Parlor at 3444 Main Highway at Florentine Plaza, named Grove Ink Tattoo. Tonight is their opening at 7 pm.

For some reason, the City of Miami does not allow tattoo parlors, although they do allow piercing salons, but now we actually have a new tattoo parlor in the Grove. This may be a great turning point for Coconut Grove.

Owner, Noel Garcia, shown here in the new shop, also owns New Age Body Piercing around the block at 3070 Grand Avenue. He tells us that tourists and locals actually make a special trip to the piercing shop for piercings and tattoos, and almost on a daily basis, he has to turn them away regarding tattoos, sending them off to South Beach or other areas outside the City of Miami. Now the Grove can accommodate those requests.

According to Noel, most of his customers are "weekend warriors," doctors, lawyers and other professionals, who want tattoos and piercings. Not a bad clientele to have.

Currently there are three chairs at Grove Ink, the shop will be open daily and possibly even be part of a reality show for one of the cable networks, so that means more great exposure for the Grove. Look at the popularity of Miami Ink.

But reality show or not, the new Coconut Grove tattoo shop is a reality. Stop by and get inked. They have a brand new sterile environment and are state licensed and inspected. Thousands of designs are available or bring your own. Call 786-552-6888 for info.

Food, lots of glorious vegetarian food at Zen Village

Cooking classes start at Zen Village (3570 Main Highway) on Saturday, August 7. They will be held from 9 am to noon each week, offering ethnic, vegetarian, vegan and raw cuisine.

And on Sundays, they prepare a delicious, vegetarian lunch with fresh, local, mostly organic, ingredients. This is at 12:30 pm, suggested donation is $10.00

Become a member of their CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) "Farm 2 Fork" and receive wonderful baskets of fresh, local, organic vegetables delivered weekly to Zen Village for $25/basket.

Please call them for info on all of the above: 305-567-0165.

Celestial Treasures celebrates new location

Celestial Treasures had a little party last night to celebrate their new location at 3444 Main Highway, suite 3. They moved from the Florentine Plaza, in the same building, right onto the main street area. Light snacks and beverages were served. Above left: Jerry Wade and Silvy; right: Yolanda Crespo and Atena Komar.


Sandra Cheryl Richardson and Cindy Tjauw, owner of Celestial Treasures. Sandra is an internationally known psychic. She was voted "Best Psychic by The New Times twice.


Celestial Treasures offers gifts of all types and everything for the Metaphysical community including books, crystals, incense, candles, jewelry, artwork, fairies, and other contemporary products to use on one’s spiritual journey.


Other featured psychics along with Sandra are Atena, Joseph Richardson and James R. Jones. It's a warm, welcoming place, stop in for a visit. For more info, please call 305-461-2341.

"Tres" exhibition at the Arts Festival Gallery

"Tres" continues at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival Gallery with a reception on Saturday, August 7 from 6 to 9 pm, this is part of the First Saturday Gallery Walk night. Young artists Reinier Gamboa, Juan Travieso and Ray Lopez have art on display. If you missed it last month due to the rain, this is a good opportunity to get out and see some excellent art by local students.

The Gallery is at 3390 Mary Street, suite 128, that's in side the atrium where the bull sculpture is. Complimentary drinks and hors d'ouvres will be served.

For info, please call 447-0401.

Zen-like spots in Coconut Grove

One of our readers, Lori, sent these photos in as her Zen-like spot in Coconut Grove. It's Kennedy Park's waterfront. What's your Zen-like spot in the Grove? Email your pictures and tell us the location.

Fuels of the Future featured at MiaSci

A 12-foot tall tire, at about 8000 pounds was delivered to the Miami Science Museum (3280 S. Miami Avenue) recently which is being used as part of their Fuels of the Future exhibits. Tires like this are used on large trucks that mine tar sands, a material that contains oil.

The tire, which is on display, will just be part of the exhibit which shows what extremes we go through to get oil. Fuels of the Future addresses climate change and transportation and will address today's alternatives to today's gas guselling vehicles.

A solar powered car and an air-powered car will be on display, along with lots of hands-on activities. Visitors will also be able to make their own cars out of Legos.

By the way, Freddie the Chameleon (left) won "Best in Show'' and "People's Pick" at this years Lizard Day on July 18. Snake Day is August 15, for info on signing up your snake, please go here.

Let's grab the commuters and invite them back

Last week I was coming from an event at Calamari. As I walked up Main Highway, I noticed lots of cars stopped in traffic. From McFarlane all the way up Main Highway, the cars were literally stopped due to rush hour traffic, it was about 7 pm.

These people were looking out their car windows at the stores and restaurants in the Grove, but they were on their way home or wherever, so they didn't stop. But I was thinking of how this is a great opportunity to sell the Grove to these people but no one does.

Why doesn't someone hand out a map or coupons or movie tickets to every car stopped in traffic? Why not grab these people while they are literally sitting on our main street looking around? While they may not be able to stop for dinner or a movie at that moment, a coupon or incentive handed to them while they sit in traffic may get them back.

The Gallery Walk is coming up, why not hand them a map of the galleries and tell them to come back that night? Why not hand them small menus with a coupon attached from various restaurants? And the almighty movie tickets, why not give them or at least give a discount coupon for the movies? While there always seems to be a large banner hanging over the street, that doesn't seem to be enough. A hand-out might be best.

This is a captive audience. We are losing this great marketing opportunity to tell them about the Grove.

Save big on boat rentals at Monty's Marina

Now here's a great deal from Dealtificate at Monty's Marina -- for only $149, you can rent a 20 foot Sea Ray sport boat for three hours from American Watersports. That is 68% off the regular price.

Additional hours are available for just $79 each, regularly $160 per hour.The boat holds six people. Reservations are required and there are additional costs for fuel and a refundable deposit.

The offer expires January 31, 2011, but you only have today to get the offer from Dealtificate here.

St. Stephen's Art Show accepting applications

The St. Stephen's Art Show is taking applications now for next year's event which is February 19 to 21, 2011.

Zapplication – the online jury system is used for art, they are also accepting applications for musicians and food/drink vendors. Please visit their site here for all the applications.

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival announced earlier this month that they have opening for artists in their upcoming February show. Details here.

Intro to TriYoga at Dharma Studio on Saturday

The Dharma Studio (3170 Commodore Plaza) is presenting "Intro to TriYoga," with Dashi Chu Kocica. This is a workshop where students will learn 15 TriYoga flows including 30 foundation postures (supine, prone and inverted), perfectly paced with relaxation and rhythmic breath.

The workshop is Saturday, July 31 from 3 to 5 pm.

TriYoga incorporateds the trinity of posture, breath and focus with wave-like movements of the spine. This workshop is suitable for those new to yoga and will transform the practice of advanced students by deepening their awareness of alignment and energy flow.

Dashi Chu Kocica is an acupuncutre physician specializing in Asian healting arts. She is the only certified TriYoga instructor in South Florida.

Please RSVP by calling 305-461-1777, the cost is $45 in advance, $50 at the door.

It's Lobster Mini-Season

Lobster Mini Season runs today until 11:59 pm Thursday.

Monty's hosts breakfast for Susan G. Komen group

Susan G. Komen For the Cure Miami/Ft. Lauderdale held its 2010 Team Captain Breakfast at Monty’s in Coconut Grove last week. The breakfast was an opportunity for team captains, comprised of local sponsors, grantees and supporters from our community, to gather and learn about ideas on how they can creatively raise funds for the 15th Annual Miami/Ft. Lauderdale RACE For the Cure happening Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Bayfront Park.

For more information on how you can raise funds and register for the RACE go to www.komenmiaftl.org and check them out on Facebook.


Elena Camargo, left and Shannon Hori of CBS4, call raffle tickets at event.

Details always seem to get in the way

The subject has come up before -- artists painting on the streets, but nothing is ever done about it. Once in awhile, we have an En Plein Air weekend in the fall, but to actually have a working artist or two or three out daily, would be such a great Grovey thing to have.

This all comes to mind because of Eileen Seitz and her information booth project, she's been in the center of town painting the booth and it has drawn people from every walk of life including tourists and locals. Eileen has been out morning, noon and night and at all times, even in the 90 degree heat of the day, people are there chatting her up, and she enjoys it. We're going to miss Eileen when her job is done.

I must pass by half a dozen times some days and I always stop and socialize with Eileen and the others who have stopped to watch Eileen work. It's a nice village-type thing.

It would be really great to have this as an ongoing type thing, some sort of real art being done on a daily basis around the area. You know, artists set up with easels doing their thing -- an outdoor Tu Tu Tango. The artists want to paint in public. It always then comes down to how is it organized? who sets up where? who has first dibs? and then it all falls apart because of the details.

Miami Spice reviewed by New Times

It's almost time for Miami Spice again, which starts August 1. Not many Grove restaurants are participating, but Lee Klein assessed those that are for The New Times. Are you getting a deal or not? News at 11, actually news right here.

The list of participating restaurants is here.

JCI networker at Lulu in the Grove on Friday

The Grove JCI (Junior Chamber International) is having a Happy Hour and Networker at Lulu (3105 Commodore Plaza) on Friday, July 30, from 6 to 9 pm.

Stop in for drink specials and free apps (as they say on their Facebook page, "the kind you eat, not the ones you download."

Something to think about during these hot days


Hot enough for ya? Well think snow. We mean Snow Days, you know like last year. You'll remember last December we had three snow days (Week 1, Week 2 and Week 3). Well Snow Days are coming back this December. The Snow Days Committee has started meeting in the dead heat of July already.

There will be eight tons again, spread out over three days (we think more is needed to accommodate the crowds that will show up due to the success of last year). Santa and Frosty will be out and about again greeting everyone and of course free snow cones are going to be handed out again with candy canes and other fun stuff.

Virginia Street, Fuller Street and the Mayfair Promenade are the locations again this year, like last year.

Leukemia/Lymphoma happy hour fundraiser

Siri is holding another Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Happy Hour at Atchana's East/West Kitchen at the Mutiny Hotel (2951 S. Bayshore Drive) on Friday, July 30 from 6:30 to 11:00 pm.

These events are fun, the crowd moves in and out from the restaurant to the pool deck. It's tropical and nice.

Cost is $20 at the door which gets you your first drink, they have their famous lychee sangria or beer. Thai appetizers are passed around, too. The $20 also includes you in the raffle for a gift certificate for Atchana or Siam Lotus Room in South Miami.

You can purchase other raffle tickets for prizes including yoga packages, a framed Romerto Britto poster, John Mayer concert tickets and more.

Two-day Music Camp offered at Arts and Minds

The Academy of Arts & Minds Charter High School welcomes a new music director Sam Lussier, Ph.D. who is offering a Summer Music Camp on August 13 and 14 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The music camp faculty will include master teachers Dr. Jamie Ousley (bass and cello), Dr. Frederico Bonocosa (guitar), Mr. John Kricker (low brass), Mr. Brandon Cruz (percussion), Mr. David Fernandez (saxophone and jazz improvision), Mr. Michael Klotz (violin and viola), Mr. Tom Moore (violin) and Mr. Gary Gottfried (oboe, English horn and flute).

The two-day intensive musical and educational experience is open to all senior high band/orchestra students throughout the Greater Miami Area and offers more than ten hours of personalized instruction for all band and orchestra instruments as well as guitar. Instrumental ensembles include: Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble.

Above are some of the students rehearsing before the camp gets underway.

The cost for the two-day camp is $50 paid on or before Wednesday August 12. For more information, please call A&M at 305.448.1100.

It's a great park to visit if you like your privacy

I've noticed lately that the police are ticketing cars at Kennedy Park. Not the ones in the parking lot, but the ones parked along the street on both sides of South Bayshore Drive.

This can be a good or bad thing. It's interesting to note that the parking lot only holds about 40 cars, so if you have four people per car (most have one or two), then that is 160 people. For a huge park like Kennedy to only have 160 people (and possibly dogs), that doesn't make much sense.

It's true that many people ride their bikes or walk to the park from the neighborhoods surrounding it, but the limited parking limits the people in the park. It's good if you like less people in the park, it's bad if you want people to use the park since that's what it's there for.

Kennedy Park is 29 acres, so if you only have 160 people (from full cars), that's less than six people per acre. Add another hundred or so people and it's still very roomy.

One police officer told me that neighbors who live across the street from the park are calling in complaints, so the police are just doing their duty. He suggested that people park down the block at the meters, I think he means by Monty's. People usually come to the park to walk or exercise, so the extra block or so should not affect them.

It reminds me of people who try to get the closest parking spot at the gym, they don't want to exert themselves walking to the front door, where they plan on working out anyway.

Adding insult to injury

It's bad enough that the landlord on one side of Grand Avenue would rather see his properties sit empty rather than rented, but now he has huge signs decorating the empty storefronts advertising "A Smarter Way to Shop On Line," which give the MasterCard website for their online shopping mall. What genius thought this up? Why send people on line to shop when they can shop in the Center Grove?

People enjoy interacting with the Peacocks

In response to Armando Paz's letter on people sitting on the fiberglass peacocks around town and our take on people even using them as hitching posts for their dogs, we have received many emails and people have stopped us on the streets. One friend brought up the subject at Mad Men Monday, and they all agree that it's ok for people to interact with the birds.

One said that "children should be children" and that's what children do. Others felt that the whole purpose of art in public places is to interact with it. I may have to agree now. I can't say how many times I've seen that large bronze Hans Christian Anderson statue in Central Park in New York City with children crawling all over it and the statue almost seems like it's missing something when people are not interacting with it.

So the consensus is that the peacocks are there for people to enjoy, to sit on, to hook their dogs to, to be part of people's Grove experience. It all makes sense now. They are actually living art and they mean something to people. Guess it would be a sad thing if people just walked by and ignored them rather than adore them.

"A Path Through Old Cocoanut Grove" tour

If you missed the Grove history tour in June, you have another chance on Saturday, July 31. This one is with Dragonfly Expeditions called "A Path Through Old Cocoanut Grove." It's a 2.5 hour guided tour. (Above is Plymouth Congregational Church, founded in 1897).

They usually do not have "walk-up" tours, all are by appointment only, but for this one time only, anyone can just meet up for the walking tour.

From their promo: "Step into the past where an erroneously labeled post office turns a dense hardwood hammock into the semi-tropical paradisiacal town of Cocoanut Grove. See the historic site of the first hotel in the area - 'The Peacock Inn.' Hear the inspiring story of Ralph Munroe while touring his unusual home, "The Barnacle," the oldest house in Miami-Dade County still in its original location."

"Recount the tales of hardship and success as experienced by former slaves and Bahamian immigrants who founded the area now known as the 'Black Grove' as you envision the punishing battles with mosquitoes, swamp-lands, and hurricanes, it will not be hard to empathize with the pioneer women who created the 'House Keepers Club' in order to make a place of their own in this once foreboding wilderness. This walking tour celebrates, in grand style, one of Florida's most beloved and eclectic communities."

The cost of the guided tour is $49 per person, space is limited, a portion of the price will go to support The Barnacle Historical site.

To reserve your spot, please email Megan Fries at mfries@dragonflyexpeditions.com or calling 305-774-9019. The tour must be reserved by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express accepted).

P.S. "Cocoanut Grove" is the original spelling which was used for the post office which was established in 1873. (Below, this view from the Barnacle lawn is basically the same view today as it was in the 1800s).

Mad Men Monday is celebrating all things '60s

Did you enjoy Mad Men's season four premier last night? Even if you didn't see it, stop by the Mayfair Lobby Bar tonight between 5:30 and 7:30 for Mad Men Monday Happy Hour.

Let's see if the bartender knows that the pickled onions go into a Gibson Martini. We had incredible Tom Collins' last week, up, no ice, seems that that is the trick to a perfect one. I slid into quite a few, come out and slide into some with us tonight.

You don't have to be a Mad Men fan, you just have to like 1960s era cocktails, music and attitude.

Something bohemian is happening

People have been asking for months what is going on at the corner of Rice and Oak, where the small strip mall was knocked down. Well, it's going to be the future home of Arquitectonica, the famous architectural firm. They are returning to their Grove roots at their original location. The Miami Herald has the story here.

This is a great coup for the Grove, they're a class act and their new green headquarters is a perfect Grove fit. There are other architectural firms around the Grove and that along with the tech community, artists and antique shops are bringing old and new together.

The Mayfair Promenade is seeing changes, the Antique Market is there of course and now just across the Promenade is the new Fabulocity antique and collectibles shop, a music school is said to be moving into the empty space that has been used these past few months for the painting of the fiberglass peacocks and the spa that moved out across from that is going to be replaced by another spa soon.

With the monthly Art Stroll, the GroveHouse Artists, Out of Africa, The Three Stogies cigar store and the Improv, the whole Promenade is becoming it's own little bohemian village.

Now if we can only fill in the former News Cafe spot, that little area from the Promenade down to Rice, Florida and up along Oak Avenue can be a little arts community within our community -- architects, artists, music, technophiles, it's all a great little organic beginning. And if you look at this photo above, straight through to the end of the street ends at the location of the new CocoWok restaurant. It's a perfect little village within a village.

Zen-like spots in Coconut Grove

While we have the waterfront and sailboats and beautiful parks and such, I find one really great Grove scene to be the sidewalk on Grand Avenue across the street from the Shops at Mayfair. It's sort of a calming tree tunnel. Every time I leave the gym, I walk through. It's very zen-like. I don't know why, it just is.

Where is your favorite zen-like spot in Coconut Grove? Email us a photo or two and explain why, please include your full name.

Grand opening party at Celestial Treasures

Celestial Treasures has moved, they are still at 3444 Main Highway, but they have moved from the fountain courtyard to a spot right next to Brenda's Boutique on Main Highway. They are having a grand opening party on Thursday, July 29 from 7 to 9 pm.

Light refreshments will be served, this will also be a good opportunity to meet Cindy Tjauw, owner of Celestial Treasures, your divine source for Metaphysical products and services

For info, please call 305-461-2341.

Live models show off latest swimsuit lines

One of the final satellite events that popped up for Miami Swim Week was the swimsuit fashion show last night at Pretty You, the clothing store at 3401 Main Highway, on the corner of McFarlane.

Every 10 minutes the lives models would show off the newest swimsuit line on a platform in the window. It draw quite a crowd.


Silvia Roberts, owner of Pretty You, with the models, was quite pleased with the large turn out. Many people stopped by on their way to the movies or dinner.


While the models are now gone, the swimsuits are all available at Pretty You, which is open daily.