Some are hesitant to sign up so early for the Bed Race

Some people have been hesitant for sign up for the Great Grove Bed Race so early. They aren't sure of team members and aren't ready to put them all down on the sign-up sheets. That's ok.

You can just sign up a single team captain for now and that captain can even change in the future. You can add the team members at the last minute if you like. But for now, the more team captains that sign up, the sooner "captain parties" and meetings can happen.

So if you are sure you would like to be part of the Great Grove Bed Race on September 6, you should sign up now, here: www.thegreatgrovebedrace.com

Saving history; it's about time!

A new county resolution was passed recently by the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board regarding the Saint Stephen's project.

The new rule at the City of Miami is that permit applications must now be reviewed when buildings older than 50 years are affected. Applicants are now required to disclose the date of construction of buildings they seek to tear down, specify their use, and provide detailed photographs.

About the destruction of the historic 1912 church by St. Stephen's, the board: "proffers its strong opposition with the unnecessary destruction of one of Miami Dade County's most historic structures, and vows to support a more ambitious system of educating our citizenry about those buildings and sites that constitute the cultural, historic and architectural legacy of this area and the rich history associated with it.

The new resolution with all required signatures may be seen here.

They mean business; do not question the cops

Crime is up around the Grove (car break ins, etc.) but the police are busy giving tickets with their speed trap on South Bayshore Drive.

I hate to complain about it since people do speed in that area, but I think the car breakins are more important and a flashing light or empty police car sitting there would help slow down the speeding cars.

A funny thing happened to Harry Emilio Gottlieb. When he attempted to question one police officer about why and how long they planed to be giving out speeding tickets on South Bayshore, he was hit with a jay walking ticket!

The photo here is by Harry, not sure if it was before or after his little predicament.

"Let's Make a Deal" for a hotel room in the Grove

The Mayfair Hotel and Spa (3000 Florida Avenue) is playing games!

Well, they are playing game show games, like "Let's Make a Deal" or "Deal or No Deal." All you have to do is call the hotel, mention the Let's Make a Deal rate and make an offer on any of their suites. The hotel may counter offer with a Deal or No Deal offer or may accept your offer!

"It's time to be interactive with guests even more than ever, so we want to have fun with it, in the spirit of game shows that everyone can play," states Alice Land, Director of Sales and Marketing.

This is based upon availability, reserve by calling 786-220-7050 and ask for the "Let's Make a Deal Rate".

For more info on the hotel, their website is here: www.mayfairhotelandspa.com

How the Golden Coconut was found

AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, Oscar Thompson, Tom Falco, Steve Licata

I had the Golden Coconut during the Coconut Scavenger Hunt on Saturday. We had always wanted to have it a moving element in the hunt, but we weren't sure who would do that.

The day before it was decided that I would do it, for one main reason -- The Grapevine was one of the clues, but we don't have a bricks and mortar place, but it seemed only fair to have the Grapevine involved, since people would be looking for that.

One person in fact asked me at the start off point if I was one of the clues. I told her to look on line at 3:15 pm, when the clue would be posted. Here.

The poem/clue for the Grapevine was:

Not bricks and mortar, but by going online,
get Grove news that is fresh and just picked form the vine.

Anyway, at about 3 pm, I left the sign-up booth at Mayfair (by the bull) and went to the parking lot across the street, where I had the Golden Coconut in my car. I put it in a bag and handed it to a friend, who then met me in The Bookstore. We exposed the Golden Coconut in The Bookstore.

Since no one came in, even though they were one of the places participating, we went out the side door onto Virginia Street and walked to Bice, at CocoWalk, another participant. Still no takers.

We exited again onto Virginia Street and just then one of the participants spied me, or so I thought. So as he sort of walked toward me, I walked toward him, holding out the coconut and smiling. Only for some strange reason, he turned and went the other way. (He told me later that he didn't see me and he was heading toward Out of Africa, just realizing that clue).

We then took the coconut the other way, toward Olav's Pommes and Pane restaurant, another participant and then through the Mayfair entry area, where people from the hotel oooed and aahed at the shiny gold object. One doorman asked it is was a papaya.

We walked down Florida Avenue, turned into the plaza at Mayfair and stopped at Hibiscus Hill, Sweetpea, the owner, was telling me that she was all out of coconuts, because the participants had already cleaned her out of her supply.

Just then, little Oscar, walked up to us with his mother. He asked "Do you have any coconuts?" I held up the Golden Coconut and handed it to him and told him he was the grand prize winner. His mother and he were very excited.

While we didn't allow anyone to carry the coconuts in any sort of bag as part of the game, we felt that if people saw the Golden Coconut, they would just stop searching, so we asked them to put it in the backpack they had and just remove it at the finish line (the fountain at CocoWalk).

The ironic part is that the guy who had seen me on Virginia and then headed to Out of Africa, may have had a second chance since we were headed right that way, but as fate would have it, we stopped to talk with Sweetpea and were delayed on our way, which would have been right past Out of Africa. And that's when Oscar approached us.

And that's how the Golden Coconut was found by little Oscar Thompson!

Photo by Javier Lopez-Rosende of www.snapphotography.biz

New breakfast special at Georges's in the Grove

Georges Farge, shown here, is introducing a new Breakfast Special at George's in the Grove (3144 Commodore Plaza).

For $10, you'll get an omelet or pancakes, with coffee, orange juice, toast and if you can tell the waiter the last French Tour de France winner, a free mimosa!

Their breakfast starts late -- around 10 am, so it may be more of a brunch for many.

Mojito Moms Nite Out at Los Ranchos

Mojioto Moms Nite Out is happening at Los Ranchos restaurant at CocoWalk on Thursday, July 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

It's an evening of summer refreshments and fun. Complimentary Kilo Kai Mojitos will be served along with other light refreshments. Devine clothing will be offering fashion tips.

Stay for dinner and receive 20% off the regular dinner menu, plus 2 for 1 specials on other cocktails.