Become famous! Share your party with us

We have a new feature here at the Grapevine -- Party coverage.

You may know them as party pages in various publications from Joan Nielsen's original Social Magazine and of course the knock-off Social Miami and Miami Monthly also features parties and events.

For a nominal fee, you can share your wedding, your corporate event or birthday, even a day out boating with friends. Become famous! You would be amazed at how many people read the Grapevine.

Another great plus is that when people do searches for you on line, your name will come up and so will all your guests! It's a great way to social network and have some clout. People will come up to you and say, "I saw you in the Grapevine!"

Your party will be featured right here and be seen by thousands of people a day. Your write-up could look something like this, which was done for the Chamber luncheon. Or you can just have one photo if you like, with a write-up under that.

We would love to work with party and wedding planners on this. So feel free to contact us to discuss logistics.

More info about doing this is here.

Losing one of our cops on the beat

One our beat cops, Officer Rolando Mesa, has been transferred after 15 years of working in the Grove, for no apparent reason.

This is sad because not only is he a good guy, he is one of us, and he knows the neighborhood and all the people (good and bad). He has a history, he belongs.

I know that he wants to stay and hopefully someone will come to their senses and keep him around. He was informed just this morning that he has six days and then he gets his new assignment.

Call for mermaids

You may remember the call for Mermaids awhile back. The Windisch-Hunt Gallery has a Mermaid Summer Art Project.

Submissions will be accepted from Saturday, June 27 until Tuesday, June 30. The submission fee is $15 per entry and they should be for sale. If they are not for sale, please add $10.

This is not going to be a judged show. Theresa Callouri was the first to bring her piece in a couple of weeks ago.

All media styles are accepted.

The opening reception is Sunday, July 5 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

For info, please email: awindisch@mac.com .

It's Wingsday Wednesday at Hooters

Wednesdays are Wingsdays at Hooters!

Special: $5.99 Boneless Wings and Curly Fries. Check 'em out upstairs at CocoWalk.

And Hooters also has a Summer on Ice special: Monday-Friday 3-7 pm:
$6.99 - 1lb. Crab legs
$2.99 - Margarita
$2.99 - 23 oz Big Beer (Miller Light & Coors Light)

Laz to the rescue; local Grovite saves a life

Laz Corrales, co-owner and one of the Elite Trainers from SET (Seal Evolution Training Fitness Camp), here in the Grove saved a life this past weekend. Laz witnessed a woman in distress, crying over a man who was unconscious near the Woman's Club.

After checking his vital signs and feeling no pulse or breathing, he performed CPR on the lifeless man and got his pulse back. He kept at it until the fire rescue arrived. You can see him above administering to the man.

Laz is a former navy seal, he has witnessed countless atrocities in his young life but also believes in the value of life. We do have heroes in the Grove. Laz can be found at RED gym (3206 Grand Avenue) or at SET.

Top photo by Harry Emilio Gottlieb

Cocoplum 500 Paddleboard race held over the weekend

On Sunday, about 30 hearty souls took off from Shake-A-Leg in the Cocoplum 500, part of the Hobie Stand-up Paddleboard Series. It started calmly at the docks, but then got a little hairy as the paddleboarders made their way out into the bay and then through the waterways to Cocoplum Circle and back, standing, and paddling (some falling) along the way.

The five mile course ended up being a bit longer, more like six miles.

The results were: Over 12' Men: First Place: Chip Bock; Second Place: James Brown

Under 12' Men: First: Jim DeSilva; Second: JP Perez; Third: Thad Foote; Fourth: Tyler Bixby; Fifth: Jason Barger; Sixth: Steve Chastain; Seventh: Stephane Lafosse Eighth: Sergio Mendoza

Under 12' Women: First: Meredith Bass; Second: Karen Perez

Lunch for Less

Bice Bistro at CocoWalk - $9.95 lunch
Le P'tit Paris - Half price Lunch menu before noon (you must get there between 11 and 12)
Smoothie King - daily special combo for 24 Hour fitness members
Los Ranchos - $4.99 specials
Ideas Spanish restaurant - 3 course prix fixe plus beverage for under $20