I think we are all quite proud of our village

I was thinking about this Snackdown thing and I realized that the reason Coconut Grove keeps winning "The Best Neighborhood for Dining," contests is that we care and that we are proud of the Grove and we vote for the Grove to win. I mean it's a shame we don't all go out on actual election day and vote, but when it comes to voting online, we do that.

I see people posting the Snackdown contest all over Facebook, asking for votes for the Grove, I don't see people doing it for other communities.

We're such a small community that we are like family, we are very connected. The voting for South Beach and downtown and even Coral Gables doesn't draw those communities together because they are more fragmented than we are. I think that is something we can be proud of. While we have our differences and argue over certain issues in the village, it really is because we care.

We care about the trees, about the empty store fronts about what's new in town and what is old in town and what's coming up in town and what's going on in town and that says a lot, I think in a very positive way.

Vivaldi Festival at the Miami Conservatory

Yennifer Sanchez

To celebrate the 334th anniversary of Vivaldi’s birth, the Miami Conservatory of Music, is presenting a Vivaldi Festival featuring the complete works from his popular Four Seasons on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4. The “Spring Concerto” and “Concert for Mandolin” will be played on at 3 pm and the “Winter and Summer” concertos and the “Stabat Mater” at 7:30 pm on Saturday. The “Autumn Concerto” and the “Guitar Concerto” will be performed at 4 pm on Sunday.


Sophia Molina

The performances by Conservatory professors and students will be played in the new Miami Conservatory of Music Recital Hall at the Mayfair Promenade, right off Florida Avenue. Admission also includes refreshments and an opportunity to meet and greet the musicians after the concerts.


Luis Ruiz

Each concert is $10 for adults and $5 for students and tickets for all three concerts are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Ticket information is available by calling 305-442-2283 or visit http://www.miamiconservatoryofmusic.com/.


David Fernandez

The Snackdown continues . . .

Coconut Grove beat South Beach and Downtown Miami in the "best neighborhood for dining" category in the Miami New Times' Snackdown contest.

I know, I'm scratching my head, too. I mean, I'm not putting down our restaurants, I eat in them daily, I just assumed that there are more restaurants and people at the other locations, so you would assume they would get more votes. Guess not.

But I guess you really can't beat our shady (for now) streets and quiet atmostphere as opposed to the massive crowds and tourists in the other locations, so maybe we are the best neighborhood for dining.

So now it's Coconut Grove vs. Coral Gables in the Snackdown contest. Voting info and the rest of the story here at The New Times.

Slow Food Miami Happy Hour at Lokal

Slow Food Miami is having a Happy Hour at Lokal Burgers and Beer (3190 Commodore Plaza) tonight, February 28, from 6 to 8 pm.

The Slow Food Miami Happy Hours are fun, social and casual. It's a chance to chat with other volunteer board members and talk about Snail of Approval nominations. Slow Food Miami embraces local growers and artisan food makers who use sustainable methods of production and pay fair wages to the workers. They respect the environment.

The Slow Food Movement is a global movement, it's grassroots with supporters in 150 countries who link the pleasure of good food wtih a commmitment to their community and the environment. It's a non-profit member supported association. It's the opposite of "fast food."

Grovite takes on American Airlines management

Grovite Gailen David, best known as the Sky Steward, has caused quite a ruckus lately through his "Aluminum Lady" persona via YouTube videos.

Gailen is upset with American Airlines management and he has taken to the airwaves. Gailen has been mocking the airline and has lots of people on his side. They want change. The airline called Gailen in for a disciplinary meeting, which he did not attend, which just exacerbated the animosity on both sides.

The story has made the national news and is going viral all over the internet. The Aluminum Lady parodies are a big hit.

Gailen's goal now is to get 250,000 signatures on a petition that will hopefully force a change of management at American Airlines. "Hopefully, we can make sure AA becomes, 'Something Special in the Air' once again!" proclaimed Gailen.

More here.

It's a Leap Year Networker

This is a great opportunity for many of you who have said you want to start getting involved in Grove events. The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce's next networking event is Wednesday, February 29 at George's (3145 Commodore Plaza). It's from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or champagne and hors d'oeuvres with admission, plus a chance to win great raffle prizes. Special guest is Mayor Tomas Regalado. Plus, take advantage of George's post-event dinner specials for friends of the Chamber.

Cost is $10 for Grove Chamber members and $15 for guests.

Please RSVP to 305-444-7270 or info@coconutgrove.com

A great way to promote an event

A great way to promote the Grove might be to go outside the Grove and tell people what we have going in inside the Grove through various means. What if someone got a boat, put it on wheels and then went from town to town promoting Coconut Grove?

Well this was done a couple of weeks ago, but in reverse, people from Wynwood did this in Coconut Grove and other areas of the county. There was this boat going all around, you know, on wheels, in the street, promoting an art event that was the same weekend as the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. The boat was picking up people and taking them for rides, music was blasting, people were dancing and so many people were taking photos and emailing, them, texting them and Facebooking and Tweeting them.

The photo above is just the guy in the boat on a weekday, but over the weekend, it was a party boat with lots of people involved. I wonder if something like this would work for the next big Grove event, like maybe Taste of the Grove, which is in April?

Dine Magazine hosting next event at La Bottega

Join Dine Magazine at La Bottega by Chef Carmen Trigueros in Coconut Grove for wine and hors d’oeuvres on Tuesday, February 28 from 6 to 8 pm.

La Bottega is known for its fabulous wine selection and private membership wine club — La Cava. Chef Carmen celebrates the tradition of well-being found in the Mediterranean lifestyle by combining the ingredients of Italy, Provence and Spain’s Basque region together with a dash of Miami’s own Latin flair. She has worked with culinary powerhouses like Michelin-starred chef Claudio Sadler, Daniel Boulud and spent some time experimenting in the kitchen of el Bulli in Spain. Her recipes have been featured in the pages of Gourmet and Bon Appetit magazines.

Recently, Carmen did a cooking demonstration at the Culinary Pavilion at The Coconut Grove Arts Festival.

The cost of Tuesday's Dine event is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. This includes one glass of wine, either Tenuta Casteani Sessanta (Super Tuscan) or Prosecco, Montelvini -- Cuvee pell'Erede, and a selection of complimentary hors d'oeuvres including Brie and Pear wrapped in Phyllo Dough, Coconut Shrimp Sausage wrapped in Puffed Pastry, Phyllo Stuffed Fig and Marscapone Chacuterie Platter with assorted cheeses and La Bottega's famous Fried Calamari.

La Bottega is located at 3540 Main Highway. You may purchase tickets in advance here.

Chalk Painting Festival would be perfect for Grove

This weekend, the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival is going on. I like to show it every year, because Lake Worth is very much like Coconut Grove and the street painting, which is done with chalk, is something we can do here.


The chalk painting was supposed to be a part of last year's Mad Hatter Festival, but we got rained out, so maybe we can try it again this year as part of Mad Hatter.


There are 150 artists, it looked like more, who take part in Lake Worth's event. This is their 18th year. It draws so many spectators to the normally sleepy town.

BINGO is this Thursday at Woman's Club

Bring the whole family -- Bingo is back at the Coconut Grove Woman's Club (2985 S. Bayshore Drive) on Thursday, February 23, starting at 7 pm.

Admission is $5 for adults and children 12 and under play free. Each card is $1, with a minimum of five games.

Refreshment and hors d'oeuvres will be served and there will be a cash bar.

Prizes will be gifts and gift certificates. The last game is a cash prize of $500 with the entire Bingo card in 46 balls.

Jewelry and vintage clothing trunk show

The Sale Rack is hosting a jewelry trunk show next Saturday, March 3 from 6 to 10 pm with Phairytale Jewelry. It will be an eclectic evening of one-of-a kind jewelry (all hand made and vintage pieces) and of course recycled fashion from Sale Rack.

There will be a raffle for jewelry, a Sale Rack gift card, free haircut from Christina at Allure Salon, and a free massage from Spa In The Grove. Also, Mo' Pops bakery will be providing cake pops. And they'll have tasty beverages, too.

The Sale Rack is at 3444 Main Hwy, Shop 20, Phone: (305) 537-6078. www.facebook.com/SaleRack

Antonio's wine has found its time (in the Grove)

Hollywood star Antonio Banderas was in the Grove last night. He joined friends to enjoy his own wine called Anta Banderas, at Greenstreets. Antonio owns part of Bodega Anta Natura, a Spanish winery, which comes from the town of Burgos Villalba de Duero. Check out the wine at Greenstreets yourself!


Javier Lopez-Rosende took these photos. Javier is the official Grove photographer, who does most of the work for the BID and others. He was this year's official photograher for the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, too. For more on Javier's work, please visit http://www.javierlrosende.com, he's available for your next event.


For more on Antonio's wine, please visit http://www.antabodegas.com/. Antonio will also be at this weekend's Sobe Food & Wine Fest before he heads back to Hollywood for this Sunday's Oscars.

Lots of food for everyone

I'm not tring to beat a dead horse, but I just would like you to see this scene during Arts Festival weekend. It's Johnny Rockets and basically all the restaurants in the Grove looked like this -- packed. The reason I find it interesting is that the Grove Arts Festival and the St. Stephen's Art Show both had lots of food booths and yet people ate at the restaurants.

In a recent Zagat survey, Miami was rated #3 in having the "Hottest Food Truck Scene," after New York and Chicago, yet the Grove, last to be on the cutting edge of everything these days, when for a century it was the cutting edge of everything in Miami!

So if food trucks were to come in once a month, say, why wouldn't people still eat at their favorite restaurant? I know that one concern is the bathrooms, one restaurant owner asked where people would go to the bathroom if food trucks were permitted in. I find this to be an interesting question, because it sort of assumes that there would be so many people that that would be a problem.

Too many people in Coconut Grove, not enough bathrooms, if the food trucks are allowed in. A nice problem to have. But I assume that problem was solved during Arts Festival weekend, 150,000 people found bathrooms, so the few thousand people that the food trucks would bring in, would find them, too.

And The Women Gather luncheon at Ritz Carlton

And The Women Gather will be holding their 9th annual Literary Jazz Brunch at the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove (3300 SW 27 Avenue) on Saturday, March 17 from 11 am to 3 pm.

Their goal this year, along with The Footprints Foundation, is to bring recognition to the fact that The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) which has one of the world’s highest maternal and infant mortality rates. There are 990 deaths per 100,000 pregnant women. The Footprints Foundation is working diligently to bring that number down and create a safer environment for women to give birth, Project Motherhood is a Blessing.

The brunch will be hosted by WPLG anchor Neki Mohan and Miami Herald World Desk Editor John Yearwood. Live jazz will be provided by Maria Rivas Venezuela’s number one Jazz Artist. “Not to mention the scrupulously delicious brunch”, says Owens

Lorna Owens, a renowned Nurse, Mid-Wife, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker and Attorney created the Footprints Foundation in 2011. Owens has spent her whole life working with and on behalf of women, first as a health care provider and then as a legal advocate and firebrand. She has a boundless passion for women’s causes and is deeply dedicated to creating platforms for women to be respected, cared for and heard.

“Work in the Congo is truly life saving. Health facilities in the DR Congo often lack proper equipment such as a simple delivery kit for childbirth. As a result, many women die becoming a mother. This event will help raised need funds to address the significant issues with childbirth that these women are faced with, states Lorna Owens, Executive Director.

Scheduled to appear are six phenomenal authors including; Julie Compton;MSNBC Correspondent Touré, Ellen Lubin Sherman, TV Personality and Florida Prosecutor Stacey Honowitz, Christina Diaz and Leila Cobo.

Tickets are $125.00 in advance and may be purchased here and $150.00 at the door the day of the event.

Meet Antonio Banderas tonight!

Antonio Banderas will be at Greenstreets (3468 Main Highway) tonight from 7 to 8 pm introducing a Spanish wine before he flies off to Hollywood for the Oscars! Stop by and meet him! And have some wine.

The Barnacle's Old Time Dance is back

The Barnacle is holding another one of it's popular Old Time Dances on Sunday, February 26.

The outdoor Micco Pavilion, out back is the location for the dance. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes and come learn to dance the traditional American way: Contras, Squares, Circles, and Waltzes. Instruction is included and beginners are welcome.

The Barnacle, built in 1891, is the oldest house in Miami in its original location. The home of Coconut Grove pioneer Ralph Middleton Munroe is now a Florida State Park and is located at 3485 Main Highway in downtown Coconut Grove. Please park on the street or in one of the parking lots around town, then stroll down the lane into the park for an evening of Old Time fun with music played by Keeping It Reel. Lou Dow will be on hand calling the steps. Dance like it’s 1891!

Gate opens at 6 pm. Picnics welcome. The cost for the evening is $10 per person; children under 10 are free. For additional information contact 305-442-6866 or visit www.TheBarnacle.org.

Three nights of live performances at A&M

Starting tonight, February 23, the Academy of Arts & Minds Charter High School is having three nights of live performances.

The A&M talent begins to gain strength tonight with the "Being Soloist" Concert by the A&M Orchestra starting at 8:30 pm (tickets sold at door). The action continues Friday night at 7:00 pm with the Academy's monthly AmJam where students, joined by their counterparts from other middle and high schools will jam and compete for the "Best Performance of the Night" prize. This is free for everyone, there is no admission charge.

Then with full force on Saturday, A&M's rock group "Neolithyc" will perform their latest collection of rock songs at the Academy's Abanico Theater, at 7:00 pm. The perfect example of young adults who love their art and their academics with a passion. This is also free, with no admission charge.

All events are open to the public.

Academy of Arts & Minds Charter High School is located at 3138 Commodore Plaza. For more info: mail@aandm.net.

And now this from TreeWatch . . .

This was sent in from TreeWatch:

Just learned yesterday that the City Public Works Department granted permits to the Capital Improvements Department to cut down another five trees as part of "Phase 1" of the Coconut Grove BID sidewalk "improvement" plan. This is in addition to the nine going down on Florida Avenue.

The newly doomed trees are four mature mahogany trees, two each on Virginia and Mary Streets and one pink Tababuia also on Mary. None of these trees were discussed at the two public meetings previously held to introduce the public to the BID's plans. This is the first we hear of this, and we cannot help but wonder, how many more are they looking to take down in order to replace them with the expensive ($10,000 per) Silva Cell Trees.

Silva Cell is manufactured by only one company. In Florida it has been used in only three projects. All of them parking lots. "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone...."

For more info on TreeWatch, join their Facebook page.

Slow-motion break down of Grove Arts Festival

This is the coolest thing. My friend Tim Grand took this stop-motion video of the break down of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival on Monday night. Enjoy!

Lauren's Light benefit held at the Mayfair

The annual Lauren's Light fundraiser was held at the Mayfair this past weekend, the charity helps families with young children in which a parent has cancer. Above from left, Dr. Michael Gordon, Lynda Gordon, Rebecca Smith and Ben and Malvina Feinswag, the late Lauren's parents, form whom the chairty is named.


Humorist Dave Barry, Ben Feinswag and Dave's wife, Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald sportswriter. Dave was the featured entertainment for the evening.


Dave Barry, Michelle Kaufman, Mitchell Kaplan, Mal and Ben Feinswag and Robert Spitz. Mitchell, owner of Books & Books, was moderator for the evening.


The Robert Cruz trio performed, from left, Robert Cruz, Otto Knight and Don Cesar.


There was a live auction and a silent auction, with dozens of beautiful items up for bid including an Azamara Club European Cruise for 2, and hotel stays, restaurants, jewelry, sports, gifts and personal items. 100% of all proceeds will go to Lauren’s Light.


Rebecca Smith, fundraiser committee, with Pearl Meyer of Blonde Tulip florist, who provided all the floral arrangements.


Food was donated by Town Kitchen & Bar, drinks by Bacardi USA, and wine selections donated by Milam's Markets.


Coco, the puppy, was one of the silent auction prizes!


Lauren's light is comprised of a truly committed team. For more info, please visit www.laurenslight.org.

And as a little addition to the story, I ran into Pearl Meyer the next day at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, and she had Coco with her. Pearl bid high and won Coco during the live auction that night!

New Grove hangout The Goose is slinky and cool

The Goose has opened at 3008 Grand Avenue. It's sort of a college handout, but it's more than that. The pool table draws everyone and so does the large selection of craft beer. A rotating wine list is sold by the glass, six reds and six whites and there are plenty of tapas to munch.


The former Starbucks location is quite large and there's plenty of bar on one wall and seating along the opposite wall. There is a small stage with live bands performing Thursday and Friday nights and Monday is open mic night.


This is Mariella, one of The Goose's bartenders. The bar is open daily until 3 am.

Another beautiful Arts Festival weekend

I hope you got out to the Art Festivals this weekend, they were amazing. The weather was great, especially on Monday, when it cooled down a bit. The festivals were all over live tv during the weekend, so that brought lots of awareness to Coconut Grove.


Local celebs, like Grovite Julio Iglesias, Jr., enjoyed the art festivals. He met two other locals, Alexsa Gonzalez-Leyva, left and Kayla Lindemann, who were also part of a cooking segment at the Culinary Pavilion, earlier in the day.


Alexsa and Kayla helped out chef Paulette Bilsky, along with a few other kids, who presented "Super Food For Super Kids," at a full house at the pavilion.


Jimmy Picos, with Nicole, did his balloon twisting and the whole Grove was packed. All the overflow filled restaurants and stores, which made it a super President's Day Weekend.


And this is the finished piece from artist Jane Portaluppi Durand, who did the chalk art in the parking lot of the Coconut Grove Gallery & Interiors. It's probably still there at 2884 Bird Avenue, stop by before it rains and it disappears. More on Jane here: http://www.janeportaluppi.com/

A very civilized way to start a weekend morning

The Coconut Grove Gallery & Interiors held a complimentary Brunch With the Artists on Sunday morning, as part of Art Festival Weekend, which followed Saturday's Mojito Happy Hour. As guests entered the parking lot, they were treated to the chalk art of Jane Portaluppi Durand, who was in the process of creating this beautiful image. It's a two-day project and if you stop by the gallery again today (2884 Bird Avenue), you can see it being completed.


Jane is doing a fantastic job, there's lots of detail in the chalk art. Also, as a special treat from the gallery, they offered a shuttle service all afternoon to and from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival on the other end of town.


As we entered the gallery, we were greeted by Bailey!


As guests enjoyed the breakfast, prepared right on the spot by chef's from Le Cordon Bleu, artists painted tableside. This is Christine Anagnostis.


And this is Judy Fuller.


Sheila Kuhl, left, owner of Coconut Grove Gallery & Interiors, with guests Eric Swensson and Allison Miller.


At left: Angel Barroso, marketing manager of the gallery, with owner Sheila Kuhl; at right. AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt and Janel Kuhl.


Rosana Quintero and Christian Tappanes, students from Le Cordon Bleu, prepared delicious omelets and such from scratch, including everything from shrimp to veggies and more.

Photos by AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt & Tom Falco

Amazing weather for amazing Art Festivals

It's been an incredible weekend so far for the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and St. Stephen's Art Show. Above is Marlene Rose, who does glass cast sculpture. The other day when one of the tv channel's was about to go live with Marlene, the news reporter fainted so Marlene never made it on the air! So I'm giving Marlene her due here. She has some incredible work, she's set up on S. Bayshore Drive, near SW 27 Avenue.


This is the work of Deborah Blank, who does a lot of mixed media. Her art is at the St. Stephen's show.


Some of the prices are excessive, I don't mean for art, but $12 for a gyro? I used to think $10 was bad, now it's up to $12 at some booths! But if you shop around, you'll get a fair deal and that's what you should do. Don't pay these guys who want top dollar when a couple of booths away you can get a decent price.


Jeff Lindsay, the creator of Dexter and Grove Arts Festival president, Monty Trainer, at the food pavilion. Jeff did a cooking demonstration with our friend Siri from Atchana's restaurant. And don't forget to stop into the tea room at the St. Stephen's show for English tea and scones with berries and clotted cream.


There are lots of beautiful people out this weekend. The festivals are on through Monday from 10 am to 6 pm both days. Lots more Arts Festival photos here.