The Bookstore in the Grove (3399 Virginia Street) has more than just books, you can find all sorts of gifties there. They have a whole line of Hello Kitty items, starting at $5.00 and going up, this large kitty in the window is $85.00. Small stuffed animals also fill the store.
Godiva Chocolates come with or without stuffed animals, starting at $10.00. For the nautical type, there are many books and models, like this boat in the window. These items are $20.00 and up.
In the display cases, you'll find lots of toys and games for the office. The sterling silver Tic, Tac Toe game in black leather case is $18.00, the bowling balls and pins are $45.00. Perfect for the executive in your life.
Of course The Bookstore is filled with books. Popular this year are these georgous hard bound classics. They are $20.00 each. Titles include "Great Expectations," "Jane Eyre," "Wuthering Heights," and "Cranford." There are many more titles in the selection.
The Bookstore will gift wrap and if you ask any of the staff, they will gladly take you around the store and show you their newest best selling holiday gift items. For info, please call 305-443-2855, or just stop over and get lost among the shelves.
The Bookstore accepts Grove Bucks.
Someone was concerned that I was cheating the Miami Parking Authority (MPA) by taking advantage of their one hour grace period. Don't worry about the MPA, they will still scam the public any chance they get.
They raised the rates to 1.50 per hour, for a quarter you get a 10 minutes. That's the MPA's true colors. The one hour grace period is just something they do to make themselves look good, they should be illegal, how in hell can an entity just come in and say, "You want to park on the streets that your tax dollars pay for, well you have to pay us more to park there, your tax dollars are not enough?"
The MPA makes it's money back at night when they scam you into paying for parking you don't want. Like I needed to drop something off at Mayfair the other night, I wanted to run in and out. I put a quarter into the meter. The meter would not accept it. I put in a dollar, the meter would not accept it. I was forced to put in $2.00 for the four hours you get for that. After 6 pm, you get four hours worth of parking for $2.00 -- whether you want it or not.
I didn't want it. I wanted 10 minutes for a quarter. Now that I think of it, I should have not put any money in, I should have run in and out and no one would have been the wiser. So for those who feel that the one hour grace period is taking advantage of the MPA, please, don't lose any sleep over it. They are still screwing us but we may not realize it. Their plan is working.
The snow blew into town late for yesterday's Snow Day on Fuller Street, but no one seemed to notice, there were so many other things to do, the snow was almost an after thought. 
And when it did arrive, it made Fuller Street a winter wonderland. It was probably the best of all three snow days (the first two being at Virginia Street and the Mayfair Promenade).
At one end of Fuller were snow cones, at the other H & H Jewels offered toasted marshmallows and spiced hot apple cider. There was something for everyone. Above right are Kristen Nateman, Georges Farge and H. Bredemeier, from H & H.
The small street was perfect for the snow, it turned the whole area into a little winter wonderland.
The cool weather had people bundled up to begin with, it was the perfect dress for the snow.
Fuller Street never seemed so full and frenetic. There was a petting zoo along with face painting, balloon animals, toys for sale and of course Santa and Frosty the Snowman were present like they have been for all Snow Days.
Najib fed snow to Whiskey and Molasses. I'm going to miss our weekly Snow Days, but perhaps they will be back soon. Hmmm. You've heard of Christmas sales in July, how about Snow in July? Just a thought . . . 
Last night, "A Christmas Story" was shown at the Mayfair Promenade.
While much of the Northeast shivered in 20 degree temps and lots of snow, we enjoyed a balmy 68 degree night.
You never know what will happen, it's such a Grove-thing. Last week the screen started deflating right during the movie, last night the Hare Krishnas came chanting through, right near the end of the movie.
The outdoor movies will not be shown next week but they may come back soon on a weekly basis.
Speaking of movies, apparently Muvico is back on at CocoWalk. The facility has been cleaned out and they have a crew standing by to start construction as soon as another permit or two comes in. You know how the City works, like molasses, hopefully they'll move on the permits and we can have a movie theater back in the Grove by spring or summer.
Lots of sweet music fills the streets of the Grove at holiday time. Here is Anna Maria Boliva, enchanting shoppers as she plays the harp in front of The Bookstore. Over the next week you'll see other musicians as well as carolers and drummers.
Today is the final Snow Day in Coconut Grove! If you haven't experienced the snow, come out at noon and enjoy! Fuller Street is the beneficiary this week. Bring the kids for snow, Santa, Frosty the Snowman, free snow cones and lots of photo ops!
The first week of Snow Days was December 5 on Virginia Street (photos here) and the second week was at the Mayfair Promenade, on December 13 (photos here).
We'll have photos of today's Snow Day tomorrow, please come back for that and look for yourself in the pictures!
