Art Festival season is upon us and they should all be coming up fast. The Gifford Lane Art Stroll will take place in Coconut Grove on Sunday, March 18, from noon until 5:00 pm. This is one of my favorites as it is a throwback to the "Old Grove."
The entry fee is $40.00. If you would like to participate as an artist, you'll need to fill in their information form.
Everything is open for your particular media including Painting/Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, Clay, Wood, Fiberglass, Jewelry and Mixed Media.
Please contact Trina Collins for a sign up form, the deadline to sign up is February 17, you may call Trina at 305-445-9698 or please email Lisa Butler at giffordlaneartstroll@gmail.com.
There is the yearly Poster Artist Contest taking place too, they will be announcing the winner before the end of the month. If you are interested in that, as well, please contact the ladies.
Last year over 70 artists exhibited at the Stroll. There will be live bands and a crowd of Coconut Grove Art Lovers who really look forward to an afternoon of cool art they can buy, good food, and plenty to drink. This is a worthwhile charitable event. They ask all participating artists to donate 10% of their sales to our designated charities: St. Alban’s Child Enrichment Center, and St. Stephen’s AIDS Ministry.
The Kampong resumes it's Lecture Series for the year with an event on Thursday, January 19. Botanist and author Roger Hammer will share stories behind some of Florida’s best-known and loved features. During the fun and fact-filled presentation based on his book: Florida Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Sunshine State, you’ll discover a fantastic key lime pie recipe, the river in the famed Stephen Foster song, and what makes Apalachicola oysters so tasty.
A native Floridian who has lived in Homestead since 1969, Mr. Hammer has been a senior interpretive naturalist for the Miami-Dade Parks Department and Manager of Castellow Hammock Nature Center since 1977. He has served on the Tropical Audubon Society’s Board of Directors since 1998. An avid wildlife photographer who also enjoys canoeing, kayak fishing, camping, and gardening, Mr. Hammer is the consummate naturalist and outdoorsman.
“We are so pleased to welcome Roger back to The Kampong. His talks are always lively and engaging, and his new book is a great read for Florida natives and newcomers alike,” said Ann Parsons, Director of The Kampong.
The Kampong (4013 S. Douglas Road) opens at 6:30 pm with a dessert reception, and the lecture begins at 7 pm. Attendance is free to Kampong Fellows and Members; tickets for the public are $10.
Reservations required: 305.442.7169 or email kampong@ntbg.org.
The Coconut Grove Ecumenical Network is holding a service and celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, January 15. This 19th Anuual event will feature The Rev. Barbara Baptise williams who will deliver the homily.
The ceremony is at 2:30 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (2750 McFarlane Road). This year's service is dedicated to the good works of Dr. David white, a Coconut Grove activist.
The first of this year's weekly organic farmer's markets is back at Zen Village this Sunday, January 15.Share a beautiful afternoon enjoying affordable organic produce, honey, jams, teas, juices, music and much more. Very soon they will also have a cook and nutritionist on hand to give lectures on healthy living as well as pass out recipes, teach cooking classes and prepare delicious worldly infused dishes.Zen Village is at 3570 Main Highway. The market is open from 10 am to 3 pm.
As the fire loomed at the former Grand Bay site today, right down the block, trees were being destroyed at the corner of S. Bayshore and Mary Street. While all eyes were on the fire up the street, these guys were taking down large chunks of Gumbo Limbo trees on the public right of way. When questioned by Liliana Dones of Coconut Grove TreeWatch, the workers claimed they had permits for the job.
As is the case with all of these tree cutting events, when questioned, the workers jumped in their truck and sped off. If they had a permit, why would they do that?
"If a permit was indeed taken out for the purpose of pruning more than 25 percent, shouldn't there be a notice on the tree, so that we know what it is about and we don't waste our time or your time?" asked Liliana of the City Code Enforcement Department via email.
She went on to ask, "What happens now? Is the tree ok with major artery of the trunk missing? Is there follow up care? (or will this tree eventually be marked for removal because it is now compromised?"
To get involved and help protect our canopy, which is getting smaller and smaller these days, please get involved with Coconut Grove TreeWatch. The easiest step is to join the Facebook page here.
CrossFit Coconut Grove, the gym owned by Jose Nicolas at 2900 SW 28 Lane (which is called a Box), is having a competition tomorrow, at the Box, January 14, with other Boxes in the area including Vida (Brickell), Coral Gables, Doral and South Miami. These competitions are intense and quite exciting to watch. CrossFit is known as "the sport of fitness."
Jose has a team of dedicated trainers who train individuals in constantly varied, functional movements, performed at a high intensity. Think of it as P90X for Titans (Greek Gods) or the workouts for the movie 300.
The Box opened on the first of the year and they are running a special for Grovites. For new members who live in 33133 they are offering $33.00 off the monthly fee if you sign up before February 1, 2012. Also, they are offering a free Workout of the Day (WOD) every Saturday at 9 am for anyone to try the place out. Finally, once a Grovite is a member, and they bring in a new member they get a free month.
