Halloween is usually a crazy time in Coconut Grove with street closures and perennial house parties. This year The Barnacle is joining in with a Mad Hatter Tea Party this Friday evening. Costumes are encouraged, hats are recommended, and everyone is to bring their own teacup!

Proceeds from the catered party will be used for the care and maintenance of the Barnacle, one of the Grove’s oldest and most beloved treasures.

If you or someone you know is thinking about buying or selling a home any time in the next year, please call to let me know at 305 794.6570. It would be my pleasure to contact and work with your referral. My commitment to you is to treat them with the utmost care as they work towards buying or selling a home.  Referrals are the core of my business and are always appreciated.

“The Peacock Garden Cafe has the best ambiance of any restaurant since Food Among the Flowers. It’s beautiful, albeit it a bit noisy indoors. They offered only one selection, center cut filet mignon, but it was delicious. Usually the Spice menu consists of three courses but at PGC they impressed with gravlox tartine, soup du jour, a pear and gorgonzola salad, a chocolate brownie and a glass of Prosecco. The dessert was the single less-than-outstanding selection. One diner had the tuna tartar appetizer with grilled shrimp and Asian slaw salad, all exceptional. We also enjoyed the white sangria, a house favorite. I’ve been back already.

Talavera Cocina Mexicana is owned by the same group as the PGC. It’s no wonder we loved this dining  experience as well. Again, we enjoyed extra courses with no skimping on portions. We had  fantastic service that began with cilantro margaritas (surprisingly delicious) followed with shrimp ceviche tostadas, cactus salad that included portabella mushrooms, spinach, tomato, red onion, serrano chili, cilantro and goat cheese. Then came the entree of carne asada (melt in your mouth tenderloin served with guacamole, roasted poblano pepper that was DE-vine, refried black beans (rather dry) and enchilada mole. The owner offered up a second round of drinks on the house prior to the amazing mango sorbet dessert. I’m going back soon.

Palme d’Or has exquisite food. We enjoyed the three-course meal and its small portions left us wanting more. Our meal began with a mushroom amuse bouche followed by chilled Heirloom tomato soup with goat cheese – all quite pleasant. One diner ordered the lobster bisque as an extra course. It was superb, with perfect consistency and great flavor. For our entree we all ordered the lamb tenderloin with ratatouille and a creamy potato garnish. Presentations were elegantly minimalistic, flavors were exceptional. We were a little disappointed as the menu changed from the posted one on the internet offering slipper lobster. This can happen if an item is not fresh or available, so diners must be flexible. However, an updated menu posting would be appreciated. Dessert was a decadent chocolate ball (frankly, I can’t remember the specifics but it was quite tasty). The wait staff was attentive but a bit stuffy and cold. Seems they might have been tired after a busy Labor Day weekend. I may go back.

Sustain Restaurant and Bar, a relatively new Midtown hotspot, fits the bill for great energy and hip urban ambiance. The food was trendy and tasty beginning with the fennel salad with arugula, orange, walnuts and parmegiano. I chose the Cavatelli for my main course – Harris Ranch braised short rib ragu with ricotta – a nice comfort food that was very satisfying and flavorful. Others ordered the pan roasted snapper and, although it was good, it was literally three bites and diners were disappointed and still hungry. I had the strawberry cobbler with marscapone cream for dessert and it was a great play on textures and flavors, the sweet and the slightly salty. I may go back.

Hakkasan at Fountainbleau was wonderful – LAST YEAR. Unfortunately, this year disappointed in many ways. The crispy vegetarian spring rolls – greasy. The sweet and sour sauce sea bass – surprisingly fishy. We related this to our waiter who was rather disinterested. Most unique and enjoyable was the hot and sour soup – very thick with a distinctly smoky flavor. The braised tofu with dried shitake and garden greens was quite delicious and the best of the vegetarian selections this evening. Also flavorful was the braised eggplant with toban chili sauce. The veggie fried rice was nothing special while the minced beef fried rice was considerably more interesting with ginger pickle and Szechwan peppercorn. Off the Spice menu (a must, as portions are small) we shared a vegan dim sum and regular dim sum platter (both good) as well as the sweet and sour pork prepared with a light batter and a sweet and tangy sauce that was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. We finished with a rich and creamy dark chocolate mousse with vanilla ice cream and hazelnut crumble. A few extra mentions: service was good, ambiance great, and parking was discounted to a reasonable $12 for Spice month. Drinks at Blue Bar in the lobby of the hotel were pricey, but the biggest turn off – the lobby smelled like sun tan lotion and chlorine. Swim anyone? I’m NOT going back.”

There you have it – Debra’s take on the five places she visited. There are over a hundred restaurants participating and Miami Spice continues through the end of September. Don’t miss your opportunity to sample fabulous (and sometimes not so fabulous) food at reduced prices.

If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Subscribe to receive the next one? Once you register, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.

Join the fun at The Barnacle on Sunday, April 10th, to honor the 160th birthday of Commodore Ralph Munroe, one of Coconut Grove’s most charming and influential pioneers. Each year the Barnacle Society gathers to commemorate his remarkable life, and this year’s festival will have plenty of perks.

Dinner will be catered by Top Chef contestant Howie Kleinberg’s Bulldog BBQ, music will be provided by The Three Jacks, an American-Celtic rock band, and of course there will be birthday cake! The festivities will begin at 6:00 pm. All details about this event are listed here.

It’s a great opportunity to visit this historic and grand bayside home built by the Commodore in 1891 at 3485 Main Highway. At the same time you’ll be supporting the Barnacle Society’s mission to generate public awareness, education, and financial support for the preservation and maintenance of this historic home.

If you are looking for a Realtor who knows and loves Coconut Grove, and who can guide you to informed decisions, call me at 305 794.6570 or leave me a note.

Did you know that Coconut Grove residents and people who work here can receive great discounts at cooperating merchants by using the Code 33 card? To get your card simply email mcconnell28@msn.com stating whether you live or work here, and your address and email. The card will be mailed to you.

The savings are great and include discounts on restaurants, salons, jewelers, clothing stores, and so much more. You can check out the entire list of participating businesses at  The Village of Center Grove Homeowners Association.

Once you have your card, look for the Code 33 decal in store windows to find out if they’re in the program. You can honestly save a bundle!

If you are looking for someone who knows Coconut Grove real estate and can save you even more money by quickly selling your home or negotiating a better price on your purchase, call me at 305 794.6570 or leave me a message.

If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Subscribe to receive the next one? Once you register, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.

Eileen Seitz in Front of her Newly Designed Information Booth on Main Highway

Eileen Seitz was born an artist, winning her first award as a thirteen-year-old at a Manhattan street art show. She sold her first painting to a New York art dealer at age sixteen. Among other places she studied fine arts at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. concentrating on drawing, oil painting, and watercolors. Traveling the world, she realized that tropical climates satisfy her soul, and in 1981 she moved to Coconut Grove.

Her road to the Grove is interesting, but I want to convey the playful and energetic spirit of Eileen Seitz. She deeply feels and embraces the wonder and excitement of life flowing through her and onto canvas, paper, or fabric. In her own words, she “creates a vision that excites the SOUL and invites the SPIRIT of the viewer to bask and enjoy all the smells, sounds, and joys of color, through whatever line and form I bring to the two-dimensional surface”.

Recently, Eileen is showing up all over town! She was commissioned to paint the nondescript black information booths dotting the downtown area. Never planning her designs but using at-the-moment inspiration  to guide her, she transformed each kiosk into clever flower-dappled tropical bungalows.

[slideshow id=7]

Eileen designed two peacocks for the Coconut Grove Peacock Tour, a unique interactive public art installation benefiting various charities around Miami. Eileen’s birds are sponsored by Milam’s Market and the Patrick Sessions Family. All the peacocks will be auctioned  on March 16 at the Paragon Theater in Cocowalk.

[slideshow id=8]

Just released for sale is her 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. She’s also designing on fabric, available as sarongs, pillow coverings, wall-hangings, tableclothes, and almost anything you can imagine. Her hand-tied wool rugs are amazing and can be commissioned from her site.

I’ll be at the Arts Festival this weekend. If you are thinking of selling your home, or buying or renting in the Grove, I’d love to talk with you about how I can help you. You can always call me at 305 794.6570 or leave me a note.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, the King Mango Strut was started in 1982 by Glenn Terry and the late Bill Dobson after a group of Grove residents known as The Mango Marching Band were denied entry into the Orange Bowl Parade because of their “unsuitable instruments” – such as kazoos and conch shells. It’s pure justice that the Strut survives while the Orange Bowl parade is long gone.

The Strut pokes fun at the year that is ending and nothing is off-limits, including the boundaries of good taste.  This year we can hope for floating tar balls, groping TSA agents, tea partiers, vuvuzelas, Wikileaks, Chilean miners, position-buying politicians, and whatever else the organizers thought to include.

Regular entries will include the Hare Krishnas, the Marching Freds (open to anyone named Fred), the Grove Juggling Exchange, the Running of the Bull Sh*tters, the Progressive Marching Funeral Band, and the election of Little Miss Mango where every young lady comes in first. The motto “Putting the NUT  in CocoNUT” is an apt description of this parody-parade.

The streets will remain closed after the parade for the King Mango Music Massacre where all the bands from the floats will continue to play until 6 pm.

If you’ve never been to this event now is the time to begin. And if you know the Strut your attendance is expected!

Look for me up on the third floor over Lulu’s Restaurant right at the start of the parade among the “chosen”, a small group of friends of Louis Lafontisee, one of Coconut Grove’s best-known real estate attorneys!

The news all across the nation is that LeBron James purchased a waterfront mansion in South Beach. Let it be known that 3590 Crystal View Court is located in north Coconut Grove!

It’s really a stunning home with all the amenities a celebrity could wish to have. It was listed by EWM, of course!

The annual City of Miami Christmas tree lighting was held this evening at City Hall on Pan American Drive. It’s the first night in over a week that it’s really warm enough for people to enjoy hanging around outside, and there must have been a good crowd of neighbors on hand for the ceremony.

The Second Annual Holiday Boat Parade will be held on Sunday, December 19th. Beginning at 6 pm and led by the “Effortless”, boaters are welcomed to follow her out the channel and join in the caroling. Everyone is invited to the Coconut Grove Sailing Club after the parade to enjoy desserts!

I thought you would like to know what’s happening around town, especially during this fun time of year. There’s no place like the Grove anywhere. If you’re looking to find your first or next piece of Coconut Grove, give me a call at 305 794.6570 or leave me a note. This is my village and I want to be your real estate connection here.

To get a feel for the place, here are a few pictures taken there:

This home is currently for sale for $695,000. It has 4 bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, 3 stories, on a lot that is 40′ by 40′. Taxes are $12,242 per year!!

The home above has detail known there as Chautauqua Lace. In Miami we would call that “gingerbread”.

I’m writing this to let you know I’m back home, well-rested, feeling smart and cultured, and ready to continue serving your real estate needs!

If you are ready to list or sell your Coconut Grove home, call me at 305 794.6570 or leave me a note here.

 If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Subscribe to receive the next one? Once you register, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.

The Coconut Grove Peacock Tour is the brainchild of Heather Bettner shown in the picture above, a long-time Grove resident, and is  fashioned after the Chicago Cows and the Miami Beach Flamingos. The idea is to create a unique interactive public art exhibit, drawing people to the area and increasing revenues for every type of local business.

After being on display for 6 months the peacocks will be auctioned, with all proceeds benefitting local non-profit organizations and charities.

To see each of the Peacocks and take the tour yourself, follow the map embedded below. It’s really worth the little bit of effort!

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you would like more information on the tour, please give me a call or 305 794.6570.

If you like what you read here you can subscribe to receive my posts in your email. You will receive a follow up email to which you must respond.

The End of A Great Time at the Dog Park!

So many families include pets, and a lot of the canine population likes to have the occasional play-date. Miami isn’t known as a particularly dog-friendly city, but we do have several dog parks where they can be off-leash and play to their heart’s content.

Designated Dog Parks are usually located within a larger park and allow dogs to frolic and play and run free within a fenced-off area.  They feature site furniture and equipment for dogs to play with and perform stunts.  Additional features include shade structures, hosing stations, water fountains for both pets and owners, and “Mutt Mitts” or bag dispensers and waste baskets, so owners can pick up after their pooches.

Blanche Park at Virginia Street and Shipping Avenue in the center Grove is where I take my own dogs. There is a good blend of “regulars” and our dogs look forward to meeting up for a romp. A large bare spot, which the dogs appreciated but the people came to dread, has been re-sodded successfully. No more muddy dog paws in the car!

Kennedy Park on South Bayshore Drive where Kirk Street ends has a large fenced area near the bay. It has separate areas for larger and smaller dogs, but less shady areas than Blanche Park and limited parking. My dogs seem to enjoy it completely, but since I also get a vote (and do the driving) we don’t go there often.

Tropical Park at 7900 SW Bird Road (SW 40th Street) is a bit west of this site’s coverage area but its dog park is worth the drive. Located at the widely popular Tropical Park, this 2 acre off leash site has 2 separately fenced areas to accommodate large dogs and dogs less than 35 pounds. The dog park has play equipment, doggy drinking fountains, waste disposal stations, water sprays, and ADA accessibility. Dogs must be sociable, current on all vaccinations and license, and under their owner’s control at all times. Dogs must be leashed when not in designated off-lead areas.

To check all Miami-Dade County Parks that allow dogs click here

For dog owners who may need a place to stay near Coconut Grove and Coral Gables I’ve compiled a list of nearby hotels that allow pets.

Grove Isle 4: One dog up to 25 pounds is allowed for a $45 per night, and there is a pet policy to sign at check in. Your pet must be in a kennel if you are out.

Residences Inn Coconut Grove at 2835 Tigertail Avenue: Dogs are allowed for an additional one time pet fee of $100 per room.

Extended Stay Miami- Coral Gables 3640 SW 22 Street (Coral Way) and Brickell – Port of Miami at 298 SW 15th Road: One dog is allowed per suite. There is a $25 per night additional pet fee up to $150 for an entire stay. When making an online reservation, type the following on the line that says ‘Do You Have Any Special Requests or Comments?’ on the reservation form: “I am bringing my dog.”

The Four Seasons at 1435 Brickell Avenue: Dogs less than 15 pounds are allowed for no additional fee. Dogs may not be left alone in the room. Pet sitting services are available.

Hampton Inn at 2500 Brickell Avenue: Well behaved dogs of all sizes are allowed. There are no additional pet fees.
When making an online reservation, type the following in the Comments section on the Guest Information Page of the registration form: “I am bringing my dog.”

To check all dog-friendly hotels in Miami click here

I can help you with pet questions, but my passion is selling real estate! If you need a help selling your home or buying a new one, please call me anytime at 305 794.6570.  Alternatively, you may leave me a note here.

If you would like to stay updated with all Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, South Miami, Shenandoah and the Roads real estate information, receive my blog posts via email by subscribing here.  Once you register, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.