City officials are proposing changes to Miami’s tree protection ordinance. Among the outcomes they hope to achieve is a less costly, streamlined process for residents and property owners to trim or remove trees. The Spotlight is keen to hear your experiences with obtaining permits for tree trimming or removal –[Read More…]
Spotlight Staff
Take the Survey: What Local News Means to You
The Miami Foundation and four partner foundations in South Florida are raising money to support independent nonprofit news organizations like the Coconut Grove Spotlight. The initiative – called Press Forward South Florida – has received $3 million in seed funding from the Knight Foundation in Miami, and hopes to begin[Read More…]
City Withdraws Proposed Solid Waste Changes
Miami City Manager Art Noriega withdrew a proposal last week that could have led to a suspension of the city’s curbside recycling program and a reduction in the bulky waste pickup service provided by the Solid Waste Department. The City Commission had been expected to consider the item at last[Read More…]
Can you hear them coming?
Can you hear them coming? Folks from around the world come to our neighborhood. First the sailors come for world-class regattas. Now come the runners, romantics and artists. Look into the trees and marshes and you’ll see migrating songbirds too. Lead with romance as operatic tenor Arturo Chacon Cruz performs[Read More…]
Eye Candy: The 2025 Coconut Grove Art Festival Poster
How sweet, indeed. The official poster for the 2025 Coconut Grove Art Festival was inspired by a 1949 candy bar – coconut-flavored, of course – and a catchphrase made famous by comedian Jackie Gleason: How sweet it is! Festival organizers revealed the official poster last week during a rooftop event[Read More…]
No-guilt trips. Start saving the dates.
When friends from the Frozen North call and ask you about the weather, don’t you feel just a little bit guilty that the days here are so beautiful? OK, maybe not, but now is the time to start planning for their visits, as so many cornerstone events in our neighborhood[Read More…]
Free Tax Service Starts Next Week at St. Stephen’s
Are you dreading this year’s tax season? St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on McFarlane Road makes it easy – and free – to file a return for households that earned $67,000 or less last year. The free tax preparation service begins on January 30 with appointments available on Tuesday, Thursday and[Read More…]
Miami Approves D2 Office in West Grove
The Miami City Commission approved a resolution on Thursday that will allow District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo to open an administrative office on Grand Avenue near Douglas Road in the West Grove. The resolution, approved without discussion, authorizes the City Manager to enter into a three-year lease agreement for space[Read More…]
Fighting Crime in Coconut Grove
Crime was down 3.6% in Coconut Grove last year. Ignore that number, Miami Police Commander Daniel Kerr told an audience last week. It doesn’t matter.
Information, History and Context
With three public libraries and a large variety of Little Free Libraries close at hand, Spotlight readers are already blessed with access to many free sources of information. However, the Miami-Dade library system now provides readers with even greater access through free online access to The New York Times. Included[Read More…]

















