Spotlight 108-250530 - Coconut Grove Spotlight

Good morning. What we’re covering in today’s Spotlight:

Coconut Grove’s 2^nd Art Walk
New Questions about Playhouse Collapse
An All-Day Cafe on Grand Avenue

A Glimpse of Past, and Future, at Grove Art Walk

Once Miami’s bohemian heart, Coconut Grove’s art scene has fallen victim to high rents and regional competition but a new low-key event has local artists dreaming of better days ahead.

By Carolina Drake

The air is heavy and the temperature approaching 90 degrees on a recent Sunday morning as longtime Grove artist Theresa Marie Calluori — better known as “the pear butt lady” – sets up her stall on the sidewalk outside a noisy and crowded restaurant on Commodore Plaza in Center Grove.

Despite the usual weekend bustle, foot traffic is slow. As she waits patiently for her first customer she explains to a visitor the origin of her distinctive creations. “I started painting pears in thongs back in college,” she says matter-of-factly. “Now I’ve got pears in diapers. I do fishscapes too.”

Calluori is here, hawking her wares, at the second Coconut Grove Art Walk, a two-block stretch of about 20 artist stalls that organizers describe as a nascent effort to reinvigorate a local art scene that has long underpinned much of the Grove’s cultural identity.

Playhouse Advocates Ask for Investigation

More than two dozen preservationists are calling on the City of Miami to conduct a full review and investigation into last week’s partial collapse of the playhouse.

By Don Finefrock

Local preservationists are calling on the City of Miami’s building official to conduct a formal review and full investigation into last week’s partial collapse of the Coconut Grove Playhouse and the demolition work that put the entire 1926 structure at risk.

The partial collapse of the top floor of the three-story playhouse severely compromised the structural integrity of the playhouse’s roof and exterior walls, Miami building officials have said, prompting the city to shut down Main Highway over Memorial Day weekend.

Main Highway reopened to traffic on Tuesday morning after workers braced the building’s exterior walls, but questions remain over why the playhouse wasn’t braced to begin with, and whether the company in charge of the job – John Bell Construction – followed proper protocols in place for historic structures.

In the meantime, a stop-work order issued by city officials remains in place.

Pura Vida Miami Opens in Coconut Grove

The company’s Grand Avenue location is its largest yet, with a built-in gelato bar and a large banyan tree in the middle of the store

By Amanda Clegg

Recent University of Miami grads Nick Perciballi and Chris Dillmeier were leaving town in just a few days, but there was one last stop they wanted to make before flying home to New York – Pura Vida’s new location in Coconut Grove.

Perciballi and Dillmeier had visited the lifestyle cafe’s other locations, including the one on UM’s campus. Still, they agreed, the new location was worth a drive. “The one on campus is pretty small,” Dillmeier noted. “It’s awesome that this one is ginormous.”

Pura Vida Miami, an all-day cafe that has grown from a single South Beach location in 2012 into a food-and-wellness brand with multiple outlets in South Florida and New York, marked another milestone this month with the opening of its 34^th location at 3034 Grand Avenue.

What sets it apart? For starters, the 6,000-square-foot store is the brand’s largest location. Pura Vida Grand Avenue also has a built-in gelato bar, marking the debut of the company’s new line of gelato with flavors like salted pistachio and chocolate hazelnut.

Letters to the Editor

Readers react: A proposed lot-splitting on Poinciana Avenue is front and center this week, while a chance encounter in front of the playhouse has a reader wondering about the value of local history to neighborhood newcomers.

(Continue to Letters)

Where We’ll Be

Clicking Through

Vote Like It Matters. It’s the season for the most important vote of the year — and no, it’s not political. Every year, Miami New Times holds a citywide poll to crown the very best of the best: food, art, music, culture, community spots. Hopefully, the Spotlight has helped you discover a few worthy candidates. Now’s your chance to weigh in. Cast your vote in the Best of Miami poll and show some love to your favorite local venues, artists, and events. Online voting is open now — no ID required, just good taste.

Grove Roots, Camera Ready. History’s getting the spotlight — and you’re invited to step inside the frame. Documenting Goombay and Little Bahamas in Coconut Grove highlights the neighborhood’s Bahamian heritage with a display of images captured by volunteer photographers. Catch the first leg of the show — complete with live music from G.W. Carver students and story gathering with HistoryMiami Museum — at Sanctuary of the Arts at St. Mary’s, 136 Frow Ave., on Sunday 6/1 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. (with programming from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.). The show then moves to the MDC Gibson Education Center, 3629 Grand Avenue, during the Goombay Festival on Saturday 6/7 and Sunday 6/8. Free and open to the public.

Ever wish you could talk to dolphins? Now’s your chance to hear from someone who (almost) can. Join LIVE@Frost Science: Deciphering Dolphin Conversations, where Dr. Denise Herzing — founder of the Wild Dolphin Project — is diving deep into how artificial intelligence is helping decode dolphin chatter. With 40 years of underwater research on Atlantic spotted dolphins, Herzing’s team is using machine learning to map out patterns in clicks, whistles, and body language that might reveal a kind of dolphin syntax. Frost Science Museum, 1101 Biscayne Boulevard. Wednesday 6/4. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7:00 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served. The dolphin program is free but regular museum admission is a prerequisite.

Pride and Palaces. Vizcaya Late – Pride Edition celebrates Miami’s LGBTQIA+ community with artmaking, storytelling, and historical deep dives into the legacy of Vizcaya itself. Join artists from the Buen Provecho Collective and meet the folks behind Walls Down, a conversation-starting card game that’s sure to break the ice. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, 3251 South Miami Ave. Wednesday 6/4 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets to the museum grounds are required.

Save Me a Seat

The 2025 Goombay Festival takes over Grand Avenue from Douglas Road (SW 37th Avenue) to Elizabeth Street next weekend. The Junkanoo – a centuries-old Bahamian tradition marked by rhythmic drumming, elaborate costumes and street processions – is the centerpiece of the celebration. Friday 6/6 at Armbrister Park and Saturday 6/7 and Sunday 6/8 on Grand Avenue. Free.

Plant One On Me. Rainy season’s here — Mother Nature’s in full watering mode. Make the most of it at the Go-Native Plant Salefrom the Tropical Audubon Society and Galloway Farm Nursery. Held at the lush Steinberg Nature Center, this annual event features expert advice from master gardeners, regionally tailored landscaping tips, and free “Bird-Friendly Gardening Guides” for the taking. 5530 Sunset Drive. Saturday 6/7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free, and the greenery’s glorious.

Opera on Miracle Mile. What if, for just one afternoon, you could step into a world where every note tells a story, every voice carries centuries of passion, and every moment stirs something deep within you? The Alhambra Orchestra invites you to a sweeping musical journey — one filled with soaring arias and heart-stopping beauty from opera. Featuring the rising stars of the Manny Perez Vocal Studio and a full live orchestra, this is your chance to experience opera up close in a setting as grand as the music itself. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Sunday 6/15 at 3:00 p.m. Modestly priced tickets save you a seat, so reserve early and let opera move you.