Spotlight 110-250606

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

This Weekend’s Goombay Festival
The County’s Playhouse Briefing
A Highrise Development in West Grove
This Week’s District 4 Election

Back to Goombay: Amid Change, West Grove Celebrates its Past

The annual Goombay Festival kicks off on Friday with three days of music, food and recognition of the community’s deep Bahamian roots.

By Jenny Jacoby

It’s Goombay time!

Coconut Grove comes alive this weekend with three days of music, food, and celebration of the area’s Bahamian roots: a rallying cry for a community reclaiming its place in the Grove.

“It’s almost like a safe space,” said Vicky Rivers, the manager of the City of Miami’s Virrick Park and an organizing member of the Goombay Festival. “We can have fun. We can enjoy each other. You can reunite with people you haven’t seen in years. It’s like a big, huge family reunion.”

The festival, founded in 1977, is a cultural and historic link to the Bahamas, where many early Miami settlers hailed from.

County Defends its Playhouse Plan

Miami-Dade County officials responded this week to critics who say the county’s plan to save the playhouse will instead lead to its loss.

By Don Finefrock

In the wake of a construction mishap that put the 99-year-old Coconut Grove Playhouse at risk of collapse, Miami-Dade County on Wednesday pushed back against critics who say its efforts to restore the historic theater are illegal, misguided and woefully inept.

Led by County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, Miami-Dade officials provided a public briefing on the project, beginning with an update on the state of the structure.

Miami building officials feared the playhouse might collapse two weeks ago after construction workers blundered by removing a load-bearing wall, causing a partial collapse of the third floor, which in turn weakened the roof and exterior walls.

Marialaura Leslie, director of the county’s Department of Cultural Affairs, which is spearheading the project, said efforts to stabilize the building are continuing.

Second Highrise Tower Approved for West Grove

County Commissioners approved a second large-scale development this week with 450 mixed-income apartments along Douglas Road in the West Grove.

By Don Finefrock

Miami-Dade County has given a pair of developers the go-ahead to build two high-rise housing projects with a combined 795 apartments along a short stretch of Douglas Road between Grand Avenue and South Dixie Highway.

Both projects will be built on public land under 99-year lease agreements, and both will replace low-rise public housing with mixed-income residential towers.

More than half the new apartments – 425 in total – will be market-rate rentals. The remaining 370 units will be priced within reach of low-income and working families.

The second of the two projects – Eviva by Integral Florida – was approved on Tuesday by county commissioners, completing a competitive process that began in April 2023. The first project – Gallery in the Grove by Related Urban – was approved in February.

Rosado Easily Wins District 4 Election

The new City of Miami commissioner represents a critical swing vote on a five-member board that has become increasingly polarized in recent weeks.

By Amanda Clegg

The Miami City Commission is back to full strength and on the cusp of some major policy decisions this month following the Tuesday election of former North Bay Village manager Ralph Rosado as the city’s new District 4 commissioner.

Rosado easily defeated his sole opponent Jose Regalado, the son of former Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, in the race to replace Commissioner Manolo Reyes, who died in office in April.

Rosado captured 55% of the vote in a low-turnout election. Only 11% of eligible voters bothered to cast a ballot in the special election on June 3.

“Thank you to the late Commissioner Manolo Reyes for his tireless dedication to the residents of District 4,” Rosado wrote on social media once his victory was secure. “I know that I have big shoes to fill and we will keep his legacy alive.”

Rosado, an urban planning consultant who lives in Coral Gate, represents a critical swing vote on the five-member commission, where several reform measures have stalled for lack of a fifth commissioner.

Where We’ll Be

Moving with the Music

Goombay Returns. The Goombay Festival transforms Grand Avenue with Bahamian drumming, parades, and pageantry. Don’t miss Junkanoo — or the food, music, and family fun all weekend long. Friday 6/6, 6:00 p.m. at Armbrister Park, and Saturday 6/7 through Sunday 6/8, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Grand Avenue from Douglas Road to Elizabeth Street. Free.

Storytime Ahoy, Summer Volunteers Needed. Help keep kids curious this summer—one book at a time. The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church is once again hosting its Annual Summer Reading Program, and they’re calling on the community to lend their voices. Plymouth Congregational Church is organizing volunteers to read to elementary school students Monday through Thursday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Volunteer shifts run from Monday 6/16 to Thursday 7/25. Whether you’re free once or every week, your presence will mean the world to a young reader. Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 3515 Douglas Road. Free to join—just bring your voice and heart. More info and sign up here.

Plant One On Me. Rain’s on the way, and so is the Go-Native Plant Sale at Tropical Audubon Society’s Steinberg Nature Center. Browse native flora, chat with master gardeners, and pick up your free bird-friendly gardening guide. 5530 Sunset Drive. Saturday 6/7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free.

Move to the Music. Kids 12 and under can jam out with Mr. J Jams at the Coconut Grove Branch Library. Think rhythm, sign language, dancing, and gratitude — all rolled into an interactive, sensory-rich music session. 2875 McFarlane Road. Saturday 6/7 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Free.

Flower Power Stroll, Morning Tour of a Tropical Treasure
Wake up with the poincianas and wander through Miami-Dade’s very first flowering tree park. Jean Willis Park—planted in 1992 by the Tropical Flowering Tree Society and refreshed in 2014—shows off yellow and orange blooms and other tropical beauties. The tour will be led by Steve Pearson, who helped with both plantings. 7220 SW 61 Court, South Miami. Sunday 6/8 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Gates open at 9:15 a.m. Free to attend—RSVP here. Park in the city lot on SW 72 Street (just skip the reserved spots).

Booked and Brewed. Espresso Editions returns with artist Ingrid Schindall sharing her creative process and printmaking wisdom. Moderated by Amanda Keeley, this month’s convo explores Schindall’s work with the Miami Paper & Printing Museum — fueled by strong coffee and even stronger community vibes. Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables. Sunday 6/8 at 3:00 p.m. Free with RSVP. RSVP here

Kiddo Bingo Bonanza. Shenandoah Branch Library hosts a night of bingo for kids 6 to 12. Letters, laughter, and lighthearted prizes. 2111 SW 19th Street. Tuesday 6/10 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Free.

Smoke Signals. Sierra Club screens Old Smokey: A Community History — a sobering look at Miami’s incineration legacy and how “Zero Waste” can help shape the city’s future. Stick around for a conversation on local environmental justice. Miami Dade College, Gibson Center, 3629 Grand Avenue. Friday 6/13 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Free.

Best of Miami. It’s not an election, it’s a vibe. The Miami New Times annual Best of Miami poll is open — and it’s your chance to shout out your favorites. Show some love for your neighborhood heroes and beloved haunts. Online voting ends Friday 6/14 at 11:59 p.m.

Opera on Miracle Mile. The Alhambra Orchestra and Manny Perez Vocal Studio offer an up-close, full-bodied opera experience with live orchestra, rising stars, and enough vocal fireworks to rattle your soul. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Sunday 6/15 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets available now.

Save Me a Seat

Music on the March. Walking, worship, and a little rhythm in your stride — the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) brings its Jerusalem Walk to Coconut Grove. Groups are expected from across the region, some singing as they go, in a moving blend of faith, fitness, and fellowship. The route starts at St. James Baptist Church, 3500 Charles Street. Saturday 6/21 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to all.

Jungle Beats and Broadway Dreams. Tarzan swings into South Miami in Area Stage’s immersive new take on the Disney classic storyline — complete with soaring songs and vine-swinging spectacle. Directed by Giancarlo Rodaz, this wild reimagining plunges audiences into the heart of the jungle. Area Stage’s Black Box Theatre, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 286, South Miami. Opens Thursday 7/17 with shows Thursday–Sunday at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Tickets.