Spotlight 81-250228

Good morning. In today’s Spotlight:

This weekend’s Gifford Lane Art Stroll
An Affirmative Vote for Affordable Housing
A Spotlight invitation
Singing out loud

Art, Community… and Cucumber Punch

Amid rising costs and commercialization, the Gifford Lane Art Stroll remains an accessible and artist-friendly Coconut Grove tradition.

By Liz Tracy

Art lover Ben Glatzer and his family moved to Gifford Lane in 2016, unaware that each March a two-block stretch of this leafy, residential neighborhood in Center Grove transforms into a bustling street festival with local art, handmade crafts, live music, and food.

“[We] discovered that we were literally the nexus of this incredible community that put on an art stroll for a couple of decades,” Glatzer says.

That nexus – in the form of the 27th annual Gifford Lane Art Stroll – will take place this Sunday, March 2, from noon to 5:00 p.m.

For neighbors who run the annual event, the Gifford Lane Art Stroll is more than just a good time. It’s a community anchor. And for Coconut Grove artists, it’s a more affordable and accessible alternative to the far-larger Coconut Grove Arts Festival (CGAF).

CGAF charges artists an average of $850 to set up their booths. Gifford Lane Art Stroll charges $60. And while CGAF caters largely to non-Grove artists (only one of 285 artists selected for the show this year lives in the Grove) many artists who participate in the much smaller Art Stroll are either current or former Grove residents and live within walking distance.

Another key difference is the price for visitors: CGAF charges $35 for admission ($25 for Grove residents). The Art Stroll is free.

Commission Advances Proposed Affordable Housing Project

The Miami City Commission voted Thursday to advance the proposed 3710 Grove Landing project at the southwest corner of Douglas Road and Grand Avenue.

By Don Finefrock

The Miami City Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to advance a proposed affordable housing project in the West Grove by committing $7.2 million in public funds for the acquisition of seven vacant lots on Douglas Road near Grand Avenue.

In comments delivered before the vote, a handful of community leaders expressed tentative support for the project but stopped short of a full endorsement, saying they needed more time to vet a development plan that just recently became public.

Those community leaders also asked the city to ensure that Collaborative Development Corporation, the nonprofit organization behind the proposed 3710 Grove Landing project, works with community members going forward to shape the development.

Collaborative and its partners are seeking to build a mixed-used development on Douglas Road south of Grand Avenue with 70 apartments (up from 54 earlier in the week) for rent and for sale, 90% of which would be priced within reach of low and moderate-income families.

Project details are fluid, the partners have said, and will be shaped by the decisions and discussions that follow the city’s funding commitment. On Thursday, West Grove leaders asked for a seat at the table.

Happy Hour with the Spotlight

Curious to know who’s behind the Coconut Grove Spotlight and the brilliant editorial content we post twice a week on our website? Join us on Tuesday, March 4 at Berries in the Grove (2884 SW 27th Avenue) for an informal conversation with our crack editorial crew. Have a question, comment or suggestion about our coverage, or maybe a news tip? Fire away from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at this free forum. RSVP here to let us you’re coming.

Where We’ll Be

Singing Out Loud

Lady Miasma showcases the young aspiring professional performers of Area Theater in a production that joins fairytale images with mature themes. Running for one weekend only, the show opens Friday 2/28. Area Stage’s Black Box Theatre inside The Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 286. Metrorail to University Station. Tickets.

Shenandoah Days continue with the Shenandoah Bike Tour of that great Miami neighborhood. Family-friendly ride to the historic homes and landmarks of the neighborhood, including a stop at Los Pinareños for a juice. Starting from and returning to Shenandoah Park, 1800 SW 21st Avenue. Saturday 3/1 at 10:00 a.m. Free, but advanced registration is required. Don’t forget your helmet!

Loosen up your vocal chords, step out from the shower and start singing (but, please, at least wrap a towel). Coconut Grove Karaoke debuts at Armbrister “Carver” Park with more than just an open mic. Of course you can bring your own cheering section – everyone loves a party. And group karaoke is the new rage. From duets to acapella choirs, there’s power in numbers – and the off-key notes get drowned out too! Armbrister Park, 4000 Grand Avenue. Saturday 3/1. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. Karaoke sign up here.

Center Grove Neighbors will gather to discuss key policy questions for their neighborhood – and there are many. Topics include: The WELL, Grand and Matilda, and pedestrian safety. Join their WhatsApp chat to get directions to their community meeting on Matilda Street. Saturday 3/1 at 10:00 a.m.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is discounting it non-member one-day ticket price 20% on Sunday, 3/2. The Main House hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Gardens will remain open until 5:30. Prices for children are reduced further. Discounted tickets are found here.

Put your hand on the tiller and help steer the Spotlight, or at least tell the editors how you really feel. This open Happy Hour with Spotlight Editors lets you pick their brains or stuff them with your ideas – both are welcome. Berries in the Grove, 2884 SW 27th Avenue. Tuesday 3/4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free, but please RSVP.

Don’t be left out of the social center of the month. Join your neighbors and other influencers at the Grove’s treasured Gifford Lane Art Stroll. Far more than just art, the Stroll is the place to see and be seen by neighbors, share gossip and enjoy the traditional cucumber punch. The Art Stroll is always on the first Sunday of March, 3/2 from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Gifford Lane is between Oak and Day Avenues. Free, but oh what a price you’ll pay if you miss it.

Loosen up and stretch so you’ll be ready to play in the Grove’s first ever Pickleball Tournament and Wellness Fair – or maybe just stop by and see what pickleball is all about. The Miami Firefighters Benevolent Association and the Grove Pickles will welcome you just outside Fire Station #8 at 2975 Oak Avenue. The firefighters are all in, and you should be too. Advanced team registration link is here. Saturday 3/8 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free to watch.

Save Me a Seat

Yacht Rock Sing-a-Long with the Tall Boys packs it all in at the Barnacle’s March Moonlight Concert. Vote here for your favorite songs and then come out to sing the top ten vote-getters. The Barnacle State Park, 3485 Main Highway. Friday 3/7, gate opens at 6:00 p.m. for the picnic crowd. Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Sing-a-long follows. What a night! Advanced tickets.

By appointment only – but well worth it, the Young Artists’ Gallery displays the talents of young Miami-Dade county public high school artists at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. The exhibit is open to the public by appointment only Friday March 7, 8 and 9, from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. 2985 South Bayshore Drive. Free.

Many rightly praise Alhambra Orchestra for creating beloved classic concerts accessible to all. Their March concert presents works from around the world connected by folk and classical traditions. Coral Gables United Church of Christ, 3010 DeSoto Boulevard, Coral Gables. Sunday 3/16 at 7:30 p.m. Free. Incredible, but true. Just walk in, but bring a friend.

The Kampong has raised the roof but now it’s back on, literally, after their recent repair work. With the repairs, they’ve restarted lifelong learning classes and expanded their events programming, including a spring art exhibition. Classes on natural dyes, yoga, landscaping and art – even composting. You can’t get more down-to-earth than that.

The Secret Garden Tour of Coconut Grove is the only way to get more than a glimpse of the wide variety of gardens hidden behind the walls and hedges of the Grove. This year’s exploration of beauty and natural design peeks into a small North Grove neighborhood and is totally walkable – cars are highly discouraged. Friends of the Commodore Trail gently manage the two days of tours, but the real stars of the show are the generous gardeners who open their treasures for others to see. Saturday and Sunday 4/5 and 4/6, with staggered start times. Advanced tickets are the only way to gain entrance, as the gardens’ locations really are secret.