Spotlight 55-241129 Art Week

In the Spotlight:

Art Week reaches the Grove
Party houses disturb
Developer shares concept

The Spotlight scrutinizes short-term rental houses in residential neighborhoods. Grand and Matilda site details start to emerge. Signature events beckon residents and visitors.

This week’s investigation into illegal ’party houses’ illustrates how Spotlight readers help the editors identify issues and focus journalist resources. The Spotlight news tip feature goes directly to editors.

Miami Art Week in Coconut Grove

Pinta Miami returns to The Hangar, the “Village Voices” photo exhibit profiles people in the Grove, and Vizcaya honors the landmark’s original artistic advisor.

By Carlos Frías

Pinta Miami headlines Miami Art Week and Art Basel events in Coconut Grove. (Photo courtesy of Pinta Miami)

Coconut Grove’s reputation as an artist’s haven has been strong enough to survive even a long drought. Today, developers might be the most active players in the Grove, but the ever-Bohemian neighborhood continues to lean into the arts, especially during Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week, the High Holy days for the arts in Miami.

The overlapping events, happening next week, invite us to think about the Grove as a place where art can and does happen – not just in December, but 12 months a year.

“We just have to have the imagination and drive to do it,” said Mike Eidson, founder of Sanctuary of the Arts, the organization that restored St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church on Frow Avenue in the West Grove as a performing arts space.

Home to Headache: Miami’s Battle with Illegal Short-Term Rentals

How lucrative “party houses” defy city ordinances and spark noise and frustration in once peaceful neighborhoods.

By Nancy San Martín

For two years, neighbors say, this house on Washington Street in North Grove was the site of countless parties and other special events. It is still listed for rent on sites promoting high-end, short-term rentals. (David Villano for the Spotlight)

A house in your Coconut Grove neighborhood sells. And one weekend, before you even meet your new neighbors, the place is overrun with visitors — cars parked up and down the block, music blaring, and the street littered with empty bottles.
A really great housewarming party? No, a weekend later it happens again. And a week after that, yet again.

Your new neighbors, it turns out, live in New York — or is it London, or Dubai — and the house they now own on your once quiet street has become what City of Miami officials say is an increasingly common, and vexing, problem: a short-term rental event space, otherwise known as a “party house.”

Details Announced for Center Grove Development

The as-yet-named project replacing a small retail strip on Grand Avenue will include Class A office space, a rooftop restaurant and condos costing up to $8 million.

By David Villano

A rendering of the proposed five-story, mixed-use development on Grand Avenue in Center Grove (Courtesy of Allen Morris Company).

The 1.7-acre multi-use project slated for Grand Avenue in Center Grove will include a five-story office building comprising 100,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail space, a rooftop restaurant, and 20 “ultra-luxury residences” ranging in price from $2.5 million to $8 million.

The details, announced earlier this week by officials from Coral Gables-based Allen Morris Company, a partner in the deal, did not include a name for the proposed project.

The five-story office tower will run along Grand Avenue from Matilda Street to the U.S. Post Office parking lot. Behind it, a three-story structure along Florida Avenue will replace a row of single family homes.

Where we’ll be…

Working Off Extra Calories

Left-overs anyone? Your neighborhood holds a surprisingly large number of parks perfect for a Post-Thanksgiving picnic. If you choose to forego the Black Friday sales and meet up with neighbors and friends for the perfect potluck, consider rendezvousing in one of the two dozen parks nearby.

Cocowalk hosts a free calorie-burning workout session Saturday morning led by Infinity Beyond Fitness. Bring your water bottle, a mat and a smile. In the courtyard at Cocowalk. Saturday 11/30 at 10:00 a.m. 3015 Grand Avenue. Free.

At City Hall this week, the Climate Resilience Committee meets to examine waterfront projects. They welcome public comments in person or online here. Monday, 6:00 p.m. 2500 Pan American Drive.

U-Miami Men’s Basketball defends against the Arkansas Razorbacks in a special SEC/ACC challenge match. Although the game appears on ESPN-2, the excitement inside Watsco Center can’t be duplicated. Tuesday 12/03 at 7:00 p.m. 1245 Dauer Drive. Metrorail to University Station. Tickets.

An All-Grove matchup follows on Wednesday as Ransom Everglades Boys Basketball hosts Immaculata-LaSalle on the Ransom Everglades campus. Cool family idea: Young grade-schoolers love to get a glimpse into the lives of “big kids” and this is an exciting venue. Wednesday 12/04 at 5:00 p.m. 3575 Main Highway.

The Barnyard’s own Kabuya Pamela Bowens-Saffo presents more than 40 years of her work during Miami Art Week with her show at Miami Dade College’s Padron Campus at 27^th Avenue and Southwest 8^th Street. From the Heights features her printmaking and mixed media works. Opens Wednesday 12/04, MDC’s Padrón Campus Art Gallery, Building 3, Room 3113. 627 SW 27th Ave. By Metrobus Route 27. Free.

Join Comedy Night with the King Mango Strut where stand-up comics amp up the funny vibe as the Grove prepares for the big day. Sandbar Sports Grill hosts the party Wednesday 12/04 at 6:00 p.m. Meet new friends at the party, then get in the mix by joining a parade skit. Sandbar is at 3064 Grand Avenue. The King Mango Strut parade starts Sunday 01/05/25 at 2:00 p.m.

The faces and places of Coconut Grove as seen through the lenses of U-Miami advanced documentary photography students will be exhibited one evening only, Thursday 12/05 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The photographers will all be there, presenting an opportunity to discuss their compositions and techniques. The 32 framed works will be available for sale with the proceeds benefiting the host for the show, Shake-a-Leg. 2620 South Bayshore Drive. Free.

Save Me a Seat

Annie Jr. opens at Area Stage for two weekends only, Friday 12/06. For those that believe ‘There’s always tomorrow’ to get your tickets, don’t wait too long. Opening night tickets were already sold out as the Spotlight went to press. Tickets were still available for other matinee and evening performances. The Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Drive, South Miami. By Metrorail to University Station. Tickets.

Christmas concerts arrive next week, and the St. Hugh-Steinway Christmas Extravaganza leads on Friday 12/06 at 8:00 p.m. Advanced ticket sales here.

The next Lamar Louise Curry Concert features Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass at First United Methodist Church Coral Gables. Saturday 12/07 at 7:30 p.m. Free.