The Coconut Grove Arts Festival 2024 Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary Posted on February 15, 2024March 7, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs Presidents’ Weekend is one of the biggest weekends of the year in Coconut Grove. For the last 60 years, this is the weekend of the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival, the three-day festival that celebrates world class art. Over the years, it has expanded to recognize culinary displays, live performances and other forms of art that add additional color and flavor to South Florida. This year’s celebration kicks off on Friday, February 17th and runs through Monday, the 19th throughout our charming waterfront village. Here is a summary of what to expect… The Annual Commemorative Poster One of the top traditions with the Coconut Grove Arts Festival is the annual choosing of the commemorative poster. Each year, a contest is held for the design of the official poster with the winner typically paying homage to something in Coconut Grove’s rich history. This year is no different. Signe & Genna Grushovenko’s entry was chosen, with its midcentury-based feel and honoring the original location of Monty’s, which is an institution here in The Grove. Coconut Grove Art Festival 60th Anniversary Commemorative Poster 2024 The Festival’s Art What started as a small community event is now heralded as one of the nation’s premier art festivals. Over 280 jury-selected artists that are internationally recognized will display their works along the Biscayne Bay waterfront with special events and culinary experiences peppered throughout for the whole family. Booths are set up along the streets throughout the waterfront parks in Coconut Grove, making for a leisurely stroll as you peruse a variety of types of art. You are able to interact with the artists themselves and choose pieces to purchase. A list of the chosen artists can be found here, along with their chosen media. You can also find links to their websites in order to preview the offerings. Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Map Additional Experiences In addition to the art, the festival offers many other immersive opportunities for patrons to enjoy themselves. This year, the Arts and Drafts Beer Garden is being brought to you by La Rubia Pale Ale. You can visit this area to enjoy a craft beer while watching local artists create live works of art inside Peacock Park. For those with an empty stomach, Flavors of the Grove is convening 10 top-tier restaurants to present a signature dish. Guests will cast a vote based upon taste, creativity, presentation and overall appeal, ultimately choosing the standout dish of the festival. Immersive experiences are not limited to adults either. The interactive Inner Artists Space encourages kids of all ages to unleash their creativity through a host of events. They will have giveaways, coloring, and Color Boom’s face painting. For future artists and collectors, there is the Young Collector’s Club. For $5, your child can choose their first work of art to begin their own collection. A rainbow of supplies will be on hand for young artists to experiment with the core principles of art in the Creative Corner. Coconut Grove Art Festival Young Collectors Club 2024 Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Creative Corner Tickets can be purchased online at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival’s website, or at the entry. They start at $25 for general admission (ages 13+) up to $165 for VIP admission. VIP tickets include a commemorative poster as well as an open bar with hors d’oeuvres, private lounge with air conditioning and restrooms, lounge seating and a VIP collectable badge. Kids under 12 receive complimentary entry. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is produced by the nonprofit, Coconut Grove Arts and Historical Association. Proceeds help fund year-round arts programs. Since 1963, the association has awarded hundreds of scholarships to students who attend fine arts programs in local schools. Image Credit: Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Coconut Grove Will Celebrate 4th Of July With Sustainable Festivities Posted on July 3, 2023November 27, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs Happy Independence Day! Every year, the entire City of Miami and Miami Beach celebrate the Fourth of July in grand style. It seems that every neighborhood has a spectacular fireworks display that is free to the public so that we can all celebrate America’s birthday. This year, Coconut Grove is planning something a little bit different. In an effort to reduce waste and be more environmentally friendly, paired with our love of innovation, the Coconut Grove Family Fun and Field Day is going to take a sustainable turn. Join us in Peacock Park for an eco-friendly picnic contest, where you can enter your sustainable picnic setup and win prizes, enjoy refreshments and snacks from local restaurants, all served in plastic-free biodegradable dishes called Bekko Boxes, and as dark falls, there will be an innovative drone show to replace the traditional fireworks display! Coconut Grove 4th of July Field Day Map 2023 The drone show will eliminate not only the pollution to the Biscayne Bay and our beloved mangroves, but also will save our furry friends from their anxiety of the noise pollution. Additionally, we may not think of it first-hand, but the loud bangs of traditional fireworks incite the anxiety of many of our front-line veterans who fought in order to allow us to continue our freedom and traditions. There is no reason why we all can’t win, and the drone show is the perfect way to stay on the cutting edge, while being respectful to our environment and those around us. This year’s drone show is set to a spectacular concert led by The Miami Symphony Orchestra. We are so eager to see what they have in store, and seeing the tradition, music and nature converge in perfect harmony. When: Tuesday, July 4th, 2023 Time: 7:00 PM Where: 2820 McFarlane Rd, Miami, FL 33133 Coconut Grove 4th of July Field Day Bekko Boxes 2023 The participating restaurants with biodegradable Bekko Boxes include Narbona Coconut Grove, Juicense, Sushi Sake in the Grove, Meraki Greek Bistro, Aida Mexican Seafood, Like Mike Italian Restaurant, and The Oasis Lounge and Hookah Bar. We hope to see you there! Drone Show Image Credit: Verge Aero
Miami For Kids: What To Do On A Rainy Day Posted on May 29, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs It happens everywhere, but particularly in subtropical climates during the summertime. Yes, it rains in the Sunshine State. Typically the rain will blow through in an hour or so, sometimes even just a few minutes, but sometimes you need to entertain your kids indoors for the entire day. Here is a list of indoor activities that we suggest for your kids on rainy days in the Miami area: Mummy Exhibition | Photo credit: Frost Science Museum Miami 1 – The Frost Science Museum The Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science has also come up in our list of Places Your Kiddos Can Interact With Wildlife, but the Frost Museum is also home to revolving exhibitions of all sorts that the kids can interact with. This summer, the museum is bringing Mummies of the World to Miami. This is a collection of 40 human and animal mummies from various locations and points in history. There is also a vast array of artifacts, teaching your family about the different cultures and lifestyles of times in the past. The exhibition opened on Saturday, May 27 and will run until September 4, 2023. There is plenty of time to visit and learn. If your family is not ready to view mummified remains, there are still other indoor activities at the museum that fill an entire day. The aquarium spans level upon level, the interactive Power of Science and MeLab exhibitions are open, the planetarium is always a hit, as well as dinosaurs and an exhibition about flight that explores everything from prehistoric avian life all the way to the future of space travel. The Frost Museum is a space where we suggest a yearly membership if you plan to visit more than once per year. For members, you are able to visit as many times as you like per year, visit each of the rotating exhibits and the aquarium plus 1 planetarium show per visit. The museum is easily accessible from nearly any part of town, so will definitely be something you wind up doing several times per year, if not more. Silly Monkey’s Playhouse Coconut Grove 2 – Silly Monkey’s Playhouse Coconut Grove families will particularly love Silly Monkey due to its convenient location in CocoWalk. This indoor play, explore and learning center has a special place in our hearts as our daughter London has been particularly enriched by the services they offer. We even detailed the experiences here on the blog a few weeks back. For the smaller kids, Silly Monkey’s Playhouse is dedicated to helping children and parents to bond and communicate. Using music, art and play they embrace the natural tendencies for little ones to explore and socialize. There are a host of classes available, and each one is custom-tailored to each child’s age group. They can experience the world at their own pace. There are several options for classes. Our now favorites are the Music, Art & Playground in English and then again in Spanish on another day in the week. Let’s face it, Spanish is an integral part of life here in the Miami area. The Music, Art & Playground course hones in on your child’s playfulness. It encourages independence, and stimulates curiosity. The projects change weekly, so a new discovery can take place every week for a full year. These are 1-hour each, broken down into 3 sections of about 20 minutes each in order to accommodate for the attention span of these young brains. Prices vary at Silly Monkey’s Playhouse depending upon the courses you choose, so we suggest browsing their website or getting in touch with Georgia, the owner, for her suggestions of where to start. You can visit the website here, or follow Silly Monkey’s Playhouse’s Instagram here. This is also a great opportunity to support a locally-owned and operated business! Miami Children’s Museum Curious George Exhibit 3 – Miami Children’s Museum Back over on Watson Island in between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach, you will find the Miami Children’s Museum. This is an amazing idea for your kids when the weather is rainy or just too hot to do anything. The Miami Children’s Museum is dedicated to creative learning for all ages, offering constantly revolving programs that embrace various cultures, sensory play, life experiences and embraces the creative nature of our littles. there is also a performing arts section for those who like to put on for others. It is really all-encompassing for the whole family. This summer, the museum is offering a Curious George exhibit to really hone in on the curiosity of childhood. Check their website regularly to see what sorts of special programming is happening on a given day and plan ahead! There are even activities you can do at the house for those days when you just don’t want to leave home but still want to enrich your children. The Miami Children’s Museum is another location where we suggest the yearly membership. There is too much to do in the museum for small minds to grasp and small hands to experience in one day. You will want to go back repeatedly. State of Kid South Miami | Photo Credit: Facebook/State of Kid 4 – State of Kid With three location in the Miami area, you are practically always near an outpost of State of Kid. They have locations in Miami Beach, South Miami and the Miami Design District. Upon entering, you will be greeted with an adorable boutique that allows your kids to embrace their inner fashionista. Our daughter is always the center of attention at playdates with her flower glasses that we found at State of Kid this spring. We have also found many outfits that are adorable and unique for those who don’t always want to choose the same patterns and styles that are offered at Carter’s. Nothing wrong with Carter’s, of course. Their clothes are comfy and cute, but the outfits at State of Kid are also unique and we like that. If you aren’t in a shopping mood, that is ok. There are so many different classes and activities at State of Kid that range from newborns up to early elementary-aged kids. They can learn ballet, hip hop dance, cooking courses, an introduction to martial arts with jiu-jitsu courses, art classes and more. They have an interactive calendar on their website, where you can conveniently plan ahead with classes and locations. Costs vary. Brightline Entry Downtown Miami 5 – Ride The Brightline “Where can the Brightline take you?” is their catch phrase, but in reality you could wonder where can the Brightline NOT take you? With six current stations between Miami and the newly-opened Orlando station, plus two more upcoming stations paired with complimentary event shuttles and fixed-route shuttles, the possibilities are endless with South Florida’s luxury superfast train. We will have a full post dedicated to the possibilities, but for today we want to highlight the concept. The train ride alone is a treat for kids. Smaller kids love it just because it is a train, but it is also adult-friendly since it offers a luxurious and comfortable travel experience. At each stop there is something for the littles to experience. One of my favorites is to ride the train to Downtown Fort Lauderdale and visit the nearby Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery + Science. Ticket prices vary and can be purchased online, in person at a kiosk or via the Brightline App. They also offer routine discounts for different travel scenarios, so check the website and app often! We hope you all see that rainy days don’t have to be a drag in the Miami area or in South Florida in general. There is always something to do, rain or shine. We hope you enjoy and follow up on other weeks for lists of outdoor fun, sports camps, fun with animals and specific ideas for the Brightline! Photo Credit: Dylan Sauerwein via Unsplash
Miami For Kids: Places Your Kiddos Can Interact With Wildlife Posted on May 15, 2023May 18, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs When you think about all of the types of animals that are native to the Miami area, what types do you think about? We have an infinite amount of sea life, flamingos, and alligators to name a few. To help kids explore the natural fauna of the Miami-area, we have compiled a list of animal-related experiences that are fun for the entire family. These experiences offer not only viewing of the different breeds, but the opportunity to interact with them as well. Jungle Island Miami Parrot courtesy of Sarah B-A via Unsplash 1 – Jungle Island – 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami FL, 33132 Starting off with Jungle Island, located on Watson Island in between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach on the MacArthur Causeway, this is a full day in and of itself. They offer everything from a Garden Admission that includes access to animals from all over the world, but particularly South Florida. There are parrots, flamingoes, a true replica of the Everglades and Everglades Habitat, monkeys, tortoises, snakes and more. For the high-energy bunch, you can also trapse through Treewalk Village, a network of tree houses connected by nets, bridges and slides. There is also a playground to spend pent-up energy. If you are eager for some 1-on-1 time with the animals, you can book an animal encounter. These allow you to play with lemurs and sloths, or feed Florida flamingos. An additional VIP tour allows the family to enter the habitats and get up close and personal with kangaroos, parrots, reptiles or giant tortoises. After all of the animal interaction, you can stroll over to Joia Beach and have some snacks on a manmade beach overlooking the Biscayne Bay. Prices vary depending upon age and the experiences chosen. ZooMiami Camel Exhibit photo courtesy of Frank Polanco via Unsplash 2 – Zoo Miami – 12400 SW152nd Street, Miami FL, 33177 If you are looking for a very extensive animal experience and don’t mind a bit of a drive, make a day out of ZooMiami. It boasts 750 acres of animals from around the world that you can experience by foot, by tram or if you are not big on walking such distances, the VIP golf cart experience. The zoo is a lot and is definitely a full day’s adventure, so be sure to plan ahead. Their website offers a planning section with a map of the facility, and links to all of the different experiences you can upgrade to along the way. In order to get up close and personal with the animals, you’ll want to book encounters online. During the animal encounters, you will be able to visit with the zookeepers who are in charge of the various animals, sometimes even getting to feed them. ZooMiami is currently offering the Black Bears, Rhinos, Pygmy Hippos, Tortoises and the cute little Kiwi birds that can’t fly. Each breed has its own social schedule, so be sure to plan ahead. Prices for ZooMiami vary depending upon age, date, and the options you choose. There is also an option to purchase yearly memberships, which is often times more economical especially if you intend to visit the zoo more than once per year. Frost Science Museum Aquarium. Photo credit: Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science 3 – Frost Science Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium – 1101 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami FL, 33132 One of the newest additions to Miami’s animal-friendly repertoire, the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science opened in Maurice Ferré Park in Downtown Miami in 2017. In addition to the science exhibits and planetarium, the new museum boasts an actual replica of the South Florida aquatic ecosystem. This begins with a recreation of the Florida Everglades on the top level, with a river of grass, alligators, mangroves, and beaches. You can travel down and peek into the ecosystem of the ocean that is on display in a 500,000 gallon tank with vibrant coral reefs, sharks, a bevy of breeds of fish, all held together in the gulfstream current. There are nooks and crannies for the kiddos to crawl and explore, peering in to the makeshift ocean to see all of the colors and elegant forms of life existing together as they do in the wild. As you travel through the different levels of the deep, there are offshoots on each floor that allow guests to view certain breeds in closer quarters. The jellyfish exhibit is especially soothing, under the black light the majestic creatures light up in purple and pink and blue, to the amazement of little eyes. The Frost Museum is another location where we suggest a yearly membership if you plan to visit more than once per year. For members, you are able to visit as many times as you like per year, visit each of the rotating exhibits and the aquarium plus 1 planetarium show per visit. The museum is easily accessible from nearly any part of town, so will definitely be something you wind up doing several times per year, if not more. Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tour – Photo credit: Everglades Holiday Park 4 – Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Rides & Tours – 21940 Griffin Road, Ft Lauderdale FL, 33332 If you are not feeling the energy of interacting with animals in captivity, you can also go see them in the wild! This will be a bit of a drive to Fort Lauderdale, but is well worth the trip. The Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Rides & Tours will physically take you into the wild so that you can see all of the different birds and wildlife that live in the River of Grass. Of course there are alligators too and the airboats are quite fun! There are many places in the Everglades to book an airboat trip, but we prefer the Everglades Holiday Park as it also offers one-on-one animal encounters. You can hold baby alligators (mouths taped shut of course), pythons, pigs, foxes and even skunks! Once you are finished with your photo-ops, you can sit back and watch the pro alligator wranglers play around with the deadly creatures, feeding them by hand and other daredevil activities. You can view photos and experience offerings, or book excursions and experiences online here. Zoological Wildlife Federation Tiger Cub – Photo credit: ZWF Facebook 5 – Zoological Wildlife Federation – 16225 SW172nd Avenue, Miami FL, 33187 For those who prefer a more intimate zoo setting, the Zoological Wildlife Federation is going to be up your alley. This zoo is also just south of Miami, and offers a more extensive menu of animal experiences. In addition to being able to interact with the animals and speak with the zoo keepers, you can also hold baby tiger cubs, have your photo taken with the animals, or have a private tour of the facilities. Among the breeds offered, there are many different breeds of big cats, lemurs, monkeys, ant eaters, birds, primates and otters. It is important to note that the zoo allows the animals to behave as they will, so there isn’t a guarantee of which ones will be social on a given day. Since they are allowed to live as naturally as possible, it is also impossible to guarantee whether or not a litter of cubs will be available. The animals are not bred, they pair up and start families as they see fit. Given this tidbit, it is a good idea to call ahead or visit their Instagram page to see if there are any sweet babies to visit before you make the drive. The cubs are available for encounters until they reach 40lb, in which case they are kept in a habitat for the safety of zoo guests. Too view the facilities and book a tour, you can visit their extensive website here. Please note that these are only our top 5 favorite animal experiences in the area. There are loads of additional ones, so your little ones can keep learning even when school is out. It could be a full 3 months of field trips if you want it to be. Miami is so rich with things for families to do. Tune back in next week as we look into other outdoor activities to keep the kids busy until school starts back! Photo courtesy of Jungle Island Website