Tag Archives: coconut grove

Sightseeing four-wheel limo style

Looking like a Jeep/Limo hybrid, the tricked out ride used for the Tons of Fun Tours offered throughout Miami by Florida Jeep Tours provides an unforgettably unique experience.

Climb aboard the eight-passenger vehicle, complete with captain’s chair for an open-air and also air conditioned tour of Miami’s hottest neighborhoods. Ride through the celebrity playground that is South Beach, take in the serene and natural setting of Key Biscayne, the thriving young hot bed of condominium lifestyle with bustling nightlife and restaurants in Brickell, tour the artsy and urban area of Wynwood and the old-Florida, yacht-filled and still somewhat bohemian Coconut Grove.

Here’s a breakdown of what they offer:

Miami’s Best Jeep Tour is a three-hour tour that takes you across Biscayne Bay on the historic Venetian Causeway through some of the 32 man-made islands that dot the Bay, over to South Beach, playground of the rich and famous and home to the largest collection of Art Deco architecture anywhere in the world. There is also a similar albeit shorter two-hour nighttime tour that showcases the area’s glowing neon and pulsing all-night-long party atmosphere.

The two-hour South Beach Jeep Tour follows the same route as above then heads back to Miami via the MacArthur Causeway past Star Island and Palm Island, the home, past and present, to celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Al Capone, Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Marc Anthony.

To book a tour visit their website here.

Light up the sky, on Fourth of July

Photo courtesy of Miamiandbeaches.com

OK, so Fourth of July falls mid-week this year, smack on a hump day, but this is Miami, why would that stop us? After all, South Beach hotel pools are always hot to trot for a party and what better occasion than patriotic Fourth of July. Think the Delano, Shelbourne or Raleigh for upscale and the Clevelander (across from Lummus Park) for debauchery.

They’re also the perfect place to watch the fireworks display on 8th and Ocean at Lummus Park while sipping a cosmo, frozen concoction or downing shots poolside. Click here to learn about “Fire on the Fourth of July.”

If South Beach isn’t your scene, there are other more sedate, all-American parties in other parts of town.

Try Downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park for the city’s biggest Fourth celebration “America’s Birthday Bash.” There’s food and drinks, live music and a kids’ zone, open from 3-7 p.m. At 9 p.m. the sky lights up with a spectacular fireworks display, each year bigger and brighter than the year before. Click here for details.

On Key Biscayne they kick the day off with an all-American parade featuring marching bands, slilt walkers, parade floats and plenty of good eats. It’s a small-town celebration right through the town’s main street. Afterwards, hang out at either Crandon Park Beach or Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park enjoying an all-day barbecue and take in the many fireworks displays over Biscayne Bay. Click here for more information.

And funky, waterfront Coconut Grove is the site for several celebrations. Start the day with a morning picnic at the Barnacle State Historic Site, featuring lawn games, kite making and crafts. Then walk a few blocks to CocoWalk for a scavenger hunt, hot dog eating contest, a beer pong tournament and music by local band Deck 52. And over at Peacock Park there’s live entertainment and delectable food and beverages from local restaurants. It all culminates with a fantastic fireworks display over the bay. Click here for details.

Meinto.com: Boutique shopping’s just a click away

Meinto.com is revolutionizing online shopping, giving fashionistas exactly what they want, boutique shopping that’s just a click away.

Originated in Denmark, the site features clothing, accessories, shoes and more from more than 100 boutiques in South Florida. The idea behind the site is to offer the best of fashion boutiques combined with the flexibility and availability of online commerce.

There are shops from Miami all the way Palm Beach featured. Names include Cheap n Chic in Miami, Deco Collection on Miami Beach, Essence and Emporium boutiques in Coral Gables, Isabel Riera in Coconut Grove, Kristine Michael in South Miami, Lorie Lester Studio & Boutique in the Upper East Side and several others.

That’s just a sampling of what’s available at Meinto.com. This user-friendly site gives big box retailers some much-needed competition and provides a more unique shopping experience.

Fashionista: The Grove’s latest boutique incarnation

Coconut Grove is a neighborhood that prides itself on a Bohemian lifestyle, something the area’s been known for since the 1970s. It still only features one open-air mall CocoWalk and it’s a mid-size one at that.

Goes to figure that boutiques would be all the rage in the Grove. There are some that have been around for nearly two decades and there are always new ones joining the landmark ones. Fashionista, a boutique/consignment shop features a true Grove feel with a colorful interior, interestingly displayed clothing and accessories.

They feature designers like Chanel, Christian Dior, Diane Von Fustenberg, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Dolce & Gabbana and True Religion.

The Fashionista is located at 3135 Commodore Plaza, 305-443-4331, www.thefashionistaboutique.com

Jaguar’s ceviche, and so much more…

Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar and Latam Grill is like a tour through Latin America and the cuisines that make each area unique. It’s what Chef Oscar del Rivero envisioned bringing to diners and he’s delivering.

Front and center is the ceviche spoon bar, a fantastic representation of unique bites representing Peru, where the dish is most popular, and some great variations. The Asian inspired ones have soy and ginger while many others include cilantro. All of course include the freshest fish and lime which is what makes the dish what it is.

The Latam (short for Latin American) grill features a grilled organic chicken chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and pico de gallo verde, simple grilled fish entrees and steaks like filet mignon and skirt steak or “churrasco.”

The atmosphere complements the menu perfectly with warm-colored walls, unique bamboo styled lighting and dark wood chairs at the bar.

Jaguar is located at 3067 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove 305-444-0216 www.jaguarspot.com

Peacock Garden Cafe: Garden setting evokes Grove feel

It’s great to see a place like Peacock Garden Cafe open up in Coconut Grove especially nestled in a beautiful garden next to the historic Coconut Grove library on McFarlane Road. The claw-footed tub filled with dirt and used as an herb garden and colorful dangling orchids and potted plants make for a memorable entrance.

They’ve set the mood for what’s to come, an outdoor patio bursting with more foliage that surrounds the old-style furniture and umbrellas galore providing even more shade. Inside’s just as charming with mix and match tables and chairs, oversized windows providing plenty of sunshine and antique white glass chandeliers.

The atmosphere perfectly complements the menu. There’s a daily soup including fresh corn, potato-leek or fennel. A number of fresh salads like pear and bleu cheese or classic Nicoise salad and grilled items featuring roasted chicken, large shrimp or Atlantic salmon which come paired choice of salad or side dish.

The Peacock Garden Cafe is located at 2889 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove 305-774-3332, www.peacockspot.com Open everday at 11:30 a.m., close at 10 p.m. Sun-Wed and 11:30 p.m. Thurs-Sat

Paragon Theater: Movie-going taken to new heights

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The Paragon Theater located in Coconut Grove’s CocoWalk outdoor mall and it takes the movie-going experience to another level. It’s more than just typical candy, popcorn, soda and hot dogs, the concession offerings as well as the theater itself are much more upscale.

The 13-screen theater features high definition digital projection in 3-D, a 1,500 seat all reserved VIP stadium seating and coming soon a bowling alley. Paragon takes dinner and a movie to another level, offering moviegoers expanded food offerings, like wraps, pizza and chicken fingers and more. In the “Back Lot” private screening rooms they show sporting events, concerts and classic films. It’s all here. Of course, because it’s located in CocoWalk there’s plenty of shopping to do as well.

Paragon Theater is located in CocoWalk at 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove

Concession

Calamari Restaurant: Where Italian Mediterranean’s alive

Arrive at Calamari Restaurant in Coconut Grove and prepare to be tantalized by Italian dishes bursting with rich yet delicate flavors by Chef Alex Lopez, a technique he has spent years perfecting and continues evolving. With his training mostly in Italian kitchens around Miami, with some Asian and Cuban, his menu is a fusion of this trio.

The spacious restaurant is located on the quieter side of Coconut Grove, further down Main Highway. Lopez’ menu is a combination of original creations alongside classic Italian dishes. The molded tuna tartare topped with layers of fresh avocado and homemade crème fraiche, dollops of red and black caviar over chive and truffle oil and soy sauce is a must try. Grouper aqua pazza on a delicate tomato sauce surrounded by clams and mussels and chicken paillard are also great entree choices and coconut flan or panacotta with mixed berry sauce are awesome desserts.

Calamari Restaurant is located at 3540 Main Highway, Coconut Grove

See The Next Big Thing at Miami’s Improv & Dinner Theater

With the hottest comics around, including Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres and Robin Williams, getting their start at the Improv Comedy Club, chances are today’s comics at Miami’s Improv are the next big thing.

Housed inside the classic open-air shopper’s paradise, Mayfair Shoppes, the Improv packs them in on a weekly basis with stellar line-ups featuring the best in the funny business. For example, joker Gabriel Iglesias has appeared on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend as well as the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, while LA-based Darren Carter is a favorite on the comedy club circuit for combining comedy, sketch and impersonations into his act. To see up and coming comedians, the Improv Comedy Jam, held several times a month, is a great show to catch.

Also considered a dinner theatre, the grub here is good too, with an impressive menu of appetizers, entrees and drink specials to please any palate. Overall, it’s a great place to unwind at the end of a busy workday and laugh hard and eat hearty.

5. Shakespeare in the Park 1/15- 1/17/10

You don’t have to wait for summer to enjoy Shakespeare in the Park. The company will kick-start 2010 with a three-day production of The Taming of the Shrew in ritzy Coconut Grove.
This Shakespearean classic is about Petruchio, a newlywed man whose actions lead the audience to believe he’s quite insane, when he’s only worried that marrying a headstrong woman will inevitably lead to cuckoldry, making him the center of public ridicule. (Cuckoldry – having a wife cheat or be publicly domineering.)
Along with the production, Children’s tea with Story hour will be January 16 at noon.

Pure Serenity at Historic Barnacle

Nestled in the quaint community of Coconut Grove is a jewel of a park that takes visitors back to another era- and has one of the best bay views in the city. Wind down tree-lined Main Highway and come upon the Barnacle Historic State Park, once the home of pioneering Miamian Ralph Middleton Munroe, to catch a glimpse of life in Miami in the late 1800s.

The place has grounds that rival a scene from the Great Gatsby and the house is just as grand with a bird’s eye view of the bay from the home’s balcony, an open rotunda attic with wrap-around carved railings, skylights and intricate furnishings in every room. The boathouse, where Commodore Munroe built his vessels, and shaded pathways throughout the property add to the tranquil setting.

The Barnacle is more than simply a house to admire, they also house many activities that can make this landmark part of your weekly routine. Every week there is a yoga class that allows you to get the serenity and tranquility of the locale while also burning some serious calories. Throughout the year there are also many special concerts that take place on the grounds.

Enjoy the old and the new, but always a beautiful setting, at The Barnacle.