Blog No. 17 of 2025

The first thing that hit me when I wrote my very generic headline was that when I write blog number 26 we’ll be halfway through the year. That’s closer than you think!

The morning’s lovely program and below I share a link it online so you can read about all the Hall of Fame inductees, a large group of people very deserving of the honor.

As I mentioned in last week’s blog, I kicked off Monday with the Arts & Business Council of Miami’s Serving the Arts Awards, an annual event honoring arts leaders in the Miami community. Aside from all the amazing and well-deserved individuals honored, it was exciting to hear as the 2025 Miami-Dade County Arts Hall of Fame inductees were announced and finally for the curtain to open and see them all sitting on the stage, it was quite impressive. I spent the morning catching up with lots of familiar faces, furiously taking notes and enjoying the ceremony. I’ll share my article when it’s published on the Artburst Miami website. And here is a link to the Hall of Fame inductees.

The poets stood in front of this sign to read their Zip Odes.

Breathtaking view at Vizcaya

Then yesterday, I spent a magical evening at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, where I and dozens of other amateur poets read our 5-line Zip Odes in front of the crowd gathered at the iconic museum. The O, Miami organization has been hosting the event every April for 10 years during their month-long O, Miami Poetry Festival. I was happy to have my sisters Susy and Mari in attendance as well as my niece Elena and her partner AJ and their son Jojo. I also saw lots of familiar faces and it was so touching when I heard the cheers as I approached the microphone to read my poem.

It wouldn’t be an O, Miami event without a book about Cuban ventanitas.

I own “Making Good Time,” which is a compilation of Miamian’s accounts of the hellish, nightmarish traffic in our beloved 305.

I bought Westofchester’s “ABC’s of Miami” written by Melissa Gutierrez whose Instagram handle is @westofchester, a play on the name o Miami’s Westchester neighborhood. Sure, it’s a children’s book but the way she masterfully matches each letter to an iconic Miami place, saying or neighborhood is pure magical genius.

My great nephew Jojo loved this tree so much at Vizcaya he decided to spend some time under it, very appropriate given he is a nature lover and Earth Day was on April 22nd.

O, Miami who aside from hosting the poetry festival, have events year round and also publish books, had their own table where they were selling their very Miami books. There was also a custom made domino table which were made by my sister Susy’s friend Mario Cruz. There was also a table where you were given a piece of tropical fruit and asked to “Write About the Bite.” So many fun, creative and very “Miami” things to do.

And what a setting they gave us, with the bay as our backdrop and facing the grand staircase which was filled with attendees who chose to sit front and center so they wouldn’t miss a word or interaction. I’ll be submitting another Zip Ode next year and hope it’s chosen and I’m invited back!

Today, I attempted to go to Miami Beach but the traffic jam wasn’t having it so I opted to go to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. I walked several of the nature trails, admiring the ocean view and the yachts and boats out on the water. As I finished the last nature trail, it led me to the lighthouse. There I walked through the Lighthouse Keepers Museum, chatted with the volunteer who works there and bought a t-shirt and little painted rock.

I finally made my way to the beach and dipped my toes in the water. It was a great way to spend the morning into the early afternoon.

That’s all for this week, I’ll see you here again on Friday when I’ll tell you all about…

“Beetlejuice” at the Arsht Center which I’m seeing Tuesday night with my niece Elena…

The visit with my cousin’s wife Becky who is staying with me on Wednesday night…

An Arts Talk I’m attending (maybe) on Thursday night at the Arsht Center…

Perhaps, if I have time, my visit to the Miami Paper & Printing Museum and…

Family Fun Day with Nick at the Sandra DeLucca Developmental Center on Friday