Blog No. 9 of 2025
Finally feeling back to myself, it was nice to make plans with our friends Kevin & Michelle to meet up at the South Miami Arts Festival on Saturday. We strolled up and down Downtown South Miami, checking out all the art and conversing with lots of the artists. We also ended up buying the same set of beautiful bungalow style patio string lights from a Nashville-based artist whose website is One Man One Garage. Click here to see the incredible craftsmanship of those string lights and click here to read his story.
The gang at Sports Grill on Sunset Dr. in South Miami
Nick having fun posing at the South Miami Arts Festival.
After walking one side of the festival, we decided to grab lunch at one of the Wutzler’s favorite spots in their neighborhood, Sports Grill right on Sunset Drive. Nick and the Wutzlers enjoyed smashburgers and THE most amazing fries. We also shared mozzarella sticks, and I devoured a BLT. Vance stuck with his usual… the chicken sandwich. There are Sports Grills all over Miami, they’ve been around forever. Click here to check out all their locations and their menu.
As we made our way up the other side before saying our goodbyes, Michelle and I bought some jewelry. She bought a lovely silver necklace with a single dangling freshwater pearl and I picked up a new pastel-colored bead bracelet that goes perfectly with the two I’ve already got. Nothing wrong with expanding one’s collection.
As for the rest of the week, I made it to Panera on Monday night to pick up their leftover baked goods of the day and drive them up to The Caring Place off Sheridan St. in Broward. And on Wednesday, I packed my car with lots of produce, bread and even frozen meat from Trader Joe’s and drove it to Village Freedge in Liberty City. Those are my two standing weekly volunteer efforts that I truly enjoy.
And that’s all she wrote! I decided to forgo a couple of events I was planning to attend during the week so I can ensure I stay cold and flu-free!
I am also excited to announce that I may begin contributing nprofiles/articles about the participants in the Best Buddies Miami Citizens program for their newsletter. I’m having a meeting with their Miami Program Manager next week to discuss. Hoping it works out. And… the annual Best Buddies Miami Friendship Walk is coming up April 5, a day I always look forward to. Here’s a link to Nick’s page.
Elizabeth and the velociraptor.
And finally, here’s my crazy daughter Elizabeth at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. She took advantage of a free pass they were giving to students at UCF to have some fun with her roommate and friends. She’s doing her best velociraptor impersonation.
I’d like to make some recommendations for events not to miss this weekend since Miami is in full festival mode. Jazz at MOCA in North Miami or Orchestra Miami’s Beethoven on the Beach at the Miami Beach Bandshell on Friday night; the St. Sophia Greek Festival Friday through Sunday; Family Day at the Underline near Brickell on Saturday; Carnaval on the Mile in Coral Gables Saturday and Sunday; Street Stages performances in Downtown Miami on Saturday; on Sunday use your Bank of America card for free entry into select museums or hit up the Gifford Lane Art Stroll in Coconut Grove.
I hope you enjoy one or a few of these events and I’d love to hear which one you attended if you do!
