Blog No. 29 of 2025

It was a busy and a bit disheartening week, you’ll read why below, but I’m holding out hope.

Last weekend was another nice one in Merritt Island where we kept busy sprucing up the townhouse and checking out more places around town.

Friday, Nick and I stopped to see Elizabeth in Orlando on the way to Merritt Island and had dinner at Mellow Mushroom, a chain with great pizza. We split the holy shiitake pizza and bruschetta.

Saturday Vance, Nick and I had lunch at Pineda Inn Bar & Grill on the water in Rockledge where I had a really good fish dip and split the crabcake sandwich with Vance. After lunch we went to Melbourne Beach before the rain came. That night we grabbed Korean-style hot dogs at Oh!K-Dog & Egg Toast just a few blocks from our townhouse in Merritt Island. They were ok but Elizabeth and I want to return and try the egg toast.

I Facetimed with Elizabeth and she showed be a squirrel in her birdfeeder! No birds yet she said, “but lots of squirrels!”

Sunday, after doing some shopping at Home Depot where we bought Elizabeth a bird feeder for her apartment, we popped into a new spot in the same plaza called Saigon Pho Bahn Mi & Boba where Vance and I split some great dumplings and bao buns and I had a brown sugar milk tea. It’s a cute spot that’s only been open a couple of weeks and one we’ll probably be revisiting.

Back in Miami I stayed busy conducting interviews for an upcoming article for Biscayne Times. I spoke to three different artists about their residencies at Locust Projects, a gallery in Little River and it made my week. Conducting the interviews for my assignments is just as fun as writing the article. I enjoyed hearing about their experiences there, their art practice and their work as teaching artists. They inspired me when they spoke of their great work mentoring and teaching the future generation of artists.

I also took time during one of my walks to pass through MOCA Plaza near my house and read the Poetry on the Plaza installations by artist Nathan Justice Moyer who I interviewed about this series back when he was commissioned to create the work. Click here to read it and see the photos of the installation above. I also love the adorable and colorful mural at the North Miami Police station which you can also see a picture of above.

A couple of props MAMP Conference attendees were encouraged to use to snap selfies. I love the blow up heart we have and this year it was more relevant than ever. The arts in Miami need lots of love and support.

Then yesterday, I spent the entire day at the Annual Miami Arts Marketing Project Conference hosted by the Arts & Business Council of Miami. It was held at the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus. As exhausting as it was to furiously take notes (I’m writing an article for Artburst Miami about the conference) while intently listening to the panelists, it was so gratifying to be around so many people I hadn’t seen in so long. It was great catching up with filmmakers, publicists, artists, performers and the like. What was tough was hearing the panelists who very boldly and honestly addressed the scary and unpredictable future of the arts in Miami. Proposed budget cuts mean they will have an even harder time getting funding to create work and I myself may even find myself out of a writing gig. I was also very happy to be on that campus, I have such great memories of when I was a student there and a member of the college paper. Those were great times.

Nick & Geno posing after their killer dance number in the talent show!

Today I went to watch Nicholas perform at his program’s talent show. He and his buddy Geno did a great dance routine and the rest of the program participants put on a great show too. It’s always humbling to visit and experience the Sandra de Lucca Developmental Center.

Celebrating Vance last night.

Tonight Vance and I might be going out to dinner to celebrate his birthday which was yesterday and tomorrow we’re going to… the Marlins game, one of our favorite pastimes believe it or not.

Here are a few suggestions on things to do around Miami:

Take a boat tour with Miami’s leading historian Dr. Paul George. Click here to read about the next one he’s hosting the Islands of Biscayne Bay Cruise on July 26.

Take in an event at the Moss Center in Cutler Bay where they offer diverse programming including dance performances, concerts, kids’ events and even some free offerings on their plaza.

Listen to live music at Zey Zey Miami a concert and event hub where there’s always something cool happening.. Click here to see all their upcoming events. There are some reasonable ticket prices and even free shows. The venue is located in the heart of LIttle Haiti.

Dine out in Coral Gables and take advantage of their monthlong Taste the Gables prix fixe specials for lunch and dinner at participating restaurants. It ends on July 31. Click here to read about it. It’s similar to the Miami Spice months in August and September, except those span throughout Miami-Dade. Click here to read about Miami Spice.

And because I’m always mentioning Nick’s activities I’m taking this opportunity to brag about my other two kids. Elizabeth is kicking butt up at UCF in Orlando where she’s got a part-time job at the Dutch Bros. coffee shop and just landed a paid internship as assistant curator at the Maitland Art & History Museum. Also making moves is Michael who starts his latest sous chef journey in Charlotte, NC at The Rootfop Restaurant at Restoration Hardware. Yes, the upscale furniture store also has a very high-end restaurant.

That’s all for this week. I’ll have more for you next week in the meantime, enjoy this parting shot of Biscayne Bay at the end of 96 St. in Miami Shores.