Blog No. 31 of 2025
Kicked off last weekend with a late night leisurely walk with Vance around our neighborhood. We purposely walked by MOCA so we could enjoy some of the Jazz at MOCA performance by Abstract Citizen. It was really hot, phew!
Us enjoying after dinner drinks at Battubelin off 79th St. Causeway.
Saturday morning Vance joined me for a trip to the Legion Park Farmer’s Market where we picked up a great haul of fresh locally grown produce and some delicious dips from some of my favorite vendors there. Vance especially liked the mango flavored Italian ice. I love the mushrooms and carrots from Urban Oasis Project, the dips from Mediterranean Delights as well as from Crackerman Crackers.
After that we picked up Nick and headed for a few hours to our favorite spot at Surfside beach where despite the seaweed, it was still gloriously refreshing. We threw the football and frisbee around and saw the nice guy we’ve known that works there setting up umbrellas and chairs. He’s a sweetheart.
Our day ended with a delicious dinner at our new favorite spot, Luna Pasta e Dolci (yes, where we went last Saturday) where this time we dined with Kevin and Michelle who also loved the food there. We shared the prosciutto and asiago cheese croquettes with aioli and the burrata verdi as appetizers. This time, Vance and I split the ossobucco agnolotti and we tried the ricotta and truffle tortelloni the Wutzlers ordered. Both were fantastic and next time we go we’re ordering the tortelloni.
After dinner we took them to Battubelin where we had after dinner drinks, laughed and where the Wutzlers saw a familiar face at the bar, a guy they’d seen at Phuc Yea where they went for before dinner cocktails.
Blue skies over Ocean Drive during our Art Deco District tour.
I had to take a picture of this at The Cardozo Hotel, an appropriate sign in the hotel owned by Emilio & Gloria Estefan.
Gorgeous mosaic feature around this water fountain in one of the hotel lobbies on our tour.
Bidding farewell to George at the MDPL offices.
Wednesday, thanks to George Neary, I took the Art Deco District walking tour which departs from the Miami Design Preservation League offices on 10 St. and Ocean Dr. on Miami Beach. I was doing research for an article and Rick, a volunteer with the League, was a great tour guide. Although it was incredibly hot, Rick tried to find us (there were four other people on the tour) shady spots and cool hotel lobbies where the AC was cranking. I learned a lot and it was also a great refresher for me which was good prep for the article.
Tomorrow we’re seeing the new Superman movie and then I’ll be joining my sisters and niece to watch my great niece Kaitlyn perform in the Miami Girls Rock Camp Finale. She’ll be rocking it out on guitar again.
Not sure what we’ve got planned for Sunday, Nick wants to go to the park but it may be too hot for that. Maybe I can convince him to go to the beach again.
I have a nice supply of carambola/star fruit thanks to my neighbor Ericka that I’ll be enjoying throughout the week, thanks Ericka! And finally, I want to wish a happy birthday to my brother Manolo!
For next week, my neighbors Matt and Carlos may join Nick and I and Ericka and her son Julian at trivia on Wednesday.
Thanks for reading and see you back here next week!
