Blog No. 33 of 2025
Halfway through August and the steamy, humid days just seem to be getting worse!
Susy gets some help from grandson Jojo to blow out her birthday candles.
That’s why it was nice to celebrate my sister Susy’s birthday at her house on Saturday, a nice family gathering watching Jojo run around the house and entertain us as we watched him play and talk up a storm. My niece Elena made some delicious pasta and salad that we all enjoyed.
I left there and dropped Nick off at Bird Bowl for his friend Christian’s birthday party and I had to make a stop into Dos Croquetas which is close to Bird Bowl, for a few croquetas and a Heineken. I definitely did not need to do that but I love their croquetas.
Sunday Nick and I spent a lazy day at home watching the first Miami Dolphins pre-season game which they tied. Vance had to stay up in Merritt Island for work. Port Canaveral, where he works, was welcoming the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas ship.
Tuesday, Nick and I headed up to Merritt Island where we’ll be until Sunday when we head back to Miami. It’s been nice hanging out at the townhouse, working from here and enjoying a change of scenery.
Thursday I grabbed Vance and I lunch at that cute Vietnamese spot Saigon Pho Bahn Mi and Boba that I mentioned in this blog a few weeks back. Vance had the chicken bahn mi and I had one of the two shrimp spring rolls and their petite sized veggie dumplings. I saved a spring roll for lunch today.
Nick and I at Kelly Park East.
Later in the day, I braved the sweltering heat and took Nick to shoot hoops at our favorite park Kelly Park East by the Banana River. After about 15 minutes he was done (I don’t blame him, it was so hot!) and he and I walked to the end of a short boardwalk to look out on the water. That’s us in the picture above, squinting into the August sun.
Then we came back and took a dip in the pool at our Diana Shores complex and that felt absolutely wonderful..
Today, Elizabeth is paying us a visit and we’ll either go out to dinner or make something here and this weekend I’m hoping to catch up with my sister Susy, niece Elena and her son Jojo who have been in Orlando for a few days, and my niece Nicole and her family while we’re in Merritt Island.
Back in Miami, here’s what’s going on this weekend:
Tonight at Sur Empanadas & Subs in Little Haiti, artist Kevin Arrow is hosting an exhibition of his colorful and eye-catching work. Click here for info on his IG page and if you go, make sure to try the delicious empanadas!
Miami-One Acts Summer Session 25 featuring eight plays all by local writers and with all local casts. My friend Ruben Diaz’s play is included and my friend Ricky J. Martinez is directing many of them. The event is tonight and tomorrow the 16th at True Mirage Theater.
If you want to know what’s going on culturally in the visual arts, dance and theater around Miami this weekend, visit Artburst Miami. Read about the play at Main Street Playhouse “Three Scenes in the Life of a Trotskyist” or about the film “Shadow of the Sun” showing at several theaters around Miami. Learn about the International Ballet Festival Miami which ends this weekend or check out the exhibition “Joined at the Roots” at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex.
And remember, visit the South FL on the Cheap website to find fun free and cheap things to do and subscribe to the newsletter!
Ibis sighting on my recent walk through Biscayne Park.
That’s all for this week. I encourage you to jump in a pool or the ocean or if not go somewhere with great AC! Have some ice cream or a tall, cool iced drink. Stay cool my friends and see you next Friday.
And… Happy birthday to my niece Karli in Tennessee. Sending her lots of love today and always.
