Blog No. 34 of 2025

Arts organizations in Miami-Dade County are in trouble… again. It’s a constant battle when budget meetings are held and they have to fight for funding all over again.

Because I’m involved in the arts community as a writer, community outreach manager and overall advocate, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past several weeks, advocating so their funding is restored. It’s tough times but there’s fat to be trimmed and hopefully the arts, and several other vital social services and programs are spared.

That’s me, at the front on the right around the conference table at the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs offices on Monday with my arts world cohorts, in our matching shirts., doing the advocacy work. It’s working, Mayor Levine Cava has proposed reinstating almost all of our budget but… the final decision lays in the hands of the Miami-Dade County Commissioners. We still have fighting left to do and there are other town halls planned before the final vote in September.

Now backtracking to last weekend, Nick and I spent it up in Merritt Island with Vance, hanging out at the townhouse. It was a relaxing weekend running errands and watching football.

Friday, Elizabeth came over and we went to dinner at Island Time Marina & Restaurant in Cocoa Beach. We enjoyed walking along the dock and Nick and Vance played cornhole.

Nick and I think his cousin Ramzi underwater in the pool at Nicole & Tariq’s house.

Nick & Mazen in the jacuzzi

Saturday, we spent the afternoon at my niece Nicole’s house where Nick enjoyed their lovely pool with his cousins Mazen and Ramzi and we had pizza and good conversation.

Geno, Nate and Nick at Eataly in Aventura Mall during the Best Buddies outing.

Wednesday night, Nick and I got to check out Eataly at Aventura Mall, a gourmet market where they also sell pasta and pizza, during a Best Buddies outing. I had a slice of sicilian style bolognese (all their slices are sicilian style) and bought myself a bag of dark chocolate Italian Baci with hazelnuts. Nick and his buddy Geno enjoyed time together and I got to meet some great new people involved in Best Buddies.

Tonight, Vance and I are going to dinner at Battubelin Italian Restaurant on 79th St. Causeway. I’ve mentioned it before in this blog, it’s where we’ve been for drinks but never dinner so looking forward to our date night and good Italian food.

Tomorrow, after I volunteer at Health in the Hood’s Food Conscious Tour Event in Opa-Locka, on behalf of Food Rescue US South FL, we’ll be hanging at Casa Wutzler for pool and barbecue time as we bid farewell to Jake, Kevin and Michelle’s son who heads off to Germany for his graduate internship.

On Sunday, Nick really wants to go bowling so we’ll probably be at Bird Bowl with my sister Susy aiming to bowl plenty of strikes! That’s if we can get a lane, I know that place is a madhouse on weekends since it’s really the only old-school, traditional bowling alley left in Miami.

Looking ahead, I’m hoping to get to New York City and see Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway before the run ends and on Oct. 1, my best friend Monica and I will be going to Zey Zey in Little Haiti to see one of our favorite local bands, Magic City Hippies, who are back on the scene down here.

Now here’s a few things I recommend for fun around Miami…

If you like to swap things are interested in creating with recycled and upcycled materials, do yourself a favor and follow The Things Lab Miami. I see on their Instagram page they are hosting workshops at the Coral Gables Museum.

If you love dining out and consider yourself a foodie, Miami Spice is still happening through Sept. 30, and they recently added several restaurants to the list. You can get a great three-course meal for lunch for $35 and dinners are either $45 or $60 and usually include a few more courses. It’s a great way to try Miami’s priciest places at a discount.

Click here to find fun free and cheap things to do around South Florida like BOGO admission to Fruit & Spice Park, a garage or yard sale or a discounted late night movie at Coral Gables Cinema.

And this is by far the most interesting parting shot I think I’ve ever left you with. Check out the goat that I encountered during one of my walks through Biscayne Park this week! Yes, he was just roaming around the neighborhood and appeared out of nowhere.

I hope everyone has a great week and wishing a great school year to all the students, teachers and administrators.