Halfway through January 2026
Welcome to the third week of the year, hope your year is going well so far.
Since the last blog I sent you…
Nick and I on our way to Merritt Island, he’s such a fun traveling buddy.
Enjoying a sangria at the bar at Longdoggers.
I spent last weekend in Merritt Island, driving up with Nicholas on Friday and making a stop in Orlando to visit with Elizabeth. We brought her some stuff she left in Miami while she was home for winter break and enjoyed visiting with her and just hanging at her apartment. Then that night after unpacking and settling in at the townhouse, Nick, Vance and I had dinner at Fish Lips Waterfront Bar & Grill in Cape Canaveral and afterwards stopped in at Longdoggers in Cocoa Beach right before they closed at 10:30 p.m.. One thing I can’t get used to is how early places close in Merritt Island, I’m spoiled living in Miami where finding a place open at and past 10 p.m. is never a problem. Not that I’m this night owl anymore but Nick want to stay out for a bit.
Then on Saturday, after relaxing at the townhouse, we headed to Gator’s Portside in Cape Canaveral where we met up with a couple Vance plays trivia with on Wednesday nights. We sat outside, enjoyed drinks and watched the cruise ships depart from the Port. Both Gator’s and Fish Lips are two of many restaurants at Port Canaveral. Afterwards, we stopped in to see Vance’s new office at work, he was recently promoted to Director and moved into his predecessors bigger digs. I then had to stop at Bobalicious for my favorite mocha locha iced chai latte then popped into Sunseed Natural Foods Co-op which I’d been wanting to check out. I got some dried figs and my favorite Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups. I liked it and want to go back the next time I’m up there, love their selection.
Sign at Tracy’s Lounge during the WGG band set.
This is the WGG logo, Vance and I ended up buying their black t-shirts with that same logo.
And if that wasn’t enough, we drove to Melbourne Saturday night to Tracy’s Lounge to watch Vance’s co-worker Todd who plays keyboard and guitar with the cover band band Wicked Garden Gnomes. That place is open until 2 a.m. and although we didn’t close the place we did stay to watch them play three sets. The best part was watching what a great time Nick had, he loves listening to live music and enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the football game and having a chicken quesadilla. I also got to meet Vance’s co-worker Olivia and her boyfriend that night, who also stopped in to support Todd. It was a fun Saturday night. Luckily we could sleep in a bit the next morning.
Captured this while we were driving around on Saturday afternoon and don’t worry, Vance was driving.
I will say, watching those ships departing at Port Canaveral made Vance and I start thinking about taking a cruise this year, something we rarely do, even with his nearly 30 years in the industry. Probably because during those years, he and I were always traveling for work but now that that’s changed, we can actually sail for vacation which sounds really nice. I know Nick, Elizabeth and Michael would enjoy it too.
On Sunday after church, we met up with my niece Nicole, her husband Tariq and their kids Mazen and Razmi at Dunkin’ Donuts for a little family catch up. It’s always wonderful to see them. Next time we’re up in Merritt Island for the weekend we made plans to have dinner with them at Koi Hibachi Sushi & Ramen, one of their new favorite spots up there. Then on the drive home, Nick and I stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Melbourne for what has to have been the quickest meal ever. I swear we were in and out of there in half an hour. Probably because it was after 3 p.m. and the restaurant was pretty empty. The ride home was quiet, with minimal Miami crazy drivers encountered which really was a relief.
Monday morning, while doing my weekly food rescue run at Whole Foods, I met fellow food rescuer Christine Joseph who as we were chatting, I realized is the woman with the Ocean Drive Association that e-mails me information on all the performances for their weekly Sunday Ocean Drive Promenade Series for my post on South Florida on the Cheap. It was so nice meeting her in person! Then that night as I walked toward the doors of Panera in Aventura to pick up the leftover breads and sweets, I saw my buddy Jasmine, who I hadn’t seen working there in a while. It was nice to see her face and catch up with her, she’s such a sweetheart.
Tuesday morning I picked up another food rescue run at Whole Foods, this time dropping it off at the YMCA in Allapattah. It was a gross, rainy day but I was happy to do the pick up to ensure that food didn’t get thrown out.
Wednesday night when Nick and I arrived at trivia at Old Tom’s in Miami Springs, there were no tables available so we were invited to sit with some regulars who sit at the very front booth. We had a great time chatting with them and getting to know them. I mean we’ve been going there for more than 3 years and always wave and say hi but didn’t really know them very well. It was a fun night even though we didn’t win at trivia. LOL
That’s pretty much it for this week. I’m planning to attend a few opening receptions at a couple of North Miami galleries this weekend. Tomorrow I’m going to The CAMP Gallery right up the street and I’ll probably walk there and on Sunday I’m going back to Bridge Red Studios for a new exhibition opening there by local artists Kevin Arrow and Ralph Provisero. I’ve known Kevin for years since the days when I used to volunteer at MOCA. And I have a feeling I’ll run into my friend, artist Rosa Henriquez at CAMP tomorrow night.
Other than that, Vance, Nick and I are gonna go check out the Spongebob movie and probably watch lots of football.
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Now here’s some fun suggestions for stuff to do this weekend:
Listen to live music Saturday and Sunday at the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! festival at Lummus Park on Miami Beach
Catch a late-night discounted movie at Coral Gables Art Cinema on Saturday night.
Sunday Bring the kiddos to Free Family Sundays at ICA Miami in the Design District then take a stroll through the DD checking out all their bougie stores and cool art installations or head to the Lowe Art Museum in the Gables for the annual Beaux Arts Festival.
Tonight you can go to Viernes Culturales in Little Havana
Saturday you can start your morning doing Yoga at The Underline’s Brickell Backyard Plaza, visit the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU on Miami Beach for free, watch live music on the Doral Plaza at CityPlace Doral or go to South Miami and enjoy the Tropical Audubon Society’s monthly Bird-friendly Gardening Day.
That’s all for this week except for this, I pray that the customer at the Sunseeds Natural Food Store in Cape Canaveral is OK, he had quite the health scare and it shook me to see the paramedics working on him. Reminded me once again that we all need to be grateful for our health and well being. Blessings to you all and until next Friday, be well.
