Hiccup-less week
Last week I had a few hiccups both professionally and in a new volunteer venture so this week I focused and began the week hoping for a hiccup-less week. I’m happy to report my week has gone really well.
Nick getting ready to blow out his candles with his girlfriend Sabrina by his side and friends behind him.
My great nephew Marcos, his mom Patty, my sister-in-law Berta and my brother Manolo at Nick’s party.
My niece’s husband Tariq, my sister Mari and my niece Nicole enjoying the party.
Cousins Ramzi and Hailey at Nick’s party.
Nick, his friend Geno and old neighborhood friends Marcos and Mikley at his birthday party.
Cousins Mazen, in the Messi jersey and Jojo playing at the birthday party.
Last weekend we had family and friends at the house on Saturday afternoon for Nick’s 29th birthday party. There was pizza, cake, lots of chatter and catching up and plenty of rain (what a downpour!), luckily we were inside. The best part, Nick had a great time and everyone who came enjoyed themselves so the party was a success! It was hilarious to watch Nick walk around our cul- de-sac, stopping at our neighbor’s houses to introduce them to his girlfriend Sabrina and her Mom.
The sunrise at Surfside beach on Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, after waking up early enough I decided that instead of lying in bed scrolling through my phone I should go watch the sunrise at Surfside beach so that’s exactly what I did and it was the best decision ever. I laid out my towel, took some deep breaths and worked through a few stretching exercises and yoga poses. The quiet lapping of the shoreline, woosh and squeak from seagulls and awe-inspiring, bright golden/orange sun rising behind perfect puffy white clouds was the perfect start to the day.
I always love meeting friends for breakfast on weekday mornings, especially after I drop off Nick at his program and I was able to do that on Wednesday when I met my friend Claire at La Carreta. I know Claire from volunteering with Food Rescue. Catching up with her is always a blast, we have so much in common. I always look forward to our conversations about life, family (she is the youngest of four and I’m the youngest of six), kids and careers. As we said goodbye we vowed to not let so much time go by and try and meet up a couple of times a month.
Tonight I’m looking forward to dinner at my friend Janet’s house with mutual friends Betty and Madelyn, and tomorrow a Miami Spice lunch at Otto & Pepe in Wynwood with my sister Ana and best friend Monica. Sunday is my great nephew Jojo’s 3rd birthday so I’ll be at my sister Susy’s house celebrating and watching the Miami Dolphins play the San Francisco 49ers. We’ll see how they do, but I’m not very hopeful.
I was busy with plenty of writing assignments this month so here are links to a few of my articles that were published this week.
First, my Artburst article about the Miami-Dade Public Library’s Teen Poetry Contest and the workshops and film screenings that accompany it. Click here to read it on the Artburst website and here it is, also featured in The Miami Times. Additionally, my article on the Overtown Performing Arts Center, which happened as a result of a conversation a while back at a conference, was also published in The Miami Times this week and here’s that link. I was especially proud of this one since it was my idea and my pitch to the Editor and it ended up on the cover of their Living Black section.
I was also tickled and proud to find out that this week I reached a volunteering milestone. I’ve done 100 rescues with Food Rescue South FL since I started back in 2020!
Now here are some suggestions for things to do around Miami this weekend and beyond…
Take advantage of Miami Spice for great deals at some of our best restaurants, which has been extended for another month and now goes through Oct. 31.
Tonight, if you’ve got no plans, there’s a free art and jazz night at the Arts & Recreation Center in Opa-locka from 7-10 p.m. featuring the work of prolific and one of Miami’s most beloved artists, the late Purvis Young, followed by a jazz performance. Click here for info.
Miami Film Lab Filmcraft Workshop Series continues at Gables Art Cinema on Saturday, Sept. 19 with their “All About Props” talk led by Prop Master Romain Gateau. Tickets are $10. Click here for info.
Sunday, from 6-7:30 p.m., watch the five-member group Son Gitano perform at Lummus Park on Miami Beach as part of the Ocean Drive Promenade Series. Click here for info.
And if you like swapping stuff, thrifting and sorting through “things” visit The Things Lab in Hialeah for their monthly swap meet. Click here for info.
That’ll do it for this week. And if you know anyone that would enjoy reading this blog and finding out what to do around Miami and South Florida, please feel free to encourage them to subscribe!
Have a great weekend.
