Week 1 of 2026…Happy New Year!

Happy New Year and welcome 2026. I hope everyone had a safe and joyful New Year’s Eve with family and friends. And wishing my sister Ana a Happy Birthday today!!!

Lisanne Lyons performing music from the Great American Songbook with accompanying bassist, drummer and keyboard player (who is sitting directly behind her).

I started last weekend with an evening walk over to the MOCA Plaza here in my neighborhood. Why? Because it was the last Friday of the month and that always means Jazz at MOCA! It was a fantastic concert by jazz singer LIsanne Lyons and a trio of musicians featuring a bassist, keyboard player and drummer. They performed a 90-minute set from the Great American Songbook featuring music by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and closing it out with my all-time favorite, Ella Fitzgerald. The weather was ideal, the Christmas decor on the plaza adding to the ambiance and it was nice to run into Hannah Baumgarten, co-artistic director/founder of Dance NOW! Miami who came over and gave me a great big hug.

Surfside beach at 95th St. and Collins Ave.

Saturday, Elizabeth, Vance and I went to brunch at Bagel Bar East on NE 123 St. just east of Biscayne Blvd. and then took that further east to end up at Surfside beach where we dipped our toes in the sand and took a moment to bask in the warm glow of the sun and gaze at the shimmering, crystal clear, blue/green gradient water. It was truly magical and oh so relaxing. Afterwards, we got back on Biscayne Blvd. and headed north up to Village of Gulfstream Park where we shopped at Williams-Sonoma to buy Elizabeth a kitchen torch and Crate & Barrel where I treated myself to a box of decadent dark chocolate and sea salt peanut butter bites that were half off! They are delicious and I’ve been having a few every day this week.

Sunday, after church Elizabeth and I did a little more shopping, this time at the Japanese store Daiso in Miami Gardens. There she bought herself a few things while I bought myself a mini frother so I can froth up the milk for my hot chocolates and also brought home some other treats and a few sewing items I’d been needing. Vance and Nick were at the final Miami Dolphins home game where they were victorious!

This photo and the next two are of the spectacular view at Pennekamp.

Lush view from the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park boardwalk.

All smiles during a fun day in Key Largo at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Elizabeth who always says how much she misses the beach when she’s up in Orlando at school, was very happy to spend the day wading in the water at Pennekamp.

Monday, after food rescue, Elizabeth, Vance and I headed to Key Largo where we encountered plenty of traffic and a long line into John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park where we’d planned to kayak but unfortunately weren’t able to. Kayaks were sold out by the time we arrived at the concession stand to rent them. We did manage however to have a nice lunch looking out on the water and wade in their little beach were Elizabeth spotted a crab and some other marine life. We also all took a nice long walk along the nature trail boardwalk where we looked out on the water and spotted fish and enjoyed the glorious weather.

Sunset view from behind The Caribbean Club in Key Largo.

I wanted to see the sunset so suggested we go sit by the water behind the Caribbean Club and that was definitely the right idea. That photo above was the sunset we experienced while listening to live music and enjoying a cocktail and that spectacular view. We ended the day with dinner at Sundowners just next door where we had a really delicious meal.

Tuesday, Ana and I attended opening night of the Broadway in Miami production & Juliet at the Arsht Center. I really didn’t know what to expect but Ana had researched and knew the music would be good and it was! They were all very recognizable contemporary pop songs that were perfectly woven into the storyline and certainly added a comedic element. The dance numbers were also phenomenal and the script was a great twist on the classic Shakespeare play. The show ends this Sunday and the Arsht Center is offering a discount on tickets. Click here for details.

View of the Biscayne canal on the last nature walk of 2025.

Cool post-midnight pic of NYE at Casa Wutzler. Pic by Margaret.

Wednesday, Elizabeth, Vance and I took a nice long walk through Biscayne Park on another absolutely delicious day. Later on I went to pick up my sister Maria and brought her back to our house. We watched the first half of the UM vs. Ohio State game, I baked brownies and made some appetizers, we got ready, loaded up the car and drove to South Miami to spend New Year’s Eve at Kevin & Michelle’s house. It was a nice party with their friends and family with great food, a UM victory over Ohio State, a Veuve Clicquot midnight toast and fireworks, lots and lots of fireworks, and sparklers and Chinese lanterns and a few small fires due to said lanterns and fireworks that Kevin quickly put out with the hose! LOL

Yesterday for New Year’s Day after attending mass and dropping my sister Maria back home, I cooked up a wonderful pot of lentils (pictured above), watched a lot of football, laid around and read a little bit.

Today Elizabeth, Nick, Vance and I plan to go to the Frost Science Museum and check out the DaVinci exhibit and walk along the bay and grab a bite somewhere.

This weekend is up in the air, no idea what we’re doing but below are some suggestions to you from me.

Here’s a little Calendar of Events/Suggestions of Things to Do:

Tonight you can walk around Downtown Coral Gables for their monthly Gallery Night and then Saturday you can find a Farmer’s Market somewhere around Miami.

Sunday you can head to Coconut Grove and watch the wacky parody parade, the King Mango Strut.

Also on Sunday, from noon to 3 p.m. you can attend the closing reception of “Bridge Red 8” featuring works by the studio artists at Bridge Red Studios in North Miami. You’ll love this intimate two-story space with shows on the bottom and top floors. And I will probably be stopping in.

To kick off the year, I want to share a few web links with you that I think you’ll enjoy and bring some positive and heartwarming news to your inbox. They are…

Reasons to Be Cheerful, Daily Good, Karma Tube, Great Big Story and Positive News. As I discover others, I will share them with you.

And a final pic of the beautiful Royal Poinciana tree at Ed Burke Park in Biscayne Park where I sat after having lunch there during a solo walk.

Here’s wishing you all a prosperous, healthy 2026 and I’ll see you here again next Friday.