Sidewalk protections face a final vote today
Sidewalk rules and a Dinner Key event-venue measure both reach commissioners today.
Miami commissioners take a final vote today on legislation meant to keep pedestrians moving safely through construction zones. Sponsored by District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo and co-sponsored by Rolando Escalona and Ralph Rosado, the ordinance would require right-of-way permits for large projects — generally those taller than three stories — to include temporary pedestrian protection such as sidewalk sheds, overhead coverings or scaffolding. It follows months of Coconut Grove complaints about closures at The WELL Coconut Grove on Tigertail Avenue, the Ziggurat development at Grand Avenue and Matilda Street near Coconut Grove Elementary School, and the Four Seasons Private Residences project, where sidewalks along South Bayshore Drive stayed closed for nearly two years. An amendment lets the report justifying an exemption be prepared by any Florida-licensed contractor, including one hired by the developer seeking the waiver, so long as a licensed engineer or architect approves it. Violating permit conditions could render a permit null and void. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)
Event-venue ordinance affecting The Hangar returns today
A City of Miami ordinance that could create a permanent zoning pathway for special events at The Hangar at Regatta Harbour returns to the City Commission today for the first of two required readings, six months after commissioners deferred it amid opposition from Coconut Grove residents. The measure would amend the historic preservation code so designated historic buildings could operate as event venues through an exception approved by the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board. It applies citywide, but the city-owned Hangar on the Grove waterfront remains its most visible potential beneficiary, having operated for years as a large-scale commercial venue amid questions about its lease and certificate of use. Operational, parking, noise and lighting conditions the HEP Board recommended in December appear only in the ordinance preamble, not in the code provisions commissioners would adopt. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)
Manoli opens on Main Highway
Manoli opens at 3540 Main Highway with shareable plates, fresh seafood and sizzling lamb chops. Greek chef Emmanouil "Manoli" Aslanoglou, whose background includes KYU and MasterChef Greece, runs the kitchen, and the room is built to read as Aegean. A tableside dessert trolley carries baklava, profiteroles and other Greek sweets, and the cocktail list takes its cues from Greek mythology. The restaurant lists a phone number of 754-285-5702 and a website at manoligreek.com. (Miami New Times)
A new public pool opens on Plaza Street
Coconut Grove has a new public pool for the hottest stretch of the year. The Verneka Sturrup Silva Aquatic Facility is open in Elizabeth Virrick Park on Plaza Street, where swimmers can put in laps or join a water aerobics class. Keeping cool has moved to the top of the local agenda as summer heat peaks, and the facility puts lap lanes and structured water classes inside a neighborhood park rather than sending residents out of the Grove for either. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)
A 1925 South Grove home seeks historic designation
A two-story 1925 house on Braganza Avenue is moving through the City of Miami's historic designation process, one year older than the Coconut Grove Playhouse and built in a blend of Masonry Vernacular, Mediterranean Revival and Mission Revival styles. Miami's Historic and Environmental Preservation Board unanimously approved a preliminary evaluation of the application earlier this month. The staff report cites the stucco exterior, tiled roof, arched openings, balconies and twisted columns, and finds substantial evidence the home was designed by prominent Miami architect Walter DeGarmo. Further evaluation and a public hearing come before any official designation. Properties must be at least 50 years old to qualify, and once designated, alterations, new construction or demolition require a certificate of appropriateness. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)
Miami Spice runs Aug. 1 through Sept. 30
Miami Spice Restaurant Months runs Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, marking the program's 25th edition. Three-course prix-fixe menus land at a minimum of 30 percent savings across more than 300 participating restaurants, with brunch and lunch at $40 and dinner ranging from $50 to $65. A new Miami Spice Reserve tier adds chef's-table formats, one-off seatings and wine pairings above the standard structure. The 2026 program also partners with Compost for Life, Glass for Life and Food Rescue US on waste diversion and surplus food. Participating restaurants can be searched by neighborhood at miamispice.com. (Biscayne Bay Tribune)
Illuminated fruit sculptures light Vizcaya's gardens Saturday
The finale of The Fruit We Bear takes over Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on Saturday, July 25, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Guests carry miniature lanterns in a procession from Vizcaya Village to the waterfront at twilight, where nine large-scale illuminated fruit sculptures sit throughout the historic formal gardens. Music, local food vendors and participatory artmaking fill the waterfront terrace. The experience is self-guided and designed for all ages. Tickets are $15 for adults 13 and older, $10 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children under 5 and Vizcaya members. (Vizcaya Museum and Gardens)
Live Music Night set for the Coconut Grove Pavilion
Live Music Night comes to the Coconut Grove Pavilion on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. The evening features local bands and artists, and it is framed as a night out for friends and family. (Coconut Grove BID events calendar)