Coral Gables’ “First Friday Gallery Night” is tonight, Oct. 6, 2006.

You can enjoy the art along with food and drink as you stroll the galleries along Ponce de Leon Blvd and the off streets.

There are dozens of galleries to enjoy from the Virginia Miller on Madiera to Alexander and Victor on Miracle Mile. The Americas Collection on Ponce is a must-see as well as the PIAG Museum on Ponce.

There are special Coral Gables Gallery Night buses that offer free transportation between the major art galleries which is good because the galleries go all way from Miracle Mile to The Village of Merrick Park!

For more info and a complete map, please go here: http://www.greatgables.com/coralgables/gallerystroll.html

The South Florida Auto Show opens at the Miami Beach Convention Center today. Running through October 15, 2006, 600,000 people are expected to attend!

“The auto industry always drums up excitement,” said Chris Berian, show chairman of this year’s event, “and the South Florida show is a favorite. It kicks-off the traditional car buying season.”

More info here.

People, grow up. When Tom Fiedler, The Miami Herald’s Exec. Editor said, “22 people who listen to Cuban radio” were being stirred up by “little chihuahuas nipping at their heels,” he was using a common English expression.

Don’t let your moronic ignorance make it out to be more than it is. Learn English and English expressions for one thing.

It sickens me that Fiedler felt the need to apologize on The Herald’s front page today. How the mighty have fallen. Fielder should grow some balls and tell the obnoxious mafia to screw off and not kiss their asses with his apology.

I find it highly offensive when some in the Latin community want Fiedler fired and want the new publisher David Landsberg replaced by a Latin. THIS is totally bigoted and offensive.

If you want to see the kind of shows The Carnival Center is putting on check out this amazing 10 minute clip of the upcoming show called UP WAKE.

[ " ]Up Wake is a fast-paced tragic-comedy that fuses clowning, movement and technology to follow Zero, a toon character, throughout his day. More than a show, Up Wake is a science project where performer, original score, text projection and digitally animated images are meticulously integrated to transform a live 3-D installation into a magical journey of the human soul. [ " ]

Absolutely amazzzzzing stuff. The Miami Light Project & Natasha Tsakos are presenting this unique show. Check it out!! I will .. Shows November 30 - December 2nd.

Tickets.. http://www.carnivalcenter.org/

Laters ..

Home Depot has blasted into the Grove and is letting everyone know it. As if to say - “We know you don’t want us here , but what are you gonna do about it ? ” Read the Coconut Grove Grapevine for more details.

On Saturday I drove up to Palm Beach, via I-95. As I entered from US 1, I almost ran over a bumper lying in the right lane. Coming off the Golden Glades flyover, there was a wooden coffee table in the one lane. Passing Ft. Lauderdale there was refrigerator in the left shoulder, sticking into the fast lane. Just north of Boca Raton - a child’s minicar (the kind with a motor that can really be driven, about 3 or 4 feet long) was lying upside down in the center lane. The traffic was averaging about 85 mph in this area. During this time I had listened to the traffic reports - warning of a kitchen sink in 595 and a couch somewhere else.

On other trips I have seen stoves, pipes, a whole truckload of oranges and more. It would be a good idea if drivers of flatbeds and pickups would secure their cargo.

Unfortunately I was unable to get pictures - the debris is only seen for a second before you almost hit it.

Joe Girardi, the Florida Marlins manager, was fired today simply because he couldn’t get along with the owner Jeffrey Loria. Here they are in happier times, in the photo above. Story here.

Okay, so why did I think I had tons of time to order tickets? AÏDA opens at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Carnival Center on October 28th. The tickets range from cheap-o ($10) to bling-o ($150). When I went to log on to buy tickets I was confused by the seating charts and how they match up to the ‘Buy Tickets’ shopping cart. Yes, this would be my first opera .. can you tell? I am still very excited to take my nieces to see the beautiful diva Angela Brown’s debut. Once I figure out how to use this ticketing system I will give a review on it in late November. Looks like that is all that is available anyway. Do I have to dress up? I haven’t worn a dress since my wedding day ..

Laters ..

[Carnival Center Website]
AÏDA
October 28 @ 7 p.m.
November 12, 19** @ 2 p.m.
November 1, 4, 7, 10, 16*, 22**, 25*, 28**, 30** @ 8 p.m.