"Semi Celebrities" Sightings in Wynwood. by Geniusofdespair

I was on NW 26th Street and NW 5th Avenue, on the way to Zach's Bakery.  Who do I run into doing his Real Estate shopping? None other than Jorge Perez. Of course I got it on my camera:

Jorge Perez looking over the hood, and Pinkie Girl (she talked like she was a real estate agent). What is he thinking? "All these one story buildings have to go?"

Here is where Art Patron/Developer Jorge Perez was going

Sideview of same building. It is Wynwood after all. I wonder what the meaning is of the Mural?  I wonder if it is forecasting its destruction?

Wynwood is such a hot spot I also ran into Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, head of the DNC, eating at Zach's Bakery.  Funny, I never saw her eating in her district, EVER. Actually, I never have seen her out and about campaigning in her district. Doesn't have to.

Debbie isn't a celebrity like "The Donald" -- no marshmallow hair or pastel pink tie but she is powerful presence in Democratic Circles.

Debbie was nice enough to pose for me. That suit, it is so...congressional looking?? She sure is buttoned up.

Speaking of "The Donald" he was in brain-dead Jacksonville on Saturday, where if you don't have a pick-up truck, you are nobody. Here is a photo that my niece sent. Sometimes his rallies have food, like "Have pancakes with the Donald." This one appears to be sans food. Foolish people, if they held out they could have gotten hamburgers or something.

Wynwood - I 195 Police Brutality Protest A Couple of Days Ago. By Geniusofdespair

Watch on YouTube

Great video, you feel like you are there...in the traffic.  Thank you Daniel Ducassi for the video.

Disrupting Art Basel and other stuff over the recent killings around the country.

Don't Miss Art Basel Events. By Geniusofdespair

Art Miami 2011

Tony Goldman at Wynwood Walls (Miami Herald)

There are hundreds of events going on, between December 6-9th, all over the metro area of Miami Dade County. They all revolve around Art Basel which is in the Miami Beach convention center. If you don't like art you can still have fun around town. Check out the Wynwood area. The Wynwood Walls (thank you Tony Goldman, may he rest in peace) are one of the highlights of the City of Miami. If you have never been there, it is time. Start out at 2506 NW 2nd Avenue. The walls have expanded from Goldman's plaza to the surrounding streets. It is magical street art and the area is alive with energy during Art Basel, with pop-up galleries and people wandering around the area. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the action. The Miami Herald has an Art Basel pullout today.

Some events remain in your memory that make you sorry you missed them. For me, I stayed home New Year's Eve 2000. Stupid. Every year I go to events around Art Basel because NO WHERE else in the entire country is there such an opportunity for joy in celebrating the arts.  No more missed events for me...except I did miss the Eddie Vedder concert last night. Drat!

Gimleteye: Wynwood and Second Saturday

I wrote about the Second Saturday phenomenon in Wynwood two years ago: "... it is where the energy of the city manifests one night a month. And that is a very good thing."

Having been away from the city, I returned to Wynwood last Saturday night. What a scene.

What I did today. By Geniusofdespair

 

We went to Wynwood to show out of town guests the Wynwood Walls. I took a picture of what I consider one of the best walls in Wynwood (above).  We then went to the Coconut Art Fair and we bought this art glass by Scott Gamble (below). I then had some Lin-Mania viewing, and ended with watching a Miami Heat win.  Good day. Pizza bound.

Too Hot For Coconut Grove Art Fair? By Geniusofdespair

George "Hairbrush" Tjungurrayi

They are expecting record heat today, but don't despair if the outdoor Coconut Grove Art Fair is too hot for you.  You can always go to the indoor Art Wynwood. I did. Besides the Boteros, Lictensteins and the Rauschenbergs they had some unique pieces. I was impressed with the Aboriginnal art on display from the Leslie Smith Gallery. I especially like a George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi painting (similar to the one below I found on line- my photo didn't come out). The one at left is at the gallery showing at Wynwood.

From the John Leech Gallery

Here is some more of what I saw.  Read the record labels, music for the depressed, for some laughs...

A portion of the piece.

More of it...

Everyone was thinking crosses...

Is It Safe To Eat Out in Miami Dade County? By Geniusofdespair

I was happier when crooks targeted homes, my chances were better. Now 2 places I have eaten at, Joey's in Wynwood (August 29th) and a few miles away Luna Star Cafe in North Miami (early August), have been targets of armed robbers. Luna Star actually had a shot fired and the customers were robbed too. Both joints had 3 armed robbers. A McDonald's was also robbed in July at 15096 NW Seventh Avenue and in June a Chili's Restaurant at 174th Street near Northwest 57th Avenue. In these 2 cases there were 2 men carrying handguns. Like the other two robberies, they ordered all the patrons to the floor. Can you imagine lying on a dirty, disgusting restaurant floor?

Mario the Baker on West Dixie Highway in North Miami has paid an off duty cop for at least 20 years and it has been an effective crime deterrent. The Luna Star had $500 in the register. Hardly enough to pay a cop $35 an hour to stand out front. The Chili's claimed they had $600 (that I don't believe).

Will I go to Joey's or Luna Star at night anymore? Probably not. I have been going to trendy restaurants in the downtown at night. I don't think I will anymore. The police have to do better. In the case of Wynwood, this is a struggling new neighborhood trying to find its footing. There should be a policeman on foot at night. They say the incidents are isolated but tell that to a customer looking for a place to eat...won't fly. This is deadly PR.

P.S. Just found another restaurant armed robbery (3 robbers with an assault rifle and handguns): The Doral Ale House, the end of April 2011. And a reader said a Taco Bell on 163rd Street was robbed with patrons again face down on the floor (163rd Street) in July. They had assault rifles. Are we seeing a bad trend?