A French sculptor has become the talk of Lincoln Road. If you are going to be in the Miami area Sunday, January 8, 2023, make sure you attend the King Mango Strut parade in the center of Coconut Grove at 2pm. It lasts for two hours. I’m looking forward to The Coconut Grove Arts Festival in February, which has been “the social event of the year.” Catch a free concert every Sunday night at Lummus Park—and you never know what surprise celebs might show up to entertain. And make sure to listen into this week’s Happy Hour Podcast.

Richard Orlinski Debuts on Lincoln Road 

A French sculptor has become the talk of Lincoln Road. Richard Orlinski’s monochromatic diamond-cut sculptures of wildlife and cultural icons are on display from Alton Road to Washington Avenue. While some folks think the sculptures look more like they belong on the Las Vegas strip, others are happy to have them on Lincoln Road because they are attracting locals and tourists to the world famous outside mall. Retail stores that surround the sculptures say visitors are busy photographing the collection.

Photos by Eliot Hess

The 56 year old Orlinski started his artistic career in the early 2000’s. Inspired by Pop artists Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and Robert Indiana, Orlinski uses industrial materials like resin and aluminum to craft highly pigmented and polished renderings of bears, panthers, and his signature subject, King Kong. Orlinski has exhibited his sculptures at galleries and venues including Art Basel, FIAC, Art Élysées, and the Palace of Versailles, as well as in outdoor spaces such as the French Alps in 2018, during which skiers could catch glimpses of his giant animals as they passed.

Since 2015, Orlanski has been recognized as one of the best-selling French contemporary artists in the world. In addition to his public display, Orlinski has opened a gallery at 801 Lincoln Road which is now dedicated to his work.

The Orlinski Galleries are currently in Paris, London, Courchevel 1850 and Saint-Tropez. GET THE DETAILS.

LISTEN IN HERE OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS.

The King Mango Strut, A Totally Amusing And Fun Activity

If you are going to be in the Miami area Sunday, January 8, 2023, make sure you attend the King Mango Strut parade in the center of Coconut Grove at 2pm. It lasts for two hours.

We have been attending this event for over 20 years, except for the last two because of Covid. We are thrilled it’s back. It’s definitely the most bizarre parade you will ever see. It is filled with commentary on a lot of subjects, mostly major personalities in entertainment and politics. This year the agenda calls for the  Marching Freds, The Synchronize Briefcase Brigade, The Booger King, The Million Chad March, The League of Dead Voters, Cuban Eye for the Gringo Guy, Idu Grab Prison, Weapons of Mass Distraction, Osama Piñata, The Hare Krishnas and the Running of the Bullshitters is strutting yet again!!!

Let the fun begin!  Hold it! You have something to say???? Become a King Mango Strutter!

Here’s how to join the weirdest parade in Miami Dade:

• Complete the registration form online or in person.
• You can start your own parade unit and join the march by filling out one of our entry forms. If you like, you can join up with one of the other groups. There are lots of causes to support and each unit can always use more merry marchers to liven things up.
• Join us for one of our infamous brainstorming sessions, held in the fall months leading up to the strut to see what we are up to this year. See the events schedule for current details.
• If you can’t wait another second, call the Mango Hotline at (305) 582-0955

For more details and to sign up to be part of the parade, please visit: http://kingmangostrut.org/

Feb. 18-20. It’s Called the Coconut Grove Arts Festival 2023

But it’s so much more and it’s celebrating its 59th year by staying true and embracing the new: “A Different Kind Of Hue.” For those of you who do not know, Coconut Grove is considered the area where many people in the arts and entertainment live. Up until 10 years ago it was very “hippie.” Now it’s so expensive that much of the creative community moved out. However, the long running events have remained.

Here is what Miami Community News had to say:

The festival is located in Miami’s Coconut Grove area, adjacent to beautiful Biscayne Bay. It runs along the streets of McFarlane Road, South Bayshore Drive and Pan American Drive. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is not just about art; it’s also the social event of the year. Over 120,000 attendees from across the region pass through the gates of The Coconut Grove Arts Festival to experience one of the nation’s top outdoor, fine-arts festivals that dates to 1963. This iconic South Florida event presents more than 300 internationally recognized artists who were selected during a blind-jury process based solely on artistic merit. The jury panel is comprised of collectors, influencers, and educators in the local arts community.  READ MORE.

Free Concerts in Lummus Park

It’s so nice to know that Miami offers free entertainment.  The Ocean Drive Association has been presenting a family-friendly concert series every Sunday night in Lummus Park, between 14th Street and 14th Place. There is a variety of music that pleases everyone.

The interesting thing is that celebrities like Gloria Estafan, Pitbull, Phil Collins and Pharrrel Williams show up from time to time. They either join the performance or sit quietly with the audience. It’s amazing to be able to spot a major personality enjoying a community event.

We have friends that go to these events all the time.  Everyone brings their own chairs, blankets, and picnic. If you go often enough you see some of the same people and make friends. Cliques have formed and they start sharing picnic food. They even plan to meet at other local events.

Don’t worry if it rains, The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive hosts the crowd.  Let me know if you go to one of the concerts. Give me a review.

Feng Shui Master Debra Duneier will share how to harness and enhance the new chi that is about to arrive with rituals that are celebrated around the world. This “Feng Shui for the Year of the Rabbit” Workshop will teach you fun ways to celebrate the New Year and a forecast as to what to expect for the next 12 months. GET THE DETAILS.