Lotus House to benefit from Hope Blossoms Art Event

Hope Blossoms is an art event that will benefit the Lotus House homeless women’s shelter located in the African American historic district of Overtown in Miami-Dade County. This event, which is now in its fifth year, will feature more than 30 contemporary artists of various disciplines from all over the United States. Unlike previous installments of this annual event, this year’s fundraiser will feature both artists’ and attendees’ live works of art which will include food, movement, music, paint, poetry and sculpture. The theme of all of these works of art will be hope and of course, there will also be traditional exhibits of paintings and sculptures done by professional artists. This event takes place tonight, Friday October 16 starting at 8 p.m.

Doubletree and Marriott Hotels will be contributing by donating hotels for artists who are travelling to this art event and local restaurants such as Azul, Eos and Gallery Gourmet will be donating food for the artists and attendees to enjoy. So far Lotus house has sold some 650 of the 800 tickets that they printed for this art event.

Lotus House is a residential facility that serves homeless women and children in the Miami-Dade County. It is appropriately located in one of the poorest and most crime-riddled large American cities, where of course, their services are most needed. Lotus House provides free transitional housing for up to 50 women and children at a time and there is also a maternity wing for pregnant women and women with infants. For many women who are homeless due to medical or mental illnesses, domestic violence, disability or due to economic difficulties, there is nowhere else they can turn in their time of need, which makes the work that the Lotus House is doing a benefit to the entire community.

So if you are an art lover, or just a hopeless philanthropist, why not get out to the Margoulis Art Warehouse tonight and enjoy an evening of great art and help to benefit those women and children in Miami-Dade County who would not have anywhere to go were it not for the Lotus House and events such as this one. Tickets cost $100 and they can be purchased by going to www.lotusshelter.org or by calling 305-365-2478.

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Miami, Florida – July 2009 Events

July 8th – 12, 2009 – Zo’s Summer Groove, a five day charity event that offers something for everyone.  For more information on this great event visit the Zo’s Summer Groove website.

July 8 – 26, 2009 – XXIV International Hispanic Theatre Festival of Miami, come out and enjoy 3 weeks of performances, social events, classes and much more.  Call 305.445.8877 or visit the Teatro Avante website for more details.

July 11, 2009 – Miami Beach Community Bicycle Ride, the ride will depart from Miami Beach Bicycle Center at 601 5th Street in Miami Beach.

July 16 – 19, 2009 – Miami Dance Magic, for more information on this event you can call 954.895.5251 or visit the Coastal Dance Connection website.

July 1 – 31, 2009 – Miami Spa Month, come and celebrate the 2nd Miami Spa Month event. For more information on this event check out the Miami Spa Month website.

July 11-12, 2009 – Mango Festival, Fairchild’s 17th Annual International Mango Festival, for more information on this event visit the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden website. 

July 15-19, 2009 – Mercedes Benz Fashion Week SWIM, come out and get a glimpse of some world-class runway fashions from new swimwear designers launching their new collections. Visit the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week website or call 212.772.0899 for more details on this event.

July 30, 2009 – Taste of the Nation Miami, more than 40 chefs and world class flavors representing Miami will be participating at this great event. For more ifnormation you can call 877.26.TASTE or visit the Share our Strenghts’s Taste of the Nation website.

July 29, 2009 – Tori Amos in concert at The Fillmore Miami Beach at teh Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach for more information call 877.598.8698

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4th of July celebrations in Miami

The 4^th of July is just around the corner.  Have you figured out what you’ll be doing on our nation’s birthday? Independence Day is synonymous with goof friends, food, fun and of course, fireworks and Miami has no shortage of events to help residents and visitors alike celebrate this most important holiday. This year there are 5 different options in Miami to choose from. In order to help you decide what you how and where you will be celebrating, I have decided to post all of the different 4^th of July celebrations that are slated to take place in Miami.

So, if you haven’t decided what you are going to be doing yet, I invite you to take a look at all of the different happenings on the 4^th.

July 4^th Celebration at Miami Shores Country Club

Starting at 9 p.m. on July 4^th, there will be an awesome fireworks display at the Miami Shores Country Club. For more information please call (305) 795-2360

Address:

10000 Biscayne Boulevard

Miami Shores, FL 33138

America’s Birthday Bash

Bring the whole family to help celebrate America’s 233^rd birthday with a free concert, food, drinks and children’s activities. The day ends with a breathtaking fireworks show. No coolers, cans/bottles or fireworks allowed. For more information, please contact (305) 358-7550.

Address:

Bayfront Park

301 North Biscayne Boulevard

Miami, Florida 33132

Concert & Fireworks

This 4^th of July celebration features a car show, entertainment, food, music and rides. There will be a fireworks display at 9 p.m. for more details, please call (305) 224-4570.

Address:

Homestead Sports Complex

1601 Southeast 28^th Avenue

Homestead, Florida 33035

Miami Beach July 4^th Celebration

This annual 4^th of July celebration promises to be bigger than ever. There will be a swearing-in ceremony for new American citizens at 7:30 p.m., after which, there will be an astounding fireworks display.

Address:

Miami Beach

8^th Street and Ocean Drive

Miami Beach, Florida 33139

FIU July 4^th Celebration

Florida International University will be hosting a 4^th of July celebration that is ideal for the entire family. Starting at 6 p.m., there will be fun, games and prizes with Radio Disney. The North Miami Community Concert Band and local rock/pop performers will be providing musical entertainment. There will be food that those attending can purchase and the night ends with a stunning fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Address:

Florida International University

Biscayne Bay Campus

3000 Northeast 151^st Street

North Miami, Florida 33125

Regardless of whether you will be attending one of these events or just barbecuing with family and friends, I would like to wish you all a safe and happy 4^th of July!

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Miami, Florida – June 2009 Events

June 1 – 14, 2009 – Taste of the Gables, located at 65 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.  For more information visit the Taste of the Gables website or call 305.569.0311.

June 5 – 7, 2009 – 16th Annual South Florida Boat Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center.  Visit the South Florida Boat Show website for more details on this event.

June 5 – 13, 2009 – Brazilian Film Festival located at The Colony Theatre in Miami, for more detail on this event call 305.600.3347 or visit the Brazilian Fil Festival oficial website.

June 11 – 14, 2009 – Offshore Powerboat Challenge Weekend, located at Sunny Isles Beach, for more information on this event call 732.552.0669 or visit the Offshore Super Series website.

June 21, 2009 – Peterson’s Fathers Day Harley and Hot Rods in North Miami, for more information on this Father’s Day event visit their website.

June 26, 2009 – July 4, 2009 – USA Vollyball Girls Junior Olympics.  For more information on this event you can visit the VIII Pan-American Women’s Vollyball Cup 2009 oficial website or call 305.818.7188.

June 9, 2009 – Fuerza Bruta is coming to the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. For more information on this great extravaganza visit their website or call 305.949.0722.

June 8 – 14, 2009 – Divine Debris and Glorious Trash Art Exhibit, they will be presenting 15 artist whose works come from recycled, found or discarded material.  Opening reception will be on Tuesday June 9, 2009 at teh Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce.

June 10, 2009 – Recycling – Going with the Stream, come out and learn about new recycling programs in Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Botacnical Gardens.

June 12, 2009 -July 12, 2009 – The Children’s Trust Miami Heart Gallery, located at the Freedom Tower in Miami, for more information on this great event call 305.576.3790 or visit the Miami Heart Gallery website.

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Good times for first-time home buyers

Most housing markets across the country have been favoring home buyers for several years now, but first-time buyers are also beginning to see the benefits of the housing slump. I just read an interesting article at msnbc.com entitled, “First-time buyers benefit from housing slump”. According to this article, many markets across the US are now starting to become more attractive to first-time homebuyers as well.

Due t the large quantity of foreclosure and bank-owned homes, many homes that were financially out of reach to first-time buyers just a year ago are now becoming more affordable for first-time buyers. According to the National Association of realtors, first time buyers accounted for 53% of all homes sold in the month of March of this year, usually first-time buyers only account for 40% or less of total home sales. The NAR also estimates that first-time buyers will continue to make up the majority of buyers throughout the end of the year.  

So what has changed since last year has made conditions more favorable for first-time homebuyers?  Well, according to this article, a few things. First and most obviously, the decline in home prices has now made many homes that were not affordable to first-time buyers, more affordable than they have been in a long time. Secondly and more importantly, federal tax credits to help first-time buyers are helping to encourage first-time buyers into finally taking that step towards home ownership. The IRS began giving $7,500 in tax credits last year and has since raised that credit to $8,000 or 10% of the total value of the home. The NAR estimates that thanks to this incentive, some 300,000 potential first-time buyers will finally buy their first home in 2009.

This is not good news for those who are thinking of selling their home in the future, but hopefully this will help to stimulate our slumping national market and help home prices to stabilize to historic levels.

Please click if you would like to read this article in its entirety at msnbc.com.

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Miami, Florida – May 2009 Events

May 2009 – Spring Miami Spice  – Miami’s top restaurants will offer special three-course meals for extra-low prices.  Thsi will be the first time Miami Spice has been offered in the spring.  For more information visit the Miami Spice website.

May 2009 – Miami Museum Month – Come out an use your annual museum membership at any one of the participating museums it will work as a free pass to any of the other museums.  Below is a list of all the participating museums ir visit the Miami Museum Month website for more details.

• Art Center/South Florida
• Bakehouse Art Complex
• Bass Museum of Art
• The Haitian Heritage Museum
• Historical Museum of Southern Florida
• Jewish Museum of Florida
• Lowe Art Museum
• Miami Art Museum
• Miami Beach Botanical Garden
• Miami Children’s Museum
• Miami Science Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
• The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
• Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
• The Wolfsonian—FIU

May 14-17, 2009 – Miami International Piano Festival – Feel the Music, located at the Lincoln Theatre in Miami Beach.  Visit the Miami International Piano Festival website for schedules, artists, lectures and much more…

May 15-16, 2009 – Ivanka Trump Collection Trunk Shows – Benefiting The Playground Theater’s  2008-2009 Education and Outreach Program.  Come out to support a great cause and also to experience the exquisite diamond jewelry collection.

May 15-17, 2009 – Cuba Nostalgia – Come out for the tenth annual Cuban event featuring Cuban exhibits, traditional, food , music, artists and vendors.  Located at the Fair-Expo Center in Miami for more information visit the Cuba Nostalgia website.

May 17, 2009 – 6th Annual Greynolds Park Love-In – A celebration of the 1960’s with live music, vintage clothing and memorabilia.  For more information on this very fun event visit the Greynolds Park Miami -Dade Park and Recreation website.

May 17, 2009 – Bike Miami Days in Downtown Miami from 9 am to 2 pm explore your city streets while on yur bike, skating or walking.  For more intormation on this even visit the City of Miami Bike Miami Days website.

May 30, 2009 – The Children’s Treust Family Expo – Visit The Children’s Trust website for more details on this great event!

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South Florida home sales on the rise

I just read a good article in the miamiherald.com about home sales in South Florida.  According to this article entitled, “South Florida home sales continue to rise” South Florida Home sales in March rose by 47% in Broward County and a whopping 101% in Miami Dade County.  That is the eighth consecutive month that both Miami-Dade and Broward counties have shown growth in the number of sales compared to the year before.  According to this article, the rise in home sales can be attributed to three factors, low interest rates, falling prices and an $8,000 first-time homeowner tax credit.  Condos and apartments sales are also rising, compared to the same time last year, condo and apartment sales rose by 59% and 28% respectively.

Florida was one of few states to show an increase in home sales, nationally home resale’s were down by 7%.  This is good news for home sellers as well as the real estate markets in both counties.  The median price of a home in Miami-Dade County has dropped to $205,600, which is 39% lower than in March 2007.  The average price of a condo in Miami-Dade County is down 43% to $151,000.  In Broward County, the average home sale is down 30% to $219,500 and median condo prices are down 40% to $82,100.  In the state, the average cost of a home is $141,300, down 30% from the year before and the median condo cost is $108,800, 37% less than the year before.

Hopefully this downward trend has hit bottom, which would mean that homeowners can expect to not lose more of their homes’ values, however, there are still a good number of foreclosures on the market, which means we will probably need at least a few more months before we know for sure.

Please click if you would like to read this article in its entirety at miamiherald.com.

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Miami, Florida – April 2009 Events

Sony Ericsson Open Tennis Tournament – March 25- April 5, 2009 – For more information visit the offcial website at http://www.sonyericssonopen.com or call for tickets at 305.442.3367. Tucket prices are from $18.00 to $52.00 per person and the shuttle is $10.00

Miami-Dade County Fair and Expositiion – March 26 – April 12, 2009 – Ranked on of the largest and most successful fairs in the nation, for more infomration visit their site at http://www.fairexpo.com.  The fair is located at Southwest Miami at Coral Way and 112th Avenue. General Admission is $9.00, and kids under 5 are free.

Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament – April 2-5, 2009, for more information visit http://www.miamibillfish.com/

Nautica South Beach Triatholon – April 5, 2009 in Miami Beach. 1/2 mile swim, 19 mile bike and 4 mile run.  A portionof the proceeds to benifit St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  For more information on this great event visit http://www.southbeachtri.com/

Easter Sunday Brunch – Here are some great spots that are offering Easter Brunch.

• 1200 Courtyard Grill at The Biltmore in Coral Gables, call 305.445.8066
• Emeril’s Miami Beach on Collins, call 305.695.4550
• Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne, call 305.361.3818
• Cioppino at the Ritz-Carlton on Key Biscaybe, call 305.365.4500
• Level 25 at the Conrad Miami, call 305.503.6529

Easter Egg Hunt at Miami Seaquarium – April 10-12, 2009 – For more information on this Easter event call 305.361.5705 or visit http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/

Great Metrozoo Egg Safari – April 11 and 12, 2009. For more information on this fun event call 305.521.0400 or visit their site at http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/

AIDS Walk Miami – April 19, 2009, benifiting Broward & Miami-Dade Counties. Visit their website for more information on this great event click on AIDS Walk Miami or call 305.751.WALK (9255)

Miami Wine and Food Festival, April 23-25, 2009 at InterContinental Maimi located at 100 Chopin Plaza in Downtown Miami, for more info on this great event click on Miami Wine anf Food Festival or call  305.371.WINE

Miami & Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival – April 24- May 3,2009.  For more information on this event visit http://www.mglff.com/ or call 305.534.9924 for prices and box office events.

Miami Dragon Boat Race – April 25-26, 2009.  Benifiting Breast Cancer. For more infoamtion on this event visit http://www.miamidragon.com/ or call 305.636.0904

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Miami, Florida – March 2009 Events

Home Design & Remodeling Shows – Miami Beach Convention Center March 27-30, 2009.  For more information visit http://www.homeshows.net/

March 6 – 15, 2009 – Miami International Film Festival held at Gusmand Theater, Greedom Tower, Tower Theater in Little Havana.  For more information about screenings, films and programs visit http://www.miamifilmfestival.com/

March 13 – 15, 2009 – International Orchid Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.  For more information on this beautiful event call 305.667.1651 or visit their website at http://www.fairchildgarden.org/

March 15, 2009 – Calle Ocho 30th Anniversary from 11 am to 7 pm – World’s largest street party in the Hispanic Market.  For more information on this very fun filled event visit http://www.carnavalmiami.com/calle8/

March 8 – 13, 2009 – The Bacardi Cup 2009 Star Class Regatta.  For more information on this event or to apply visit http://www.stardistrict20.org/bacardi/index.html

March 9 – 15, 2009 – World Golf Championship at Doral Golf Resort and Spa – For all you golf lovers this is one event you do not want to miss.  For more info visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r473/

March 13 – 15, 2009 – Miami International Triatholon and Multisport Expo – The countdown is on for this spectactular event.  Call 305.255.6789 or visit http://www.mitriathlon.com for more information.

March 22, 2009 – Celebrity 5K – A Community Partnership For Homeless Event – Starts at 7:30 am – Watson Island, Nikki Beach, 980 MacArthur Causeway in Miami Beach. For more info visit http://www.runmiami.com

March 14-15, 2009 – Surside Arts Festival.  Check out the invitation above for more info or clik on the image.

March 19-22, 2009 Miami Fashion Week.  The largest Latin American and International event in the U.S.  for fashion.  Call 954.476.5761 or visit http://www.miamifashionweek.com/ for show schedule, tickets and much more.

March 21-22, 2009 – 45th Annual Key Biscayne Art Festival.  For more information contact 954.472.3755 or visit http://www.artsfestival.com for  artists, times, parking and much more.

March 26, 2009 – The 6th Annual Miccosukke Tribe of Indians Florida Coral Gables Wine & Food Festival.  Great event, proceeds benifit The American Lung Association of Florida – South Area’s lung research and The International Bronchitis Center at The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.  For more information on this event call 954.524-4657 or visit http://www.coralgableswineandfood.com/wineandfoodfestival/index.cfm

March 28-29, 2009 – 4th Annual Jazz in the Gardens at Dolphon Staium in Miami Gardens.  For more information on this great event call 305.622.8035 or visit http://www.jazzinthegardens.com/

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This Week in Miami – February 7 – February 15, 2009

Russian Dreams – A selection of works by contemporary artists from Russian art’s evolution from pre-Glasnost to present day.  A definite must see at the Bass Museum of Art.

 

For more information on this event visit www.bassmuseum.org or call 305.673.7530

MOCA Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami is featuring “The Possibility of an Island” exhibit now through March 21.

For more information visit http://www.actorsplayhouse.org  or call 305.444.9293

There is always something happening for the family at the Miami Science Museum. 

For more information visit http://www.miamisci.org or call 305.646.4200

SoBay Festival of the Arts – is going on now through February 14th. This is a great annual celebration of the literary performing and visual arts. 

For more information visit http://www.deeringestate.org or call 305.235.1668, ext. 233

Romance in a Can Film Festival for all of you who enjoy romantic comedic European film.

For more information visit http://www.mocanomi.org or call 305.893.6211

Bombshells – The Musical based on the true stories of 6 imperfect women who grew from stressed out stranger to companions for life.  Don not miss it at the Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables.

For more information visit http://www.actorsplayhouse.org or call 305.444.9293

Miami Beach Festival of the Arts – Showcases from over 100 artists, great family event.

For more information visit http://www.gonorthbeach.com or call 305.865.4147

Coconut Grove Arts Festival, come out and take a walk through history and arts.  The event takes place February 14-16, 2009.

For more information visit http://www.coconutgroveartsfest.com  or call 3053447.0401

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