Into the Summer…
You’ve heard the phrase “the dog days of summer.” Well, it seems we’ve got a kennel full of those dogs! And not just us, the entire continental USA is under a big heat dome. It’s been brutal so far; we just have to “weather through it.”
So kick back, pour yourself a chilled white wine and pour through the latest issue of SOMI Magazine. See some classic wine selections on page 28.
Summer fun is all around us with events which reflect our family-oriented community. The Team FootWorks 5K RUN/WALK kicked off the SOMI summer as hundreds upon hundreds descend on our streets to enjoy sport, music, food, friends and family. And we pause to reflect on John “Hans” Huseby, who with wife Laurie, started the race years ago.
Celebrating America’s independence is also another great time for families to come together to enjoy games, picnics, music and a great fireworks show. And you know you’re in South Florida when divers take to the bay for spiny lobster. The annual mini-lobster season was held in the last week of July and we just had to stop the presses to bring you the annual traditional Spiny Lobster Tournament festivities held at Sunset Tavern (see page 34).
Many readers have commented and appreciate the magazine’s coverage of our regional cultural resources over this past year. As we explored our “backyard,” we’ve been pleased to bring our readers to the Fairchild Tropical Garden, HistoryMiami, the Perez Art Museum, Coconut Grove’s Barnacle and recently to the Adrienne Arsht Center, with a tribute to their tenth anniversary.
This August 25, America observes the 100th anniversary of the founding of our National Parks. With our cover feature, SOMI Magazine begins a series on the national parks and over the course of our next several issues, we’ll be focusing on the parks that are in our area.
Are you addicted to your cellphone? That’s a question asked in this issue with an article published by New Theory Magazine, and reprinted on page 14. It is possible to “disconnect?”
Also, on page 21, meet a local couple who have created a new series of empowering toys for boys, who find their own “heroes” within.
We continue SOMI Magazine’s commitment to provide updates to our readership regarding The Underline, the ambitious project to transform the fallow land under the Metrorail from Dadeland to downtown Miami into an urban park and trail. The magazine supports this project and the development of the Ludlam Trail, key trails which will ultimately increase the cycling connectivity throughout the county. See page 31 for this
issue’s update.
As previously reported, The Shops at Sunset Place has been acquired from the Simon Properties. A local entity, Grass River Management, is the new owner/operator and is bringing new vitality to Sunset Place. “It’s On the Horizon” is the theme shown throughout the center. Major and dramatic changes await, including a hotel, apartments and a new look within. Art installations signal the changes. You can read about those art projects on page 35, and stay tuned to SOMI Magazine for a detailed preview of what we can expect to see over the next few years.
With the changes already happening at Sunset Place, it demonstrates how local ownership and management can efficiently and effectively respond to address the needs of the community in redeveloping the center.
Another improvement on our streets is a planned landscaped pedestrian crosswalk on Red Road at 73 Street. This is something I have advocated for some eight years, and now thanks to our County Commissioner Xavier Suarez, the plan is being realized. More improvements in town to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety are always welcome.
This is the last installment of SOMI Magazine’s eleventh year. I invite you to “Be Part of the Conversation” and weigh-in with your comments in our Readers Survey which is on page 20 and also available online.
Your comments are always welcome and much appreciated.
‘Catch up with you as we begin Volume XII come this October.
Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer, and get ready to greet a change in the weather come mid-October.
