Photo provided by Karla Rima
Learn more about The Rounds, Miami’s first zero-waste delivery-refill service, featuring pantry staples and local favorites
Who are you?
I’m a local, a parent, an activist, a forward thinker and a seeker of all things fun and educational!
What professional and/or volunteer work do you do?
I split my days wearing multiple hats; mom, wife, and business owner. Most mornings are routine and mundane: make the bed, get the kids to school, do the dishes, then plan out the day.
On any given weekday, I’m on client calls building our programming for the environmental workshop An Hour for Earth (created with children and families in mind), on-site at photoshoots for local clients, or scheduling out their media. I also tutor elementary-aged children three times a week and mom-chauffeur shuttle my kids to karate, drums, or golf!
When I’m not doing that, I’m working as an active member in the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club International, Coconut Grove chapter. Most recently, I’ve connected with the Coconut Grove Village Council, Children’s Trust, and County Commissioner, Raquel Regalado to further discuss improving children’s literacy as well as waste and recycle management in our neighborhood.
What brings you most alive about this city?
The joy and difference between the City of Miami, specifically Coconut Grove, and the rest of the county is the sense of connection among the residents, travelers, and business owners. For the most part, there’s a collective mindset to live greener lives, educate our youth, and be kind to one another.
What’s your favorite Miami memory?
This is a tough one. I was born in Coconut Grove, spent my early childhood in Flagami, and was raised in Kendall. As an adult, I’ve lived in South Miami and Brickell before deciding to raise our own family in Coconut Grove. There are so many memories in South Florida, but to answer the question, some of the funnest memories that come to mind are from when the Heat won the playoffs and the streets came to life with pots and pans, chanting, and a sense of pride in our community. If we could bottle that feeling and share it each time there’s a sense of road rage or Karen-infused moment, we would be the perfect city.
If you could eat only one meal from a local restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This used to be an easy answer: hands down Los Ranchos and Cheesecake Factory — don’t laugh! Now, my palette’s become more refined. I love B Bistro on McFarlane Road for breakfast or brunch — the crab eggs benedict and strawberry goat cheese croissant are to die for! Now for lunch, Krus Kitchen on Main Highway is worth the splurge — order the coconut rice bowl, octopus or grass-fed pastrami sandwich.
Pick a favorite local outdoor experience. What is it? What’re we doing? Who’s going with ya?
Wynwood has great outdoor events, however, my heart is entangled and attached to the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. It’s the largest outdoor festival each year, closing down at least 4-5 blocks of Center Grove and ushering in nearly 100,000 locals and tourists. I’ve attended the festival for at least 10 years. Normally, I’ll get the weekend pass and each day is spent differently, one day for the kids and one day for adulting (kid-free).
What’s your favorite local Instagram account and why?
It’s a given; most of us already know and follow Alex Klump and her fam. I love @beyondsouthbeach — the content is great, but it’s the people behind the camera that I admire and feel inspired by. Other accounts I keep up with are @nicolelovar, @thefashionpoet, @concernedcook, and @carothetourguide.
If you could give any one piece of advice to locals, what would it be?
Follow me on social media, @thegrovegirl, meet up with other locals, don’t be afraid to say hi, look up, smile and enjoy the view, because Coconut Grove is unlike any other city in Miami.
What’s an unpopular opinion you have about the city?
There’s plenty of parking (LOL).
What’s a project you’re working on (big or small) and how can our readers help you with it?
Our current project is titled An Hour for Earth, where we bring in a not-for-profit speaker to educate children and adults on important environmental and health issues like compostable foods, composting methods, growing your own edible garden, nutrition, community health, food insecurity, recycling, and literacy. Each quarter, we partner with organizations like The Rounds.co, a zero-waste sustainable delivery service of food and home goods, Art Lovers Hub, a local retail store supporting local artisans and plastic-free initiatives, Pure Water Factory, local restaurants, community food pantries, local and state government agencies and more.
We would like to invite your readers to attend and learn how they too, can lead a greener, less carbon footprint lifestyle the last Saturday of each month. For updates on location, visit our online calendar: social calendar — The Grove Girl (grovegirlsocial.com) or on IG.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Making a local impact in our community, starting with our children. I once heard a man say, 40% of the population are children, but they are 100% of our future. Education and communication starts now.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Locals to Know. Know someone who ought to be featured or would like to be featured yourself? Reach out by sending an email to [email protected] with the subject line “TNT Locals to Know 2022.” If chosen, you might just see yourself or a friend in a future newsletter.