The 32nd annual King Mango Strut parade on Sunday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m., promises a perfect way to celebrate the last weekend of 2013. Crazy, hilarious and super creative people find satire in every sector and put it on display during this outrageously funny parade.
If you have never attended this parade before, you have missed one of the highlights of the festival season. The parade is just the start of an all day affair as Commodore Plaza will remain closed until 6 p.m. for the After Strut Party with bands, dancing and good times.
Rotarians from all over South Florida gathered at the Hard Rock Café at Bayside for a Rotary2Rotary district mixer on Dec. 11. While District 6990 Governor Ellen Blasi got in the spirit of the season donning a Santa hat, Coral Gables Rotarians swept the event for best holiday outfits.
Among the many faces in the crowd were Jesus and Lourdes Abikarram from Hallandale; Robert Scott Marshall, Rick Miller, Dave Anderson, Scott Richey and Humberto Rivera, from the Miami Club; Gables Rotarians Yolanda Woodbridge, Elizabeth Silverman, Kristy Fueyo, Geroge Reeves, Rolf Frankfurter, and Chris Morrison, and Phil Everingham from the Coconut Grove Club. Miami Rotarian Jonathan Parker helped coordinate this event at the Hard Rock where the Miami Club meets for lunch every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. Visiting Rotarians always are welcomed.
In other news, on Dec. 7 Belinda and Scott Sime opened their home for party that doubled as a toy drive for the children of the Lighthouse for the Blind where Scott serves on the board. This annual party hosted by the couple was their most successful ever with many guests stopping by to drop off toys and then returning again to finish off the evening at the party that went on until 2 a.m. The Lighthouse for the Blind counts on Scott and Belinda for toys for their annual party and will receive 88 toys this year’s donations while Miami Children’s Hospital’s Toys for Tots will be getting another 84 toys for their children.
On the cultural front, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre’s new production, Making God Laugh, is a must see and one of the best this writer has seen in a very long time. The play is a family comedy directed by the incredibly talented David Arisco and will run through Dec. 29. The plot involves empty nest parents Bill and Ruthie (Peter Haig and Angie Radosh) who welcome their children home during the holidays over a 30-year span. It is both moving at times and hilariously funny.
Tickets for this production and any Actors’ Playhouse show make great holiday gifts and are a terrific way to support the theater. For more information, visit actorsplayhouse.org.
Finally, as holiday parties wrap up for many, one of South Florida’s oldest business organizations, Profit Inc., held its holiday luncheon party at 94th Aero Squadron on Dec. 12. During this festive lunch, Profit Inc.’s president Robert Beans of Bay Plumbing thanked Frank Obregon for stepping up to serve as executive director until a new one could be put in place. Among the many attending the affair were Elena and Bob Kemper, Wilson Alvarez, Kemp Mobley and Jacky Sabatier.
For more information on this group, contact Frank at 305-710-7345.
May you all have a happy and safe holiday season.
Until next year, keep making each day count. If you want to submit information for this column, send your news via email to gloriagalburns@ aol.com.
