The Solar Dogs recently teamed up with Shell Lumber for an evening of fun that featured two live bands, local artists, food trucks and more for its fourth annual Howl in the Wood.
The idea for this annual event started with a chance meeting between Solar Dogs’ Bill Kunz, a retired Pan American pilot, and Paul Naron, owner of Shell Lumber at Coconut Grove Sailing Club five years ago. Once Naron offered the site for the event, band members then looked for ways to involve the Coconut Grove community and called on artists and food vendors to participate.
From the start it was a great success and has become an event that everyone looks forward to attending every year. Kunz expressed his appreciation to Shell Lumber for generously donating the site and its president, Jesus Guzman, who helped with the logistics for this year’s event.
Wanting to find a way to give back again this year, Kunz approached Shake-A Legs’ Kathleen Harris to orchestrate a way for Shake-A-Leg to not only raise money through the sale of $500 worth of Howl in the Wood tickets but also provide space at the event for Shake-A-Leg to solicit donations and promote its many programs.
It was a win-win for all. Guests not only enjoyed the music of Coconut Grove’s own Solar Dogs but a great opening act by Avocado Estate from the UM School of Music. Kunz and his band have plans to provide a free concert in the fall at Shake- A-Leg as well.
On the art scene, the Wynwood Exhibition Center held an exhibition the evening of Apr. 13 where Nancy Martini and other environmentally conscious artists explored the connection between nature and urban life as a way to inspire the concept of growing food wherever a pocket of nutrient rich soil can be found in our overbuilt and stressed communities.
Each sculpture used an upcycled item to symbolize everyday urban life and human impact on the environment and brown paper to mimic brown grocery bags, representing our relationship with store purchased food as well as to unite man, objects and nature. Viewing the art really makes one conscious of how much waste we produce that can be repurposed.
On the club scene, the GFWC Coco Plum Woman’s Club conducted its annual bridge/card party on Mar. 20. Acrowd of 75 attended the affair all of whom enjoyed the food for the luncheon prepared by the members.The affair raised $ 2,000, which was donated to Feeding Florida Food Bank.
Finally, if you are a “Workaholic” business owner, “Ms. Biz Doctor,” Hilda Cadenas-Miller, has your formula for success. A management business consultant with 25 years of experience working with organizations such as American Express, Chase Manhattan, and the University of Miami, Hilda delivers her message every Wednesday, 8 a.m., on WIOD. Hilda welcomes input from other business leaders who want to be heard on the show and can be reached at 786-252-4134 or via email at hilda@msbizdoc.org
Those interested may view and download the 12 Steps to Business Prosperity for the Workaholic at www.msbizdoc.org. Cardenas-Miller also plans on holding a series of get free workshops at El Carajo in Coconut Grove in the near future and invites all to attend. Until next time, keep making each day count.
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