Reminder: Stamp Out Hunger Collection Tomorrow May 9

Take a moment to go through your pantry this evening and pull some non-perishables out for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive tomorrow. The food drive, which is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, is a nationwide food drive, but the items collected do remain in the community--so food collected in Miami-Dade tomorrow will be delivered to food banks, pantries, and shelters in our county.

All you have to do, is leave the items you would like to donate in a bag by your mailbox, and you letter carrier will pick it up when he/she brings your mail.

For extra measure, if you run into your letter carrier (or any other letter carrier) tomorrow, take a moment to say "thank you" to them for participating in the drive. It's hot out there, they already have a lot of deliveries due to Mother's Day cards and gifts, and they are going the extra mile.

Photo: sxc.hu/LittleMan

Recycling #5 Plastic in Miami: Go To Whole Foods

So, a while back I excitedly wrote a post (here) about how Miami-Dade county seemed to be revamping their recycling program with new bins/cans, and a WAY-expanded list of recyclable items. That was at the beginning of March, it is now the beginning of May, and still the same old recycling bins, program, and list of recyclables. Sooooo...I'm going to go ahead and mention that Whole Foods accepts #5 plastics for recycling in their stores. They are participating in the Preserve Gimme 5 program, which was designed to accept the increasingly popular #5 plastics, that are typically not accepted as part of most city and county-run recycling programs.

The bin at the Coral Gables store is right by the customer service desk.

Last Arsht Center Free Family Fest of the Season Tomorrow May 2

Our definition of "in season" is a little whacked out here in south Florida--while most of the country is just starting to have weekend after weekend of outdoor festivals, fairs, farmer's markets and fests, our "season" is winding down as the heat descends upon us.

So I wanted to mention that for all you fans of the Adrienne Arsht Center's monthly first Saturday Free Family Fest events, this Saturday is the last Free Family Fest until November 7.

The event runs from 11:30 to 1:30 at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza in front of the Adrienne Arsht Center, and is 100% FREE.

I've never been to the Family Fest, but have always meant to, because it does sound fantastic, very interactive, and with a variety of activities. I'm going to try to check this out tomorrow, unless of course it is a blazing 1000 degrees outside.

The schedule for their grand finale Family Fest of the season is:

PERFORMANCES:

Animate Object’s Journey to Atlantis – aerial show

Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band – sing-a-long American folk songs
ACTIVITIES:

Summer Shorts for Kids - acting and hands on activities

Craft Corner – make and take craft

Movement Classes – learn some new dance moves

Physical Theater activities – try out acrobatic moves

Face Painting

Costumed characters

The website also says that they offer free parking until noon in "Lot C" across from the Center. The Family Fest web page has a little more info, and an option to sign up for emails about family events at the Arsht Center, which is kinda cool.

Photo: sxc.hu/bluegum