Street festival to celebrate MiMo style

MiMo Madness will bring food and fun to a historic Miami neighborhood.



BY RODOLFO ROMAN
Special to the Miami Herald


One of South Florida's historic neighborhoods will transform into a major street party this weekend.

The third annual MiMo Madness street festival will celebrate the historical Miami Modern architecture on Biscayne Boulevard from Northeast 67th to Northeast 75th Street from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. The free festival is sponsored by a volunteer community organization, the MiMo Biscayne Association.

Formally held in May and called the Cinco de MiMo, the event will showcase the history of the area in fun fashion.

``We want to bring awareness to this area,'' said Fran Rollason, president of MiMo Biscayne association. ``This area has changed.''

The party will bring the area alive as it will feature about 80 vendors selling antiques and crafts. Revelers will also enjoy street performers, historic tours, comic characters and free face-painting for children. Party-goers will get a chance to see stilt walkers and can also grab a bite at one of the local restaurants. Taste of MiMo restaurants will serve tasty bites from $2-$5 starting at noon.

Karaoke lovers will have something to sing about when the Upper Eastside's ``King & Queen of Karaoke,'' Chrisy and A-Rod -- no connection with the baseball player -- will hit the stage for a performance. This year, Rollason said, the festival will focus on music. A stage will be set up on 71st Street, where a diversity of musical bands will jam everything from jazz and blues. There will be a special performance from the Miami Beach High School Rock Ensemble.

Rollason said the event is more than just entertainment.

``For people who haven't been here should come, because if it's the first-time experience they would want to come back,'' Rollason said.

Aside from the celebration, history will be made when the New Yorker Motel, at 6500 Biscayne Blvd., will open its doors. The structure is the first motel to be restored with rooms decorated in MiMo style.

Music and art aren't the only elements of fun. Barbershop Chop Shop, at 7283 Biscayne Blvd., will be displaying the latest and hippest automobiles at a car show.

There will be free parking for cars and bikes at 75th Street and Biscayne Boulevard. The event starts with a kickoff party at Moonchine Asian Bistro, at 7100 Biscayne Blvd., at 5 p.m. Friday.