Mango Strut

oconut Grove is no longer the place it used to be. Look no further than the changing face of the bay (so long Scotty’s) and the gentrification of the West Grove filled with those disgusting cookie-cutter townhouses that have demolished the aesthetic of the neighborhood. Gone are the hippies, weirdos and legacy Bahamians who made this community -- one of Miami’s oldest -- an eclectic and downright awesome place to visit. If you want to see awkwardly parked Hummers and the flunkies who’ve turned the doggy park into “happy hour” corner go ahead. Thankfully the King Mango Strut, in all of its satirical glory is a reminder of how this tree-lined enclave of the artistic spirit continues to thrive in the face of adversity – even if the faces behind the parade have changed over the years. The Strut’s main draw of course, is the actual creativity of its participants. For 33 years, this little parade has been the parodical party that has kept “the ‘nut’ in CocoNUT Grove.” Nothing is sacred during the Strut and no subject too taboo.The organizers encourage creativity but know that sometimes, creative blocks can happen. Here are some of their suggestions for individuals and/or groups who’d like to sign up: dead 2014 celebrities, LeBron James, anything Rick Scott, Malaysian Air’s disappearance… you get the picture. Maybe a self-deprecating parody of Coconut Grove will earn you some recognition though new neighbors who might venture out from their uselessly gated homes might be confused. The King Mango Strut starts at 2 p.m. on the corner of Main Highway and Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove. Call 305-582-0955 or visit kingmangostrut.org
Sun., Dec. 28, 2 p.m., 2014