White Friday Shopping Event in Coconut Grove Offers Alternative to After-Thanksgiving Shopping; Snow Days Return Dec. 4!

The White Party White Friday event in Coconut Grove on November 26 is an all-day shopping, dining, fashion, book signing event including a cruise on Biscayne Bay for locals and out-of area visitors coming to the White Party. Storefronts will be decorated in White showing off the 2010 White Party Cirque theme with shops competing for best-dressed window.

More than 40 Grove merchants and restaurants are offering brunch specials, unique shopping opportunities, special deals and a 4 pm private book signing with gay lifestyle chronicler David Leddick leading to the anchor event of the day, a VIP sunset 2-hour sightseeing cruise across beautiful Biscayne Bay on MT Celebration, a charter yacht at Dinner Key. The first bay cruise is at 7 pm and another at 10 pm. The cruises cost $24.50 per person and include one free drink ticket for liquor or soft drinks, a live DJ and dancing and free hors d'oeuvres. There's free parking at Dinner Key marina. Dinner and drink specials await guests at Grove restaurants once back on shore.

White Friday Coconut Grove is open to the general public and is free, with some merchants are making donations from sales, others will accept donations by the public to be given to Careresource, the producer of White Party, to help with HIV services.

The Coconut Grove Merchants Association and the White Party Committee are hosting White Friday to build awareness and participation at a White Party event in the local market. "This is a free event, open to everyone. All you have to do is come to the Grove and shop and dine," according to Felice Dubin, Merchant Association member and owner of the Bookstore in the Grove. White Friday is free and open to the public all day Friday, November 26 during regular store hours. Participating Grove merchants will have a White Friday sign in their windows to identify them. For info, go to www.coconutgrove.com or www.careresource.com.

For Celebration on the Bay Cruise reservations and info: the public may call 305-445-8456 or visit www.yachtcelebration.com/gayrock

Don't miss Coconut Grove's Snow Days Dec. 4 and 11. Coconut Grove’s popular Snow Days kicks-off this December 4, 11am-2pm, with a host of activities planned for families to enjoy. Youngsters will have the chance to build snowmen, make snow angels and even launch a snowball or two as six tons of snow will transform Virginia Street into a winter wonderland. The tropical blizzard continues the following Saturday, December 11 along Fuller Street, also from 11am-2pm.

The festivities begin with Santa Claus and Frosty arriving in true Coconut Grove fashion by rickshaw and opening the gates to snow areas at 11 am. Snow Days is presented by the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (BID) and participating merchants. For more information on the Coconut Grove BID, visit www.coconutgrove.com or call 305-461-5506.