“Sundays on the Green” Kicks Off in Wynwood

The side of I-95 was the last place that I had expected to be environmentally friendly. But on Sunday, tucked between the busy interstate and the graffitied warehouses of the Wynwood District stood Sundays on the Green – one part organic market, one part neighborhood meetup, and all things local.

Held in the grassy yard at the side of The Armory Studios, this was the first installment of a monthly event that aims to bring eco- and family-friendly entertainment to the burgeoning Wynwood Arts District.

The event featured pop-up boutiques, food trucks, and local nonprofits that support greener, more sustainable living in South Florida. That was immediately made clear by the long display of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables for sale by the Urban Oasis Project, which sponsors community gardens and farmers markets throughout South Florida.

“People actually grow vegetables down here?” I asked local farmer Art Friedrich. I thought all Miami knew how to produce was bad reality TV and empty condos. Luckily, he schooled me.

I also spoke to the folks at Project Nest, an organization that sponsors weekly programs to support homeless youth in Miami. This year, they’ll be launching a transitional housing program. They were at Sundays on the Green to showcase crafts and gain support for their projects.

Although the event threatened to be rained out throughout the day, there was a steady crowd of families, friends, food-lovers, skateboarders, and what I found to be a disproportionate number of chihuahuas. Local vendors displayed handcrafted jewelry and upcycled gear including messenger bags and iPhone cases made from discarded banners. Children’s activities included a bounce house and demonstrations by Cooking with Kids Miami.

In an interview with Huffington Post Miami, Armory Studios owner Daniel Wills said twice the number of vendors are booked for next month. With its green finds and eclectic mix of visitors, it’ll be exciting to see Sundays on the Green take root.

Sighted: DJ Smurphio of Afrobeta. Kind of hard to miss that giant, curly afro.

Overheard: “I guess that’s not a smart place to stand.” – skateboarder after accidentally ramming his board into a woman’s ankle.

Sundays on the Green is a collaboration between Armory Studios, 305Green, I Am Your Villain, Ground Up Collective and WVUM. It’s scheduled for the last Sunday of each month, next to The Armory Studios, 572 NW 23rd St., Miami. For more information, call The Armory at 305-815-2981.