S & J Journal

The 64th Annual Junior Orange Bowl Parade yesterday was lots of fun for kids and adults, and the weather was beautiful. Ginger Jochem drove the car while Bentley the Bear and my granddaughter, Julia, waved at the crowds. Congratulations to my daughter Kathleen and all of the JOB team for a great parade!

Beginning at 4 p.m. today, the streets of Downtown Coral Gables will be filled with marching bands, colorful floats, community groups and creative parade units, all part of the 64th Junior Orange Bowl Parade . See the parade route below. This year's parade theme is "Sailing to New Adventures" which commemorates the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon's discovery of Florida.  Enjoy daytime family fun before the new year. "It's supposed to be a gorgeous afternoon," said Junior Orange Bowl Parade Chair Kathleen Slesnick Kauffman, "and it's the end of holiday break for kids and families and it's a good way to wrap up your break." For more information on the JOB Parade, click here . PARADE ROUTE  

Calling all Kids! Win a ride with Bentley the Bear and Grandstand Tickets to the Parade!   Just send us an email* with your parents’ permission to info@slesnick.net and tell us three things you like about living in Coral Gables. You can win a ride on Slesnick & Jochem’s entry to the parade with Bentley the Bear plus two grandstand tickets. The parade begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 30th. For details about the parade itself, visit www.jrorangebowl.org .  *Email must include your name, email address, age and shirt size. Drawing is on Dec. 23rd. See the back page of the Miami Herald Neighbors on Sundays for updates on this contest.

Florida Realtors reported that the nation is seeing the highest pending home sales figures in over five years. The data reflects activity in the market in the form of contracts (not closings). “The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) in the Northeast slipped 0.1% to 79.2 in October, but it’s 13.3% above a year ago. In the Midwest , the index jumped 15.6% to 104.4 in October, and is 20.0% above October 2011. In the West, it declined 1.1% in October to 105.7, but is still 0.9% above October 2011. Pending home sales in the South rose 5.5% to an index of 117.3 in October, and that is 17.4% higher than a year ago."  Read more here .

F eaturing Broadway star Janet Dacal and Carbonell Award nominee Christopher A. Kent, The Last Five Years is a contemporary song-cycle musical that explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. Funny and uplifting, the show captures some of the most heartbreaking and universally felt moments of modern romance, and promises to be an artistic treat for South Florida audiences. December 5 - 30, 2012 Wednesday - Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. A special weekday matinee is scheduled on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 2 p.m. Tickets for preview nights are $35, weeknights and matinees are $40, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $48. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday. Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more throu...