Name(s)?
Sharon, Jeff, Alex, Max and Stella Jordan

Where do you live?
Pinecrest

How long have you lived in the area? 
Jeff is from 33156 and is a Miami boy. I’ve been here since I was a kid.

Please share about what you do for a livelihood or what keeps you busy during the week?
My weeks are busy. We have three kids –  4 ½ year old twin boys and a 13-month-old little girl. I work full time – and in the nonprofit world we joke that we work more than full time.  

When people ask, I tell them – I am a professional connector.

I am the director of engagement and outreach at Temple Judea in Coral Gables. I’ve been there for 12 years.  I started working as preschool teacher and worked my way through the synagogue. At one point, I recognized the need for a position – that I thought was about programming and creating events – but I realized it was not just about my ideas – people don’t want to hear from me, they want to learn from each other.

When I know something about one person, and I know something about someone else – I can connect them. Sometimes it’s professional and sometimes it’s personal – when it works, it is almost like a high. It’s so fun. For a programming director, it used to be program first, and now it is people first – it’s much more successful.

I feel like what you do with this newsletter does the same thing. When we meet in person, the first handshake is a friendlier handshake because we, in a way, already know each other through the newsletter. We are connected.

How often do you come to the market?
Every single Sunday – unless we are out of town. Even if we have birthday party at 10 am, we’ll run in – grab our stuff and run back out.

Do you have a market ritual? If so, please describe.
Every Sunday morning starts with a text to friends to see who will be at the market. It like our Shabbos-on-Sunday ritual.

We have a very specific ritual. We first stop off at Zak the Baker, say hi to Harvey (Zak’s dad), and get a cookie and then we walk to smoothies and say good morning to Adena. Max likes his ‘ninja turtle’ (Tropikale) smoothie which is amazing because it’s the only way he eats anything green. We get the rainbow smoothies and continue down to get coffee. We say hello to the ladies who sell the terrariums, we beg for popcorn, check out the flowers and go around and around and around again.

What’s your favorite thing to buy at LNB Grovestand and why?
Everything! We love the smoothies. They are our go to – whether it’s 40 degrees or 200 degrees out, we have to get smoothies. Jeff loves the little red bananas when in season, the guacamole and the turmeric dressing.

What have you made with ingredients bought at LNB Grovestand?
Nothing, that’s why we come to you. We get the smoothies and then we go.

What’s your favorite thing to buy at other stands at the market?
Definitely the coffee. Jeff loves the cachapas – it’s a corn meal pancake with melted cheese and we like the ceviche at the front.

A favorite activity I enjoy with my kids?
Honestly – we have to come to the farmers market every Sunday! Before my kids could figure out what to call it, they used to call it the ‘sooker market’ so… every Sunday we had to go to the ‘sooker market’.

We are members of Pinecrest gardens – so, we will go in there, after the market, and run around and go to the splash pads.

The best deal at the market is:
I don’t want to sound corny, but the market — All of it, as a whole, is the best deal! – There’s not a lot locally that’s literally and figuratively organic and real – where we can be outside, be with our family, see our friends and interact with strangers. I love the location – and being able to share that with people.

I wish the market had:
I guess now – the market is missing more shade. Unfortunately, due to hurricane Irma, it gets really, really hot. At one point, I would have said we needed more chairs and tables – but there’s something neat about sitting down with complete strangers and having interesting conversations – we’ve met incredible people and made so many new friends at the market.

Favorite market story:
We’re comfortable there, and the boys are comfortable. It’s nice to let them go around by themselves. I love when people say – I just saw your kid walking around by himself. And I say, Yep- he knows where he’s going. We’ve always said – if you get lost – you go find Walter or Harvey.

Most-frequented local restaurants and what dish to order:
Trattoria Luna (next to Roasters) is our family go to. They will literally make you anything – whether it’s on the menu or not. I usually get the tuna steak or tortellini.

Also, we’re boaters – so we go often to Boaters Grill which is at the end of Key Biscayne – in a place called No Name Harbor. They have the most amazing fish and rice – with ceviche, tostones and frijoles – my kids eat ceviche because of that place.

For special occasions, I go to: 
Caffe Abbracci – the food is amazing. I like the pear and gorgonzola tortellini. I love that when we go there, the maître d’ and owner know you and greet you. The same goes for Fratellino – we had been there one time and when we went six months later – they remembered us and exactly how we ordered!

What’s the area’s best-kept secret?
A friend of mine started an orchestra called Nu-Deco – his name is Sam Hyken. It’s a group of young talented people. They take well known arrangements, redo them, and give them a new energy and sound while keeping the integrity of the music. They put orchestra music to Daft Punk and Pharrell – they feature new composers and introduce new talent. Check them out! They are really cool.

A worthy splurge:
Travel and Food. We love to go to fun places and then find great food.

Rainy-day activity:
We love the movies. And, lately we’ll buy a movie on demand, draw little tickets, and make a popcorn stand. They boys will come as if they are going to the movies – but we get a blanket and the couch.

The most romantic spot around:
Jeff joked immediately – Lugo Point….it certainly was, when we were kids. As adults, it used to be Red Fish Grill – which was such a romantic place to go. Irma took that away…so we’ll stick with Lugo Point.

I wish you had asked me about:
We’re really into music. I had a dream when I was a little girl that I’d become an agent to find new and upcoming talent. Jeff plays guitar and I love to sing (not well – I just love it). I was raised on George Benson, Marley and Brubeck. We love going to concerts – we always have music in the house. When someone asks if I want to go to a concert – I always say, ‘I will go to any concert.’

Do you participate in any community or philanthropic events that you would like to share? 
We are both tied to JAFCO. It’s the Jewish foster care and adoption facility – the only one of its kind in the United States. I think they do amazing work for families. They have a holistic approach and continue to support children through the age of 21.  They help with their college, they help them get cars, they also support families with children with disabilities.

We are also involved with Chai Lifeline – which organizes fundraising, programs, activities and events to support families with children battling cancer.

And, we support anything to do with MS and American Cancer Society

Do you own your own business or offer a service? Would you share a pitch about yourself or company with the community?
I love where I work. I think that the most important thing about what we do is offer a place for connections.

Things can be really tough and difficult sometimes, and you need a place where you can heal and process. A place with relationships and friendships. I think that’s great to do wherever it is – whether another synagogue, church, or a youth center. You have that place for healing and celebration. So – I’ll leave my business at that.

Jeff’s works for his family business – Cargorama. They are freight forwarders – If there’s anything you need to ship, anywhere in the world they can do it for you fast and cheap.

Is there a question that you would like to ask the LNBs?
When can we visit your farm?