Coral Gables December 2023

CORAL GABLES DECEMBER 2023

MAGAZINE

The Eidson Factor

HOW TO SAVE HISTORY AND PROMOTE THE ARTS IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

PLUS THE GIVERS YEAR IN REVIEW

Attorney Mike Eidson in front of the restored St. Mary’s Church

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Facelift Variations There might be some confusion these days among prospective patients, caused by claims made on social media, that one type of facelift might be better, more effective, or longer lasting. Confusion leads to anxiety and more confusion, which is not helpful. So, let’s focus on what matters when it comes to your face.

Most facelift patients care about safety and want to end up with an aesthetic and natural looking result. They wish to look younger, refreshed but still like themselves - not pulled, not weird, not different, and certainly all with minimal or no unnecessary risk. How a surgeon proposes to accomplish this goal, isn’t really their concern, it is the surgeon’s job and challenge. In aesthetics and plastic surgery there isn’t always one way of doing things. Different approaches and innovations are fundamental to progress.

With years of training in plastic surgery and actual facelift experience, capable surgeons will evolve different, personalized techniques and nuances which work best in their hands and optimize their patients’ safety and aesthetic outcomes. Imposing one particular ‘technique’ on every patient isn’t sensible. Patients are different, anatomically, medically, and emotionally, and surgical techniques should allow for these variations.

It is worth noting that your result is created by your plastic surgeon, not a particular technique. Excellent surgeons generally create excellent results, and consistently, with whatever technique they have evolved, and which has proven itself safe and effective in their hands. One particular ‘technique’ applied inappropriately or poorly by a less experienced or less skillful surgeon will not guarantee a happy result. Thus claiming one particular ‘technique’ to be superior to another is really more about marketing and selfpromotion than the patient. With that in mind, let’s briefly review variations in facelifting.

Facelifts started decades ago as a skin-only procedure, sometimes resulting in a pulled or ‘surgical’ appearance.

Despite its potential shortcomings, it remains a reasonable option in certain patients.

Anatomic face studies in the 1970’s revealed the presence of a strong support layer below the skin. The difficult to pronounce name given by anatomists to this layer was abbreviated as ‘SMAS’. Plastic surgeons began to add this layer to their previous skin-only facelifts and learned that, when skillfully performed, this new SMAS lift did improve aesthetic outcomes and generally provided longer lasting

... Your plastic surgeon should be experienced and flexible in his/her approach to your anatomic uniqueness ... results when compared to most skin lifts. Why? Because the tension to lift the face was transferred from the skin to the deeper and stronger SMAS layer. The skin was thus allowed to re-assume its natural function to cover the face, not to lift and hold it up, which really is the job of the deep support (SMAS) layer.

In the late 80’s, early 90’s, some surgeons ventured below the SMAS, and while keeping the skin and SMAS together, lifted it as a single (or composite) unit. Though initially called a ‘composite lift’, the name was soon simplified to the ‘deep plane lift’. But this deeper layer, below the SMAS, is the territory of glands, the muscles of facial expression and their nerves. Careful evaluation and experience with the ‘deep plane lift’ by plastic surgeons, along with live, simultaneous

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comparison operations at scientific meetings of our principal plastic surgery societies (ASPS, ASAPS) unfortunately (or fortunately?) did not demonstrate better or more effective or longer lasting results, despite its potentially increased risks to sensitive deeper structures, which could result in months of patient distress. Most plastic surgeons therefore abandoned this technique a few decades ago.

Despite the ‘deep is dangerous’ concern by experienced plastic surgeons, the ‘deep plane lift’ of the 1990’s remains a technique that some surgeons may prefer and select for their patients.

In recent years, however, graduates from ear, nose and throat (ENT or Otolaryngology) training programs, self-designated as ‘facial plastic surgeons’, have engaged in marketing campaigns, especially on social media, to resurrect the ‘deep plane lift’, and claiming it to be superior with regard to result and longevity.

Any claims of superiority of the ‘deep plane lift’ are simply opinions, not fact!

Returning to what matters to you, the patient. There is more than one way to get a good or excellent and long-lasting facelift result. Your plastic surgeon should be experienced and flexible in his/her approach to your anatomic uniqueness and select the appropriate technique he/she is most experienced and comfortable with to give you the result you seek, and in the safest way possible!

There is agreement that a modern facelift today should in most patients provide ‘deep support’ with tightening of the strong connective tissue (SMAS) layer in the cheek, along the jawline,

... Patients are different, anatomically, medically, and emotionally, and surgical techiques should allow for these variations ... as well as the superficial muscles of the neck (platysma). Yet it is equally important to mobilize and remove lax, sagging skin, particularly in the jowl and neck areas. The combination of ‘deep support’ and skin tightening, when skillfully performed, will provide a smooth jawline (the key feature of youth and beauty!) and a pleasing, refreshed appearance, and with the least amount of risk to deeper structures. The skill required to do so well will vary greatly among surgeons, so research and evaluate your prospective surgeon with care before entrusting your face.

Dr. Baker is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with decades of experience in facelifting, and a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

STEPHAN BAKER, MD, FACS

Plastic Surgery of the Face Breast and Body Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

305.381.8837 | www.drbaker.com 3850 Bird Road Suite 702, Miami, FL 33146

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Departments

December 2023

16 EDITOR’S NOTE

The Fight to Save History

18 READERS’ LETTERS Readers’ Feedback

21 STREETWISE

Rescue of Historic Streetlights

21

31

45

96

31 LIVING

Gables Fashion Designer is Back

45 BITES

Bouchon is a Tasteful Culinary Trip

57 PEOPLE

Meet Interesting Gables Residents

96 SEEN

Two Foundation Galas

100 PRESERVATION Little Gems

102 DON’S RAMBLES Pinewood Cemetary

110 DINING GUIDE

The Latest in Gables Dining

112 CITY LIFE

This Month’s Quiz: Where am I?

“IT’S AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF THE CITY...”

MAYOR VINCE LAGO, WHO ADVOCATES ANNEXATION TALKING AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING TO DISCUSS THE DELAYED ANNEXATION OF LITTLE GABLES. SEE PAGE 22.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Features

Vol 6. Issue 11

66 THE GIVERS Coral Gables, with its close-knit circles of neighbors and families, is a city built on community. Which is why it’s no surprise that such a high percentage of Gableites are philanthropists, in one way or another.

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2023: THE YEAR IN REVIEW As we come to the close of 2023, it’s time to look back on the city’s mixed bag of events, accomplishments and controversies. It was a big year for Art in Public Places and for important infrasructure improvements.

84 THE EIDSON FACTOR How one person can make a difference in both historic preservation and the arts.

For Mike Eidson, the saving of St. Mary’s Church represents one of the clear victories in his ongoing struggle to preserve what he can from Coral Gables’ past – and at the same time enrich local culture.

84

90 LORD OF THE DANCE Rafi Maldonado-Lopez, multidisciplinary dancer, choreographer, and teacher, is taking the Sanctuary of the Arts to new heights.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

CORAL GABLES DECEMBER 2023

MAGAZINE

The Eidson Factor

HOW TO SAVE HISTORY AND PROMOTE THE ARTS IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

PLUS THE GIVERS YEAR IN REVIEW

Attorney Mike Eidson in front of the restored St. Mary’s Church

On the cover: Attorney Mike Eidson in front of the restored St. Mary’s Church. Photo by Rodolfo Benitez.

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The Fight to Save History

CEO & PUBLISHER Richard Roffman

Our cover story this month is about attorney Mike Eidson, one of our local heroes in preservation. He is also an advocate for enriching our culture with the performing arts. He was behind the restoration of the historic building that Books & Books now inhabits; more recently his Sanctuary of the Arts has repurposed both the First Church of Christ, Scientist building opposite City Hall, and St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church in the MacFarlane district, transforming the historic structures into platforms for dance, music and more.

You would think by now that most residents of Coral Gables understand the importance of preserving history. In retrospect, the near loss of the Biltmore Hotel years ago seems almost impossible to fathom today, since it is now recognized as an iconic symbol of the city’s identity. But comprehending the importance of our history is clearly not universal, at least not for some of our newcomers.

Case in point is the recent bulldozing of “Sea Aerie,” the Alfred Browning Parker architectural gem in Gables Estates. This 1963 house was widely considered a modern design masterpiece, on par with Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Fallingwater” house. By any measure, Parker’s house should have been saved.

Unfortunately, a new law passed by the Florida Legislature, at the behest of Gov. Ron Desantis, removed the power of cities in Florida to protect historic homes if they are in a flood zone. This blatant intrusion into the power of municipalities to govern themselves without state interference has

EVP / PUBLISHER Gail Scott

already resulted in the demolition of Al Capone’s mansion on Palm Island and will almost certainly lead to the demolition of the Clevelander Hotel on Ocean Drive.

Can we blame the new owner of the Parker home for tearing it down?

Absolutely. Why Felix Sorking, founder of General Technologies in Texas, would spend $36 million on an architectural treasure only to tear it down makes no sense.

Is this a sign that the barbarians are at the gate? What a slap in the face to your new community, Mr. Sorking.

We must also blame ourselves. While the Coral Gables City Commission has sent several declarations to Tallahassee urging reversal of the new law, more needs to be done. The Palm Beach Town Council has hired a lobbyist to pressure the state legislature to reverse. The rest of South Florida, including Coral Gables and Miami Beach, needs to do the same.

Otherwise start saying goodbye to historic coastal structures from Key West to St. Augustine. To quote Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Make that good women, too.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF J.P. Faber

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Donner DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Monica Del Carpio-Raucci VP SALES Sherry Adams MANAGING EDITOR Kylie Wang DIGITAL EDITOR Natalia Clement EDITORIAL INTERN Ava Volman ART DIRECTOR Jon Braeley SENIOR WRITERS James Broida Mike Clary Andrew Gayle Doreen Hemlock Katelin Stecz PROOFREADER Lesley Fonger PHOTOGRAPHERS Rodolfo Benitez Jonathan Dann Tiege Dolly PRODUCTION MANAGER Toni Kirkland CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION CircIntel OFFICIAL FRAMER Adam Brand / Frames USA

JP FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Suite 115, Coral Gables FL 33134.

Telephone: (305) 995-0995. Copyright 2023 by City Regional Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Send address changes to subscriptions@coralgablesmagazine.com.

General mailbox email and letters to editor@ coralgablesmagazine.com.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Each, month we print letters we receive from our readers. We encourage all commentary, including criticism as well as compliments, and of course any commentary about our community. If you are interested in writing to us with your opinions, thoughts, or suggestions, please send them to letters@coralgablesmagazine.com. Letters may be edited for brevity.

Remembering Grace

I loved your article “Remembering Grace.” I met Grace over our mutual love for animals.

When she heard I rescued sick and suffering dogs off the streets, she said she knew she wanted to be my friend. We joined the Coral Gables Garden Club at the same time and loved wearing the fake hibiscus given to us in our hair. We consider the group our sisterhood.

I have lived in Coral Gables my entire life (80 years) and Grace loved the community and the bonds she formed there. I was so glad to have her as a neighbor. She would drop by often to visit my husband and me.

Her passing has left a deep void in our lives.

Whenever I see a beautiful flower or butterfly, I think of Grace. She definitely left this world a better place.

Sidney Daniel I only recently learned of Gracie’s passing and have been saddened by the news. But I want to thank you for the lovely remem-

brance of her that appears in the November issue of the magazine. Your heartfelt words express much of what all of us who knew her are also feeling. I lived in the house directly across from hers on De Soto Boulevard and often rescued Thor [her giant tortoise] after he managed to wander out to the street. I understand he has been adopted, which would have pleased her.

Bruce Fitzgerald I wanted to express our gratitude for your beautifully written tribute to Grace in Coral Gables Magazine. To see this stunning happy photo of her and read about her dedication to charitable causes and the community was deeply meaningful… I will always think of her smile, laughter, sharp wit, and love of life...and animals!”

Amanda Keeley Not Just Pedigrees

While I enjoyed your dog issue, I hope you

will consider addressing my concerns in the next issue. I noticed that the pet owners, all Coral Gables movers and shakers, did not have one shelter/rescue dog. Please forgive me if I missed one. Hopefully next year you can find an owner [with a rescue dog].

Adrienne Vynne Kudos For Don’s Rambles

What a treat! I was delighted to see the article about the Lamar Louise Curry Park.

Accolades are due to our Garden Club for this wonderful new spot in the City Beautiful. I walk to the park with my bottle of water and books for the tiny lending library. I always enjoy noticing how a small space has been so skillfully designed that it seems larger – an oasis for contemplating horticultural beauty. Thirty minutes later, I head for home, happy and refreshed. Miss Curry’s park represents a lot of what’s right and special about Coral Gables.

Kitty Winkler

From North Gables to South Gables, let me be your dedicated Coral Gables real estate partner.

JJ Snow Hansen Real Estate Advisor M: 305.608.8750 jj@jjsnowhansen.com jjsnowhansen

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coralgablesmagazine.com

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Streetwise The Saving of the Lights Page 28

CORAL GABLES MAYOR VINCE LAGO WITH KARELIA CARBONELL, PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES

21

STREETWISE / POLITICS

VOTED TO PERMIT A NEW SCHOOL

From City Hall At its meeting in November, the City Commission:

DELAYED ANNEXATION OF LITTLE GABLES

The Commission voted 5-0 to direct city staff to come up with potential mechanisms to solicit input from Coral Gables residents on the annexation of Little Gables. The city has long sought to annex Little Gables, part of unincorporated Miami-Dade County which is surrounded on three sides by Coral Gables and on the fourth side

by Miami on the city’s northern edge. Annexation would reduce the number of ‘borders’ that city police must patrol; it would also allow the city to derive taxes from residents who now use Gables facilities. Many residents of Little Gables have also sought annexation to upgrade police, fire, and medical emergency services to the area, services now provided from distant county resources. Despite a poll taken this year by McLaughlin & Associates, which showed that 55 percent of Gables residents support annexation, the decision to proceed was blocked by commissioners Ariel Fernandez, Melissa Castro and Kirk Menendez, who insisted that Gables residents be able to vote on the annexation – since it will initially cost about $5 million to bring Little Gables up to city standards. “It’s an investment in the future of the city,” said Mayor Vince Lago, who advocates annexation. “I promised residents of Coral Gables that they would have a say in this matter,” said Commissioner Ariel Fernandez.

VOTED TO BUDGET FOR CULTURAL ARTS

The Commission voted 5-0 to direct city manager Peter Iglesias to include cultural arts in the 2026-29 Coral Gables Strategic Plan.

Sanctuary of the Arts Director Rafi Maldonaldo-Lopez spoke in favor of the issue, expounding on the economic benefits of supporting cultural arts. “The return on investment on the arts is… over 100 percent [more than] some industries, including sports,” he said.

“Pre-pandemic, the U.S. Economic Impact report [said] that sports was going to bring into the economy $71.5 billion. The arts were projected to bring in $538 billion. This year, we’re up to $422 billion.

Yet, when we go to Tallahassee… [for] every dollar that is given to sports, the arts get 10 cents.” (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)

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The Commission voted 5-0 to permit a new school to move into the two-story building located at 141 Grand Avenue, on the corner of Grand and Jefferson Street. The Primer Microschool will be a small private school with just 35 students in grades three through eight.

The applicants agreed to work with the county to extend the school zone and add signage. They will also add a crosswalk, landscaping, and traffic calming measures on Florida, Frow, and Oak avenues.

Mayor Lago expressed concern over the project’s inevitable traffic.

The project leaders then returned with a longer drop-off and pickup time to reduce traffic, which was unanimously approved.

DISCUSSED NEW TROLLEY POWER

The Commission discussed implementing hydrogen-powered trolleys, a better option than electric cars because they would not rely on a power grid or harm the environment by releasing lithium from old batteries. Mayor Lago asked his colleagues and city staff to look at options for pilot programs. Commissioner Castro cited concerns over costs, the maturity of the technology, and the transportation and storage of hydrogen. Lago said the tech was already being used “all over Europe” and in California. “It’s something that’s sustainable, a lot more environmentally friendly than electric cars, and would save the city money,” he said. Commissioner Menendez said he was ready to move forward now, calling the project “fascinating.” The Commission directed the city manager to return in six months with more information on possible implementation. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago) TALKED ABOUT WASTE DUMPING IN THE NORTH

The Commission discussed illegal dumping in the North Gables, where swales and empty lots are regularly used as dumping grounds for old furniture, green waste, and other trash. “I’d like to see some action because I think it’s important for the residents in this area who have to deal with this,” said Mayor Lago. Cameras and increased fines were suggested, as well as planting shrubbery in certain areas to dissuade dumping. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago) MONITORING BUDGET CHANGES

The Commission voted 5-0 to include an appendix in all city budgets presented to the Commission detailing specific changes made from each prior version and to include an item outlining changes to salaries by department. Presumably, this was to prevent a similar situation to that of “Raisegate,” when Commissioners Fernandez, Castro, and Menendez received 101.4 percent raises after adding the item to the official budget at the last minute. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson) LOOKING AT PLASTIC RECYLING

The Commission discussed installing a receptacle somewhere in a public space, like the Youth Center, where people can recycle “plastic film” items like grocery and produce bags, bubble wrap, and cereal box liners. Trex, a company that creates eco-friendly outdoor products made from such materials, could make outdoor benches from the waste and would provide the city marketing materials. Mayor Lago suggested dedicating the benches to deserving individuals or companies to create further incentives for the program. He will return with more information at the next Commission meeting.

(Sponsored by Mayor Lago) INCENTIVES TO SWITCH TO SEWERS

The Commission voted 5-0 to waive all city permit fees related to the conversion from septic to sewer for single-family residences and duplexes and to direct city staff to expedite those permits.

(Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson). ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE

Talk of the Town

LEFT: GLORIA ESTEFAN & EMILIO ESTEFAN / TOP: FROST DEAN SHELLY BERG IN A WINDOWCAST / ABOVE: GLORIA ESTEFAN SINGS WITH JON SECADA

Also on hand were Frost Dean Shelly Berg (who played the piano) and UM President Julio Frenk (who did not).

Coral Gables High Hall of Famers

Last month Coral Gables High School inducted 11 new members into its Hall of Fame. The public high school has a long roster of A Star-Studded Inauguration esteemed graduates, including astronauts, authors, musicians, politiThe Frost School of Music at the University of Miami officially cians, and actors. The 11 new members include: Dr. Mitchel Berger opened its $365 million Knight Center for Music Innovation last and Dr. Michael Zinner, both celebrated oncologists; Admiral month with a star-studded gala emceed by UM grad Gloria Estefan. William “Bill” Studeman, a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former Guests were entertained by an audio-visual display in the Thomas deputy director of the CIA; Paul Steinhardt, a science professor D. Hormel Music Innovation Stage, then escorted to the 200-seat at Princeton known for his discovery of a new form of matter; Jeff Judi Prokop Newman Recital Hall. Here they were regaled by famed Oster, a Grammy-nominated musician; Ted Leopold, one of the Frost alumni, including pop star Jon Secada, who sang “Stardust;” “Best Lawyers in America”; Judge Paul C. Huck, a senior judge on TV & movie star Dawnn Lewis (Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper; The the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and Divorce), who sang “Fabulous Baby” from Sister Act; renowned clas- UM professor; Dr. Lillian Glass, a world-renowned communication sical pianist Asiya Korepanova, who performed an étude by Rachand body language expert; and Rear Admiral Keith Davids, a Navy maninoff; bass player Steve Bailey, who has performed and recorded SEAL officer who has spent much of his career fighting terrorist with Dizzy Gillespie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mel Tormé, and Willie Nel- organizations overseas. Inductees were honored with a ceremony at son; and record producer/songwriter Matt Serletic, three of who’s the school led by alumni and Friends of Gables High founder June songs (“I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing” “Push” and “Smooth”) were Morris, followed by a reception at the Woman’s Club. performed by Frost students. Other famed Frost grads, like Bruce Hornsby and Pat Metheny, sent video messages. The performing Woman’s Club Celebrates Centennial grads received centennial medals. All of them “dared to dream big The Coral Gables Woman’s Club is celebrating its 100th anniverand pursue their goals,” said Gloria Estefan. “Like me they are proud sary this year with a Roaring 20s Centennial Gala on December 2 to have played a role in the history of innovation here at the Frost and with the planting of over 100 orchids earlier this year. In June, School…and we can’t wait to see what the next 100 years will bring. volunteers from the Woman’s Club installed the native orchids at I hope you will be around for that.” After the audience laughed Esthe historic clubhouse, flowers that grew there a century ago. “It’s tefan quipped, “It wasn’t that funny,” which brought more laughter. a tremendous honor to be president of this club, especially in its

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STREETWISE

Recycling Event

centennial year,” says President Ruth Martinez, shown above. “A legacy has been built by previous members and presidents, and now we’ll be moving into the next century. ‘Living the volunteer spirit’ has always been the motto of our club, and we have worked tirelessly over these 100 years to support other charitable organizations. We’ve now served over 60,000 children and raised about $4 million [for the Coral Gables Children’s Dental Clinic].”

GIRL SCOUTS BOARD MEMBER ANA VEIGA MILTON AND FRIENDS STARGAZING

Each year since 2016, the City has held drive-thru recycling events.

Started by civic activist Marlin Ebbert (see story pg. xx), the most recent event took place last month, collecting an astonishing 9,091 pounds of electronic waste, 10,200 pounds of paper for shredding, 1,300 pounds of used clothing, and an estimated 10,000 pounds of household hazardous waste. Since its inception, the city has held 17 such events. According to Matt Anderson, the city’s assistant director of mobility & sustainability, a combined total of 466,000 pounds of e-waste, hazardous waste, clothing, and paper has been collected.

The next recycling event will be May 4, 2024.

Flags on Ponce Returns

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s annual Flags on Ponce Program is back for another year. The program, which was created The Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida held their third annual Campover 30 years ago, recognizes the significant number of consulates fires for Cocktails fundraiser last month at Camp Mahachee, the and multinational businesses that call Coral Gables home, waving 11-acre hardwood hammock on Old Cutler Road. The signature their international flags along Ponce de Leon Boulevard from Defundraising event featured a unique evening of glamping, where atcember to May. “For more than 30 years, our Coral Gables Chamber tendees (with the help of a few beverages) tried their hand at archery, of Commerce has shined a light on the rich cultural diversity and fencing, axe throwing, and making their own s’mores at the campfire. international businesses found throughout our city with a stunning The event raised nearly $350,000 for the Tropical troop and the near- display of flags flown high over Ponce de Leon Boulevard,” says ly 3,000 girls it serves in Miami-Dade and the Keys. Host Commit- Chamber President and CEO Mark Trowbridge. “A beacon of our tee members included co-chairs Tami Blanco, GSTF board member; Chamber’s annual programming, we encourage all to admire their and Erica Rule, Troop leader and member of Troop 305. To join or beauty and design, as well as their significance to the local commusupport Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida visit www.girlscoutsfl.org nity, the next time you venture out in our downtown.” ■

The Ladies of Camp Mahachee

26

coralgablesmagazine.com

W I S HIN G YO U J OY A N D CH EER T HIS H O LIDAY S E A S O N May this time bring you warmth, togetherness, and beautiful lasting memories alongside your loved ones. Cheers to a new year filled with endless possibilities and hopeful beginnings.

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STREETWISE / HISTORY

The Saving of the Lights HOW A LEADING PRESERVATIONIST, WITH HELP FROM THE CITY, RESCUED A TROVE OF HISTORIC CORAL GABLES STREETLIGHTS

BY J.P. FABER

I

t was five years ago when Karelia Carbonell, president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables, got the phone call. Tucker Gibbs, a preservation-minded attorney in Fort Lauderdale, called to say he’d seen some lampposts that said “Coral Gables” on their decorative bases. “ ‘Do you know anything about this,’ he asked, showing me the photos,”” recalls Carbonell. “I went up there and verified those were the [the city’s historic] lights. Then I met with the mayor.”

Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, then a city commissioner, wanted the city to buy the lights – eight of them, still functioning in a small development off Davie Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

“For years, even before I got into office, there was always a discussion about the [White Way streetlights] becoming more extinct.

They weren’t being kept up. And they are one of the cornerstones of historic preservation here in the city.”

Five hundred of the so-called “White Way” lights were originally commissioned by city father George Merrick in 1926, for installation across the city. The four-sided bases of the lights were designed by Denman Fink and Phineas Paist with Spanish castles and rampant lions; the words “Coral Gables – The Miami Riviera, Fla.,” encircled the tops of the bases.

Unfortunately, the owner of the Fort Lauderdale property where they stood was not interested in selling them, period. There was nothing to be done, except set aside funds to preserve the remaining 45 lights in the Gables. Mayor Lago and Carbonell also collaborated on a project to restore two missing streetlamps in front of the historic Coral Gables Country Club, after Lago was able to personally purchase two of the antique top globes.

Then word came that the Fort Lauderdale property had been sold. “When we found out there was a new owner, we took advantage of the situation and started negotiations [with him],” says Lago.

“And staff and I ran up there to look at the lights, to review the conditions of the eight White Way lights still standing upright and working. And we also noticed that there was a pile of other white way lights. We asked the gentleman, the new owner, whether he’d be willing to include everything in a package. He said, ‘For sure.’ ” Those negotiations are currently being finalized by City Manager Peter Iglesias, who was authorized by the City Commission to make the purchase, at an estimated $1,000 per light.

According to Carbonell, the standing lights are in perfect condition, while another ten stacked nearby can be restored. “I have to thank the mayor,” she says. “He took it up and made it happen.”

The mayor gives the credit to Carbonell, who has long advocated the saving of the lights and was instrumental in insisting the city set aside funds to save those still standing. If you want to see them, the corridor with the most remaining lights is Riviera Drive from Anastasia Avenue to University Drive. They will soon be joined by another 18. ■

28

KARELIA CARBONELL OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES WITH MAYOR VINCE LAGO BY THE ONE OF THE LIGHTS ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE

coralgablesmagazine.com

From left to right, First Row: Gregg Gelber, Financial Advisor, Jason Goldstrich, Financial Advisor, Brian Exelbert, Financia l Advisor, Adam Carlin, Private Wealth Advisor, Richard Bermont, Financial Advisor, David Olazabal, Financial Advisor, Second Row: Eduardo Gutierrez, Wealth Management Associate, Lilly Johnsen, Financial Advisor Associate, Monica Balda, Wealth Management Associate, Sheily Distrubell, Wealth Management Associate, Andrew Swanson, Wealth Management Associate, William Valdes, Group Director, Alejandro Ramirez, Wealth Management Associate, Charles Schifano, Portfolio Manager, Brenda Berisso, Wealth Management Associate, Zivko Bajevski, Wealth Management Analyst, Luisa Arias Baker, Business Development Director, Anuka Serrano, Wealth Management Associate, Delia Fung, Wealth Management Associate, Lester Dominguez, Wealth Management Associate

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Living

The Return of Mayda Cisneros Page 38

MAYDA CISNEROS, A TOP GABLES FASHION DESIGNER, SETS UP SHOP IN THE LA PALMA BUILDING

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LIVING / EVENTS

Best Bets for December

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES

Caroling: During this holiday season, enjoy carolers’ angelic voices as you walk, shop, and dine in downtown Coral Gables. Carolers from local high school choirs will stroll through the streets of Miracle Mile and Giralda Plaza from 7 pm to 9 pm Thurs.- Sat., Dec. 7 to 16.

map, complimentary wine-tasting tumbler, and reusable tote bag with special promotional offers. Attendees will vote on the best holiday window display in Coral Gables! Tickets are $55. McBride Plaza, 150 Miracle Mile. coralgables.com

Meeting Santa: Warm up for the holidays while sipping hot chocolate with Santa at Holiday Park across from City Hall. Event includes a photo opp with Santa, hot beverages, and a children’s activity. Cost is $30 for a group of four. Dec. 16 and 17, exclusively for Coral Gables residents. Advanced tickets required. Holiday Park, 405 Biltmore Way. coralgables.com “THE THANKSGIVING PLAY”

Larissa FastHorse is the first indigenous American woman to have a play on Broadway. Experience the regional premiere of Fasthorse’s shocking satire, “The Thanksgiving Play,” that “flips the bird” on one of America’s most prolific myths – the original Thanksgiving meal.

This comedy asks how we proceed when steadfast assumptions are disrupted. The show runs through Dec. 10, Wed. at 2 pm and 7 pm, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 pm, and Sun. at 2 pm. Tickets $40-$65, with streaming options available. GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel). gablestage.org

Junior Orange Bowl Parade: Keep the tradition alive as you watch the 75th annual Miracle on the Mile Parade presented by the Junior Orange Bowl on December 10 at 5 pm. Join the fun as floats, marching bands, and performers parade down Miracle Mile.

A SERAPHIC FIRE CHRISTMAS

Holiday Sip & Shop: Enjoy wines from across Uruguay while shopping for unique holiday gifts during this year’s Holiday Sip & Shop. Don’t miss this opportunity to find the perfect presents for your loved ones. Check in at McBride Plaza to receive an event

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Let the gentle glow of candlelight and angelic tones of Seraphic Fire a cappella voices usher you into the holiday season on Friday Dec. 8, 7:30 pm at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Enjoy festive carols from varied traditions alongside newer takes on classics from contemporary composers. The concert marks the release of Seraphic Fire’s newest Christmas album. Tickets $62 for general admission.

St. Philip’s Episcopal, 1121 Andalusia Ave. seraphicfire.org coralgablesmagazine.com

LIVING / EVENTS “NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE”

Based on The Chronicles of Narnia, this musical follows four mischievous children through a magical wardrobe into a mystical land of beauty and danger. The White Witch has frozen the land of Narnia, once ruled by the great and majestic lion, Aslan. With the help of mythical creatures, the children discover valuable lessons of courage, unselfishness, and wisdom as they help King Aslan confront the wicked witch. Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, with performances Saturdays at 2 pm. A Sensory Inclusive Performance is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 pm. Tickets $25. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile. actorsplayhouse.org

FAIRCHILD’S ENCHANTING NIGHTGARDEN

VILLAGERS’ HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR

Immerse yourself in the magical fairyland of NightGarden, the beloved winter light show at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. This illuminated activation combines lighting effects, holograms, motion sensing technology, projection mapping, and music to create a truly enchanting experience. The NightGarden has various interactive opportunities, including joining a Fairy Quest, as well as food and drinks from some of Miami’s most popular food trucks. Visit the garden at night now through the first week of January, Thurs. to Sun. 6 to 10 pm. Tickets $20-40, depending on the day of visit and membership status. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. TheNightGarden.com

“100 Years of History” will showcase a selection of curated Coral Gables homes built in 1923 during their 38th Annual Holiday House Tour Dec. 9, 10 am to 3 pm. Members of The Villagers will be on hand to explain each private home’s distinctive history and features. The tour will make a notable stop at the Merrick House, beautifully decorated for Christmas. A gift boutique, featuring unique artisans, vintage jewelry, hand-made Angels, and a quilt raffle, will be available from 10 am to 4 pm. Ticket holders drive their own vehicles between the properties and will receive tour directions with their ticket purchase. Tickets $65. thevillagersinc.org

WINE AND DINE: BUTCHER BLOCK PARTY

Who knows how to roast meat better than Graziano’s? Join the Gables mainstay for a block party where they’ll be grilling Argentine classics on open flames and baking fresh Neapolitan pizza in wood fire ovens. Plus, you can sip on beers from local breweries and sample wines from vineyards around the world. Live music by the Lemon City Trio, Grupo Solis, and Miles a Million. Thursday Dec. 14, 5 pm to 9 pm. 2301 Galiano St. Tickets $75 at eventbrite.com.

LITERARY CORAL GABLES BIKE TOUR

It’s no fiction: The literary history of Coral Gables includes bookshops, libraries, and even a few writers. Mitch Kaplan, the owner of Books & Books, will lead the first edition of this novel tour of the written word in Coral Gables. The tour starts at ​​10 am on Dec. 17 from the Coral Gables Museum and includes museum admission.

Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for museum members and children under 12. Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave. coralgablesmuseum.org

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SANCTUARY FOR THE ARTS: ERNESTO LECUONA Legendary Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona is credited with raising Cuban music to classical status, composing 600 pieces for piano and orchestras, including film scores, songs, and zarzuelas. A graduate of the National Conservatory of Music in Havana, Lecuona composed Latin, jazz, and classical pieces that have become standards – including the “Malagueña.” To honor his heritage, the Sanctuary of the Arts is producing a reprise of 22 of his songs, with musicians, singers, and dancers.

Headlining the event will be acclaimed Cuban pianist Aldo LópezGavilán, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. Dec. 7-9, 7:30 pm $55-$75 sanctuaryofthearts.org ■

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Children like Wildaline deserve a chance at a healthy future.

Please give.

Wildaline was diagnosed with a large tumor that extended from her facial bones through her mouth. It had grown to a size that was restricting her breathing. Following surgery, she is now healthy and thriving.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital depends on community support to create a healthier future for every child. Your one-time, monthly, or legacy gift will make a positive impact on children in our community and beyond.

Donate now at link or scan code to the left give.nicklauschildrens.org

LIVING / A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

Date Night with The Wolf THE WOLF OF WALL STREET WAS IN TOWN AND WE TURNED IT INTO A DATE NIGHT

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

“The Wolf is coming to town!” I shrieked to my husband as I perused Books & Books’ jammed-packed events calendar. From Leonardo Dicaprio’s charismatic portrayal on the big screen to the underground 2015 song that carries his name, Jordan Belfort is an American icon – whether for the right or wrong reasons.

The former stockbroker turned financial criminal turned best-selling author was making a stop to promote his latest book, “The Wolf of Investing: My Insider’s Playbook for Making a Fortune on Wall Street.” You might be thinking, “A date night about the stock market? How romantic!” But to say we were both geeked to meet the Wolf is an understatement. My fascination with Jordan stems from his bigger than life persona and entrepreneurship advice that often comes up on my TikTok “For You” page. My husband’s motivation was more traditional, considering he’s spent the last five years trading stock options.

We started our evening out with a glitzy happy hour in Morton’s Steakhouse. Bar 1221 serves “power hour” drinks and bites, which seemed like a fitting pregame to meeting Mr. Belfort. For $10 each, we enjoyed two very different cocktails: mine the Palm Beacher, a light pineapple-infused vodka, and my husband’s the tangy Mezcalrita, made with Dos Hombres Mezcal, lime, and hot honey. We raised our glasses to learning a thing or two from the Wall Street legend.

The bookstore was packed with eager readers, finance hopefuls, and the occasional movie fanatic, all anxiously waiting for the VIP guest. As a black SUV pulled onto Aragon Avenue, heads turned to watch the Wolf step out.

Despite more than 100 attendees who reserved their copy ahead of the meet-and-greet, the line moved along. Everyone got in a good handshake, iconic selfie, and their own signed dedication page. One young finance professional in his 20s mustered up the courage to ask Jordan his advice for someone like him, working at Fidelity Investments in the Gables. The Wolf ’s wise words? “Just keep dialing.”

After signing my copy with “To Natalia” followed by what he described as a doctor’s illegible signature, Jordan gave us a quick interview, telling us how it felt to be promoting his book in the Gables. “I’ve been to many bookstores, of a lot of sizes, but this is the coolest bookstore ever,” said Jordan, sitting in front of the bookstore’s Lego replica. “Number one [advice] is, think big,” he told us.

“A lot of people when they’re trying to say, ‘What do I want my life to look like in five years?’ don’t think big enough… Make sure your vision for your future is grand and turns you on.” You can watch the full interview on our Instagram, @thecoralgablesmagazine.

The Wolf didn’t invite us to join him afterwards at Carbone, but following a brief walk to Giralda Plaza we managed to satisfy our Italian cravings, minus the four-dollar signs, at Craft. In deciding what appetizer to order, I asked myself, “What would Jordan do?” and my gut responded: go with the saucy meatballs. Nothing

36

TOP: THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, INVESTOR JORDAN BELFORT AT THE BOOKS & BOOKS APPEARANCE TO SIGN HIS NEW BOOK ABOVE: MEATBALLS AND THE AVOCADO PIZZA AT CRAFT

like dipping the toasted sourdough slices into the rich tomato marinade. Their Neapolitan pizza menu is meant to satisfy diverse palates, from the classic Margherita to the Picante Dorito-infused pie. A good drizzle of balsamic glaze made my avocado and cherry tomato pie the best! We sipped on some refreshingly sweet sangrias as we turned the pages of the Wolf ’s investing playbook, lured in by the idea of making our own fortune. ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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LIVING / FASHION

The Return of Mayda Cisneros A TOP GABLES FASHION DESIGNER SETS UP SHOP IN THE LA PALMA BUILDING

BY J.P. FABER

“This is a magical place,” says Mayda Cisneros. “I could never find anything else like it… the perfect spot where I could be really, really in touch with my creativity, because the building is all about that.

There are only a few people here and they all love what they do.”

What Cisneros is talking about is her new atelier in the restored La Palma, a 1924 Mediterranean Revival building that was one of Coral Gables’ first hotels. Her last design shop, prior to COVID, was on Palermo Avenue, where she fitted clients for eight years. Before that she was in the Collection Building on Ponce at Bird Road. But nothing compares, she says, with her cozy second story studio at La Palma.

“I was waiting for this place for over three years, while they were remodeling,” says Cisneros, who knew the owners at Maven Realty who were restoring the building. “I said, ‘I want that back corner there.’ And they saved me that corner, which is this corner.”

The unique space befits Cisneros, who specializes in creating unique designs for her clients, many of whom are affluent philanthropists in the Gables who attend seasonal charity balls. Among her clients are Sissy DeMaria, who hosts the annual Coral Gables Community Foundation gala, Gloria Estefan, for whom she is designing

38

LEFT: DESIGNER MAYDA CISNEROS HAS REOPENED A NEW ATELIER AT THE REMODELLED LA PALMA BUILDING

a gown for her upcoming Kennedy Center honors, and Swanee DiMare, a major supporter of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

“Mayda has designed and made about five gowns for me,” says DiMare. “She’s very creative and detailed oriented – always super friendly and very professional – and flexible with my suggestions!”

Well, up to a point, says Cisneros. “We work with your time and with your budget,” she says. “But with fabrics, I don’t really give too much.” Cisneros gets her fabrics from Italy and France, “so, I don’t work with somebody saying, ‘I have this fabric.’ I design with a fabric I pick, and you give me an idea of your inspiration, and I work with your inspiration… and I’m going to work with the best part of your body or the worst part that you want to hide. Those things are very important.”

The typical Cisneros gown takes about a month and a half to two months – unless you are a regular or “very special person” who needs a dress in a hurry. She produces several hundred a year but has “thousands” of ideas. “You have ideas, and you sketch them out for a collection. Some things you show to clients to see if they like the ideas, and if they buy them. Some never make it that season – some of it clicks and some of it doesn’t – but then you save it for the next season.”

While many designers follow the latest fashion colors, Cisneros says she pays more attention to what looks good on a client. “You know, everyone has their own color, and it’s very important to be in touch with who you are, what looks good on you, and what you’re comfortable with.”

As for the latest work at her new atelier, she says, “I’ve always done very streamlined and very simple. That’s what I’m known for.

For simplicity – simplicity with a twist. And sexy in a very classic manner.” ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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LIVING / ARTIST

A Portrait of the Artist as a Builder FULFILLING A LIFELONG DREAM, SHAUN NOWROUZI SCULPTS A NEW FUTURE FOR HIMSELF

BY J.P. FABER

A

s a child, Shaun Nowrouzi was fascinated with assembling objects, and he dreamed of being an artist. That curiosity with building things took him down another path, however, leading to a successful career as a contractor specializing in niche markets with a focus on high-end buildouts and educational and healthcare facilities.

The commercial clients of his local company Modular Contractors have included Mt. Sinai Hospital, St. Thomas University, Baptist Hospital, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, and the University of Miami.

Finally, in 2006, the long-time Gables resident created his first sculpture, inspired by a trip to Europe. “My first sculpture was after Paris, where I ran into a contemporary garden,” Nowrouzi says. “I immediately designed something and had my metal fab-

40

rication shop put it together.” That would be his last effort at being an artist, however, until Covid shut down his company and freed him up to pursue his dream. “I was getting close to retirement, and I had such a passion to continue [creating abstract sculpture] ... I made a pivotal choice to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an artist.”

Today Nowrouzi’s Gables back yard is a sculpture garden, filled with his abstract creations. Some are more figurative than others, like his ballet dancers, or his rendition of Charlie Chaplin, others as abstract as a purple flame. Altogether, “they dance with the landscape the pieces are set in,” he says.

That sense of harmonizing with the immediate flora is critical for a sculpture garden, says Nowrouzi, who has also had considerable experience with building ‘hardscapes’ to cor-

“ IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT DROPPING STATUES IN A YARD. YOU NEED A VERY SPECIFIC IDEA ABOUT HOW THEY WILL SIT TOGETHER. IT’S ABOUT THE GARDEN AS A WHOLE.” ARTIST SHAUN NOWROUZI, ABOVE, SITTING IN HIS BACK GARDEN WHICH DOUBLES AS A GALLERY. CONTACT: INFO@SHAUNNOWROUZI SCULPTURE.COM OPPOSITE PAGE: THE SCULPTURES RANGE FROM FIGURES OF BALLET AND BALLROOM DANCERS TO ABSTRACT FORMS.

coralgablesmagazine.com

relate with landscapes, i.e. the retaining walls, planters, steps, and “elevations you create” in an outdoor space to orchestrate the experience. He considers this an advantage over other sculptors when it comes to creating a full garden – right down to the detail of what pedestal would work best with what piece.

“I am trying to put all of these specialties into one practice for someone who wants to allocate an area [for sculptures],” says Nowrouzi. “I want to do the whole thing [because] it’s not just about dropping statues in a yard. You need a very specific idea about how they will sit together. It’s about the garden as a whole.”

In April, Nowrouzi held a “soft opening” for potential patrons to view his work, but the show was rained out. He plans another such event in January, aiming to connect with clients from the construction and real estate industries, nonprofits and others. His goal is to garner recommendations to reach his ideal buyers: developers and luxury homeowners capable of investing in sculpture and hardscaping.

Nowrouzi says one of his main inspirations is Jeff Koons, the American artist who also uses metal fabrication shops to realize his ideas, frequently in stainless steel with mirror-like finishes. But he says his ideas come from other sources as well, including from his frequent visits to museums and art galleries. But, in the end, he says the best place for inspiration is right at home among his creations. “My back yard is an oasis for me to spend time, and that is when ideas come to mind.” ■

41

LIVING / NEW STORES

Escape Into the Prints

CAMILLA’S BOUTIQUE AT THE SHOPS IS A PARADE OF COLOR

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

One donor advised fund.

Endless possibilities.

The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation Donor Advised Fund, sponsored by the BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund, supports the mission of a leader in pediatric healthcare while giving the donor flexibility on their charitable plans.

When individuals choose the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation Donor Advised Fund, they agree to make a gift of cash or other non-cash assets to Nicklaus Children’s, with a portion of the gift allocated to a sub-fund that can be granted to other IRS approved charitable causes they care about.

Learn more by visiting nicklauschildrens.org/DonorAdvisedFund or contact Greg Romagnoli, CAP® at greg.romagnoli@nicklaushealth.org or (305) 582-0137.

Nicklaus Children’s advises individuals to first consult with their personal tax, financial or legal advisor prior to setting up a donor advised fund.

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T

he holiday season has taken over at the Shops at Merrick Park, with the usual towering Christmas tree, winter photo backdrops, and … a circus? Passing by Australian fashion brand Camilla, your eyes are immediately drawn to the sensory overload of prints and colors, from the mystical elephant display upfront to the endless sea of bold printed silks. If the eccentric designs seem familiar, you’ve probably seen pieces worn by celebrities, including Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez, not to mention the brand’s regular appearances on “The White Lotus.”

Camilla’s prime first-floor location is across the courtyard from luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton and between the mall’s anchoring department stores, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, both of which sold a limited selection of Camilla pieces. The brand’s outperformance there made the Shops an ideal location for their third U.S. store.

Fashion designer Camilla Franks combines stories from her travels with imaginative escapism to create innovative limited-edition collections. There are a variety of themes here, from Italian-inspired mosaics of vibrant flora and fauna to more neutral Mediterranean designs. All the pieces embody a bohemian-meets-vintage-Versace vibe, an in-your-face yet artistic style perfect for Miami.

Prints are hand-drawn and painted by in-house artists, pieces are cut and sewn by hand, and each embellishment is precisely placed to finish the look. Yet this luxury fashion brand provides quality and flair without having to spend as much as at neighboring stores. Whether it’s a go-to beach look or the ultimate hosting outfit, dress to impress with Camilla. ■

CAMILLA AT THE SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK​ 320 SAN LORENZO AVE. SUITE #1223 786.206.1298 CAMILLA.COM

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A Time

Giving

Nicklaus Children's Hospital has a special place in the hearts of the Kern Family.

We are proud to support South Florida’s

only licensed specialty hospital

exclusively for children. Renowned for excellence in all aspects of

pediatric medicine and the world

class care they provide for

all children, not just from Miami.

During this giving season,

please join us in supporting

Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

Justin Kern May 2005

Sincerely,

Drew Kern

Justin Kern May 2023

Vice Chair Nicklaus Children's Hospital Board

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BUTCHER BLOCK PARTY

Bites Paris Without the Jet Lag Page 54

AN EVENING AT BOUCHON IS A CULINARY TRIP IN TIME AND TASTE. SHOWN IS THE SEAFOOD GRAND PLATEAU

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BITES

Quick Bites Delightful Desserts

With the holidays upon us, it’s that time of year when desserts abound, and we license ourselves to loosen our belts for everything from fruit cake to gingerbread cookies to chocolate babka. Of course, there are also desserts available all year round, especially here in the city of gourmet delights. Here are some of our favorites.

CHOCOLATE BISCUITS

Outside of baklava, you don’t normally associate a Greek restaurant with desserts. Go to Kaia Greek on Miracle Mile and you will change your mind. The description of their kormos ($11) as “chocolate buttered biscuits” does not do them justice. Served with vanilla ice cream, the chocolate is Belgian Callebaut, with graham cookies and walnuts inside, and a touch of brandy to give it flair. The flavor grows deeper with every bite. 232 Miracle Mile. 786.362.6997.

THE APPLE OF OUR EYE

The apple pie at Villagio in the Shops at Merrick Park ($13.50) is served hot, with cinnamon, a ball of vanilla ice cream, and powdered sugar on top. Maybe because Villagio is Italian, the pie is served like an open-face small pizza. No matter. This is the best apple pie you will ever eat, with a great crust, an all-American dessert ironically served in an Italian restaurant. Go figure. 358 Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.8144.

CHOCOLATE CHEESE

At the Cheesecake Factory, the menu is vast. But why not stick with their specialty? Their Godiva chocolate cheesecake ($10.50), smooth and rich, satisfies both lovers of the cacao bean and cheese.

Of course, it has enough calories (1,400) to fill three-quarters of the daily recommended allowance for women and three-fifths of the daily recommended for men. But who cares? It’s the holidays!

2418 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.529.0703.

HAVING A BALL

Most profiteroles – pastry balls filled with vanilla cream – are dripped with chocolate. Not the Toffe Caramel Crunch Profiteroles ($10) at The Globe. As the name more than implies, their chilled profiteroles are covered instead with a caramel sauce and crunchy bits, then powdered with sugar. Proprietor Danny Guiteras says the caramel crunch is a secret recipe. We don’t care. These are light, not filling, and addictively delicious.

377 Alhambra Circle. 305.445.3555.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

Proprietor Lucio Zanon of Tullio restaurant describes his gelato maker as the “Ferrari of gelato machines,” and after one taste you will agree. Each batch is made fresh for the table, nothing made before hand and left to lose their freshness ($38, feeds four). The flavors vary each day, ranging from hazelnut to vanilla to pistachio. On the day we visited it was vanilla with figs and a fig sauce. Incredibly creamy and scrumptious. 160 Andalusia Ave. 305.926.4208. ■ TOP TO BOTTOM KAIA GREEK: KORMOS WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM VILLAGIO IN THE SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK: APPLE PIE CHEESECAKE FACTORY: GODIVA CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE THE GLOBE: TOFFE CARAMEL CRUNCH PROFITEROLES TULLIO RESTAURANT: VANILLA WITH FIGS GELATO

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Turn What You Love

Into Where You Live

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BITES / NEW PLACES

New Restaurants

Kings of Persia Owner Amin Ebrahimi opened his first Shahs of Kabob in South Miami in 2017, which he describes as a “hole in the wall” for takeout, followed by a location in a Doral food hall. Now he has landed on Ponce with a proper restaurant that has become an instant hit. “We are super popular for lunch, and getting busier for dinner,” says Ebrahimi, whose family is from Iran. “We took the family recipes and modernized them to appeal to Miami.” Among those are a pan-fried eggplant mash with mint, onions, and whey dressing ($8), which is a fantastic dip for one of their skewers or pita bread. We tried the koobideh ($17) which provides one skewer (aka shish kabob) of marinated chicken and one of mixed beef and lamb.

Both tasty and well grilled, accompanied by a choice of two sides: rice, salad or bread. We had them add cranberry, feta, and walnuts to the rice (+$3), which made it even tastier. They also serve some nice slow-cooked meat stews ($16) and vegan dishes (hummus, $8; falafel, $14) for the non-carnivores among us.

SHAHS OF KABOB 2624 PONCE DE LEON 786.580.5865 SHAHSOFKABOB.COM OPEN DAILY 11 AM TO 10 PM

ABOVE: KOOBIDEH AT SHAWS OF KABOB IS A MARINATED CHICKEN KABOB WITH ONE OF MIXED BEEF AND LAMB. BOTTOM LEFT: A GROU TROPICAL SMOOTHIE, WITH JAZZY MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND

GROUing Up The GROU brand is – pardon us – growing, with a new café in downtown Coral Gables to complement the existing café and coworking space by the Shops at Merrick Park. This one is less of a coworking space and more of a small sit-down café, with a short but efficient menu featuring all the expected items: coffee (of course), paninis, gelato, smoothies, and a few larger dishes, like baked lasagna and protein pancakes. Also in attendance are the famous GROU affogatos – Italian desserts that combine gelato with coffee.

GROU proudly proclaims to be the first affogato bar in Miami.

All the ingredients at GROU, right down to the microgreens, are sourced locally. And, of course, GROU itself is family-owned.

Somehow, just grabbing a matcha latte here feels like philanthropy.

We tried a Tropical Smoothie and the Butcher’s Panini (provolone, ham, turkey, salami, and aioli mayo) during the first week of the cafe’s opening. Jazzy music trickles from overhead speakers, quiet enough to fade into the background, and the smell of freshly ground coffee beans permeates the air. A blissful respite. ■ GROU COFFEE 2626 PONCE DE LEON, UNIT 3 786.542.9923 GROUCOMMUNITY.COM OPEN MON.-FRI. 7:30 AM TO 6 PM, SAT.-SUN. 8:30 AM TO 3 PM

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N O R DST R O M / S E P H O R A / C R AT E & B A R R E L

stop searching

N O R DST R O M / S E P H O R A / C R AT E & B A R R E L

N O R DST R O M / S E P H O R A / C R AT E & B A R R E L

S TA R T G I F T I N G

BITES

Holy

Crustacean!

NOW IN ITS FOURTH SEASON, THIS LOCAL STONE CRAB MARKET SERVES SCRUMPTIOUS CLAWS – FROM PICK UP TO AN EXTRAVAGANT BRUNCH

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

L

et’s get cracking! Stone crab season is in full swing and lucky for us, Holy Crab on the corner of Ponce and Majorca provides the freshest of these crustaceans. Sourced daily from fishermen in the Florida Keys, the market price stone crabs are cooked and ready for pickup at MKT Kitchen, itself a gourmet deli.

“When we started during the pandemic, it was about bringing families and friends together safely – that’s why we started delivering,” founder Irene Guerrero Calderon says. “But now, it’s more about bringing the Keys life to Coral Gables.”

With that in mind, Gableites can either pick them up, get the crabs delivered, or enjoy this South Florida delicacy during weekend brunch, accompanied by gourmet dishes from MKT Kitchen.

If you pop in for Holy Crab takeout, the staff preps the succulent claws by the pound and cracks them open for same-day eating.

Just don’t forget their homemade mustard sauce. Or you can stay at home and have the claws delivered (they also ship nationwide overnight, mallets included, in case you have friends or relatives elsewhere that you want to impress).

If you go the brunch route, you can pair your claws with anything from a toothsome vegetable tian to a juicy fried chicken sandwich (each $12), while simultaneously sipping on bottomless mimosas ($25 per person). And, of course, you can order real Key lime pie straight from Key West.

A key part of Holy Crab’s business plan is sustainability. Stone crabs don’t perish when they’re sourced. Instead, once the claw is removed, they can regrow it up to six times in their lifetime. The season runs from October 15 through May 1, giving the crabs the summertime off to mate and grow their population as well as their claws. The market also uses 100 percent recyclable packaging for its orders.

This year, Irene and husband Lucas Calderon are ramping up Holy Crab’s services, offering gift cards, corporate gifting, and catering. “We’re expanding – we have more of the capacity to do all of these things that we didn’t when we started four years ago,” Irene says. Every season they’ve been in business, the Calderons have shared various personal moments: dating, getting engaged, getting married, and now, expecting! As they celebrate their sweet life, they’re also keying into their customers’ special moments.

“It’s so beautiful to be a part of people’s milestone events, that’s what blows me away,” Irene says. “Baptisms, birthdays, anniversaries – people eat stone crabs for special occasions, so hearing these stories on how they enjoy your product over a memorable event, makes it even more special.” ■ TOP: FOUNDERS IRENE GUERRERO CALDERON AND LUCAS CALDERON. BELOW: AT MKT KTCHEN YOU CAN PAIR YOUR CLAWS WITH ANYTHING FROM A JUICY FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH TO BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS

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HOLY CRAB OTHER GABLES PLACES SERVING STONE CRABS: 1831 PONCE DE LEON MESAMAR SEAFOOD TABLE 305.781.4808 264 GIRALDA AVE. HOLYCRABDELIVERY.COM GRINGO’S OYSTER BAR USE PROMO CODE: (TO REOPEN AS “MONTAUK LOBSTER BAR”) CORALGABLESMAG FOR 1549 SUNSET DRIVE A 10 PERCENT DISCOUNT WILD FORK (FROZEN ONLY) 1180 S. DIXIE HWY

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BITES / BRUNCH

A Bountiful Brunch LATE SUNDAY MORNING AT FIOLA

BY NATALIA CLEMENT

A

s we leisurely strolled through South Gables, enjoying the warm Sunday sun, we made our way to a midday brunch reservation at Fiola. The upscale Italian restaurant is a fine dining fan-favorite, with a full house during dinner service most days. In the daylight, the front facade maintains its elegance, yet somehow it seems more inviting. Or maybe it was the thought of bottomless bubbly that had us smiling as we sat down ($40 per person; 2-hour limit).

When it comes to brunch and the boozy decisions you make after a few mimosas, it’s easy to rack up the bill at a restaurant like Fiola, which offers an ample amount of a la carte options. Luckily for us, their Sunday brunch prix fixe menu allowed us to taste a variety of dishes during our three-course meal — all for $45 (plus a few upcharges and a few extra plates we couldn’t resist). According to my girl math, the trendy term for how we rationalize spending money, sharing that much food must be a steal!

Starting off with appetizers, you can’t go wrong with the classic burrata. Fiola’s version shakes things up a bit with its pomodoro foam, a light tomato sauce spread evenly under the soft cheese. Our waiter recommended the wagyu steak tartare (+$9 supplement), a lean yet tightly packed block of beef topped with parmigiano crema and a sunny side up quail egg. When it comes to raw meat, from

52

TOP LEFT: THE ELEGANT FIOLA ENTRANCE TOP RIGHT: CLASSIC BURRATA BOTTOM LEFT: EGGS ALLA BENEDETTINA BOTTOM RIGHT: PANETTONE TOAST

tartares to carpaccios, I’m a bit of a skeptic – but the way the egg melted effortlessly into the pieces of wagyu may have converted me.

Overwhelmed by indecisiveness of going salty or sweet for the entree (the eternal brunch dilemma), we decided to stick to Fiola’s specialty pastas. Between the creamy cacio e pepe and the hearty Akaushi Beef Cheek Wagyu lasagna (+$12 supplement), our taste buds were deep in the flavors of Italy. Wanting to get the full brunch experience, we also ordered the proscuitto eggs alla benedettina ($32) and the panettone toast ($26). What can I say – the poached eggs and french toast were calling my name! The English muffin, stacked with baby spinach and pepperonata, laid on top of an inventive verde sauce that elevated the brunch classic. As for the toast, my sweet tooth couldn’t have been happier with the perfect balance of pistachio, Ricotta, and berries topped with the thick Vermont maple syrup.

Between the Chandon Brut and our hefty entree roaster, we almost forgot that our meal wasn’t over when our waiter came with dessert. Thankfully we picked two of the lighter options: a refreshing fruit macedonia with apricot granita and two scoops of the creamy fior di latte gelato.

Throughout the meal, our attentive waitstaff made sure the bubbles and bites kept flowing. They seamlessly combined our prefixed selections with our a la carte add-ons, curating the ideal Italian brunch. We left Fiola with high spirits, full stomachs, and a doggie bag each, ready for a riposo on a picnic blanket at nearby William H. Kerdyk, Jr., and Family Park. ■ FIOLA 1500 SAN IGNACIO AVE. 305.912.2639

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BITES / FINE DINING

Paris Without the Jet Lag AN EVENING AT BOUCHON IS A CULINARY TRIP IN TIME AND TASTE

BY ANDREW GAYLE

W

e had expected the food at Bouchon, the latest addition to the fine dining panoply of Coral Gables, to be nothing less than superb. Chef Thomas Keller is, after all, considered one of the top masters of French cuisine in the country – the first American male chef to be designated a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor, among other accolades. What we did not anticipate was the experience of being there.

To call Bouchon a bistro is an exercise in modesty; few bistros in France can match the quality of the food served here. But bistro is the perfect appellation if what you want is the experience of dining at a French café.

To begin with, Bouchon is housed in the recently – and immaculately – restored La Palma building across the street from the Alhambra Towers. This 1924 gem, designed by George Fink, is among the most important historic sites in the city. A walk through its shady courtyard is a trip back to the golden era of the Gables.

Inside Bouchon is an even deeper trip into the elegant past.

We don’t want to know how much it cost to create the main dining room, with its patterned tile floor, its glowing bar, its burnished wood wainscoting, and its inlaid deco ceiling lighting.

Whatever the price, it was worth it. This is what experiential dining is all about. To sup in Bouchon is to dine in late 19th century Paris.

The waiters play their part, bustling about in the classic white apron with black vest. Even the plating, with the Bouchon insignia, feels like it came from some old establishment of the Belle Epoque.

Chef Keller calls his food “classic French.” It is not the kind of haute deconstructed dishes you find at contemporary Parisian restaurants, where the cooks are bent on reimagining the French palate. The food here is based first on exceptional ingredients – the freshest, the best quality. You understand this immediately with the seafood, from the oysters glistening on beds of ice at the bar, to the plump jumbo shrimp on their Petite Plateau tower ($98) of crustaceans. Keller is fairly obsessed with sourcing and considers the “foragers and the gardeners” the foundation of his food ecosystem. With sister restaurants around the world, Bouchon is part of a Keller empire that has global procurement clout.

And then there is the food itself. In a word, exquisite. We were pleased by the amuse bouche openers of marinated olives and warm pistachios, and we were impressed by the opening appetizer of mussels ($10 per dozen) and the lovely Salade Lyonnaise with bacon lardons ($21), but we were blown away by the entrees. We’ve had rainbow trout at other French restaurants, but Bouchon’s ($38) was so light and flavorful, topped with roasted cauliflower florets, capers, and brioche bits cooked in brown butter, that we had to close our eyes to better savor the moment of gustatory bliss.

The other entrees were also right up there, a testament to Keller’s philosophy of taking basic French fare and making and perfecting it. The simple Poulet Roti, for example ($38). They start with

54

ABOVE: THE OPULENT INTERIOR TAKES YOU BACK TO 19TH CENTURY DINING IN PARIS, WITH TILED FLOORS, BURNISHED DARK WOOD, AND BRASS FITTINGS.

BOUCHON BISTRO 2101 GALIANO ST. 305.990.1360

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP LEFT: SALADE LYONNAISE BOTTOM LEFT: MOULES AUSAFRAN - MUSSELS IN BROTH SERVED WITH FRENCH FRIES TOP RIGHT: CLASSIC STEAK FRITES BOTTOM RIGHT: TRADITIONAL ROAST CHICKEN

coralgablesmagazine.com

pasture-raised chicken, which they brine for 12 hours and then air cool for another 12 hours before roasting it and serving it with “hen of the woods” mushrooms in a pool of jus-de-poulet. The skin is perfectly crisp, the meat moist, and the sauce – well, you do understand that sauces are the glory of French cuisine.

We also sampled the lamb, medallions of lovely pink meat roasted and placed on a bed of small flageolet beans from the south of France ($54), and the steak frites ($55), with a generous pile of scrumptious French fries (now we know why they call them that) and a thick piece of flat iron steak with a pat of butter and caramelized onions on top. Our waiter recommended medium, and it was perfect: a soft, rosy interior, with a slight bite to the edge.

Adding to the perfection of Keller’s main dishes are the desserts. We ordered The Bouchon, squares of chocolate cake with caramel sauce, and the profiteroles, which use ice cold vanilla ice cream in lieu of a cream filling. The waitstaff – which is superb, by the way – pour the warm chocolate sauce over the top when you are ready. We had ours with café-au-lait and café cream, those classic café beverages that reveal how well the French understand the essence of good coffee.

Bouchon also offers a excellent, deep wine list, 40 pages long, with selections from various parts of France, from the Rhône region to the Loire Valley. After discussing our taste preferences with the sommelier, we ordered a 2020 Saint-Joseph Offerus ($100), and it was superlative. The same can be said for the entire experience. ■

55

People Marlin Ebbert Donna Fales Bella Duarte-Crespo Page 58 MARLIN EBBERT HAS A RECORD OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISM. SHE SAYS “I WAS TIRED OF SEEING TVS AND COMPUTERS AND PAINT CANS IN THE TRASH PILES.”

57

PEOPLE

Marlin Ebbert COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCATE Having lived in the Gables for 35 years, and having raised her family here, Marlin Ebbert has a long and distinguished record of community activism. A member of the Villagers since 1989, she is a past president of the Barnacle Society, was on the city’s sustainability board for eight years (the last three as chair), was a member of the Florida Land Trust, is on the governing board of the Merrick House, and is currently chair of the Coral Gables Art Cinema. She came up with the idea for, and was instrumental in creating, the Gables’ drive-thru recycling events for electronics, which began in 2016. These are now run by the city at City Hall several times a year and have expanded to include hazardous waste and used clothing. The most recent was in November.

“ I WAS TIRED OF SEEING TVS AND COMPUTERS AND PAINT CANS IN THE TRASH PILES....”

58

LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT(S)

WHAT SHE SAYS

While no longer on the city’s sustainability board, her recycling event at City Hall this past November – where she handed out reusable grocery bags that said “I used to be a plastic water bottle” – collected some 19,091 pounds of electronic gear and hazardous waste, and 1,300 pounds of used clothing. She is also this year’s chair of the Villager House Tour, which this month will showcase 100-year-old houses – i.e. those built in 1923.

“I have always been interested in preservation, since I grew up in a big old 1910 house in Pittsburgh. The Villagers [historic preservation group] was the first organization I joined here, other than the PTA. I grew to love the history of Miami in general and Coral Gables in particular. I think history here is so new that you almost feel you are part of it.”

As for why she started the city’s annual drive-thru recycling events, “I was tired of seeing TVs and computers and paint cans in the trash piles.” As for the incredible turnout each year for these events, “I have always maintained that people want to do the right thing. You just have to make it easy for them.” ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

PEOPLE

Donna Fales TENNIS PLAYER At 83 years old, long-time Gables resident Donna Fales has now been playing tennis for a whopping 73 years – and shows no signs of stopping. Back in the 1960s, Fales was a Top 10 U.S. player, playing with and against stars like Billie Jean King and winning the U.S. Clay Court singles title in 1962. In 1966, she also won the U.S. mixed doubles championship. Today, Fales continues to play, racking up wins in her age category and keeping active every day playing golf at the Riviera Country Club and tennis at the Biltmore.

“EXERCISE HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FOREVER. I’VE FIGURED OUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP MOVING BECAUSE WE ALL AGE DIFFERENTLY...”

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LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

WHAT SHE SAYS

In October, Fales set a record by winning the International Tennis Federation World Championships in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles for her age group. “I’ve won the world championship in every age group,” she says proudly. “But the distinctive part now is that I have won three titles each year for the last three consecutive years.” Not many players play all three events, especially in their 80s, which means Fales’ record may never be broken – at least, that’s not likely for a long while.

“Exercise has been a part of my life forever.

I’ve figured out how important it is to keep moving because we all age differently. The older you get, the more important that becomes,” she says. “We all have little injuries, so you never go out without something not being quite right. It’s just really how you adjust and adapt to it. But the most important part is moving and not being so sedentary.” ■

coralgablesmagazine.com

THE 73 rd ANNUAL

BEAUX ARTS FESTIVAL OF ART

JAN 13 - 14, 2024 | 10 AM - 5 PM at the UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, WATSCO CENTER

John Miller, Sloppy American, 2022.

Blown glass and hot sculpted glass, 11 x 13 x 13 in.

Photo: Mario Clarke © John Miller

Join us for a weekend of creativity, inspiration, and cultural celebration at the 73rd Annual Beaux Arts Festival of Art, proudly supporting the Lowe Art Museum.

Head over to the museum after or before the festival for your last chance to explore Order Up: The Pop Art of John Miller and other exhibitions.

Admission to the museum and the festival is FREE! There will be give aways and self-guided sca venger hunt experiences to take part in at the Lowe.

The Lowe Art Museum, located at 1301 Stanford Drive on the University of Miami Coral Gables Campus, offers free admission and will be open to the public all weekend during the festival.

Patrons gather around food vendors and artist tents at a beautiful weekend on Festival grounds, outside of the Watsco Center.

FREE ADMISSION! OVER 200 JURIED FINE ARTISTS FOOD & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT CHILDREN'S ART ACTIVITIES BAY 13 BREWERY BEER & WINE GARDEN

PEOPLE

Bella Duarte-Crespo FOUNDER, HIDDEN INNOVATIONS IN DISGUISE

Born with spina bifida, a genetic condition that affects the spine and affects moveability, Bella Duarte-Crespo has faced a lot in her 17 years. Now a high schooler, she’s been through four surgeries, constant chronic pain, and has had to deal with incontinence for most of her life. But Duarte-Crespo made something out of these struggles, becoming an advocate for the disabled and, in 2019, founding Hidden Innovations in Disguise. The innovative apparel company manufactures and sells underwear and other clothing items that have hidden pockets for carrying incontinence items like liners or extra underwear, saving children and teens from the embarrassment of a public “accident.”

“IT’S SO MUCH FUN TO GET THE WORD OUT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I’VE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE MY CONDITION A LITTLE BIT MORE...”

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LATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

WHAT SHE SAYS

This summer, after an international travel incident where her wheelchair was lost between connecting flights, Duarte-Crespo continued her advocacy journey. She wrote an open letter to American Airlines and British Airways (the two airlines involved), encouraging them to make air travel more accessible for people with mobility aids. The airlines responded, offering her compensation for her troubles, which she refused. “It’s not about the money,” she says. “I would love to collaborate with them.”

A few months later in October, DuarteCrespo partnered with Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream for a fundraiser in honor of National Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day. Over 50 of her peers showed up to support. “I was blown away,” she says. The money was donated to the Spina Bifida Association.

“It’s so much fun to get the word out, especially now that I’ve been able to manage my condition a little bit more,” says the Gables resident. “I really like being able to communicate with people and Hidden Innovations definitely opens up a lot of opportunities for me to reach out to more kids and young adults, letting them know that it’s okay to be different, to have a disability. Anyone can wear the hoodies we make because it’s all inclusive. We’re just about empowerment in general.” ■

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1ST LEFT PAGE IN MAGAZINE Facing right open Gate 1

Your Community.

Your Philanthropy.

Your Foundation.

BY THE NUMBERS

32 YEARS OF SERVICE Coral Gables Community Foundation established in 1991 by community leaders

$3 MILLION invested in the community this year in college schlarships and grants to local non-profits

361 Scholarship recipients to date through 20 scholarship funds

120 DONOR ADVISED FUNDS Managed on behalf of philanthropists like you.

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BENEFITS OF A DONOR ADVISED FUND OF A DONOR ADVISED FUND ATBENEFITS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: •

•

•

•

•

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Your dollars make more dollars, increasing the impact of your gift.

• Your dollars make more dollars, increasing the impact of your gift.

Contributions to your Fund are tax-deductible.

• Contributions to your Fund are tax-deductible.

They can be combined with fundholders withbesimilar passions • They can combined with (Collaborative Philanthropy) fundholders with similar passions

Your Account at the Community Your Account Foundation at the Community

Every dollar you deposit is tax Every dollar you deductible. deposit is tax

Foundation deductible.

(Collaborative Philanthropy) You get to tap into our knowledge and• understanding ofinto the our nonprofits You get to tap knowledge throughout the region. of the nonprofits and understanding throughout the region.

We take care of all of the fiduciary and administrative you. and • We take responsibilities care of all of thefor fiduciary Every dollar earns Support your favorite administrative responsibilities for you. interest, amplifying or causes on Every dollar earns charities your favorite Support Donations of cash, appreciated stock, your gift.amplifying your schedule. interest, charities or causes on Donations of cash, appreciated stock, real• estate are accepted. your gift. your schedule. real estate are accepted.

Visit: GablesFoundation.org/daf Visit: GablesFoundation.org/daf

OUR DONOR ADVISED FUNDS AND ENDOWMENTS OUR DONOR ADVISED FUNDS AND ENDOWMENTS

• Mercedes & Claudio • Marlene Kerdyk Coral • Carlos and Pamela • Anagnost Family • Mercedes Marlene Kerdyk Coral • Carlos and Pamela • Anagnost Rodriguez Charitable AGENCY ENDOWMENTS Charitable Fund in Family Gables• Beautification Feuermann Family & Claudio AGENCY ENDOWMENTS Gables Beautification Feuermann Family Fund Rodriguez Charitable memory ofCharitable George & Fund in Endowment Fund Foundation • Actors’ Playhouse Fund Charitable memory of George & Foundation • Russo Family Georgia Anagnost • Actors’Fund Playhouse • Peter L. &Endowment Kerrin F. Fund Endowment • Robert *& Marian* Fewell Georgia Anagnost Fund• Russo Family Charitable • Peter L. & Kerrin F. Endowment Fund • Robert • Barnes Family Foundation • Beaux Arts Artist Endowment Fund*& Marian* FewellBermont Charitable Fund Fund • Barnes Family Foundation Bermont Charitable Fund • Dr. Jeanne H. & Stephen H. • BeauxFund Arts Artist Endowment Fund • Bonnie Blaire Charitable Endowment • Kirk & Lydia Menendez • Fisher Island Gives Fund • Family Dr. Jeanne H. & Stephen H. Charitable • Bonnie Endowment Fund Kirk & LydiaFund Menendez Siegel • Fisher Island Gives FundFamily• Endowment Endowment Fund Blaire Charitable Siegel Family Charitable• CARE Elementary Endowment Fund • Fox Charitable Fund Family Endowment FundFund • CARE Elementary • Fox Charitable Fund • McBride Family Charitable • Bonn-Ceballos Fund • Coral Gables Bar Fund • Siegfried Rivera Charitable • Bonn-Ceballos Fund• Merrill D. & Elizabeth • Coral Endowment Gables Bar • McBride Family Charitable Association Fund • Merrill D. & Elizabeth • R & L Cohen Charitable Fund• Siegfried Rivera Charitable Fund • R & L Cohen CharitableT. Freeman Charitable Fund Association Endowment Fund T. Freeman Charitable• McCarthy Family Fund • Jeannett Slesnick Fund Endowment Fund Fund • McCarthy Family • Jeannett Slesnick • Coral Gables Rotary Club Endowment Fund Charitable Fund • Coral Gables International Community Spirit • Coral Gables Rotary Club Charitable Fund • Coral Gables International • Albert H. Friedman Miracle Community Spirit Charitable Endowment Affairs Endowment Fund • Albert H. Friedman Miracle • Michael Mena Charitable Scholarship Fund Charitable Endowment Affairs Endowment Fund • Michael Mena Charitable Scholarship Fund Mile Merchant Award Fund Mile Merchant Award Endowment Fund • Slesnick Family Charitable • City of Coral Gables – Fund Endowment Fund • Slesnick Family Charitable • City of Coral Gables – Endowment Fund • Early Learning Children’s Endowment Fund Endowment Fund Community Gifting Fund • MHC Charitable • Early Learning Children’s Endowment Fund Community Gifting Fund • MHC Charitable Fund • Friends of Gables High • Miami Dade 22 Century Endowment Fund • Friends of Gables High • Coral Gables Magazine • Miami Dade 22 Century• MerrickFund Endowment Fund • Coral Gables MagazineFund Festival Charitable Endowment • Merrick Festival Charitable Charitable Fund Fund • PARKnership Fund Charitable Endowment Endowment Fund • PARKnership Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund • Richard• A.Richard HauserA. Family Endowment • Corral & •Cathers Hauser Family • Harry & Mary Perrin Corral & Cathers • Harry & Mary Perrin • Raul E. Valdes-Fauli – • Seraphic Fire Endowment CharitableCharitable Endowment • Seraphic Fire Endowment • Raul E. Valdes-Fauli – Professional Artist Fund Endowment Charitable Endowment Professional Artist Fund Charitable Endowment Archives Fund Fund Fund Fund Archives Fund Fund • Cusack Family Charitable • Poulin•Party Charitable • Cusack Family Charitable Poulin Party Charitable• Villamil Family Endowment • Clinton Family Education • Clinton Family Education • Villamil Family Endowment • Helping• Ukrainian Books & BooksEndowment Fund Helping Ukrainian & Fund Fund Endowment Fund Endowment Fund for Fund Fund Endowment Fund for Booksellers (HUBB) Fund Booksellers (HUBB) Fund • Erickson-Zoellers • Ernest•W.Ernest & Anne Seraphic Fire Fire • Erickson-Zoellers W. & Anne Seraphic • Wilder Walsh&Charitable • &Wilder Walsh Charitable • Juan Antonio ‘El Nene’ Charitable Charitable Fund M. Purcell Charitable • Juan Antonio ‘El Nene’ Fund • Seraphic Fire – Ruth M. Purcell Charitable Endowment Fund Fund • Seraphic Fire –&Ruth & Endowment Mas, Jr. Fund Endowment Fund • Evensky•& Evensky Katz Charitable Mas, Jr. Fund MarvinMarvin Sackner Memorial Endowment Fund & Katz Charitable Sackner Memorial • Williamson Family Family • Williamson Fund Fund Fund • Patricia•Keon Charitable Fund • Riviera• Country Club Endowment Patricia Keon Charitable Charitable Endowment Riviera Country Club Charitable Endowment Endowment Fund Fund • FemCity•Charitable Fund Endowment Fund Charitable Fund FemCity Charitable Fund Endowment Fund Charitable Fund

Engaging and improving our community, the annual commitment of Merrick Society donors is a Engaging improving our community,mission. the vital part of and the Community Foundation’s annual commitment of Merrick Society donors is a vital part of the Community Foundation’s mission.

LIFETIME: Trish & Dan Bell • Ray Corral & Alina

$25,000+: Karelia & Dr. Marino Carbonell • Meledina • Robert*, Marian* & Carole Fewell • Ambassadors Chuck & Sue Cobb • Vivian De Las LIFETIME: Trish•&Ed, Dan Bell&•Trae RayWilliamson Corral & Alina Cuevas-Diaz $25,000+: Karelia & Dr. Marino Carbonell • Ernest & Anne Purcell Carol • Wayne Eldred • Eric P. Gros-Dubois Meledina • Robert*, Marian* & Carole Fewell • • Pete Ambassadors Chuck && Sue • Vivian De Las & Lili Izaguirre • Ed LizCobb Parnes • Alberto & $200,000+: William A. Bonn & Ruben Ceballos Ernest & Anne Purcell • Ed, Carol & Trae Williamson Kristy Cuevas-Diaz • Wayne Eldred • Eric• P. Gros-Dubois Perez • Scott & Nanda Poulin Earl & Cristy • Carlos* & Debbie Garcia • Matthew Meehan & • Pete & Lili Izaguirre • Ed & Liz Parnes • Alberto & $200,000+: William A. Bonn & Ruben Ceballos Powell • Rolando Vazquez Law • Chip Withers Rod Hildebrant Kristy Perez • Scott & Nanda Poulin • Earl & Cristy • Carlos* & Debbie Garcia • Matthew Meehan & $20,000+: Erica English • Leslie Lott & Michael Powell • Rolando Vazquez Law • Chip Withers Peter & Kerrin Bermont • David $100,000+: Rod Hildebrant Moore • Ana Mari Ortega & Marc Schwarzberg • & Cristina Evensky • Claudia Holliman • Jack $20,000+: Erica English • Leslie Lott & Michael & Kerrin Bermont ••Lee David Eddie & Judy Snow $100,000+: & Natasha Lowell •Peter Jose Milton Foundation Moore • Ana Mari Ortega & Marc Schwarzberg • & Cristina • Claudia $15,000+: Shelton Osiason • AuraEvensky Reinhardt • Ron Holliman Shuffield• Jack • Eddie & Judy SnowCoats II • Xavier & Nataly & Natasha Lowell • Jose Milton Foundation • Lee Durana • Zach Mneimneh & Chirine Atoui • Marcia Honorable Don & Jeannett* Slesnick $15,000+: Shelton Coats II • Xavier & Nataly Osiason • Aura Reinhardt • Ron Shuffield • Hayes & Dan Prigmore • Jack & Ingrid Thompson • $70,000+: Sissy DeMaria-Koehne & Dr. Guenther Durana • Zach Mneimneh & Chirine Atoui • Marcia Honorable Don & Jeannett* Slesnick Dale Chapman Webb • Dr. Michael Zinner Hayes & Dan Prigmore • Jack & Ingrid Thompson • Koehne • Zeke & Gina Guilford • Jason Neal & $70,000+: Sissy DeMaria-Koehne & Dr. Guenther $10,000+: Tim Anagnost Ajit & Zinner Maria Alicia Dale Chapman Webb • Dr.•Michael Waste Management • David & Ann Olazabal • Koehne • Zeke & Gina Guilford • Jason Neal & Asrani • Dr. Jose Chaviano Jr. & Illustradent Alirio Torrealba $10,000+: Tim Anagnost • Ajit & Maria Alicia Waste Management • David & Ann Olazabal • Dental • Stephen Dull • Jane Hurt • Nilza Kallos Asrani • Dr. Jose Chaviano Jr. & Illustradent Alirio Torrealba $50,000+: Kaiser Ahmed • John Allen* • Evelyn M.D. • David Mitchell • Alfonso & Shannon Perez Dental • Stephen Dull • Jane Hurt • Nilza Kallos Budde • Andria &Kaiser Bob Dickinson • John Harris • $50,000+: Ahmed • John Allen* • Evelyn • Dr.M.D. Sadia Raja Mitchell Alfonso •• Alfonso Melanie & Sanchez • Lori • David Shannon Perez Paul Budde & Teresa Lowenthal • Marichi O’Rourke and • Andria & Bob Dickinson • John Harris • Thomas • Adriana Verdeja • Mayra Vide-Perez • Dr. Sadia Raja Alfonso • Melanie Sanchez • Lori Montica • John O’Rourke & First O’Rourke Americanand PaulJewelry & Teresa Lowenthal • Marichi Thomas •Perry Adriana Verdeja • Mayra Vide-Perez $5,000+: Adair • Greg and Paige Barnes BankMontica • Scott Jewelry & Karla •Richey • Laura Russo Rick John O’Rourke & First •American Bertran • Anne Robert & Lucy & Margarita Tonkinson Venny •&Laura CocoRusso Torre• •Rick • Vanessa $5,000+: Perry Adair Boley • Greg•and Paige Barnes Bank • Scott & Karla• Richey • Ashley & Jimmy Dr. Michael Michael Walsh • Vanessa Bertran • AnneCusack Boley ••Robert & Lucy & Margarita Tonkinson • Venny & Coco Torre • Cohen Forman • Charles & Isabelle Hamker • Katherine Cohen • Ashley & Jimmy Cusack • Dr. Michael Michael Walsh $40,000+: Pat Blanco • Pat Keon • Michael Kelly • Monique & Sidney Lazard • Elizabeth Forman • Charles & Isabelle Hamker • Katherine McCarthy • Pedro Parra • Tony &• Marielena $40,000+: Pat Blanco Pat KeonVillamil • Michael Kelly • Monique & Sidney Lazard • Elizabeth McCarthy • Pedro Parra • Tony & Marielena Villamil

Olazabal • Pepe & Karina Ortega • Darrell & Debbie Payne • Jenne Ann Rigl • Roland SanchezOlazabal Pepe Shabanah & Karina Ortega & Medina • Dr.• Victor • Daniel•&Darrell Carolina Debbie Payne • Jenne Ann Rigl • Roland SanchezTormo • Barbara Tria & Coral Pine Real Estate Medina • Dr. Victor Shabanah • Daniel & Carolina $1,000+: John &Tria Susan Adams • Percy Aguila Tormo • Barbara & Coral Pine Real Estate • Mary & Brian Alden • Morad & Hoda Askari • $1,000+: Susan Adams• •Pat Percy Aguila Dede Austin John • Sally& Baumgartner Brockway Mary & Brian Alden • Morad• &Melissa Hoda Askari • •Nguyen Castilla Cabanilla Castro• Austin • Sally •Baumgartner Brockway • Dede Ibrahim Chaudry Tania Cruz• •Pat Phillippe & • Nguyen Castilla Cabanilla • Melissa Castro Lauren de Lavalette • Steven Demar • Brian & • Ibrahim Chaudry • Tania Cruz • Phillippe & Lauren Donahue • Chris W. Erickson • Joe & Lauren de Lavalette • Steven Demar • Brian & Helga Fernández • Arthur & Amelia Finkle • Jeff Lauren Donahue • Chris W. Erickson • Joe & Flanagan • Danielle & Brian Gelley • Elizabeth Ghia Helga Fernández • Arthur & Amelia Finkle • Jeff • Denise Glasser • Monique Lavender Greenberg Flanagan • Danielle & Brian Gelley • Elizabeth Ghia and Jordan Greenberg• Joe Greenberg • Javier • Denise Glasser • Monique Lavender Greenberg Hernandez-Lichtl • Joanne & John Meagher • Kevin and Jordan Greenberg• Joe Greenberg • Javier & Roy Moure • Armando Olivera • Karen Raben, Hernandez-Lichtl • Joanne & John Meagher • Kevin M.D. • Kelley Schild • Alexis Schwabe • Monique & Roy Moure • Armando Olivera • Karen Raben, Selman & George David • Dr. Doug Hornsby and M.D. • Kelley Schild • Alexis Schwabe • Monique Sissy Shute • Joanne Silva• •Dr.Debra Selman & George David DougSinkle-Kolsky Hornsby and • Christine & Robert Staub & Doris Sullivan Sissy Shute • Joanne Silva• •John Debra Sinkle-Kolsky • •Lynn Wiener • Peter Aymee Zubizarreta Christine & Robert Staub&• John & Doris Sullivan • Lynn Wiener • Peter & Aymee Zubizarreta *Deceased *Deceased

THANK YOU: && Dan THANK YOU:Trish Trish DanBell, Bell,Ray RayCorral Corral&&Alina AlinaMeledina, Meledina, the the Fewell Fewell family, Claudia Holliman, and the family, Claudia Holliman, and theWilliamson Williamsonfamily. family.Each Eachwas waspresented presented with a bronze-topped coral rock. with a bronze-topped coral rock.These Thesecommunity communityphilanthropists philanthropistshave have made a significant made a significantgift giftthis thisyear yeartotopropel propelthe theimpactful impactful work work of of the the Community Foundation totomeet Community Foundation meetthe thegrowing growingneeds needsof ofthe thecommunity. community.

2023 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY The Coral Gables Community Foundation inspires

Front FLAP #2 IMPACTFUL PHILANTHROPY (Left inside Front GATE Flap 7 3/4 X 10.875 through

(Allow .125 bleed) CHARITABLE FUNDS AND PROGRAMS using

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS

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e are proud to celebrate the meaningful work we do to enhance the quality of life in Coral Gables. Through our charitable funds, we drive philanthropic solutions to promote a thriving, collaborative and generous community.

The Community Foundation has invested over $14 million into the community since 1991.

In the past year alone, the Foundation – and our Fundholders – have committed more than $3 million in grants and scholarships. We welcomed Rocks of the Community and hosted our signature annual events – the Tour of Kitchens, Gala and Wine Auction, enabling us to raise funds to carry on the work we do. We continue our stewardship of Donor Advised, Non-Profit, Endowment and Scholarship Funds, and take pride in assisting our donors in reaching their philanthropic goals.

Your participation and donations represent a sound investment in your community.

We urge you to experience the power and impact of creative philanthropy with us.

MARY SNOW President & CEO

VENNY TORRE Board Chair 2022-2023

LEARN MORE OR DONATE AT GABLESFOUNDATION.ORG.

OUR PROGRAMS COMMUNITY ARTS ENDOWMENT ‘MOON OVER THE GABLES’ BROUGHT US TOGETHER The Community Arts Endowment Fund at the Coral Gables Community Foundation created ‘Moon Over the Gables’ in March 2023, a presentation of U.K. artist Luke Jerram’s 7-meter ‘Museum of the Moon’ art installation with a monthFIRST PAGE OF MAGAZINE #4 of community entertainment, art, Right Front GATE Flap 8.375 X 10.875 cinema, fitness, music and food events in Ponce Circle Park.

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Moon Over the Gables for three weeks in Ponce Circle Park.

COMMUNITY GIVING PROGRAM 59 AREA NON-PROFITS AND WORKING ARTISTS AWARDED IN JUNE 2023 The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that address four focus areas – Education, Arts & Culture, Environment & Historic Preservation, Social & Health Services – and which serve those who live, work, learn and play in Coral Gables.

Awarding a grant to YES Institute.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 96 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO LOCAL STUDENTS THIS YEAR The Foundation’s Scholarship Program and its Fund Holders proudly recognize talented and deserving local students with college scholarships.

Scholarship Fund Donors Rod Hildebrandt and Matthew Meehan present scholarships to Edgar Vizcaino and Nicole Bohlmann.

Ring in 2024 at the Biltmore. Our DJ will have you dancing the night away. Enjoy an array of delicacies, extravagant desserts, and premium open bar.

As we count down to midnight, we will all raise a glass of bubbly as our spectacular fireworks display illuminates the sky above the golf course.

Reservations required Semi-formal attire Party Props included

DECEMBER 31, 2023 10 PM – 1 AM GRANADA BALLROOM $250 inclusive per guest Members Discount Applies Tickets available online at www.eventbrite.com ** Limited Unreserved Seating in the Granada Ballroom ** Adults Only, 21 or Older TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE AFTER DECEMBER 23, 2023

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Givers The

INTERVIEWS BY KYLIE WANG PHOTOS BY JONATHAN DANN

C

oral Gables, with its close-knit circles of neighbors and families, is a city built on community. Which is why it’s no surprise

that such a high percentage of Gableites are philanthropists, in

one way or another. Some donate their time to worthy causes, while others make financial contributions to nonprofits. These givers have myr-

iad goals and are involved with a wide variety of charities, focusing on

everything from music and education to animals and human rights, among others.

Many of the city’s philanthropists work with the Coral Gables Com-

munity Foundation, which makes it easy to give back, not just locally, but all over the world, through their ability to create and manage charitable

trusts. Others make donations on their own. Some devote themselves to physical involvement, joining in with other volunteers for community

projects ranging from downtown cleanups to restoring native hammocks.

Some have a laser focus on one cause, and some are on so many boards of

so many charities that it’s hard to keep count. But every gift is worthy, es-

pecially in a city that takes so much pride in its sense of selfless giving back.

Each year, we feature a selection of residents who have pushed the

envelope when it comes to philanthropy, taking from their passions and personal experiences and channeling their energies into making a better world. Each year, we are inspired by them. We hope you are too!

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Dr. Nilza Kallos FOCUS: EDUCATION, WOMEN’S HEALTH

“I WAS JUST A DOCTOR. BUT NOW, I AM A HUMAN BEING...”

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riginally from Brazil, Dr. Nilza Kallos was 20 when she came to the U.S., where her husband worked at a hospital in Philadelphia. Despite language barriers and a young baby, Dr. Kallos graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine. Ultrasound was a new technology at the time, but the young Dr. Kallos saw its potential. In 1978, when her best friend passed from breast cancer, Kallos began to think of how she could use it. “[Her] mortality hit me tremendously,” she says. “There was nothing, no outreach.

The radiology resident didn’t have any training in mammography. The medical school library books were all outdated. The bookstore had no books on breast cancer. I decided to change this.”

In 1981, she started the first multimodality breast cancer center in Florida. Now retired in Coral Gables, Dr. Kallos spends most days focused on a different type of giving back. “When I was working, I was working so intensely that I didn’t have time to do anything,” she explains. “I was just a doctor.

But now, I am a human being – plus, still a doctor.” Kallos is on the board of GableStage and works closely with the Coral Gables Community Foundation, focusing on education for disenfranchised young people. “I had angels that helped me get into Penn medical school. Now, I want to be an angel for some kids, to help change their lives,” she says. She volunteers as an associate professor at University of Miami to teach students “the art of medicine” and compassion and has plans to get involved with Planned Parenthood. As a doctor working with women, she has horror stories of at-home abortions gone wrong or scared young women with unwanted pregnancies. “It’s not politics,” she says. “If we don’t do this, we’re going to have children that grow without having support or money.

We have to think about the future.” ■

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Jack Firestone FOCUS: MUSIC

“IF YOU HAVE FAITH IN THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS GOALS, ALLOW THEM TO USE THE MONEY WHERE IT’S MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM”

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hen most people start their charitable giving journeys, they look to already-established organizations to support.

But music-lover Jack Firestone believes in getting in on the ground floor. The founding partner of Firestone Capital Management, he’s also one of the founders of the Miami Music Project, which brings music to underserved children through classes, summer camps, and other events. “That’s what I’m most proud of,” says Firestone. “It’s now in its fifteenth season.” He’s also the founding vice president of the National Committee for Symphony Orchestra Support.

Beyond that, Firestone has served or still serves on boards for the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, City Theatre, the Seattle Opera, and the League of American Orchestras. He’s been CEO of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic, and PACE Concerts. He’s currently a patron of the Houston Grand Opera.

Firestone is constantly traveling for his passion, spending weekends in Seattle or Houston for the operas there, and even traveling overseas to places like Lisbon and Strasbourg. When asked why he donates so much of his time and money to music, he says simply, “Mahler said it best: ‘When words fail, music speaks.’”

His financial firm is also involved locally in community philanthropy while his entire family of physicians (brother, father, uncle, and grandfather) gives back through scholarships at the University of New Mexico for doctors that go into family medicine.

Despite being so involved and having started several nonprofit organizations himself, Firestone’s advice to new philanthropists is simple: “Give for general operating support. If you have faith in the organization and its goals, allow them to use the money where it’s most important to them.” ■

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Sissy DeMaria-Koehne & Dr. Guenther Koehne FOCUS: EQUINE THERAPY

“IF YOU’RE A CHILD IN A WHEELCHAIR, THE FIRST TIME WHEN YOU’RE ON A HORSE, YOU’RE ACTUALLY WALKING...”

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or the Koehnes, philanthropy is a family affair. All three of Sissy and Guenther’s daughters are involved in giving: Stephanie Rosado works with ICU baby, a nonprofit that supports families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); Dana De Maria Nateman and her husband have created a family foundation; and Michele “Cozy” Salazar is involved with the Coral Gables Community Foundation, this year hosting the organization’s annual Tour of Kitchens event, which benefits students at Coral Gables High School.

But it’s Sissy DeMaria-Koehne who is the driving force dedicated to giving. Ten years ago, she started Give Back for Special Equestrians, a nonprofit that provides disabled children and veterans with access to horseback riding and equine therapy. “I’ve been a lifelong horse lover,” DeMaria-Koehne explains. “I was horseback riding one day with one of my co-founders and we were both saying, ‘Gosh, aren’t we so blessed? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just find a way to pay it forward to people who could really benefit from this?’ That’s how it started.”

Through Give Back, children as young as five are offered the unique experience of walking if they are in a wheelchair or provided with emotional support through bonding with the animals. “If you’re a child in a wheelchair, the first time when you’re on a horse, you’re actually walking. Instead of looking up at people, you’re looking down at people. It helps with balance, hand-eye coordination, confidence, spatial awareness…. It just gives them a real sense of freedom and joy,” says DeMaria-Koehne.

The organization has now expanded to national events with corporate sponsors like Rolls Royce, and DeMaria-Koehne has put equine therapy – a concept once embraced by the Ancient Greeks – back on the map. Sissy also hosts the Community Foundation’s annual gala in support of community programs while Dr. Guenther is a renowned oncologist who has devoted his life to saving others. ■

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Lee Caplin FOCUS: HIGHER EDUCATION

“WE WORK TOGETHER TO BE AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE AND GENERATE COURSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS...”

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ilmmaker Lee Caplin has been producing movies and television for 35 years, including his 2001 film “Ali” with Will Smith, and “True Detective” on HBO. He’s also a Coral Gables resident and dedicated philanthropist focusing on Florida International University.

Despite Caplin’s career in film, he calls journalism “the most critical and important area of endeavor in today’s socio-political world.” That’s why he gifted FIU’s Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media the largest donation ever to journalism in Florida, earning him naming rights. “I made a special effort toward FIU [because] of it being the most inclusive university in the United States at 84 percent people of color,” he says.

Caplin’s philanthropic journey started long ago with donations to California State University in Monterey Bay, where he keeps a home. He started the film and television program there in the ‘90s. His book “The Business of Art,” a guide to doing business as an artist, is a textbook at FIU and at New York University. At FIU, the first thing Caplin built was a virtual reality studio on the Biscayne Bay campus called iSTAR (Immersive Studio for Altered Reality), which includes classrooms, computer rooms, faculty offices, and a theater. He later built another studio on the ground floor of the Green Library in the main Modesto A. Maidique Miami-Dade campus.

It was seven years ago, when Caplin moved to the Gables, that Steven J. Green (of the eponymous Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs at FIU) first spoke to him about donating. Now, he contributes not only financially but physically.

“A lot of people give money and then just sit back,” he says. “But [being involved] makes it fun for me. We work together to be as creative as possible and generate courses and opportunities for the students.” As for his philosophy of giving, he says, “You have to love the area you target for your philanthropy.” ■

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Give this season’s most sought-after gift-student scholarships

At the University of Miami, we attract the best and brightest students, scholars, artists, innovators, and healers.

Recruiting a vibrant community of dreamers and doers largely depends on the ability to provide the necessary scholarship support.

This season, consider giving a gift that extends well beyond the holidays. With the right planned gift, you

can leave your legacy, protect your loved ones, and open educational doors for many talented students.

For more information on how you can leave a legacy that shines ever brighter, contact Kyle Paige, executive director, Office of Estate and Gift Planning, at 305-284-2914 or at kpaige@miami.edu. Visit us at miami.edu/plannedgiving.

Scan to learn more about planned giving

Claudia Holliman FOCUS: ANIMALS, CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS

“THE ACLU BELIEVES IN EVERYBODY’S CIVIL RIGHTS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT UNTIL THEY GET IN A SITUATION WHERE THEIR RIGHTS ARE INFRINGED ON”

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laudia Holliman’s giving is an effort that has spanned four decades. An Oklahoma native, the Morgan Stanley senior VP first moved to Coral Gables just two years ago, where she began working with the Coral Gables Community Foundation. Prior to that, she had dedicated much of her life to working with a similar organization in her hometown and with the Oklahoma City Zoo. “I was a big volunteer [there],” Holliman says. “And I supported a lot of their charitable work.” She was also a mentor to the president of the Oklahoma Zoological Society. Her love of animals still runs deep, and she is now involved with Zoo Miami as well. Her other favorite organization to give to is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “The ACLU believes in everybody’s civil rights. A lot of people don’t understand that until they get in a situation where their rights [are infringed on],” she says. “I’m just passionate about freedom and about this country.”

The roots for Holliman’s charitable giving go back to the ‘80s, when she and her husband started making six-figure donations to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to support local charities. In the same decade, they adopted their son from Nepal, which led to a long history of philanthropy as well. Holliman currently helps fund the Nepalese Youth Opportunity Group, which raises orphans in family-style homes.

The CGCF has also benefitted from Holliman’s recent move to the Gables.

“Historically, I’ve given to the general fund,” she says, “but now I’m establishing my own fund. At the end of every year, I can delegate to several different groups.

It’s a community. And I think the way you constructively grow a community is to help everybody get ahead.” ■

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David Olazabal FOCUS: EDUCATION

“IT’S GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY. WE WENT FROM LIKE TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS THEN FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN SCHOLARSHIPS. IT’S BEEN FANTASTIC.”

“I

f I can help some kids, some family, those four years in college will make a huge difference,” says David Olazabal.

Speaking extensively on his passion for education, the co-chair of the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Community Giving Committee details a litany of projects he’s been involved with in the educational sphere of philanthropy. “At Coral Gables High School, we do all sorts of things.

We’ve helped the football program with putting together packages to share with college coaches to see if they can get an opportunity at the next level. We help with college guidance counseling. We help them get suits for college interviews.”

That’s not even mentioning the CGCF’s robust scholarship program for graduating seniors at Gables High. “It’s grown significantly,” says Olazabal. “We went from like twenty thousand dollars then forty thousand dollars to half a million dollars a year in scholarships. It’s been fantastic.”

At Frances S. Tucker Elementary School, they’ve supplied laptops. At Gables Elementary, they’re provided equipment and shade structures. Personally, on his own, Olazabal has donated both time and money to his alma mater, Georgetown University, where he serves on the College Advisory Board. “That’s a place that made a big difference in my life,” he says, explaining why he set up an annual scholarship fund there some 20 years ago. He describes his role mainly as “a sounding board for ideas,” listening to students to find out “what they need to change and what works for them.”

The biggest question he wants answered: “Can we make a difference?” Our question is, “Is there any doubt?” ■

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2023

The Year in Review As we come to the close of 2023, it’s time to look back on the city’s mixed bag of accomplishments and controversies. It was a big year for Art in Public Places, for big new projects at UM, and for the start of important undertakings, like undergrounding power lines in the city and breaking ground on the Underline. There was also new tumult at City Hall, as two mavericks got elected to the Commission. Here’s our quick look back.

JA N UA RY

for Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. Cason would serve until the April elections.

TILTING TOWARDS THE ARTS

The Coral Gables Museum pulls in more than $125,000 at its annual fundraiser, dollars that will support the museum’s new exhibitions and programming, now moving in the direction of the visual arts under the new leadership of executive director Elvis Fuentes.

F EBRUA RY BURGERLICIOUS BLOCK PARTY

IN MEMORY OF NINO

The mouth-watering block party for the best burgers in the city (and some outliers, too) once again unfolds on Alhambra Circle. The annual event is put on by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and shuts down two blocks for vendors and live music.

The City of Coral Gables designates the 300 block of Aragon Avenue as Nino Pernetti Way. Pernetti owned and operated Caffe Abbracci for more than 30 years. Guests at Abbracci, long the city’s leading “power” dining spot, included Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Antonio Banderas, among many others

A POP-UP DOG PARK FUNDING FOOTBALL FEVER

The University of Miami files plans to build a $100 million football operations center on Dickinson Drive. The 150,000 square foot building, designed by Arquitectonica, will house athletic facilities for training, recovery, nutrition, and academics when finished in 2024.

THE RETURN OF A FORMER MAYOR

Former Mayor Jim Cason takes over the seat vacated by Commissioner Jorge Fors, Jr. who resigned in order to make an ill-fated run

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After creating its first off-leash dog run in 2022 (for small dogs at Catalonia Park), the city accepts the use of 3,000 square feet at 1505 Ponce for a dog run for large canines. The space is offered as a popup park by Location Ventures, which intends to eventually build a condo mid-rise on that spot.

PEDESTRIANS ONLY

The city commission unanimously votes to keep bicycles, motorized scooters and skateboards off “unauthorized” sidewalks – mostly Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Boulevard near Miracle Mile. Fines will start at $35, then rise to $100 and $200 for repeat violations. coralgablesmagazine.com

Park. “Moon Over the Gables,” a public art exhibit by the city and the Coral Gables Community Foundation, attracts more than 28,000 visitors for an estimated $10 million economic impact.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE MAYOR

Mayor Vince Lago wins re-election automatically when Jackson “Rip” Holmes withdraws his opposition candidacy. According to the city charter, when a city official runs without opposition, he or she is automatically granted the office prior to the April elections.

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

As part of his commitment to art in public places, Ugo Colombo, owner of The Collection (seller of high-end automobiles), installs a 17-foot, six-ton Carrara marble carving of a wheel outside his Jaguar Land Rover dealership on US1 at Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

M A RC H THE 33RD FILM FESTIVAL

GOING UNDERGROUND

FPL begins its 10-year, $240 million program to underground power lines in Coral Gables. The deal was negotiated with FPL by Mayor Vince Lago to protect the city from power outages that occur during hurricanes and tropical storms.

ANNEXATION HO

The City Commission votes unanimously to pursue the annexations of Little Gables and the High Pines/Ponce Davis areas. Both neighborhoods are surrounded on three sides by the city. Pro-annexation advocates tout the increased tax base, and the city’s ability to improve public safety.

The Coral Gables Art Cinema joins the 10-day Miami International A PRIL Film Festival with an opening party for director Alex de la Iglesia’s “My Big Night.” Among the numerous films shown at the cinema is UM FINALE “Weiner” the Sundance Documentary Grand Jury prize winner.

The Frost School of Music ends its season with a sold-out concert of the legendary 1937 mini-opera Camina Burana by Carl Orff.

For its finale, some 95 musicians and 100 singers fill the stage, for a once-in-a-lifetime performance.

ELECTION UPSET

A FULL MOON RISES

For three weekends, a brightly lit, 28-foot moon with detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface is hoisted aloft in Ponce Circle

In a stunning upset, two outsiders are elected to the City Commission. Ariel Fernandez, a long-time political gadfly whose Gables Insider attacked city officials, was elected, along with Melissa Castro, a permit expediter with no-previous political experience (had never even voted). The upset victories were attributed to anti-development sentiment among the small number of voters who turned out.

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FIRST ANNIVERSARY

The Sanctuary of the Arts celebrates its one-year anniversary at the historic First Church of Christ, Scientist across from City Hall. To date, 40 concerts have been held (including by the world-renowned Academy of St. Martin’s in the Fields), with 25,000 concert goers in attendance.

BOOKS PLEASE

After nearly two years and more than $3 million in upgrades, the Coral Gables library reopens. The iconic stone structure on Segovia Street reopens after the annual Family Literary Festival at nearby Memorial Youth Center.

BONNIE BOLTON’S CHALLENGE

Bonnie Bolton, daughter of legendary Gables civic activist Roxcy Bolton, files a legal petition to block the demolition of the Garden of Our Lord adjacent to the St. James Evangelical Church on Phoenetia Avenue. Developer Sergio Pino wishes to build a multi-story apartment complex there.

m ay

BURGER BOB’S ON THE BURNER

Commissioner Ariel Fernandez accuses the city of dragging its feet on the reconstruction of Burger Bob’s, the beloved diner on Granada Golf Course. After much wrangling, the city commission unanimously votes to create a portal for the public to monitor progress.

J U NE ANDERSON’S VINES

Miami Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson launches a campaign to rid the Gables of the invasive air potato vines that are beginning to cover local trees. Anderson used her Commission expense funds to pay $10 per pound for uprooted vines.

ALTERNATIVES TO MODERN

The city commission asks architecture firm Gensler to submit new design concepts for the so-called Mobility Hub to be built in place of the parking garage behind the Miracle Theatre. Cost for the building has risen to $62 million from $42 million, when it was first proposed as a controversial futuristic white cube.

THE SAVING OF MAHACHEE

The Coral Gables Garden Club announces the completion of the project they spearheaded to plant a small forest of 1,400 native trees to replace several acres of invasive species, dead wood and trash at the entrance of Girl Scouts’ Camp Mahachee, next to Matheson Hammock County Park.

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CELEBRATING TREES

The Gables-based Tropical Flowering Tree Society launches the 86th annual Royal Poinciana Festival with cocktail parties, music, tours, plantings, etc. The Society took over the Miami event in 1999, with Coral Gables as a co-sponsor since 2018.

RYDER MOVES TO TOWN

In a move that will bring 800 employees to the city, global supply chain leader Ryder announced that it would relocate to the Colonnade building in the downtown. The move will finish in early 2024.

BAC bank, previously located there, will move to Plaza Coral Gables. coralgablesmagazine.com

UNDERLINE PLANS UNDERWAY

Friends of The Underline and the county’s Department of Transportation & Public Works reveal their designs for parks in Coral Gables that will be built as part of The Underline project to activate land under the Metrorail.

J U LY SHARPER OPPENHEIMER

Joining the national summer movie craze for “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” the Coral Gables Art Cinema shows the latter film using 70 mm projectors. Old-fashioned and rare (not-digital!) format increases clarity of both site and sound, like vinyl vs CD players.

THE PASSING OF JEANNETT

Beloved former City Commissioner Jeannett Slesnick passes at the age of 76 from cancer. The city morns the loss of the past president of the Junior Orange Bowl Committee, chairperson of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, president of the Gables Good Government Committee, vice chair of the Historic Preservation Board, and so much more…

IN PURSUIT OF SEWERS

The city commission votes to pursue federal funding to help convert city septic tanks to the sewer system. Rising sea levels could raise ground water into septic tanks, causing waterway pollution.

TASTE US

Each year in August and September, Miami Spice lures new patrons to the tables of restaurants with less expensive menus. This year restaurant-mad Coral Gables launches their own version, Taste the Gables, with more than 40 restaurants offering pre-fixe three course lunch ($30 or $35) and dinners ($40 or $65).

AU GU ST AMERANT ASCENDANT

The largest bank based in Coral Gables ($4 billion+ in assets), Amerant’s stock begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Earlier in the summer, Amerant is again certified as a “Most Loved Workplace” by the Best Practice Institute.

FALLEN FROM GRACE

Two prominent Gables business leaders come under investigation.

Rishi Kapoor (above), whose company built Villa Valencia, is investigated by the FBI and the SEC for misuse of investor funds, while John Ruiz, the billionaire who launched LifeWallet, is investigated by the SEC and U.S. Attorney’s Office for creating a “Ponzi scheme.”

SOCCER COMES TO TOWN

Coral Gables becomes one of the U.S. headquarters for FIFA, the international organization behind the World Cup. FIFA takes 60,000 square feet in the 396 Alhambra Building, where it will relocate hundreds of employees.

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city will contribute $7 million toward the creation of parks, sports, and entertainment venues under a program instituted by Mayor Vince Lago to levy funds from developers within 1,000 feet of the Metrorail.

10 YEAR MARK

The founders of The Palace, Coral Gables’ first high-end and most opulent adult living facility (the lobby is a replica of the George V in Paris), celebrate the 10th anniversary of their urban, walkable facility for seniors (on Andalusia Avenue).

SEP TEM B ER

A MONUMENT SAVED

The city decides to spend $250,000 to restore Alhambra Water Tower. The crumbling lighthouse-inspired building was designed by Denman Fink and originally constructed in 1923.

TREE PROTECTION

In line with the city’s love of its canopy, the City Commission unanimously votes to increase fines for anyone who defaces or removes trees. Fees will range anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000, with a fee of $2,500 for every 500 square feet of canopy removed.

NO TO MOVING THE ELECTIONS

After much debate, the city decides not to move its elections from April to November to coincide with those of national elections.

Those against the move felt that local elections would get lost in the national noise. Those in favor said it would improve democracy by increasing voter turnout from 20 percent to 80 percent.

A BIG DOG PARK

The city opens its first permanent dog run for large canines at Salvador Park, the result of several years of work by Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, herself the owner of two rescued greyhounds. Dog lovers throughout the city celebrate.

O C TO BER A SPLIT ON ANNEXATION

The city decides to abandon its quest to annex the High Pines/ Ponce Davis area after residents fail to return sufficient petitions in favor but decides to continue with its efforts to annex Little Gables, after citizens there provide enough petitions in favor of annexation.

PARKS FOR HEIGHTS THE UNDERLINE BREAKS GROUND

The long-anticipated Underline project finally breaks ground. The

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The city votes in favor of allowing new buildings in the Design & Innovation District to increase their heights to 137.5 feet if they provide park space on the street level, as a way to retain green space in dense areas. coralgablesmagazine.com

under a new Florida law that prevents cities from protecting historic structures if they are in a flood zone.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

The 20th annual tree lighting ceremony takes place in the Shops at Merrick Park, with the arrival of Santa on a Coral Gables Fire Department truck, with a little help from the mayor, the Miami Royal Ballet, and singers from Coral Gables Senior High School.

BANNED BOOKS PROTEST

Hundreds of Gables residents join a march from the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ to the Books & Books store on Aragon Avenue to protest the banning of books in public school libraries permitted by a new Florida law.

UM’S NEW MUSIC CENTER

The University of Miami inaugurates its new Knight Center for Music Innovation, a $36.5 million, 25,000-square-foot cutting-edge performance and technology innovation hub. The new building will feature a 200-seat performance theater with superior acoustics, and a versatile innovation space equipped with advanced recording, lighting, and broadcast technology.

DECEMBER THE MAYOR’S BALL IS BACK

On Dec. 9, the second anniversary of the Mayor’s Ball takes place at the Loews Hotel, raising an estimated $150,000 to support the League Against Cancer charity and the Coral Gables Community Foundation.

CIVILITY PLEASE

After increasingly acrimonious city commission meetings, commissioners vote to adopt a Civility Code for members of the commission and city staff at all public meetings and in all public interactions and communications.

NOV EM B ER RECYCLING DAY RECYCLED

The city’s annual recycling day at City Hall returns, with citizens permitted to discard electronics, hazardous waste, and “gently used” clothing. This year’s event collected a record 9,091 pounds of electronic waste and 1,300 pounds of used clothing.

THE END OF A HISTORIC PROPERTY

Demolition of a famous and historically significant residence designed by Alfred Parker Browning takes place in Gables Estate,

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THE ANNUAL PARADE

The Junior Orange Bowl Parade returns for its third live appearance since the pandemic shut it down, with marching bands and floats attracting thousands along Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Miracle Mile. ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

MIKE EIDSON WITH HIS WIFE , DR. MARGARET EIDSON, OUTSIDE ST. MARY’S FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

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The

Eidson Factor How one person can make a difference in both historic preservation and the arts

EIDSON INSIDE THE BAPTIST CHURCH

BY J.P FABER / PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

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t had been raining for several days before we met attorney Mike Eidson and his wife Margaret for a tour of St. Mary’s First Missionary Baptist Church, the 1924 house of worship that for much of the past century served the black community of Coral Gables’ MacFarlane District. The church, which Eidson purchased and restored, felt like the safe oasis he intended it become, a place where the community could gather to both practice and experience the arts.

“It’s got dignity, and it represents a really, really important part of our history that was ignored,” says Eidson. “The people who built Coral Gables lived here. Their descendants

live here now. They deserve for this to be preserved. It represents their history. It’s an important part of the history of Coral Gables, and it was just going to be torn down.”

Instead, after meeting with neighborhood residents to get their approval, Eidson bought the building for $860,000. “Inside it was a disaster. The roof had literally fallen in,” says Eidson. It was also filled with pews, which had to be removed in order to install what is called a Harlequin Marley dance floor, a “sprung” floor similar to what professional dance studios use. “Miami City Ballet has one like this. So, dancers love coming here. And you see the light coming through [stained

glass windows.] It’s really beautiful. And it’s their place, it’s a sanctuary for the artist.”

As for the pews, Eidson was able to repurpose them, donating them to a church in Haiti which had been destroyed by an earthquake and hurricane. “We took these pews, right here from this African American church, and put them in a church in Haiti.

They actually rebuilt the church around the pews. That’s what you call faith,” he says.

In another act of faith, Eidson used the church in January to hold the annual celebration and reenactment of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 March on Washington put on by the Coconut Grove Ecumenical

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Network. “A lot of the people, when the church was lost, knew no other church. They grew up here,” said Carolyn Donaldson, who produced the program. A retired former VP of human resources for Noven Pharmaceuticals and Ivax, she attended the church as a child. “We were the black community, and churches were a meeting place… St. Mary’s serviced the community. As an arts theater they will be serving the community. It’s just a different type of service.”

For Eidson, the saving of St. Mary’s represents one of the clear victories in his ongoing struggle to preserve what he can from Coral Gables’ past – and at the same time enrich local culture. A long-time advocate for the arts (he was chair of the Adrienne Arsht Center for five years, and president for seven years of the Miami City Ballet Board of Trustees) he was unable to garner enough support to restore the Coconut Grove Playhouse. He also failed to save the old LaSalle Dry Cleaners building at the corner of Aragon Avenue and LeJeune Road, despite a pre-pandemic offer of $4 million to the owners. That building, which housed city founder George Merrick’s real estate offices in the 1920s, was torn down in

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2019; it remains today an empty lot.

Eidson did, however, save the historic building where Books & Books is now housed. “Is there anybody who would argue that Books and Books is not better off being in that preserved building than it would be if we had another high-rise there? I think 99 percent of people would rather be able to use Books and Books than have an office highrise there – except the guy making money from developing it.”

In terms of sheer potential for cultural impact, however, it’s Eidson’s restoration of the historic church compound across from City Hall that wins the prize. Two churches were built on the property west of LeJeune Road along Andalusia Avenue (marked by the round Christian Science Reading Room on the corner), a small one in 1930 and a larger, neo-classical First Church of Christ, Scientist – directly across the street from Coral Gables City Hall – in the early 1940s. (It had been designed in the 1930s by famed Gables architect Phineas Paist).

In 2019, Eidson acquired a long-term lease for the property and created the nonprofit Sanctuary for the Arts.

“It fit right in with what I was trying to

LEFT TOP: THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST AS ENVISAGED BY THE ARCHITECT PHINEAS PAIST LEFT BOTTOM: THE CHURCH TODAY ABOVE: WAITING FOR A PERFORMANCE TO BEGIN

do in Coconut Grove and what we did on Aragon [Books & Books]… I thought, ‘Well, this is not being used.’ I ran into the caretaker, and he said it hadn’t been used for 10 years, and he showed me the whole property.” Eidson contacted the attorney who represented the church board and began negotiations.

“It didn’t have a stage, and it didn’t have acoustics, and it didn’t have lights on. I said, ‘I love the location. I love the preservation part of this.’” The city had already designated the building historic in 2004, and then-historic preservation director Dona Spain showed Eidson the city’s original file on the property. “It was not in great shape. There were a lot of problems. But then I hired somebody from the Adrienne Arsht Center to come tell me whether or not he thought I could turn it into a performing space.”

The answer, it turns out, was a resounding yes. Since it’s official opening two years ago, the Sanctuary has put on more than 100 performances. While much of it has been coralgablesmagazine.com

music – everything from chamber music

by Mozart to jazz performances by flautist Néstor Torres – the Sanctuary also puts on something that’s rare in Coral Gables: Dance. And not just performances. It has become an important center for dance instruction under director Rafi Maldonado-Lopez, who Eidson hired to manage the facility and its productions. (see story pg. 90).

“It’s a place for all of us to come together,” says Eidson of The Sanctuary.

“There are literally 20,000 people who’ve [gone to performances]. That’s not widely known in the community. I’m still trying for everyone to understand what we’re doing here. The church board did, and leased the small church after seeing what we doing in the larger space... We’ve already had 70 performances this year. There’s nobody else who can say that.”

CREATING THE BOOKS & BOOKS SPACE

I meet Eidson to discuss his love of the arts and historic restoration at Bachour café, a favorite spot of his since it is walking distance from his law offices. They are, ironically enough, now housed in the penthouse of

“IT’S A PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER. THERE ARE LITERALLY 20,000 PEOPLE WHO’VE GONE TO PERFORMANCES. THAT’S NOT WIDELY KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY. . .”

MIKE EIDSON ON THE SANCTUARY AS A PERFORMANCE SPACE

one of the most modern structures in Coral Gables, the 255 Alhambra Circle Building.

There, atop the modern glass edifice, is the Colson Hicks Eidson imprimatur.

This is the second Gables location for the powerhouse law firm, which has made a name for itself handling some of the biggest class action lawsuits in the U.S during the last half century. The first location, when the firm decided to move from downtown Miami in 1998, was on Aragon Avenue, where they built a three-story Spanish style building. Part of the property contained an old 1923 building, one of the commercial structures in Coral Gables. It had since added a second floor, but still retained its Mediterranean style arches, with the original tile floor and pecky cypress ceilings.

“We found out the history of it and how important it was. It had been the first

medical office in Coral Gables. So, we decided to build something that would integrate it and save it,” says Eidson. “Instead of tearing it all down and building a 16-story building, we built our three-story [headquarters] next door and restored the old building… We had fallen into this great piece of property at a very reasonable price, and we thought, ‘Let’s maximize what can be done for the community here.’ ” They were able to do so using something new at that time for the Gables: transferrable development rights. They sold those rights to developer Armando Codina, who used them to add a bit of height to his 355 Alhambra Building (for a signature cupola). That money helped pay for the restoration costs.

The restored historic building is now, of course, home to Books & Books, the heart of what Eidson calls “the prettiest street in

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Into the Cuban DNA A performance to celebrate one of the greats

Ernesto Lecuona “About two years ago, I started learning about Ernesto Lecuona, who was born in 1895 and died in 1963,” says Mike Eidson.

“They call him the Gershwin of Cuba, but I think they should be calling Gershwin the Lecuona of America. He’s that good.”

Legendary Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona is credited with raising Cuban music to classical status, composing over 600 pieces for piano and orchestras, including film scores, songs, and zarzuelas. A graduate of the National Conservatory of Music in Havana, Lecuona composed Latin, jazz, and classical pieces that have become standards – including the “Malagueña” and “Always in my Heart” (“Siempre en mi Corazon”).

To honor the musical heritage of Lecuona on the 60th anniversary of his death, the Sanctuary of the Arts is producing a reprise of 22 of his songs, with musicians, singers, and dancers, Dec. 7-9. Headlining the event will be acclaimed Cuban pianist Aldo López-Gavilán, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.

Eidson says the more he learned about Lecuona, the more he felt that he “had to do something… he’s in the DNA of every Cuban over a certain age. But there’s so many people that don’t know anything about him.” Eidson culled through Lecuona’s 600 pieces, picked 22 to be performed – eight with original dance choreography to accompany the music – and hired a filmmaker to do a documentary about him, narrated by actor Andy Garcia. That movie, “Ernesto Lecuona, El Maestro,” will be shown before each performance at the Sanctuary for the Arts.

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Coral Gables.” Following the bookstore’s restoration, the city built the Coral Gables Arts Cinema (and its Mediterranean parking garage) across the street, while the old 1939 firehouse next door became the Coral Gables Museum. Together with Books & Books, they form a kind of cultural nexus.

The bookstore, with its open-air bar, café, and courtyard is now “the intellectual center” of the city’s downtown, says Eidson.

Both the cinema and museum were born during the mayoral decade (20012011) of Don Slesnick, another preservationist, who coincidentally was Eidson’s commanding officer in the 478th Civil Affairs Company of the U.S. Army Reserve in the 1970s (located at the Kendall Reserve Center on the UM campus). Both men had served in Vietnam, though not together.

“My earliest recollection of Mike – he was already an impressive attorney and a real “doer,” moving and shaking – was as a good leader, but certainly with an independent approach to military life,” quips Slesnick.

“Obviously, I am in awe of the support he’s shown for the arts and culture by the investment of his own [money] and time, while saving the historic structures of the Church of Christ Scientist and St. Mary’s….

Had people listened to his plans, he could have saved the Coconut Grove Playhouse years ago.”

On the legal front, Eidson’s career has been nothing less than spectacular. He has been the lead or co-council in some of the highest profile liability cases in recent U.S. legal history – including the infamous Ford Pinto case with its exploding gas tank that helped make Ralph Nader a household name. He was also co-counsel in the suit against Firestone for its defective tires on Ford Explorers, and numerous class-action cases against pharmaceutical companies and airlines for personal injuries. In all, Eidson has handled hundreds of complex cases, including more than 120 jury trials, leading to a slew of national awards, including being named annually as one of the 100 most influential attorneys in the country by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

“Mike is a very unique person,” says Dean Colson, his law partner for 43 years.

“He is a trial lawyer who is passionate about his clients and their causes, and he takes it all very personally. The same level of energy he brings to the performing arts he brings to his practice [and] his experience has always been in the product liability field, on the side of the people.”

In person, Eidson is mild mannered,

polite, and unassuming. He speaks with a soft southern accent (raised in Georgia), the kind of voice you would expect from Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mocking Bird.” He is, in essence, a modest man whose pleasure comes in the enjoyment of his accomplishments, rather than their broadcast. “This story should be about what we built, and preservation, and not about me,” he says.

“Because maybe someone will look at this and say, maybe I should help.”

Eidson’s love for the arts really began when he spent a year abroad studying in England, at the University of Warwick. “I would go down to London with my friends, who were much more sophisticated in music and dance and all the arts than I was, and we go to the theater every weekend. We’d take a train from Coventry down to London, and they would take me out to hear the symphony. And one day I saw Edward Villella and the New York City Ballet, which was visiting.

And I said ‘Damn, I’ve never seen anything like this before.’ I fell in love with it all.”

Besides his experience in historic England, his affection for preservation stemmed first from his undergrad years at the University of South Carolina, one of the oldest universities in the country, where he lived in dormitories called “the tenement” that had been built before the Civil War and “could have been torn down 100 times.” He also attended Emory Law School, where many of the marble buildings were erected in 1913 and 1915 by the then-CEO of Atlanta-based Coca Cola.

It was also at the University of South Carolina that Eidson met his wife of 56 years, Margaret, who has been a partner in his quest for culture and preservation. She got a master’s degree at Emory, a medical degree at the University of Miami, followed by a fellowship at Sloan Kettering in New York. She then returned to become head of pediatric endocrinology at the University of Miami, where she taught for 32 years. “She is very, very smart,” he says, and a culture maven. When Eidson served as president of the board of the Miami City Ballet (2000-2007), and then as its chair (2008), the two of them attended literally every single performance – at Margaret’s insistence, says Eidson – traveling to Broward and Palm Beach counties to see the performances there.

“We never missed one of their programs,” says Margaret. “If we missed it in Miami, we’d go to Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach. We used to go to all three events, three places for each program. We go to two CONTINUED ON PAGE 104

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Lord of the

Dance

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Rafi Maldonado-Lopez, multidisciplinary dancer, choreographer, and teacher, is taking the Sanctuary of the Arts to new heights.

BY HARRIET MAYS POWELL PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

I

find Rafi Maldonado-Lopez behind a desk in his office at the former First Church of Christ Scientist, a neoclassical structure situated directly across the street from Coral Gables City Hall. He leaps up to greet me. The Principal Managing Director of Sanctuary of the Arts is a man of boundless enthusiasm, with an infectious smile, short black hair, and silver hoop earrings. He is wearing a fitted Sanctuary of the Arts logoed T-shirt that reveals a dancer’s toned body.

After many successful years in arts administration, education, and community outreach with organizations including the Minnesota Dance Theater, New World School of the Arts, and Miami City Ballet, Maldonado-Lopez founded the Inter-American Choreographic Institute (ICI) in 2014. Today, it has morphed into the international arm of the Sanctuary.

Taking me on a tour, he points out the major alterations needed to transform the church into a performance space. Built in 1942 by noted architect Phineas Paist, the building had to be retrofitted with sound panels, a proper stage, and a new electrical system; a large movie screen will soon be installed for the center’s new film series. Maldonado-Lopez explains that the venue (which holds 314 people) is unlike a traditional theater. With no wings it is more

like a concert hall. But with ample dressing rooms and rehearsal spaces, productions come together seamlessly despite the architectural constraints.

Interspersed throughout our conversation is effusive praise for his benefactor, the leading attorney, historic preservationist, philanthropist, and champion of the arts, Mike Eidson (see story pg. 85). Along with his wife, Dr. Margaret Eidson, Mike Eidson founded the Sanctuary for the Arts in 2019

and obtained a long lease for the historic building. With Eidson’s steadfast commitment, the center has rapidly expanded; some 110 performances have been held since it first opened last year.

Maldonado-Lopez and Eidson have a long history of collaboration, the pair having first worked together at the Miami City Ballet two decades ago. Today, they share a vision for a cultural space that attracts top-tier talent to train and mentor, as well as to perform.

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“With Mike, you have someone who has the bird’s eye view of the arts, while I have the worm’s eye view,” Maldonado-Lopez says.

The Sanctuary of the Arts complex across from City Hall comprises several spaces: the main church-cum-theater, a grassy courtyard surrounded by offices and classrooms, and a smaller church used as a rehearsal and instruction space. The Sanctuary also owns St. Mary’s First Missionary Baptist Church on the fringe of the Gables next to Coconut Grove. It has been restored and converted into a rehearsal and training space for dance, Maldonado-Lopez’s passion, and as a space where free concerts are occasionally offered to the community.

The Sanctuary has five resident companies: Miami Chamber Music Society; New Canon Chamber Collective; the Syncopate Collective (dance); Sanctuary of the Arts Dance Ensemble; and the Inter-American Choreographic Institute (international productions).

Unlike most arts institutions in South Florida, SOA doesn’t have a season and performs year-round. Recent programs have included flamenco dance performances, a

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weekend long Brazilian festival, and solo recitals by acclaimed Puerto Rican flautist Néstor Torres. This month there is a three-day celebration of the music of prolific Cuban composer and pianist, Ernesto Lecuona (see side bar pg. 88). With 70 productions already under its belt, the center is amping up its programming and expanding internationally. Next year, Peru, Ecuador, Canada, and possibly Spain will be added to the existing partner countries of Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil where Sanctuary troupes will perform.

While there are other venues for music in the Gables, especially at UM’s Gusman and now Knight Center, a performance space for dance is new to Coral Gables, and it’s what drives Maldonado-Lopez. He takes me to see the small church rehearsal space, where students are practicing energetically under the experienced tutelage of Brazilian consultant, Alice Arja. (Her daughter, Nathalia, is currently the principal dancer with the Miami City Ballet.) Maldonado-Lopez persuaded Arja to join the Sanctuary having realized that many of the talented young Brazilian dancers he met had studied at her

“WITH MIKE, YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS THE BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE ARTS, WHILE I HAVE THE WORM’S EYE VIEW...”

RAFI MALDONADO-LOPEZ ON THE PHILANTHROPIST AND CHAMPION OF THE ARTS, MIKE EIDSON

school in Rio de Janeiro. Most of the current pupils have come from abroad, learning dance in the U.S. on four-month J1 visas.

Conveniently, the Marriott Aloft Hotel located just steps behind the church, provides accommodations for their stay, as well as a venue for social events.

Especially dear to Maldonado-Lopez’s heart is his production of “Men Who Dance,” which is an exploration of gender, staged by the largest all-male dance troupe in the U.S – with over 40 dancers from 25 countries gracing the stage during Thanksgiving weekend 2022. The Miami show also travels to Latin America, where smaller coralgablesmagazine.com

workshops unearth talent to perform back in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Next year, Maldonado-Lopez hopes to take Men Who Dance to Canada, and he is currently weighing a request to perform in Spain. In 2024, the troupe will perform in São Paolo.

Another show that Maldonado-Lopez tours internationally is “Carnival of the Animals,” which was initially conceived as a family production for the Arsht Center in Downtown Miami. Maldonado-Lopez, who studied behavioral development research from toy maker Fisher-Price, says that to keep the attention of youngsters the colors of the costumes have to change constantly, while for older children the music needs to be varied. “Carnival of the Animals” takes place in three international locales: the Amazon; the African savannah; and urban New York. Maldonado-Lopez says this global backdrop underscores his ambition to showcase the diverse cultures of Latin Americans, Africans, and African Americans.

Fifteen years after its first foreign premiere in Rio de Janeiro, “Carnival of the Animals” is now in line for a comprehensive makeover. Once completed, Maldo-

A performance space for dance is new to Coral Gables, and it’s what drives Maldonado-Lopez. Above is the small church rehearsal space, where dancers can practice. nado-Lopez says the ballet will head to Mexico, Argentina, and then back to Brazil.

He is particularly excited about creating new costumes, which will be made in Latin America, at a fraction of the cost that their manufacture would require in the US; he adds proudly that even the dancers’ tights will be handmade!

Maldonado-Lopez also runs two educational programs in Latin America: The International Teaching & Pedagogy Seminar, and the International Summer Intensive Dance Program.

Nonprofit organizations must wait three years before they can apply for public funding, so more than 90 percent of the Sanctuary’s costs are currently met by private donors. Maldonado-Lopez aims to create what he calls “cultural economics” and is

determined to engage Coral Gables’ business leaders. In December, the second “State of the Arts” will take place, with a slew of community leaders in attendance. The invitation’s tag line sums up the event’s mission: “Supporting the creative community to the benefit of the business community.”

I leave the Gables’ new center for dance and music impressed by Maldonado-Lopez’ conspicuous passion for the arts and his devotion to the success of the Sanctuary. In a very short time, he has been able to expand the center’s programs exponentially. Proudly he tells me about a compliment that Eidson gave him on a recent visit to his office: “Oh my god, I thought I had a vision but this, this is crazy.” The next 12 months are set to be a big year for Sanctuary of the Arts, both in South Florida and around the world. ■

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A Culture of Philanthropy Drives Our Mission Learn How We Support Aging Adults with Changing Needs

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iami Jewish Health is one of the largest providers of healthcare and living options for aging adults in the Southeast. It is our mission to honor and enrich lives with empathy, purpose and grace.

We have been dedicated to this mission for 80+ years and are experiencing some of the fastest growth in our history. As a not-for-profit organization and one of the largest providers of care to seniors in South Florida, we rely on philanthropy to help support our programs and services for aging adults.

The Miami Jewish Health Foundation serves as our philanthropic partner, helping to raise essential funds to ensure those who come to us for care can live life to the fullest.

About the Miami Jewish Health Foundation Miami Jewish Health Foundation maintains a culture of philanthropy that propels Miami Jewish Health to be the leading source of healthy aging through an innovative continuum of care.

The Foundation has a small team of four staff members.

Together, these individuals — Alison Grewe, Chief Development Officer and President CEO of Miami Jewish Health Foundation, Jennifer Ray, Executive Director, Aimee Siegel-Harris, Director of Donor Relations and Leslee Geller, Concierge Coordinator — have more than 50 years of combined experience in grateful patient fundraising.

Left to right: Leslee Geller, Jennifer Ray, Alison Grewe, Aimee Siegel-Harris

“We understand that health care goes beyond just science and medicine,” says Alison Grewe. “At its core, it’s really about helping people live full and meaningful lives at every stage of aging.”

With the support of generous donors, the Foundation raised $4 million last fiscal year. This support is integral in Miami Jewish Health’s ability to provide the programs and services patients, residents, and participants deserve and expect.

The Foundation team continues to build a community of purpose dedicated to not only caring for South Florida seniors, but also to helping them find meaning and connection in life. We believe that everyone has the right to age with value and dignity and understand that each person ages in their own way. We work together to meet the interconnected physical, psychological and social needs of those who come to Miami Jewish Health for care.

Patients, residents and participants can depend on innovative programs and services that help with chronic health issues, mobility challenges, mental well-being and social connection.

The Foundation and its donors have created opportunities for people to engage with life in creative and meaningful ways, regardless of their ability to pay.

Funding Opportunity for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Miami-Dade County leads the nation in the percentage of people (16.6%) aged 65 and older who have Alzheimer’s disease. Experts project a 24.1% increase in Alzheimer’s diagnoses in Florida by 2025.

A study in the American Journal of Managed Care estimates the total lifetime cost of care for a person with dementia to be $412,936 (2022). Costs include unpaid caregiving, home health care, medications, copays, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

It’s easy to see how philanthropic support can be essential in helping South Florida’s seniors receive the care they need. Among other initiatives, the Miami Jewish Health Foundation is working on ways to ensure that patients with dementia — specifically those with Alzheimer’s disease — stay connected to the things and people they love.

Right now, more than 45% of Florida PACE Centers participants are living with a diagnosis of dementia.

Miami Jewish Health is South Florida’s oldest and most experienced PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program, serving eligible adults age 55+.

The team seeks to raise critical resources to launch a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® methodology to PACE participants with dementia. Research shows that this person-centered approach to memory care can help individuals relearn and reengage in a way that is meaningful and purposeful.

Philanthropic support can also help patients and families seeking care from the Frank C. and Lynn Scaduto MIND Institute at Miami Jewish Health, a state-designated memory disorder clinic (MDC). “There is no greater feeling than knowing that someone’s life is better because of you,” stresses Grewe.

Creating a Greater Sense of Community Many people are searching for meaningful communities, especially where they can express shared values with others. Miami Jewish Health with its mission of honoring and enriching lives with empathy, purpose and grace seeks to be such a community by bringing people together around something collectively “bigger.”

We know that for individuals who make charitable contributions, giving is an expression of deep values.

Partnerships are built on a shared desire to make a real difference. We firmly believe that creating a shared value community with our donors offers exciting opportunities to build truly meaningful and impactful partnerships that advance positive change in the lives of those we serve.

“It has been said that there is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about,” states Grewe. “Thank you for caring about our seniors with the same shared investment that we do. The difference you make in the lives of others is immeasurable.”

To learn more about giving opportunities and the many ways that you can make an impact, please call 305.898.5602 or visit the Miami Jewish Health Foundation at foundation.miamijewishhealth.org.

THE SEEN

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Under the Cherry Blossom Sky THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION’S JAPAN-THEMED GALA SETS A NEW RECORD

udos for Karaoke, Kimonos and Kyoto! Held Friday, Oct. 13 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel, and co-chaired by Sissy DeMaria-Koehne and Sadia Raja Alfonso, donations and sponsorships for “Under the Cherry Blossom Sky” topped last year’s “Road to Rio” gala. More than $500k was raised for the Coral Gables-based philanthropic nonprofit led by President & CEO Mary Snow. This year, the Community Foundation awarded more than $400k in scholarships to graduating high school students, and more than $286k in grants to local nonprofit organizations.

The arrival was fit for an emperor. Patrons were greeted by beautiful women dressed in brilliantly colored kimonos and geisha masks, while a dozen drummers gave a rousing welcome on thundering Japanese drums to the more than 400 guests as they entered the ballroom draped with cherry blossoms. The evening’s honorees included: Tracy Wilson Mourning received the Community Award Lisa and Victor Mendelson received the Education Award Judy and Jon Zeder received the Sports & Wellness Award Adrienne Arsht received the Arts & Culture Award Conchi & Tony Argiz received the Philanthropy Award Silvia Tcherassi received the Gables Beautiful Award UM Lowe Art Museum received the Landmark Award

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1. Japanese drummers and flautist perform

2. Foundation Chair Venny Torre, wife Coco, Foundation President Mary Snow, and Foundation Board Member Matthew Meehan 3. Jill Deupi, director and chief curator of the Lowe Art Museum, receives the Landmark Award presented by Dorys Martin Torrealba, and husband Alirio Torrealba, CEO of MG Developer

4. Couture Designer Silvia Tcherassi receives the Gables Beautiful Award presented by Ray Corral and Alina Meledina 5. Johann Zietsman, Arsht Center president, stood in for Adrienne Arsht to receive the Arts & Culture Award from Trish and Dan Bell. They are joined by Mary Snow, Sissy DeMaria-Koehne, and Dr Sadia Raja Alfonso.

6. Dr. Henri R. Ford, dean of the Miller School of Medicine with his spouse Donna Ford

7. Jad Majzoub, Ericka Witkowski, Natasha Lowell and Board Chair Emeritus Jack Lowell, Chirine and Zach Mneimneh

8. Tracy Wilson Mourning was recognized with the Community Award presented by Norma Jean Abraham for the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation.

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9. Laurie Jennings, Brett Graff and friend.

10. Conchi and Tony Argiz received the Philanthropy Award, presented by Miami Dade College Foundation

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In Vinos Veritas ‘VINOS AT THE PLAZA’ SETS RECORD IN ANNUAL FUNDRAISER SPONSORED BY EVENSKY & KATZ/FOLDES WEALTH MANAGEMENT

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undreds of delighted wine lovers joined the Coral Gables Community Foundation on Thursday, November 9th, to snap up good values and rare wines at The Plaza Coral Gables, sponsored by Evensky & Katz/Foldes Wealth Management. The value of wine sold will directly benefit the Community Foundation’s grant making to local non-profits and awards of college scholarships for 2024 and beyond.

1. Jerry Rodriguez of BNY Mellon Wealth Management with Eliza beth Rader of Hindman Auctions.

2. Ray Corral of Mosaicist, Aymee Zubizarreta, Alina Meledina, and Foundation Board Member Peter Zubizarreta of UBS Financial Services.

3. Gala Co-Chair Sissy DeMaria-Koehne and Ed Parnes with Board Member Liz Parnes.

4. Alexandra Salas, Foundation Director of Philanthropy Katherine Caskey, Hindman Auctions VP Elizabeth Rader, José Antonio Perez Helguera, Managing Director Agave Holdings and his wife.

5. Coral Gables Mayor Vince C. Lago and wife Olga Mari Lago, Foundation President & CEO Mary Snow, Incoming Board Chair Michael Walsh of Evensky/Katz Foldes Wealth Management, and 2022-2023 Foundation Board Chair Venny Torre.

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HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Little Treasures THE ENDURING CHARMS OF THE CITY’S SMALL-SCALE HISTORIC BUILDINGS

BY BRUCE FITZGERALD AND KARELIA MARTINEZ CARBONELL PHOTOS BY LARRY SHANE PHOTOGRAPHY

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oral Gables has its share of grand architectural showstoppers: The Biltmore Hotel and City Hall, certainly, but also the Colonnade Building, Coral Gables Congregational Church, Coral Gables Preparatory Academy, and others too numerous to mention here. But what of the lesser-known architectural gems, the “little treasures” that are essentially hiding in plain sight on some of our most prominent thoroughfares? Surely it’s time for them to get their own standing ovation, if only for their (and their owners’) ability to withstand the vagaries and temptations of modern urban development.

The Fink Studio is probably the standard bearer for the more intimate historic structures in Coral Gables, especially given its recent full restoration, including the exquisite Gothic-inspired window surrounds. That said, a walking or bicycle tour of the center city will yield a further treasure trove of small buildings dating to the 1920s. Best of all, and to paraphrase the late, great Stephen Sondheim, “they’re still here.”

GEORGE MERRICK: VISIONARY, DEVELOPER, IMPRESARIO The exterior decoration of American buildings in the late 19th century – often in collaboration with leading artists and artisans of the day – had fallen out of favor with the rise of modernism following

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2320-2322 AND 2312-2314 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD

World War I. But as some architects began designing buildings that were more organically conceived and unadorned, others heard the exuberant siren call of fashion, art, music, and a dance craze called the Charleston. Restraint was simply out-maneuvered, at least for the foreseeable future.

It was the Jazz Age after all, and an alternate building style arose in which architectural embellishment became as de rigueur as wearing pearls at the beach or walking on the wings of an airplane in flight. (Yes, such shenanigans did occur.) The resulting Mediterranean Revival style fit the zeitgeist of the era, conceived and directed

by Merrick in the Gables just as masterfully as Ziegfeld produced his “Follies” on Broadway (and later in Palm Beach). The parallels are worth mentioning to better understand the symbiotic relationship between Florida real estate and wish fulfillment.

ARCHES & COLUMNS & FINIALS, OH MY In stark contrast to much contemporaneous architecture that looked to an idealized future, Mediterranean Revival architecture looked to the classics, adding a touch of grandeur (and perhaps a hint of syncopation) to the City Beautiful movement. The past was acknowledged but had been energized and reimagined by new cultural influencers. You can see the fruits of their labor today in unexpected places, from the colorful vintage tiles on a stair tread to the non-traditional capital atop a twisted column, from a pointed Ottoman arch to a carved stone finial. Details mattered, even in their smallest manifestations. Today, they appear as something of an anomaly amidst a cityscape that’s increasingly new and sleek. Perhaps they still draw your attention because they embody not the shock of the new, but the comfort of the tried and true. coralgablesmagazine.com

FIVE SMALL HISTORIC GEMS

Hotel St. Michel, 162 Alcazar Avenue

Designed in 1926 by Anthony Zink, it began life as the Karp Building and originally contained street-level shops and upper-level offices. Thereafter repurposed as the Sevilla Hotel, it was renamed Hotel St. Michel in 1979. Exuding period charm (including a vintage elevator), the restored boutique hotel is also home to Zucca, one of the city’s go-to Italian restaurants.

Hotel & restaurant), these 1924 historically designated structures have been repurposed by chef Thomas Keller and his design collaborator, Adam Tihany. Conceived by H. George Fink, the original hotel featured an open-air courtyard, which remains a signature feature in keeping with Merrick’s “garden city” ideals.

Cafe Demetrio, 300 Alhambra Circle

Virtually unchanged since 1926 (at least externally), the building still commands attention with its corner tower situated on one of our signature thoroughfares. Originally designed for a newspaper publishing company, the Mediterranean Revival structure was reimagined in 1994 as a European-style coffee house that stands as a notable example of adaptive reuse.

2320-2322 and 2312-2314 Ponce de Leon Boulevard

These adjacent buildings were designed in 1926 by architects J. Philip Turner (left) and Dudley St. Clair Donnelly (right), whose arched entryway welcomed customers to what was originally the First National Bank of Coral Gables. Subsequently, the buildings became home to a tearoom, a furniture store, a soda shop and, today, offices and executive apartments. Shown on opposite page.

Bouchon Bistro, 2101 Galiano Street

Located in the former Cla Reina Hotel building (later La Palma

Junior League of Miami HDQ, 713 Biltmore Way

Designed in 1923 by H. George Fink, this Venetian-inspired treasure features four columns flanking the entrance, with capitals salvaged from the Casa Loma Hotel (a precursor to the Biltmore Hotel) and cypress entry doors salvaged from the First Presbyterian Church of Coral Gables. From 1941 to the 1960s, it served as the Biltmore Way Hotel & Apartments. ■

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DON’S RAMBLES

Meandering About Town #6 AN ADVENTURE IN WHICH A FORMER MAYOR CONTINUES TO SEEK THE “SOUL” OF HIS HOMETOWN

BY DON SLESNICK

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aving endured continuing complaints that my rambles are confined to the north side of U.S. 1 (some may say “west side”), I launched a one-man safari into new territory that took me south of Sunset Road, just a stone’s throw from our neighbors in the kingdom of “High Pines.” My intermittent search for the “soul” of Coral Gables has previously taken me to our founder’s church, parks honoring distinguished residents, and neighborhood gatherings. The destination of this adventure: the first officially designated cemetery in the Miami area dating back to 1897 – originally named “Cocoa Plumb” and now known as “Pinewood.” Surprisingly, this enthralling nature preserve holds 268 burial plots.

I had arranged to meet Richard Bennett, who has been involved in efforts to save this pristine plot of South Florida foliage and graves since he was asked to do so by Mayor George Corrigan in the 1980s. He now serves as chair of the city’s Pinewood Cemetery Advisory Board. It quickly became obvious that Richard is truly dedicated to the preservation of this last remaining evidence of our early 19th Century pioneers. The grave sites include the burial locations of Union and Confederate soldiers as well as veterans of the Spanish-American War which ushered in the 20th century.

Bennett showed me a 2006 article from the Miami Herald which mentions that ghost tales have also emerged, telling of “shadow people” and strange noises. One paranormal investigation discovered a large cleared circular patch where nothing was growing, possible evidence that late night rituals may have been held there.

The most intriguing grave is that of Dora Suggs who was viciously murdered in 1905, and who is said to haunt the grounds nightly.

Joining us for this intriguing “site visit” was Jane Maranos, vice-chair of the city’s Landmarks Advisory Board. As we made our way through the thick undergrowth, she observed: “It is a shame that this historic treasure is unknown to many of our residents, even though it has existed since long before our city was founded. In this simple, rural cemetery many graves are forgotten and neglected, hidden by dense foliage. Sadly, there are many children buried along the leafy paths – a reminder of the high infant mortality rates experienced by our society over a hundred years ago. And yet, this special place provides our residents an opportunity to explore one of the few remaining South Florida hammocks in this otherwise crowded urban mass of built environment.”

While wandering through the several acres of trees and plants, we stumbled across a couple enjoying the natural beauty and cooling shade. The young man was Nick Hernandez, a 2004 Coral Gables High graduate, who had returned home from his residence in Los Angeles to visit his mother, Beatrice. When asked “Why vacation in a cemetery?” he replied that, as a youth, this was his favorite place to get away and relax, far from the maddening crowd. Now he wanted his fiancé to share that experience.

As we made our way back to the entrance on Erwin Road, both Richard and Jane agreed that (1) Pinewood needs a better maintenance plan; (2) invasive plants and trees ought to be removed; (3)

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RICHARD BENNETT AND JANE MARANOS ARE OUR TOUR GUIDES IN THE PINEWOOD COCOPLUM CEMETERY

walkways must be improved to protect the safety of visitors; and (4) plans should be formulated to reactivate the annual celebration of “Pioneer Day” featuring costumed participants, music, and pageantry.

Join me next month for a winter adventure as I meander through the annual Coral Gables Christmas Village next to City Hall. ■ This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011. If you wish to reach him with suggestions on where he should next meander in search of the city’s soul, email donslesnick@scllp.com.

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CONTINUED FROM THE EIDSON FACTOR, PAGE 89

now, instead of three. We’ve cut out Palm Beach in the last couple of years.”

Eidson’s affection and respect for his wife is another of his personal attributes; he says he never makes a decision on any project without consulting her. “Margaret is the smartest, coolest, kindest, calmest person – and beautiful. She is the person you would want to be in a foxhole with or the pilot of your airplane if it was in trouble,” he says.

“For her, preservation includes the aesthetic.

For her the most important thing [at The Sanctuary] is when you walk in the door, and you look up, it looks like a jewel box.

She had a lot to do with the way it looks.

When I painted it, when I put up fabric and I put those posters up, she had to approve it. She’s pretty good at that, and I think it’s really pretty. The chairs are big, and everybody’s close to the stage. There are no bad seats. There’s not another building like it.”

While he remains an ardent preservationist, Eidson is also a realist. “I don’t think it’s important to preserve every old building.

The Coconut Grove Playhouse, other than the pride of it, there’s not a lot of aesthetic reasons to preserve it.” But there are two rea-

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“FOR HER, PRESERVATION INCLUDES THE AESTHETIC. FOR HER THE MOST IMPORTANT THING [AT THE SANCTUARY] IS WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR, AND YOU LOOK UP, IT LOOKS LIKE A JEWEL BOX....”

MIKE EIDSON ON HIS WIFE MARGARET’S DESIGN ACUMEN, HERE WITH RAFI MALDONADO-LOPEZ IN THE SANCTUARY

sons to put any building on the national list of historic places, he points out. The first is whether the building is an important artistic achievement by an architect. The second is what happened inside the building. That’s the case with the Coconut Grove Playhouse, he says, which held scores of national caliber plays (with innumerable famous actors, from Jack Lemmon, Liza Minnelli, and Walter Matthau to Carol Channing, Bea Arthur, and Denzel Washington) from 1956 to 2006.

“It became one of the first regional theaters in the United States, one of the most successful, and it was by far the biggest economic impact in Coconut Grove. At one point they say that 40 percent of the money spent in Coconut Grove was the result of the playhouse.” In the last year before it closed, over 100,000 people attended.

Eidson, who has been on the Arsht board since 2005, wanted a similar facility there.

“Over my objections, they would not build a legitimate 500-700 seat theater. They thought it would compete with the Grove,” not knowing the Playhouse would close the same year the Arsht opened. Now empty for 17 years, the Playhouse remains threatened with demolition. The back can modernized while saving the facade, says Eidson. “It’s something that was important, and ought to be preserved,” he says.

CREATING THE SANCTUARY

While he hasn’t been able to save the Coconut Grove Playhouse, the Sanctuary of the Arts is another story. In its own way, Eidson’s transformation of the Sanctuary from CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

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its original roll as a church is the ultimate confluence of his – and Margaret’s – love of both the arts and historic preservation.

The smaller church on the property, facing LeJeune Road, is used mostly as a dance rehearsal space. The larger one, with First Church of Christ Scientist engraved above neo-classic columns facing Andalusia Avenue, is used for performances. Offices form a courtyard connecting the two churches. The Christian Science Reading Room building, on the corner of Le Jeune and Andalusia, is still used by parishioners for their services.

“We use the rest of it,” says Eidson. “We teach classes here in music, theater, fundraising – we teach how to be a professional in the world of art, and we try to bring the community together through all the art forms.”

The Sanctuary is now used for symposiums, for book launches, and by schools, and of course for dance and music. Its grand opening concert in March 2022 was by the famous violinist Joshua Bell, who performed with the equally famous St. Martin in the Fields chamber orchestra from London. “We also have a Mainly Mozart classical series that’s had 10 concerts alone,” says Eidson, who co-founded (with Ukrainian-American concert pianist Marina Radiushina) the Miami Chamber Music Society in 2013 to present the Mainly Mozart Musical Festivals annually in Coral Gables and Miami. “We didn’t really have a home. We performed at Gusman, the Arsht, and at the Biltmore… I presented, with Marina, 100 concerts before I even did this thing. Now we’ve got [the Sanctuary] and the acoustics for her. So, she’s happy.”

Besides the Miami Chamber Music Society, the Sanctuary is currently home to four other resident companies: The New Canon Chamber Collective; Syncopate Collective; Inter-American Choreographic Institute; and Sanctuary of the Arts Dance Ensemble.

The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music has an arrangement with the Sanctuary to put on weekly Thursday concerts.

On the afternoon Eidson gave us a tour of the facility, Rafi Maldonado-Lopez “Men Who Dance” company was rehearsing in the small church, leaping in the air while dance instructors Alice Arja and Renato Penteado barked out instructions. Penteado, principal dancer for the Miami City Ballet for 20 years, instructs dancers (all of them from South America) every day at the Sanctuary.

Arja, whose daughter Nathalia is now the principal dancer at Miami City Ballet, was recruited from Brazil by Eidson.

“Alice is a creative genius. She has got the largest syllabus for teaching dance – forty different companies use her,” says Eidson.

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ALICE ARJA AND RENATO PENTEADO (CENTER) IN THE SANCTUARY WITH DANCERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA

“She trained eight of the dancers at Miami City Ballet. Dancers and principals in 34 companies around the world were trained by her. She is like a goddess of dance.”

Taking a brief break from rehearsals, Arja is quick to praise Eidson and Margaret for their support. “They’re very caring for the art form, and they have good professional hearts,” she says. “For us as artists it’s very rare to find people like Dr. Margaret and Mike who give the support, the encouragement, and open the doors.” Adds Penteado, “He likes the music too, not just the dance side of it, and these two things marry together very well.” Among other upcoming performances, the Sanctuary dancers will be performing to the music of composer Ernesto Lacuona (see side bar pg. 88).

This afternoon is also a special one for Eidson; earlier in the day children from public schools across Miami-Dade County were bussed to the Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall to see the Cleveland Symphony perform, accompanied by dancers from the Sanctuary. “We did two dances, and I think the dancers held their own. It was a great culmination [for me]. I worked at the Arsht Center -- our name is [inscribed] outside. I worked at the ballet. Now we’ve got the Sanctuary. We got to sit there today and watch all of that coming together. It was really a special thing,” says Eidson. “The children were so enthusiastic and so excited about seeing the

dance and the music. [Cleveland] is one of the greatest orchestras in the world – and they congratulated us for helping do this event… And now they are going to perform chamber music here in March. The Cleveland Orchestra! At the Sanctuary!”

With the coming season now programmed, Eidson is thinking about the next steps for the Sanctuary. It may be time to move into non-performing arts. There is a large empty lot next to the First Church of Christ Scientist which Eidson would like turn into a sculpture garden. Some arts advocates want the city to build an art museum there, but the church does not want to sell the property. Edison wants the city to buy one of world-famous sculptor George Segal’s dancers to place there.

Over at the Baptist Church there are other plans afoot, as well. While Eidson donated the church to the nonprofit Sanctuary, he held on to several empty lots across the street. He wants the city to buy them from him, with the stipulation they build affordable housing for artists there, creating a sort of artist village. “You’re two blocks from Metrorail. You could build 600- to 1,000-square-foot apartments at a reasonable price – so this doesn’t end up with “West Grove” million-dollar houses that almost touch each other. Otherwise, that’s what you’re going to end up with. And who wants that?” ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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DINING GUIDE

This Year’s New Restaurants

December

2023

DECEMBER DINING GUIDE As we look forward to 2024, here is a sampling of the Gables’ newest restaurants, those that opened in 2023. Some have become mainstays – a few have already closed – and some are yet to be decided upon by the foodies of the City Beautiful.

Their futures lie in your hands!

$ ............ $$ .......... $$$ ........ $$$$ ......

Under $25 $25-$40 $35-$75 $70-$100+

Prices are per person for appetizer and entrée, without tax, tip, or drinks. Prices are approximations.

Altagracia

Not only does it have a refreshing modern décor, this Argentinian-Italian fusion restaurant brings a new and welcome twist to the Gables’ already plentiful pasta options.

The stars here are the three creamy raviolis: a pumpkin and cheese ravioli drenched in truffle cream, a short rib ravioli, and the ricotta ravioli in a four cheese sauce. Both the pumpkin (topped with fried quinoa) and the ricotta ravioli (topped with almonds) have an added crunch that makes the taste experience delightfully complex. 276 Alhambra Cir. 786.862.1636. $$-$$$

Beauty and the Butcher

You may know Chef Jeremy Ford from Stubborn Seed, a sexy South Beach hotspot that earned him a

NOMA BEACH AT REDFISH

Michelin Star last year. Beauty & The Butcher is a separate concept. The real highlight here is the Wagyu beef tenderloin, made from grade eight Australian meat and accompanied by a side of crispy fried polenta and a sour cherry mustard sauce. 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661. $$$-$$$$

Bistro Café

The popular Puerto Rican restaurant Bistro Café has opened a location in the Gables following its stellar success in Downtown Miami. Lucky for us, they brought their upscale breakfast, right by The Shops at

Merrick Park. All-day breakfast is never a bad idea, especially when it’s this elevated. The expansive menu has a huge list of savory and sweet options, from innovative plates to upgraded classics. 4155 Laguna St. 305.530.8193. $$

Bouchon

From one of the top masters of French cuisine in the country, the Michelin-starred Chef Thomas Keller, comes a classic French restaurant located in the historic, recently renovated La Palma building. The food here is based first on excep-

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ANTONIO CERRATO Creator Chef 108

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tional ingredients – the freshest, the best quality ¬– and has nothing of the contemporary Parisian restaurants, where the cooks are bent on re-imagining the French palate.

Traditional French fare only. 2101 Galiano St. 305.990.1360. $$$-$$$$

Capital Burger

Lots of buzz surrounded this newest addition to Miracle Mile, filling the spot formerly occupied by California Pizza Kitchen. Owned by the same folks as The Capital Grille, this upscale burger joint delves into gourmet cuisine with signature burgers, boozy milkshakes, and craft cocktails. 300 Miracle Mile.

786.437.3741. $$

Graziano’s Market

Located inside the Lifetime building on US-1, this new Graziano’s Market location has a slightly smaller market than the downtown Coral Gables location but more space devoted to eating. Our favorite part of the market isn’t the imported San Marzano tomatoes or the spicy salami calabrese you can have cut up at the deli though – it’s the meals.

From steaks and Argentinian street food to milanesas and raviolis, the food at this iteration of Graziano’s

is both fresh and delicious with a touch of upscale authenticity. 229 S. Dixie Hwy. 786.633.3948. $$

Grilled Cheese Gallery

The menu here consists entirely of affordable grilled cheeses, salads, and poutine. The sandwiches range from $8 to $15 and feature a wide range of unexpected ingredients, from kimchi to truffle oil to fresh lobster. Some of the heartier options are stuffed with macaroni and cheese and each can be ordered with a $2 side of tomato basil soup, perfect for dipping. 1573 Sunset Dr. 786.953.4056. $

GROU Coffee

This new iteration of the existing café and coworking space by the Shops at Merrick Park is less of a coworking space and more of a small sit-down café, with a short but efficient menu featuring all the expected items: coffee (of course), paninis, gelato, smoothies, and a few larger dishes, like baked lasagna and protein pancakes.

Also in attendance are the famous GROU affogatos – an Italian dessert that combines gelato with coffee. 2626 Ponce de Leon, Unit 3.

786.542.9923. $

Johnny Pappagallo

Located in the old Swensen’s building, Johnny Pappagallo replaced The One on Sunset, a casual restaurant-slash-comedy club which lasted less than a year. Try the filetto su canoe bones, a basic beef tartare that’s amplified with grilled bone marrow instead of the usual quail’s egg — a unique version of the classic dish. Or the tortellini in salsa rosa, which is stuffed with veal, of all things. Nothing, however, beats the alcoholic ice cream for dessert.

1586 S. Dixie Hwy. 786.332.2417. $$-$$$

Just Salad

Despite the implications of its name, Just Salad features a wide variety of other healthy eats. In addition to popular salads, the fast-casual eatery also offers warm bowls, wraps, avocado toasts, soups, juices, and smoothies. There’s also the option to create your own salad, bowl, or wrap. 2346 Ponce de Leon.

866.673.3757 $

Levant

At Levant – named after the Mediterranean region of Western Asia – all the chefs are Turkish and the owners hail from Iraq. The food

The finest northern Italian cuisine, specializing in Venetian seafood.

Welcoming, warm, elegant – and delicious. Visit with us today.

“Best New Restaurant 2023” - Coral Gables Magazine

is similarly eclectic, featuring dishes from across the Levant, including Lebanese batata harra (spicy potatoes), Grecian Saganaki cheese, and Turkish baklava. 2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.762.2905. $$-$$$

Lili’s Mediterranean Food

Everything at Lili’s is meant to be shared, from the tapas to the paellas, which are almost impossible to consume on your own. With an emphasis on seafood tapas and, of course, the traditional whole suckling pig ($300), Lili’s real jewel is the live music on Fridays, sung

by Rolando Ochoa, son of the famous Cuban actor by the same name. 1915 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

862.881.0516. $$-$$$

MIAM Café

This casual bistro joint is the second of its kind in Miami – the original location in Wynwood opened back in 2014. The menu mostly consists of breakfast and brunch food, plus smoothies and sandwiches. But the real standouts here are the pastries, in particular the Nutella croissant ($4.50), which is large enough to count as a full meal, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with the hazel-

160 Andalusia Ave. 786-707-8978 Tulliomiami.com Open Daily 12 pm to 10 pm 109

nut spread. 2300 Ponce de Leon.

305.200.3190. $

Motek

This Israeli-inspired restaurant has taken home the prize for the best burger at Burger Bash twice in a row now, an unexpected feat explicable only by a bite of the sandwich itself. But as popular as the Arayes Burger is, you come here for the Eastern Mediterranean food: a smorgasbord of shish kebabs, mezzes (the Middle Eastern version of tapas), shawarma, and hummus.

45 Miracle Mile. 305.396.8547. $$

Naked Farmer

This farm-to-table New American restaurant that boasts seven locations in Florida sources its seasonal foods locally from “farms close to home.” Healthy bowls are the king here, featuring proteins ranging from salmon to chimichurri steak as well as vegetarian and vegan options. 137 Giralda Ave. 305.487.7327. $

NOMA Beach at Redfish

Redfish is born again, this time as NOMA Beach at Redfish, under the command of celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia. The pricey haute

cuisine of Chef Adrianne has been replaced with simpler, more moderately priced dishes that feel much closer to the old Redfish, albeit with an Italian seafood spin. 9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788. $$$

Shahs of Kabob

Owner Amir Ebrahimi opened his first Shahs of Kabob in South Miami in 2017, followed by a location in a Doral food hall. Now he has landed on Ponce with a proper restaurant featuring dishes like koobideh ($17), one skewer of marinated chicken and one of mixed beef and lamb, accompanied by a choice of rice, salad or bread, or a combo of two. They also serve some nice slowcooked meat stews ($16) and vegan dishes (hummus, $8; falafel, $14) for the non-carnivores among us. 2624 Ponce de Leon. 786.580.5865. $$

Shingo

Located in the historic La Palma building, this omakase restaurant is the brainchild of Michelin-starred Chef Shingo Akikuni. Every element of the restaurant is carefully curated, from the pristine presentation of the 14-seat table to the order and method in which each course is served.

The multi-course menu prepared by

Chef Shingo and his two sous chefs takes you through an authentic Japanese journey. 112 Alhambra Circle. shingomiami.com. $$$$

Sospiro

Sospiro’s vibe is somewhere between a Parisian and Italian wine shop, with an extensive list (over 300) of organic natural wines both bottled and by the glass, sorted by their country of origin. There are 30 different “orange” wines, which are made from white grape varieties that have spent time in contact with the grape skins. The food menu features a delicious stack of truffle fries and peculiarly elongated gnocchi in a creamy queso fundido sauce (ask for bread to dip). 2626 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.233.9300. $$

Sweet Paris

Nestled in the first floor of The Plaza Coral Gables, Sweet Paris invites you to pop in for a crepes (as well as other breakfast foods). Try the Le California ($15.50), stuffed with turkey, mozzarella, bacon, truffle oil, cherry tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños, and spring mix, and the S’mores crepe ($14.95), a saccharine dream filled with a scoop of Nutella, torched marshmallows, graham crackers, and

topped with a semi-sweet chocolate drizzle. 3005 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 142. 786.360.3519. $$

Tullio

The brainchild of Lucio Zanon and his son Sebastiano — who previously launched Portosole — Tullio is a refreshing twist on Italian cuisine, with a northern sensibility, a focus on seafood, and some very inventive dishes. The fish is exceptionally fresh, the branzino flown in from the coastal waters of Italy, the shrimp from the coastal waters of Argentina, and the lobster from the coastal waters of Maine. 2525 Ponce de Leon. 305.926.4208. $$$

450Gradi

450 Gradi’s pizzas are wonderfully inventive and deliciously layered, featuring ingredients like Italian buffalo cheese, basil pesto, pork cheek, and truffle cream. Under the direction of Chef Antonio, the tartares (beef, tuna, or salmon) come “smoked” table-side with a contraption that feeds smoke into a glass dome over the dish. Other dishes are set on fire or come with a “pizza hat” on top of them. It’s traditional Italian food with a twist. 130 Miracle Mile. 786.391.1276. $$$

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CITY LIFE

Where Am I? How well do you know the Gables? If you can tell us where this statue is located, we’ll send you tickets to a play or museum. The first two readers to guess correctly will win two tickets each to the play of their choice at the Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle

112

Theater. The second two will win two tickets each to the play of their choice at GableStage at the Biltmore Hotel. The next six to guess correctly will win two tickets each to the Coral Gables Musuem. Send your guess to editor@coralgablesmagazine.com

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