Coral Gables Magazine May 2022

CORAL GABLES

THE ART ISSUE

The Galleries & Museums of the Gables

BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information was derived from the Miami Association of Realtors Southeast Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service for the number of single-famlly home and condo sale transaction sides in the City of Coral Gables for the period beginning 1/1/2022 and ending 3/31/22.

PHOTO: 1241 MARIOLA COURT, CORAL GABLES | $3,995,000

MEDITERRANEAN

Get ready for a whole new experience of Coral Gables

Why I Give: Mike and Pam McCarthy with granddaughters Ellis and Nora

A commercial real estate executive, Mike McCarthy has plenty of experience in development. These days, as a member of the Baptist Health Foundation council at Bethesda Hospital, he’s set his sights on helping the facility develop its Emergency Department. “I think emergency rooms are really important,” he says. “I particularly like understanding what’s needed, and then seeing improvements take shape. It’s challenging, but rewarding.”

Emergency care has a special significance to Mike and Pam, who often enjoy visits from their grandchildren, including eight-year-old Ellis and five-year-old Nora. “Something can always happen,” says Mike. “You’re doing this not just for yourself, not just for the good of the community, but also for them.”

Mike is enthusiastic about Bethesda Hospital’s affiliation with Baptist Health. “The quality they’re providing is pretty breathtaking,” he says. “I had an experience with Miami Cancer Institute, and was really blown away at how good they were. It’s comforting to know everybody involved is at the top of their game.”

“It’s good to know that there’s a place with a high level of care when something unexpected happens.”

Photo by Capehart Photography

THE VISUAL ARTS IN THE GABLES

There is nothing like seeing art up close and in person. There is a magic to being in front of the real thing, absorbing all the detail, color, and textural complexity. Here is a look at the city’s two museums and their directors, and three of our private galleries and their owners, plus a guide to the rest.

THE SWEET LIFE FOR SENIORS

Is Coral Gables the place to retire in a senior community? Ask Sharon Cocchi, a resident featured in our review of the Gables most luxurious and active senior living communities, where residents can enjoy their golden years. We look at some of the newest and best places for Gables seniors to make it their next home.

Art 2.0

If you go to the City of Coral Gables website, and add a forward slash and the word “galleries” (coralgables.com/galleries) you will come to a page that lists nine galleries active in the city – seven traditional galleries, plus the Coral Gables Museum and the Colombian Consulate across the street.

It is a far cry from the Gables Gallery Night Trolley map, which, when posted in 2018, showed 22 locations of art venues. I say venues, because not all were galleries. Some locations, like Books & Books, the Coral Gables Adult Activity Center, the Coral Gables Art Cinema, Actors’ Playhouse, and Arthur Murray Dance Studio, were not galleries but places where art was often displayed for First Friday, the monthly evening when galleries stayed open for the public. Of the 16 galleries listed, only seven remain.

That trend – of galleries leaving the city for cheaper rent elsewhere – is about to change direction, say city officials, who want to revive the erstwhile vibrant First Friday gallery walk. Once upon a time, according to gallery goddess Virginia Miller, there were more than 40 galleries in the city. That was 20-plus years ago, before the exodus.

“We all have our ups and downs, like any business, but we are now uniquely positioned to bring galleries back,” says Belkys Perez, the city’s assistant director for economic development. “Many left for affordable deals in other places. But we are going to see a return.”

In the column of good news are several encouraging signs. H. Benitez Fine Art Gallery

has relocated from its off-the-beaten path on Alcazar to a prime location on Aragon near Books & Books. Galley Art Labbé, on Ponce across from Wells Fargo, shut down when Covid hit two years ago, but is now re-opening with an exhibit of mixed media by Pat San Pedro. Cernuda Arte, which remained closed on First Fridays due to the pandemic, will rejoin the event. And the Coral Gables Museum has amped up its First Friday night with live music, free admission, and a cash bar.

Other resources are also helping create a cohesive First Friday evening experience. The city’s trolley will remain open and traverse the entire length of Ponce, from the Virginia Miller and Imago Art spaces on the north (on Medeira, just off Ponce), to The Americas Collection on Ponce at San Lorenzo. The Freebee service has also committed to free rides between the galleries that night. The city meanwhile is offering pop up spaces for new galleries and plans to display digital art in its Kiosks on Miracle Mile.

“We have the longest running gallery night anywhere, and it shows a commitment by the city to stand behind art and culture,” says Perez. “Walk from gallery to gallery and you will always cross paths with public art installations, and that adds to the city’s role as an art destination... Galleries are re-evaluating where they are and looking at what we offer. Rent is not the only factor that matters.”

CEO & PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P.Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

MANAGING EDITOR

Kylie Wang

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

STAFF WRITER & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Carmen Sofia Fraga

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

SENIOR WRITERS

Mike Clary

Doreen Hemlock

WRITERS

Andrew Gayle

Parker Gimbel

Mallory Evans Jacobson

Katelin Stecz

FILM AND VIDEO CRITIC

Michael Roffman

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rodolfo Benitez

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Suite 115, Coral Gables FL 33134. Telephone: (305) 995-0995. Copyright 2022 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.

Cover: The front of Coral Gables Museum, watercolor by Carlos Garcia-Barbon.

CAN CORAL GABLES RECAPTURE ITS GLORY AS A HAVEN FOR ART GALLERIES?

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 are edited for brevity.

That’s Not Me

Referencing the Letter to the Editor in the April edition concerning the Coral Gables Country Club, I was startled to see my name therein, written in a disparaging light, stating that I remembered having Blacks carry my golf clubs and that Jews were not allowed admittance. Those words never came out of my mouth. That’s nonsense and an insult to my reputation. I have never played golf, and the insinuation of racial overtones is obvious and despicable.

Dorothy Thomson, former mayor

Editor’s note: That letter referenced your remembering by-gone days at the Club when it was the center of social life in the Gables. To say that implied a return to a racist past was an unfair extrapolation.

Zoning Misinformation

I’m writing regarding “From City Hall” in the April issue. If you are going to provide information on city commission meetings,

you need to make sure it is factual. Under the “Voted 4-0 to return the south side of Biltmore Way” you mistakenly stated it would be returned to its original MF2 designation. This is wrong. It was originally MFSA and will remain MF4. Your second mistake was referring to decades old MF4 zoning on the north side. MF4 was created in Feb. 2021; radically changing the purpose from a transitional district to a high height, high density urban district and increasing the permissible height by reducing the minimum size of property from 20,000 to 10,000 sf to allow maximum height. If anyone still thinks the zoning changes were “accidental” or a “minor error,” I have a bridge to sell them. Sheryl Gold

Editor’s note: We have had several discussions with the city about this. While it is true that the designations (MF2, MFSA, MF4) have changed, the net result is that zoning on the south side of Biltmore Way is now what it once was – no Med bonus to increase height. The

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north side’s height allowances are also now the same as they were, albeit on smaller footprints.

At What Cost?

May is National Preservation Month and a good time to highlight issues facing our historic city, where whole blocks of affordable housing are being erased to make room for more expensive residences. One South Gables project seeks to demolish an entire city block of 13 residences, all World War II-era garden-style apartment houses representing Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Monterey designs. Another project in North Gables is moving forward with the demolition of several multi-family structures, including two 1920s garden-style apartment buildings designed by noted architect H.C. Schwebb, to build a 144-unit, nondescript building that will further add traffic congestion and impact the original tree canopy. For earth’s sake, why not restore and refurbish these garden apartments that are true remnants of Merrick’s democratic principles of housing options? It will keep neighborhoods intact and support Merrick’s tenets of a planned diverse city based on the Garden City and City Beautiful movements.

Dr. Karelia Martinez Carbonell

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Streetwise From City Hall Page 16

PHOTO BY MARLIN EBBERT

From City Hall

AT ITS LAST MEETING IN MARCH AND AT ITS FIRST MEETING IN APRIL, THE CITY COMMISSION:

ACKNOWLEDGED BUT DID NOT ENDORSE a recommendation by the Transportation Advisory Board to dedicate the entire ground floor of the new Mobility Hub to micro-mobility. Vice Mayor Michael Mena explained that rents from retailers on the ground floor will be needed to cover bond payments for the project. City Manager Peter Iglesias pointed out that the building is designed to be adaptable, and that more micro-mobility space could be added later. The city also voted 5-0 to pay an additional $640,000 (on top of $2 million) for design upgrades to the Hub, and to accelerate plan completion in time to apply for federal infrastructure grants to offset rising costs for the $42 million – now as high as $60 million – project.

DISCUSSED FOR 90 MINUTES OBJECTIONS from the Riviera Country Club about their requirement to install pavers as part of an upgrade to Blue Road in front of the private club. In the end, commissioners insisted that Riviera install and maintain the pavers, and again demanded that Riviera complete improvements to the street, now two years behind schedule.

DECIDED NOT TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC referendum for a new $60 million Youth Center and adjacent Phillips Park. The proposal by Commissioner Kirk Menendez was an alternative to a comprehensive $160 million plan for the city’s entire park system. Fellow commissioners objected to property tax increases needed to pay for the project. “I will cut to the bone before I raise taxes,” declared Mayor Vince Lago. Commissioner Rhonda Anderson said that undergrounding power lines and removing septic tanks were higher priorities.

VOTED 5-0 TO PERMIT MINOR EXCEPTIONS to the zoning code for a 144 unit, 10-story mixed-use apartment building on Madeira Avenue between Salzedo and LeJeune. Commissioners were pleased by the inclusion of a 5,200-square-foot park on the east end of the block-wide building and traffic calming devices on Madeira. Citizens objected to the destruction of affordable, two-story duplexes on the block, set back 25 to 40 feet from the street, to be replaced by a “wall” of apartments set back 10 feet.

SUPPORTED A PROPOSAL BY COMMISSIONER Anderson to create a new dog park along the southern edge of Salvadore Park (story pg. 18).

LOOKED AT PROPOSED FEES FOR MEMBERSHIP in the new Coral Gables Golf and Country Club, to be run by the city. Commissioners insisted that all 2,000 memberships be offered to residents first.

AT ITS MEETING IN EARLY APRIL, spent more than an hour honoring the community efforts to support autism awareness and local programming to help children and young adults with cognitive disabilities.

VOTED 5-0 TO STRENGTHEN THE STANDARDS for the Mediterranean Bonus program that permits an additional 40 feet of height for buildings that are designed in true Mediterranean style. The legislation, spearheaded by Vice Mayor Mena and Commissioner Anderson, is intended to stop abuse of the program by developers.

LISTENED TO A PLEA BY CORAL GABLES Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Trowbridge to extend the time period allowing restaurants to put tables on the streets outside. Currently, the permission to use parking spaces for tables ends May 30.

ASKED THE CITY STAFF TO COME UP with recommendations for the creation of bike paths through the downtown, specifically on Alhambra, Valencia, and Andalusia.

VOTED 5-0 TO MAKE IT AGAINST THE LAW to blow leaves and other waste into the yards of neighbors or into the street “and into our drains,” said Commissioner Anderson, who proposed the ordinance.

VOTED 5-0 TO REMOVE PERMIT FEES FOR electric vehicle charging stations in single family homes. Also discussed increasing the requirements for new developments to include 20 percent of parking spaces capable of providing charging stations for electric vehicles.

VOTED 4-0 TO ALLOW THE MIXED-USE project at 330 Catalonia Ave. to use its art in public places fees to purchase a 9.7-foot (with 2-foot pedestal) rainbow sculpture by artist Vaughn Spann ($700,000). The commission also approved $196,000 for artist Julio Larraz to create, at cost, a giant “Mars” slice of watermelon to be installed in Pittman Park on Merrick Way. (Above)

LISTENED TO AN ESTIMATED $900,000 PRICE tag to refurbish Burger Bob’s diner on the Granada Golf Course. The price – up from an earlier estimate of $600,000 – so incensed Mayor Lago that he called it “gouging” and said he would personally take over the project. ■

FLANKED BY CITY ATTORNEY MIRIAM RAMOS (L) AND CITY MANAGER PETER IGLESIAS (R), CITY COMMISSIONERS WITH SIENA DANN, A CHILD WITH AUTISM

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Talk of the Town

Wings for Wishes

Some 1,300 people attended the eighth annual Wings for Wishes chow down to benefit Make-A-Wish Southern Florida last month, tearing through some 200,000 wings. The cheerful event with live music took place on San Ignacio Avenue, behind founding sponsor Sports Grill, where 31 vendors handed out beer, liquor, desserts, and – of course – wings. Also featured was a wing-eating contest between more than 40 teams, including three from the City of Coral Gables – firemen, police, and a City Commission team comprising Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Michael Mena, Commissioner Jorge Fors, and Fors’ brother Daniel. The individual winner, who beat the famous Joey Chestnut (world’s top hot dog eater), was Geoffrey Esper, who inhaled 192 wings in only 10 minutes. The event raised $408,451 to grant the wishes of 81 South Florida children with critical illnesses.

Dog Park Politics

At the last several City Commission meetings, a top concern expressed by residents has been the use of Catalonia Park by dog owners who let their pets off the leash. In both March and April, a bevy of residents complained that dog owners – many driving from other areas to park on adjacent swales – were letting their dogs defecate in the park. “Our grandkids come out with dog waste smeared all over them,” said one 36-year resident. Commissioner Kirk Menendez called it “Chaotic Park, not Catalonia Park” and said he saw the unleashed dogs “running in packs.” The problem, of course, is that the city has no designated dog parks, though one is planned for the Underline. The solution, proposed by Commissioner Rhonda Anderson, is to immediately create a park for large dogs on the south side of Salvadore Park. There is space there for a 40-footwide, 190-foot-long dog run. “I call this a pressure relief valve for the problems at Catalonia Park,” said Anderson. At the first April commission meeting, an initial plan was drawn up, which Mayor

Vince Lago pushed to become larger, extending right to a street-side curb. An initial $275,000 cost estimate was considered too high, though it would be paid for by developer impact fees. “Make it as simple as possible with bare bones pricing,” said the Mayor. “We are going to get this done.” In the meantime, the commission asked city staff to issue citations to off-leash dog owners at Catalonia Park. “We have to issue citations as a deterrent,” said Anderson, who also wants a park for small dogs next to Villa Valencia, on Valencia Avenue at Hernando Street.

At The Town Hall

A combined audience of about 150 people attended, in person and via Zoom, Mayor Vince Lago’s semi-annual Town Hall meeting in April. Lago has held such town halls for seven years, beginning as a commissioner, to provide summaries of city endeavors and listen to citizen complaints. City Manager Peter Iglesias gave building updates, while Police Chief Ed Hudak reported on the upsurge in domestic violence (a national, post-pandemic trend) and how the department was now fully staffed. Citizens expressed concern over their gym memberships at the Coral Gables Country Club, now that the city is taking over operations there; worried that the city was becoming overdeveloped, with less affordable housing; and requested more police presence. City officials responded, respectively, that all memberships would be honored; that new upscale housing was the province of private property owners, and the city could do little besides building low-cost workforce housing; and that funding for more police officers was not in the current budget – but that crime was at an all-time low and response times by police were averaging three minutes.

Housing Price Spike

Anyone who has been trying to buy a house in the Gables – or who has been selling one – has witnessed a dramatic rise in prices. Now the stats are in, comfirming the trend. According to the latest Elliman Report, the average sales price for a single-family home in the Gables in the first quarter of this year was $2.8 million, up 48% from last year’s first quarter $1.9 million. The median sales price spiked even more, up 57%, from $1.15 million last year to $1.8 million this year. ■

CITY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON: PUSHING FOR A DEDICATED DOG PARK

JOEY CHESTNUT (CENTER) AND THE WINNER GEOFFREY ESPER (RIGHT) AT THE ANNUAL WINGS FOR WISHES

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Impressive custom Mediterranean home designed by renowned architect, Ramon Pacheco, boasts soaring ceilings, top-of-the-line kitchen, infinity edge pool, oversized covered terraces, an outdoor kitchen, and a Fairchild worthy garden. A generator, three car garage, impact glass and additional luxe amenities make this a standout.

A Very Special Home.

People in the News

of experience in hospitality and tourism to address issues facing the region’s hospitality industry post pandemic. “We work and live in one of the greatest tourism destinations in the world,” said Kammerer (above right). “I look forward to continuing to serve the board and draw more influence for the benefit of the industry.” The Association includes 180 hotels and 250 allied businesses throughout Miami-Dade County who hope to improve the visitor experience –and volume. Kammerer’s background includes leadership roles for cruise ships, resorts, condo hotels, spas, and golf courses, as well as for Coral Gables’ most famous hotel.

Completing the Circle

The dream of creating a 20,000-square-foot Friendship Campus complex for children and young adults with special needs is coming closer to reality with ongoing construction and fundraising by the nonprofit Friendship Circle Miami. Friendship Circle had operated in a 3,000-square-foot facility on the 2.5-acre campus just outside Pinecrest, co-directed by Rabbi Yossi Harlig (top left) for the past 17 years. Now, with the help of several prominent Gables philanthropists – including Chairman of the Board David Evensky (top right) and Board Member Tracey Berkowitz (shown above) – the $10 million+ project is expected to be ready by Spring 2023. Recent fundraisers included the May1st Annual Walking 4 Friendship 3K at Tropical Park, and an April 27th wine tasting on the campus site hosted by Evensky as part of Autism Awareness Month. “These kids are isolated and don’t have many friends,” says Evensky. “It’s a beautiful program.”

The New Chairman of Hotels

Matthias Kammerer, the Biltmore Hotel’s managing director for the last decade, has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association. Kammerer has been a board member for 16 years and will now use his 35 years

Balancing Purpose and Profit

“Our business was founded with the intention of benefitting the community,” says LM & Associates (LMA) President and CEO Lucy Morillo (above right). Affirming that, LMA recently became the first Gables company to secure B-Corp status, joining such socially responsible firms as Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, and Tom’s of Maine in a global movement using for-profit businesses as a force for good. To gain certification, the nonprofit network B Lab measures a company’s social and environmental impact. LMA is a boutique consulting firm founded in 2017 by Morillo, former president of Miami Children’s Health Foundation, and Lisbet Fernandez-Vina (above left), former editor-in-chief of Selecta Magazine and VP of marketing for Jackson Health Foundation. Their clients include Chapman Partnership, Miami-Dade College, Green Shipping Line and the Jackson Foundation, among others. ■

The Cuban Connection

JAIME SUCHLICKI ACHIEVES A LIFELONG GOAL BY CREATING THE ULTIMATE CUBAN DATABASE

BY KYLIE WANG

Like many other CubanAmericans in South Florida, Dr. Jaime Suchlicki is an immigrant. The former University of Miami professor came to the United States in 1960 and has since dedicated his life to his one true passion: Cuba.

After receiving three degrees, two of which came from the University of Miami, Suchlicki founded the Research Institute for Cuban Studies in 1978 and served as its director for 14 years. He held the same position at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies for another 18 years, all at UM. His latest project, however, is perhaps even more impressive.

Cubans in America is a vast online database of information that details everything from the country’s history to its famous cuisine (cafecito has its own tab) to, most importantly, every prominent Cuban-American you can think of – from pop culture stars like baseball player Jose Canseco and the late actor Desi Arnaz, to Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, director of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Other prominent Cubans in the database who call Coral Gables home include Tony Argiz, Facundo Bacardi, Armando Codina, Frank Del Rio and Mike Fernandez.

Dr. Suchlicki spent two years putting the project together as the head of the Cuban Studies Institute, a research group in Coral Gables. It started off with only Cubans in Florida before expanding to include all of America, and it continues to grow with the help of funding from the National

Endowment for the Humanities and Bacardi, Inc.

“This is my legacy,” says Suchlicki. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for many, many years. It will be there forever, and it will be augmented as we go along.”

The scope of the project is already immense, with almost 300 Cubans and Cuban-Americans having been profiled. Each person is categorized according to what industry they contributed to, including entertainment, business, academia, law, and politics. All have photos and biographies detailing their backgrounds and contributions to American society. The website further explores the history of Cuba and the events that led to the mass exodus of the Cuban people to America, as well as what their “journey to exile” was like, in other sections.

“It’s a place to appreciate the impact of Cubans in this country,” Suchlicki says, adding that he hopes young academics will use the database to further their studies. “When I retired from the university, I had a lot of time. I thought, what can I do that will make a real contribution in American society? I feel that this is probably the most valuable thing that I could’ve done.”

Like many other CubanAmericans, Suchlicki has never forgotten his roots. And he intends to ensure that their history never be forgotten either. ■

Explore the database at: cubansinamerica.us

OF

Photo by Emily Fakhoury

“THIS IS MY LEGACY. THIS IS SOMETHING I’VE WANTED TO DO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. IT WILL BE THERE FOREVER, AND IT WILL BE AUGMENTED AS WE GO ALONG.”

FORMER UNIVERSITY

MIAMI PROFESSOR DR. JAIME SUCHLICKI, ON HIS “CUBANS IN AMERICA” ONLINE DATABASE

Best Bets

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exhibition begins (through Aug. 23). On May 13, the “Capture Downtown Coral Gables” exhibition begins (through June 10), presenting the finalists from the Capture Coral Gables 2022 photo contest. Also opening May 13 (through July 20) is “Internal Knot: The World of Zammy Migdal,” artwork known for its subtle forms that resemble dance movements. Visit coralgablesmuseum.com for more information.

FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN: NATURE CONNECTS

Now through August 28, experience Fairchild’s “Nature Connects,” a display of 30 giant sculptures covering the garden’s 82 acres, each built with over 700,000 LEGO bricks. This award-winning, record-breaking exhibition was created by renowned artist Sean Kenney. Daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Non-member tickets $11.95 to $24.95 at fairchildgarden.org. Members free.

GABLESTAGE: “BOCA”

Ready to laugh? Enjoy GableStage’s comedy set in our beloved Sunshine State as you follow a group of retirees who – between rounds of golf, bridge, and Botox – can be found bickering, gossiping, and living like teenagers in Boca Raton. Runs through May 22. Showtimes are Wednesday 2 pm and 7 pm, Thursday 7 pm, Friday 8 pm, Saturday 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sunday 2 pm. Tickets ($40-$70) at gablestage.org.

ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE: “MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS”

Debuting on May 18 and running through June 5, Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre presents “Murder on the Orient Express,” a thrilling and suspenseful adaptation of Agatha Christie’s masterpiece. You’ll run off the rails with this murder mystery. Showtimes are Wednesday to Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets ($40) at actorsplayhouse.org.

ARSHT CENTER: “OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD”

Venture out to the Adrienne Arsht Center to see “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord,” running from May 5 to May 22. This fierce, dark comedy portrays the story of four teenage girls who gather in a Miami treehouse to summon the ghost of Pablo Escobar. Find out what happens next as this hilarious yet dramatic new play explores the corners of the human heart. Showtimes are Wednesday to Saturday 7:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 3 pm. Tickets ($55-$60) at arshtcenter.org.

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S PRE-MOTHER’S DAY TEA

Calling all ladies! Come join the Coral Gables Woman’s Club (1009 East Ponce de Leon Blvd.) for a Breakfast at Tiffany’s-inspired Mother’s Day Tea Party. Enjoy finger sandwiches, scones, tea, and a couple of cocktails too. Takes place Saturday, May 7, 1 pm to 4 pm. Wear your favorite little black dress and pearls. RSVP attendance on eventbrite.com and purchase your tickets for $55 (under 21) and $85 (over 21 for unlimited bubbly).

CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

The Coral Gables Museum has three new exhibits this month. On May 6, the “MECHANICS: Recent Paintings by Jefreid Lotti”

CANDLELIGHT CONCERT SERIES: “A TRIBUTE TO ED SHEERAN”

On Thursday, May 19, the Candlelight Concert Series returns to The City Beautiful at Coral Gables Congregational Church (3010 De Soto Blvd.), where the Listeso String Quartet will perform “A Tribute to Ed Sheeran.” Enjoy a classical take on hit songs such as “Lego House,” “Galway Girl,” “The A Team,” and more. Showtimes are at 7 pm and 9:15 pm. Tickets ($37-$57) at feverup.com. ■

About Face

When it comes to looking younger, facing the needle isn’t the only option. Most facial treatments help prevent aging through deep cleaning, tightening treatments, and products packed with nutrients – along with the latest technology to ensure your skin gets the nourishment it needs. All you have to do is lay back, relax, and let your facialist do her thing (and maintain your skincare routine, of course). We visited some local favorites to help you save face.

Clé Facial Bar

There are three standard facials at Clé, each of which varies slightly according to the skin of the individual. We tried The Indulgence, a 70-minute facial for $135 that includes steaming, extractions, and extra pampering according to your skin’s needs. Our skin felt immensely more hydrated and deeply cleaned. 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.879.6243

Pecan Day Spa

The Ultimate Facial ($205) lasts 100 fabulous minutes. It features a high frequency red light to calm and de-contaminate the skin, followed by an ice tightening treatment to infuse hyaluronic acid into the pores. After a charcoal peel mask to push in nutrients and pull out toxins, we felt awoken from a deep sleep, refreshed and cleansed. 520 Biltmore Way. 305.284.8636

La Prairie

Now at Neiman Marcus in The Shops at Merrick Park, La Prairie Spa Room offers free facials if you purchase products from the store. Your facialist will assess your skin to determine which line is right for you of four collections offered. The one-hour treatment consists of deep surface cleaning, a hydrating mask, and a face massage – our favorite part of the facial. 390 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.999.1000

Miracle Spa Center

New to the Gables facial scene (since February), Miracle Spa Center is the high tech alternative with its Hydra-Facial treatment ($279). Extractions are performed with a mini vacuum, sucking out impurities and exfoliating your skin. The process signals the brain to produce new skin cells – while pushing nourishing serum in, leaving skin soft and radiant. 44 Miracle Mile. 786.238.7375

Biltmore Spa

There is nothing quite like the Biltmore Spa, overlooking the golf course from the seventh floor of the hotel. Its newest offer, a 90-minute Youth Reset Facial ($210), uses an applied mask with electrical currents to deliver nutrients more effectively into the skin. The mask is then peeled off and moisturizer applied, leaving skin dewy, replenished, and tightened. 1200 Anastasia Ave. 305.913.3187 ■

FROM THE TOP: PECAN DAY SPA MIRACLE SPA CENTER BILTMORE SPA

Going for the Weeknights

A Question of Control

n a recent April night, a lineup of standup comics stood in the spotlight against a brick wall. It could have been a comedy club in L.A., but it was inside Bay 13 craft brewery on Alhambra Circle. Nick Sharp, proprietor of Bay 13 (and ThreeFold), calls it “experience based hospitality,” which basically means adding a bit of entertainment to the fare. It’s something he’s experimenting with, adding a new First Wednesday of the Month comedy lineup at Bay 13, plus a jolly beer-pairing night (freshly brewed Pale Ale with orange-glazed duck, for example) on the First and Third Tuesdays of each month.

OA BILTMORE REQUEST TO CHARGE FOR PARKING RUNS INTO HEADWINDS

a way to start things early, with music at Public Square (a jazz band), dance at La Taberna Giralda (flamenco), and live theater at GableStage (fierce drama and now, hold your breath, a comedy production).

Sharp is not the first to begin weeknight programming to attract guests who typically limit their fun to the weekends. Thursday nights have long been

But what promises to shift energy to midweek is the new Wednesday night jazz at The Globe Café (Alhambra and Le Jeune), with its Puro Jazz band under the direction of percussionist Calixto Oviedo. Oviedo also honchos Saturday nights at The Globe with his Afro-Cuban jazz band Entre Amigos; Wednesdays he’s all about the classic vibe – albeit with guests like Lily Hernandez, who recently sat in for a session of jazzy Latin torch songs. Better yet, the music starts at 6 pm, making it the coolest happy hour in town.

■ JP Faber

During the pandemic, demand for parking spaces in the gigantic West Parking Lot adjacent to the historic Biltmore Hotel was not an issue. With the return of hotel guests, however, the lot has reached its limits, as use by residents is starting to crowd out hotel guests. This includes residents parking third and fourth cars there, others leaving cars there to Uber to the airport, and contractors parking vehicles there.

To limit overuse by non-hotel guests, the Biltmore began to charge for parking in January –only to learn that the lot was not part of its leased property, but a separate “asset” owned by the city. This discovery by city attorney Miriam Ramos took even city officials by surprise.

The conflict came to a head in March at the first City Commission meeting, when a resolution worked out between

the Biltmore and city staff – to use parking fees to limit use and to upgrade the property – was derailed by Mayor Vince Lago, who refused to vote in favor of relinquishing control. “Why don’t we run the lot? I want to control everything that has to do with city assets,” he said.

City parking director Kevin Kinney assured the mayor he was comfortable with the Biltmore running things, since their use of receipts would be audited, and because the lot – like the city parking lot at Doctor’s Hospital – was dedicated to a single user. The mayor nonethe-less requested a counter proposal for the city to operate it, which is to be reviewed at a subsequent commission meeting. In the meantime, anyone who paid for parking in January can request a refund from the hotel, using an app on its website ■

The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe promotes high-quality inclusive School Readiness, Voluntary Prekindergarten and after school programs, thus increasing all children’s chances of achieving future educational success and becoming productive members of society.

SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM

Provides nancial assistance to low-income families for early care and education so families can become nancially selfsu cient and their young children can be successful in school and in life.

• Provides a voucher that pays for most of the cost of child care or after school programs so parents can work or attend a job training program while children learn

• Employers bene t from reduced absenteeism and more productive employees who are less stressed and anxious about their children during work hours

• No cost to employers

• Eligibility is based on family income level, a family of four with annual income of $39,300 or less would qualify

• Children from birth to age 13 may be eligible for services

• Children can be placed at a wide range of available programs selected by the family

• No waiting list in Miami-Dade or Monroe Counties

• Online application and eligibility determination

• Participating programs utilize developmentally appropriate curriculum

• In partnership with parents, developmental screenings are available to identify potential developmental delays in young children and appropriate service referrals

VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN (VPK)

Florida was one of the rst states in the country to o er free prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds regardless of family income. VPK prepares early learners for success in kindergarten and beyond.

• Free for all 4 or 5 year-olds in Florida

• O ers school year (540 hours) or summer (300 hours) program

• Parents can choose from di erent educational settings: private child care centers, public schools and specialized instructional services providers

• Children that complete VPK are much better prepared for kindergarten

• Manageable class-sizes

• Emphasizes reading, math, science, language and social skills

Early Education. Lifelong Success.

TOP: COMEDY NIGHT AT BAY 13 CRAFT BREWERY ABOVE: WEDNESDAY JAZZ NIGHT AT THE GLOBE CAFÉ

DISTINCTIVE LIVING MEETS BEST-IN-CLASS CARE

Belmont Village Coral Gables to Rede ne Senior Living

A unique collaboration between leading senior housing provider Belmont Village Senior Living and renowned Baptist Health South Florida is rede ning senior living. Belmont Village Coral Gables, opening in 2023, is the rst in a series of senior living communities coming to South Florida through this innovative partnership. Along with ve-star hospitality and amenities, rst-class accommodations, a rich social environment, and rst-rate care, Belmont Village Coral Gables will feature Live Healthy by Baptist Health on the ground oor, a wellness-focused center for its residents and seniors in the greater Coral Gables area.

4111 Salzedo Street | Coral Gables, Florida

Each month we print letters we receive from our readers. We encourage all commentary, included 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 are edited for brevity.

Walking Through History

Yay Bu erflies

anks for printing the informative and witty Home & Garden story by Grace Carricarte about “ e Butter y E ect.” I recently released a Monarch butter y from the web of a spider in my garden and decided then and there to install some milkweed plants to foster the proliferation of these magical ying insects. e astonishing thing about the milkweed is that after the caterpillars had fed on the leaves and owers and basically decimated the plants, within two weeks they regenerated themselves and new caterpillars emerged, followed by a new generation of Monarchs. Please continue to showcase the e orts of Coral Gables residents who create gardens of truly earthly delights.

A MONTHLY ARCHITECTURE TOUR OF THE CITY

know where to begin. Dorothy [ ompson] remembers a time when Blacks carried her golf clubs and Jews were not admitted and [City Manager Peter] Iglesias maybe remembers a time when his parents hoped to be invited there. Is that how we move forward, back to when a tight little group of WASPS held their cotillions and their exclusive (200 max) little groups so they could all feel special? e GOOD: I liked your call out for e Globe and your focus on music for e Gables as well as your general support and explanations for local business’ Covid problems. But most of all, I loved your enthusiasm for “On Your Feet.” [My wife] Jude and her friends all saw it and absolutely loved it.

Saturday, March 26 marked the downtown’s fifth Architectural Walking Tour presented by AIA Miami, the Miami Center for Architecture and Design, and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. The 90-minute tour began at the Coral Gables Welcome Center on Alhambra (at the Chamber’s HQ), led by Sarah Artecona, current Chamber volunteer and past Chair. The fourth generation Gableite, who grew up in the French Village on Hardee Road, brought the original city back to life with details about its oldest buildings and most notable structures.

Charleston, South Carolina where leaves and vegetation were put out on the curb in paper, compostable bags from Lowes. It doesn’t make sense to put compostable material (like leaves) into a non-compostable material (like plastic). Let’s keep the City Beautiful beautiful and environmentally-friendly.

Gina Guilford

Thanks for the Assist

Bruce Fitzgerald

The Good and the Bad I must respond to your March edition with strong criticism and also strong praise. BAD rst: e “Born Again” piece [about returning the Coral Gables Country Club to its earlier purpose] was so o ensive I don’t

Patrick Alexander

Keep it Compostable

In your “From City Hall” section in the March issue, you noted a suggestion by Mayor Lago for Coral Gables residents to bag their vegetation in clear plastic bags. I have an even better idea. I recently returned from

Coral Gables is always in bloom.

With over 15 years of experience in and around Coral Gables, I can help you navigate this season’s real estate market.

Are you interested in maximizing your home’s value? Call me if you are looking to leverage your neighborhood’s blossoming market.

JJ Snow Hansen Real Estate Advisor

305.608.8750

jj@jjsnowhansen.com

Just a note to thank you for choosing “I WILL SOAR” as a Best Bet in your March 2022 issue. e screening was a huge success and the Coral Gables Art Cinema was at capacity.

Jane Swanko, Director, Writer & Producer

On with the Hub

We were surprised to discover that the building now home to Books & Books was a physician’s office in the late 1920s, and that the building which houses Ruth’s Chris was once Gables Grand Plaza, home to the city’s first bus station. Our favorite of 22 stops was the

Palma building, built in 1924 in Medieval Revival architectural style and an open courtyard. Now being renovated, it was among the city’s first hotels, and has housed retail shops, offices, and a restaurant. We also fell in love with the Coral Gables Art Cinema and the gigantic stone columns guarding its entrance; though constructed just twelve years ago, they were inspired by the circa 1920s Grauman’s Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. After other architectural stops, like the historic Hotel St Michel, the original firehouse (now the Coral Gables Museum), and the rotunda in the Hotel Colonnade, the tour ended in front of City Hall (finished in 1928). Architectural walking tours take place on the last Saturday of each month. To sign up, contact the Coral Gables Chamber at 305.446.1657. ■

I have just seen the sabotage article published by Gables Insider [regarding escalating costs for the Mobility Hub]. Supply chain shortages are faced elsewhere in construction and many other industries, e.g. auto manufacturing, and are being overcome. We must remember the Mobility Hub will be the safest parking garage in the state of Florida, and possibly the safest parking garage in the United States! is is quintessential George Merrick!

Jackson Rip Holmes

ATRECONA (WITH NOTEBOOK) LEADS THE TOUR OF THE DOWNTOWN’S ARCHITECTURAL GEMS

Bites Quick Bites Page 36

NO ONE DOES A BETTER EGGS BENEDICT IN CORAL GABLES THAN BACHOUR

Caffeination

Pasión Del Cielo

On the corner of Giralda Plaza and Galiano Street is Pasión Del Cielo, a relatively quiet spot except during lunch hour. Pasión’s unique premise: Customers can choose coffee beans from any of the 12 countries they import from. We went with medium-strength Brazilian beans for our Cinasugar Latte, a café con leche with cinnamon-flavored syrup. A delicious combination.

House of Per’La

Just around the corner from Ponce on Almeria is House of Per’La (2626 Ponce de Leon Blvd.), a small, trendy coffee bar with rustic décor and an abundance of hanging and potted plants. A favorite of local professionals popping in for a mid-morning coffee break, it offers all the basics, like lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and cortaditos, with coffees they source and grind daily for freshness. We enjoyed a latte with vanilla syrup – and the faint hum of Indie rock.

Café Demetrio

Inspired by the coffee houses of the 18th century, Café Demetrio (300 Alhambra Circle) is the oldest coffee house in Coral Gables. Its 1920s-era building is enhanced by Renaissance-style portraits, antique kitchen accessories, chandeliers, and an outdoor patio. Our go-to order: the original Café Demetrio, a cappuccino with cacao powder, milk, a double shot of espresso, and just enough sugar.

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

The vibe at Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar (169 Miracle Mile) is bubbly and energetic, enhanced by EDM music and the babble of conversations, with the occasional customer on a laptop. We waited inside on a comfy leather armchair for our Iced Latte, served in a glass mason jar, and took it to a sidewalk table to watch the passersby; a great outdoor location at the Colonnades.

Café Grumpy

Whether you want a quick cup to-go or a place to sit and work on your laptop, look no further than Café Grumpy (2516 Ponce de Leon Blvd.) Grumpy has a quiet, warm environment, decorated with potted plants and quirky posters. We indulged in a latte with dulce de leche-flavored syrup – which we haven’t seen offered anywhere else – a combo coffee and dessert.

Tinta y Cafe

If your wish is to experience the best Cuban coffee in Coral Gables (in our humble opinion), then you’ll want to go to Tinta y Café (1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd.) You can order at the window or sit inside, which feels like a living room from the 1970s. We ordered an iced café con leche, a perfect blend of strong Cuban coffee with sugar and enough ice to face the upcoming summer.

Starbucks

They’re worldwide, so it’s no surprise that Starbucks is also in the Gables, in two locations. The more spacious location with an outdoor order window is on the Mile near Salzedo (292 Miracle Mile; the other is inside Barnes & Noble (152 Miracle Mile). We enjoyed their most Instagram-able drink, an Iced Caramel Macchiato –espresso, milk, vanilla syrup, and a caramel drizzle. ■

In a city with so many businesses, there’s no doubt the hard-working people of Coral Gables often need a good dose of caffeine. If you’re an on-the-go coffee drinker or just looking for a place to rest your feet or get some work done, look no further. Here are our favorite spots:

FROM THE TOP: PASIÓN DEL CIELO COFFEE (LEFT) HOUSE OF PER’LA COFFEE (RIGHT) CAFÉ DEMETRIO INTERIOR CREMA GOURMET ESPRESSO BAR INTERIOR STARBUCKS INTERIOR

Quick Bites

Big Shrimp

Peruvian food is famous for its ceviche, but anyone familiar with the cuisine knows it is far more extensive, especially with its seafood. At Aromas del Peru (1930 Ponce de Leon Blvd.), you can discover the full parade of Peruvian dishes, including a creamy shrimp chowder (Chupe de Camarones, $19) with corn, egg, fresh cheese, a hint of whole milk, and black mint. Muy

Bueno

Low Cal Salmon

Who says good eating has to involve massive amounts of calories? At Seasons 52 (321 Miracle Mile), no menu item runs more than 600 calories; most are in the low 500s. And the taste is just as good as heftier calorie counts. Their tasty dish of sesame-grilled salmon ($20) comes in at just 510 calories, about a quarter of the daily recommended adult intake.

Bachour Breakfast

The pastry-mad folks at Bachour (2020 Salzedo St.) did not invent the concept of breakfast-all-day. But we are happy they have embraced the practice, because no one does a better eggs benedict. You can go for the standard version ($17) or up the ante with salmon instead of Canadian bacon ($20). Either way, they do a perfect 6-minute egg. And good eggs, too.

Still the Beef

Before it was reborn as Public Square, the corner restaurant at Red Road and San Ignacio Avenue had been a Shula’s steakhouse. While the menu has expanded to include an array of sushi rolls, salads, and seafood choices, it still rings the bell with its 20-ounce ribeye steak ($56). Nice choice of six sauces as well (truffle butter, bearnaise, green pepper, etc.)

Belly of the Beast

Historically speaking, some of the world’s best cuisine has been created by third-world street vendors who make use of less popular cuts of meat. In the case of Thailand, one of our favorites is Pad Chicharrons Gra-Pao ($16), crispy pork belly stir-fried with fresh chili paste, red bell peppers, onion, garlic, and basil. Now you can try it at Khaosan Road (157 Giralda Plaza). ■

FROM THE TOP: SHRIMP CHOWDER AT AROMAS DEL PERU SESAME-GRILLED SALMON AT SEASONS 52 EGGS BENEDICT AT BACHOUR 20-OUNCE RIBEYE STEAK AT PUBLIC SQUARE PAD CHICHARRONS GRA-PAO AT KHAOSAN ROAD

Happy Hour

A YARD OF ALE AT YARD HOUSE

As a regular patron of Merrick Park’s Yard House bar and restaurant, my latest trip to 320 San Lorenzo Avenue started like many before: with a wait of around 15 minutes. But that short time on the bench outside was well worth entry for another happy hour.

For nearly 13 years, the Coral Gables iteration of this beer-centric chain has been a modern American melting pot for families, college students, and couples. The island bar in the center of the massive indoor dining area beckons customers to frothy taps of everything from a hyper-refreshing House Golden Pilsner to the unique and deceivingly strong Strange Beast Ginger Lemon and Hibiscus Kombucha.

Overall, Yard House fare is a mixed bag. Tasty shareable appetizers and solid burgers

make up for a confused menu of seafood jambalaya, unremarkable pizza, and overpriced tacos. But there’s no secret about what packs in customers: the suds. Those seated in the back can glimpse through glass to the restaurant’s massive keg room, where liquid gold is pumped through taps to the central cornucopia of hoppy nectar.

Weeknight happy-hour deals, Mon.-Fri., 3-6 pm, include $2 off draft beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails, $3 off 9 oz. wine, and $4 off Half Yards, the restaurant’s signature 32 oz. beaker for those who dare to drink big. Hungry customers can enjoy half off select appetizers, like the spicy and sweet poke nachos or the boneless buffalo wings. Yard House also offers a simplified late night happy hour Sunday to Wednesday, 10-11:30 pm. ■

—Parker Gimbel

THE RESTAURANT’S SIGNATURE 32 OZ. BEER IS $4 OFF DURING HAPPY HOUR

LUXURY COLLECTION THE TIME

IS NOW!

CIPRIANI RESIDENCES MIAMI

To live in Cipriani Residences Miami is to enjoy those signature service standards first established at Harry’s Bar in 1931 and perfected through four generations. Individual tastes are indulged, and needs are anticipated with an intuitive understanding of when and where their attention is required.

ST. REGIS MIAMI RESIDENCES

The St. Regis Miami Residences epitomize elegant living

It mirrors the sensibilities of those who are driven by connoisseurship, demand excellence, respect tradition and value individuality above all else.

FIVE PARK MIAMI BEACH

The tallest tower in Miami Beach, Five Park Miami Beach unites timeless glamour with a new approach to development, with an array of services & amenities, including the Canopy Club, a “Residents Only” club.

Sushi Take Two

NEW COMPETITION ON THE MILE

Clearly the gauntlet has been thrown down. Just one block south of Sushi Maki, now comes the recently opened Sushi Sake (202 Miracle Mile), the latest contestant in the battle for fans of Japanese raw fish. It’s not going to be an easy fight, however; home-grown Sushi Maki (2334 Ponce de Leon Blvd.), flagship of the Gables-based Ng family’s food business, serves consistently good sushi and rolls. But Sushi Sake, part of a chain with area outlets from Key Largo to Miami Lakes, brings a more upscale edge, with comfortable seating, a well-designed sound system with upbeat house music, and a menu that stretches well past sushi, sashimi, and handrolls to hibachi, katsu, and noodle dishes.

We recently visited during lunch, seated comfortably at one of the large, plate-glass windows on Miracle Mile. We decided to go beyond sushi and ordered the hibachi steak and mushrooms ($16.50), noodles with shrimp ($14), and chicken katsu ($14). All worthy entrees, with a special nod to the noodle dish, light and tasty.

Also upping the ante, Sushi Sake has a full bar, offering a weekday 4-6 pm happy hour with drinks, hot appetizers, and Thai donuts, all half off. On the other hand, have you ever tried the bacon fried rice, with egg and pineapple, at Sushi Maki? And don’t get us started on their diabetes-inducing deep-fried Oreos. Just saying. ■

—J.P. Faber

SUSHI SAKE GOES BEYOND SUSHI WITH WORTHY NOODLE DISHES.

It was after WWII, and a growing Coral Gables population was in acute need for hospital facilities. A group of local doctors spearheaded by John Tremper Macdonald, M.D. founded Doctors’ Hospital adjacent to the University of Miami campus, opening its doors in 1949.

Upon his death in 1951, his colleagues honored Macdonald by naming the Foundation in his memory and in subsequent years, came to own and operate Doctors’ hospital as a non-profit hospital, laying the groundwork for enduring medical care in the community in the seven decades since.

With the sale of the hospital in 1992, the Foundation was restructured and began funding and investing in the health care and medical needs of the local community. Starting as a grant-making institution with $13.5 million in assets from the sale of the hospital, the Foundation’s fund balance has grown appreciably over the last 30 years.

T HE HOSPIT AL A N D ITS LEGACY OF SERVICE T O THE LOCAL COM MU NITY IS THE G EN ESIS O F TOD A Y’S DR. JOHN T . MA CDONALD FOU NDA TI ON.

2022 marks the Thirtieth Anniversary of the establishment of the Dr. John T.Macdonald Foundation as a charitable grant-making organization.

On May 13, 1948, founding medical doctors join in the groundbreaking for Doctors’ Hospital.

AND TOMORROW’S M EDICAL AD VANCES

From the start, the Foundation’s Board of Directors wanted the organization to serve the immediate needs of the community, from children to adults. Founded as a grassroots organization, its largesse was to serve the community’s needs. Since then, more than 300 community-based organizations have been recipients of a Foundation grant, making an impact on a personal and local level.

In addition to community grants, the Foundation undertook three singular initiatives: funding a School Health Initiative in conjunction with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics; the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; and the Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Fittingly these three “signature programs” are named for the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation. With recognized hands-on care in meeting the medical needs of the local community, the Foundation brought its attention toward affecting health and discovery on a national and international level.

Access

To provide children in our community with high-quality health services, the School Health Initiative operates pediatric health centers at nine schools in Miami-Dade County. Founded in 2000, in conjunction with UHealth, the program serves all children, regardless of ability to pay. By focusing on the whole child and emphasizing risk assessment, prevention and early diagnosis and treatment, the School Health Initiative makes a difference in the lives of thousands of children, helping to keep them healthy, in school and ready to learn.

Research

With a mission to establish an international center of excellence to advance breakthrough research, offer education and provide service in medical genetics, in 2007 the Foundation established the Department of Human Genetics at UM Miller School of Medicine. Under the leadership of the foundation-endowed chair of the department, the aim is to uncover the genetic contributions to disease, apply the findings to better patient care, and educate tomorrow’s doctors and researchers.

Potential

In 2012, the Foundation committed its support to establish the Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute at the University of Miami (BioNIUM). This is a collaborative initiative to understand the implications of nanotechnology on medical science. The use of nanotechnology in medicine offers unmatched potential in early detection of disease, targeted delivery of specialized treatments and restoring tissues and organ function.

CHARITABLE GIFT

To support the ongoing work of the Foundation, unrestricted gifts to the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Inc., a 501(C)3, may be directed to the Managing Director of the Foundation, at 1550 Madruga Avenue, Suite 215, Coral Gables 33146.

Grants & Scholarships

Support for local community-based organizations and medical scholarships are vitally important and remain a priority for funding. The Foundation realizes the potential in individuals and smaller initiatives that are key to promoting sustainable transformation in the populations we serve. Named scholarships are provided to students at Barry University College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the University of Miami School of Nursing & Health Sciences, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Miami-Dade College Benjamin Leon School of Nursing.

Since its inception 30 years ago as a grant-making institution, the foundation has invested $48,786,936 into our community.

Going forward, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation is committed to sustaining its support for our local community-based organizations, while continuing to funding cutting-edge medical advances.

GRANT AWARDS

Qualifying community-based organizations (CBOs) may apply for a grant award during the annual grant cycle. For more information, please log onto the foundation’s website: www.jtmacdonalddfn.org.

On National Philanthropy Day in 2017, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation was recognized as Outstanding Grantmaker by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Miami Chapter).

2021-2022 BO A R D OF DIRECTOR S Robert G. Breier, Esq. | Aldo C. Busot | Gary W. Dix, C.P.A. | Charles A. Dunn, M.D. | R. Rodney Howell, M.D. | Thomas M. Mark, M.D. | Jo Nordt, III, M.D. | Steven S. Pabalan, M.D. | R. Latanae Parker, M.D. | Joe A. Reyes, C.P.A. | Dean H. Roller, M.D. | Stuart H. Savedoff, D.D.S. | Karl Smiley, M.D. | Margaret C. Starner, CFP | Ana L. Viciana, M.D

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joseph A. Allen, DDS | Robert G. Breier, Esq. | Aldo C. Busot, FA | Gary W. Dix, CPA | Charles A. Dunn, MD | R. Rodney Howell, MD | Thomas M. Mark, MD | John C. Nordt, III, MD | Steven S. Pabalan, MD | R. Latanae Parker, Jr., MD | Joe A. Reyes, CPA | Dean H. Roller, MD Stuart H. Savedoff, DDS | Karl Smikley, MD | Margaret C. Starner, CFP | Ana L. Viciana, MD, MBA

OFFICERS

Aldo C. Busot, Chairman | Charles A. Dunn, M.D., ViceChairman | Joe A. Reyes, C.P.A., Secretary | John Edward Smith, Managing Director

They began years ago simply as a skin tightening procedure, producing noticeable improvement despite the not infrequent ‘pulled’ appearance. You probably have seen someone with that somewhat obvious, yet uncomfortable look and thought ‘I don’t want to look like that’, I’d rather stay how I am.’

Aside from the pulling, the excessive tension on the skin, trying to lift and hold up the face, also can lead to poor scars around the ears, plus ear and hairline distortions. So why do we still see those less than desirable results? Because they are relatively easy, and quick, to produce, under local anesthesia in an office, and for less cost. These types of ‘mini-lifts’ however produce less than optimal results although they might just suffice for some self-selected patients (“That’s all I want, doc.”) and something might be better than nothing.

So, what if you want more than quick and easy? You want to look natural, a younger, fresher version of yourself, without discernible signs of having had surgery, and the longest result possible. Well, you need to go beyond simple skin tightening and do more, and deeper, with more innovative facelift techniques.

Anatomically, the function of skin is to provide a cover (akin to a building’s facade); it is not designed to lift and hold up the face through excessive tension. The facial support function is served by its deeper infrastructure (similar to a building), comprised of muscles and connective tissues, all resting on top of your facial bone structure.

The principles for improved results with modern techniques are simple:

1. Restore prior tightness to the lax facial infrastructure which has drooped over time, thus actually lifting the face from within, restoring earlier anatomy, followed by:

2. Careful mobilization and trimming away of the loose and excess facial and neck skin, with meticulous suturing along aesthetically placed, anatomic lines, and without undue tension. All the saggy skin in the neck and along the jawline must be elevated to allow it to be properly trimmed and redraped.

Shortcuts in technique are an invitation to suboptimal results and an early recurrence of loose skin, especially in the central neck.

Trimming excess skin and ‘bags’ around the eyes, restoring lost facial volume with fillers or fat, when indicated, along with Botox® and dermatologic skin care, all can help to optimize results.

The surgery takes time, typically no less than four hours for the lower cheek/jawline/neck area, under carefully selected

anesthesia provided by a safe anesthesia team (MD and CRNA) in a hospital operated outpatient surgery center. Recovery varies from 7 to 14 days to resume usual daily and work activities.

These innovative techniques, beyond simple skin tightening, render exciting and natural looking results - a clean neck and jawline without jowls - the key to a pleasing result. A refreshed but not pulled look. A younger, not distorted version of yourself, keeping others wondering why you look good.

The surgery requires continuous spot-on surgeon focus and stamina, but the results are worth the time and effort. And, of course, it takes an aesthetic eye, along with years of experience (and training) in Plastic Surgery.

So, when you feel ready to refresh and rejuvenate your face, research and reflect carefully before proceeding, and be in good health with realistic expectations.

Stephan Baker MD

Facelifts have come a long way.

Shop Following the Trend Page

46

OWNER ANA MARI FUERTES REOPENED HER TREND STORE ON PONCE DE LEON AFTER THE PANDEMIC FORCED HER TO CLOSE

Following the Trend

THE NEW LOCATION OF TREND ON PONCE IS A TESTIMONY TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR CUSTOMER

BY KIM RODRIGUEZ

It’s a great feat for a small retailer to be successful, let alone so successful that when you’re forced to close your doors in March 2020 you reopen in a new location with double the square footage and much more storefront visibility.

Trend originally opened in 2016 on Andalusia Avenue next to Chocolate Fashion. It catered to young girls through their early teens, but owner Ana Mari Fuertes was savvy enough to include styles for moms to shop for themselves while their daughters took center stage. This unique concept, where moms could pick up a cute blouse for going out that night while shopping with their tweens, proved lucrative enough for Trend to open their larger space on Ponce. Almost half of its clothing and accessories are now for women.

Fuertes looked at leaving the Gables after departing Andalusia, but the City Beautiful was too attractive to go anywhere else. The visibility on Ponce alone has helped her sales. “I have had clients call me as they are passing by in their car and want to buy the outfit in the window,” she says. Inside, the inventory is deep: A denim bar for mom and daughter, twinning Nike sneakers if that’s your thing, bathing suits, tops, dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, and accessories. The price points are reasonable, starting at $20 and going up to $300, with Karina Grimaldi, Sundays, and Tart collections paired with fan favorite jeans from Blank NYC, Pistola, and Pistola’s eco brand Daze.

Of course, carrying clothing for tweens that are starting to grow into women’s sizes can prove tricky. “We want to offer the young girls relevant, cool,

but appropriate pieces for them in their ‘new’ women’s size,” says Fuertes. It’s not an easy market to cater to (as a stylist and mother I can attest) but Trend does an incredible job blending these two stages.

Like the earlier shop, the décor is still industrial. It’s where the “cool girls” shop, with graffitied walls, metal pipe racks, and chain link fencing used as separation walls. Trend feels like a real city boutique.

“I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, graduated high school, and then went on to Boston College to study business, and soon realized I didn’t really like business,” says Fuertes. So, she transferred to UM for an art and photography degree, but nonetheless then ventured into entrepreneurship. It makes sense that her foray into retail was in women’s apparel. Her father owned women’s clothing factories in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and she remembers “spending time with the clothing designer, drawing up sketches and picking out fabrics, as well as strolling through the aisles of sewing machines in the lower floor of the factory. Not only did I love learning about the business, but I also got to spend time with my father.”

You won’t replicate that experience here, but mother and daughter can shop in-store, or online (www.trendmiami.com), from IG (@trendboutiquemiami), and now from Tik Tok. As a business owner, it’s not lost on Fuertes that this is how her demographic likes to hunt for new trends. ■

Kim Rodriguez is a Personal Stylist and Shopper whose clients include many Coral Gables residents. Krpersonalstyle.com

BESIDES UNDERSTANDING HER CUSTOMERS, TREND OWNER ANA MARI FUERTES, ALSO UNDERSTANDS WHAT A GOOD LOCATION CAN DO FOR HER BUSINESS

TREND BOUTIQUE

2606 PONCE DE LEON

786.942.2626

A Drachma for Your Thoughts

AT GABLES COIN & STAMP, YOU CAN INVEST IN SOLID CURRENCY WHILE TAKING HOME A PIECE OF HISTORY

BY CARMEN FRAGA

Pat Olive’s interest in coins

began at a young age. His father introduced him to foreign currency, giving him pieces he’d come across in daily life. Pat remembers riding his bike to the coin shop on Miracle Mile, excited to add to his collection of global coins from a large bucket, which all the children who visited the shop were able to pick from.

Today, as the owner of Gables Coin & Stamp, Pat continues this tradition he loved, buying coins from around the world by the pound and allowing kid shoppers to pick their favorites from the bucket, just as he did. He and his wife Nancy have been doing that since 2013, when they purchased the store from its former owner – who had been on The Mile since 1967.

Most of Gables Coin’s inventory comes from people selling family heirlooms. Shoppers, on the other hand – besides the joy of owning a piece of history – are looking for a way to secure their currency, preferring to have it in solid form as a hedge against inflation. “Sometimes, we have coin laundry owners come in after fishing through their change and finding silver,” says Nancy. “They come here because the silver itself is worth more than the monetary value of the coin.”

Pat’s favorite coins in the shop are the Liberty Half Dollar from 1930, worth $225, and the Standing Liberty Quarter from 1919, worth $495. He loves the detailed artwork on the coin, which inspired the depiction on the modern-day Silver Eagle.

Silver Eagles are popular coins in the shop since they are more affordable, around $38 each. The most expensive coins are the gold bullions. The Gold Cana-

dian Maple Leaf, for example, is worth $2,045. There’s also the Gold American Eagle and the Gold South African Krugerrand. All three hold their value anywhere in the world.

Coin values, however, are not set in stone. They fluctuate with market changes tracked on the Kitco Gold Index, which the Olives display on a monitor, adjusting their prices accordingly. The only values not determined by the KGI are those of ancient coins. The most fascinating coins in the shop, the ancients can date back to 300 BC. Examples include the Augustus coin from 18 BC ($1,450), a Gordon III coin from between 244 and 238 BC ($195), and a Pontus coin from between 120 to 63 BC ($120). “You never know who could have handled these coins,” Pat says. “Christ himself could have handled one.” Ancient coin values vary according to who is pictured; the history behind them is priceless.

With coin shops dwindling and online shopping increasing, the Olives say websites like Etsy are posing their biggest challenge, since they sell coins for ridiculous rates. “I got a phone call from someone asking me to confirm the value of a coin he found on Etsy that he wanted to give to his grandson. It was apparently worth $6,800 online,” Pat says. “I told him, ‘I’ll sell it to you for 25 cents’ because that’s all it’s worth!” So, before you buy an absurdly overpriced penny on the internet, visit Gables Coin & Stamp. ■

GABLES COIN & STAMP 82 MIRACLE MILE (305) 445-7561

ABOVE: A CUSTOMER EXAMINES COINS IN THE SHOP INSET: A SILVER LIBERTY HALF DOLLAR (WALKING LIBERTY) WHICH IS POPULAR WITH MANY COLLECTORS BOTTOM: OWNERS NANCY AND PAT OLIVE

Drew Kern Closes a Sale EVERY 4 DAYS

The Miami real estate market remains fast paced and competitive. Now, more than ever, it's important for sellers to hire a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent to negotiate the best possible deal for their home.

Objects for the Soul

SPIRITUAL SUPPLIES IN THE HEART OF THE GABLES

Walking into the Golden Triangle at 2308 Galiano Street, you are surrounded by clean, positive energy. The smell of incense perfumes the air while meditative Asian flute music chimes in the background as patrons peruse colorful restorative crystals and essential oils. This store – which served as a symbol of hope for owner Preeya Disyanan when she was diagnosed with breast cancer – is meant to provide healing through the spiritual and metaphysical supplies it sells.

Each item is hand-picked from Asian countries by Disyanan, who opened Golden Triangle in 2001 and began purchasing merchandise on her annual visits back home to Thailand. Since then, Disyanan has expanded the shop to include items from across Asia.

You’ll find Buddhas, handmade jewelry, sages of varying kinds, sound bowls, lucky Chinese symbols, and many more locally sourced Asian goods. Incense and semi-precious stones are customer favorites.

Disyanan is careful not to mislead her customers. Her merchandise won’t magically heal you, nor does she perform readings of any kind. It’s the symbolism, the tradition, and one’s individual connection to specific items in the store that grant inner peace and healing. “When I have a headache, I sleep with my amethyst touching my face and it helps to calm me,” says Disyanan. “But I won’t tell my customers that amethysts help headaches in order to sell them. It all depends on the individual, what they are drawn to, and what helps them feel good.” ■ - Carmen

Fraga

THE ART OF THE SEEN

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN CORAL GABLES

THE LOWE ART MUSEUM SITS ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI’S CORAL GABLES CAMPUS AND HAS 19,322 OBJECTS IN ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION

SPONSORED BY

THE VISUAL ARTS IN THE GABLES

BEAUTY, AS THEY SAY, IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER –THE ACTION VERB HERE BEING - TO BEHOLD

When it comes to the visual arts – painting and sculpture in particular – there is nothing like seeing the art itself up close and in person. You can look at paintings and sculptures in books or pixelated on a screen. But there is a magic to being in front of the real thing, absorbing all the detail, color, and textural complexity. For that, you need a museum or a gallery. So, here is a look at the city’s two museums and their directors, and three of our private galleries and their owners, plus a guide to the rest. All open to the public. Read and then go.

CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

HOMETOWN MASTERPIECE

THE HISTORIC CORAL GABLES MUSEUM LEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF FINE ART

BY SERGY ODIDURO • PHOTOS BY JONATHAN DANN

There was a time when, if you were on the wrong side of the law, the Coral Gables Museum was the last place you’d want to be. “The museum operates out of a historical building which was originally the jailhouse and the police station for the city of Coral Gables,” says Jose Valdés-Fauli, the museum’s chairman. Located at 285 Aragon Avenue, and now comprising the old police and fire station built by the WPA (Works Project Administration) in 1939, the museum’s mission has been to celebrate the history, culture, and architecture of Coral Gables.

That mission is now evolving. Having just completed a major retrospective exhibit of renowned Cuban painter and sculptor Julio Larraz, the museum recently hired a new executive director with a

strong background as a curator of art museums. “I am very much looking forward to catering to a community that is very invested in the arts,” says Elvis Fuentes, whose last stint was curatorial fellow at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University. An art critic for ArtNexus, Fuentes was previously the art curator for El Museo del Barrio in New York, and before that for the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and the Fundacion Ludwig in his native Cuba.

“I think what makes this museum great is that it’s in the heart of an art loving community. So, it’s not just about the history of Coral Gables, but how that history intertwines with the interests of architecture and public art,” says Fuentes.

Fuentes is already planning for future art exhibitions – the

“AT SOME POINT, OUR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS WERE REDUCED TO PRACTICALLY ZERO AND THEY LAID OFF EMPLOYEES. BUT NOW THE PUBLIC IS COMING BACK AND WE NEED TO START GROWING IN THAT DIRECTION”.

ELVIS FUENTES (RIGHT) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

museum itself has no permanent art collection – while the building itself remains a historic attraction. The old fire station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features three bays as well as sculptures of firefighters on its coral rock exterior. Visitors can still view the old courtroom and jail cells; newer elements of the site include a courtyard, public plaza, and the museum’s Carole A. Fewell Gallery, all added after an expansion and restoration project that began in 2008.

While the focus on art lies ahead, the museum’s historic exhibit “Creating the Dream: George E. Merrick and His Vision for Coral Gables” remains a constant record of the city’s past and its urban blueprint. “It’s what I call the City Beautiful movement of the future,” says Fuentes, who also intends to bring back programs decimated by the pandemic. “At some point our education and public programs were reduced to practically zero and they laid off employees. But now the public is coming back, and we need to start growing in that direction,” says Fuentes.

Modernizing the museum’s outreach is also a priority. “One of the things that we learned from Covid is that we need to develop more of a digital infrastructure,” he says. Part of that online presence will be to offer the option of viewing shows virtually – such as the just completed “Julio Larraz: The Kingdom We Carry Inside” exhibit, which took a broad look at the 60-year career of one of Latin America’s most influential artists.

Other art events are also in the works. The canvasses of Cuban born artist Jefreid Lotti will be showcased in “The Caribbee Club: Recent Paintings by Jefreid Lotti” from May 6 through August 23. The museum will also feature the work of Miami-based artist Zammy Migdal in an exhibit titled “In Internal Knot: The Work of Zammy Migdal” that runs from May 13 to July 20.

Even with its new tilt toward the arts, “We are a big participant in the Coral Gables community,” says Valdés-Fauli, with past events such as their Wine Zooming appreciation course, their annual Doggie Halloween Costume Contest, and their Kids Camp, with guest speakers, field trips, arts & crafts, and other activities that teach an art-based curriculum including architecture, urban design, and historical preservation. Twilight Fridays at the Museum will continue to offer free admission for visitors the first Friday of each month, and through their Artist-In-Residence program, the museum will continue to offer a way for artists and cultural organizations to interact through public events, workshops, and school partnerships.

“The Coral Gables Museum has found its place in the museum world and has been able to operate as a boutique and become a player in a short period of time,’’ says Valdés-Fauli. “It’s a beautiful architectural space that lends itself to special exhibitions. It’s just a very intimate space and beautifully done.” ■

THE MUSEUM, ONCE A POLICE STATION AND JAILHOUSE, IS ITSELF A HISTORIC ATTRACTION

M A K E Y O U R H O M E D R E A M S

C O M E T R U E

5 0 1 S a n S e r v a n d o A v e , C o r a l G a b l e s

7 2 2 0 S W 5 2 C t , H i g h P i n e s

e d r o o m s |

4 0 B i r d R o a d , C o r a l G a b l e s

A S H L E Y C U S A C K T E A M

CURATING A VAST COLLECTION

THE LOWE ART MUSEUM AT UM IS A COMMUNITY TREASURE

BY SERGY ODIDURO • PHOTOS BY JONATHAN DANN

It’s a not so hidden gem in the middle of Miami. The Lowe Art Museum, located at 1301 Stanford Drive, sits on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus, boasting a long tradition with an impressive collection.

Inaugurated in 1950, it was once called the University of Miami Art Gallery but was later renamed, after Joe and Emily Lowe underwrote the construction of a new facility. In recognition, the gallery formally changed its name in 1968 to the Lowe Art Museum and has been a home for the arts ever since. Today, the museum boasts over 40,000 square feet and includes the Myrna and Sheldon Palley Pavilion for Contemporary Glass and Studio Arts. There, a $3.5 million glass collection is housed in a 4,000 square foot gallery with over 100 items. The museum’s collection also extends to an outdoor

sculpture park, with other pieces scattered throughout the University of Miami’s campus.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize that we’re actually the first art museum in Miami and in Miami-Dade County,” says Jill Deupi, the museum’s director and chief curator. “Because we were the only museum in town for such a long time, we actually had about a quarter of a century head start on building collections.” Those collections of memorabilia, artifacts, and other items found within the museum’s walls are staggering. “We have 19,322 objects in our permanent collection, which spans 5,000 years of human creativity on every inhabited continent,” says Deupi. “There’s really something for everyone.”

The permanent collection focuses on a variety of different areas,

including glass and ceramics, European Renaissance and Baroque art, and Native American, Asian, and African art. New exhibitions are also a part of the museum’s regular schedule. The latest is a show devoted to Cuban American art from the 1980s called “Radical Conventions.”

The museum’s goal of spotlighting artists within the community is another of its missions. In 1952, Beaux Arts was founded to support the Lowe and consists of volunteers who seek ways to bridge local artists with the public. Their original Clothesline Sale has since evolved into an annual Festival of Art, now a major attraction with participants from all over the nation.

Beaux Arts has also recognized the importance of cultivating the next generation of budding artists and sponsors classes, scholarships, and a summer camp to meet their needs. Their annual Beaux Arts Costume Ball and their cookbook are fundraisers to support programming and maintain ties to the community.

“The University of Miami is, of course, our parent organization. So the students, faculty, and staff of UM are our primary audience,” explains Deupi, who also serves as Beaux Arts Director. “But we really do pride ourselves on serving the whole community and in a very real sense, prioritizing K through 12 students, teachers and their caregivers.”

Like other cultural institutions that rely on visitors, the Lowe was impacted by the pandemic. “We have had a contraction of resources, financial or budgetary and staffing based, and we’re not quite back to normal yet,” says Deupi. “We’re only open to the public Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm… but we’re getting there little by little.” The silver lining, she says, has been digital expansion. “We’ve built out the digital engagement portion of our website as well as associated programming. Those programs are, for the most part, stable and archived so people can check out our website to see the digital programs that exist permanently. And we also have a YouTube channel where we are archiving our Lowe Connects program.”

As for the future, Deupi is continuing to plan world-class exhibits. Among them is an important show of contemporary Japanese ceramics featuring 50 works from the Kondo family that will subsequently go to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Crocker Museum in San Diego. “The work is really beautiful. And I think, again, it’s something you won’t find anywhere else in our city” saysDeupi. The museum is also looking to expand its physical space, she says. In the meantime, she says, visitors are always encouraged. “I think it’s really important for people to take an hour and come see the Lowe. The reality is very different from preconceived notions of what the Lowe might be. I think they will be favorably impressed and surprised at how high the quality of the art on view is as well as how large the museum is.” ■

“THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IS, OF COURSE, OUR PARENT ORGANIZATION. SO THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF OF UM ARE OUR PRIMARY AUDIENCE. BUT WE REALLY DO PRIDE OURSELVES ON SERVING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY...”

JILL DEUPI (RIGHT) DIRECTOR AND CHIEF CURATOR, LOWE ART MUSEUM

THE LOWE MUSEUM AT UM WAS THE FIRST ART MUSEUM IN MIAMI AND IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Image: Luis Medina, Untitled, Montrose Harbor, 1984, Cibachrome print Courtesy of Luis Medina Photograph Collection, Cuban Heritage Collection, University of Miami Libraries, Coral Gables, Florida.

The Arnold & Augusta Newman Foundation

THE GABLES GALLERIES

While museums have the space and power to hold major exhibits, the galleries of the Gables offer a more intimate view of the artists that they represent. Though they survive on the sale of the work on display, they welcome any lover of art during normal business hours, or during the evening hours of the First Friday of each month. On that night, the city’s trolley and Freebee services remain active, the Coral Gables Museum opens for free with live music, and residents are encouraged to stroll the streets and check out the latest exhibits at the following

THE AMERICAS COLLECTION

4213 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

305-446-5578

ARTSPACE VIRGINIA MILLER GALLERIES

169 Madeira Avenue

305-444-4493

CERNUDA ARTE

3155 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305-461-1050

CONSULADO DE COLOMBIA

280 Aragon Avenue 305-446-6060

CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

285 Aragon Avenue 305-603-8067

GALLY BY ART LABBÉ

2522 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305-319-0190

H. BENITEZ FINE ART GALLERY

233 Aragon Avenue

786-877-1045

IMAGO ART IN ACTION

150 Madeira Avenue

786-857-6967

JORGE CAVELIER

130 Miracle Mile, Ste. 230 305-915-6595

GALLY BY ART LABBÉ

Gally by Art Labbé on Ponce has long been shuttered by Covid. Now it is coming back alive, starting with Discover Your Doorway, an interactive exhibit of wood and photography. This mixed-media show by Emmy-award winning TV producer, author, and photographer Patricia San Pedro consists of framed doors that open onto landscapes photographed around the world. Open a snow-covered door in Switzerland and travel to a sunset in Naples. Open a door in Chile’s port city Valparaiso and end up in an autumn day on a creek in Georgia. You get the idea. San Pedro calls her exhibit an invitation for hope. “The exhibit leads you to walk through the metaphorical doorways in your life, and no matter how daunting that door may look, crack it open, and enter with courage, strength, hope and a yearning to discover unexpected gifts and blessings throughout the journey,” she says. Opening nights are May 12, 13, and 14, 6-9 pm. Exhibit runs through May 23rd.

PAT SAN PEDRO: DISCOVER YOUR DOORWAY

GABLES GALLERY NIGHT

First Friday of the month 6-10 p.m.

Use the City’s Freebee on-demand vehicles to travel between galleries. Download the Ride Freebee app, www.ridefreebee.com.

www.coralgables.com/galleries

ArtSpace Virginia Miller Galleries 169 Madeira Avenue www.virginiamiller.com

Cernuda Arte 3155 Ponce de Leon Blvd. www.cernudaarte.com

Consulado de Colombia 280 Aragon Avenue miami.consulado.gov.co

Coral Gables Museum 285 Aragon Avenue www.coralgablesmuseum.org

Gally by Art Labbe 2522 Ponce de Leon Blvd. www.gally.art

H. Benitez Fine Art Gallery 233 Aragon Avenue www.humbertobenitez.com

Imago Art in Action 150 Madeira Avenue www.imagoartinaction.com

The Americas Collection 4213 Ponce de Leon Blvd. www.americascollection.com

THE EDUCATOR

RAMON CERNUDA WANTS TO EXPLAIN AS WELL AS CURATE THE EXPERIENCE OF CUBAN ART

BY J.P. FABER

At any given time, the twin buildings on Ponce de Leon Boulevard that comprise Cernuda Arte are showcasing multiple exhibits of Cuban art, mostly paintings with some sculpture. Currently, the gallery is showing works by the top 12 artists who initiated the modernist movement in Cuba, painters who were born between 1890 and 1905. Simultaneously, the gallery is exhibiting works by Wifredo Lam – the most famous of those modernists – from his “mature” period, the last 20 years of his life.

“We try to make it a very educational experience when visitors come to the gallery, because we think of a gallery as more than just a store that sells art products. It’s a cultural entity that has a role to play in that regard in the community,” says gallery owner Ramon Cernuda. “We treat everyone who comes to the gallery as equally important, even if they are not here to buy.”

In furtherance of that didactic goal, Cernuda publishes catalogues of Important Cuban Artworks (the most recent is volume 18) and includes substantial information about the artists and their “trajectory,” on the walls adjacent to their work.

Cernuda has been at same location (3155 Ponce) since 1999, where he has exhibited exclusively Cuban art ever since. He purchased the first of the two gallery buildings a year later and the second one six years ago, one of the reasons he has been able to remain in the Gables where rising rents have sent other galleries to places like Wynwood and Little Haiti in search of cheaper digs.

Even though he enjoys his location in the Gables, however, Cernuda says he does not rely on “walk-in” clients. “I like being in Coral Gables, but our success has not been dependent on that,” says Cernuda, now recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on Cuban art. “We’ve always done well, even during Covid, because we have a strong clientele that comes to the gallery throughout the year. We focus on building art collections and not just selling a painting here and there. We have created a body of clientele.”

Cernuda himself is an avid collector, whose home is an addendum of his gallery – or possibly the other way around. “I love the arts and it’s a passion,” he says. “My wife and I started collecting art right out of college, so the running of a gallery is an extension of our passion for the arts.”

As for the future, after a long absence from the First Friday Gallery Night in the Gables, Cernuda is returning this month (May). “We stopped doing Friday nights because attendance started dropping dramatically once the pandemic began,” he says. “It was difficult because our clientele takes good care of themselves and didn’t mess around with Covid.”

Now, lovers of Cuban art can once again visit to see such masters as Lam, Amelia Pelaez, Victor Manuel, René Portocarrero, and Carlos Enriquez – along with contemporary Cuban artists about whom Cernuda is happy to educate you. ■

GALLERY OWNER RAMON CERNUDA (TOP) HAS BEEN AT THE SAME LOCATION ON PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD SINCE 1999

JUAN ROBERTO DIAGO, e Free Man Series, 2021, bronze sculpture, 1/3, 23 x 16 x 6 inches (Image detail)

FROM THE AMERICAS

AT THE AMERICAS COLLECTION, THE IDEA IS TO MATCH THE PATRON TO THE ARTWORK

BY KYLIE WANG

Ponce de Leon Boulevard, as it runs south between Bird Road and San Lorenzo, is not exactly a center for the arts. Once part of the city’s warehouse district, it’s now anchored on Bird by the fortress-like Collection car dealership and on San Lorenzo by the three-story Nordstrom department store, itself part of the Shops at Merrick Park that opened in 2002. In between lie interior design stores, a bank, a piano outlet, an office building, and a fashion shop, among others, but only one art gallery.

That gallery, the Americas Collection, arrived nearly 10 years ago, relocating from its original address on Ponce and Andalusia (where Bulla restaurant is now), in search of more affordable space. When downtown rent costs escalated and Gables galleries were driven out to more affordable areas like Wynwood (now itself pricing out galleries), the Americas Collection managed to stay firmly planted on Ponce by purchasing the space back when the area was still known as the industrial zone of the Gables.

“Our heart was always here,” says Silvia Ortiz, whose family founded the gallery back in 1991. “We always believed in our city. There was practically nothing around here, but this became a cultural design corridor.” Among her neighbors now are showrooms for Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting, Victoria’s Armoire, Snaidero USA, Modo Furniture, Miele, Iberia Tiles, Studio Becker, and Filomena Fernandez fashions; the nearest other gallery, however, is Cernuda on Ponce and San Sebastian, a good quarter mile away.

The Americas Collection showcases primarily Latin American art, like the whimsical clouds of Coral Gables local Liv Dockerty or the flaring abstracts of Nicaraguan Norlan Santana. Most are paintings, but sculptures and photographs are also featured. They represent 16 artists exclusively, whose work ranges from $5,000 to $80,000 for better known artists like Chilean master Andrea Carreño. In addition, the gallery also works with secondary markets and private collectors for those wanting to invest in more exclusive works.

“We do have a special focus on artists originally from Central and South America,” Ortiz says. “We want to showcase their talent and skill, the works that reflect personal experiences as well as appreciations of beauty and other topics. Art must speak to the eyes, to the heart, and to the mind. Art should touch our hearts because of its beauty and composition.”

One of the gallery’s unique features is an online quiz that helps patrons find their perfect piece. First, you’ll identify your preferred style and medium of art, then the orientation, size, and your budget. You can even upload a photo of your wall so the Americas Collection can digitally “install” the artwork for you. Once you’ve fallen in love with the art, the gallery offers custom framing as well. While Gallery Nights in the Gables aren’t exactly what they used to be, Ortiz and her colleagues are still hopeful that they will make a comeback. “It’s not as before, with hundreds and hundreds of people,” she says, “but you do have quite a few. Back in the day, you used to sell art at the openings. Now, you have to create opportunities.” ■

THE AMERICAS COLLECTION IS RUN BY SILVIA ORTIZ (TOP), WHOSE FAMILY FOUNDED THE GALLERY IN 1991

THE COLORS OF MEMORY

THE INSPIRATION AT THE H. BENITEZ FINE ART GALLERY COMES FROM ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME

BY KYLIE WANG

If you stroll down Aragon Ave, perhaps on your way to Books & Books or the Coral Gables Art Cinema, you’ll almost certainly notice a vividly painted violin in the window of a small storefront, snuggled between Pacific National Bank and 231 Salon. That violin and storefront belong to H. Benitez Fine Art Gallery, which moved there during the pandemic to exclusively showcase the work of Humberto Benitez, a Cuban-American artist known for his evocative use of color and striking subject matter.

The gallery is a family affair, and on any given day all three members of the Benitez nuclear family are somewhere inside. Lisette, Humberto’s wife, and Jason, his son, handle most of the operations of the gallery, leaving the artist to work from his armchair in the back. The chair, covered in paint from top to bottom, is like a functioning piece of art itself, with one arm modified to act as the artist’s toolkit and palette. Over the years, the paint samples, layered one on top of another, have formed a brightly colored mound, a physical history of Benitez’s process, updated in real-time as he mixes and paints.

Benitez does, in fact, grind his own pigments, oftentimes from off-the-shelf products he won’t reveal (trade secrets, of course). The effect, however, is knock-you-off-your-feet stunningly vivid colors that draw the eye to surrealist scenes of Cuba, typically featuring dancing women in long flowing dresses and men in wide-brimmed fedoras. Almost all the subjects in Benitez’s paintings have their faces covered by hats or turned down, away from the viewer’s eye.

“The main reason is humility,” he explains. “I do portray the faces on the paintings that are religious. The second reason is that I want you to focus on that moment… what my piece is trying to tell you, the surroundings of it. I believe that once you put eyes on a piece, you’re going to focus on those [faces], and sometimes you forget what’s around it.”

Benitez’s scenes come mostly from his childhood in Cuba, where he was born and raised until the age of nine in the small town of Guanajay, a farming community about half an hour west of Havana. He discovered painting at a young age, a few years before he immigrated to America, blending charcoal and red clay soil to create his first pigments.

“To me, art is very spiritual,” Benitez says. “When I do a piece, I don’t pre-sketch any of the work. The canvas dictates the movement. My philosophy is that if you’re able to put into that canvas your passion, your truth, it will connect with somebody else.”

This is certainly true of those who buy Benitez’s work, which is showcased everywhere from cruise ships to cafés, as well as in homes and at the gallery, which moved from the side of a paseo on Alacazar to its current storefront two years ago to increase visibility as more and more Coral Gables galleries fell off the map. Interested art lovers can find the H. Benitez Fine Art Gallery at 233 Aragon Ave. ■

THE WORK OF CUBAN-AMERICAN ARTIST HUMBERTO BENITEZ (TOP) IS SHOWCASED AT THE FAMILY GALLERY ON ARAGON AVENUE

The Sweet Life for Seniors

OPPOSITE:

“There’s just always something going on and someone to connect with here”

SHARON COCCHI RESIDENT AT THE PALACE

THE PALACE

LOBBY WITH CHANDELIER AND GRAND PIANO

Is Coral Gables the place to retire in a senior community?

BY KATELIN STECZ

Sharon Cocchi walks into her building after her afternoon stroll down Miracle Mile with her Shih Tzu, Coco Chanel, and the receptionist warmly greets her by her first name. Other residents mill about the large lobby, traversing the intricately designed marble floors.

As Cocchi makes her way to the elevator, the chandelier above the receptionist’s desk sparkles in the warm afternoon light, complementing the Sistine-esque painting on the ceiling. On the second floor, she strides across ornate, custom-made carpets on her way to the granite-topped bar. She passes other residents who are enjoying complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres while listening to a pianist play smooth jazz on a grand piano. Out of the corner of her eye, Cocchi spots one of her friends sitting at the bar. She orders a glass of wine and takes a seat next to her friend to enjoy the building’s daily happy hour. Judging from the free-flowing glasses of wine and gourmet appetizers, smiling faces, and lavish, baroque decor, you’d think you had stumbled into an opulent European hotel, not a senior living community.

Located in the heart of downtown Coral Gables lies arguably one of the world’s most

luxurious and active senior living communities. Featured on prominent rapper 2 Chainz’s “Most Expensivest” hit television series on MTV, The Palace at Coral Gables redefines the stereotypical idea of senior living.  Instead of the morose atmosphere typically associated with senior living communities, The Palace is full of residents enjoying their golden years. Here they have the option to enjoy activities and classes to keep the body and brain sharp. Among classes offered, the most popular are improv acting, computer literacy, flower arranging, and foreign languages. The Palace partners with the University of Miami Osher Lifelong Learning Center to provide classes and lectures from UM professors on-site twice a week.

Residents also enjoy a wellness center with group fitness classes and personal trainers. There is a state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool surrounded by elaborate murals, as well as nightly entertainment, a theater, a dance floor, a full-service beauty salon, and a doctor’s and nursing office, not to mention a Euro-style breakfast and an award-winning four-course evening dining experience. “There’s just always something going on and someone to connect with

here,” says Cocchi.

About three quarters of Palace residents live completely independently; the other quarter receive some assistance. The median age of residents at The Palace hovers around 88, but it hosts residents from ages 75 to 97.

“For us, one of the most important things is the social aspect of the community. We want our residents to get out and interact with each other. I mean, there’s the whole idea that if you rest, you rust,” says Adam Rosenblum, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at The Palace Group.

HEALTHY AGING

That philosophy – the need to stay connected and active – are two key concepts for what is now called healthy aging, says Patricia Will, the CEO for Belmont Village, a national chain of cutting-edge senior communities that will see its most advanced incarnation in Coral Gables. In partnership with Baptist Health, Belmont is building what amounts to a 232-unit senior university campus adjacent to the Shops at Merrick Park. To be completed by summer 2023, Belmont Village will incorporate the latest

on-site research on how to age well, with on-site “healthy living” medical care provided by Baptist.

Belmont was launched 25 years ago by Will (there are now 32 nationwide), when she was frustrated by the lack of quality care for her aging in-laws. “My premise, then and now, was that this period of aging, call it from 65 to 110, is really a gift if you create opportunities and overcome the pragmatic issues that tend to be obstacles.”

Taking advantage of data from places like UCLA’s Longevity Center, Will designed Belmont based on five principles of healthy aging. The first is basic exercise – “real physical exercise, both aerobic and strength” and “mindfulness” exercises that allow people to de-stress with things like yoga and tai chi.

Second is lifelong learning. “We promote all kinds of programs for learning,” she says. “This is an opportunity to continue to learn, especially about things you didn’t have time for before, but that also tax you in special ways. Maybe a new language, or ancient history, or even physics.”

Third on Will’s list is what she calls mind-body exercises to sharpen mental acuity, by doing things that are complicated

and not necessarily intuitive, like learning how to dance salsa. This will “keep you in tune,” she says.

Fourth is spiritual engagement – developing techniques to overcome stress, and to promote emotional resilience and a sense of wellbeing.

Fifth – and perhaps most important of all – is social engagement. “What we know now is that people who are home alone as they age are more apt, both physically and mentally, to decline more than people who are not,” she says. “Creating connections with one another, with neighbors, and with the community, continues to be very important. And the barriers from being home alone are easily transcended in [senior] communities.”

SPACE TO SPREAD OUT

East Ridge at Cutler Bay is a senior living community that follows many of these adages. Located in the age-friendly community of Cutler Bay, East Ridge currently offers its residents many of the same amenities as The Palace. However, if The Palace was where Louis XIV would’ve retired, then East Ridge is where Ernest Hemingway would’ve wanted to spend his days in the sun.

TOP LEFT: BELMONT WILL BE COMPLETED IN SUMMER 2023 ABOVE LEFT: THE BELMONT OUTDOOR BISTRO AREA

“My premise, then and now, was that this period of aging, call it from 65 to 110, is really a gift if you create opportunities and overcome the pragmatic issues that tend to be obstacles.”

PATRICIA WILL (ABOVE), THE CEO FOR BELMONT VILLAGE.

INTRODUCING THE CONTEMPORARY.

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East Ridge is the epitome of Old Florida. Peacocks roam around, strutting across the walking paths. Mango trees, saw palmettos, Everglades palms, and coral jasmine pepper the property. Residents lounge around the pool, sipping cocktails, or race around in golf carts while catching up with friends.

Situated on 76 acres, East Ridge strays from the typical senior living community model by providing its residents with space to spread out. Even the independent community’s smallest dwelling still comes with a screened-in porch and backyard. With so much land, residents can reconnect with nature, explore the property’s ten-acre hammock, and admire the native flora and fauna throughout.

The East Ridge community is active and social, with residents connecting through classes and activities ranging from wine tastings and barbecues to pottery instruction and water aerobics. Marcos Gonzalez, the sales director at East Ridge, echoes the philosophy that the social aspect of a senior living community is the most vital. “We think the most important thing in our community is just that – community,” says Gonzalez. “There are events constantly happening. We even have a community TV channel that loops through the weather and all the activities going on.”

Sandy Dayhoff, a resident since 2019 and former Everglades Park ranger, takes advantage of those activities by maintaining the gardening center and teaching her fellow residents and local volunteers about the native flora and fauna. “I love it here, but what I love most is how close to nature you are,” says Dayhoff.

East Ridge also partners with local high schools in community service programs to help connect residents with younger people. Other high points include the property’s three beauty salons, its spacious fitness center (including a personal trainer), its resident-run thrift store, and its quarterly farmer’s market. In terms of residential care, East Ridge offers both independent and assisted living along with memory care. It currently hosts residents from 62 to 93 in 221 units for independent living, 90 units for assisted living, 31 units for memory care, and a 74-bed skilled nursing facility.

A RESORT– LIKE ATMOSPHERE

Another senior community, due to open in late fall of this year, is The Watermark at Coral Gables. Appropriately located near the high-end Shops at Merrick Park, The Watermark will offer residents a senior

community with luxury in mind. Part of the Élan Collection of retirement communities, it focuses on providing a resort-like senior living experience.

Like other senior communities, The Watermark offers extensive amenities and social activities. Residents can take advantage of 24-hour concierge service and on-call transportation to attend events in downtown Coral Gables. They can participate in The Watermark University program to learn a new language or about cryptocurrency. Or they can head to the Renew spa and salon for a massage, facial, or haircut.

The Watermark will also have a stateof-the-art gym that provides exercise classes ranging from Zumba to Tai Chi. At the wellness center, residents will have access to any physical, occupational, or speech therapy that they might need. “At The Watermark, we believe that aging is about renewal instead of retirement,” says Executive Director Lisa Kinsella. “We take the philosophy of cultivating the mind and body while providing a resort-like experience.”

Adding to that experience, The Watermark will offer gourmet, on-site dining options. Residents can grab a coffee at the Gallery Café for breakfast, drop by Taboon, the property’s casual Mediterranean style

restaurant for lunch, grab a craft cocktail at the W Lounge before heading to the pool, and then finish off the day with a steak and glass of wine at The Mark.

The Watermark also intends to set itself apart with extravagant outings, not only locally but with supervised trips to places like Napa Valley. It will operate as a rental community where residents can renew their lease on a month-to-month basis. Even though there are no buy-ins, it will provide a three-tier system where residents can transition from independent to assisted living, or memory care. There will be 103 units for independent living, 63 units for assisted living, and 32 units for memory care.

A BOUTIQUE APPROACH

Not too far from The Watermark is The Contemporary, another unique senior living community that will open July 1. Located in Westchester, The Contemporary sets itself apart by offering independent living in a small, exclusive boutique setting. With only 85 units, The Contemporary aims to function as a tight-knit community where

TOP: EAST RIDGE COMMUNITY POOL AREA ABOVE: THE WATERMARK ROOFTOP DECK

residents will find it easy to make friends and get involved in social activities.

“We’re a two-story community, so we’re small and intimate,” says Berta Ramirez, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Contemporary. “Once all of our residents come in, we plan to cater the excursions, activities, and classes offered to their liking.”

The Contemporary is partnering with Florida International University and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to give residents the chance to take classes from FIU professors on-site. It will also partner with Legacy Healthcare Services to provide residents occupational and physical therapy, as well as different exercise classes like aerobics and yoga. Residents will be able to access virtual exercise classes through TVs in their apartments.

“Our primary focus at The Contemporary is to cater to health and wellness, and that’s everything from community to exercise to nutrition,” says Executive Director Patricia Duran. On the nutrition side, The Contemporary prides itself on a fine dining program with a farm-to-table approach. Head chef Vladimir Fleitas is recognized for his Cuban, Caribbean, and fusion cuisines, with a menu based on locally sourced ingredients. And even though The Contemporary doesn’t have nursing staff on-site, it is located adjacent to MedSquare® Place, which houses doctors with a variety of specialties.

A MODERN TAKE

Another senior living community that’s opening soon is The Oasis at Coral Reef. Projected to open in early fall, it will be located on 97th Ave, right off U.S. 1, next to the Jackson South Medical Center. The Oasis at Coral Reef defines itself as “modern,” providing many of the standard amenities of a senior living community in a “contemporary and fresh atmosphere,” says Director of Sales and Marketing Kaydee Jensen.

Located on eight acres of land, the Oasis will have numerous walking paths for residents to enjoy the South Florida sun away from the traffic of the city. Yet, it is still conveniently located close to The Falls should residents want to do a bit of shopping. Golfers will also rejoice that the Palmetto Golf Course is just across the street. In terms of activities, The Oasis plans to offer a daily social hour along with a selection of classes and events ranging from arts and crafts to outings at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the Deering Estate.

While The Oasis believes the social

aspect of a senior living community is important, the community prides itself on the care that will be offered. “We’re really committed to providing the highest level of care to our residents,” says Jensen. Operating under a month-to-month rental agreement, residents will have the freedom to see how they like The Oasis without committing to an expensive buy-in, and they can transition from the property’s independent living community to assisted living or memory care if needed. The Oasis will have 102 units for independent living, 71 units for assisted living, and 28 for memory care.

COMMUNITY

No matter which senior living community you may be interested in for you or a loved one, there are common factors that contribute to healthy aging. Among these are good nutrition, daily exercise of the body and mind, and, most importantly, a strong sense of community.

“To the extent that you isolate, you de-

cline physically, mentally, and spiritually,” says Belmont’s Patricia Will. “The last thing [seniors] hold onto is ‘I want to live in my house at all costs. I don’t care if I am alone, it’s mine and that is what I constitute independence to be.’ But this is a new paradigm altogether that unlocks these possibilities [of aging well].” If you are alone, she says, that means “you are eating alone, you are passive in your activities – they are either on a screen or in a book – and you are bemoaning who is coming to visit or who isn’t, as opposed to the opportunity for constant engagement. Once people experience that, they always say, ‘Why did I fight this? Why did I want to stay home by myself?’”

Will also notes that, unlike typically remote senior centers – even if they are in beautiful locations – people who are used to going to restaurants, engaging in cultural pastimes, shopping, etc., would rather be in “ground zero at the center of things. Being in the Gables could not be better for that.” ■

TOP: THE CONTEMPORARY OUTSIDE DECK ABOVE: A MODERN INTERIOR AT THE OASIS

Trusted Leadership. Charitable Legacy.

The Williamsons have entrusted the Coral Gables Community Foundation to help manage their charitable giving in South Florida. Our Donor Advised Funds empower private philanthropists to manage their giving easily and more effectively -- now, and in the future. We’re grateful for our enduring relationship with community leaders such as Ed, Carol and Trae.

To support the Foundation or to learn about establishing your own fund, contact us at 305-446-9670.

The Williamson family showed their support for the Coral Gables Community Foundation with a gift of $100,000 to the Foundation’s endowment, ensuring a better future for Coral Gables.

Ed, Carol and Trae lead Williamson Automotive Group, serving South Florida’s automotive needs since 1967. www.GablesFoundation.org

What’s Hot for the Home in May

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

A Natural Take: To conjure a sense of tranquility and peace, designers across South Florida (and beyond) are drawing inspiration from nature. Here are a few locally sourced products to get you started on finding such respite in your own abode.

RAINBOW BRIGHT (TOP)

New York City-based designer Ariana Ost’s decorative items and jewelry are crafted to evoke wellness and healing with natural crystals. The Rainbow Sunburst Crystal Grid, available at Nordstrom, features stones like pyrite, rose quartz and citrine set atop a brass base. Retail: $150. Nordstrom, 4310 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 786-9991313, nordstrom.com.

UP THE LADDER (TOP RIGHT)

Perfect for the stylish storage of blankets and throws, this decorative ladder is made from teak and dipped in a partial coat of white paint for a modern touch. Retail: $109. Victoria’s Armoire, 4077 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-445-3212, victoriasarmoire.net.

BY THE BOOK (MIDDLE)

Although Down to Earth will look great on your coffee table, it’s also chock full of tips for how to curate a design aesthetic that is grounded by nature and approachability. Author Lauren Liess also offers guidance for decorating six unique home styles, so you’re not limited. Retail: $38.99. Barnes & Noble, 152 Miracle Mile, 305-4464152, barnesandnoble.com.

WOVEN WONDER (BELOW RIGHT)

First introduced in the 1950s by a pair of Danish designers, the Basket chair was given a welcome update by Kettal. Crafted from oak and hand-braided wicker for indoors, and from teak and weather resistant material for outdoors, it’s a clean winner either way. Retail price available upon request. Kettal, 147 Miracle Mile, 786-552-9002, kettal.com.

DEEP ROOTS (BELOW)

JANUS et Cie’s Giralda Avenue showroom is a treasure trove of luxury outdoor furnishings, and many of the pieces take a cue from nature. An example is the Grotto Birch cocktail table, which was designed to resemble the trunk of a tree. Retail: $1,323. JANUS et Cie, 273 Giralda Ave., 305-438-0005, janusetcie.com.

A Makeover Just For Mom

Careaga Plastic Surgery (CPS), a leader in the aesthetic industry, located in the center of downtown Coral Gables, offers an immaculate and serene setting with cutting-edge technology suited for your cosmetic surgery needs This Mother's Day, the powerhouse reunited to bring you a special Mother's Day offer to reward you for giving the greatest gift of all, Life. We know that moms are so much more than mothers they’re teachers, confidantes, role models, and our #1 fans

That’s why for Mother’s Day, we’re asking you to celebrate the moms in your life whether it’s your mom, a sister, a friend, a plant or pet mom, or a grandma.

Our Providers, Dr. Daniel Careaga, double board-certified surgeon, as well as board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Durand, specializes in a variety of procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift, body contouring, tummy tuck, and non-surgical procedures, making Careaga Plastic Surgery the place patients go to be their own masterpiece!

Cool & Clean Contemporary

FOR THE WATERFRONT HOME INTERIOR DESIGNED BY MARITZA CAPIRO, THE IDEA WAS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE

BY J.P. FABER

For this home, Coral Gables-based interior designer Maritza Capiro was commissioned by the owner as the house was being built, so she had more influence than usual on the shape of things to come. As a result, she was able to create a consistent look throughout. “It was important to create cohesive space, experiencing one [design] language as you walk through the house, with room after room reminding you of other spaces in the house – so that it makes you feel like you are in one place, with common elements. It brings the whole picture together in a modern, contemporary way that is light, yet warm.”

Overall, says Capiro, “I wanted to create clean, modern spaces that invite you in and bring the exterior into the interior, using wonderful natural materials. I also wanted a timeless design. I wanted a house that looks good now and will look good for years to come.” Capiro says she tries to avoid being “overly trendy,” working with materials that are “classic and forever in vogue.”

Maritza Capiro is the principal of Maritza Capiro Designs Corp., a full-service Gables-based interior design firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in interior design and interior architecture, both from FIU, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

LIVING ROOM

The light and bright feel of the home is carried into the living room, where the large screen TV is bracketed by two niches with floating maple wood shelving. The back surface uses Dupioni wallpaper (from the York Color Digest collection) to provide texture and interest. The overhead lighting is recessed, with custom cabinetry below lining the white-oak floors.

THE INDOOR KITCHEN

The bright, airy kitchen is anchored by a Newport Cambria Quartz Island from Granite Evolution. Its Moen faucet is “burnished gold” on an undermounted, single-basin stainless steel sink (Signature Hardware). The combo oven/microwave, refrigerator, and electric cook top are KitchenAid stainless steel, with a canopy hood clad with maple wood to match the custom cabinetry. There is also a Zephyr wine refrigerator, white oak flooring, and burnished brass “Atlantic” lamps overhead (Generation Lighting).

THE LAUNDRY ROOM

Most laundry rooms are small, cramped, and bleak. This one, off the garage, is a little more inviting. Marble tiles are used for a back splash, with custom made maple cabinetry. The appliances are Maytag, part of Capiro’s preference on using made-in-theUSA products. “They are nice and big, which is what the client wanted. Something they could put a comforter in,” she says. The faucet is a matte black composite Kohler single hole sink faucet with a pull down spout.

MASTER BATH

The back wall of the shower is accented with tiles to form a “diamond accent” pattern in contrast to the other walls. The burnished brass details on the glass give it the appearance of floating in space; the brass is echoed in the spur pendant sconces above the sinks (Tech Lighting) and the brass detailing on the “Kyle” mirrors from Surya. The ‘Hibiscus’ bathtub (Signature Hardware) is a 59-inch freestanding acrylic soaking tub with an integrated drain and tap deck.

THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN

This room is an indoor/outdoor space which can be air conditioned – especially if the outer sliding doors, opening to the patio beyond, are closed. The barbecue grill and the fridge are both from the KitchenAid “Bull” line, with a “fantasy brown” granite top. The maple cabinetry is painted a blue-gray tone to stay within the color palate, with a black matte Kohler faucet for contrast. The back wall is covered with a pattern of Adessi Kavala white matte porcelain tile.

Creating Native Pollinator Gardens

TIME TO FEED ALL THAT CRAWLS, FLIES, FLUTTERS, WALKS, AND WIGGLES

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY GRACE CARRICARTE

Iwas raised barefoot in a vast wilderness filled with constant risk and adventure. My smell guide Rusty, our family’s Irish Setter, spent long days alongside me equally fascinated by the cast of characters we met. If we sat quietly and held still long enough, endless stories would unfold in front of us, with creatures that had superpowers like shapeshifting, color changing, web spinning, flying, long jumping, dive bombing, helicoptering, and even the ability to slime things.

Others, well, they simply called it my backyard, even claiming that all the little flowers which fascinated us were weeds. But these, I would later discover, were essential pollinating plants, an intricate part of our food chain that hosts Florida’s three main pollinators: insects, birds, and bats. Many have disappeared from our gardens. “Coral Gables may look green, but it is a food desert for native species,” says Linda Lawrence Waldron, local biodiversity expert, Coral Gables Garden Club member since 1993, and garden columnist. “Exotic plants do not attract pollinators. Insects can only lay their eggs on plants they evolved with in the local environment.”

This helped inspire the March 2022 article “The Butterfly Effect” where I described my experiences with monarchs and milkweed in a raised garden bed. Milkweed is the only host plant for this iconic butterfly species. It’s where they lay eggs and as caterpillars feed exclusively on its leaves – which hold a protective chemistry of toxic cardiac glycosides that make monarch caterpillars and butterflies poisonous to predators.

Now, I sought to create some biodiversity in my yard itself. I had listened to Waldron give a lecture at UM, when she suggested, “A good starter set of pollinator plants includes porter weed, firebush, lantana, salvia, coontie, milkweed, and passion vine. It’s good work for the planet and you don’t need a giant space.” That space constraint proved a blessing for my yard, because even small corners could be sanctuaries. “They [natives] require much less watering, fertilizer, and pesticides,” said Waldron. “In fact, they can prevent water run-off and improve air quality. They pull and store excess carbon while decreasing pollution as they eliminate the need for mowers and other equipment.”

Sold. I drove to a local nursery and filled the car. My yard indeed held many corners and nooks I’d previously overlooked. The greatest advice for my newly planted natives: Water them often during the first weeks as they take root, then step back and watch. First came the bees and longwing zebra butterflies loving my firebush, which grew so fast I trimmed it frequently. However, it did not attract hummingbirds until I obtained the wisdom of 92-yearold Gablelite Diane at the nursery. “You missed the biggest problem here – you,” she told me. “You don’t go taming nature. That plant wants to roar tall and wild.” I stopped all trimming and in utter joy watched when my firebush reached six feet and two hummingbirds came along. Now over 10 feet tall, an entire fleet comes to feast.

For butterflies, the nursery asked what I wanted to attract. Their guide: smaller butterflies are attracted by the nectar of small flowers and larger ones by the nectar of larger ones. They all have “true color vision,” as floral colors can be seen at a far distance, identifying potential food sources. (cont’d on next page)

“CORAL GABLES MAY LOOK GREEN, BUT IT IS A FOOD DESERT FOR NATIVE SPECIES. EXOTIC PLANTS DO NOT ATTRACT POLLINATORS.”

LINDA LAWRENCE WALDRON, LOCAL BIODIVERSITY EXPERT, CORAL GABLES GARDEN CLUB MEMBER

TOP: MIX OF LANTANA AND PENTA, WHICH ARE BOTH TOLERANT TO DROUGHT AND EASY TO GROW.

MIDDLE: LANTANA CLOSE UP

BOTTOM: PENTA CLOSE UP

HOME & GARDEN

Mari Arnold, Garden Club member and 52-year Gables resident, recalls, “I used to see a lot more bees and so many different butterflies in my back yard. Atala butterflies are endangered now. It makes me sad.... They’d just raise your spirits immediately seeing one fly.” Sidney Daniel, also a Garden Club member and 78-year resident, agrees: “Nature was here before us, and we are to enjoy and respect it. Sadly, I’ve not seen enough of that around here.” With threats including habitat loss, climate change, and chemical use, The Journal of Biological Conservations asserts that 40 percent of our insects currently face extinction.

In other words, creating a native wildlife habitat is good for our planet (and our mental health). So, should you have the space, choose a sunny open area of your garden with well-drained soil to accommodate 15-25 species of native pollinating plants for maximum biodiversity. Even smaller habitats attract a vast variety of native pollinators like our 315 bee species, 29 of which are found only in Florida. Worry not, as native bees rarely sting and like bats are reluctant to go near humans, let alone bite them. They’re too busy pollinating over 75 percent of our crops and avoiding our landbased birds.

Meanwhile, it seems my adult self should go back and learn from my childhood self. Little Gracie used to know all this back then. I worry that our next generation may grow up never knowing these species. With one garden at a time, we need to sway the odds back in their favor.

Inspired? Learn more by visiting coralgables.com/pollinators and coralgablesgardenclub.org. Or check out our community efforts for pollinator areas at sites including Merrick House, Robert J. Fewell Park, Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Public Library, and the Youth Center. ■

COONTIE (TOP) AND FIREBUSH (BOTTOM) ARE NATIVE TO FLORIDA AND EASY TO MAINTAIN

68

To Botany and Beyond

The Fairchild Challenge®, established in 2002, is an award-winning national science competition that engages students in the natural sciences. This past March, some 260 philanthropically minded guests attended Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s 28th annual Gala in the Garden, celebrating the 20th anniversary of this environmental, educational outreach. The

gala, hosted by chairs Swanee DiMare and Frances Sevilla-Sacasa, was appropriately themed “A Galactic Journey,” a tribute to Fairchild’s astrobotany program in partnership with NASA, Growing Beyond Earth®. All proceeds from the gala went towards funding for the program, which is designed to advance NASA research on growing plants in space.

(1) Felicia Knaul, Julio Frenk

(2) Trish and Dan Bell

(3) Co-Chairs Frances Sevilla-Sacasa and Swanee DiMare, Trustee

(4) Bronwyn Miller, Laurie Jennings, Sissy DeMaria

(5) Mary Jean and Lou Risi, Trustee

(6) Evelyn and Bruce Greer, President, Board of Trustees

(7) Joyce and Tony Burns, Trustee

A Hidden Gem

FUGATO IS AN INTIMATE HIDEAWAY FOR ELEGANT DINING

BY ANDREW GAYLE

While most of the fine dining establishments of Coral Gables are clustered on Giralda, Ponce, and The Mile, with another covey in the Shops at Merrick Park, there are the occasional outliers. Fugato is one of those places, tucked just off the beaten path on Alcazar between Salzedo and Le Jeune. Take a date, and your stock will rise just by knowing that it’s there.

Because it is relatively small, with one wall painted a deep Tuscan red and a soundtrack that resonates somewhere between soft jazz and Bossa Nova, it is a romantic hideaway, visited by couples looking for the perfect spot. But it is also popular with families and locals. Fugato is a kind of hybrid, offering sophisticated cuisine at reasonable prices, which makes it somewhere to go for that special occasion – and at the same time a neighborhood haunt.

That fits in perfectly with its food, which owner Luis Buitron calls “fusion” cuisine. While the menu tilts to the Italian, it is permeated by French and Latin influences, especially from Buitron’s home country of Venezuela. Perfect example: the Burrata, with its creamy Italian cheese and tomatoes enhanced by prosciutto and tiny Venezuelan arepas stuffed with chorizo.

That’s just the beginning of the array of well-prepared dishes at Fugato, all designed by executive chef Pilar Mendez, Luis’ wife. She has been his partner not only in this endeavor, but in his previous incarnation as a partner in the Kendall restaurant Secreto. Under her watchful eye, and with the help of sous-chef Karla Olivares, the restaurant offers a short but excellent menu. We like such menus, which declare with confidence that endless choices are not necessary, only a discrete number done well.

The dinner menu presents five “cold” dishes, five “hot” dishes, six signature pasta plates and, six main courses – along with sides of pasta, potatoes, and risotto. For our cold dish, we chose the “rainbow” tiradito ($24), a traditional Peruvian dish of thinly sliced, well-chilled raw fish, drizzled with lemon and lime juices right before being served. Theirs is a mix of yellowfin tuna, corvina, and salmon, with avocado, red onion, and cilantro. Lovely, light, and citrusy.

For a hot dish, we tried the chèvre croquettes ($14), a variation on the Cuban classic, but in this case using goat cheese and pine

TOP LEFT: CHÈVRE CROQUETTES

OPPOSITE PAGE

TOP LEFT: GRILLED BRANZINO

TOP RIGHT: RAINBOW TIRADITO

MIDDLE: PAPPARDELLE FUGATO

BOTTOM: VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM WITH SLICED STRAWBERRIES

ABOVE: SOUS-CHEF KARLA OLIVARES AND OWNER LUIS BUITRON IN FRONT OF THE QUAINT RESTAURANT

FUGATO 325 ALACAZAR AVE. 786-420-2910

nuts, served with homemade marinara and a strawberry-guava sauce. Let’s just say it takes the traditional dish up a couple of notches. Who knew the missing magical ingredient was guava? A sweet and creamy treat.

For our main dishes we tried the pappardelle fugato ($29), a richly textured fresh pasta event with mushrooms, tomato (fresh and sun-dried), spinach, smoked mozzarella, and shredded short ribs. An enormously satisfying combination with a kicker of truffle oil.

We also tried the fish of the day (MP), which happened to be grilled branzino on a sort of sundial array of mussels. The fish was fresh and flaky, grilled just right, with a crunchy edge to it, enhanced by a beurre blanc sauce straight out of Julia Child’s arsenal. We can only hope they return to this special again and again.

While Fugato is proud of its signature veal ossobuco ($48) –using a veal shank instead of ox tail – we were more impressed by the chicken Florentine ($26), a simple but delightful grilled chicken breast with mushrooms, spinach, parmesan, and a creamy mushroom sauce. If this were our neighborhood, we would return just for this comfort food.

Service here is prompt and friendly without being overbearing. Buitron is ever present, the restaurant small enough for him to oversee everything without being spread too thin. For him, Fugato is the culmination of a journey that began in 1980 when he immigrated from Venezuela and began as a bus boy at La Bussola. Since then, he’s worked diligently to bring his culinary dream to fruition at Fugato, and it shows. There is a sense of the sweet life here, reflected in the largest selection of items on the menu, the eight house-made desserts. We tried a lovely dessert of the day, vanilla bean ice cream in a dish of sliced strawberries and powdered sugar. But our favorite was the “bon bon” coffee, with layers of whipped cream, espresso, and condensed milk. Just the kick we needed to face the sultry evening outside. ■

THE BEST RESTAURANTS

2022

BY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CORAL GABLES

Despite the ongoing pandemic (hopefully over its latest peak), the restaurant scene in Coral Gables is thriving. Maybe it’s because so many restaurants have outdoor seating, maybe because so many residents have been vaccinated. Regardless, Coral Gables’ legion of quality dining establishments are busy again. To help you choose a place to dine, we have taken a look at some of the best restaurants by neighborhood, north to south. Here are 45 of the best. We dine at all locations anonymously, and we list only the places where we love to eat.

$ ............ Under $25

$$ .......... $25-$40

$$$ ........ $35-$75

$$$$ ...... $70-$100+

Prices are per person for appetizer and entrée, no tax, tip, or drinks. Prices are approximate.

ALHAMBRA & NORTH

Bachour

Maybe it was the lure of pastries by world-renowned chef Antonio Bachour, but this airy, industrial chic spot has become the new power breakfast place in town, with amazingly good eggs benedict and challah French toast. Also open for lunch and an early dinner, with great Greek salad and roast chicken breast. $$

2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen

Australian pub food – salmon Rangoon, chicken skewers, meat pies, fish & chips – is the cuisine, an outdoor fountain makes the setting spectacular, and the beer brewed on premises is unbeatable at this newest hot spot. $$ 65 Alhambra Plaza. 786.452.0935

The Globe

The Globe is a Gables icon, and one of the coolest places to eat in the city – assuming you like a smart, Euro-style bistro. Decorated with classic paintings (and globes over their old-world bar), the menu is mostly American dishes – salads, burgers, fish, steaks, etc. – perfected over the years. Best conch fritters. $$ 377 Alhambra Circle 305.445.3555

Las Tapas Gables

Intimate setting in the space previously occupied by Mynt, Las Tapas is the newest entry in the category of fine Spanish cuisine. Fish flown in from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, with a special focus on dishes from Galicia in the northwest and Barcelona on the east, run by the consummate hand of chef/manager Florian Tomas. $$$-$$$$

276 Alhambra Circle.

305.381.0636

Namaste

Hidden on a side street off of Ponce, the last standing Indian restaurant in the Gables is small and humble (“namaste” means “I bow to you”) yet superb in its rendering of classic Indian dishes, from tandoris to biryanis. Our favorite is the mango curry chicken, followed by the chef’s special black pepper shrimp. $$

221 Navarre Ave. 786.534.2161

Zitz Sum

Brought to you by Chef Pablo Zitzmann of No Name Chinese fame, this “pop up” restaurant off the huge lobby of the 396 Building feels pretty solid. The result of a year-long pandemic dive into dim sum by Zitzmann, the dumplings (dinner only), hand-rolled daily, are superb. Other menu items are highly inventive and flavorful. $$-$$$

396 Alhambra Circle. 786.409.6920

Zucca

Located at the elegant Hotel St. Michel, this is a star in the galaxy of Italian eateries in the Gables. Distinctly northern Italian, with recipes that chef Manuel Garcia developed in a career that included the legendary Casa Tua

on Miami Beach. Lovely outdoor seating, modern Italian design inside, sophisticated, with great service. $$$-$$$$

162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731

GIRALDA PLAZA & AVENUE

Cebada Rooftop & Raw Bar

It’s hard to pigeonhole this new rooftop restaurant by Chef Jorge Ramos (fresh from his acclaimed Barley restaurant in Dadeland). He calls it “contemporary American with a Latin overlay” which means roast bone marrow with salsa verde and baby back ribs with pimiento marmalade. A good raw bar, a great view. $$-$$$

124 Giralda Ave. 786.409.2287

Divino Ceviche

Divino Ceviche is known for, well, its ceviche. From dishes like Ceviche Tradicional to Ceviche de Mercado to Ceviche Nikkei, there’s no shortage of the stuff. The restaurant also has notable non-ceviche dishes like octopus croquetas and a tasting of three different causas (layered potatoes with chiles, avocados, tuna, boiled eggs, onion). $$

160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775

Graziano’s

This large, popular Gables mainstay is true Argentine. A deep selection of Argentine wines (which line several walls) go with churrasco meats slowly roasted over a quebracho wood fire, old school style. They have seafood and pasta, empanadas and salads, but come here for the meat, a carnivore’s delight. $$$ 394 Giralda Ave. 305.774.3599

Khaosan Road

Formerly Bangkok Bangkok, this

Giralda Plaza mainstay – with plenty of outdoor tables – has reinvented itself as the new home for Thai street food. Think you know Thai food? Be prepared for new and delicious tastes. $$ 157 Giralda Plaza 305.444.2397

La Taberna Giralda

Routinely rated among the top tapas places in South Florida, La Taberna brings the added twist of a chef from Galicia, who puts his own regional spin on the dishes. It’s a small place with a neighborhood vibe, orange walls, string lights, and live flamenco on the weekends ($5 cover), so reservations are a must. $$

254 Giralda Avenue 786.362.5677

Luca Osteria

The latest place by local celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (the Eating House), Luca Osteria became an overnight, reservations-only hit for dinner on Giralda Plaza. His inventive take on classic Italian food is fresh and new; the Pasta al Limone and mortadella toast with fig balsamic are just the beginning. Great Italian cocktails. $$-$$$$ 116 Giralda Ave. 305.381.5097

MesaMar

Some of the best – if not THE best – seafood in the Gables with inventive fusions between Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. Their fish is caught daily in local waters and brought to your table for inspection. Their whole fried fish is a marvel. Also, make sure to try the lobster tacos. $$$ 264 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448

Miss Saigon

Voted the best restaurant in Coral Gables a few years back by the readers of New Times,

REDFISH

THE MINGLE! EXPERIENCE

WITH SO MANY EATERIES TO DISCOVER, TOASTING WITH FRIENDS IS ALWAYS DELICIOUS IN DOW NTOW N CORAL GABLES.

Miss Saigon serves the kind of vegetable-rich food that makes you feel light and clean afterwards. Excellent seafood choices, and any of their crispy rolls (spring, vegetarian, shrimp) make great starters. Also, good dumplings. But their clear, hearty soups – what they call Pho – are the big winners here. $$

148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006.

Threefold Café

You have to love a place that is dedicated to breakfast all day. But who needs dinner when you can get shrimp tacos for breakfast, along with salmon scrambled eggs, chicken parma, and that Millennial favorite, smashed avocado toast?

The brainchild of Australian Nick Sharp, Threefold is also popular for Sunday brunch – partly because of nice outdoor seating on Giralda Plaza.$$

141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007

TUR Kitchen

This relative newcomer to the Gables has a wonderfully inventive menu of Mediterranean cuisine.

Chef Christian Chirino plates beautiful dishes that combine the flavors of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Egypt. Amazing stuffed Turkish pide bread, stunning braised goat with gnocchi. Elegant seating under arches along Giralda. $$$-$$$$

259 Giralda Ave. 786.483.8014

CENTRAL DOWNTOWN

(Including Aragon, Miracle Mile, and Andalusia)

Bellmónt

Modern décor meets traditional Spanish dishes. Their house specialty is the roast suckling pig. If you want the whole pig ($230 for 4) you need to order four hours in advance. If it’s just you ($49), you’ll need to wait just 50 minutes. As for the rest: authentic Spanish cuisine with great seafood dishes, fantastic paella. $$$

339 Miracle Mile 786.502.4684

Bulla Gastrobar

As valued for its cocktails as for its tapas, Bulla is also something Coral Gables needs – an informal, smart neighborhood hangout with a young, boisterous vibe. Great “small plates” and refreshing sangria. Yes, it is a national chain, but it still feels local. $$

2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.0107

Caffe Abbracci

A Gables icon, Nino Pernetti’s

Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and a cozy evening gathering place for families and couples. Once closely shepherded by the welcoming Pernetti, Abbracci is still quiet, elegant and flavorful. The food is so consistently good that Pernetti had to publish his own cookbook. With the return of their long-time chef, the daily specials have a whole new spin. $$$ 318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

Christy’s

Touted as Coral Gables’ oldest steakhouse, Christy’s was long the power lunch go-to – until it stopped serving lunch except on Fridays. Still, its aged steaks are consistently excellent, as are the seafood entrees. Their classic Caesar salad is still the best in town, and the jumbo shrimp cocktail is a house specialty. $$$ 3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.446.1400

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar

Offering a no-veto menu, meaning there’s something for everyone, Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar serves craveable American fare dishes made from scratch daily, incorporating the highest quality ingredients. Offering brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour, signature dishes include the Wok Out Bowls, The Wedge Burger and “Hot” Chicken. $$

301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fantastic aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end of its depth. A place for special celebrations. Recently redecorated, but the open kitchen with its copper “sash” across the top still gives the main dining room a glow. Good menu at the bar. $$$-$$$$ 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.7995

Forte by Chef Adrianne

Chef Adrianne’s new restaurant, in the former Cibo Wine Bar space, features her take on Italian food (the name comes from her Sicilian grandmother). One of the Gables’ star chefs, Adrianne punches up traditional dishes with some bold flavors. Best: Tuscan white bean soup, wagyu truffle-oil meatballs, spaghetti carbonara. $$$-$$$$ 45 Miracle Mile. 305.517.6181

Fratellino

Small, family run, with a fanatically loyal fan base, brilliant Italian

comfort food. The long narrow set up with tile floors, wooden chairs and tablecloths makes it feel like New York’s Little Italy. Their calamari, in any variation, is superb, and the fettuccine with prosciutto, mushroom, and green peas is to die for. $$$ 264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068

Frenchie’s Diner

It looks like an all-American diner (which it once was) but this is pure French cooking in a small but comfy setting. Frenchie himself is usually there. Some items on the menu can get pricey (filet mignon, $34) but the onion soup ($9) and escargots ($11) are great values, and the croque monsieur ($14) for lunch is a meal unto itself. $$$

2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554

Gustave

Launched by a couple of friends with a track record in Paris, Gustave’s a light-filled, lovely entry into the local French cuisine scene. With a good selection of baked goods, this is a Paris-style café with good coffee and solid fare. Good to know where you can get a croque monsieur for lunch and boeuf bourguignon for dinner $$-$$$ 366 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5675

Hillstone

There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one of them. A power lunch spot, a happy hour singles anchor, and a family restaurant at night, the food and service are consistently top notch, with an elegant interior that is both comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. $$$ 201 Miracle Mile 305.529.0141

Izakaya

Located across the street from the Colonnade building, this tiny, bustling Japanese restaurant serves a great bento box – along with an impressive array of daily specials that are posted on the wall in chalk. Super popular lunch spot, for good reason. $$ 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584

Morton’s The Steakhouse Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnades gives it a unique elegance, with outdoor seating under the arches. Dependable quality, prime-aged beef, and excellent salads. Good place to take that important client. Great happy hour with filet mignon sandwiches or short rib tacos for $8. $$$

2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.442.1662

Salumeria 104

Tratorria-style Salumeria is now two years old, with a loyal clientele, especially at lunchtime. Partly, that is because the food and ambience is so authentically Northern Italian and rustic. It may also be thanks to their $10 lunch special of sandwich (with artisan cured meats) with soup or salad, always fresh and flavorful. Regardless of price or time of day, those sliced salumi meats are buono! $-$$

117 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5547

Seasons 52

The restaurant for healthy eaters who enjoy quality as well. The menu, changing four times a year with each season, is always full of inventive treatments for fresh veggies, soups, and salads. Their fish and meat dishes are great values, and the flatbread menu is really a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them. $$

321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552

Pascal’s on Ponce

Elegant, quaint, and delicious, Pascal’s is the home and culinary canvas of owner-chef Pascal Oudin, who brings authentic French cuisine to the heart of the city. Oudin excels in seafood, soufflés, and foie gras. Try the diver sea scallops and tomato tartin. $$$-$$$$

2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024

SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK

Brasserie Central Secretly owned by Pascal’s on Ponce fame, the restaurant is half inside, half in the courtyard of the Shops. A typical French bistro with wonderful onion soup, fresh bread, and a superb paté. Everything on the menu is fresh, French, and all you would expect from Pascal. Lots of little French touches, though not cheap. $$ - $$$

Shops at Merrick Park 786.536.9388

Ecléctico

Brought to you by the folks at nearby Sawa restaurant, Eclectico is an open, airy Latin-fusion restaurant that serves “light” and inventive variations on Latin American small plates with a Mexican overlay – and a truly awesome selection of mezcal and tequilla. $$ 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.615.5735

Izakaya

Located across the street from the Colonnade building, this tiny, bustling Japanese restaurant serves a great bento box – along with an impressive array of daily specials that are posted on the wall in chalk. Super popular lunch spot, for good reason. $$ 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Perry’s is a Texas chain that gets its beef from the heart of the Lone Star State. Great outdoor space with fire pit and a huge interior with its own lounge area piano bar. Excellent reduction sauces for the finer cuts, and their famous five-finger giant pork chop that is carved at the table can easily feed two. $$$$

fresh and flavorful. Regardless of price or time of day, those sliced salumi meats are buono! $-$$ 117 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5547

menu serves pasta entrees for less than $15, and the extensive selections of meat and fish mostly run in the mid to low twenties. Also, good soups (the fresh crabmeat is a delight) and – randomly enough – perhaps the best apple pie anywhere. $$ 358 San Lorenzo Ave.305.447.8144.

Seasons 52

dishes. Fresh ingredients, from the salads to the pasta that is made daily. Great octopus, pastas cooked perfectly. One of the most romantic restaurants in the Gables. $$$

Orno

1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3189

Mamey

4251 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.703.9094

Sawa

Morton’s The Steakhouse Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnades gives it a unique elegance, with outdoor seating under the arches. Dependable quality, prime-aged beef, and excellent salads. Good place to take that important client. Great happy hour with filet mignon sandwiches or short rib tacos for $8. $$$ 2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.442.1662

Salumeria 104

Delicious take on Japanese flavors served in parallel with Lebanese Mediterranean, Sawa offers seating inside or outside at Merrick Park. A vast selection of sushi rolls and tapas that range from chicken yakitori to octopus ceviche, along with super fresh Middle Eastern comfort food. World’s best lamb chops. Also has a doggy menu. $$$ 360 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.6555

Villagio Ristorante

Surprisingly good prices in this cavernous restaurant with lots of outdoor seating. Even the dinner

Tratorria-style Salumeria is now two years old, with a loyal clientele, especially at lunchtime. Partly that is because the food and ambience is so authentically Northern Italian and rustic. It may also be thanks to their $10 lunch special of sandwich (with artisan cured meats) with soup or salad, always

SOUTH GABLES

Fiola

The restaurant for healthy eaters who enjoy quality as well. The menu, changing four times a year with each season, is always full of inventive treatments for fresh veggies, soups and salads. Their fish and meat dishes are great values, and the flatbread menu is really a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them. $$ 321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552

From the place settings to the artwork to the innovative cuisine, Fiola offers an exquisite dining experience. Brought to you by Washington, D.C. chef Fabio Trabocchi, their must-try dishes include the porcini mushroom soup, the sea scallops ceviche, and the signature lobster ravioli. Elegant presentations only add to this encounter with gustatory greatness. $$$$

1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639

Pascal’s on Ponce Elegant, quaint and delicious, Pascal’s is the home and culinary canvas of owner-chef Pascal Oudin, who brings authentic French cuisine to the heart of the city. Oudin excels in seafood, soufflés and foie gras. Try the diver sea scallops and tomato tartin. $$$-$$$$

Chef Niven Patel, who is fast gaining a national reputation, hits it out of the park with this restaurant, heir to the creative Caribbean cuisine of Ortanique, but with its own unique and refreshing overlay of Polynesian, Thai, and Indian gastronomy. If your taste buds seek a new adventure, this is the place. $$$

Located in the same building as Mamey (THesis Hotel), Orno is Chef Niven Patel’s latest creation, focusing on “New American” cuisine with a focus on farm-to-table local produce. An eclectic menu lets Patel stretch his culinary imagination, using a wood-burning oven and a wood-burning grill. $$$ 1350 S. Dixie Highway (Thēsis Hotel) 305.667.6766

Public Square

1350 S. Dixie Highway (Thēsis Hotel) 305.667.5611

Moon Thai & Japanese

2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024

Ponce fame, the restaurant is half inside half in the courtyard of the Shops. A typical French bistro with wonderful onion soup, fresh bread and a superb paté. Everything on the menu is fresh, French, and all you would expect from Pascal. Lots of little French touches, though not cheap. $$ - $$$

This popular re-configuration of the former Shula’s steakhouse still serves great steaks and burgers, but with lots of other options (seafood, pasta, sushi, salads) and plentiful outdoor seating on Red Road and San Ignacio Ave. $$$ 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661

Fontana

The setting is as elegant as it comes: the Biltmore’s famed fountain courtyard. You can sit under the stars, in a covered archway, or inside to enjoy classic Italian

SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK

Brasserie Central Secretly owned by Pascal’s on

Shops at Merrick Park 786.536.9388

Ecléctico

Can’t decide between Japanese or Thai food? No problem. Here, you can have a Japanese house salad or miso soup as an appetizer and pad thai as an entrée. Truly the best of both worlds. Comfy booths inside and umbrella-covered outdoor tables. Across the street from UM’s campus. $ - $$

1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890

Brought to you by the folks at nearby Sawa restaurant, Eclecti-

Frame

co is an open, airy Latin-fusion restaurant that serves “light” and inventive variations on Latin American small plates with a Mexican overlay – and a truly awesome selection of mescal and taquilla. A new and fun place for dinner. $$ 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.615.5735

Redfish by Chef Adrianne

The only waterfront restaurant in the Gables, Redfish was reborn last year after being closed for years from hurricane damage. With the addition of Chef Adrianne, the menu presents a stellar display of gourmet seafood. $$$$ 9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788. ■

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Perry’s is a Texas chain that gets its beef from the heart of the Lone Star State. Great outdoor space with fire pit and a huge interior with its own lounge area piano

The Rites of Spring

Not every tree in our fair city blooms with vigor each year. A robust flowering depends on things like rainfall, temperature, and humidity. This year, spring was heralded by a profusion of Pink Shower Tree (Cassia

bakeriana) blossoms. They exploded on Sevilla Street, Le Jeune Road, and Riviera Drive. This bloom graced the University Baptist Church on Segovia Street, across from the Youth Center. Photo by Emily Fakhoury.