Coral Gables Magazine January 2026

CORAL GABLES JANUARY 2026

MAGAZINE

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Departments

January 2026

8 EDITOR’S NOTE

You Mean Mis-govern, Don't You?

11 STREETWISE

Latest News From City Hall Talk of the Town: • Venetian Pool Concert • The Latest Bank • A New Sign on Giralda • The Miracle's 30th

27 LIVING

Best Events for January 2026 New Openings in the Gables Art Review: Zelda Fitzgerald

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27

41

78

41 BITES

Quick Bites: All About Pancakes!

Fun Dining: Wine Tasting at Bulla New Places: My Cousin Nick The Best of Courtyard Dining

53 PEOPLE

Lara Pavloff Jim Cason Neha Dagley

78 BACK OF BOOK

Travel: Sanctuary Cap Cana, DR Don’s Rambles: Gables Thanksgiving The Seen: Three Seasonal Events The Gables Dining Guide

96 GABLES IN FOCUS Photography Contest

“IT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES MORE HIGH-DENSITY PROJECTS ...”

MAYOR LAGO, OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL FOR A LIVE LOCAL ACT AMENDMENT TO USE MUNICIPAL RATHER THAN AREA-BASED MEDIAN INCOMES. SEE PAGE 14.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Features

Vol 9. Issue 1

60 LIVING LONGER (AND HEALTHIER) IN THE GABLES A look at some local clinics offering to extend longevity.

There are few among us who would refuse a few extra years of life – so long as they are healthy years. No one wants to suffer with a debilitating disease, which is why the medical profession now focuses so much on preventative medicine. “Living longer comes down to a number of things, but a fundamental part of it is avoiding the diseases of aging,” says Dr. Charles Mahl, of the Coral Gables Medical Center.

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68 THE LOCALS AT BEAUX ARTS

Each January, Coral Gables’ art scene bursts to life with the Beaux Arts Festival of Art, a much-loved cultural tradition and one of South Florida’s most distinguished art events. Founded in 1952 as the humble “Clothesline Sale,” where local artists displayed works along lines strung up beside the Lowe Art Museum, the festival has blossomed into Miami’s longest-running juried art festival, drawing more than 25,000 visitors to the University of Miami’s campus every year. This year we wanted to take a look at some of the local artists participating in the show, to give you a sneak peek at some of what to expect at the 75th annual edition of the Beaux Arts Festival.

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coralgablesmagazine.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

You Mean Mis-Govern, Don’t You? The Miracle Theatre recently celebrated its 30th anniversary (see story pg. 22), on the opening night of “Man of La Mancha.”

Among the civic leaders who addressed the audience was Commissioner Melisa Castro, who said she was happy to represent “the city that I govern.”

Our question is, don’t you mean MIS-govern? Commissioner Castro’s recent actions at City Hall are on the wrong side of common sense, and on the wrong side of what benefits the city. Her commentary and votes defy logic.

Take the RTZ. The county now has the power to control zoning within a quarter-mile of any Metrorail station. The aim is to build dense housing at each hub for workers who will use the line for jobs downtown. Sounds like a good idea, but it allows the county to ignore local zoning. Example: next to the Douglas Road station, they have permitted a 38-story building on the edge of Coral Gables, where buildings are limited to 16 stories.

Now comes University Station, next to the University of Miami. To forestall a similar abuse of Gables zoning, Mayor Vince Lago proposed a compromised zoning overlay, where slightly taller buildings – but not skyscrapers – will be permitted. The county does not have to accept this plan, which would also give the impact fees to the Gables. But they have, apparently. The only person fighting it: Commissioner Castro, who tried to derail the deal pending more input from adjacent residents. One, there is no time for this, and two, the county doesn’t give a hoot about the neighbors. They are moving forward relentlessly, and rapidly, and the mayor’s plan is a Hail Mary at best. A divided Commission was bad optics.

Or take the Live Local Act. Here again, developers can get zoning variances based on the amount of affordable housing in a project.

Affordable housing is a big issue for the Gables, and the act's formula for affordable

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apartments is based on the county’s average income levels. What does Commissioner Castro do? She files legislation to replace the average county income with that of affluent Coral Gables, enabling developers to qualify for Live Local exemptions with more expensive housing.

Her misbegotten suggestion was nixed by all the other commissioners.

The latest odd-woman-out vote came in December, when Commissioner Castro voted against a new development at 8 th Street and Ponce de Leon Blvd. This development upgrades a sloppy mix of buildings with a low-rise, handsome complex that includes neighborhood amenities. And area residents approved it – an ironic note for a commissioner who constantly brags that she represents the wishes of residents.

At the same Commission meeting, Commissioner Castro angrily attacked the mayor for suggesting that the city should investigate former City Commissioner Kirk Menendez for improprieties at the Youth Center. She wanted to protect her former colleague, who had consistently voted with her and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez for ordinances that hurt and embarrassed the city – including the infamous last minute pay raise of 101 percent that still has legislators in Tallahassee questioning our ability to govern ourselves with fiscal restraint.

The same goes with her attempt to implement a cost-of-living increase for retired city employees, even though it would do serious financial damage to the city. Yes, it might win her a few more votes, but that is not what good governance is about.

JP FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE

Cover: Artist James Hilton, photo by Rodolfo Benitez

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF J.P. Faber PUBLISHER Gail Scott ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Donner CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Monica Del Carpio-Raucci VP SALES Sherry Adams MANAGING EDITOR Kylie Wang DIGITAL EDITOR Amanda Martell ART DIRECTOR Jon Braeley PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jorge G. Gavilondo WRITERS Yousra Benkirane Andrew Gayle Tina Wyngate PHOTOGRAPHERS Rodolfo Benitez Jonathan Dann PROOFREADER Lesley Fonger STAFF WRITER Luke Chaney CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION CircIntel OFFICIAL FRAMER Adam Brand / Frames USA

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

Telephone: (305) 995-0995. Copyright 2025 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.

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Streetwise Talk of the Town See page 16

PLUS FROM CITY HALL

A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION: THE CENTENNIAL CONCERT AT THE VENETIAN POOL

THE ONCE AND FUTURE CITY MANAGER: AN INTERVIEW WITH PETER IGLESIAS

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STREETWISE / POLITICS tion would encourage, rather than discourage, development. She was unable to gain support from any of the other commissioners.

CITY ENVIRONMENTALISM HONORED

Listened to a presentation from the Keep Coral Gables Beautiful team, which hosted the Keep Florida Beautiful Conference from November 5 to 7 at the Hyatt. Over 100 attendees from around the state came, while the City of Coral Gables was honored specially for its innovative work in sustainability.

From City Hall AT ITS MEETING IN NOVEMBER, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION: A CLEAN WATER SOLUTION?

Voted 5-0 to find a location for a water decontamination technology developed by AquaChar to be tested in the city. Coral Gables resident Richard Ricardo invented the tech, which uses “aqua graphene” (essentially reclaimed hardwood) to remove water pollutants, kill off the pathogens, and replace them with oxygen that remains in the water for three to six months. The decontamination device runs on solar power and is carbon-negative with no emissions. Ricardo, who runs the nonprofit AquaChar, explained that lack of oxygen – and the presence of pollutants – in water is a huge issue, one that affects everything from marine life health to the smell of the water. His aqua graphene binds with contaminants like lead, microplastics, PFAs, ammonia, heavy metals, and organic waste and transforms them into nutrients. It can be used in personal gardens and aquariums or in larger waterways.

University of Miami has certified his technology, which Ricardo is hoping to test in oxygen-depleted areas of Coral Gables’ canals. Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, both known for their environmentalism, were visibly excited by the idea.

NEW ART

Listened to an update on the Art on the Plaza program, which hosts an ongoing, rotating public art exhibition curated by the Coral Gables Museum. A new work of art – “Minna” by famed Spanish artist Jaume Plensa – is coming to the Cora building next to Shops at Merrick Park (4241 Aurora Avenue) as part of the program but will first be displayed at the museum. The 11-foot bronze head will be painted white and set on a marble base for a combined weight of approximately 4,000 pounds.

NEW DEVELOPMENT

Voted 4-1 on first reading to approve the 760 Ponce development, which involves re-zoning a commercial block north of SW 8th Street, on the corner of Ponce de Leon Blvd. and Boabadilla St, LIVE LOCAL CONTROVERSY Let a motion die on a resolution to urge the state legislature to amend which is currently home to a medical office building. The development will include benefits to the community, including intersection the Live Local Act to account for municipal-based median incomes rather than area median incomes. Commissioner Melissa Castro, who improvements, streetscape beautification, traffic calming measures, a public plaza with trees, and improved sidewalk and pedestrian sponsored the item, explained that under the current rules, develcrossings. The project will also remain under six stories (about opments in Hialeah, for example, are charging the same Live Local rental rates as they would in Coral Gables. Her proposal would make 61-feet) and will use less than half of its available density. The rates for affordable housing higher in Coral Gables, where the medi- developer has worked extensively with nearby residents to get their approval on the final project; one even showed up to advocate for an income is significantly higher than the rest of the state. the project. City staff, as well as the Board of Architects, recomMayor Lago vehemently opposed the proposal, asserting that mended approval. Mayor Lago asked for a detailed breakdown on it would “not produce more affordability,” but would rather “prothe developer’s new traffic calming measures and sidewalks, signed duce more profit” for developers who see a better chance to build off by nearby residents, before second reading. He and Vice Mayor more expensive units in the Gables. “It actually encourages more Rhonda Anderson were adamant about including shade trees on the high-density projects,” said Lago. “If we now voluntarily raise median and around the property. Commissioner Castro was the sole the income threshold, we’re simply sweetening the deal, making dissenter, though she did not provide reasoning for her vote.

Coral Gables even more attractive for larger, taller projects…. This proposal makes it easier for developers to build more towers, more NEW DOG PARK density, more high-rises, while offering fewer truly affordable units Voted 3-0 to develop an off-leash dog park at 520 University Drive for the families we claim to be helping.” As part of his argument, on the corner of University and Segovia Street across from the Coral Lago pointed to “significant progress” on negotiations he’s made Gables Library. The park, spearheaded by Vice Mayor Anderson, will with RTZ developers on issues like design, height, parking, impact, and Art in Public Places projects (RTZ stands for the Rapid Transit include two areas for larger dogs and one for smaller pups. A coalition of residents came to express their support, showing a petition Zones surrounding Metrorail stations, where the county can oversigned by over 225 nearby residents in favor of the park. Commisride local zoning and allow greater height and density). Commissioner Castro seemed unable to understand the idea that her resolu- sioners Castro and Ariel Fernandez were absent for the vote. ■

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19 years of e help you nav community h

Contact me to find your dream home in Coral Gables.

Real Estate Advisor 305.608.8750 jj@jjsnowhansen.com Judith “JJ” Snow Hansen is a licensed real estate agent affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice.

STREETWISE / POLITICS AT ITS ONLY MEETING IN DECEMBER, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION: ARAGON PARKING RESOLVED

Voted 5-0 to consolidate the four parking lots on the 300 block of Aragon Avenue (behind Seasons 52) and have them managed and maintained by Asta Parking, Inc. The two lots that are privately owned have been blocked off for months but will now be returned to their previous configuration. The project will add 119 total parking spaces (including five handicap spaces) to downtown Coral Gables.

ELECTION EDUCATION

Listened to an update on the city’s election education campaign, which aims to increase voter awareness of and participation in elections, particularly the city’s mail-in ballot referendum that will be held between March 21 and April 21, 2026. Registered voters in Coral Gables will vote on whether to move local elections to coincide with federal elections, as well as on six additional items, all via mail-in ballots. Mayor Lago also advocated for a dedicated phone line to answer neutral election questions for residents, as well as a TV advertisement and flyers sent to residents ahead of the election.

None of the material will include voting recommendations, and all will be in English and Spanish.

TALLAHASSEE UPDATE

Listened to a presentation from Governmental Affairs Director Chelsea Granell on Vice Mayor Anderson and Commissioner Lara’s recent trip to Tallahassee, where all six of the city’s appropriations requests were sponsored by State Senator Ileana Garcia or State Representative Demi Busatta. Though Granell reported largely positive interactions with state officials, Lara did mention that he was “taken aback” by the candidness of several, who expressed their direct displeasure with certain fiscal decisions the previous City Commission made, including raising their salaries by 101 percent – a move that has since been reversed by the current Commission.

GOLF CART SUPPORT

Discussed an initiative to encourage legal golf cart use in the city.

Golf carts, which have license plates and insurance requirements, are legal to use on any road in Florida with a speed limit of 35 mph or under as long as they have rearview mirrors and reflectors on the front and back. The City of Coral Gables can choose to add additional requirements to its legislation, including inspections of the vehicles, safety requirements like windshield wipers, and designating certain city roads as off-limits. The Commission will vote on the issue at its next meeting.

YOUTH CENTER ASSOCIATION UPDATE

Voted 3-2 to authorize legal action regarding the city’s request for documentation and information from the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Association after a 10-day grace period. In recent months, allegations of potential misuse of funds and negligence have followed the Association, which allowed its 501(c)3 status to lapse under the stewardship of former Commissioner Kirk Menendez. Menendez has refused to provide important documents to the city regarding the Youth Center’s finances. Commissioner Melissa Castro, who has publicly aligned herself with Menendez in the past – recently nominating him to the city’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board despite the Youth Center debacle – dissented, alongside Commissioner Ariel Fernandez.

Castro accused Mayor Lago of holding a “vendetta” against Menendez “for standing up to” Lago, who ran against him for mayor

14

MALFEASANCE AT THE YOUTH CENTER?

in the last election. Fernandez said he “pitied” the mayor for being unable “to move past things,” in a conversation that ultimately devolved into personal and political jabs between the two. Lago staunchly denied that the issue had anything to do with his relationship with Menendez, asking, “Why wouldn’t a partner of the city want to have a transparent conversation with the city?”

COLA REJECTED

Voted 4-1 to reject the Retirement Board’s decision to grant a 1.45 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) to retirees who worked for the City of Coral Gables. The Commission accepted staff ’s recommendation to reject, citing the pension fund’s negative investment performance and that it is already underfunded ($169.8 million in unfunded liability, which increased by $12.8 million last year). The Commission requires a four-fifths supermajority vote to reject or reduce the COLA; Lago, Anderson, Fernandez, and Commissioner Richard Lara all voted to reject, while Castro voted in favor.

The four commissioners cited the State of Florida’s intention to eliminate or greatly reduce property taxes in the coming year as a particular budgetary concern, since it is a main source of revenue for the city, used for police, fire, and public transit funding, among other things. Lago pointed out that COLAs risk weakening the pension system for the same retirees by adding millions in unfunded liability.

As such, he said, a COLA did not make financial sense this year.

Castro argued that the city has an ethical obligation to its retirees, though did not provide a way to pay for the increase.

DEVELOPMENT APPROVED

Voted 4-1 to approve 760 Ponce, a 61-foot mixed-use development that has received local resident approval. The legislation involved rezoning some areas of the project and approving a Mediterranean design bonus. The developer could have built up to 77-feet according to city code; with a Live Local designation, that number could have jumped to approximately 190-feet. Due to the project’s lower height, strong neighborhood support, and added infrastructure improvements (electric vehicle parking spaces, relocation of healthy trees rather than removal, new crosswalks along Ponce, speed tables, median landscaping enhancements, etc.), all commissioners voted to approve except Castro. ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN

A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION: THE CENTENNIAL CONCERT AT THE VENETIAN POOL

vocalist Zesi, and “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid,” featuring teenage vocalist Dana Spejh. After a rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven,” the night ended with the classic “When the Moon Shines in Coral Gables,” a 1920s song written to promote the city in its early days. In opening remarks, Mayor Vince Lago endowed Oscar Morejon of John Bell Construction with the key to the city, after the firm was entrusted with the historic restoration of the 60,000-square-foot pool. – Kylie Wang

Salazar Flips the Script?

U.S. REP. SALAZAR’S NEW BOOK & NEW STANCE

Talk of the Town Centennial Concert

A VENETIAN POOL CELEBRATION

When Coral Gables was first founded, salesman (and first mayor) Doc Dammers was known for his elaborate marketing techniques, including organizing concerts in the coral rock quarry that became the Venetian Pool. Flash forward a hundred years to last month, when the City of Coral Gables closed out its centennial celebrations with the Grand Finale Concert, an evening of history, music, and community held at the Venetian. The pool, drained for the occasion, is now open after roughly a year of re-construction. But for a Sunday night in December, Eduardo Marturet conducted the Miami Symphony Orchestra there, to the delight of Gableites who paid $250 each for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The hour-long concert began with three suites from Georges Bizet’s famous opera “Carmen” and then continued with a plethora of pop hits, with performances of “My Way” and “Feeling Good” by

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U.S. Republican Congresswoman María Salazar, above, whose 27th congressional district includes the Gables, recently hosted a private event at the Coral Gables Museum to discuss her new book, “Dignity Not Citizenship.” At the event, Salazar met supporters, signed copies, coralgablesmagazine.com

STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN but declined to take part in any Q&A. The book explains her rationale behind the Dignity Act 2025 – a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by her and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas (Dem.) that grants undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship. Salazar was previously on record saying the U.S. has over 10 million people working in construction, hospitality, agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and slaughterhouses, who are undocumented but not criminals. Days after the event – which attracted protestors – President Trump issued his Thanksgiving announcement that all immigration applications from 19 “high risk” countries would be shut down. Salazar, who previously supported Trump’s immigration policies, issued a statement to the Miami Herald which called the crackdown “un-American.” The Miami Dade College and University of Miami grad, one of the few Cuban Americans in Congress, said the new policy amounted to “collective punishment” of “the innocent for the sins of the guilty.” –Luke Chaney

who will serve as chief banking officer and chief operating officer, respectively, adding another 30 years of experience. The bank is located at 1515 Sunset Drive; the opening celebration was held last month around the corner at the rooftop of Daniel’s Miami steakhouse. –Amanda Martell

Baby Props

A GENERATIONAL GROUNDBREAKING

A New Bank in Town

BANKMIAMI OPENS ITS DOORS ON SUNSET

ALLEN MORRIS WITH HIS SON SPENCER AND INFANT GRANDSONS AT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF PONCE PARK, A RESIDENTIAL MID-RISE

CEO MARY USATEGUI, WITH CO-FOUNDERS AND EVPS DANIEL R. MARTINEZ AND DAVID MONTER

Over a decade has passed since a new bank has made its way into the city, and this time it comes with the added milestone of being the first woman-founded bank in Miami: BankMiami. Founder, president and CEO Mary Usategui, who started at age 18 as a teller at Coconut Grove Bank, brings more than 20 years of experience to the job. Usategui is now an honoree of the South Florida Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list and CFO of the Year. She is joined by co-founders and EVPs Daniel R. Martinez and David Monter,

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Allen Morris, the developer best known in the Gables for his Mediterranean-style Alhambra Towers, is determined to mirror that iconic office tower with an equally iconic residential mid-rise on Ponce Circle called Ponce Park. The project, which was amended several times to satisfy concerns from neighbors, is also capped by a tower and built to exacting standards that will attract some of the highest per-square-foot condo prices in the city. He is also kicking in $2 million to refurbish adjacent Ponce Park with public art.

Last month, a gathering of architects, builders, and sales folks from Sotheby’s gathered to shovel some dirt and, by so doing, break ground on the project. Morris, who will move into Ponce Park when it is finished late next year, is nothing if not a generational resident of the Gables (among other things, he is married to June Morris, daughter of the city’s first – and only – female mayor Dorothy Thomson). Morris’ father founded the firm, and son Spencer serves as president of The Allen Morris Company. Getting the next generation ready, Allen and Spencer posed at the groundbreaking with Spencer’s infant sons – “the first of many for them,” quipped Allen. –J.P. Faber coralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN

A New Sign in Town

RIBBON CUTTING OF THE MIAMI ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS' "CORAL GABLES" SIGN ON GIRALDA PLAZA, WITH MAYOR VINCE LAGO, MIAMI REALTORS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JONATHAN J. ALFONSO, AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CEO JORGE L. ARRIZURIETA

AN HOMAGE TO CORAL GABLES DEBUTS

The Miami Association of Realtors joined the National Association of Realtors and the City of Coral Gables to unveil a new fourfoot-tall set of “Coral Gables” letters at Giralda Plaza at the end of November. The installation is part of a placemaking effort which has created similar displays for other South Florida neighborhoods over the past three years, supported by a grant from the National Association of Realtors. The goal: highlight community pride and create a photo-friendly landmark for residents and visitors. The ribbon cutting was attended by Mayor Vince Lago, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce CEO Jorge L. Arrizurieta, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and City Commissioner Melissa Castro, along with representatives from the Realtors associations. –Amanda Martell

The Importance of Rest

SAATVA GETS AN OLYMPIC ENDORSEMENT

We recently joined luxury mattress purveyor Saatva at the Shops of Merrick Park, where two-time Olympic gold medalist Ashleigh Johnson announced the brand’s new role as the Official Mattress and Restorative Sleep Provider of Team USA at the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Staff guided guests through the mattress lineup, including the Saatva Classic Mattress, which is priced at $2,334. When Johnson (Team USA’s water polo goalkeeper) took the floor, she discussed the role sleep plays in an athlete’s performance and how rest becomes increasingly important as they age.

Johnson also spoke about recovery outside the pool, explaining that

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TWO-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST ASHLEIGH JOHNSON

time spent resetting the mind and body matter just as much as time spent training. Guests received a gift bag that included an embroidered robe personalized with their initials along with face cream, a mask, and other curated items centered on rest and wellness. – Amanda Martell coralgablesmagazine.com

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STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN

The End of an Era

THE SNOW FAMILY. TOP: EDDIE SNOW, AUSTIN TELLAM, CHRISTOPHER HANSEN. MIDDLE: MARY SNOW, JUDY SNOW, JJ SNOW HANSEN. BOTTOM: TEDDY TELLAM

The 30-year anniversary of the Miracle Theatre is not the only anniversary being noted this month. Sadly, however, the other is for a closing. Snow’s Jewelers has been a fixture on Miracle Mile (almost adjacent to the theater) for just over 50 years. Back in 1974, proprietors Eddie and Judy Snow were newlyweds willing to risk their future on the Mile, then pockmarked with a high vacancy rate due to a recession. They have been there ever since, raising two daughters – Mary Snow, who until recently was the president and CEO of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, and JJ Hanson, a local realtor. “I’ll still do business in an office nearby as a consultant,” says Eddie, who held a closing party for friends and clients at the shop just before Christmas. “But my days of fronting on the mile are over.” Doors won’t officially close until March, as an ongoing sale empties the inventory. – J.P. Faber

Flash Back, Flash Forward

THE MIRCALE THEATRE CELEBRATES ITS 30TH BIRTHDAY

It was 30 years ago when the City of Coral Gables purchased the Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile from entertainment giant Wometco, saving it from conversion into a Ross Dress for Less. Barbara and Larry Stein, who had been operating Actors’ Playhouse since 1988 in Kendall, struck a deal with the city to make it their new home, signing a 40-year lease and raising $10 million to create the new theater. That anniversary was celebrated last month with a reprise of the musical “Man of La Mancha,” which was the first production Actors’ Playhouse held in their new venue. Opening night for the adventures of knight errant Don Quixote came with accolades for the community leaders who helped make it happen, including former mayors Raul Valdes-Fauli, Don Slesnick, and

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(Photo courtesy of Actors’ playhouse)

SNOW’S JEWELERS DEPARTS THE MILE

ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DAVID ARISCO, FOUNDING EXECUTIVE PRODUCING DIRECTOR BARBARA S. STEIN, AND FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD DR. LAWRENCE E. STEIN REVIEW PLANS FOR THE MIRACLE THEATRE IN 1994

Dorothy Thomson. Inspired by Cervantes’ classic novel, the musical “Man of La Mancha” is set during the Spanish Inquisition as a man, imprisoned and awaiting trial, leads his fellow inmates in a play within a play. The award-winning song “The Impossible Dream” seems appropriate for the task of saving and converting the theater, which has become a mainstay in the cultural life of Coral Gables.

Artistic director David Arisco, who directed the musical in 1995, also directed the current reprise. – J.P. Faber coralgablesmagazine.com

T H E B E S T R E A L E S TAT E D E C I S I O N S H AV E O N E T H I N G I N C O M M O N . . .

As we enthusiastically embrace 2026, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my valued friends and clients, and esteemed colleagues. Thank you for entrusting me with your real estate needs in 2025 and for your unwavering support. Your partnership allowed us to achieve phenomenal success, marked by record-breaking sales prices secured in record time.

W I T H G R AT I T U D E A N D WA R M E S T R E G A R D S F O R A H A P P Y A N D H E A LT H Y N E W Y E A R .

11400 SW 60 Ave | $10.4M & $11M Sold Twice in 30 Days at Record Price

5455 Kerwood Oaks Dr | $8.615M Sold in One Day

1001 San Pedro Ave | $8.133M Record Price in Gables by the Sea

2655 S Bayshore Dr, 802 | $6.1M Sold in 1 Week and at Record Price

#1 at BHS Miami

Other Recent Sales

T O P 1 0 N AT I O N A L LY AT B H S

1 2 2 0 0 O L D C U T L E R R O A D | Sold for $6.1M

OV E R $3.1 B I L L I O N S O L D

1 0 6 1 S A N P E D R O AV E N U E | Sold for $5.1M

9 9 % | L I S T / S A L E S P R I C E R AT I O IN CORAL GABLES The highest among all top Brokers*

4 1 8 1 B AT T E R S E A R O A D | Sold for $4.51M

4 5 D AY S | AV E R A G E D AY S O N M A R K E T IN CORAL GABLES One of the lowest among her peers*

1 0 7 2 0 S W 6 9 AV E N U E | Sold for $3.5M

8 8 6 0 S W 1 1 2 S T R E E T | Sold for $4.25M

PLUS MANY OTHERS

J O S I E WA N G Brown Harris Stevens Miami | Vice President 305.666.9759 | Josie@JosieWang.com | JosieWang.com All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. No representation or guarantee is made as to accuracy of any description. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker. *Per Trendgraphix, last 12 months in Coral Gables as of 7/2/2025. Statistics based on data from the Southeast Florida MLS.

STREETWISE / TALK OF THE TOWN

" MOMMY, THIS IS YOUR TROPHY AS MUCH AS IT IS MINE. YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN MY BIGGEST FAN..."

And the Winner Is…

CORAL GABLES RESIDENT FERNANDO MENDOZA WINS THE HEISMAN TROPHY

The Heisman Memorial Trophy is the most prestigious award in college football, going each year since 1935 to the top player of the regular season. The last time a UM player won it was in 1992, when quarterback Gino Torretta led the Hurricanes to an undefeated regular season. This year’s winner was not a UM player, but he hails from Coral Gables: Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, was the first Hoosier to ever win the award. In an emotional address upon winning the award, he said, “Mommy, this is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan.

You’re my light, you are my ‘why,’ you’re my biggest supporter. Your sacrifice, courage [and] love – those have been my first playbook, and the playbook I’m going to carry by my side through my entire life.” He then thanked his grandmother in Spanish. The Mendoza family home is in the South Gables; he attended Christopher Columbus High School and is the first Cuban American to win the award. – J.P. Faber ■ CORAL GABLES' OWN FERNANDO MENDOZA WINS THE HEISMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY

THE MEANING OF HOME IN 2026 In Coral Gables, home has always been more than a place, it’s a connection to the streets, architecture, and community that shape our daily lives. Growing up here has given me a deep understanding of those rhythms and what truly matters to the families who call this city home.

When I guide a client, I bring that perspective with me. I listen first, offer thoughtful and informed advice, and approach every move with care and intention. If 2026 is a year of new possibilities for you, I’m here to help you navigate your next step with clarity and confidence.

JJ SNOW HANSEN Luxury Real Estate Advisor 305.608.8750 jj@jjsnowhansen.com

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Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

coralgablesmagazine.com

2640 S Bayshore Dr #101 Designed For Wellness. From $1.5M. Residences DesignedResidences For Wellness.

From $1.5M. Miami, FL 33133 EXCLUSIVE SALES BY DOUGLAS ELLIMAN DEVELOPMENT MARKETING

This project is being developed by AB CG Owners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Developer”), which has a limited right to use the trademarked names and logos of Terra and THE WELL. Any and all statements, di or representations shall be deemed made by Developer and not by Terra or THE WELL, and you agree to look solely to Developer (and not to Terra, THE WELL or any of their affiliates) with respect to any and all matters r 305.910.2197 marketing and/or development of the project. The Terra and THE WELL groups of companies are each comprised of several separate companies that are legally distinct. Reference to Terra and THE WELL is merely for convenien THE not be relied upon for any other purposes. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE THEWELLCG.COM TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718,503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE, These materials are not intended to be an offer to sell, or solicitation to bu condominium. Such an offering shall only be made pursuant to the prospectus (offering circular) for the condominium and no statements should be relied upon unless made in the prospectus or in the applicable purchase SA agr GALLERY event shall any solicitation, offer or sale of a unit in the condominium be made in, or to residents of, any state or country in which such activity would be unlawful. All plans, SALES features and amenities depicted herein are based up 2640 S Ba development plans and are subject to change without notice in the manner provided in the offering documents. Plans, features and amenities described herein may be2640 provided an additional No guarantees or representatio S at Bayshore Drcost. #101 BY DOUGLAS ELLIMAN MARKETING madeEXCLUSIVE thatDEVELOPMENT any plans,SALES features, amenities or facilities will be DEVELOPMENT provided or, if provided, will be of the same type, size, location or nature as depicted or described herein. No guarantee representations whatsoever are made M t Miami,orFL 33133 EXCLUSIVE SALES BY DOUGLASare ELLIMAN MARKETING future views of the project and surrounding areas depicted by artist’s conceptual renderings or otherwise described herein will be provided, or if provided, will be as depicted or described herein. Unauthorized reproduction, di dissemination of such materials is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement. No real estate broker is authorized to make any representations or other statements regarding the projects, and no agreements project is any being developed bycompany AB CG a which Delaware limited liability company which a logos limited right useTHE the trademarked names and logos Terra andand/ THE to, or by other made with real estate broker are Owners or shall LLC, be binding on the developer.

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Residences Designed Residences ForDesigned Wellness.For From Wellness. $1.5M. From $1.5M. 305.910.2197 THEWELLCG.COM

Miami, FL 33133

Miami, FL 33133

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BY A DEVELOPER TO BE FURNISHED TO A BUYER

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No guarantees whatsoever or representations whatsoever are made that any plans, features, are made amenities that or anyfacilities plans, features, will be provided amenities or, or if provided, facilities will will be be provided of the same or, iftype, provided, size, location will be oforthe nature sameastype, depicted size, or location described or nature herein. asNo depicted guarantee or described or representations herein. Nowhatsoever guarantee or are representations made that existing whatsoever or are made that existing or future views of the project andfuture surrounding views of areas the project depicted and by surrounding artist’s conceptual areas depicted renderings by artist’s or otherwise conceptual described renderings herein will or otherwise be provided, described or if provided, herein will willbe beprovided, as depicted or iforprovided, described will herein. be asUnauthorized depicted or described reproduction, herein. display Unauthorized or other reproduction, display or other This project is being developed by AB CG Owners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Developer”), which has a limited right to use the trademarked names and logos of Terra and THE WELL. Any and all statements, disclosures and/ dissemination of such materials dissemination is strictly prohibited of such materials and constitutes is strictly copyright prohibited infringement. and constitutes No realcopyright estate broker infringement. is authorized No real to estate make any broker representations is authorizedor toother make statements any representations regardingor the other projects, statements and noregarding agreements thewith, projects, deposits and no agreements with, deposits or representations shall be deemed made by Developer and not by Terra or THE WELL, and you agree to look solely to Developer (and not to Terra, THE WELL or any of their affiliates) with respect to any and all matters relating to the paid to, or other arrangements paid made to, with or other any real arrangements estate broker madeare with or any shallreal be binding estate broker on the are developer. or shallThe be binding projectson graphics, the developer. renderings The and projects text graphics, provided herein renderings are copyrighted and text provided works owned herein by arethe copyrighted Developer.works All rights owned reserved. by the Developer. All rights reserved. marketing and/or development of the project. The Terra and THE WELL groups of companies are each comprised of several separate companies that are legally distinct. Reference to Terra and THE WELL is merely for convenience and should not be relied upon for any other purposes. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718,503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE, These materials are not intended to be an offer to sell, or solicitation to buy a unit in the condominium. Such an offering shall only be made pursuant to the prospectus (offering circular) for the condominium and no statements should be relied upon unless made in the prospectus or in the applicable purchase agreement. In no event shall any solicitation, offer or sale of a unit in the condominium be made in, or to residents of, any state or country in which such activity would be unlawful. All plans, features and amenities depicted herein are based upon preliminary development plans and are subject to change without notice in the manner provided in the offering documents. Plans, features and amenities described herein may be provided at an additional cost. No guarantees or representations whatsoever are made that any plans, features, amenities or facilities will be provided or, if provided, will be of the same type, size, location or nature as depicted or described herein. No guarantee or representations whatsoever are made that existing or future views of the project and surrounding areas depicted by artist’s conceptual renderings or otherwise described herein will be provided, or if provided, will be as depicted or described herein. Unauthorized reproduction, display or other dissemination of such materials is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement. No real estate broker is authorized to make any representations or other statements regarding the projects, and no agreements with, deposits paid to, or other arrangements made with any real estate broker are or shall be binding on the developer. The projects graphics, renderings and text provided herein are copyrighted works owned by the Developer. All rights reserved.

EXCLUSIVE SALES BY DOUGLAS EXCLUSIVE ELLIMAN SALES DEVELOPMENT

BY DOUGLAS ELLIMAN MARKETING DEVELOPMENT MARKETING

SALES GALLERY SALES GALLERY Residences Designed For Wellness. From $1.5M. 2640 S Bayshore Dr #101 2640 S Bayshore Dr #101

305.910.2197 THEWELLCG.COM

SLEEPSLEEP SOUNDER. SOUNDER. MOVEMOVE MORE.MORE. STRESS STRESS LESS. FEEL LESS. BETTER. FEEL BETTER. SLEEP SOUNDER. MOVE MORE. LIVE AT LIVE THE AT WELL. THE WELL. STRESS LESS. FEEL BETTER. LIVE AT THE WELL. SLEEP SOUNDER. MOVE MORE. STRESS LESS. FEEL BETTER. SLEEP MOVE MORE. SLEEP SOUNDER. MOVE MORE. LIVE ATSOUNDER. THE WELL. STRESS FEEL BETTER. STRESS LESS. FEELLESS. BETTER. LIVEWELL. AT THE WELL. LIVE AT THE Residences Designed For Wellness. From $1.5M.

305.910.2197 THEWELLCG.COM

SALES GALLERY

SPONSORED CONTENT

New Year, New You 2026 already! How time flies, despite all!

Another year with new (or old) aspirations, again a time for fresh starts, new beginnings and self-renewal, leaving the past behind and looking ahead to a new and happier You. Let this again be a year when we focus on our blessings and the importance of our health and well-being, which underlies all. Without health, not much else really matters.

So, continue, or finally start, with making healthy lifestyle choices, like good nutrition, healthy relationships and some level of physical activity. It’s a law of nature (described by Sir Isaac Newton in 1687) that a body in motion stays in motion, and a body at rest stays at rest. Your wellness, physical and emotional, benefits greatly from you staying in motion. Also, don’t miss your annual check-ups and preventive care. As we get older, “something’s gotta give” (borrowing from the popular 2003 Keaton/Nicholson movie). Problems diagnosed early are (much) easier to manage and treat effectively.

Beyond this, 2026 might be the year to consider ‘maintenance’ facial surgery to address the inevitable signs of aging (neck laxity, jowls, tired eyes) and restore a refreshed, rejuvenated appearance, be it for personal or work-related reasons. Turtlenecks do get hot in the summer - again borrowing from the delightful Keaton/ Nicholson dialogue.

There’s also age-related body contouring surgery to help rejuvenate the breasts with a lift or a reduction, or removal of aged implants.

For the younger moms, 2026 might be the year to reclaim your pre-baby body with a ‘’mommy makeover”- a tummy tuck to restore tightness and breast enhancement surgery (implants, lifting or reduction).

For the still younger patient, it might be the year to tackle a developmental issue such as a nasal imperfection, an overly small or large breast size or a congenital tubular breast shape. These concerns can be improved to increase your personal happiness and confidence.

So this year, again, there will be many ways and opportunities to improve ourselves and the quality of our lives, if we elect to make good choices and commit to the needed effort.

Should any involve Plastic Surgery, as always, be diligent in your research and understanding before proceeding so that hopes and aspirations may be fulfilled as best as possible.

Have a great year!

STEPHAN BAKER, MD, FACS

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

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

Living A Night on the Town See page 38

PLUS JANUARY BEST BETS NEW OPENINGS

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

ART REVIEW

THE GABLESTAGE THEATER PRODUCTION OF "LEFT ON TENTH"

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LIVING / EVENTS

January Best Bets A 5K RUN, A CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL, AND MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC

17-Feb. 28 at 2 pm, with a sensory-inclusive performance Sunday, Jan. 25. $30. 280 Miracle Mile. actorsplayhouse.org

AMERANT BANK 5K

Whether you’re an experienced runner or someone who just wants to enjoy a jog through the streets of the City Beautiful, United Way Miami invites you to join the Amerant Bank 5K run on Jan. 11 at 7:30 am, which will benefit one of South Florida’s most impactful nonprofits. Registration costs $50. Proceeds directly support United Way Miami’s initiatives. The 5K starts at Coral Gables City Hall.

405 Biltmore Way. coralgables.com GOSPEL

Jason Max Ferdinand conducts this angelic rendition of songs like “Amazing Grace” and “Precious Lord” from the singers of Seraphic Fire – the renowned Grammy-nominated, Miami-based vocal ensemble. The Jan. 16 performance at the Church of the Little Flower starts at 8 pm, with a pre-show conversation featuring acclaimed international bass-baritone soloist Dr. Marques J. Ruff at 7 pm.

Tickets: $45 for general admission, $60 to $75 for reserved seating.

2711 Indian Mound Trail. cotlf.org

SKYLARK | AN EVENING WITH PAULA MCLAIN

Paula McClain’s new novel, “Skylark,” intersects the life journeys of a defiant woman pursuing artistic freedom and a determined doctor amid German occupation, both set in Paris 300 years apart.

McClain, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Paris Wife,” discusses her latest novel Jan. 14, 7 to 8:30 pm, at Books & Books. This event is free. Skylark releases on Jan. 6 ($30 for a signed edition). 265 Aragon Ave. booksandbooks.com "MISS NELSON IS MISSING"

Based on the children’s book by Harry Allard and James Marshall, “Miss Nelson is Missing” follows a group of unruly students searching far and wide to find their teacher, Miss Nelson, while navigating around their dreaded substitute teacher, Viola Swamp. Will they find Miss Nelson? Find out in this production of the Children’s Theatre at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Saturdays Jan.

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LET’S GO TO CHINA! FAMILY CONCERT

Performing the works of accomplished Chinese composers, Frost musicians invite families on this musical tour through China Jan. 17 at 2 pm at the University of Miami’s Gusman Concert Hall. General admission is $15, but groups of four are encouraged to purchase the $30 family bundle, using the code “Family4” at checkout. 1314 Miller Dr. frost-music-live.miami.edu coralgablesmagazine.com

Coral Gables

PENDING SALE

907 Alhambra Circle

Coral Gables

PENDING SALE

5120 Carillo Street

Miami

FOR SALE

3300 SW 27 Terrace

Coral Gables

SOLD

you time and effort. Clients rely on him to

1217 Algardi Avenue

mauricio@miamisignaturehomes.com

Not intended to solicit currently listed property. © Compass Florida, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity. All

SOLD/Buyer Representation

Coconut Grove

my success is their success.”

2 Grove Isle Drive, Unit B-502

LIVING / EVENTS

SPLENDOR IN THE GARDEN

The annual “Splendor in the Garden” returns to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, transformed into the go-to hub for South Florida fashionistas, on Thursday, Jan. 22, 11 am to 2:30 pm. This runway show, presented by Neiman Marcus Coral Gables, celebrates women who exemplify the values of leadership and charity. Four-time Grammy Award winner and UM graduate Gloria Estefan will be honored with the Fairchild Icon Award. Tickets $750 to $1,000.

10901 Old Cutler Rd. fairchildgarden.org

$11.95-$24.95, children two and under free. 10901 Old Cutler Rd. fairchildgarden.org

MIKE GERBER: PIANIST EXTRAORDINAIRE

"SOTTO VOCE"

For its third production of 2026, GableStage presents “Sotto Voce,” written and directed by Cuban-American playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz. This moving tale explores the relationship between a young Cuban-Jewish researcher and an 80-year-old German novelist who survived the tragedy of the MS St. Louis just prior to WWII. The production runs Jan. 23 to Feb. 15, 7:30 pm Thurs.-Sat., 2 pm Weds. and Suns. Tickets $60-$95. 1200 Anastasia Ave. (at the Biltmore Hotel) gablestage.org

Esteemed South Florida pianist Mike Gerber performs on Jan. 24 at 7 pm at the Sanctuary of the Arts. Blind and partially deaf since birth, Gerber’s soulfulness and imagination shine through his extraordinary music. He made his debut with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at age 15 and has since performed alongside the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Jaco Pastorius, and Pat Metheny. 410 Andalusia Ave. sanctuaryofthearts.org

CLASSIC JAZZ

John Daversa and Marcus Strickland direct the Frost Jazz Orchestra for a reverent tribute to one of the most iconic and influential big bands in jazz history – the Count Basie Orchestra. Experience the unmistakable groove, elegance, and power of the Basie sound (Satin Doll, The A-Train) on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 pm. UM Gusman Concert Hall, $10 to $20. frost-music-live.miami.edu/calendar A FESTIVAL OF CHOCOLATE

If you have a nagging sweet tooth, then Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has the right event for you on Jan. 24 & 25 from 10 am to 5 pm: “A Festival of Chocolate.” The event features interactive experiences, educational seminars, cacao garden tours, live cooking demonstrations, an abundance of tasty samples, and more. Tickets

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LIVE FROM HARLEM

Hailed by The Guardian as "New York›s most exclusive jazz concert," the live-streamed "Harlem rent party" known as "Live from Emmet’s Place" is returning to Miami. Led by the multifaceted American jazz pianist (and UM alum) Emmet Cohen, this star-studded event features jazz artists from around the country – and Frost Dean Shelly Berg on piano. Monday Jan. 26, 7:30 pm. UM Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive. Tickets $50-$60. frost-music-live.miami.edu c coralgablesmagazine.com

LIVING / NEW OPENINGS

Dancing Your Way to Fitness WORKING OUT THE TRACY ANDERSON WAY

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BY AMANDA MARTELL

ost of us know about the Tracy Anderson Method, but for those who aren’t familiar, these workouts combine dancebased cardio with mat work and small weights. The cardio sequences change every class, following the same concept in different variations. They are designed to target smaller muscles that are often underused and difficult to engage. We had the chance to try a c lass at their new location, with Tracy leading the MYMODE class, which starts at $75.

When we arrived, the check-in desk was on the right, and racks of Tracy Anderson's clothing line were on the left, stocked with leggings and workout tops. Since this was a preview class, the space was still in its early setup stage. Once class time approached, we walked through the hallway into the main workout room, surrounded by floorto-ceiling mirrors. Mats were arranged throughout the space, each with a card printed with our names and a tote bag souvenir. Tracy greeted everyone and explained what she planned for the session.

The workout began with choreographed dance sequences. It continued with more dancing and then shifted to leg weights, but we mostly focused on the core and the “accessory muscles” we tend not to use. For a first timer, the choreography can be challenging, but Tracy encouraged everyone to stay present and give their best effort. After a few short breaks and pouring water over my face, the

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session wrapped up. What stood out compared to other workouts was that I didn’t feel sore or like I had pushed too far. Instead, my muscles felt relaxed, and I left energized, different from more intense routines I’ve tried. ■ 1430 S DIXIE HWY. STE 108-11 786.459.6329 TRACYANDERSON.COM

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LIVING / ART REVIEW

Illuminating Zelda: The Light and Fire of a Flapper’s Life

BY ELVIS FUENTES

I

n the Lowe Art Museum, at Petah Coyne’s exhibition, "How Much a Heart Can Hold," two works caught my attention: "Untitled #1378 (Zelda Fitzgerald)" and "Untitled #1379 (The Doctor’s Wife)." I knew little about Zelda, and Coyne’s excessive ultrabaroque installations with intriguing titles triggered my curiosity. I did some reading keeping these works in mind, for I found in them contrasting emotional climates, both pointing to a life shaped by brilliance, desire, volatility, and disaster.

Zelda Fitzgerald’s story is complex. Thus, Coyne’s massive body of work on her is, too. The artist transforms an encyclopedic list of materials (wax, silk flowers, velvet, pearls, human hair, chains, wire, tassels, bolts, shards of metal) into meditations on luminosity and ruin, the irreconcilable forces that defined Zelda’s creative and psychological world. Either in the contained box or in the sprawling landscape, viewers are forced to look at the artworks from a distance while, at the same time, falling for the lure of their materiality.

For an artist who experiments so meticulously with materials, every ingredient adds meaning, yet sometimes accumulation trumps detail. "Untitled #1378 (Zelda Fitzgerald)" reads like a chamber of light, an interior cosmos where wax-dipped flowers and pearl-tipped

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pins shimmer with the fragile promise of portraiture revealed in its title. It evokes Zelda’s incandescent writing, painting, dancing – creative pursuits too often dismissed or overshadowed by the mythology built around her husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald (who famously authored “The Great Gatsby.”) However, Coyne mitigates the radiance of whiteness with frailty. Her wax drips like time suspended, like candles melted away, extinguished. Flowers bloom forever and yet are sealed in a material that remembers white fire.

Zelda once wrote, “I suppose all I ever wanted was to burn; to be consumed in something violent and luminous” – ironic words considering her death by fire at the Asheville Mental Hospital in 1948.

Coyne’s work hears this confession, absorbs it, and turns it into painstaking labor – artmaking that emulates lovemaking of the greatest kind, even if platonic. In "Untitled #1378," violence and luminosity coexist. Boxed in a shrine. Caged.

By contrast, "Untitled #1379 (The Doctor’s Wife)" stretches upward and outward; less a shrine than a territory – sprawling, unsettled, and edged with the hard architecture of restraint. Zelda never married any of her doctors, but in some sense was wedded to them through a lifetime of mental health issues, including her coralgablesmagazine.com

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©2026 BHHS 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.

LIVING / ART REVIEW In Coral Gables in 2025, Coyne’s sculptures invite viewers to reconsider Zelda as a figure of sprawling, cumulative creative force, one whose light endured even as the structures around her darkened or burned. She monumentalizes Zelda’s story with devotion, granting her the complexity too often missing from the cultural shorthand that reduced her to muse, flapper, or tragedy. We witness in these, and several other stunning works, the beauty and devastation that shaped one of the twentieth century’s most enigmatic women. ■ Elvis Fuentes is the executive director of the Coral Gables Museum.

The Lowe Art Museum is located on the UM campus, at 1301 Stanford Drive. 305.284.3535.

OPPOSITE: "UNTITLED #1379 (THE DOCTOR’S WIFE)" BY PETAH COYNE ABOVE: "UNTITLED #1378 (ZELDA FITZGERALD)" BY PETAH COYNE ABOVE RIGHT: ZELDA FITZGERALD IN 1929: ARTIST, WRITER, AND SOCIALITE WIFE OF "GATSBY" AUTHOR F. SCOTT FITZGERALD RIGHT: SKETCH BY ZELDA FOR THE BOOK "THE BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED" ABOUT A FLAPPER WIFE AND HER WEALTHY HUSBAND

diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Here, Coyne introduces chains, shackles, thread-wrapped wire, latches, bolts, Masonite, and steel, a vocabulary of containment and control. The velvet, tassels, and silk flowers soften the terrain only momentarily before the viewer confronts the severity of the structure. Maybe this is the world Zelda entered as her mental health deteriorated and institutional systems closed around her, often with Scott’s conflicted participation. Their marriage, so promising in its early years, had become a battleground of creativity and dependency, affection and rivalry. And rivalry among creatives often leads to greatness and/or disaster.

Where "Untitled #1378" breathes inward, seeking the pulse of Zelda’s creative white fire, "Untitled #1379" radiates outward, mapping the external pressures that immobilized her after being hospitalized and then burnt (only her slippers and dental records identified her). The human hair, the cast-wax figure, the dense layering of domestic and industrial materials all suggest a life caught between ornament and obligation, freedom and confinement. It is not a portrait, but a psychic landscape with an emotional rollercoaster across Velveteen hills and ghostly valleys.

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LIVING / A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

Light Fare, a Dark Bar, and Drama

IT’S ALL WALKING DISTANCE AT THE BILTMORE COMPLEX

BY J.P. FABER

ne of the great things about attending a performance at GableStage, besides the enjoyment of live professional theater, is the fact of its geography. GableStage is located at the Biltmore Hotel, so theatergoers can imbibe and dine just a few steps away.

We went to see "Left on Tenth," the second production of the season; by the time you read this, it will have finished its run. But fear not, the production of "Sotto Voce" – the bittersweet encounter of a young Jewish-Cuban researcher with a survivor of the ill-fated MS St. Louis – will enthrall you starting January 23.

Our first pre-theater stop was Fairways, the restaurant which faces the golf course at the back of the Biltmore complex. Formerly The 19th Hole, it relaunched last year as Fairways, a contemporary restaurant and bar with more space, higher ceilings, larger windows, and a wider deck outside. And it’s an easy walk from the Biltmore’s huge western parking lot.

The fare here is light, especially when compared to the formal cuisine at Fontana inside the hotel. There are lots of handhelds (wraps, etc.) and light appetizers; the dinner menu is the same as the lunch menu, and they are open until 8 pm – perfect for our 7:30 pm start time at the theater. We sat outside on the porch under the open sky, with a view of the vast expanse of the Biltmore golf course, as the last of the evening light faded into deep blue and then star-dappled black. Our party ordered a Caesar salad, onion rings, the Fairways burger, steak frites (with yucca fries), yellowfin tuna nachos, and an old-fashioned BLT – all excellent, especially the tuna

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Photos by Rodolfo Benitez

O

TOP: THE FAIRWAYS RESTAURANT & ABOVE: BRANDI’S CELLAR CLUB BAR BOTTOM LEFT: THE GABLESTAGE THEATER PRODUCTION OF LEFT ON 10TH FEATURING ACTORS MARGOT MORELAND (LEFT) AND DALIA ALEMAN

nachos (crunchy wonton wraps of silky salmon with spicy mayo) and the BLT (on toasted sourdough with heritage tomatoes and apple wood-smoked bacon, maybe the best in the Gables).

Next stop was Brandi’s, another Biltmore upgrade. Formerly the Cellar Club bar, the ground-floor space was also enlarged, and the lights dimmed way down low. It now has a long back-lit bar and couches and chairs nestled in the dark corners. Having just eaten, we passed on the gourmet bar menu, though next time I’ll go for the Crab & Shrimp Louie. Instead, we ordered cocktails – vodka martinis and negronis – and settled into a comfortable corner to pretend we were in Manhattan, in this “discrete escape for hotel guests and discerning locals,” as their website professes.

The GableStage theater is connected to the hotel, and you can get there by a circuitous route from Brandi’s, up to the main lobby then down a long hallway. But we sauntered through the ground floor entrance and walked around the front of the hotel, which provides a spectacular view of the Spanish-Mediterranean tower that defines the landmark building.

The theater itself is intimate enough (135 seats) that there’s no bad place to sit. The performance we saw, "Left on Tenth," is the memoir of Delia Ephron, the sister of Nora Ephron. Like her sibling (who wrote "Sleepless in Seattle," "You’ve Got Mail," and "When Harry Met Sally"), Delia is a gifted writer with a clever tongue, and the performance was thoroughly entertaining. While you may not see this performance, you will enjoy the craftsmanship of scenic designer Frank J. Oliva, who creates magic within the constraints of the stage.

Regardless of which performance you see, this 27th season of GableStage (and the fifth under talented Producing Artistic Director Bari Newport) carries on its tradition of award-winning live dramatic theater. With the Biltmore literally next door, it makes for a fine night on the town. ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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MENUS & INQUIRIES

Bites Courtyard Dining See page 48

PLUS QUICK BITES FUN DINING

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

NEW OPENINGS

BOUCHON'S ROMANTIC COURTYARD IN THE HISTORIC LA PALMA HOTEL.

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BITES / QUICK BITES

PANCAKES! Call them what you will – flapjacks, hotcakes, griddlecakes – good old American pancakes are forever associated with a hearty breakfast, what farmers ate for the carbs needed to fuel their workday. Overseas you’ve got all kinds of variations, from thin French crepes to Swedish potato pancakes with applesauce, but here we like them stacked and topped with butter and syrup. Here's a sampling in the Gables.

CRAFT

If you’re craving something extra sweet to kick start a case of diabetes, Craft’s pancakes ($16.95) are a scrumptious option. This Argentine eatery takes a trio of flapjacks and tops them with strawberries, blueberries, caramel, whipped cream, crushed meringue, and a generous pouring of maple syrup. We liked the addition of the meringue, as its crunchiness paired well with the decadence of that caramelly and syrupy goodness. 127 Giralda Ave. craftmiami.us MIAM CAFÉ

We’ve all heard of the Dubai chocolate that has gone viral on social media. When looking over the menu at Miam, we noticed they have their own version: the “Dubai Pancakes” ($23.95). This three-layer thick pancake is topped with chocolate, strawberries, crushed pistachio, and golden kataifi. The presentation is undeniably photogenic, but the pancakes themselves lean dry, making them best enjoyed with a glass of milk on the side. 2300 Ponce de Leon miamcafe.com BACHOUR

It’s only fitting that Coral Gables has a pancake that pays homage to Cuban cuisine. Bachour’s fluffy Guava and Cheese Pancakes ($20) are stacked three high, with every layer filled with gooey guava jam.

We used the cream cheese mousse as a spread to balance the richness of the guava. We loved these, but we’d probably order them as a dessert next time. 2020 Salzedo St. antoniobachour.com BISTRO CAFÉ

The food portions at Bistro Café can easily feed two people, and the same concept applies to their “panqueques.” This popular four-layered Blueberry pancake ($27) is topped with ricotta cheese cream and blueberries. At first glance, it appears to offer an overwhelming sugar rush, but the cream and blueberries balance themselves to avoid an overpowering sweetness. The sizing is perfect for sharing.

4155 Laguna St. instagram.com/bistrocaferest COLLAB

The “Celeste” pancakes at The Collab restaurant in the THesis Hotel are spectacular, two thick cakes with a glazed edge like an English crumpet, warm and rich inside like cake, with savory notes and hints of yeast. Bourbon maple syrup and berry compote compliment the undertones. At $23, worth every penny. Maybe the best pancakes we’ve ever eaten, in the elegant setting of The Collab. 1350 S. Dixie Hwy. thecollabmiami.com ■ FROM THE TOP: CRAFT: TRIO OF FLAPJACKS WITH BERRIES & SYRUP MIAM CAFÉ: DUBAI PANCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE BACHOUR: GUAVA AND CHEESE PANCAKES BISTRO CAFÉ: FOUR-LAYERED BLUEBERRY PANCAKE COLLAB: CELESTE PANCAKES WITH BOURBON MAPLE SYRUP

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BITES / FUN DINING

Wine Tasting at Bulla ATTENDING A WINE MASTER CLASS AT THE SPANISH TAPAS RESTAURANT

BY AMANDA MARTELL

B

ulla Gastrobar, located on the corner of Ponce and Andalusia, is mainly known for its Spanish and Catalan tapas, and the lively bar scene on its ground floor. But for this visit we bypassed the hubbub and joined the periodic “Spanish wine masterclass & Bulla bites” series upstairs in the Sevilla room. The session we attended, at $65 per person, was the last of the year.

The room was set up with tables that formed an open U shape. We chose a table at the top, for a tasting consisting of three tapas designed to complement the evening’s three wines. All were produced by Familia Torres: Secret del Priorat, Gran Coronas, and Salmos.

Each vintage comes from a different region in Spain and carries its own story. Our presenter explained how the taste of each was shaped by the work done in the vineyards and the decisions made during aging. At one point he asked why older vines matter in winemaking. The answer: Older vines do not produce many grapes, but the fruit they give is more concentrated. With these wines, selecting and handpicking the grapes is essential to make sure only the best fruit is used. He also mentioned that some vines over 75 years old produce so little that it can take grapes from three separate vines to produce just one bottle.

The first course featured Secret del Priorat paired with Pan con Tomate topped with Serrano ham and manchego cheese. I have had this dish many times, so did not expect anything surprising, but it was exceptionally well-prepared. The bread was simply toasted with grill lines, the tomato rubbed directly across the surface, and the Serrano ham sliced thin. The wedge of aged manchego gave it the perfect sharp edge. When we tasted the wine, it had dry undertones of fruit that I normally do not prefer, yet with the Pan con Tomate it balanced well. Priorat is known for the steep hillsides and slate soil where it is cultivated, forcing the vines to work harder and produce a more concentrated fruit flavor profile.

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SPANISH WINE MASTERCLASS IN THE SEVILLA ROOM OF BULLA GASTROBAR, WHICH WAS TRANSFORMED FOR THE WINE TASTING WITH TABLES IN A U-SHAPE FOR THE GUESTS.

BULLA GASTROBAR 2500 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 786.810.6215 BULLAGASTROBAR.COM

Next came the Gran Coronas; as it was poured, the speaker introduced it as a wine with a deeper profile and a stronger oak influence. Torres released this wine in 1970 as a response to Bordeaux blends, a decision that drew some attention at the time. The wine still exhibits vanilla and toast flavors from its oak aging, structured tannins, and modest acidity.

The dish it came with arrived in ceramic bowls: Canelones, Catalan-style pasta tubes filled with seasoned beef and pork, topped with béchamel, melted manchego, and a drizzle of truffle oil.

The final pairing featured Salmos – for me, the highlight of the night. It's a fuller-bodied wine, which I normally enjoy, with a darker color and a strong, bold taste. It was paired with Steak Pintxo, grilled beef skewered with bell peppers and onions and served on grilled bread, augmented by a blue cheese sauce with chili oil on the side.

At the end of the meal, the staff handed out certificates of achievement printed with each attendee’s name and marked with Bulla’s logo and seal. The certificate recognized completion of the “Spanish Wine Masterclass: Catalunya.” Between courses, we learned where the grapes were grown, how long they aged, and what defined each region. But what ultimately mattered was how each vintage tasted, and how the food pairings enhanced the flavors. The masterclass series returns this year and we’re already ready to go back. ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

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BITES / NEW OPENINGS

My Cousin Nick A FAST AND EASY NEW GREEK SPOT, QUICK NICK TO YOU

I

f you’ve ever enjoyed eating at Calista Greek Seafood Taverna on Giralda Plaza, My Cousin Nick may become your favorite fast-casual spot. The new restaurant is owned by Calista proprietor Thomas Fotouras, who’s hoping to bring the flavors of Greece to the Gables in a quicker, street-food format around the corner on Ponce.

The menu here ranges from gyros to signature bowls, salads, fries, croquettes, and more. You can make your own meal or choose from the menu, order at the counter, and be off within minutes. We tried the lamb gyro ($12.95) – preferring to stick with the classics – and were pleasantly surprised by the generous portion of meat, accompanied by tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce. Well-seasoned fries also come tucked inside the pita wrapping, adding a little heft to the meal. We loved mixing the creamy tzatziki with the crunchy fries and thinly sliced lamb; a perfect bite encapsulates all ingredients.

Though My Cousin Nick is obviously trying to corner the downtown Gables office-worker’s market with its easy to-go options, we enjoyed eating in-person, especially considering the slightly messy meal we ordered. We pulled a few fries out of our gyro and ate them first to lighten the load, and then tucked into the wrap with the help of a nearby napkin container. Delicious, but probably not best eaten in front of your boss or during a quick lunch break in the car. (Thankfully, the other patrons were similarly occupied.) –Kylie Wang 2207 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 786.778.2381. MYCOUSINNICK.COM

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BITES / DINING SPOTLIGHT

Courtyard Dining

Bouchon (above)

THE ONLY CRITICISM WE’VE EVER HAD OF THOMAS KELLER’S EXQUISITELY AUTHENTIC PARISIAN CAFÉ IS THAT IT’S A BIT NOISY INSIDE. NOW, YOU CAN EAT HIS PERFECTED FRENCH CUISINE IN THE ROMANTIC COURTYARD OF THE HISTORIC LA PALMA HOTEL, SANS BRUIT. 2101 GALIANO ST.

‘TIS THE SEASON TO EAT OUTSIDE IN THESE SPECIAL ENCLAVES PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

There are innumerable options for eating out-of-doors in the Gables – at sidewalk cafes, in breezeways, on open plazas, even on rooftops. But the courtyard is something special. As an ancient architectural feature, courtyards date from around 5,000 B.C. in Egypt and Mesopotamia, becoming the atrium in Roman homes and the cloister in medieval monasteries. In all cases, the idea was to provide a cool, private space for family and intimate associates. Today, you can get a sense of this walled oasis in the dining courtyards of Coral Gables.

Demetrio’s

GREAT COFFEE IS NOT THE ONLY THING ON THE MENU AT THIS HISTORIC BREAKFAST AND LUNCH HANGOUT; THERE ARE LOTS OF GOURMET SANDWICHES AND SALADS. BUT IT’S THE LEAFY COURTYARD WITH ITS IRON FILAGREE THAT MAKES IT SPECIAL. 300 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE.

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Biltmore (above)

THE GREAT OPEN COURTYARD OF FONTANA RESTAURANT IS ONE OF THE MOST STUNNING SPACES IN THE GABLES, WITH ITS VENETIAN FOUNTAIN AND SURROUNDING COLUMNS. THE ITALIAN FARE, NOW WITH A NEW CHEF, MAKES FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, OR SUNDAY BRUNCH. 1200 ANASTASIA AVE.

Taverna Giralda (below)

HOW THIS SWEET LITTLE IBERIC COURTYARD, WITH ITS FANTASTIC DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS (TWO GOURMET COURSES OF SPANISH CUISINE FOR $17) IS NOT OVERWHELMED REMAINS ONE OF THE GREAT MYSTERIES OF CORAL GABLES. GO THERE BEFORE IT IS DISCOVERED. 254 GIRALDA AVE.

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BITES / DINING SPOTLIGHT

Sospiro (above)

THIS IS REALLY A WINE BAR AS MUCH AS IT IS AN ITALIAN CAFÉ; INSIDE THE WALLS ARE LINED WITH BOTTLES, WHILE OUT BACK IS THE SMALLEST OF OUR DINING COURTYARDS – BUT OH SO COZY AND INTIMATE! 2626 PONCE DE LEON BLVD.

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Books & Books (below)

THE MUSIC ON THURSDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS ONLY ADDS TO THE PLEASANTLY CHATTY VIBE IN THIS POPULAR, COPIOUS SPACE SURROUNDED BY THE WALLS OF THE BOOKSTORE, WHERE THE CAFÉ THAT SERVES LIGHT FARE IS ALSO LOCATED. 265 ARAGON AVE.

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The Palace owners aren’t in Corporate Headquarters.

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Helen & Jacob Shaham founded The Palace Senior Living 45 years ago and they’ve never changed their “hands-on” rule of management. Joined by their sons Zach & Haim, they are familiar friendly faces to every Palace resident.

They come to the parties, seldom miss a birthday, and you can talk to them whenever you want because everyone has their personal cell numbers.

Being personally involved makes a huge difference for the staff as well. That’s why companies like Gallup and Fortune rate The Palace one of the world’s best places to work.

At The Palace, we’re all happy to be here every day. We bet you will be too.

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here are streets in Coral Gables that are simply beautiful—and then there is Country Club Prado. For me, it is one of the most magical streets in the Gables, and without question, one of my personal favorites.

Yes, many people are drawn to living on a golf course. The views are green, expansive, and the values reflect that. But let’s be honest: you can’t truly use a golf course unless you are a golfer.

Country Club Prado is different.

Here, the greenery is part of everyday life. With its double sidewalks, one-way streets, and a lush green median, this street feels less like a roadway and more like a park. You don’t just see the landscape—you live in it. Children ride their bikes along the Prado, neighbors walk side by side under the shade of mature trees. Living here truly feels like living inside a park.

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People FEATURING: LARA PAVLOFF JIM CASON

LARA PAVLOFF, DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

NEHA DAGLEY

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PEOPLE

Lara Pavloff

DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL

Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lara Pavloff was a sports enthusiast from an early age. She played soccer and hockey as a kid and won recognition as a high school basketball star. It wasn’t until her college days at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, that she started to play golf seriously. It was then that she realized her chosen career course – to become a lawyer – was not the right path for an athlete. So, she got a job as an assistant golf pro in Northern Michigan and studied to become a Class A PGA Professional, which requires many months of golf course experience.

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

Since Northern Michigan summers are painfully short, she moved to Coral Gables to golf year-round, working first as an assistant golf pro at Trump Doral.

In 2008, she became an assistant golf pro at the Biltmore, then head pro in 2013, and finally director of golf in 2020, responsible for all aspects of the Biltmore’s program.

“NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO DO A 100 ANNIVERSARY [FOR A GOLF COURSE]. IT WAS PRETTY SPECIAL ...”

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LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

WHAT SHE SAYS

Pavlov ran the event on Nov. 23 to honor a century of golf at the Biltmore. She was joined by Vaughn Halyard, president of the Donald Ross Society, who presented the Biltmore with a commemorative plaque, welcoming it into the elite set of centenary courses designed by Donald Ross and acknowledging the care to preserve his legacy. The event included a member’s only tournament (120 players golfed). Mixing things up, on each of the par 3 holes (holes two, eight, 12, and 14), players used balls and clubs from the 1920’s, commonly called Hickory Sticks. The ceremony began with a bagpiper, followed by remarks from Biltmore President Tom Prescott, former Mayor Don Slesnick, Mayor Vince Lago, Commissioner Richard Lara, and Vaughan Halyard.

“I loved sports, and still love all sports, and this [being golf pro and director] was a way to be in the industry all the time. And it’s a way to be outside, to not be stuck in an office all day,” says Pavlov. As for the November event: “Not a lot of people get to do a 100 anniversary [for a golf course]. It was pretty special.” She is also particularly proud of creating a members-only area with lounge, locker room, and more. Next? “I would like to redo the driving range, to make it a permanent structure so people can come in and hit in bad weather," she says. – J.P. Faber ■

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January 23 - February 15 Box Office: (305) 445-1119 • www.gablestage.org GableStage is located at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL

PEOPLE

Jim Cason

FORMER MAYOR OF CORAL GABLES, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO PARAGUAY

Before serving as mayor of Coral Gables from 2011 to 2017 (leaving office with a 78 percent approval rating), Jim Cason was a long-time official with the U.S. Department of State. In his diplomatic career, he served in Paraguay, Cuba, Jamaica, Honduras, Bolivia, Guatemala, Panama, Uruguay, Italy, Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

Venezuela, Portugal, and El Salvador, in roles that ranged from ambassador to chief of mission. He also served as political advisor to NATO and policy coordinator for the State Department’s Western Hemisphere Bureau. Cason moved to Coral Gables after serving as ambassador to Paraguay, and unseated 10-year mayor Don Slesnick by running on a platform that: A) he was an internationalist and in a city with 125 nationalities; B) he didn’t know anyone

LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

WHAT HE SAYS

here, so didn’t owe any favors; and C)

Cason has become a hero in Paraguay for helping preserve the country’s history. While serving there, he became fluent in the local language of Guarani and recorded every newspaper published in Paraguay since 1845 – some 88,000 pages. These are now weeks away from being converted into a searchable database which AI will translate into any language and provide for historic research.

While in Paraguay, he also recorded the words to 17,000 songs composed there from 1945 to 1970 and cut an album with 16 songs in Guarani – including one he wrote (“Campo Jurado”) about a 1933 battle in the Chaco War with Bolivia. He returned in September to meet with the foreign minister and mayor of capital city Asunción to sing three songs in the National Theater with opera star Rebecca Arramendi.

“Just after the [Paraguayan] National Music Festival, I woke up one night having a dream and wrote a song in Guarani called 'Campo Jurado'… I had the best musicians in the country put the music to it, and I was given a medal [by the foreign minister] for making my album,” Cason says. As for his diplomatic career, he says “If you’re a good diplomat, there’s no country that you should dislike, because there’s always something nice to find. Every country has good food, beautiful women, and something beautiful in nature.”

As for his political career, he says, “A year after I got here [in 2008], I said, ‘I’m bored. I’m going to run for mayor.’ And they said, ‘You can’t do that. You weren’t born here.’ And I said, ‘So what? Seventy percent of the people in Florida weren’t born here….'

So, I walked around and knocked on the doors. They all said, ‘Oh, we’re going for the ambassador.’ I said, ‘That’s me.’ – J.P. Faber ■

didn’t own a business here, so didn’t need any favors.

“IF YOU’RE A GOOD DIPLOMAT, THERE’S NO COUNTRY THAT YOU SHOULD DISLIKE, BECAUSE THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING NICE TO FIND...”

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PEOPLE

Neha Dagley

FOUNDER, SPACEMARKED LEGAL ADVISORY; CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, SPACEMARKED TECHNOLOGIES

Raised in a “chawl,” a tenement-style building in Mumbai, India, Neha Dagley (left) spent her childhood in one of the world’s busiest cities. She knew what an astronaut was, but not much else about space. “It’s not like I could look it up or ask anybody. I’m a girl in India in the ’80s, and I’m the only child in a very conservative family,” she says. At school, she disliked the classes devoted to home economics, but was drawn to science and technology, where she excelled. Then, when she was 15, an unexpected opportunity to move to the United States changed the trajectory of her life.

Dagley ended up attending Utah State, and then University of Miami’s law school – in defiance of her parents, who wanted her to marry and begin a family-focused life. Though she started in commercial litigation, even beginning her own practice, Dagley never lost her interest in space. She eventually got an advanced master’s of law in Air and Space Law at Leiden University in the Netherlands, even presenting her research on legal and regulatory frameworks for private human space flight at the United Nations Conference on Space Law and Policy in Vienna, Austria.

Dagley’s firm, Spacemarked Legal Advisory, now advises space sector startups that are in early to mid-stage development, on commercial contracts, corporate governance, brand protection, and numerous other issues.

“IF YOU AIM FOR THE MOON, YOU’LL REACH THE STARS,

DAGLEY, LEFT, AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 2025 SPACE STUDIES PROGRAM IN SOUTH KOREA

LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

WHAT SHE SAYS

In September, Dagley started her latest venture: SpaceMarked Technologies, an Australia-based company that aims to improve human performance in space for short duration travel as well as sustained, longterm missions beyond Earth’s orbit. Next up, Dagley is looking into opportunities to travel to space for herself.

“If you aim for the moon, you’ll reach the stars, right?” says the lawyer, immigrant, and entrepreneur. “Think big and don’t let other people make you think small. People will try to box you in, even people who have your best interests in mind. So, don’t let them, because where we are with technology right now, this is the perfect time for someone to get into the space industry. It is possible.”

–Kylie Wang ■

RIGHT?.”

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" THERE’S REALLY NO SUCH THING AS ANTI-AGING,

BUT YOU CAN SLOW DOWN THE AGING PROCESS..."

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

DR. CHARLES MAHL, REGENERATIVE AND ORTHOPEDIC PRACTITIONER IN THE CORAL GABLES MEDICAL CENTER

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Living Longer (and Healthier) in the Gables A LOOK AT SOME LOCAL CLINICS' OFFERINGS TO EXTEND LONGEVITY

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BY YOUSRA BENKIRANE

here are few among us who would refuse a few extra years of life – so long as they are healthy years. No one wants to suffer with a debilitating disease, which is why the medical profession now focuses so much on preventative medicine. “Living longer comes down to a number of things, but a fundamental part of it is avoiding the diseases of aging,” says Dr. Charles Mahl, a highly credentialed MD who runs a regenerative and orthopedic practice in the Coral Gables Medical Center.

A lot of the noise about extending healthy lifespans (read as “health spans”) comes under the heading of anti-aging, now a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. ($14 billion in products last year alone, $92 billion in services by 2030). While a few practitioners make claims of age-reversal, for the most part the therapies (and counselling) offered are about maintaining health – and youthful vigor – as we age.

The idea that we can all live longer, healthier lives went mainstream after the book “The Blue Zones” was published in 2008. It looked at a half dozen places around the world where most folks in their communities lived to 100 or beyond. “What they found were commonalities, like they had mostly fresh vegetarian diets, they exercised a lot, they had close social bonds, they avoided stress, things like that,” says Mahl. “So, part one of anti-aging is lifestyle – eating well, staying active and engaged, not smoking or drinking.”

Part two of the anti-aging formula is the panoply of extra therapies designed to help extend health span, and Coral Gables has no shortage of wellness centers, longevity

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Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

spas, and regenerative clinics ready to offer services just for that. The GenLife Regenerative Medicine Center of Dr. Mahl (who is the outgoing president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Medcine) offers stem cell injections that dramatically reduce inflammation in joints, overcoming arthritic conditions that impede free movement.

That is critical because of enormous evidence that daily exercise extends health span dramatically. As actor Dick Van Dyke, now 100 years old, says, “Just keep moving!”

Dr. Mahl is also able to use stem cells more effectively today thanks to recent legislation in Florida that permits the use of what is called Wharton’s Jelly, a connective tissue lining the umbilical cord that is rich is highly potent stem cells.

Other therapies are available at Hydrology, a wellness center at the THesis Hotel on U.S.-1 that emphasizes ways to increase oxygen supply in the body, both to the blood and the internal organs, for rejuvenation and repair of muscular damage. They offer hyperbaric chambers, red light rooms, and cryogenic immersion – where the body is briefly exposed to extremely low temperatures, so that blood flows inward to the organs. All are part of a larger toolbox aimed at helping the body function the way it used to. Some people turn to hyperbaric oxygen sessions or red-light therapy to boost circulation and reduce inflammation; others swear by quick stints in cryotherapy chambers for an energy lift.

Hydrology also offers IV drips that deliver vitamins straight into the bloodstream, while peptides – simple amino-acid chains – can be ingested to help with everything from sleep to recovery. And then there’s hormone optimization, one of the earliest longevity

" YOUNGER ADULTS OFTEN COME FOR PREVENTION,

BOOSTING IMMUNITY, ENHANCING PERFORMANCE, IMPROVING SKIN AND PHYSIQUE..."

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

HUGO CAMPO (SHOWN LEFT), MANAGER AT HYDROLOGY ABOVE: THE HYPERBARIC CHAMBER AT HYDROLOGY

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tools, in which testosterone or estrogen is ingested or injected to restore levels that naturally dip with age. Altogether, they form a modern approach to feeling better, longer.

“We consider Hydrology a longevity and performance-wellness clinic rather than a traditional anti-aging center,” says Dr. Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, the plastic surgeon who founded Hydrology. “The term anti-aging can sometimes imply reversing the natural aging process, which is neither realistic nor the true goal. What we aim to do is optimize the way people age, supporting cellular health, hormone balance, metabolic function, and overall resilience.” The aim, says Zuriarrain, is to help patients maintain energy, strength, and quality of life for as long as possible.

Across town, Cenegenics – one of the earliest national longevity practices – has built its reputation on comprehensive biomarker testing and hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Lloyd Camper, who opened the Coral Gables location two years ago, explains that the field has evolved significantly from its early days. “It was previously called anti-aging, and before anything else, it was mainly hormone replacement therapy. Cenegenics really started that in the 1990s, when it was very stigmatized.” coralgablesmagazine.com

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez OTAOLA: SMART WELLNESS TECHNOLOGY

BUILDING FOR LONGEVITY

" IT IS ABOUT THE FEELING-GOOD APPROACH – WHAT WE CALL THE QUALITY OF LIFE, OR HEALTH SPAN VERSUS LIFESPAN..."

DR. LLOYD CAMPER (ABOVE), FOUNDER OF CENEGENICS

Camper describes how the pandemic changed public attitudes.

“COVID hit the whole world in a different way. People who didn’t feel any urgency in taking care of their health suddenly realized health is much more important than they used to think it was.” As a result, he says, “the approach now is a much more proactive version.”

A Gallup poll last year found that nearly half of American adults now actively track at least one biometric, from sleep to heart rate.

For Camper, longevity is ultimately about quality of life. “It is about the feeling-good approach – what we call the quality of life, or health span versus lifespan. From a traditional medical approach, if we can keep you alive for 200 years, are you really alive?” He acknowledges that some in the industry discuss age reversal, but he is measured in his interpretation: “If you define regenerative or reversing aging in terms of quality of life, if we’re able to improve your mobility or cognitive attention, then yes, we’ve technically reversed aging.”

Demographics are also shifting. “We used to average 50 years old, and now we’re averaging more of a 40 range,” says Camper, though he increasingly sees patients in their 20s who want baseline biomarkers. Nationally, millennials are driving demand for longevity services, influenced by social media “biohacking” culture and rising

Knowing that a big part of how long and how well we live depends on our environment – things like air and water pollution, as well as electromagnetic frequencies from radio waves and cell towers – one of the Gables' newest projects is designed with longevity in mind.

Cora, an innovative residential mid-rise adjacent to the Shops at Merrick Park, has been designed to create an environment of wellness.

Among other things, it will incorporate advanced air and water filtration systems to ensure high indoor quality. The building will be constructed with natural, non-toxic materials. Smart wellness technology, including red light therapy panels and health monitoring systems, will be integrated into living spaces. Public spaces will have calming water features and circadian lighting to mimic the sun’s cycles. And all rooms will have “Faraday Cage” metals in the walls to block electromagnetic interference.

Cora is being developed by the Constellation Group in partnership with the Boschetti Group, with 74 residences, and will be one of the first WELL Certified residential buildings in the Gables. “At CORA, our mission is to fuse wellness into all aspects of the project’s DNA – ultimately enhancing health, longevity, and well-being without disrupting daily life,” says Eduardo Otaola, managing principal at Constellation Group. Naturally, because exercise is an inherent part of wellness, the building will also house a swimming pool and padel court, along with steam rooms, sauna, and hot and cold plunge pools. It will also provide a trained “wellness concierge” to assist residents in maximizing these features.

And it doesn’t hurt that the wellness aspects of the buildings are designed by Otaola’s wife Mayra and her Spanish firm Lamarc, which creates longevity spaces – including biophilic design of lushly landscaped paths and stairways, “meant to keep you active, keep you moving, and reduce your stress levels,” says Otaloa. – J.P. Faber

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interest in preventative care.

“It’s the younger guys that I see in my practice,” says Dr. Mahl, “not the 70-year-olds coming in who want to live forever. It’s the guys in their 40s and 50s who are trying to evade their normal lifespan.” Says Hugo Campo, manager at Hydrology: “Younger adults often come for prevention, boosting immunity, enhancing performance, improving skin and physique, and investing early in longevity. This demographic is increasingly proactive and views wellness as a long-term strategy, not a reaction to illness.”

Gentera, located in the 550 Building on Biltmore way, approaches longevity through precision diagnostics and concierge-style preventative care. The practice combines extensive bloodwork, life-

THE LONGEVITY ARSENAL Cellular Therapies ......... Stem cells, exosomes Red Light Therapy ......... Rejuvenates the skin Hyperbaric Chambers ... Raises oxygen levels Hormone Therapy ......... Restores testosterone Peptides ...................... Amino acids for metabolism and immunity IV Drips ........................ Rejuvenates with vitamin infusions

ABOVE: AT RELIVE HEALTH IN CORAL GABLES, A PATIENT UNDERGOES IV DRIP THERAPY (ABOVE) AND LIGHT THERAPY (LEFT).

style analysis, peptide therapy, hormone optimization, and regenerative treatments, including exosomes and full-body MRI screenings through a partnership with Prenuvo.

“We’re trying to identify deficiencies but also meet your health goals,” says founder and CEO Brian Pla. “And they’re not always synonymous.” He emphasizes the importance of mindset: “Are you willing to make significant lifestyle changes? This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Pla entered the industry as a patient himself and credits regenerative medicine with reshaping his own health outlook. His philosophy centers on root-cause analysis. “We’re trying to understand where the source of the fire is,” he says. “Symptoms are just the way a condition manifests.”

Inflammation, he explains, is a major driver. “If you’re able to bring down inflammation at the cellular and systemic level, that helps slow down the biological clock.” Gentera measures biological and chronological aging using epigenetic testing and telomere analysis. “If we can bring your biological aging rate down,” he says, “that is the idea.”

While Gentera targets highly personalized, data-heavy treatment, Relive Health, which opened its Coral Gables location last fall, aims to bring longevity services to a broader population.

President of Relive, Jay Wagnon, who spent decades in fitness franchising, entered the field as a patient. “I myself am a consumer of hormone replacement therapy and saw the benefits for me,” he says.

Relive divides its services into wellness and medical aesthetics, with a focus on curated plans. Every patient starts with a comprehensive blood panel and consultation. Offerings include hormone

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Photo by Rodolfo Benitez therapy, peptide programs, IV drips, ozone therapy, NAD, methylene blue, and microneedling with exosomes. “We want to improve health span – the years spent on a quality, productive life,” he explains.

Relive’s philosophy is straightforward: “Feeling better and looking better go hand in hand.” The demographic range is equally broad, Wagnon says, from individuals solely seeking weight loss to those looking for improved clarity, energy, or aesthetic confidence.

“People come to us for different reasons and then migrate to other therapies,” he says.

Meanwhile, VidaVital takes an intensive internal approach to aging, focusing almost entirely on physiological function rather than cosmetic enhancements. “We do not do cosmetic treatments,” says the clinic’s president, Justin Pulliam. They offer internal medicine for anti-aging through the use of peptides, exosomes, and custom-made supplements that help the body use hormones better.

“There’s no reason you shouldn’t feel like you’re in your 30s until the moment you pass away,” Pulliam says. He describes the symptoms they address: “For women, it’s mood swings, weight gain, hot flashes, a drop in libido, hair loss. For men, it’s fatigue, weakness, low libido, erectile dysfunction. These are all things we can bring back.” Their protocols rely heavily on bioidentical hormones.

VidaVital underscores that longevity requires consistency. “As soon as people stop, the symptoms come back. It’s a lifestyle thing,” Pulliam says.

Meanwhile, new therapies are ready to emerge. Dr. Mahl is planning to launch a research project next year for Therapeutic Plasma Transfer, based on research at Harvard showing that the plasma of young people is loaded with a complex array of amino acids,

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" THERE’S NO REASON YOU SHOULDN’T FEEL LIKE YOU’RE IN YOUR 30s UNTIL THE MOMENT YOU PASS AWAY..."

JUSTIN PULLIAM (ABOVE), PRESIDENT OF VIDAVITAL MEDICAL

exosomes, and hormones that keep them young. Early experiments show that transferring the plasma of young people into the elderly dramatically rejuvenates them.

Regardless of specific therapies, across all these clinics a shared idea emerges: aging may be inevitable, but how we experience it is not. Coral Gables, with its wellness culture and educated clientele, has become fertile ground for a new, preventative model of health.

Whether through oxygen, hormones, peptides, stem cells, biomarker tracking, or regenerative medicine, these practices aim to extend the years in which people feel mentally sharp, physically capable, and fully themselves.

In this rapidly expanding field, longevity is less about chasing eternal youth and more about cultivating vitality. As these clinics see it, health span – the years in which one feels good, functional, and connected – is the real measure worth extending.

“Anti-aging is another name for healthy aging,” says Dr. Mahl.

“There’s really no such thing as anti-aging, but you can slow down the aging process. The goal is really to live as long as you can, having all your faculties, physically and emotionally and mentally.” ■ coralgablesmagazine.com

BEAUX ARTS THE LOCALS AT

In its 75th year, Beaux Arts draws both local and international artists alike

BY KYLIE WANG

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ach January, Coral Gables’ art scene bursts to life

with the Beaux Arts Festival of Art, a much-loved cultural tradition and one of South Florida’s most distinguished art events. Founded in 1952 as the humble “Clothesline Sale,” where local artists displayed works along lines strung up beside the Lowe Art Museum, the festival has blossomed into Miami’s longest-running juried art festival, drawing more than 25,000 visitors to the University of Miami’s campus every year. Admission is free and open to

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the public, inviting art lovers of all ages to wander between more than 200 juried exhibitors showcasing fine art in mediums ranging from painting and photography to ceramics, glass, and sculpture.

This year, we wanted to take a look at some of the local artists participating in the show, to give you a sneak peek at some of what to expect at the 75th annual edition of the Beaux Arts Festival. Attendees can see their works – as well as many others – on January 17 and 18 at the University of Miami.

coralgablesmagazine.com

JULIO ROBERTO " PAINTING

MY ART IS SIMPLY THERE FOR SOMEONE TO LOOK AT, SMILE, AND HAVE A POSITIVE, JOYFUL REACTION..."

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s a social worker with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Julio Roberto understandably needs a cathartic way to de-stress. That’s come to him in the form of painting, a practice he took up in 2018 “as a therapy, so to speak,” he says. Perhaps it’s Roberto’s work with persons living with HIV and AIDS that informs his art, which he says “tends to make people happy. In a world that’s so fractured, it’s what I’ve always wanted my art to do.” He pushes back on the notion that art has to be a reflection of the artist’s personal turmoil. “My art is simply there for someone to look at, smile, and have a positive, joyful reaction,” he says. “There’s a lot of expressionist painters that I do love, that were very tortured and tormented, but that’s not what I want to delve into. I want to be a little more superficial in my art and make it about the emotion a person feels when they see the painting.”

Roberto is drawn to art from myriad cultures, including his parents' native Cuba, though he also enjoys Caribbean art, Eastern European religious motifs, and Brazilian street-style. When he travels, he’s always looking for folk art, “knickknacks and colorful things done by artisans.” He loves Russian nesting dolls, for example, elements of which are present in much of his work.

“Just about every positive role model I’ve had in my life has been female,” Roberto says. “So, when I paint, I tend to put the female there, I tend to make her very important, usually dressed in something royal.”

In many of his pieces, the women also have intricate headdresses or hair, embroidered with painted motifs of leaves, stripes, and various shapes in starkly vivid colors. He also makes the frames for each work himself, using solid pine wood.

“I had a difficult childhood, so [painting] was something that I needed,” Roberto says.

Now in his seventh year exhibiting at Beaux Art, that still holds true. The former Spanish-speaking child who grew up in Little Havana is now older, wiser, and has found a true calling in the rainbow mélange of his work.

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" WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THIS? WELL, I HAVE MY IDEA, BUT I BET YOU’VE GOT ONE AS WELL, AND I BET YOURS IS BETTER..."

MICHAEL FROMMER PAINTING, FOAM SCULPTURE

rt found Michael Frommer in an interesting way: his dyslexia diagnosis. “History and languages were very difficult for me,” Frommer says of his high school self. “I gravitated toward art because it was visual.”

That led to art school, where he studied graphic communication, which led to a job right out of college at a big-name Chicago advertising agency. “I worked on big clients: Kleenex, Raid, United Airlines, Kentucky Fried Chicken, things like that,” says Frommer. “But at night… I started painting.”

Though painting was his first love, Frommer is also interested in a very different form of art: foam sculpture. He’s a regular at Home Depot, which sells the liquids he uses, combining them to create foam insulation that he then makes art out of.

“The paintings I’ve done take a long time.

They’re complex; it usually takes two or three weeks,” says Frommer. “But the foam stuff was just so immediate.” The brightly colored sculptures mimic everything from raining clouds to lush lagoons, even incorporating photo frames and candles. The whimsical pieces, as well as his paintings, are products of Frommer’s love for storytelling. “People ask, ‘What’s the story behind this?’ And my response is usually, ‘Well, I have my idea, but I bet you’ve got one as well, and I bet yours is better,’” says Frommer.

His paintings may include politicians (one particular standout, “Mao,” features the controversial Chinese leader seemingly waving at the viewer as a scantily clad woman and a man with a clown nose zoom across a lake on a levitating broomstick) and political issues (he has a whole series entitled “Climate Change”), but Frommer denies any intentional political messaging. Asked about his artistic philosophy, he replies with a mysterious smile, “My uncle is sick, but the highway is green.”

Though this will only be Frommer’s second year at Beaux Arts, he says he aims to be a regularly returning artist, praising the festival for its “high level of showmanship” and the quality of its artists.

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Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

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Mike Gerber

PIANIST EXTRAORDINAIRE

A Recital of Jazz Standards and Classical Masterworks Presented by Bell Productions of Florida, the program will include classical masterworks by Bach, Chopin, and Debussy, as well as jazz standards and music from the Great American SongBook. Join us on January 24th for an awe-inspiring fusion of precision, imagination, and soul.

January 24, 2026 at 7pm Santuary of the Arts

401 Andalusia Avenue in Coral Gables

" THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE I ALWAYS FACED WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNG-

JACQUELINE ROCH PAINTING

ER WAS WHAT TO DO WITH MY TALENT..."

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“

y very first show was Beaux Arts in January of 1998,” says Jacqueline Roch, reminiscing fondly on close to three decades of exhibitions. At the time, Roch was the art teacher at Coral Gables Elementary (now Coral Gables Prep). It was her students’ mothers that encouraged her to apply for the prestigious festival. Her work earned her a first-place prize, and “that’s how it all began,” she says.

Roch is about as local as it gets in Miami. Growing up in Miami Beach, she would take a school bus once a week to Charles R. Drew Elementary in Liberty City, where 20 students from across the county would assemble for a special art program. “I did that all the way through high school, and then I got my BFA in graphic design and moved to New York City,” says Roch. “I thought I needed to have a real job even though I wanted to be a fine artist.” But it wasn’t long after that when Miami – with its sun and sand and sea that inspires so much of her work – called her back home.

“I draw inspiration from everything South Florida!” Roch says. She refers to her style of work as “tropical realism,” depicting orchids, mangoes, seashells, mangroves, and more, in vivid hues with soft pastels on sanded paper. “Layering the pastels allows me to create very vibrant, vivid pieces,” she says. “I love color and pastels are just that: pigment [that doesn’t] fade; the purest of mediums.”

With 28 years of making art and exhibiting it at shows, Roch has achieved the self-assurance of a veteran artist. “The biggest struggle I always faced when I was much younger was what to do with my talent,” she says. “I would feel guilty for not having more abstract or political work.”

Now, she’s done trying to be something she’s not. “I got selfish, making art that I like and that I want to share. I want it to be beautiful, and I want you to feel that momentary nugget of joy.”

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" ALL MY WORK, TO ME, IS VERY EMOTIONAL. WHEN I SELL A PIECE, IT’S LIKE ONE OF MY KIDS IS LEAVING THE HOUSE..."

ARMANDO COLLS PHOTOGRAPHY

welve years ago, Armando Colls borrowed a camera from a friend so he could take some nice photographs of his car. It was a spur of the moment decision that changed his life. “I was hooked,” he says simply. Soon, he was waking up early to shoot sunrises and finding reasons to get outside in the afternoon to photograph the sunset. “It became a hobby, and then it became a passion,” says Colls.

His landscape and still-life photography soon developed into a career, showcasing his pieces at art shows throughout South Florida. He’s been exhibiting at Beaux Arts for nearly a decade, earning several first and second place prizes in the photography category. Most of his work is inspired by nature, especially the waters of South Florida, where he grew up fishing, diving, and boating. “All my work, to me, is very emotional,” says Colls. “When I sell a piece, it’s like one of my kids is leaving the house.”

Often, Colls will revisit a spot 20, 30, or even 100 times to get the perfect shot. Then, he texts his family and they decide on a name together. Despite the rigorous process, he finds peace in his work – and hopes others do too. “I shoot very minimalistic,” he says.

“I don’t shoot a lot of clutter. [I may be] surrounded by clutter, but I pick that one little space where it’s just tranquility and peace and serenity. I hope people find that in my work.

I’m always humbled when that translates.”

Surprisingly, Colls describes himself as “not an emotional person,” though he acknowledges that has changed more and more since beginning his photography career. Speaking about a particularly emotional moment – the sale of a piece he entitled “Hope”, which went to a couple who had recently lost their son to cancer – he tears up. “That still holds,” he says, “and that was probably more than three or four years ago.”

Talking about lighter topics, he adds, “I don’t think I’m an artist. It’s just very rewarding, that interaction between my work and that person for the first time. It’s very emotional to me.”

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Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

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coralgablesmagazine.com

" IT WAS LIKE, ‘OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUN THING I CAN DO ON THE SIDE AND MAYBE SELL A FEW..."

JAMES HILTON GRAPHIC DESIGN, SCREENPRINTING

orn to musician parents in London, England, James Hilton grew up in “a creative household” where artistry was encouraged and a “proper job” wasn’t considered necessary for success. He studied fashion design in college, which is when he was first introduced to screen-printing – though it took him about 25 years to fully realize just how much he loved the art form.

A long career in the fashion world brought Hilton to the United States in 2017, where he climbed the corporate ladder in Boston. But something was missing. “The job had taken me away from being a handson creative, [and] I wanted to get back in touch with that because I really missed it,” Hilton says. He enrolled in a continuing education course at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, which taught screen-printing, as a way to both pursue his passion and meet other burgeoning artists.

Then, COVID hit. Hilton and his wife ended up in Miami after pandemic-era layoffs forced them to move. With nothing else to do until he could get a new work visa, Hilton began a screen-printing studio called 22nd of Never. His colorful works, somewhat out of place in Boston, were perfect for the Miami art scene, incorporating pop art and Art Deco elements into Florida-inspired pieces. Motifs of flamingoes, alligators, and manatees, alongside classic cars and maps of Coral Gables and Miami Beach (amongst other neighborhoods) quickly pushed Hilton into the art fair scene.

“People liked it so much,” he says. “It was like, ‘Okay, this is going to be a fun thing I can do on the side and maybe sell a few.’ But then we were selling a lot.”

Now a full-time artist, Hilton has won numerous awards around the nation, including a prestigious printmaking award from the Coconut Grove Art Festival. This year will mark his fourth time participating in Beaux Arts Festival, which has recently added its own printmaking awards category – another accolade Hilton hopes to add to his resume.

“It’s a very supportive city, a very supportive community,” says Hilton of Coral Gables and Beaux Arts. “The team may change every year, but they’ve always been really receptive, really into what we’re doing.” ■

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Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

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TRAVEL

ABOVE: SANCTUARY CAP CANA IS A LUXURY MARRIOTT RESORT LEFT: WITH PURE WHITE SAND & VIVID BLUE OCEAN, WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME ON THE BEACH

A City Made for You CAP CANA TAKES TOURISM TO A NEW SCALE

BY KYLIE WANG

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n entire city devoted to tourism? That would be Cap Cana, which has made a name for itself as a “ciudad destino,” or destination city, in the Dominican Republic. Our visit was marked by all the staples of a Caribbean vacation: dreamy white sand beaches, cerulean waves, and swaying palm trees. But even more impressive is the city itself, which features 11 resorts, a marina, two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses, water and adventure parks, and myriad

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dining options. It even hosts an international school for families who want to make Cap Cana their permanent home.

Though there are plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy (the El Dorado Water Park, for one), our stay was more geared toward adult relaxation: a chance to get away from work and drink fruity cocktails by the pool. To that end, we stayed at the Sanctuary Cap Cana, an all-inclusive adults-only Marriott hotel that resembles a colonial Spanish castle with arched windows, domed roofs, and orange stucco walls. Our suite featured an outdoor bathtub on the ocean-front balcony and came with 24-hour room service and a loaded mini fridge.

As all good tropical vacations go, we spent most of our time by the pool or on the beach. Our most strenuous activity was a visit to the nearby Punta Espada Golf Club, where we got in a few swings and watched some of the pros play for the Cap Cana Golf Cup. After all that hard work, of course, we had to treat ourselves to an afternoon at the spa.

Sanctuary’s spa menu runs the gamut from traditional massages to more innovative treatments, including an hour of hydrotherapy with each appointment. Our therapist walked us through four steps, beginning with a few minutes in the steam room (very pleasant), then a cold plunge (not very pleasant), followed by a sauna session and hot tub (very, very pleasant after the icy plunge).

With a few minutes to spare before the body scrub and massage treatment we had picked, we spent the remainder of our time in the outdoor Zen garden on a heated chair, watching butterflies skirt around the bamboo leaves. coralgablesmagazine.com

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TRAVEL

ABOVE: THE PUNTA ESPADA GOLF CLUB, BY THE OCEAN, HELD THE CAP CANA GOLF CUP DURING OUR STAY RIGHT: OUTSIDE THE HOTEL SPA TREATMENT ROOM BELOW: THE ALL INCLUSIVE RESORT OCCUPIES A LONG STRETCH OF ONE OF THE DR'S BEST BEACHES

Having achieved the kind of relaxation you can only get when your phone is locked away and silenced, we were perfectly happy to then be scrubbed down with a gritty green tea mixture and massaged with bamboo sticks – a strange but soothing experience.

Though many of our meals revolved around the surprisingly good buffet-style offerings at Casa Bella, the property’s main restaurant, we did venture out for a few dinners. Our favorite on-property

was Wok, an Asian-Caribbean fusion with an omakase experience available upon request (and for a $165 upcharge). Happily, Sanctuary also has its own “town” that includes offerings outside of the all-inclusive resort, including bars, dining options, and shops. We made a pit stop at the international beer bar and grabbed a burger in town when we weren’t feeling up to dressing for one of the nicer restaurants on property.

The convenience of having everything within walking distance or a short drive is another element that sets Cap Cana apart from other destinations. Everything here is not only catered to tourists, but made specifically with them in mind, with a range of prices that can work for most everyone. (Next time, we’ll try the St. Regis’ wine-paired dinner experience). ■

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DON’S RAMBLES

ABOVE: FAMILY & FRIENDS AT THE HOME OF MARIA & MIKE HENRY ON COUNTRY CLUB PRADO TOP LEFT: THANKSGIVING AT O'NAGHTEN'S ON SOUTH GREENWAY BOTTOM LEFT: THE DOWLEN AND BRUMBAUGH FAMILIES

Meandering Around Town #28: Gathering Together to Give “Thanks” in the Gables AN ADVENTURE IN WHICH A FORMER MAYOR CONTINUES TO SEEK THE “SOUL” OF HIS HOMETOWN

BY DON SLESNICK

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hanksgiving is one of America’s longest observed and favorite family holidays. Debate still rages between Plymouth Colony, Jamestown, and St. Augustine as to when and where the first such celebration was shared between European settlers and native residents. It was not until December of 1941 (shortly after war had been declared against Japan and Germany) that Congress officially established the fourth Thursday of November as “Thanksgiving Day” in the United States.

Today, the tradition of families and friends gathering to give “thanks” and seek “God’s blessings” is alive and well in Coral Gables. Would there be any better place to seek the “soul” of our community than at any one of the various Thanksgiving dinners that were held at homes throughout the city? The photos which accompany this article represent a very small but representative sample of the many celebrations which took place this past November here in our hometown.

As Dr. Lon Dowlen observed: “Near the top of the ‘thanks’ list in this household is that six generations of our family have had the

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privilege of living here in the City Beautiful.” Cristina O’Naghten reflected: “With my family’s historic roots in Cuba, we are thankful to be living in this welcoming country and, especially, in this great city.”

Ceci Slesnick responded: “Besides being grateful for the blessings in our lives, we are also thankful to live in a community that is rich with opportunities for growth through arts, culture and education.”

Where better than to search for the “soul” of our city than amongst the families gathered around their bountiful Thanksgiving dinner tables?

In closing, let me offer a thought from Henry David Thoreau: “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”

P.S.: Let me not forget to humbly “THANK” each of you for reading this holiday remembrance. ■ This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011. If you wish to reach him with suggestions on where he should next meander in search of the city’s soul, email donslesnick@scllp.com. coralgablesmagazine.com

THE SEEN

Mayor's Ball

Every year, Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago hosts his annual Mayor’s Ball, a gala event that raises money for Liga Contra el Cancer and the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s scholarship program. Guests at this year’s event, held at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel, were treated to cocktails, dinner, custom passport holders, and – of course – lots of dancing.

Proceeds are expected to exceed $500,000.

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1. Mauricio Vivero, Krista Schmidt, Jenelly Pérez, Mayor Vince Lago & Diana Figueroa 2. Alex Bravo, Adriana Verdeja, Dariel Fernandez, Alina Garcia, Comisionado Rene Garcia, Carolina Vester y Krista Schmidt 3. Jennely Pérez, José Dans, Heide Dans, Alcalde Vince Lago, Ana Marie Lago, Denise Alfonso, Manny Alfonso, Mariela Fonseca, Orlando Otero & Jennifer Pérez

4. Dr. Juan Carlos Izquierdo, Dra. Camila Giribitey, Tati Guiribitey & Pedro Guiribitey

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5. Peter Warwar, Mike Rodríguez & José Antonio Perez Helguera 6. Dr. Rafael Mas, Maria E. Del Valle Mas, Dr. Cristina Rodriguez & Alfonso Ribero 7. Ricardo Sarria, Amnerys Monteagudo, Maria del Carmen Sarria, Mayor Vince Lago & Francisco Sarria 8. Rene Escobar Dra. Elayne Escobar Elaine & Ricardo Lanfranchi

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THE SEEN

In Vinos Veritas The 2025 Vinos at the Plaza, presented by Evensky & Katz / Foldes and chaired by Mayor Vince Lago and wife Olga Mari Lago, took place on Thursday, November 20. The auction featured over 200 unique wine and spirits auction packages, making it the largest wine auction in the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s history, and was made possible through the generosity of approximately 115 host committee members who donated auction items. The event raised $150,000 for the Foundation.

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1. Mayor Vince Lago & Coral Gables Chamber CEO Jorge L. Arrizurieta 2. David & Cristina Evensky, Michelle Panzera, Board Chair Michael Walsh 3. Brian Goldmeier

4. Mayor Vince Lago, Board Chair

Michael Walsh, CGCF President Mauricio Vivero

5. Javier & Jen Avila, Xavier & Nataly Durana (center), with Isa and Oscar Arellano 6. Valerie Quemada, Board Member

Matthew Meehan, Ray Corral & Alina Meledina

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THE SEEN

Fashion ArtBeats Fashion ArtBeats, in collaboration with Kikimora Studio, Signature Living Roses, and Elio’s Kitchen presented an evening of art, luxury florals, world-class cuisine, and philanthropy at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club. The November event benefitted Elio’s Kitchen, a nonprofit supporting critically ill children, and Holtz Children’s Hospital, part of the University of Miami Health System. “The evening blended the best of art, fashion, and cuisine, all while supporting the important work being done at Holtz Children’s Hospital,” said Cristina Lama Evensky, founder of Fashion ArtBeats and Elio’s Kitchen. The night also featured a charity auction of art pieces, floral arrangements, jewelry, and fashion designs.

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Noah Cellar, Francisco Quirez, Mike Hoflinger, Joseph, Nick Seis, Asher Carrell CGCF President Mauricio Vivero Marithery Vallina, Lucy Almodovar Tellechea, Charity Chacon David & Cristina Lama Evensky, founder of Fashion ArtBeats Olga Saretsky of Kikimora Studio Lee Cordaro, Marcy Aaron

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THE SEEN

The Diamond Awards The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s annual Diamond Awards celebrates the top organizations and leaders shaping the city’s vibrant business community.

Among the honorees at this year’s ceremony was Coral Gables Magazine’s very own Editor-in-Chief JP Faber, who took home the prize for Business Leader of the Year. Architect Willy Bermello was also honored with the Legacy Award, in a night that began with a cocktail hour at the Aloft Hotel and ended with a ceremony at the Sanctuary of the Arts.

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1. Chamber CEO Jorge L. Arrizurieta 2. Willy Bermello and family 3. Amy Donner, Gail Scott, JP Faber, Kylie Wang, Monica Raucci 4. Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, Mayor Vince Lago, Tom Prescott 5. Chair Maria Garcia, Martin Morcillo of Smash Pixel Studio, Rafi Maldonaldo-Lopez, and Jorge L. Arrizurieta 6. Manuel Garcia-Linares (center) and the Day Piney team 7. Maria Garcia and Marvin Rivas, Ernesto Dominguez, Bill Beckam, Gabby Dominguez Otto Foerster of the Avante-NEA Insurance Group, Past Chair Ana Chaoui, and Jorge L. Arrizurieta 8. Jose Boschetti of the Boschetti Group (left center) and Eduardo Otoala (right center) of the Constellation Group, with their teams

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DINING GUIDE

40 Fine Dining Restaurants THE DINING GUIDE

January

2026

Each month we publish a select list of restaurants that we recommend for our readers. We cannot, of course, include the Top 100 each month, so this month we are featuring 40 of the best in the categories of American, Asian, Mediterranean and Seafood. Next month we will look at the best of Latin American, French, Italian, Steak Houses, and Spanish restaurants, as well as Pubs & Cafes – along with some of our other perennial favorites. $ ............ $$ .......... $$$ ........ $$$$ ......

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

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

AMERICAN Bachour

Chef Antonio Bachour was lured to the Gables by developer Armando Codina after winning the award for best pastry chef in the world. But this airy, industrial chic spot has become much more, including the best 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 $$

Beauty and the Butcher

Michelin-starred Chef Jeremy Ford is no longer with Beauty & The Butcher, but Chef de Cuisine Jeremy Kermisch has proven himself an able replacement. The highlight here is still the Australian Wagyu beef, either as a filet or top sirloin, but the smoked lamb Denver ribs glazed by date honey BBQ sauce, with sides of pineapple jicama slaw and polenta bravas, is a real contender. 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661 $$$-$$$$

ture dishes include the Wok Out Bowls. But our favorites are the candied bacon, the oven-roasted chicken wings, and the Southern fried chicken.

301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220 $$

Eating House

Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s maiden Coral Gables restaurant returned with fanfare after closing in the summer of 2021, this time on Giralda Plaza.

Serving brunch, dinner, and a new lunch menu, the food here is an exciting stretch of the palate – like roasted Brussels sprouts with green goddess dressing. Try their prix fixe tasting menus. 128 Giralda Ave. 786.580.3745 $$-$$$

Emmy Squared

This Detroit-style pizza spot is the first of its kind in the Gables, featuring rectangular pan pizzas with thick, crispy crusts. We love the VIP, which is topped with crispy slices of pepperoni, spicy Calabrian chiles, and parsley pesto, and features a sesame seed crust and a homemade vodka sauce base. There’s also an award-winning burger! 230 Miracle Mile.

786.607.3669 $$

FAIRWAYS

THE COLLAB

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 sophi ticated at the same time. 201 Miracle Mile. 305.529.0141 $$$

(including with lamb), it shines in the sides (roasted brussels sprouts with maple mustard, truffle mac & cheese with parmesan crust). Nice random Asian dishes (grilled salmon Zen bowl, Asian coleslaw) and a good happy hour.

301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566 $$-$$$

John Martin’s

The Collab

The venerable pub that closed during COVID has returned, updated as a “21 st century” Irish pub. This means a bright new bar and lots of light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Along with the new look is a significantly upgraded menu, with things like Guinness-glazed meatballs and duck flatbread added to the Shepherd’s pie. 253 Miracle Mile. 305.209.0609 $$-$$$

PINCHO

One of the best fast-casual burger spots in town, with consistently interesting Latin-focused menu items like burger buns made from fried plantains and ketchup with guava. Great kabobs as well and the meat is highly awarded.

30 Giralda Ave. 305.446.5666. $$

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 low-calorie fish and meat dishes are great values, and the flatbread menu is a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them. 321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552 $$

Cascade Pool Café

Though the food is great, and the drinks even more so, it’s the ambience and the views that wow at this golfer’s paradise by the Biltmore Hotel’s golf course. Sunset views of the course and a beautiful outdoor patio pair with an airy interior – plus the best BLT in Miami. All-day breakfast items are a huge plus. 1200 Anastasia Ave. (The Biltmore Hotel). 305.445.8066. $$

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar

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 $$

This viral Miami smashburger chain has landed on Giralda Plaza, replacing Chala Taqueria. The menu stays simple: three burgers, three shakes, and fries. The American Staple double burger is straightforward and filling, while the Wagyu Louie – winner of the Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival – adds smoked gouda, truffle aioli, and jalapeño relish.

Thin-cut fries seal the deal. 67 Giralda Ave. skinnylouie.com $$

Hillstone

Tap 42

Handheld snacks and salads make up most of the menu here (new on the menu: lobster grilled cheese), with some nice entrees like fish & chips and beer braised short ribs. If you’re eating poolside, you’re probably more interested in the drinks though – of which there are many, including some frozen.

1200 Anastasia Ave. (The Biltmore Hotel) 305.445.1926 $$ Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar serves craveable American fare dishes made from scratch daily. Offering brunch, lunch, dinner, and a solid happy hour, signa-

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The Globe

There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one of them.

Skinny Louie

Tap 42 is big, noisy, and fun, with a huge island bar and lots of booths.

Reliably good ribs, steaks, and burgers

When we first heard Chef Niven Patel was leaving his two concepts at the THesis Hotel, Orno and Mamey, we were despondent. But we’re happy to report that Orno’s replacement, The Collab, is a gastronomic success.

We love the creamy salmon tartare, served with toasted sour dough bread, and their fried chicken with sweet & sour sauce is positively addictive – and they’re just starters. What’s still there is the wood burning stove for small, inventive pizzas. 1350 S Dixie Hwy. (THesis Hotel). 305.667.6766. $$$

Yard House

A cavernous space with huge screens for sports fans, oversized paintings, classic rock in the background, and large booths, all ma ing for a comfortable space in which to choose from an immense menu of American classics with Asian dishes interspersed. Literally something for everyone, and great selection of beer on tap and bottled. 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273 $$

ASIAN Benihana

There’s nowhere else in Coral Gables where you can see an onion volcano made at your table, and that kind of showmanship is why we can’t help but love Benihana. Great place for a kid’s birthday – or just to have some fun – with hibachi steak and teriyaki chicken. 242 Miracle Mile. 305.567.2000. $$-$$$

Dōjō

When Chef Pablo Zitzmann first opened Zitz Sum on Alhambra, it was a pop-up. That now- permanent spot is joined by his latest creation Dojo, an izakaya restaurant that encourages patrons to start with some chilled sake.

From there it’s mochiko fried chicken oysters, Okonomiyaki cabbage pancake, and a 14-ounce teak cooked on a

teppanyaki grill. Too bad is open only for dinner. 148 Giralda Ave. 305.849.3456. $$-$$$

Ichimi

This off-Mile eatery has developed a cult following, with diners content to stand in line for the opportunity to eat Ichimi’s huge ramen and rice bowls.

And the wait is worth it. Delicious and rich, with faraway flavors you can’t find just anywhere, in a raw, cool space. Pro tip: try the scallion pancakes. 2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016 $-$$

KAO Sushi & Grill

Not sure of the vibe here – the décor inside feels oddly like you’re in Las Vegas – but the outside seating on the Mile is quite nice. Menu-wise, there are specialty rolls with an interesting Peruvian spin that includes a wide selection of ceviche, along with empanadas and chorizo. 127 Miracle Mile.

786.864.1212 $$

Miss Crispy Rice

Miss Crispy Rice brings its playful, affordable omakase to Coral Gables, offering multi- course menus (7 for $35, up to 16 for $127) and creative twists like crispy rice nigiri. Dishes include otoro with watermelon and latke with caviar. With sake, wine, and a fun vibe (“Kill Bill” bathroom included), it’s a fresh, casual take on Japanese dining. 808 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 239.980.2912. misscrispyrice. com

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, from curry street sausage to chili paste fish to the best crispy duck. 157 Giralda Plaza. 305.444.2397 $$

Kojin 2.0

There must be something in the air at 804 Ponce de Leon, the spot which formerly hosted Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s Eating House and then Chef Michael Bolen’s Lion & The Rambler. Today, the address belongs to Kojin 2.0, taking up the mantel for creative cuisine, like their twice-cooked chicken, scallops with white bean sauce and pork, and a Japanese take on the traditional chicken sandwich. Tasting menus from $85-plus with constantly changing ingredients.

804 Ponce de Leon. 786.747.1404 $$$

Su Shin 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 – a much deeper take on Japanese food than just sushi and rolls. 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584 $$

Mai Sushi Tapas & Bar

A large portion of the menu here is on sticks, a variety of skewers and sushi pintxos inspired by the Spanish bar snacks but reinvented to spotlight sea ingredients like freshwater eel, sea urchin, and octopus. And as the name suggests, there’s sashimi – both traditional and elevated – and beverages made with shochu, the distilled Japanese spirit. 98 Miracle Mile. 206.696.0674 $$-$$$

Malakor Thai Isaan

This eatery on Miracle Mile prides itself on delivering true, tasty Thai food. That means pork skewers with sticky rice, grilled fatty pork neck sliced and tossed with lime juice, or the Gang Aom, a Thai curry with fish sauce, dill, and herb paste. And they can really spice it up. 90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862 $$

Moon Thai & Japanese

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. Great duck dishes. Across the street from UM. 1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890 $$

Namaste

Hidden on a side street off 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 $$

Sakura Japanese

A vast menu for rolls, along with selections of noodles, yakitori, katsu, tempura, teriyaki, etc. But they serve some of the best sushi and sashimi in town, if raw fish is your thing. We also love their seating – a half dozen curved alcoves that line the walls and provide a sense of private space. 440 S Dixie Hwy. 305.665.7020 $$

Sawa

Delicious take on Japanese flavors served in parallel with Lebanese Mediterranean, Sawa offers seating inside or outside at the Shops 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. Belly dancers on weekend nights, plus a doggy menu and late-night happy hour. 360 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.6555 $$$

2024

BEST OF THE GABLES Best House WINNER BESTSteak FINE DINING

The finest northern Italian cuisine, specializing in Venetian seafood.

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

“Best Fine Dining 2024” – Coral Gables Magazine

160 Andalusia Avenue 786-707-8978 Tulliomiami.com Open Daily 12pm to 10pm 93

DINING GUIDE SHINGO

If you’re looking for a luxurious experience, consider the omakase menu at Coral Gables’ first Michlin-starred restaurant. Located in the historic La Palma building, the restaurant is the brainchild of now twice-starred Chef Shingo Akikuni, previously of Hidden in Wynwood. Every element of the restaurant is carefully curated, from the pristine 14-seat table to how each course is served. 112 Alhambra Circle. shingomiami.com. $$$$

Sushi Maki

Flagship of the Ng family food empire, Sushi Maki has some of the best quality sushi anywhere, albeit in an unsophisticated space. No matter. Good prices, fresh fish, and some over the top desserts to balance all that protein – like deep fried Oreos. 2335 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.443.1884. $$

Zitz Sum

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

786.409.6920 $$- $$$

MEDITERRANEAN Calista Greek Seafood Taverna

There aren’t many pure Greek restaurants in Coral Gables, but Calista is aiming to change that, serving authentic Greek dishes with fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers’ markets. Their specialty dish is the Moussaka, an eggplant or potato-based dish reminiscent of a lasagna that is commonly

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served in Egypt, the Balkans, and the Middle East.

Also, excellent Greek meatballs, classic spinach and feta phyllo pie, and yes, seafood dishes. 150 Giralda Ave. 786.310.7660 $$-$$$

Levant

mezzes, shawarma, and hummus, in a comfortably cavernous space. 45 Miracle Mile. 305.396.8547 $$-$$$

SEAFOOD

Levant is named after the Mediterranean region of Western Asia that includes Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and most of Turkey (also Cyprus, depending on who you ask). At the Coral Gables restaurant, all the chefs are Turkish and the owners hail from Iraq. The food is similarly eclectic, featuring dishes from across the Levant, including Lebanese batata harra (spicy potatoes), and their signature baked Iraqi eggplant and peppers in a clay pot. 2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.762.2905 $$-$$$

MesaMar

MIKA

Redfish is born again, this time as NOMA Beach at Redfish, under the command of celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia. The pricey haute cuisine of Chef Adrianne has been replaced with simpler, more moderately priced dishes that feel much closer to the old Redfish, albeit with an Italian seafood spin.

The award winning meatballs and romantic views of the bay that are unbeatable. 9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788 $$$

Over three decades into a career that has amassed six Michelin stars, Chef Michael White’s new MIKA restaurant celebrates “coastal Riviera” cuisine, with a menu that ranges from steak to pasta to crudos, with an entire section devoted to latter. Recommended: The sea scallops with citrus colatura, the beef carpaccio, and the gnocchi, stuffed with ricotta and bathed in a pomodoro sauce. A comfortable, B ho-esque interior of woven chandeliers and imitation olive trees. 3007 Ponce de Leon Blvd. (The Plaza Coral Gables) 305.404.2200 $$$- $$$$

Motek

Surprisingly enough, this Israeli-inspired restaurant has taken home the prize for the best burger at Burger Bash twice in a row now, an unexpected feat explicable only by a bite of the sandwich itself. But as popular as the Arayes Burger is, it’s not why you should visit Motek. You come here for the Eastern Mediterranean food: a smorgasbord of shish kebabs,

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. The whole fried fish is a marvel. Also, make sure to try the lobster tacos and the rock shrimp with mushrooms and ponzu sauce. Pitbull’s favorite restaurant in Miami. 263 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448 $$$

NOMA Beach at Redfish

Sea Grill

Sea Grill is a popular weekend destination for lovers of Mediterranean seafood. A large, brightly lit and futuristic space with lots of energy, it serves fish caught in the Aegean Sea and flown to the Gables.

Their octopus, which takes two days to prepare, is simply superb. Lots of outdoor seating, big screens inside showing visions of Greece, and the best Greek salad in town. 4250 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.3990 $$$

coralgablesmagazine.com

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GABLES IN FOCUS

Gables in Focus

The Coral Gables Magazine is proud to announce the winner of our first “Gables in Focus” photography competition: Michel Boussuge. To enter for next month, submit your favorite snaps of Coral Gables to kwang@coralgablesmagazine.com by January 10. The Coral Gables Magazine staff will judge the photos and choose one winner based on creativity, composition, and

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relevance to Coral Gables. The winner will have their picture printed in the magazine and receive two tickets to the Actors’ Playhouse production of their choice. All submissions will be posted on our Instagram(@thecoralgablesmagazine) at the beginning of the month. Both amateur and professional photographers are welcome! Only one winner allowed per year.

coralgablesmagazine.com

A new era has begun

For nearly 70 years, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables has been a symbol of luxury, innovation, and trust in South Florida.

Today, that legacy enters a new chapter with the opening of our new state-of-the-art dealership, located just across from our original home.

Thoughtfully designed to enhance every aspect of the Mercedes-Benz experience, the new facility offers refined amenities, advanced technology, and a modern environment that reflects both the brand and the sophistication of Coral Gables.

Our commitment to this community remains as strong as ever, only the experience has evolved.

The All-New Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables... Our Star Is Our Promise.

Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables 2801 Salzedo Street, Coral Gables

Colson Hicks Eidson

New Address, Same Commitment to Justice Historic Douglas Entrance

For over 50 years, Colson Hicks Eidson has been at the forefront of landmark cases, setting precedents and fighting for justice. Our move to historic Douglas Entrance deepens our 25-year commitment to Coral Gables. A national and international firm of preeminent litigation attorneys, we remain dedicated to providing the highest quality of legal service to individuals and businesses throughout the world.

E x c e l l e n c e • P r o f e s s i o n a l i s m • P e r s e v e r a n c e • Te a m w o r k

806 S. Douglas Rd., Penthouse, Coral Gables, FL 33134 305 476 7400

info@colson.com

colson.com