Coral Gables Magazine November 2020

Your Property, Our Priority

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Departments

WHAT’S HOT FOR NOVEMBER SHOPPING

With so much time being spent at home, this month our focus is on a place for relaxation and comfort... the bedroom.

THE RISE OF THE DAVID WILLIAM

Imagine a time when Coral Gables was a charming, seasonal, well planned, sleepy little “Southern” town. There were no restaurants to speak of and no bars. The tallest structure that zoning codes permitted was three stories. This was 1960 when an ambitious real estate entrepreneur from Chicago decided to build the first high-rise apartment and hotel building with a restaurant and bar.

THE GREAT DOG PARK DEBATE

The battle over the unofficial dog park at West Matheson Hammock Park and the case for establishing an approved dog park in Coral Gables.

THE DOG OWNERS

A portfolio of Coral Gables dog owners, from all walks of life. Seven portraits, ranging from young retailer Nicolle Mailal in the downtown, to corporate titan Mike Fernandez.

Coral Gables

Enters a New Era

WITH MG DEVELOPER’S LUXURY RESIDENTIAL ENCLAVE, BILTMORE SQUARE

MG Developer has been the most active development team in Coral Gables. Recently, MG Developer broke ground on Biltmore Row, which will be completed in 2022, while Althea Row has been in construction since it broke ground in late 2019 and is slated for completion in 2021.

Both of these townhome developments, designed by the revered De La Guardia Victoria Architecture, will join Biltmore Parc and Beatrice Row to finish-off Biltmore Square, a luxurious enclave that reflects the city’s tradition of The City Beautiful, which embodies MG’s vision for the City — a destination replete with Coral Gables’ lifestyle amenities.

This past summer and through the pandemic, MG Developer was diligently presenting its vision for the city and secured $16 million of equity financing through Colliers International for the development of 15 luxury townhomes – the interconnected 10-residence Biltmore Row and the 5-residence Althea Row. The two properties total 15 elevatored, 4-bedroom/4.5 bath residences of exceptional architectural caliber and the highest quality luxury finishes.

“MG Developer, has established a reputation of creating Coral Gables’ finest luxury residences, and its recently completed Beatrice Row is substantially similar in style, architecture, size and in caliber of finishes,” said Jeffrey Donnelly and Dmitry Levkov, Colliers’ Executive Directors.

With the addition of these townhomes, Coral Gables is gaining another quintessential development built to serve connoisseurs of luxury that have been seeking urban amenities at a short distance, while enjoying the quaint lifestyle of a sophisticated town square.

Additionally, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services’ EWM Realty, recently announced that it will be leading the Coral Gables based development company’s sales and marketing for the final phase of the master-planned community.

MG’s completed projects in Coral Gables include Valencia Townhomes, The Ponce, Villa Blanc, and the first phase of Biltmore Square – Biltmore Parc and the award-winning Beatrice Row residences. Earlier this year, Beatrice Row was presented with the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Addison Mizner Award for Florida and the Caribbean as the best Multi-Family Residential project for its advancement and promotion of the ideals of classicism and traditional design in architecture and urbanism.

Offering a modern, yet classical flair to the city’s international architecture, Biltmore Square’s Georgian-style blocks mark the community’s latest addition of luxury townhomes in Coral Gables. All of MG’s contemporary enclaves offer their own unique charm and distinct design elements, yet they all coalesce with The City Beautiful’s rich history and architectural aesthetics.

For more information about MG’s projects, visit www.MGDeveloperMiami.com.

MG Developer, has established a reputation of creating Coral Gables’ finest luxury residences and its recently completed Beatrice Row is substantially similar in style, architecture, size and in caliber of finishes...

Jeffrey

Donnelly, Alirio Torrealba and Dmitry Levkov

Make Art, Not War

Recently (yes, I am a nerd), I was listening to a lecture on YouTube about Roman history. It focused on a time known as the Crisis of the Third Century, a 50-year period during which there were no less than 26 emperors. There was lots of nasty infighting at the very top.

“One of the key questions to ask,” the lecturer said, “is how this affected the daily lives of Roman citizens. It is a question that is relevant today.”

In the case of the Romans, the bitter struggles atop the empire had little effect on the lives of ordinary citizens. The markets still functioned, water flowed in the aqueducts, the baths remained open, etc. And the empire overcame its crisis and flourished for another century and a half.

At the time of this writing, I have no way of knowing which way the national election went – or what kind of strife has ensued. I do know one thing, however. Coral Gables will continue forward in the kind of domestic harmony that belies the quarreling world outside its boundaries. There is a civility to the politics here, and that is not to be taken for granted. Just look at the rancor in some of our neighboring cities. Here there is a level of mutual respect that transcends party or policy.

You could say this is because local issues are not as life-and-death as things like for-

eign policy and national health care. Maybe so, but local government is also where the tire hits the road, in so many ways – including police, fire, sanitation and emergency services. Local government determines an enormous amount of what we experience daily.

One area where city government reigns supreme is in the public landscape – the streets, parks and buildings where we spend our lives. And, as we touch upon in various stories in the current issue, public art is central to that public experience. As a city we are very Roman that way, providing for public statuary and fountains and architecture.

The city commission does not always agree on all the issues we face. But when it comes to art, there is almost always unanimity. And there is now a serious effort afoot to reinvigorate the city’s content of culture. The Art in Public Places program is in full swing, there are new pop-up artist studios and murals on Miracle Mile, another hanging art project is in the works for Giralda Plaza, and Illuminate Coral Gables is still on target for January.

The world outside may be in flames, but here in the shire the biggest controversy is whether or not the next art installation will be a good one.

J.P.FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CEO & PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P.Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lizzie Wilcox

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

SENIOR WRITER

Mike Clary

WRITERS

Sally Baumgartner

James Broida

Katrina Daniels

Andrew Gayle

Mallory Evans Jacobson

Kylie Wang

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Campina

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

GRAPHIC INTERNS

Avani Choudhary

Alexandra Hopfenberg

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 2051 SE Third St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. Telephone: (786) 206.8254. Copyright 2020 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 City Regional Media, 2051 SE Third St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. General mailbox email and letters to editor@ coralgablesmagazine.com. BPA International Membership applied for March 2019.

Cover: Resident and realtor Lauren Dowlen with her beagle Sparky.

Photo by Jonathan Dann.

From left to right, First Row: Brian Exelbert, Financial Advisor, Adam Carlin, Private Wealth Advisor, Richard Bermont, Financial Advisor, David Olazabal, Financial Advisor, Second Row: Carlos Gutierrez, Wealth Management Associate, Ronald Rosenberg, Former Group Director, Anuka Serrano, Wealth Management Associate, Charles Schifano, Portfolio Manager, Diana Fernandez, Wealth Management Associate, Jason Goldstrich, Financial Advisor, Asu Greer, Portfolio Associate, Eduardo Gutierrez, Wealth Management Associate, Lester Dominguez, Wealth Management Associate, Third Row: Zivko Bajevski, Wealth Management

READERS’ LETTERS

Each month we print letters that we receive from our readers. We encourage any and all commentary, including criticism as well as compliments. If you are interested in writing to us with your opinions, thoughts or suggestions, please send to letters@coralgablesmagazine.com

Hey Jude

Just opened The Gables Magazine and was delighted to see your kind article on the Garden Club’s Project Canopy and Sallye Jude. It is so nice to pay tribute to the finest of our Gables residents while they are still with us. Thank you for helping our community honor her!

Betsy Tilghman

I just have to tell you how much I liked the article in your October issue about our newest community outreach program, Project Canopy, and its dedication to Sallye Jude. It was beautifully written with all the pertinent information and emphasized our ongoing commitment to help improve our extraordinary City. BTW, I heartily agree with your message in the Editor’s Note [on Law & Order, see below]

Judy Mangasarian, President, Coral Gables Garden Club

Law & Order

I just wanted to commend you for your editorial in the last issue of Coral Gables Magazine regarding the City’s Justice Advocate Program and The Miami Herald’s misleading, inflammatory article on the issue. In a day and age when many are reticent to speak their mind on issues that even touch on race – as The Miami Herald spun it – you did an excellent job of objectively evaluating the facts and setting the record straight. The Justice Advocate Program merely seeks to assist our overworked (and underpaid) state attorneys in prosecuting crimes that occur in Coral Gables. To answer the question posed by your headline, there is nothing wrong with that. Keeping our families safe will always be our top priority in Coral Gables – and residents rightfully expect that from us.

Commissioner Michael Mena Wheels Down

The City of Coral Gables should create a new bike path/pedestrian walkway around the entire perimeter of the Granada Golf Course. There is sufficient room to add this 2.3-mile bike path and walkway on the golf course side (on the grass) around North and South Greenway Drive. Why do this? There is an unsafe situation on North and South

Greenway Drive. Bikers ride on the street, as they should, but there is no room for cars to pass them safely. Also, I have seen a number of walkers on the street – even though there are sidewalks. My wife and I regularly walk around the park, mostly on the grassy side of the street, but we feel biking around the golf course is just too dangerous. I urge Mayor Valdés-Fauli and the city commission to find the funding to make this new bike path/walkway a reality.

Doug Mayer

George Merrick was not perfect, but... The article by Lizzie Wilcox “The Power of a Name” [October 2020], regarding “a petition to rename all the facilities named after Coral Gables founder George Merrick or his father, Solomon, at the University of Miami” must be put into context. To say that George Merrick was “racist with antiquated ideas” is a disservice to the man whose actions are contrary to the narrative being espoused. George Merrick was a man of his time, and during his lifetime, he advocated for those he admired to the best of his ability within the norms of society at that time. And, to stress an important point in the Wilcox article, the University of Miami solely exists because of George E. Merrick. When examining history, one must accept the whole story, not pick and choose. Taking one quote and using it to describe a man’s whole life is unfair. George Merrick was not perfect, no one is. However, he did much good for the Black community considering the times in which he lived. Let’s balance the narrative.

Dr. Karelia Martinez Carbonell

A Clever Solution

Your article on vertical gardening caught my eye and I was so impressed with how [author] Grace Carricarte found such a perfect small spot (the adorable dog in the picture didn’t hurt either). In Coral Gables you never know what you can do in your yard to make something very useful in your life. She has inspired many Garden Club members and hopefully more residents as well. It is so nice to see something so clever to bring a dream home into fruition. How nice to see such heart as we can all bring such talent into our homes.

Sidney Daniel

Historic Legacy

I enjoyed Brett Gillis’ column in the Readers’ Letters section of the last edition of Coral Gables Magazine (see below), and I was curious about the locations of the homes that George Fink designed, particularly his mission revival personal residence on Coral Way.

Armando Bonachea

Editor’s Note

George Fink’s house, called Casa Azul (thanks to its blue roof), is located at 1254 Coral Way. As for the letter from Brett Gillis – which praised the restoration of the Fink studio and criticized the city’s decision to allow the last Mission Revival apartment house at 333 Catalonia Ave. to be demolished, was written by Brett Gillis as a Gables citizen. We identified him as a member of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables. His letter did not reflect their official commentary. Our apologies to Mr. Gillis and the Association. ■

At UM: Should Merrick’s name stay?

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Streetwise

FROM CITY HALL THE 2020-2021 BUDGET BUSINESS BRIEFS ROUGH CUTS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

PHOTO BY GRACE CARRICARTE

From City Hall

THIS PAST MONTH, CITY COMMISSIONERS ADVANCED THE AGENDAS ON ZONING AND ART IN PUBLIC PLACES

THE REZONING OF THE CRAFTS DISTRICT

In the original plans for Coral Gables, founding father George Merrick envisioned a craft section that centered on Ponce Circle. That never happened, thanks to the Hurricane of 1926 and the Great Depression. Today Ponce Circle is at the center of a new commercial growth spurt with the massive Plaza Coral Gables development rising on its east side. Meanwhile, the two blocks west of the circle are already commercial, with everything from the Mercedes-Benz car dealership to the City National Bank building.

It is no surprise then that the residential enclave southwest of the circle will soon be re-zoned to commercial – with the full support of residents who want to sell out and move to quieter areas in the city. They have long complained about wide, fast streets, too few trees, and being hemmed in by Le Jeune, midrise apartments, and commercial buildings.

ILLUMINATE UPDATE

Art Basel may be canceled, but the city is moving forward with its part of that art extravaganza: Illuminate Coral Gables. This public-private project, spearheaded by Patrick O’Connell of BHHS/ EMW and Venny Torre of Torre Construction, is expected to arrive on time in mid-January, with buildings across the downtown brightly illuminated by artists from around the country. Among the highlights presented to the commission were projections on the walls of the Coral Gables Museum, the Miracle Theatre, the Ocean Bank building (Valencia and Le Jeune) and City Hall. Also planned: A fleet of 27 brightly festooned “pedicabs” that will take awe-struck visitors in a loop around the downtown.

VILLA VALENCIA’S STATUESQUE VISION

In the ongoing campaign to encourage art in public places, the commission approved Villa Valencia’s commission (pun intended) of a $502,275, seven-foot bronze sculpture by British artist Thomas Houseago. The statue, entitled “Lady,” will sit on a concrete plinth in a pocket park adjacent to Villa Valencia. It will be created in a foundry in Switzerland. “This is true, world-class,” commented Vice Mayor Vince Lago.

THE 57TH AVENUE SAGA CONTINUES

The commission heard an update from the city’s director of sanitation, Al Zamora, on the trash pits along 57th Avenue, which non-residents have long used to dump trash. Since July, the city has convinced 27 residents to move their trash pits from side yards on 57th to their front yards. Unfortunately, “five or six” residents refused, says Zamora, plus another 78 (out of 179) Gables homes along 57th face the avenue and have no alternative.

Some help toward cleaning up the roadway came from the director of the city’s landscape services, Brook Dannemiller, who reported that 227 solitaire palms have been planted on 57th. “Instead of solitaire palms, they should be called invisible palms,” quipped Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli, since they were required by the Florida Department of Transportation (57th Avenue is a state road) to have thin, breakaway trunks and with no foliage below 8.5 feet.

“This [area] was not really designed for single family homes,” Ramon Trias, the city’s director of Planning and Zoning, told commissioners. Merrick’s vision, he says, was for this area – bound by Le Jeune Road, Santander Avenue, Salzedo Street and Catalonia Avenue – to be “what we would call today mixed-use.”

The potential re-zoning would have a height cap of 77 feet, however, something that concerned several commissioners. Commissioner Michael Mena wanted to keep the area closer to 45 feet (about four stories) so as not to loom over adjacent residential areas. Vice Mayor Vince Lago wanted to make sure that a height of 77 feet be granted only if the builders traded open space – i.e. public parks – for such heights.

In the first of two required hearings, the commission voted unanimously to re-zone the area commercial, but with the caveat that developers would not automatically be granted the maximum height.

THE CITY COMMISSION ALSO APPROVED:

• Legislation proposed by Commissioner Pat Keon to require neighborhood input for the naming of parks.

• The go-ahead for Merrick 250, a mixed-use complex on Bird Road just east of Coral Gables High School.

• A $20,000 concrete statue base on Alhambra just west of Le Jeune to display a sculpture by Colombian/Venezuelan artist William Barbosa, on loan for one year. ■

2020-2021: The COVID Budget

Coral Gables has always prided itself on fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget, one reason why the city is routinely given AAA bond ratings from all three ratings agencies. This past year has been a challenge, with the pandemic sharply reducing city revenues and creating an $8.2 million shortfall. Next year that shortfall is projected to be even greater, at $12.6 million.

The city has responded with a hiring freeze on vacant positions (other than police, fire and communications), a freeze on nonessential expenditures, and deferments of select capital projects. The result: A balanced budget with “little to no cuts to resident services,” says Assistant Finance Director Keith Kleiman, who masterminded the methodology of the cuts. “We created a budget for everything we think citizens will need for the next fiscal year, and we did our best to conservatively project revenues.” The key, says Kleiman, was to not touch the city’s “rainy day fund” of $45 million, which it keeps for real emergencies. The result is the 2020-2021 budget, depicted below.

BUDGET

REVENUES BY SOURCE

Business Briefs

DEL MONTE IN THE NEWS

Coral Gables-based Fresh Del Monte Produce has gotten plenty of press recently. For starters, they won first place in the Green and Environmental Stewardship category of the 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Awards for carbon neutrality efforts on their tropical farms. Then the company announced it was adding six energy-efficient containerships to its fleet, close on the heels of a $2 million fine from the California Air Resources Board, stemming from clean air violations in California ports. Finally, Del Monte announced the launch of its newest product: Pink Pineapple (pink inside).

BIG PAYDAY

A lawsuit co-litigated by Coral Gables-based Moskowitz Law Firm won an $88 million class action settlement for 7,800 policy holders with Transamerica Life Insurance. The policy holders claimed Transamerica improperly increased monthly charges withdrawn from universal life policies. The attorneys in the case will receive a reported $19 million in fees and costs.

PAYCARGO SCORES $35 MILLION

BUDGET EXPENDITURE BY FUNCTION

$54.7 million $42.7 million*

General Government $49.5 million $40.3 million

Transportation $43.4 million $19.6 million*

Culture & Recreation $30.1 million $17.9 million*

Economic Dev. $5.6 million $2.9 million

Total $324.5 million $205.6 million

*These drop offs reflect the completion of various municipal construction, such as the new public safety building and the new trolley building, not staff reductions.

Coral Gables-based PayCargo, a payment solutions network for the global supply chain industry, announced a $35 million investment led by global venture capital and equity firm Insight Partners. PayCargo will use the funds to expand its global network and to develop new technologies.

MASTEC GOES MOBILE

Coral Gables-based MasTec has announced a strategic partnership with Miami-based Brightstar Corp. to provide smartphone and tablet repair services to more than 85 percent of the U.S. population.

BRADESCO’S ACQUISITION OF BAC WINS APPROVAL

The U.S. Federal Reserve has approved the acquisition of Coral Gables-based BAC Florida Bank by Brazilian financial powerhouse Banco Bradesco. BAC is the 5th largest community bank in South Florida, with $2.3 billion in assets. Bradesco will reportedly retain BAC Florida’s existing management. ■

Rough Cuts in the Urban Forest

OVERHEAD POWERLINES CONTINUE TO MAR THE CANOPY – AND THREATEN POWER LOSSES

BY MIKE CLARY

For most of his life, Brendan Mooney could look out a window of the family home on De Soto Boulevard and see a ficus tree that grew to become a dominant feature of his residential neighborhood. But that tree is now in ruins, the victim, Mooney says, of pruning abuse.

“They cut it back way too much, without thinking about the survival of the tree,” says Mooney, an insurance agent. “I know they need to cut around power lines, but the way they cut it, the tree was destined to fall.”

And fall it did, during the last week of August. For about two weeks, yellow caution tape surrounded the remains of the tree, which stood at the center of the three-way intersection of Palermo Avenue, Cordova Street and De Soto Boulevard.

In a city proud of its urban forest – there are 39,000 trees in public spaces in Coral Gables, including on swales – maintaining the beauty and integrity of the canopy while ensuring an uninterrupted supply of electrical power is a delicate balance. Both the city and contractors hired by Florida Power & Light routinely trim trees to protect power lines that could be knocked down by falling limbs, especially during hurricane season. In fact, falling trees and windblown branches are the main cause of power outages, says FPL spokesman Frank Cantero.

But residents do complain, particularly when severe pruning cleaves a tree in half, or disfigures it with a V cut in the center that makes a sturdy tree look as if it has two arms up in surrender. “I understand why the city is doing it, to safeguard power lines,” says Laura Keepax, a high school teacher who lives on Sevilla Avenue. “But they need to consult with an arborist. When they cut them in such an odd fashion, it seems the tree is at an imbalance

and more fragile.”

The severely wounded tree in front of Mooney’s house, on city land, had undergone a V cut pruning to allow power lines to pass through the crown. “The nature of utility pruning is to provide for certain clearances, for safety and [to maintain] power,” says Brook Dannemiller, assistant public works director, whose job it is to protect the city’s canopy. Unfortunately, sometimes that means half the tree is lopped off – or V cut. “People don’t necessarily like the aesthetics,” admits Dannemiller.

The solution to the conflict between vegetation and power lines is “undergrounding,” or burying the electrical, cable and telephone lines, which also makes them virtually impervious to outages because of storms. But the cost is high and the pandemic has delayed plans.

The idea to bury the power lines in Coral Gables was first discussed by the city commission in 2014, and more urgently pressed after Hurricane Irma left many residents without power in 2017.

During a virtual city commission meeting in August, city consultant Ramon Castella presented a report on the project, estimating that it would take 10 years to bury all the lines and cost between $320 million and $380 million. Voters would have to approve the project in a referendum.

That vote won’t take place any earlier than 2022, according to City Manager Peter Iglesias, because 2021 will be needed to educate the public. “It’s quite an endeavor and I think that we need to make the residents fully understand,” said Iglesias. In the meantime, residents may have to live with a trade-off that Keepax frames this way: “What is more important, the power or the trees?” ■

“THEY CUT IT BACK WAY TOO MUCH, WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE SURVIVAL OF THE TREE...”

BRENDAN MOONEY INSURANCE AGENT

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Virtual Town Hall

THE LATEST UPDATES FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Every six months or so, Vice Mayor Vince Lago sets up and runs a town hall meeting, where citizens can show up to hear from their city officials – and to air concerns, complaints or compliments about city government. With the pandemic shutting down indoor gatherings such as these, the vice mayor held the most recent town hall online, “to make sure your voice is heard” and to apprise citizens of the state of the city. More than 60 concerned citizens zoomed in to hear the latest from the city leaders. Here is a quick reprise of what they said.

VICE MAYOR VINCE LAGO: Lauded School Board Member Mari Tere Rojas for securing yet another $11 million in funding to rebuild Coral Gables High School, bringing the total to $43,695,000.

CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CEO MARK TROWBRIDGE: Announced the new home of the Chamber and the Coral Gables Welcome Center at 201 Alhambra Circle, next to Ponce de Leon.

CITY MANAGER PETER IGLESIAS: Explained the cuts made to balance the pandemic budget, emphasizing that no services have been reduced and no taxes raised (see story pg. 18).

ASST. CITY MANAGER ED SANTAMARIA: Said five new city parks were completed, 35 cultural grants issued, 450 new trees planted, 8,000 trees pruned, and six of the seven city entrances landscaped.

MARK STOLZENBERG: Presented a COVID-19 snapshot that showed CG testing at a 5.4 percent positivity rate, compared to 20 percent in Miami, but just 2 percent in Pinecrest (vs.18 percent in the Gables in July).

POLICE CHIEF ED HUDAK: Reported all police positions filled, crime down, and that a car theft ring which had hit the Gables was nabbed, noting that 98 percent of cars stolen had keys left inside them.

AMONG THE COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS: Are the parks safe? Are seniors being taken care of during the pandemic? Will the outdoor permits for restaurants be extended past January? Will the bridge to be rebuilt at Cocoplum Circle be done efficiently? Answers: Yes, yes, yes and we hope so! ■

New Digs

THE CHAMBER RELOCATES

Cutting the ribbon for the opening of the new Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce (and Welcome Center) offices on Alhambra Circle are, from left to right: Chamber President and CEO Mark Trowbridge; incoming Chamber Chair Brian Barakat; City Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli; Vice Mayor Vince Lago. ■

This Old House Stays

IN A 7-2 VOTE, A CITY BOARD SAYS NO TO MOVING A FINK COTTAGE

The owner wanted to move the house at 603 Minorca St. so as to divide the double lot it was on and build a new two-story home on the site.

Preservationists opposed moving the 1922 cottage, one of the first homes designed by early Gables architect H. George Fink. The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables spearheaded the opposition, and for the first time used the change.org

platform to gather signatures for a petition to save the house. The final count: close to 800 neighbors and residents signed. According to the petition, “Previous examples of attempts to move such century-old structures on original coral rock foundations have resulted in complete collapse.” The City’s Historic Preservation Board denied the request to move the building in a 7to 2 vote last month. ■

Shopping Perks

A NEW LOYALTY PROGRAM IS LAUNCHED FOR CORAL GABLES MERCHANTS

The idea of creating customer loyalty through a rewards program is nothing new. Airlines and hotels have been doing this for years, and what pizza place doesn’t offer you a card where, after 10 visits, you get a free pie?

Now comes Resorcity, a local rewards program designed by Coral Gables entrepreneur Tony Newell that will soon go national – but only after being tested here. Initially deployed in September with the support of the business community, the pass is now accepted by 60 local merchants. Each business that joins the network grants users 10 points when they buy

anything. Those points can later be redeemed – for example, for a free hamburger at Clutch Burger for 50 points. Other retailers will grant a discount just for showing the app: The Globe, for example, will grant 15 percent off your bill on Saturday Jazz nights.

“It is an incentive and reward platform for aspects of good citizenship,” says Newell. “It fosters civic engagement, community service and local loyalty.” The one caveat is that it doesn’t work online. “The points are really about getting foot traffic in the door,” says Newell. You can download the Resorcity app for free and set up an account at resorcity.com. ■

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CORAL GABLES ENTREPRENEUR TONY NEWELL SAYS: “IT IS AN INCENTIVE AND REWARD PLATFORM FOR ASPECTS OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP.”

AT THE PLAZA CORAL GABLES PROJECT: CARLOS BECKMANN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR AGAVE PONCE AND JOSÉ ANTONIO PÉREZ, AGAVE HOLDINGS U.S. MANAGING DIRECTOR

PHOTO BY EMILY FAKHOURY

Street Art

AN EXPERIMENT IN LIVE ART IS UNVEILED ON THE MILE

BY J.P FABER PHOTOS BY EMILY FAKHOURY

On the southwest corner of the intersection of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Miracle Mile, in a space once occupied by a Starbucks, two artists are diligently at work. Here, Maria Lino is working on portraits that depict the anguish of global migration, while Aida Tejada is layering her canvases with dense images of the modern world.

Across the street, Carlos Luna, a highly regarded contemporary Cuban-American painter and sculptor, has created a gallery in a sparkling white space with high ceilings and a second story loft in the back, where he spends time each day at work.

Before Lincoln Road became the popular destination it is today – or at least was, before the pandemic – it was home to dozens of working artists who created a draw for pedestrians. The South Florida Art Center alone housed a score of studios where painters and sculptors worked, and from which they sold their wares.

Something like that is happening now on Miracle Mile, where six empty storefronts owned by Terranova, and one owned by the city, have been converted into working studios for artists.

“We want to position Coral Gables as a city where citizens enjoy and love art,” says Aura Reinhardt, executive director of the downtown BID (Business Improvement District). “This is not just about filling up space, but offering something that speaks to our residents, to our demographics – people who enjoy art, who travel to see art. We wanted to come up with something in the city.”

That “something” is a threemonth experiment in which working artists are given a studio where they can work and display

their art, a hybrid studio/gallery. “The idea for ‘Artists on the Mile’ was Mindy McIlroy’s,” says Terranova chairman Stephen Bittel (McIlroy is Terranova’s president, who serves on the BID board). “It was to create an opportunity for artists, who were suffering enormously with no one going to galleries, no one buying art. We put them in at no rent, with the BID paying for electricity and insurance.”

For both the BID and Terranova, the largest landlord on Miracle Mile, it is also a way to lure more people downtown. “It’s about walking down the Mile and feeling good about being outside,” says Reinhardt. “We wanted to activate spaces, to see people at work in their studios, to see what it’s like.”

McIlroy and Terranova had already tried the experiment of combined gallery/studio with Conde Contemporary on Miracle Mile, where Stacy Conde curated the gallery up front while husband Andre painted in his studio in the back. While it was a success, the Condes ultimately decided to relocate to Stacy’s family home in Natchez, Mississippi, during the pandemic.

In addition to Conde Contemporary, Miracle Mile has lost more than a half dozen other businesses to the virus. Bittel says the street will not fully recover until the office workers who patronized downtown restaurants and retailers return. “When that happens, the Mile turns back on. But until then challenging times take more Continued on pg. 30

TOP: ARTIST AIDA TEJADA LAYERS IMAGES OF THE MODERN WORLD.

BOTTOM: CARLOS LUNA, A CUBAN-AMERICAN PAINTER AND SCULPTOR, IN HIS LOFTSTYLE GALLERY AND WORKSPACE ON MIRACLE MILE.

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creativity,” he says. Offering pedestrians another motivation to walk the Mile is a part of that creativity.

While the experiment was planned only for three months, it is likely to be extended. “If in three months we are exactly where we are [with the pandemic], we certainly will be able to continue,” says Bittel. “The city has art in public places. This is Terranova’s effort to have art in our spaces.” And, should the gallery/studios succeed, they may even become permanent (aka paying) tenants.

Meanwhile the artists, who were chosen by local art historian and expert Carol Damien, are thrilled to be working in the downtown. Among them are six high school graduates who won art school scholarships, but could not attend due to the pandemic.

They are all in a studio adjacent to Lino and Tejada.

“They were supposed to go to art schools, some of the best in the country, but their schools were closed,” says Damien. As for the other, more accomplished artists, the chance to work – and exhibit that work – in the downtown is a boon. “I have my own studio, but it’s in my house,” says Cuban artist Luna. “In Coral Gables, this particular street is an opportunity.” ■

Magic in the Air

AUGMENTED REALITY BRINGS A GABLES PARK TO LIFE

After months of the city’s parks being closed due to coronavirus, they are all finally open again. And one public space in particular, the War Memorial Youth Center Athletic Field, comes with an added bonus: Magical Park.

Magical Park is an augmented reality experience, transforming the Youth Center field into a digital playground. The City of Coral Gables has partnered with New Zealand-based AR Games to be the first U.S. city to launch the program. “As we started opening our parks a little bit, we wanted to see how we could create an environment where children could go play … and still be safe and have fun,” says Community Recreation Director Fred Couceyro.

To play, kids download the Magical Park app – free of charge on any smartphone or tablet. The app offers a number of games like collecting dinosaur eggs, saving aliens or cleaning coral reefs. “This was the time to launch something like this,” says Couceyro. “It’s something

you can play independently, but you can still be out in nature. You can get out instead of being holed up at home.”

Before Magical Park became available to the public on Oct. 1, students from Crystal Academy, a special education school in Coral Gables, were invited to try out the mobile game. Mary Palacio-Pike, the founder of Crystal Academy, said that even the less athletic children enjoyed the games. “You never know how they’re going to surprise you,” she says. “They were engaged, they liked it – and they were running.”

The students already want to return to Magical Park. “We had a lot of smiling faces that day, it was great,” added Couceyro. Designed for children ages 6 to 11, Magical Park will currently be available at the Youth Center Athletic Field through the end of the year. If the community’s response to the program is strong and the game stays in high demand, it will be expanded to other locations in the city. ■

ARTIST AIDA TEJADA WITH FELLOW ARTIST MARIA LINO WHOSE PORTRAITS DEPICT THE ANGUISH OF GLOBAL MIGRATION

Art in Public Places: The Plaza Coral Gables Project

THREE WORKS WILL MARK THE MASSIVE AGAVE PONCE MIXED-USE PROJECT

CORAL FOUNTAINS COST: $850,000

ARTIST: JEAN-MICHEL OTHONIEL

Coral Gables prides itself on public art, so much so that it requires that developers who build here set aside one percent of their costs to create public art. These funds can be used to enhance the project itself or to create artwork elsewhere in the city.

With hard costs of $380 million, the builders of the Plaza Coral Gables project next to Ponce Circle have provided not only the requisite $3.8 million, but also added $2.7 million – with plans to spend another $2 million to enhance the adjacent circle park.

“The idea is to have all this space [the open, central courtyard] basically serve as a public park,” says Carlos Beckmann, director of operations for Agave Ponce. In addition to the art, Agave intends to hold daily events on a large lawn with a stage and screen. “We really want to activate the space, not just put in palm trees and call it a day,” he says.

Adds José Antonio Pérez, Agave Holdings U.S. managing director: “We are doing this thinking of the local community. Of course, if you get tourists, beautiful. But it’s to promote this as a cultural destination for the Coral Gables population and the surrounding areas of South Miami and Pinecrest.” ■

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Othoniel is a world renowned French performance artist, photographer and sculptor of fountains. His fountains adorn numerous world sites, including the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, the Louvre in Paris, the royal palace at Versailles and the National Museum of Qatar.

ABOUT THE PIECE: A fountain comprised of interlacing stainless steel mirrored beads that rise from a crystal-clear pond and move with the flow of water.

MONUMENTAL RITUAL BENCH COST: $730,000

ARTIST: MICHELE OKA DONER

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Doner is a New York based multimedia artist (born in Miami Beach) who has created over 40 public and private permanent art installations, including the 1.25 mile long “A Walk on the Beach” bronze and terrazzo concourse at MIA.

ABOUT THE PIECE: The artist will create a circular “radiant bronze counter” 13 and a half feet in diameter to encircle a hug specimen shade tree. A circular “monumental bench” will surround the bronze counter to allow pedestrians to sit and enjoy the shade.

MEAN AVERAGE

COST: $1,300,000

ARTIST: TONY CRAGG

1 2 3

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Tony Cragg is a British sculptor known for using unconventional materials, including plastic, fiberglass, bronze and Kevlar. His works are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT THE PIECE: Mean Average is a 19-foot abstract bronze sculpture, which Cragg completed in 2013, originally located on Park Avenue in New York before being moved to Germany, where it was purchased by Agave.

CARLOS BECKMANN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR AGAVE PONCE AND JOSÉ ANTONIO PÉREZ, AGAVE HOLDINGS U.S. MANAGING DIRECTOR

It’s a Hoot!

OWLS IN CORAL GABLES? THEY ARE BIRDS OF A FEATHER

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

Drucilla Raymond is a longtime Coral Gables resident who lives on Aledo Avenue. As she describes it, the moment was sheer luck. “The timing was just right, and everything fell into place,” she says, recalling the time when she snapped the photo she’s cherished for almost a decade – the fleeting image of a small, alien-looking creature with piercing yellow eyes, reddish feathers and white fluff on its under belly. “I didn’t even know what kind of an owl it was, but it was the cutest little thing. So, I got a picture… I love owls [and] I think there are other types here.”

It turns out Raymond is right. While her photo captured an eastern screech owl, there are another four species of owls that live in South Florida: The burrowing owl, the barred owl, the great horned owl and the barn owl. The news from neighborhood social media is that, for whatever reason, there are more owls these days.

Cassandra Perez will testify to that. She recently discovered a baby owl on her back lawn. “We found him with his head planted on the ground and [that he] couldn’t fly.” Either he had fallen from the family nest or been pushed out; either way Perez took the baby owl to Pelican Harbor Seabird Station on the 79th Street Causeway, a nonprofit rescue organization that specializes in rehabbing injured birds. Fortunately, the owl was able to be released after three weeks of rehab.

So far this year, Pelican Harbor has received more than 70 individual patients directly from Coral Gables residents, representing 19 different species, a jump of 20 percent from 2019. These include the black-throated

blue warbler, Audubon’s shearwater, blue jay, boat-tailed grackle, chimney swift, common nighthawk, common yellowthroat, fish crow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, ovenbird, red-shouldered hawk, turkey vulture and white ibis. And the most common species coming from Coral Gables? The eastern screech owl that Raymond photographed.

“I hear them all the time,” says Pam Peirce, a neighbor on Camilo Avenue, who shares a fence line with Raymond. “You can hear them like a small cat purr. They will purr back to you if you are good enough. On Camilo we have these exotic olive trees with lots of holes and they [also] do it with mahogany trees. They dig holes to rest and for their nests.” Her concern is that residents can inadvertently hurt these curious creatures; she recalls how in 2009 a campaign to control palm rats led to excessive poisoning that killed many animals in the area including not only owls, but also domestic cats.

“Sadly, measures taken to eliminate deemed ‘pest species’ causes destruction,” says local wildlife expert and lawyer Amida Frey, who has a Master’s of Science in Environmental Studies and Ecological Restoration.

“The key to supporting our natural surroundings, in a time when urban sprawl and development continues to outpace mother nature’s ability, is often education.” Frey suggests going to the “Natives for my Neighborhood” section of regionalconservation. org for landscaping choices that help native owls survive. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden also has a “Connect to Protect” program on how to support these efforts in your garden. ■

SAYS DRUCILLA RAYMOND OF THE PHOTO SHE TOOK (ABOVE), “I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT KIND OF AN OWL IT WAS, BUT IT WAS THE CUTEST LITTLE THING.”

RIGHT: THE OWL THAT FELL FROM THE TREE IN CASSANDRA PEREZ’S BACKYARD.

“THE KEY TO SUPPORTING OUR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS, IN A TIME WHEN URBAN SPRAWL AND DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO OUTPACE MOTHER NATURE’S ABILITY, IS OFTEN EDUCATION.”

AMIDA FREY, LOCAL WILDLIFE EXPERT AND LAWYER

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FOR NOVEMBER

EAT. DRINK. GARDEN (TOP)

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s monthly dinner program is on Saturday, Nov. 28. Enjoy an exceptional, multi-course meal cooked by one of Miami’s top chefs. There are two seatings, at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale as soon as the chef is announced each month, so visit fairchildgarden.org for updates.

MERRICK FESTIVAL CAROLING COMPETITION

Unlike many events this year, the Merrick Festival Caroling Competition will not be canceled. Instead, it will just be virtual. All of the 21 schools will create a 10-minute video and judges will view and critique the performance, as well as give their final score. The 34th Annual Caroling Competition will be broadcast on the City of Coral Gables’ Facebook page, YouTube channel and on Coral Gables Television on Dec. 2 and 3.

KAYAK TOURS

Coral Gables Museum’s kayak tours are back! Explore the Coral Gables Waterway while learning about the history of the city. The trip starts at the launch ramp under the Metrorail along US1/Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Riviera Drive. Participants are encouraged to bring drinking water and protection from the sun. Tours take place the last Sunday of the month (this month on Nov. 29). Tickets: $40. Go to events at coralgablesmuseum.org.

FULL MOON GLOW-UP (BOTTOM)

Join actress and fitness model Lis Vega as she hosts this month’s Full Moon Glow-UP event at Coral Gables Museum. Guests can shop from participating vendors starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by a TruFusion Coral Gables yoga class from 8 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18. Tickets: $20

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A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME AT THE CORNER OF LUXURY AND AFFORDABLE WHAT’S HOT

A Rose by Any Other Name

IN A REFRESHING REVERSAL, ARIA ROSE GOES FROM ONLINE TO BRICK & MORTAR

BY KIM RODRIQUEZ

In the current climate of COVID-19, opening a retail store seems to be a risky, if not unthinkable venture. But not for Lauren Patao, the owner of Aria Rose women’s boutique. She is a young, ambitious, smart businesswoman who had great success launching her brand online in August 2018. Now, just two years later, she has gone brick and mortar.

This is not her first pivot. When coronavirus hit in midMarch, she immediately focused her online efforts to highlight loungewear and comfortable, cozy sets. Her marketing message was all about looking and feeling good while at home. Existing clients and a whole new fan base paid attention, so much so that she decided to open her first storefront at a premier location in the heart of the Gables.

Born and bred here, Lauren has always had a love of fashion and a great entrepreneurial spirit – even in elementary school, where she and some friends started a magazine. During her college years at the University of Miami, she launched her first fashion and lifestyle blog called “The Fashionista’s Diary.”

“I truly believe that the blog helped me open Aria Rose… Thanks to my loyal blog followers, aka the TFD Tribe, we were able to open a store with a great foundation of followers-turned-customers,” she says. “It’s the City Beautiful and I am grateful to have my store here.”

As a self-professed shopaholic, Patao created Aria Rose partly due to her own frustration with the local shopping experience. Here she has created an environment where customers

want to linger and shop and talk, with an Instagram-worthy wall, ceiling swing and pink couch for all the best selfies. She fuses shopping with personal styling and is working on several collaborative events to bring her Aria Rose Girl community together.

The store offers feminine, flirty, comfy, wearable pieces and sets, most for under $100, with accessories that include Kendra Scott and Gorjana jewelry, shoes, and a large selection of gifting items. She is the only local boutique to carry the Stony Clover Lane brand, a highly sought after monogram gifting collection. One of the most unique things she’s doing right now is offering pre-made and wrapped dry flower arrangements from local Coral Gables florist House of Lilac. These are the perfect hostess or thank you gift, and since they are dried, they will last as long as you want to display them.

For the fall and holidays, customers will see a great selection of Miami-appropriate sweaters, ribbed dresses, detailed blouses and flowy pieces. Aria Rose will continue to concentrate on comfortable, quality clothes that clients want to wear while at home – or when starting to venture out more. She will also bring in a few sparkly pieces for entertaining at home during the holidays. “We want all of our customers to feel empowered and like the best version of themselves when they wear Aria Rose.”

You can find new arrivals weekly on ariarose.com and on social media at @shopariarose. ■

Kim Rodriguez is a personal stylist and shopper whose clients include many Coral Gables residents. Krpersonalstyle.com

LAUREN PATAO, THE OWNER OF ARIA ROSE, LAUNCHED HER BRAND ONLINE IN AUGUST 2018 AND, IN SPITE OF THE PANDEMIC, HAS OPENED HER FIRST BRICK & MORTAR RETAIL STORE.

At the Corner of Luxury and Affordable

GABLES FANCY CORNER ISN’T YOUR TRADITIONAL JEWELRY STORE

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

From the name Gables Fancy Corner, you wouldn’t automatically think jewelry store. Owner Ricardo Aldama’s wife, who came up with the name, intentionally left the word “jewelry” out. “My idea behind it is to have a jewelry store that is not the concept of a jewelry store,” said Aldama. Instead, his vision is a “natural ambiance” for people to appreciate the beauty of precious and semi-precious metals and stones.

Aldama owns the store with childhood friend Lourdes Perez-Florida, who shares his passion for jewelry. After putting everything on hold when the pandemic struck, they opened on the corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Mendoza Avenue about four months ago. Both Aldama and Lourdes-Perez are Cuban (though Aldama’s father is Italian). They honor their heritage with Gables Fancy Corner through the brands they carry. “I think it was about time to pay tribute to where we come from,” Aldama says.

One of the many lines found at the shop is Cuervo y Sobrinos, a Cuban watch brand. Founded in Havana in 1882, all Cuervo y Sobrinos watches are made in Switzerland, giving them the motto: Swiss manufacturing, Latin heritage. “Today, they have over 1,000 stores all around the globe and we’re the sole distributors of it in the southeastern United States,” Aldama says. The watch’s trademark

is that it comes in a humidor. “You take [the watch] out of the box and you can use it to put your cigars.”

Following Aldama’s paternal lineage, Gables Fancy Corner also sells Italian designers like Locman and Rebecca. Rebecca is the only “100 percent made in Italy” jewelry company; a certificate from the Italian government states that their pieces are manufactured in Italy from materials of Italian origin. The store also carries lines from France, the Middle East and Japan. “We know that everything we carry, it’s great,” says Perez-Florida.

Prices range from affordable to high end, although most items are around the $200 to $400 price point. Aldama describes their pieces as “very trendy, very accessible.” If, however, you are looking for that luxury price level, Cuervo y Sobrinos and Swiss brand Charriol watches run anywhere from $1,750 to $112,000.

All around Gables Fancy Corner, you’ll find orchids and plants from Flower Fanatic, with whom they have partnered. Every Wednesday, they have a plant happy hour at the Gables store where customers can purchase discounted plants, as well as browse the jewelry collections.

While the shop is a tribute to the owners’ heritage, it’s also an homage to Aldama’s mother who recently passed. “We want to leave her legacy in Cuban elegance,” he says, “at an affordable price.” ■

GABLES FANCY CORNER OWNER RICARDO ALDAMA, SHOWN ABOVE WITH CO-OWNER LOURDES PEREZ-FLORIDA.

CUERVO Y SOBRINOS IS A CUBAN WATCH BRAND FOUNDED IN HAVANA IN 1882. THEY COME IN A HUMIDOR WHICH CAN BE USED FOR HOLDING YOUR CIGARS.

GABLES FANCY CORNER 1607 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 305.801.0028

“MY IDEA BEHIND IT IS TO HAVE A JEWELRY STORE THAT IS NOT THE CONCEPT OF A JEWELRY STORE.”

639 ALMERIA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES

Almeria Row’s Phase II, No. 639, has now become available for purchase. Eleven and seventeen-foot ceilings grace the home while the transom windows, marble + wood floors, wood shutters, 8-foot doors, and skylight add to its allure. Almeria Row, a collective set of 10 row homes has garnered numerous architectural awards and has been featured in countless magazine articles. Offering a 2/2.5 main home plus semi-detached 2/2 above the 2-car garage. The home’s dreamy courtyard enjoys the sights and sounds of trickling water from the fountain and a roofed area ideal for al fresco dining. The home is storm-ready with its impact windows/doors and a whole-house generator that is connected to natural gas. This is a prime Gables location and very walkable to many restaurants, parks + cultural venues.

A Superior Sanctuary

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

With so much time being spent at home, we’re still thinking about how to better outfit our living spaces, and this month, our focus is on the bedroom. A place for refuge and respite, it should be filled with items that induce relaxation and comfort at any time of day.

ROUNDING UP (FROM THE TOP)

The color yellow is said to evoke happiness and positivity and this dreamy sculpture is no exception. Available at the Danish furnishings store BoConcept, it could be the perfect addition to your bedside table. Retail: $44. BoConcept, 342 San Lorenzo Ave. #1110, 305-350-1941, boconcept.com.

BOOK SMART

The debut book from Houston-based interior designer Paloma Contreras, “Dream Design Live” was created to inspire. While it would be pretty on your coffee table, this tome also features gorgeous imagery and ideas to help you create your own vision board for living beautifully. Retail: $35. Barnes & Noble, 152 Miracle Mile, 305-446-4152, barnesandnoble.com

TIME PIECE

Wake up to this aesthetically pleasing clock from the London-based designer Sebastian Wrong. It displays the time in 12 different fonts which rotate throughout the day. Retail: from $450. Luminaire, 2331 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-448-7367, luminaire.com.

DREAM WEAVER

This handwoven striped Carreno multicolored throw would look effortlessly chic atop a bed or slung over an armchair. With colors both muted and vibrant, the combination of hues creates instant joy. Retail: $89.95. Crate & Barrel, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., 305-460-3560, crateandbarrel.com.

GOOD NIGHT

With this palatial bed, there’s no need for counting sheep. Named the Harrison, the chic set up is part of the Brazilian design company Artefacto’s latest collection, and it’s sure to make your master suite even sweeter. Retail: from $5,200. Artefacto, 4440 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-774-0004, artefacto.com.

Drew Kern Closes a Sale EVERY 4 DAYS

ALL OUR PROPERTIES ARE AVAILABLE TO BE SEEN IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY Our in person showings are done smart and safe. Please call or email us to discuss the right way for you to list or view a property in this environment.

Bites

HAPPY HOUR IN HAVANA MAKER OF CRÊPES (& SMOOTHIES)

HOLY CRAB!

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

THE FLORIDA WAY TO PREPARE STONE CRABS IS TO SAUTÉ OR STEAM THE CLAWS AND SERVE WITH BUTTER & LIME OR A CREAMY MUSTARD SAUCE.

GO TO HOLY CRAB! ON PAGE 50

Happy Hour in Havana

CALLE 23 BRINGS CUBAN FLAIR TO CORAL GABLES

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

There’s a new happy hour hangout in town: Calle 23 Miami. Having opened in the beginning of March, they had to shut down just weeks later. But since their grand reopening in May, it’s been back to socially distanced business.

Located on Miracle Mile where Plomo Tequila and Taco Bar used to be, Calle 23 offers deals on drinks and bites from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. That’s right, they even have happy hour on weekends. Complete with neon lights and tropical décor, you’ll be transported from Miracle Mile to Havana (for those who know the Cuban capital, Calle 23 is the main drag through Havana with night clubs, restaurants, government offices and the famous Coppelia ice cream bar).

During the two-hour time slot, their signature cocktails are

all $7. The cocktail menu includes a spicy margarita, several mojitos and a classic Moscow mule. The spicy margarita –made with Hornitos Plata tequila, agave, jalapeno and lime – has the perfect amount of heat. The rim is laced with cayenne salt for a little extra kick. If you’re not a fan of spicy cocktails, you can’t go wrong with the mojitos, served classic or with flavors like passionfruit, mango and guava.

For those who prefer sweet drinks, the passion caramel is like a rum punch, combining Cruzan aged light rum, caramel, passion fruit puree and citrus. Wine by the glass and beer runs $5 and $4, respectively.

The happy hour bites are very reasonably priced, with everything $6 except for the picadillo empanada at $4. The meat on the ropa vieja tostones tasted more barbeque than Cuban,

but we still enjoyed it. And the tortilla española – a staple at any Hispanic restaurant – was delicious. You can kick it up a notch by adding chorizo for $1. Our favorite was the ham croquetas (each order comes with three). The hardest part: letting them cool before devouring them.

Though Calle 23 is taking the place of Plomo, the ownership remains the same: The Greek duo of Loannis “Yiannis” Sotiropoulos and Efthymios “Makis” Palioura. They also own Copper 29 down the street and Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar a block away.

Calle 23 attracts a younger crowd to the Mile, making it a nice post-work spot for Millenials who work in the downtown. ■

Still a Steak Out

Shula’s 347 on Red Road closed during the pandemic, which has now reopened as Public Square. It is still operated by the same Grove Bay Hospitality Group, but when their franchise agreement with Shula’s expired in June, they decided to take over under their own brand. If you miss the meats of Shula’s, take heart. The contemporary American grill reopened Oct. 23 with a West Coast-heavy wine list to go with grilled-to-order steaks, from a filet mignon to a 36-ounce tomahawk.

Las Mañanitas at Caja

The Gables restaurant known for having the best taco in the State of Florida (the lechon taco) now serves breakfast weekdays from 8 to 11 a.m. Menu items include a Spanish tortilla with ham and cheese and a hummus toast with a sunny-side-up egg, herb aioli and pomegranate seeds. Just add cafecito to complete the most important meal of the day.

Street Smarts

When indoor dining was restricted again over the summer, Bulla Gastrobar shifted gears and set up several tables on the sidewalk on Andalusia Avenue. Now they’ve spruced up the place by adding a barrier of shiny steel metal planters with potted blue salvia flowers around the parking spots in front of the restaurant, serving as a divider between a dozen tables for diners and the drivers. Global pandemic improvisations never looked so good. ■

Every day, this pandemic makes every Senior and their family think twice about the best place to be. For many Seniors, living alone is not the best option. And for most families, living all together is now even more di cult.

at’s why e Palace at Coral Gables has become the place of choice for so many South Florida Seniors. It’s not only a remarkably beautiful and luxurious community — a surprise for many families — but also boasts a highly-trained, deeply-committed, award-winning sta , with comprehensive Covid-19 protocols and mitigation standards.

When e Palace was voted the #1 Senior Community in America, it was because we o ered the luxury lifestyle everyone wanted. Now we’re proud to also say, we have the secure lifestyle everyone needs. Call us at 305-445-7444 or visit us online at www.PalaceCoralGables.com.

“Every day that goes by, I am more grateful my mother is living at e Palace.”

Maker of Crêpes (& Smoothies)

HOW STEPHANIE CHEUNG LAUNCHED HER DREAM IN THE GABLES

How about this for an unlikely scenario: A young woman of Chinese heritage who was raised in Indonesia moves to New York, works in the diamond industry for 10 years, then chucks it all in to move to South Florida, where she starts a French crêpe eatery in Coral Gables that also serves smoothies.

That is the trajectory of Stephanie Cheung, whose eponymous Stephanie’s Crêpes on Galiano Street just south of Miracle Mile has garnished a loyal clientele for her inventive and tasty take on the traditional French treat – and with breakfast, lunch and dinner fare.

Yes, crêpes for all three meals, ranging from scrambled organic eggs and bacon, to salad crêpes, to vegetarian crêpes like brie-apple-walnut. “The most popular are the salad crêpes, like chicken teriyaki and sweet and

BY JAMES BROIDA

spicy chicken Thai – though our egg crêpes are becoming more popular now that people are realizing we are doing them,” says the energetic and ebullient Cheung. And then, of course, there are the sweet dessert crêpes that most people think of when you mention the word.

Stephanie’s Crêpes are served as open wraps that look like ice cream cones, as if you’re getting them from a street vendor in Paris. Perfect for if you’re on-the-go, and easy for parents whose kids drag them to the eatery for their selection of crêpes and smoothies.

The shop itself, which now has a handful tables out front, feels like a country store in Vermont, with wooden paneled walls and wooden flooring. Appropriately, there is a glass jar of chocolate matcha cookies for sale on the counter.

Cheung says she first

thought of opening a food shop in Brickell, but found herself going to restaurants in the Gables on weekends. “I fell in love with how beautiful and clean it was here. It really feels like there are a lot of families now with young children, so there is a big sense of community.” Cheung says that community of loyal customers kept her in business through the pandemic, via an intense takeout business that got busy late at night (they stay open until midnight). “They continued to support us, even with COVID.”

So, if a gluten-free strawberry-walnut-goat cheese crêpe sounds tempting, now you know where to go. The crêpes range in price from $8 to $11.50. ■

STEPHANIE’S CRÊPES

2423 GALIANO ST.

786.636.8939

Somewhere on the Gables/ Italy border

Two new Italian restaurants will be opening in the downtown in late November, each with its own take on that European fare.

The first to open will be Seasy, which owner Giovanni Maglione says is an amalgamation of the words “sea” and “easy.” “The idea is to provide a seafood meal at a good price in a comfortable place. When you eat seafood, it’s usually a big deal, expensive. We want to go back to something more basic.”

Maglione says he wants Seasy on Miracle Mile to be closer to the kind of simple seafood place you can find in his native Napoli, or even in the islands of nearby Greece. They will also be serving tapas at happy hour. For the seafood he will be focusing on local, super fresh fish. “In Napoli we eat a lot of red snapper and a lot of salmon and squid. The main difference is the way we cook it,” he says.

The second to open will be Luca Osteria, on Giralda Plaza. It will be the newest take on food by Giorgio Rapicavoli, the inventive chef behind the ever-popular Eating House on the north end of Ponce de Leon. While he will not entirely abandon the kind of cooking his mother and grandmother cooked for him as a child, “It is going to be a fun, light, ingredient-driven kind of Italian food. Not hyper-traditional, just the essence of what Italian cooking is, seasonal and playful.”

Rapicavoli says he will also offer an array of great cocktails, “like spritzes, rossinis and negronis,” all with the same dedication to a “bubbly, bright and light” experience. Ciao bella. ■

Holy Crab!

A STONE CRAB MARKET OPENS IN THE GABLES

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

It is officially stone crab season and this year you don’t have to trek all the way to Joe’s in South Beach to enjoy the seasonal seafood. Founded by Irene Guerrero and Lucas Calderon, Holy Crab brings stone crabs from the Keys to the Gables, available for pick up or delivery. Partnering with fishermen in Key Largo, they opened last month inside of MKT Kitchen on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, aligning with the start of the season. “Holy Crab was born because of our love for stone crabs and the Keys, and us wanting to bring the first stone crabs to Coral Gables,” says Guerrero.

The newest Gables business owner has lived here her entire life, attending St. Theresa Catholic School and getting both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Miami. “I’m a die-hard Coral Gables girl,” she says.

The company is about as sustainable as it gets. All packaging is made from 100

percent recycled material. The crabs themselves are sustainable; once fishermen catch them, they remove the claws and then safely release the crabs back into the ocean. According to Guerrero, the species can regenerate their claws six to seven times in their life. The claws are hard on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside.

Getting to the meat, however, requires a mallet to crack open the shell. Fortunately, Holy Crab sells mallets, and also bibs, to get the full stone crab experience even at home. The claws range in size from medium to colossal, and go best with key lime pie, fried chicken and hash browns, all of which are conveniently sold at MKT Kitchen. Stone crab prices vary daily depending on supply. Holy Crab will be open through stone crab season, which ends in May. To place your order, go to holycrabdelivery.com. Then pick it up at MKT Kitchen at 1831 Ponce de Leon Blvd. ■

LA L F

under its spell

EXPERIENCE THE GABLES THIS SEASON

DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES IS DRESSING UP FOR THE FALL WITH BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED STREETS, ALL-NEW ART SHOWS, FOOD AND FUN FOR EVERYONE, AND MUCH MORE. VISIT US FROM MID-OCTOBER TO MID-NOVEMBER TO ENJOY THIS FALLTASTIC EXPERIENCE!

Friday Night Live

MUSIC LIVES AT THREEFOLD CAFÉ

Coral Gables is not exactly a hot bed for live music, and the pandemic has not exactly helped. In the midst of it we lost the raucous live weekend music at John Martin’s Irish Pub, and then the weekly blasts of jazz and rock at the Open Stage Club, both now permanently closed.

So, it is with open arms that we welcome the latest live music on stage in downtown Coral Gables, with the advent of After Hours Live at Threefold Café. Formerly a breakfast-and-lunchonly café, Threefold is now open for dinner Thursday through Saturday nights. We would go just for the all-you-can-eat mussels (five flavors) for $35, but with music on Friday nights it’s a whole new vibe.

On the night we went, a band of four UM music students

– the bass, drums, guitar and saxophone of Uniform Crew –blasted out with rock and blues (they did a great cover of Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign”). Then came singer-songwriter Melanie Jo, also a UM music major, who did her best Joni Mitchell meets Taylor Swift unplugged. All of a sudden, we were in a San Francisco coffee house, not in a cafe on Giralda Plaza. The music starts at 6 p.m. and runs till closing at 10 p.m. ■

THREEFOLD CAFE

141 GIRALDA AVE. (PLAZA) 305.704.8007 info@threecafe.com

Strengthening our through EDUCATION

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Montessori

SINGER-SONGWRITER MELANIE JO

PHOTO BY NICHOLAS FABER

What the years have taught

1. Don’t let patients pick their implant size before surgery. Letting a patient choose an implant size before surgery by trying out samples in a bra, is quick and easy for the surgeon, but it isn’t really fair to the patient since an implant placed outside the body will look quite different once inside the body. So the patient really doesn’t know what they are selecting. Finding an anatomically appropriate implant that fits the patient and optimizes their beauty requires an aesthetic assessment of different implant sizes during surgery to see the actual visual impact of an implant on the patient’s appearance - similar to trying on a dress to see if it really fits. This process is called ‘Intra-Operative Sizing’ and takes a little extra time but it allows for the creation of optimal results with the implant actually fitting the patient’s anatomy.

2. Avoid big implants. Most patients do well with implants in the 200-300 cc range. Bigger implants may appear enticing when you’re young but lead to unnatural, obvious results and future problems such as rippling, existing breast atrophy, early sagging and more. Remember, it’s about beauty and just bigger is not better.

3. Breast Lifts deserve careful reflection. When sagging is mild or the breast just appears deflated after breastfeeding, then an implant alone might create the desired lift. However, when sagging is significant, tightening of the skin is called for. The most effective, and generally my preferred, lift is the ‘inverted T’ or anchor’ lift as it tightens and lifts in two dimensions-vertically and horizontally. No more sagging after that. The ‘donut’ or ‘peri-areolar’, in conjunction with an implant, works for a certain anatomy, as does the ‘lollipop’ or ‘vertical’ lift. Key is to match the technique to the patient’s anatomy and expectations.

4. Breast Reduction Surgery is gratifying. Patients with clearly oversized breasts (double/triple D and beyond) really suffer from excess breast weight, severe sagging and unwanted attention. My preferred technique here is the ‘inverted T’ or ‘anchor’ as it removes all heavy and sagging tissue below the breast fold. After the reduction, these patients are among the happiest in Plastic Surgery.

Overall, cosmetic breast surgery is aesthetically challenging. Creating a beautiful result is not easy and requires much actual surgical experience, aesthetic judgment and attention to detail.

Stephan Baker MD

Remember, it’s about beauty and just bigger is not better.

Prior to joining the City of Coral Gables in 2004, Raimundo Rodulfo worked for 10 years in the private sector, including seven years with BellSouth as a development engineer. He was named the city’s director of Information Technology in 2013. Since then he has overseen a dramatic expansion of the city’s IT capabilities, from systems that monitor streets for the police, to the creation of a Smart City Hub that shares data with the public on everything from city tax revenues to the latest traffic patterns. Last year, the Center for Digital Government awarded the city first place nationwide for innovative technologies in cities with 75,000 or fewer residents.

Raimundo Rodulfo

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Set up the city’s new primary Datacenter/ Network Headquarters at the new Public Safety Building; Named one of “30 State and Local Government IT Influencers” for 2020 by StateTech Magazine; Coral Gables named one of “8 Smart Cities to Watch” by the same; Coral Gables named No. 1 for Urban Infrastructure in the “Smart 50 Awards” by the Smart Cities Connect Foundation; Coral Gables selected as one of 17 public agencies nationwide for the National Science Foundation’s STIR Labs program to connect government with academia.

“In IT you have to learn every day. It changes every day and you have to change with it. COVID has been a test for us,” he says. “We collaborate with UM, FIU and NIST (the National Institute of Standards & Technology) to be in touch with the latest… All these research collaborations have let us improve our technologies [for] a complete new network core that is faster, more resilient, and more secure. For computer geeks like us that is exciting. Imagine you were running a computer from 10 years ago and you suddenly got a new one from today.”

DIRECTOR OF IT, CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER, CITY OF CORAL GABLES

WHAT HE SAYS

“OUR AWARDS ARE ACTUALLY FOR MY TEAM… IT’S THE BEST TEAM I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH…”

Photo by Emily Fakhoury

Haley Moss is Florida’s first openly autistic lawyer. Earning her law degree from the University of Miami in 2018, she now consults with businesses and law firms on how to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also encourages them to hire disabled and neurodivergent people and create a healthy, accessible environment for them. While Moss is currently not practicing law, she has previously worked on healthcare litigation and international anti-terrorism law. She plans to go back into law one day or teach at a law school to educate the future generation of students about the disabled community.

Haley Moss

CEO, HALEY MOSS LLC

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Moss was recently appointed to the Coral Gables Advisory Board on Disability Affairs, which acts as an advocacy group for issues affecting disabled persons, including educating the community and identifying resources to provide opportunities for the disabled. Important to Moss, the chair of the board is also a disabled person, something she describes as “really meaningful” given that many times boards and initiatives are led by non-disabled people who lack the important personal perspective that neurodivergent or disabled people have.

WHAT SHE SAYS

“I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. I certainly don’t feel sorry for me. I think life has been pretty great,” says Moss. “I want the same things that everyone else wants. I want to be treated fairly, I want to be treated with respect, I want to have a career that I love. It isn’t autism that makes life difficult, but how others perceive it. A lot of the barriers that you have are societal and systemic… People can be very patronizing in a way that diminishes [the fact] that I did a lot of work to get here, I did a lot of work to stay here, and I deserve to be here.”

“IT ISN’T AUTISM THAT MAKES LIFE DIFFICULT, BUT HOW OTHERS PERCEIVE IT.”

Rodrigo Garduño

Since founding 54D in Mexico City in 2012, Rodrigo Garduño has amassed a growing legion of followers, including supermodels (Adriana Lima), professional athletes (Yankees legend Jorge Posada), celebrities (singers Fonseca, Juanes, Carlos Vives) and corporate executives. His program, 54D, is a nine-week training plan that combines high-intensity group training, custom nutrition, and recovery therapy (including cryotherapy). The system guarantees results to anyone who is willing to fully commit for the duration of the $4,000 program, which Garduño describes not as a gym workout, but a human-transformation movement.

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

When the pandemic shut down 54D, Garduño went online. In July he launched 54D ON, attracting more than 35,000 live daily participants and more than 150,000 users who streamed the daily videos. He reopened the Coral Gables headquarters “studio” on Ponce de Leon Boulevard last month, and now plans to expand in the U.S. and abroad (there are already studios in Bogota and Mexico City). The second U.S. studio is scheduled to open in Miami’s Design District early next year.

WHAT HE SAYS

“When we say, ‘We are not a gym,’ we really mean it,” says Garduño. “Fitness is about discipline, and we demand nothing less than 100 percent devotion from every person who comes through our doors and signs on the dotted line… That way, we can all reach our highest potential.” A fanatic for hard work, Garduño says his background as a professional soccer player has taught him “that discipline is the most important component when looking to accomplish anything in life.”

FOUNDER, CORAL GABLES-BASED 54D TRAINING PROGRAM

“CORAL GABLES IS A BIG PART OF OUR BRAND IDENTITY. WE OPENED OUR FIRST U.S. STUDIO IN THIS CITY AND STARTED BUILDING A REAL COMMUNITY…”

Learn how your generosity can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. BaptistHealth.net/GenerosityHeals or 786-467-5400.

GENEROSITY ADVANCES LIFELONG LEARNING

Thanks to the support and donations from our community, Baptist Health is able to provide educational programs for over 7,000 in our organization whose continued education will allow them to stay current with the latest developments, skills and new technologies required for their fields.

The Center for the Advancement of Learning at Baptist Health supports lifelong learning by partnering with our academic affiliates to recruit, train and retain nursing, pharmacy, allied health, business and medical professionals to support Baptist Health Hospitals, Centers of Excellence and to serve our community.

Having this program ensures that you and your family will receive the best in quality health care at a Baptist Health facility. And we have it thanks to generosity.

Generosity Heals.

The Rise of the David William

HOW CORAL GABLES’ FIRST DOWNTOWN HIGH-RISE BROKE THE CODE AND CHANGED THE GAME

BY SALLY BAUMGARTNER

Coral Gables in 1960 bore little or no resemblance to the thriving, multinational business community we know today. There were no high-rise buildings. Texaco was the only major corporation with a Latin American Headquarters. Miracle Mile rolled up the streets at night from April to October because everyone was somewhere up north. It was a charming, seasonal, well planned, sleepy little “Southern” town.

The zoning code permitted nothing taller than three stories. There were no restaurants to speak of, just two cafeterias, a couple of coffee shops, Cookies Deli, Jahn’s Ice Cream Parlor, Hamburger Circus and three movie theaters. There were no bars or lounges, as there were no liquor licenses in the entire city. If you wanted dinner and drinks, you had to cross into Miami, where you could find a host of fine restaurants like The Pub, The Hasta, El Bolero and even a lounge, The Happy Hour, all just east of Miracle Mile. That was when 34-year-old Al Sakolsky, an ambitious real estate entrepreneur from Chicago, fell in love with the Gables.

AL SAKOLSKY ON THE ROOFTOP TERRACE OF THE DAVID WILLIAM, THE FIRST HIGH RISE BUILDING IN CORAL GABLES

ARCHIVAL PHOTO TAKEN IN 1964 OF THE DAVID WILLIAM IN THE FINAL STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION AND THE BUILDING TODAY ON BILTMORE WAY

Photo by Emily Fakhoury

Like the city’s founder, George Merrick, he envisioned a bustling community with a healthy business environment located just seven miles from Wilcox Field, which would surely become Miami International Airport. If the key to success is location, location, location, Sakolsky was sure that Coral Gables had it all. He set his sights on Biltmore Way, at that time mostly vacant land.

His vision was that Biltmore Way could become a Park Avenue or Rodeo Drive for Coral Gables, a street full of beautiful buildings and exclusive shops, small hotels and unique restaurants. He was determined to start it off by building the first high rise, an apartment building with a hotel, a fine restaurant and a liquor license. “Coral Gables residents deserve this kind of luxury,” he said at the time. He never anticipated the small-town mentality he encountered.

THE SAGA BEGINS

Sakolsky hired architect Maurice Weintraub, son-in-law to the famous Morris Lapidus (Fontainebleau, Eden Roc), to design what would become the most hotly contested building in Coral Gables’ history. It was going to be a 12-story building with 200 apartments (some seasonal), 12 hotel rooms and a restaurant and lounge.

Known for his tenacity as much as for his vision (The Miami Herald called him a man with a “Jut-Jawed Mind”), even Sakolsky was stunned by the resistance. Although the property was zoned for hotels and apartments, it took three years, from 1960 to 1963, to get the permits to build.

The dispute stemmed not from zoning, but from size. In the Gables, any building over three stories had to receive city commission approval. Gables officials labeled Sakolsky’s building a “monstrosity” that would destroy the city. Nearby residents protested that they would “no longer see the sun” and claimed the high rise would depreciate their property values. They also said that traffic and parking conditions would become serious problems.

Tempers flared and voices grew loud at a hearing in December 1960, when the proposal for the 12-story “skyscraper” was aired at the city commission. More than 200 residents packed the commission chambers. Former Mayor Fred B. Hartnett gave an eloquent speech in favor of the building. Mayor John Montgomery and Commissioners Winston Wynn and Robert Searle voted in favor of the project. Albert Friedman of the Downtown Merchants and the Cham-

THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE CITY AND SAKOLSKY STEMMED NOT FROM ZONING BUT FROM SIZE. IN THE GABLES, ANY BUILDING OVER THREE STORIES HAD TO RECEIVE CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL. GABLES OFFICIALS LABELED SAKOLSKY’S BUILDING A “MONSTROSITY” THAT WOULD DESTROY THE CITY.

ber of Commerce was also in favor of the project. In opposition were Commissioners Joe Murphy and Frank Kerdyk, along with the Woman’s Club, the Jaycees, the Apartment Owners Association and the Property Owners Association.

The city commission voted 3-2 to approve the plan on Dec. 8, 1960. They then reversed themselves one week later, by the same vote, when James Hess, serving his first day on the commission, replaced Commissioner Winston Wynn, who joined the metro commission. The irony was that the city commission had already approved a 13-story high rise on Edgewater Drive some months before. So, there was a precedent in that vote, which had not been reversed. Apparently, however, the idea of a 13-story building on the edge of the city was less offensive than a 12-story one squarely in the center of town.

Sakolsky sued in Circuit Court to prevent the commission from revoking his building permit. He lost. He took it to the District Court of Appeals, where he lost again. Finally, he took it to the Florida Supreme Court, this time as his own attorney, writing his own brief. The court ruled in his favor early in 1963. Still, city officials dragged their feet on issuing a building permit, so Sakolsky went back to Circuit Court and got a contempt order directing city officials to comply with the higher court’s edict and issue “an unencumbered building permit” by 9 a.m. the following day. When they didn’t re-issue the permit, Mayor

Joe Murphy and Commissioners Dressel, Philbrick, Wilson and Phillips were cited for contempt of court and taken to jail. Needless to say, the building permit was issued, and construction began in September 1963.

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES

Sakolsky now aimed for a September 1964 opening. But he hadn’t counted on a slew of impediments that included construction snafus, a national iron workers strike, more legal wars, resistance from Florida Power & Light, the Consumers Water Company and, finally, Hurricane Cleo.

To start with, the building was to have a 300-car underground parking garage, designed to go not only under the building, but also under the street in front and the alley out back. While excavating for the foundation, they hit an underground river. The site had to be pumped dry for months in order to pour concrete. Knowing the river would be problematic, engineers further strengthened the construction of the garage. This was fortuitous, because the city decided to have a July 4th parade on Biltmore Way in 1964 – that included six Sherman Tanks rolling down the street over the garage. Sakolsky thought it was another attempt to stop construction, hoping the garage would cave in. But it held.

Then there were the infrastructure challenges. Biltmore Way in the early 1960’s had a couple of small apartment buildings and a lot of vacant land, and the water service was inadequate to handle 212 apartments. Long and expensive negotiations ensued with the city-franchised water authority, Consumers Water, which could not provide sufficient water to protect the building from fire. They finally reached an undisclosed agreement that required Sakolksy to foot the upgrades. It cost him heavily, but progress continued.

Next came the issue of the power grid. The expense to connect the David William to the power grid, which included paying for street power lines, was so exorbitant that Sakolksy was driven to look for alternatives. His solution was a system he dubbed Total Energy, which would use natural gas from pipes that ran under the street to power generators in the hotel. The system was designed specifically for the David William by Garret Air Research of California, which built gas turbines to power aircraft carriers. With the GAR system, the David William became the first building of its kind in the world to manufacture its own electricity.

The power generated also ran the hotel’s air conditioning, which was a waste-heat

system. The heat produced by the building’s AC manufactured enough hot water to supply not only the hotel, but reportedly the entire city. And so it appeared that natural gas turbines were the future of power. But not in Coral Gables. The city passed a “Smoke, Smell and Noise Ordinance” to stop the operation of the turbine, citing noise from the ground-level turbines and air conditioner unit. Sakolsky simply moved the system to the rooftop, 130 feet up.

Even nature seemed to conspire against Sakolsky. Construction was again interrupted by Hurricane Cleo on Aug. 27, 1964. The bathtubs and the windows had yet to be set, and Sakolsky spent the entire storm holed up in the fire stairs, listening to the bathtubs blow around the concrete building. Many of them ended up on the street below, some blown as far as the Granada Golf Course. After that experience, he canceled the windows on order and searched until he found a company in Canada that could custom make heavy gauge panes, able to withstand high winds (impact glass didn’t yet exist).

The final Sakolsky-Gables clash was triggered in June 1965, just a month before the building’s scheduled opening. The City held up issuing the final certificate of occupancy because Sakolsky planned to serve liquor on premise, something not permitted in restaurants in the city. But Sakolsky won the issue by complying with a law on the books in Florida since 1947. The law said that a hotel with 100 rooms could have a liquor license, provided it was a service for the building, with the entrance inside the building. The county required 200 seats to grant a liquor license. Chez Vendome, the high-end restaurant of the David William, fulfilled both requirements.

AT LONG LAST, LUXURY

The David William opened with a blow out, black-tie gala on July 14, 1965. Guests were bedazzled by artifacts and decorative elements from around the world. Magnificent crystal chandeliers in the lobby and in Chez Vendome were handmade in Mexico. All the wrought iron work was from a foundry there as well. The original lobby decor included walls of Brazilian rosewood, and floors of Italian white Carrera marble and black granite. Handmade glass tiles were set into the floors, elevators, bathrooms and inside the swimming pool. Sakolsky scoured antique stores for original artworks, furniture and wood cuts from the French Napoleonic era; he wanted everything to be authentic. For those great works of art out of

Sakolsky’s price range – or because they were in museums like the Louvre – his wife Eileen, a very accomplished artist, recreated them. She painted exquisite copies of famous works like Cortona’s Rape of the Sabine Women, David’s Napoleon Crossing the Alps and Goya’s Family of Charles IV.

Chez Vendome, the five-star, Michelin Award-winning restaurant (reachable only from the lobby), was also copied – in this case from the Beverly Rodeo Hotel’s Chez Voltaire, a 1963 Los Angeles “hot spot.” Not only did Sakolsky emulate the model (using its designer, Howard Hirsch), he even recruited its executive chef, Erik Jorgensen.

As Chez Vendome grew in popularity, Sakolsky added a private men’s club on the roof, adjacent to the swimming pool: The 700 Club. These were the “Playboy Club” years, so the club included a rooftop spa with outdoor massage, nude sunbathing and six discrete hotel rooms on the roof adjacent to the pool. The city called it a “massage parlor” and, not surprisingly, attempted to shut it down. But those efforts failed, partly because the 700 Club was more than that. At night, it became the city’s only jazz club. It was a dark room, with ebony wood, rich leather walls and four tables on the outdoor terrace, overlooking Coral Gables. The bar sat eight, the piano sat three and the restaurant sat 44. The menu was small, the food was great and the music wasn’t found anywhere else in Miami. It was a little bit of Manhattan high above Coral Gables. Sakolsky, as usual, recruited the best; after hearing him perform at Mother’s Bar on LeJeune Road, he installed blind pianist Herbie Brock, a modest legend in the jazz world who had played with greats like Art Tatum, Stan Getz, and Ray Charles.

The result was that the David William became the hottest ticket in town. It wasn’t unusual to find movie stars and heads of state dining at Chez Vendome or staying in the hotel. The list included such luminaries as the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Richard Nixon, Edwin Muskie, Hubert Humphrey, Barry Goldwater, Charlton Heston, Victor Borge, Donald O’Connor, Ann Southern, Joan Fontaine and others. Within a few years, what began as 212 luxury, rental apartments and 12 hotel rooms became 120 transient hotel rooms and suites, leaving 90 year-round apartments for the “old guard” of Coral Gables. By 1975 the hotel boasted 120 corporate accounts with Latin American Headquarters companies, by then proliferating in the city’s downtown.

EPITAPH

Today the David William, the building that

started the high-rise cluster of buildings in the city’s core, is a quiet condominium at the end of Biltmore Way. No more Hotel, Chez Vendome or 700 Club. Al Sakolsky’s vision of the Coral Gables’ Rodeo Drive or Park Avenue never quite happened.

His vision of a city powered by natural gas didn’t pan out, either – though it got great press in September 1965, when Hurricane Betsy hit South Florida and the hotel sold out. The American Gas Association ran full page ads nationally with a picture of the city in the dark and the David William lit up like a party, with a headline: “The Lights Betsy Couldn’t Blow Out!” The building was open, the restaurants were serving, and everyone in residence had lights and air conditioning during and after the storm.

Things went sour in 1970, however, when Sakolsky sued the gas company for breach of contract when they insisted on

higher rates and cut the pressure to the building at ground level, making it impossible to turn the turbines at 130 feet. So, in the end, the building was connected to the FPL power grid.

Also, in the early 1970s the feminist movement was sweeping the nation, and the idea of a “private men’s club” became anachronistic. Coral Gables was not exempted. In 1972 the 700 Club opened to the general public after several local activists – Roxcy Bolton, Rebyl Zain and Betsy Adams –“stormed” the restaurant with a Channel 7 News crew in tow, demanding to be served, equally and at lunch, without a male escort.

By the late ’80s the David William needed a face lift and a reboot. By then, The Biltmore Hotel had reopened. The Hyatt and Omni each added 150+ rooms in downtown Coral Gables. The David William, the place that started it all, became an “also ran.”

WERE

So, in 1989 the building was converted to a condominium/hotel.

The apartments were sold to owners who had the option to rent them out as hotel suites to compliment the 75 hotel rooms that remained under hotel control, along with Chez Vendome and the banquet facilities. The unsold apartments and the hotel were sold off to a Panamanian investor who went bankrupt in 1992, and Banco Bilbao stepped in as receiver after Hurricane Andrew, operating it for five years. The hotel and unsold apartments were acquired by Seaway Corporation (The Biltmore Hotel) in 1997, which later sold them.

Sakolsky went on to create other iconic buildings in the Gables and beyond. Besides dabbling in residential real estate projects in Miami and Miami Beach, he built the Coconut Grove Hotel in 1971, and a dozen years later the 550 Biltmore Way “Lion Building” and the 565 Biltmore Way Northern Trust building.

But Sakolsky, who passed away in 2011, will always be remembered as the man who broke the downtown skyline and brought a global level of sophistication to Coral Gables’ hospitality and entertainment scene with the David William. The building was named for his father, David William Sakolsky, who died during the years of court cases, never living to see the groundbreaking. But his name lives on, in the edifice built by his son. ■

CELEBRITIES FLOCKED TO THE DAVID WILLIAM AND MADE IT THE PLACE TO GO IN CORAL GABLES.

(LEFT)

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WINDSOR ARRIVING FOR LUNCH.

(BELOW)

ACTORS AND POLITICIANS SUCH AS CHARLTON HESTON AND EX VICE-PRESIDENT HUBERT HUMPHREY ATTEND THE CHEZ VENDOME

THE LOBBY FEATURED ITALIAN MARBLE AND GRANITE FLOORS WITH WALLS OF BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD. THE CHEZ VENDOME BAR AND RESTAURANT (BELOW)

EQUALLY LAVISH WITH ROSEWOOD PANELLED WALLS AND LUXURY FURNISHINGS

The Great Dog Park Debate

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

If you head south on Old Cutler Road, make a right onto N. Kendall Drive and then turn into the Hammock Lakes community on School House Road (SW 52nd Avenue), there’s a gated guardhouse. There is a guard, but everyone – both residents and visitors – are allowed entry. Keep driving, and just before the end of School House Road there is an entrance into West Matheson Hammock Park, which has become the informal dog park of Coral Gables.

The popularity behind the park for dog owners is obvious: There’s a ton of open space (98 acres, to be exact), plenty of trails to explore and, most importantly, no roads or cars to worry about. West Matheson has gained such renown that it is even called the Unofficial Dog Park on Yelp, complete with a map pinning the entrance on School House Road. Though this isn’t the

main entrance to the park – which is on Old Cutler Road across from the north entrance to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – it has become the entrance of choice for park-goers. The reason is that the main entrance’s parking lot is in bad shape and the often-muddy trail to get from the lot to the park is one-third of a mile. In contrast, the entrance into the park through the Hammock Lakes residential neighborhood is on a paved road.

The gate to this unofficial entrance to West Matheson Hammock Park is a simple, metal barricade on School House Road that is usually left open. Yet this one small gate has caused a lot of controversy. To make a very long and political story short, the residents of Hammock Lakes want it shut and essentially everyone else wants it open. The paved road

WEST

MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK (OPPOSITE) AND MARKED IN THE MAP (ABOVE) HAS BECOME THE UNOFFICIAL DOG PARK OF CORAL GABLES

OFFICIAL ENTRANCE INTO PARK

SCHOOL HOUSE ROAD

RESIDENTIAL GATE FOR HAMMOCK LAKES

PAVED ROAD INTO PARK

GATE TO WEST MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK

going into the park from there was initially only meant for maintenance vehicles. Then it became an access for the handicapped who could not use the long and bumpy main entrance trail off Old Culter. What has residents upset is that this unofficial entrance has been used less by those with wheelchairs and more by those with four legs. Bill Ogden, president of the Hammock Lakes Homeowners’ Association, also notes that there is no security. “The west side [of the park] has never been patrolled, never been monitored, never been managed,” he says.

WEST SIDE STORY

The battle over West Matheson Hammock Park is nothing new; it has been ongoing for nearly two decades. Though it is not an official dog park, dogs are nonetheless allowed on the property. “There are leash law signs in the park, so we do that,” says Douglas Fernandez, who takes his Labrador retrievers to the park. “We go there, we put them on a leash and that’s it.”

However, anyone who frequents the park knows that a majority of dogs are let off leash by their owners and are free to run around the unfenced area. Because of this, Ogden claims that his neighbors rarely use the park in the afternoons, when unleashed dogs can run up and jump on them.

But the debate isn’t just about dogs being unleashed. The land is a Protected Natural Area under Miami-Dade County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. “It would be nice if there were an area in Dade County where you could take dogs and run [off leash], but not in an environmentally sensitive park with no supervision,” says Ogden. “It just doesn’t work.”

The residents of Hammock Lakes are also unhappy about the traffic it has brought into the gated neighborhood. “Before the pandemic, it was up to over 4,000 cars a month and on the weekends over 200 cars a day going through our neighborhood, our streets, into the park,” Ogden says. But while the guard at the entry to the community records the license plates of visiting cars, there’s no way to track which cars are going to the park and which are guests of residents.

A MATHESON MAKEOVER

Regardless, the gate to West Matheson – and the entire park – may be closing temporarily anyways. The county has a master plan in the works to spruce up the neglected aspects of the park, including the main entrance on Old Cutler. The plan

would improve the parking lot as well as build a boardwalk into the park to make the trail more accessible to those with disabilities. The entire park would be closed during construction, and when it reopens, private vehicles would not be able to pass through the “unofficial” gate on School House Road.

According to Ogden, the plan does include a three-acre fenced area for dogs to go off leash. Whether the neighborhood gate reopens or not after the construction is not up to the Hammock Lakes HOA. “It’s the county that controls the gate, it’s the county that makes the rules, it’s the county that said we’re going to close the gate and revert back to what was historically always the main entrance to the park,” says Ogden. “It’s just so incredibly upsetting that we’ve had to go through this and be accused time and time again of being an elitist neighborhood.”

A DOG PARK-LESS CITY

While West Matheson Hammock Park has been dubbed the “unofficial dog park,” there is no official dog park within Coral Gables. Frank Rosell, the president of StudioBecker, the kitchen and cabinetry design company on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, ventures outside city limits just for his Victorian bulldog. “We end up having to go to a dog park in the Grove,” he says. “It would be significant-

“IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE WERE AN AREA IN DADE COUNTY WHERE YOU COULD TAKE DOGS AND RUN [OFF LEASH], BUT NOT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PARK WITH NO SUPERVISION... IT JUST DOESN’T WORK”

BILL OGDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE HAMMOCK LAKES HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL DOG PARK, MANY CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS WALK THEIR DOGS ON A LEASH IN THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD

ly better to have one close to home.”

Gables residents Debbie and Darrell Payne have been taking their dogs to West Matheson for 15 years, but they also went to the Grove (Blanche Park) when all Coral Gables parks were closed due to COVID-19. “I prefer [West Matheson] to take your dogs because it’s much more wide open,” said Debbie. “It gives the dogs a lot more space to kind of run around and explore.” The Paynes currently have two golden retrievers who just turned 5-years-old.

On the other side of the Gables border is Chapman Field in Palmetto Bay, which also has a dog park. “It’s rather odd that we don’t have a dog park in the Gables considering how many dogs there are here,” says Rosell. Darrell Payne has brought his dogs to Chapman Field, but he notes how long it took to drive there, and how the fenced area for dogs is a long walk from the parking lot.

With no designated dog park in the city, it comes as no surprise that so many residents take their dogs to West Matheson Hammock. “It’s just a little gem, especially when the weather cools off. It’s great for dogs,” Debbie says.

PLANS FOR A BARK PARK

Though Coral Gables doesn’t currently have an official dog park, it has been Commissioner Michael Mena’s project for years. Commissioner Mena doesn’t have a dog, but he was made aware of the issue while campaigning in 2017. “I knocked on doors talking to residents. [A dog park] was something that was routinely brought to my attention,” he says.

Two years ago, the commission approved having a dog park in the city. But finding a location was an issue in and of itself. “It’s sometimes hard to get support from the surrounding community to have it in

THE DOG PAINTER their neighborhood,” Mena says. One reason? The same issue the residents of Hammock Lakes have: Increased traffic to the area.

They finally found the perfect spot: Near the Gables Station mixed-use development, bordered by Ponce, U.S. 1 and Le Jeune Road, which is currently under construction. Being adjacent to the Metrorail, the Bark Park will also be a part of The Underline. “It doesn’t border single family residential, it has parking, we like the idea of synergy with The Underline … and it’s close to public transportation,” says Mena.

Savino & Miller Design Studio revealed the renderings of the park at a meeting at the War Memorial Youth Center last year. It will consist of an 11,000-square foot fenced area for large dogs and a 6,700-square foot fenced area for small dogs. It will also have both a drink station and a wash station. The Bark Park will open in conjunction with Gables Station, which was originally slated for May 2020. Mena predicts it will be completed in the next six months. He hopes this first Bark Park will act as an “ice breaker” and will lead to more dog parks around the city, adding, “We would love to have other locations in the future, but this was a good location to start.” ■

Coral Gables resident Carina Segredo has been painting since she was young. She attended Palmer Trinity and graduated from Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration in 2019. “I always loved being creative, so I had concentrations in communications, marketing and fine arts,” Segredo says. “I always had an easel up, I was always painting.”

Her latest artistic project was to sell her paintings as a fundraiser for the Jackson Hospital Foundation during the peak of the pandemic. Those interested could either purchase a piece from the “COVID-19 Relief” collection or commission something else. “I received an overwhelming request for commissions of pets,” she says.

In the end, she was able to make a donation of $3,500. Though the fundraiser is over, Segredo is still accepting pet commissions. The price of the painting varies on its size and how many pets are being painted. To commission a portrait of your pup, go to carinasegredo.com or email paintingsbycarina@gmail.com.

“IT DOESN’T BORDER SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, IT HAS PARKING, WE LIKE THE IDEA OF SYNERGY WITH THE UNDERLINE, AND IT’S CLOSE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION”

COMMISSIONER MICHAEL MENA ON THE PROPOSED DOG PARKRENDERING SHOWN ABOVE.

The Dog Owners

Each year we present a portfolio of Coral Gables dog owners, from all walks of life. What follows are seven portraits, ranging from young retailer Nicolle Mailal in the downtown, to corporate titan Mike Fernandez. Photos by

THE DOG: Suma

THE BREED: Victorian Bulldog

THE AGE: One year

THE OWNER: Frank Rosell, StudioBecker

DOG STORY: “We fell in love with her as a puppy and didn’t realize how big she would get,” says Rosell. “At 10 weeks she was 7 pounds. Now she is 70 pounds.” That weight gain has not prevented Suma from home gymnastics, however. “She has these sudden bursts of energy in the middle of the day and runs from one side of the house to the other,” says Rosell. “In full stride she will leap over a couch and clear it. At 70 pounds of sheer muscle, there is nothing you can do to stop her… the kids call it the ‘Zoomies.’”

Jonathan Dann.

THE DOG: Sparky

THE BREED: Beagle

THE AGE: One year

THE OWNER: Lauren Dowlen, Lowell International Realty DOG STORY: Dowlen says she and her husband decided to get a puppy after COVID-19 canceled their plans to vacation in Alaska and California. “This is our first family dog,” Dowlen says, “He was 9-weeks-old when we picked him up. The breeder put him in my arms, and I couldn’t believe the instant connection with this little ball of fur.” Her two sons also instantly bonded. “My 7-year-old promptly made a chores chart, which showed who should do what. Nobody follows it. But there is a lot of wrestling on the floor.” Quirks? “He’ll eat anything… He wants to eat rocks, outside. I don’t understand that at all.”

THE DOG: Lobo

THE BREED: King Shephard

THE AGE: Nine

THE OWNER: Mike Fernandez, Chairman, MBF Healthcare Partners (seen here with wife Constance).

DOG STORY: While two black King Shephards roam the property outside (and sleep outside), the 145-pound Lobo sleeps inside in the master bedroom. He was adopted “as a baby of 9 weeks,” says Fernandez, and has been the baby ever since. “He is truly lovable… even with our grandchildren. As large as he is, he is a big teddy bear.” While he is “gentle” says Fernandez, “there have been times when he has run me over while playing with the other dogs.” Quirks? “When it’s bedtime he needs to find his ‘blanky,’” says Fernandez. “His preference is any clean towel. He will even take them off the rack.”

Photo courtesy of Mike Fernandez

THE CORAL GABLES THE CORAL GABLES EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE

THE DOG: AJ

THE BREED: Dalmatian mixed

THE AGE: Ten

THE OWNER: Miriam Ramos, Coral Gables City Attorney

DOG STORY: “One day, while my husband was [loading] our truck, a big dog came running up and looked at him... He was so skinny you could see his ribs. We gave him two packs of hot dogs and he devoured them,” says Ramos. After attempting to find the owner, AJ was adopted. “Back then he was so light he could jump over our [6-foot] fence and run away.” Now heavier, that’s no longer possible. Quirks? “He sleeps in the family room on the leather couch. At about 9:30 he will start to stare at anyone on the couch, like, ‘What are you doing in my spot?’”

You’ll both feel safe in our care.

Our integrated maternity program is designed to take care of you and your baby before, during, and even after your pregnancy. Committed to following your birth plan, but ready with one of the most advanced newborn ICU programs in the country should your baby ever need it. Stay at one of our spa-like Little Miracles maternity suites. Let us focus on your every need, so you can simply focus on your little one.

We are proud to be designated a Baby-Friendly Hospital for giving mothers the skills and support needed to feed and bond with their child.

Jackson Memorial Hospital

Jackson North Medical Center

Jackson South Medical Center

Designated 2017 – 2022

For a tour or to find a physician, call 305-585-4MOM or visit JacksonMaternity.org.

THE DOGS: (Clockwise from left) Mogli, mixed breed, six. Rupert, Scupper Key rescue, five; Gator, Long-haired Dachshund, 13; Gandalf, Norwich Terrier, four; Oliver, Golden Retriever, two.

THE OWNER: Former City Commissioner Chip Withers, CEO Withers Worldwide

DOG STORY: Four of the dogs “belong” to Withers’ adult children; his dog is Gator. All of them visit several days a week, and always on weekends, obsessed with Withers’ pool. “If you mention the word ‘pool’ that sets them off. If you don’t take them to the pool, forget about it,” says Withers. “The pool is the thing that connects them.” Withers says his dog Gator “holds court. He won’t get mixed in the play, he stands back, but has their respect.” Withers attributes this to herd mentality. “The dog who is closest to the hunter –that’s me – gets the respect. That’s what the dog psychologists say.”

THE DOG: London

THE BREED: French Bulldog

THE AGE: One year

THE OWNER: Nicolle Mailal

DOG STORY: London is the mascot and resident greeter at Oak Apparel and Home, on Valencia, which Mailal runs with cousin Kelly Nelson (left). “She is in the store, every day,” says Mailal. “She thrives on attention. In fact, she demands it.” Mailal says what drives her crazy, besides London’s tendency to jump on every client, is her snoring. “I always said I would never let my dog sleep on my bed,” says Mailal. Having given in, “She is 30 pounds and like a cinder block, and she likes to feel herself against you…. You have to get up in the middle of the night to roll her over.”

THE DOG: Cha-Cha

THE BREED: Miniature poodle

THE AGE: One and a half years

THE OWNER: Ana Navarro, political commentator for CNN, ABC and Telemundo

DOG STORY: “I wanted to name her Zsa Zsa after Zsa Zsa Gabor, because this dog is a diva. But my Cuban husband (Al Cardenas) couldn’t get the pronunciation right, so I had to settle for Cha-Cha, the best dancer with the worst reputation at St. Bernadette’s [from Grease],” she says. “She likes to be petted and touched by everybody so, when I travel to do TV, people at [CNN, etc.] fight over who gets to babysit for her... There might be dogs as spoiled as her, but none that are more spoiled.” Cha-Cha now has 17,000 followers on Instagram.

Keeping it Small in Coral Gables

Demand for residential real estate in Coral Gables continues to be strong, as buyers from the Northeast seek to escape high taxes and dense living. The same goes for young families that are fleeing high-rises in the Brickell area, and for those further

afield looking for something more centrally located to ease the commute. With that demand in mind, we asked three real estate agents to submit one of their homes for sale at 1,500 square feet – perfect places to start a family in the Gables

Quiet North Gables

1418

CORDOVA ST.

Listing Price

$745,000

2 bed/2 bath/pool 1,517 sq. ft. Stylish house with raised beamed ceiling over an open floor plan, with French glass doors and a modern, granite kitchen. Built in 1952, fully renovated in 2013 and repainted in 2018, it’s on a large lot with a swimming pool. Located on a quiet residential street deep in the north Gables. Listing Agent: Marla C. Rivas (BHHS/ EWM Realty), 786.317.8285

Leafy Central Location

641 NAVARRE AVE.

Listing Price

$859,000

3 bed/2 bath 1,545 sq. ft.

Located in the tree-lined neighborhood on the north side of Granada Golf Course, this 1951 house has a large family room, ensuite master bedroom with beamed wooden ceiling, wooden floors throughout and a working fireplace. The windows are impact resistant and the backyard is large enough for a pool or an addition. Listing Agent: Mercedes Hernandez (Douglas Elliman), 305.695.6060

South of Blue Road

2 bed/2 bath 1,557 sq. ft.

Located on a quiet street between the University of Miami and the Shops at Merrick Park, this 1953 house is convenient to both. Highlights include open layout with large living and family rooms, marble and original oak floors, and remodeled kitchen with granite counter tops. Large master with walk-in closet. Listing Agent: Victor Mills (BHHS/EWM), 786.205.4207

BROKERAGE SALES SINCE 1980

35' Scout 2020 "Habibi" Call: Ryan Danoff (954) 260-5507

40' Intrepid' 2011 "Garbonzo" Call: Ryan Danoff (954) 260-5507

34' Jupiter 2017 "No Name" Call: Ryan Danoff (954) 260-5507

Mark Peck + Vinny Pyle + Ryan Danoff + Helen Wozunk

Dave Hayne + Ed Breese + Charlie Fluery + Billy Maus + Louis Dvorak

64' Viking 2007 "Barefoot" Call: Ryan Danoff- (954) 260-5507

40 Meter Westport - "No Name" 4 Currently on the market Call: Mark Peck (954) 224-1351

43' Formula 2018 "No Name" Call: Ryan Danoff (954) 260-5507

A Couple of Hours in Italy

THE NEW PORTOSOLE RESTAURANT IS AN AUTHENTIC CULINARY JOURNEY

BY ANDREW GAYLE / PHOTOS BY MIKE CAMPINA

Ask co-owner Lucio Zanon what makes his delightful new restaurant on Ponce special, in a city replete with fine Italian restaurants, and he will tell you that it’s about the experience. “This is Italian with a flair,” he says. “We try to create a synergy with the customers, so we clean and serve the branzino in front of them, we do panna cotta flambé tableside, we prepare the pasta in a pecorino wheel. Many things are done talking to the customer, so that we give them a couple of hours of Italian experience.”

It also helps that almost all of the staff is Italian, like Zanon. He is from Venice, but the restaurant is named after the marina of San Remo in Northwest Italy. It is on the Amalfi coast, and its fleet of fishing boats means the catch is daily. And while Portosole serves some excellent meat dishes, like its namesake, it leans decidedly toward fresh seafood.

For anyone who has dined in Italy, the food is based on an obsession with freshness and seasonality. This is evident at Portosole; its risotto del giorno – risotto of the day – is based on whatever is immediately available. On the night we visited, a shipment of chantarelle mushrooms had just come in from France, so we devoured a rich, delicious mushroom risotto.

Equally appetizing was the fresh burrata with heirloom tomatoes, a deceptively simple salad of tomato and burrata cheese that relies even more so on its ingredients. “It took me four months to find the right tomatoes,” says

Zanon. “But now we have the beautiful red and tasty organic tomatoes.” And they are.

Another outstanding appetizer is the fritto misto, a mixture of calamari, shrimp, filet of sole, tiny artichokes and zucchini, all lightly fried. It is a dish that comes from Zanon’s home city. “In Venice itself, the market for the fish is next to the market for the vegetables,” he says, explaining the mix. The test is the fried calamari, which so often is over-battered or soggy. Portosole’s is done perfectly –crisp and with just a dusting of powder – and served with a refreshing Italian tartar sauce.

Portosole makes its own pasta daily, and several of these dishes are stellar. One must-try is their ravioli stuffed with veal ossobuco and topped with a light pasta sauce with saffron. The bite of the al dente pasta perfectly offsets the creamy reduction inside, with its savory flavor of slow cooked meat. Another is the linguine vongole e bottarga, pasta with clams and bottarga, a reddish powder of salted, cured fish roe that amps up the flavor of the olive oil, garlic and parsley. Or try their tonnarelli cacio e pepe, prepared tableside by tossing the hot pasta in a wheel of pecorino cheese. The pasta absorbs the rich flavor of the pecorino, with parmesan added for a kicker.

For main courses, Portosole does an excellent job with its lamb, veal and beef dishes, which can be served family style and shared. But seafood rules here, and among the stars is their branzino, flown in daily from

BOTTOM:

PORTOSOLE

OPPOSITE TOP:

OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT: SALAD OF BURRATA WITH HEIRLOOM TOMATOES.

OPPOSITE MIDDLE: LINGUINE VONGOLE E BOTTARGA PASTA, WITH CLAMS AND BOTTARGA.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM: RAVIOLI STUFFED WITH VEAL OSSOBUCO TOPPED WITH SAFFRON PASTA SAUCE.

TOP: PORTOSOLE CO-OWNER LUCIO ZANON AND SON/MANAGER SEBASTIANO ZANON

WHITE WALLS AND SUBTLE LIGHTING CREATE AN AIRY FEELING, WITH OPEN DOORS ON PONCE.

2530 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 786.359.4275

FILET OF BRANZINO WITH ZUCCHINI ORGANICHE

Italian waters. They grill theirs perfectly, accompanied by a side of organic zucchini. They also do a daily seafood carpaccio which changes depending on what’s in the kitchen. On our night it was a smoked swordfish, both light and deeply piquant. We also tried a spectacular seafood ragu, with clams, shrimp, calamari, octopus and paccheri, a wide tube pasta from southern Italy that traps every morsel – and a good amount of sauce – with every bite.

The desserts are marvelous, including a panna cotta that tastes like flan gone to heaven, and a yogurt gelato with fig sauce, a sophisticated contrast of sweet and sour. But as impressive as the food is the ambiance and service. With one wall open to Ponce de Leon Boulevard, the inside feels airy and pandemic safe, and the array of subtle lighting, with candles and vintage sconce lightbulbs, is as romantic as the light jazz and samba background music. The service is also meticulous, as though the staff had been in place for decades, not months. All of it flows smoothly, presided over by the welcoming presence of Zanon, whose epicurean joy is contagious. You feel right at home, somewhere in Italy. ■

November 2020

THE TOP OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS

Usually our dining guide is a listing of the finest restaurants Coral Gables has to offer, sorted by types of cuisine. Once the coronavirus forced dining rooms to shut down, we switched to listing restaurants that were offering takeout options, then those with outdoors dining. Even though indoor dining is allowed again, we’re sticking with our listing of outdoor dining, which feels like a safer bet when venturing out. We list the best establishments that have al fresco dining in some form or another.

$ ............ Under $25 $$ .......... $25-$40 $$$ ........ $35-$75 $$$$ ...... $70-$100+ Prices are per person for appetizer and entrée, no tax, tip or drinks. Prices are approximate.

AMERICAN 77 Sport Bar

77 Sport Bar already had outdoor dining, like most restaurants on Giralda Plaza, so they’re ahead of the game. They’re known for having the coldest draft beer, which is exactly what we need for the summer heat. $ 180 Giralda Ave. 305.735.1477

Bachour

Their expansive courtyard is perfect for a pandemic. It has plenty of outdoor seating options and it was designed to have a breeze blow down the center, circulating fresh air throughout. $ - $$ 2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

Burger Bob’s Great burgers and chili. They’ve set up a few tables outside, so you can eat your classic burger virus-free while enjoying the views of the Granada Golf Course. $ 2001 Granada Blvd. 305.567.3100

Cheesecake Factory

With over 250 menu items from flatbread pizzas to “glamburgers,” Cheesecake Factory has something for everyone’s food mood. They also have outdoor tables in a covered area on Andalusia Avenue. $$ 2418 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.529.0703

Clutch Burger

Being on a pedestrian walkway, outdoor dining is plentiful for this home of gourmet burgers that required you to unhinge your jaws. Fans for when there isn’t a breeze. $$ 146 Giralda Ave. 305.400.8242

Copper 29

The outdoor dining setting is more or less the same as before the pandemic, with a handful of high top tables on the sidewalk (now they’re just farther apart). A great setting for brunch, happy hour and people watching on the Mile. $$ 206 Miracle Mile 786.580.4689

Denny’s

If you don’t know about Denny’s, then you probably don’t live in the US. Now this emporium of American breakfast and lunch standards has 14 outdoor tables. Stack of pancakes and sausage anyone? $-$$ 1 Miracle Mile. 305.445.2300.

Doc B’s

This American eatery has taken advantage of the city’s temporary outdoor dining permit and has set up tables on the corner of Miracle Mile and Salzedo. We can finally have their cinnamon swirl pancakes again. $$ 301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220

Eating House

Pre-coronavirus, Eating House didn’t have any outdoor seating, so they made their own. Now there are three tables and a tent where two parking spots used to be. They get an A for effort. $$ 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.448.6524

Seasons 52

The restaurant itself is massive –especially for a space on Miracle Mile – which means they have plenty of sidewalk real estate. Their desserts alone are worth the visit. $$ 321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552

Sports Grill

Now you can enjoy those famous Sports Grill special grilled wings without the fear of catching COVID. Outdoor seating both in front and along the alleyway. $ 1559 Sunset Dr. 305.668.0396

Tap 42

The outdoor scene at Tap 42 hasn’t changed a whole lot. The booths already have a high back that separates diners from each other. We’re just happy that the brunch scene is alive and well. $$ 301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566

The Globe

Plenty of tables on Alhambra Circle. The Globe always keeps their doors open, so you can sit inside and enjoy the cooler air while munching on their incomparable conch fritters and their famous Globe salad. $ - $$ 377 Alhambra Circle 305.455.3555

The Local

Plenty of shaded seating on Giralda Plaza where you can enjoy their downhome cooking, though we wonder what has happened to their fried chicken. Stick with the warm spinach salad. $$ 150 Giralda Ave. 305.648.5687

Titanic Restaurant and Brewery

The brewery/restaurant down the street from the University of Miami has teamed up with the university to create outdoor seating in a park-like setting adjacent to the parking lot behind the restaurant. $ - $$ 5813 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.667.2537

Yard House

The Shops at Merrick Park is a haven for outdoor dining. Even with six feet between tables, all restaurants here have enough space to still seat upwards of a dozen parties on their outdoor patios. $-$$ 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273

ASIAN

Benihana

The national chain now has seating on Miracle Mile. It’s not the same as sitting around the grill trying to catch veggies in your mouth, but at least we can still have their hibachi steak. $$ 242 Miracle Mile 305.567.2000

Canton Chinese

The only sit-down Chinese restaurant in the Gables now has outdoor seating on Ponce. Their fried rice, lo mein and sweet and sour chicken is just the comfort food we need right now. $$ 2614 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.448.3736

Ichimi

This off-Mile eatery has developed a cult following for its Japanese noodles and rice bowls. Now it has a couple of tables outside. Wish there were more! $-$$ 2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016

GIRALDA PLAZA

Izakaya

Across from the Colonnade hotel on Aragon, Izakaya is a must for lunch, with lots of excellent specials and the best bento box around. Now they have a few outdoor tables, too. $ 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584

Kao Sushi & Grill

This Miracle Mile eatery has a plethora of tables outside, from tables out on the sidewalk to the entrance-way alcove. Amazing deals right now on rolls and their chaufa fried rice. $$ 127 Miracle Mile 786.864.1212

Lotus Garden

Great Thai food at a great price. They now have outdoor dining options on the expanded sidewalk of Miracle Mile. $ 318 Miracle Mile 305.446.2360

Malakor Thai Isaan

Malakor prides itself on authentic, tasty Thai food. That means pork skewers with sticky rice, or Gang Aom, a Thai curry with fish sauce and herbs. Great pad Thai. Now they have tables on the Mile. $$ 90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862

Miss Saigon

Being on Giralda Plaza, Miss Saigon has plenty of seating for excellent, healthy Vietnamese fare. You can’t beat their special pho or their fried seafood rolls. A favorite in the Gables, not long ago voted best restaurant in Miami-Dade.

$$ 148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006

Mint Leaf

Their al fresco eating in the alcove could only accommodate six people with three two-person tables. Now they have added more for their south Indian cuisine. $$ 276 Alhambra Circle 305.443.3739

Moon Thai

With lots of tables and an umbrella at each, this is a great spot to eat outside if you don’t mind the noise from U.S. 1. Highly recommend their Japanese house salad (who doesn’t love ginger dressing?) and anything duck. $ - $$ 1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890

Sakura

This Japanese restaurant on U.S. 1 has expanded into the great outdoors – meaning their parking lot out back. Great lunch specials like a salad, gyoza, noodles, a Cal-

ifornia roll and shrimp tempura for $12.95. $$ 440 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.665.7020

Sawa Restaurant & Lounge

The Shops at Merrick Park is a haven for outdoor dining and thank heaven for it, with lots of tables where you can enjoy Sawa’s parallel Lebanese-Japanese menu. Daily fresh hummus and inventive rolls. $$-$$$ 360 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.6555

Sushi Maki

You can sit al fresco in the patio area on the corner of Ponce and Aragon, or on the sidewalk on Ponce. We prefer the patio because when it comes to sitting outside in the summertime, shade is a must. $-$$ 2334 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.443.1884

Taste Buds of India

We love Taste Buds of India because of its all-you-can eat luncheon for $15, which changes daily with nine Indian dishes (they include two Chinese dishes for the fun of it). Now its bright, pleasant space on Ponce is augmented by tables out front. $$ 2624 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.483.8379

FRENCH

Brasserie Central

This little slice of Parisian bistro is a tad pricey but top quality. Plus, in addition to seating in the vast Shops at Merrick Park courtyard, they have more tables in the San Lorenzo Avenue underpass for when the rain comes. $$$ 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.536.9388

Chocolate Fashion

This tiny but delightful French bakery café on Valencia now has a handful of tables outside, spreading onto the parking space streetside. Great place for breakfast, with excellent baked goods. $$ 248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200.

Pascal’s on Ponce

Pascal’s is the culinary canvas of owner-chef Pascal Oudin, who brings authentic and exquisite French cuisine to the heart of the city. His tables on Ponce have now expanded, to let you enjoy it all al fresco. $$$-$$$$ 2611 Ponce de Leon Bvld. 305.444.2024

Stephanie’s Crepes

Small, charming house of innovative crepes for a late breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also, fresh and

healthy smoothies. Three tables are set up outside under a shady tree and lit up at night. Doesn’t open until 10 am, and closed Monday and Tuesday, but stays open until midnight Tues.-Sun. $ 2423 Galiano St. 786.636.8939

ITALIAN

Amore

Small, sweet Italian spot on Miracle Mile, with a half dozen tables with umbrellas outside. A wide ranging selectin of pastas, including linguini vongole, pumpkin and lobster ravioli, fagottini de pera – pasta stuffed with mascarpone and pears. Nice service, reasonably priced, good house wines. $$ 94 Miracle Mile. 305.200.3216

Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza

Big pies and lots of seating at tables on the corner of Ponce and Almeria. Their specialty: Pies cooked at 900 degrees, so they are a little charred at the edges. $-$$ 2626 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.456.9200.

Caffe Abbracci

Nino Pernetti’s Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and an evening gathering place for families and couples. Now it has a few tables on Aragon for outdoor dining. $$$ 318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

Caffe Italia

Enjoy homemade pastas and other Italian cuisine, along with a hearty wine list, now served on their outdoor “patio” on 8th Street. $$ 3800 SW 8th St. 305.443.8122

Cibo Wine Bar

This Miracle Mile establishment now offers outdoor patio dining. A great setting to sip vino from their extensive wine menu. And the Gigli pasta is a must-have. $$$ 45 Miracle Mile 305.442.4925

Forno’s

Maybe the best pizza in the Gables – super flavorful, with a thin, crisp crust. Last time we checked they were only making personal pizzas, but we’ll take them, with a couple of tables outside. $-$$ 1403 Sunset Dr. 305.661.3964

Fiola

This upscale Italian restaurant offers intimate al fresco dining with tables tucked away on the side of the building facing San Ignacio Avenue. Perfect for date night and special occasions. Expensive but brilliant cuisine. $$$$ 1500 San Ignacio Avenue 305.912.2639

Portosole

The latest entry in the battle for Italian food lovers in downtown Gables, started by former staff of Zucca. With glass walls opening onto Ponce, there is now plenty of seating at this elegant new North

Frame

Italian eatery. 2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd. $$$ 786.359.4275

Salumeria 104

Another restaurant that has plenty of outdoor dining options. You can sit underneath the overhang or right on the street to enjoy the best shaved Italian meats in town. $-$$ 117 Miracle Mile 305.640.5547

Terre del Sapore

We love eating here (seriously, they have some of the best pizza in the city), and their small outdoor presence has expanded. Still, come

VILLAGIO

in the evening when its cooler. $$ 246 Giralda Ave. 786.870.5955

Villagio

One of the most popular Italian restaurants in town, with lots of outdoor seating in the Shops at Merrick Park courtyard and down the “tunnel” of San Lorenzo Ave. Surprisingly good apple pie dessert. $$-$$$ 358 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.8144

LATIN & SOUTH AMERICAN

Buenos Aires Bistro

Every table has wide, cushioned chairs and couches, under the arches of the Colonnade building. Perfect for relaxing with a cool cocktail, or dining on their Argentine grill or healthy quinoa and salmon bowl. $$ - $$$ 180 Aragon Ave. 786.409.5121

Caja Caliente

Prior to COVID, Caja didn’t have any tables outside. Now they set up three with two chairs at each. So, not a ton of seating, but their $4 lechon tacos on Tuesdays make up for it. $ 808 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.431.1947

Calle 23

We’re excited to have another hangout that will draw the Millenial crowd to the Gables with neon signs and happy hour deals. Owned by the same people Copper 29, with high tops out on the sidewalk and a lounge by the entrance. $-$$ 230 Miracle Mile 786.325.3474

Divino Ceviche

Divino takes ceviche to another level, along with lots of other authentic Peruvian foods and beer. Add to that their cluster of tables under umbrellas on Giralda Plaza for a winning formula. $$ 160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775

El Porteño

Great Argentine food, great wine and an awesome cheese board. Now you can enjoy it outside. $$ 271 Miracle Mile. 786.534.8888

Graziano’s Market

This gourmet Argentine deli and restaurant (with a great wine collection) has plenty of outdoor seating at high tops under the arches along Galiano, with signs indicating which ones have been

sanitized. $-$$ 2301 Galiano St. 305.460.0001

Havana Harry’s

This restaurant with a cult following now has outdoor seating, and lots of it – some 20 tables under the big tent and umbrellas. Indulge in croquetas, ropa vieja and tres leches while also following CDC guidelines. $-$$ 4612 S. Le Jeune Rd. 305.661.2622

La Taberna Giralda

Only a few tables out front on the sidewalk, but they have a spacious courtyard out back. From tapas, to paella to their Spanish wine collection, there isn’t a bad item on the menu. $$ 254 Giralda Ave. 786.362.5677

Punto Criollo

Incredibly authentic Venezuelan cuisine. The arepas las gaiteras and the pechuga al grill are standout items on the menu, plus wonderful Ajiaco soup (corn, chicken, potatoes, milk, celery).Expanded into the street on Andalusia. $ 262 Andalusia Ave. 786.599.7117

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

The only Mexican restaurant in Coral Gables also happens to be its best with plenty of seating on Giralda Plaza. All your Mexican favorites plus some off-beat authentic dishes, like iguana soup. $-$$ 2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2955

Wood Label Bistro

Sweet, small café down from the Sports Grill on Sunset, Wood Label serves Argentine, Cuban and Spanish food at their few alcove outside tables. The best empanadas anywhere. $$ 1573 Sunset Dr. 786.773.2394

SEAFOOD

Gringo’s Oyster Bar

A shrine for fresh seafood with the freshest and tastiest oysters you will find anywhere (as they should be at $3 each). Also great lobster rolls. A long alleyway on the side of the restaurant, with overhead fans, lets you enjoy outdoors. $$ - $$$ 1549 Sunset Dr. 305.284.9989.

DINING GUIDE

Mesa Mar Seafood Table

Is this the best seafood place in the Gables? Their customers think so, with super fresh local fish that is heightened by a delicious, inventive overlay of oriental and Latin flavors. $$$ 264 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448.

Sea Grill

Tucked away in a corner of the courtyard at Shops at Merrick Park, plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy Greek style seafood flown in from the Agean. $$$-$$$$ 4250 Salzedo St. 305.447.3990

SPANISH

Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant

They have a Miami Spice menu and their new al fresco seating on Miracle Mile is the perfect way to enjoy it. We hope they keep these outdoor tables even when things return to normal. $$$ 339 Miracle Mile 786.502.4684

Bulla Gastrobar

Bulla has created an outdoor/ indoor space on Andalusia so guests can still enjoy the flavors of Spain. Highly recommend the

tartar de atun and the sangria de cerveza. Or sip on a refreshing strawberry or blackberry limonada if you can’t take a post-meal siesta. $$ 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.810.6215

Cava

Excellent, affordable “All You Can Eat” Spanish buffet ($15.95) with more than 40 choices including paella, pork, fish, chorizo, Spanish cheeses, now with a half dozen outside tables. $$-$$$ 3850 SW 8th St. 305.433.7666

Tapeo Eatery & Bar

The former home to the only Basque cuisine in the Gables, Tapeo has morphed into a popular tapas bar with tastes from across Spain. Lots of seating outside. $-$$ 112 Giralda Ave. 786.452.9902

STEAK

Morton’s the Steakhouse Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnade gives it a unique elegance with outdoor seating under the arches. Prime aged beef,

excellent salads. $$$ 2233 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.442.1662

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fantastic aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end of its depth – and now tables wrapped around the building, under arches, if you wish to eat outside. $$$ - $$$$ 2525 Ponce de Leon Bvld. 305.569.7995

Perry’s Steakhouse

The latest entry into the battle for the hearts of steak lovers, Perry’s also brings it with the world’s biggest pork chop and surprisingly good salad entrees. Lots of outdoor seating at the Shops at Merrick Park. $$$$ 4251 Salzedo St. 786.703.9094

PUBS/CAFES/MISC.

Bagel Emporium & Grille

Great bagels, as you would expect, but also a vast menu that includes omelets, waffles, soups, sandwiches, burgers and off course brisket, blintzes and roast turkey. And now outside seating. $-$$ 1238 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.666.9519

Bazille

Located inside Nordstrom in the Shops at Merrick Park, Bazille has long been the go-to bistro for shoppers in need of sustenance and down time. Now they are offering patio dining on the third floor. $$$ 4310 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.999.7119

Café at Books & Books

Most people might not think about Books & Books when trying to decide where to eat, but it actually has a large courtyard. Amazingly good Cuban sandwich. $-$$ 265 Aragon Ave. 305.442.4408

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

If outdoor dining were a monarchy, Crema would be king. Tons of seating options from two-person tables on the expanded sidewalk to larger tables and couches by the entrance. We prefer the lounge-like area, which is shaded by the Colonnade building. $ 169 Miracle Mile 786.360.4026

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

Massive outdoor patio on Merrick Way for German fare and beer.

Enjoy schnitzel and Weissbier in a two-liter boot, sans fear of getting infected with COVID. $$ 60 Merrick Way 305.774.1883

Liberty Caffe

Whether it’s just grabbing a coffee or sitting down for a full meal, Liberty Caffe offers a picturesque outdoor setting at the Coral Gables Country Club. $-$$ 997 N. Greenway Dr. 305.392.1211

Mamey

It is hard to pigeonhole this new restaurant, with its mix of Caribbean, Polynesian and Thai gastronomy. The good news is that they have outdoor seating so you can sample a new taste palate. $$$ At the Thēsis Hotel, 1350 S. Dixie Highway. 305.667.5611

Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market

Who says there aren’t cool neighborhood pubs in the Gables? And they have a leafy patio out back! Happy hour sliders, bennies and crepes for brunch, and a tasty dinner selection of meat and fish. $$-$$$ 216 Palermo Ave. 786.801.1071

Sacha’s Café

The courtyard at Sacha’s is one of our favorites. Not only are the tables now distant from each other, but, tucked away off of Ponce, the whole area is distant from crowds of people. $ 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.1300

Threefold

The first breakfast-only-all day restaurants in the Gables, Threefold has a cult following for their favorites of smashed avocado toast, salmon scramble, and mushrooms with white beans. Plus, great coffee. $$ 141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007

Tur Kitchen

This relative newcomer to the Gables has a wonderfully inventive menu of Mediterranean cuisine, including excellent lamb and Aegean seafood dishes. Elegant seating under the arches along Giralda. $$$-$$$$ 259 Giralda Ave. 786.483.8014

FAST CASUAL/TAKEOUT

Carrot Express

Following the trend, they added a few more high top tables out on the expanded Miracle Mile sidewalk. A nice place to sit for a quick, healthy lunch. $ 259 Miracle Mile 786.471.4985

Coyo Taco

Originally started in Wynwood, this highly popular eatery on Giralda Plaza has plenty of seating, fast window service and a vast selection of tacos at great prices. $ 126 Giralda Ave. 786.629.7929

Green Gables Café

This small but popular café is a mainstay of vegetarian and vegan cuisine, with super healthy breakfasts and daily lunch specials (and carnivore food, too, though no dinner). Now it has a couple of tables on Alhambra for its loyal followers. 327 Alhambra Circle. 305.445.7015.

GreenLife

Yes, they have salmon toast, açai bowls and oatmeal. But most

people come here for the smoothies, cold pressed juice or the $5 ginger shots. $ 104 Giralda Ave. 786.409.5592

La Sandwicherie

For those denizens of the latenight scene on South Beach, the recent arrival of this sandwich emporium is to be celebrated. We would go for the secret sauce along. $ 142 Giralda Ave. 786.615.2724

P.Pole Pizza

Outdoor seating is nothing new here for flatbread-style pizza to-go, with a huge selection of toppings for their conveyor belt operation. $ 279 Miracle Mile 786.618.5287

Rice Mediterranean Kitchen Kabobs, bowls, wraps – this is your one-stop emporium for Mediterranean/Mideast food, with lots of healthy food for very modest prices. Plus lots of seating on Giralda Plaza. 164 Giralda Ave. $ 305.200.5382

Night Lights

Coral Gables City Hall was lit in green, teal and pink on the night of October 13, as part of National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Our city hall was one of 115 iconic buildings, bridges and monuments lit up nationwide to promote awareness and funding for metastatic breast cancer research. Photo by Emily Fakhoury.

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