Coral Gables Magazine April 2020

CORAL GABLES

Turn What You Love Into Where You Live

Pinecrest | 6050 SW 120th Street

$3,499,000 | 7 BR, 8.5 BA | Web# A10712353

Hilda Jacobson: M 786.213.4511

David Siddons : M 305.508.0899

Coral Gables | 907 Jerorimo Drive

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David Siddons: M 305.695.6060

Coral Gables | 8010 Los Pinos Boulevard

$2,250,000 | 5 BR, 4.5 BA | Web# A10813028

Hilda Jacobson: M 786.213.4511

David Pulley: M 305.794.1500

Coral Gables | 4001 Monserrate Street

$1,599,000 | 4 BR, 5 BA | Web# A10665127

Hilda Jacobson: M 786.213.4511

Shlomi Betesh: M 305.501.9176

GENEROSITY CREATES PEACE OF MIND.

Through the generosity of donors, South Miami Hospital purchased NicView TM cameras for all 62 beds in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The cameras aren’t required for the expert care provided there, but to ease the minds of anxious parents and relatives who can’t be with them 24/7. Now, they can peek in on them through the camera day or night, via mobile device.

Generosity Heals.

Learn how your generosity can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

BaptistHealth.net/GenerosityHeals or 786-467-5400.

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CELEBRATING TWO YEARS IN THE GABLES

It was two years ago this month that we launched our first issue of Coral Gables Magazine. Here is a quick look back at some of the people and events that we have covered, for you, the readers that make all of this possible.

BUSINESS QUARTERLY

Our quarterly report on business and commerce

BANKING: A look at the trends for locally based Coral Gables banks. Is there a hometown edge?

INFRASTRUCTURE: The city prepares for the future with modern new buildings.

PLUS: COMMENTARY

In Times of Crisis

YOU NEED A STEADY HAND AND GOOD COUNSEL

Evensky & Katz is a wealth management firm with 35 years of experience in the areas of financial planning and goals-based investment management. The independence and integrity of our advice, coupled with our unwavering commitment to quality client services, sets us apart in a crowd.

Our boutique size and culture – combined with the spirit, fellowship and character of our fiduciary team – stand in sharp contrast to Wall Street and the financial services industry. When you need personalized support and advice, Evensky & Katz is your choice.

evensky.com | P: 305.448.8882

4000 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 850

Coral Gables, FL 33146

Waiting for the Monsters to Pass

This month marks the second anniversary of this publication. The party we had planned would have been a happy, boisterous affair. Like everything else in Coral Gables, it was shutdown due to the virus.

There will be stark memories for all of us in this affair. The first time you saw a face mask. The first time you saw the ravaged, empty shelves of your supermarket. The first time you had to practice social distancing in line at the bank. What’s impossible to know, as I write this, is whether those memories will include when you first learned that a friend or relative tested positive.

I will always remember when I first learned that the city would close down all establishments where people congregate. Everything. Restaurants, bars, theaters, libraries, parks, you know the drill. By 11 pm that night. It was during the afternoon of Tuesday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day, the day when life as we know it officially ended.

I immediately booked dinner for my family in the courtyard Fontana restaurant at the Biltmore Hotel. I thought, if this was going to be the last day before the world we knew ended, why not go out in style? I also thought the same thing after dinner. Why not take one last stroll down Miracle Mile before the lights went out?

To my surprise the street was already deserted. Two people sat at a front table at Copper 29. It is usually jammed with people. I could actually see the back wall. And there were just a handful of people at Hillstone, another first. Otherwise the street was dark – except for John Martin’s Irish Pub, where a man dressed as a leprechaun was laughing with some people out front. Inside it was happy bedlam, an Irish sea chanty blaring. I had a Jameson double at the bar while the crowd roared. It felt like the last party on the deck of the Titanic, right before the ship went down.

As I left, I ran into owner Martin Lynch. He was looking paternally at the

people who filled every table on the new wide sidewalk outside, from seniors to kids with their families. Lynch’s pub has been on this spot for 30 years and has never closed except for hurricanes. “It’s kind of bittersweet,” he told me, “to be closing down on this night, which is normally the best night of the year, St. Patrick’s Day.” With his lease expiring in May, Lynch will probably never reopen.

I have been trying to put all of this into perspective as it unfolds. Like a lot of people, I keep thinking of movie analogies. Are we going to experience a pandemic breakdown of society, like “Contagion” or “Outbreak”?

As of the writing of this column, there have been no cases, let alone fatalities, reported in Coral Gables. So those images don’t fit, at least not yet.

Instead, what we have now is a pervasive sense of Something Evil Comes This Way, something we must lay low to avoid, and hope that it passes by. The analogy here would be “A Quiet Place,” John Krasinski’s horror movie where humans are hunted by aliens who are blind but possess acute powers of hearing. Everyone tries to keep quiet to avoid detection – like staying quietly at home hoping the virus won’t infect us.

As we print this issue, some of our stories reflect the city’s shutdown. Most reflect a city that we all hope to return to as soon as possible. In the meantime, I have one more memory to add, that of going to one of my favorite restaurants on Miracle Mile – Malakor – for takeout. Only one employee was inside, handing me my bag of food. There was a bottle of hand sanitizer near the door. I took a squirt. At home the food tasted great. It felt better to help one of our beleaguered local businesses. I urge you to do the same.

J.P.Faber

Editor-in-Chief

Cover: 2nd Anniversary Special Issue.

Artwork by Jon Braeley

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

SENIOR WRITER

Doreen Hemlock

WRITERS

James Broida

Mike Clary

Andrew Gayle

Mallory Evans Jacobson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Campina

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

RESEARCH

Gloria Glantz

INTERNS

Emmalyse Brownstein

Rachelle Barrett

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 2019 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@ thecoralgablesmagazine.com. BPA International Membership applied for March 2019.

READERS LETTERS

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

KUDOS FOR CG MAGAZINE

Normally I have nothing but contempt for city magazines… they keep repeating the same tired articles. So, congratulations on the Coral Gables Magazine. We just got ours and I have to tell you, I went from skepticism to fan in a few pages. I especially liked the article on my neighbor, Ian Schrager – though my wife commented she would have loved to see their kitchen and the outside kitchen. After all, he IS Mr. Wine & Food Festival! But that was more than made up by the pages following the article [the Kitchen Tour].

Marcelo Salup Principal, CEO Analytics, LLC

REMEMBER REBYL

[In your story about the Women of Coral Gables] you left out one of the most important women in Coral Gables History! Rebyl Zain – the eyes of the blind creator of Miracle Mile, George K Zain, and the marketing brain that built the “World Famous Miracle Mile” by bringing in national merchants, years before such things existed. Rebyl was known as the Mother of the Mile. She was the impetus behind the merchants and property owner’s

association which later became the BID. She and her husband built the Miracle Building and held ownership of all of the stores on the ground floor for many years. She was a City Commissioner for several terms and when she was running for Mayor she was diagnosed with cancer and had to drop out of the race. The City made her Mayor for the Day (the first female Mayor) just prior to her death, primarily because she was “that close” to winning the election. She deserves recognition and to be remembered today.

Sally Baumgartner Gables Resident

MANKIND IN THE PROMISED LAND

I was surprised to read the reader’s letter last month about the new business in town ManKind, especially after such a nice article the month before. It sounded like the person had never visited ManKind and was just protecting the place he likes to go. ManKind offers an extremely relaxing environment with first class service. Beyond the pool table, which I enjoy very much, they also have one of the best steam rooms in the area. That said, I think there is plenty of room for businesses in the

Gables that offer first class service and great products. We can see this by the many great restaurants, jewelry stores, cigar shops, bridal shops and other business in the area that compete with each other. I personally think anyone brave enough to start a small business in our town should be welcomed and encouraged.

Austin Tellam Gables Resident

HONORED

Thank you very much for including me in the Women of Coral Gables feature. I’m so honored to have been profiled with such outstanding women in this community. As I may have mentioned to the writer during our interview, when I reflected on the questions you sent me, I realized that my encounter with Roxcy Bolton in the late 1960s indirectly had a major influence on the direction of my life. I applaud the magazine! I learn so much about the community and the people who live and work here.

Virginia Miller Art Space

Streetwise

Goings on Around Town…

PLUS: COUNTING ON YOU ONE MILLION AND COUNTING ON THE SPECTRUM WINDOW DRESSINGS OF HOPE The fight against the coronavirus: Restaurants, bars and retail stores are closed until further notice.

Goings on Around Town…

WAITING FOR THE END OF THE PLAGUE

The big story of the month, of course, is that we have entered a surreal landscape, with the city shut down in the face of the coronavirus. Miracle Mile is quiet: this photo was taken on Saturday afternoon, usually one of the busiest shopping days. The Shops at Merrick Park are a ghost town, even the Biltmore is closed. During the day there is still some activity downtown, with the occasional shop still open – a florist here, a wine merchant there. Most of the restaurants, as of this printing, are offering takeout food. Even Caffe Abbracci, which initially refused, gave in to popular demand for a limited takeout menu. The real question is whether the small businesses of the Gables can survive, and what will happen to employees in the food and hospitality sectors. Lawyers can keep lawyering, but waiters are just out of luck. The city has responded admirably, first declaring an emergency Mar. 12, then ordering a comprehensive shutdown Mar. 17. To keep up with the latest closings – which now include even the public parks – go to the city’s website www.coralgables.com.

EXCLUSIVE UM

We all knew that the University of Miami was the best college in Florida. That goes without saying. So, it’s good to see that confirmed in a report by 247wallst. com, which listed the hardest colleges to gain admittance to in each state in the country. The admission rate for UM is less than one in three applications. Not as tough as Harvard, mind

you, which accepts only one in 20, but still...

MUST EAT THERE

As long as we are talking about rankings, we note that the Palm Beach Post, the voice of that uber affluent community, has named 12 must-eat “bucket list” restaurants in Florida. Joining iconic places like Joe’s Stone Crab on Miami Beach and Bern’s Steak House in Tampa is the Palme d’Or at the Biltmore. Perhaps more surprising is the recent Yelp list of the top 100 places to eat in the U.S. Only one Gables restaurant made it. At number 6 out of 100: Fratellino on Miracle Mile. Can’t wait till they all reopen!

THE NEXT CHURCH OF THE ARTS

Local preservation hero and patron of the arts Mike Eidson is continuing his campaign to save the city’s historic buildings. Eidson is the man who restored the building where Books & Books now resides. He also tried to save the LaSalle Cleaners building – home to city founder George Merrick’s development company – after the city voted it was too far gone to warrant historic preservation. Eidson was willing to put down $5 million to buy it, but owner Mirella LaSalle wanted more and bulldozed it. Next, Eidson formed Sanctuary of the Arts, and took a very long lease on the Church of Christ Scientist buildings across from City Hall, turning the historic structure into a venue for performing arts. Now he has purchased St. Mary’s First Missionary Baptist Church building on Frow Avenue, for

$550,000. The building had been ordered shut by the city in October, so he may have acted just in time. He and Sanctuary CEO Olga Granda plan to renovate the 4,000-square foot church on the edge of Coconut Grove for an arts theater with 100-125 seats.

AND THE RENTS ARE DOWN

When we last reported on the cost of renting an apartment in Coral Gables, it was rated the most expensive city in MiamiDade County. A new survey from nationwide apartment listing company Zumper says that prize now goes to Sunny Isles, followed by Miami. The Gables, where prices have dropped 4 percent, is now at number three. Homestead remains at the bottom, the least expensive.

HANG UP ON THE PD?

Even in a state where con men run amok, it was a nervy move: Last month scammers were calling residents with a technology that changed their Caller ID to that of the Coral Gables Police Department. People who picked up were threatened with arrest if they didn’t pay

a fee using a credit card. The CGPD asked anyone getting such a call to hang up and dial the real police at 305.442.1600. The techno-breach permitting the calls has since been fixed.

HOW THEY SEE US

Last month the Washington Times ran a blistering article about how Big Brother was growing alarmingly bigger “one automated license-plate reader at a time.” The article was about the plate-reading technology that Coral Gables uses to track cars that enter and leave the city. It’s called the “geo-fence” program, designed to keep citizens safe from known criminals. The article was based on an interview with the attorney for local resident Raul Mas Canosa, who is suing the city for violating his constitutional rights with the plate readers. The article alleged the technology could tell when a person drove to the doctor, or to a bar, or when they went on vacation. Absurd, say city officials. All they can do is record who enters and leaves; so far it has helped them nab several criminals with outstanding warrants. ■

“We were stunned. We stayed in the Four Seasons in Paris once, and The Palace at Coral Gables looked better. Ten minutes after we walked in the door, we realized we had never seen senior living like this. Everything you can think of is at your fingertips. Chef-prepared meals in the dining room. A social director who makes cruise ships look dull. A staff trained to deliver such a high level of care and comfort they’ve been named #1 in America. Everywhere you look, it’s 5-star all the way.

But you need good friends to share it with. Our crowd at The Palace are some of the best new friends we’ve ever met, and every single one of us will tell you: ‘We wish we had found The Palace sooner.’ ”

Jack & Evelyn Miller

“We swore we weren’t ready for senior living. Then we saw The Palace.”

Counting on YOU

APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE CENSUS, WHEN EVERYONE MUST BE COUNTED

By now you should have received a census notice in the mail. Initially, it is a letter asking you to respond online. If you do not respond to it in a few weeks – if you don’t have an online connection, or simply fear the internet – the next step is a paper questionnaire sent to you in the mail. If they still haven’t gotten a response, the Census Bureau will send someone to your door – though that final step may lag this year, thanks to the coronavirus.

In the meantime, the City of Coral Gables will be doing all it can to make sure you are counted. Why? Because allocations of federal and state resources rely upon that count, so the more the merrier. When the census was first taken in the U.S. in 1790, the idea was to get an accurate count of citizens so as to properly award seats in Congress. Today it is about the largesse that could and should come our way.

To help ensure that all Gableites participate, the city

commission put together a committee comprising different community stakeholders – including the Chamber of Commerce and the University of Miami – led by Commissioner Michael Mena. “A lot of it has just been getting the word out, by mailers and social media and even a booth at the Farmers Market on Saturdays,” says Mena. “The good thing is that a lot of institutions are independently working on it, because it is something that impacts everyone [with] funding for projects that improve everybody’s lives.”

The problem is, of course, under-counting. In the last two census counts, it was estimated that Coral Gables was undercounted by about a quarter of its population. Part of that comes from people who fear revealing personal information to the federal government – though by law that information must be kept private. Part of it comes from not understanding who can be counted, such as children, or students

living in dorms at UM. “I would suspect that some of it is just lack of engagement, just people not participating,” says Mena. “That’s the world we live in.”

Mark Trowbridge, the head of the Chamber and the de-facto vice chair of the city’s committee, attributes the lack of full response to a number of factors. “Older people who live in our neighborhoods have a significant distrust for anything coming from the government,” he says. “And then you have a diverse population, where English is not the first language…. Political

rhetoric has been a big factor because of the residency issue.” Trowbridge says the committee has reached out to homeowner’s associations for help, has asked public schools to send home fliers and, through the Chamber, enlisted the aid of the business community.

“We have definitely had a much more proactive, engaged process than ever before,” says Trowbridge. “Sweetwater and Medley have had better percentage counts than us, so it’s really a point of pride that we do better.” ■

One Million and Counting...

SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS WITH A HUNGER

One of Antonio Bachour’s mantras has always been that we eat with our eyes as well as our mouths. To that end, the pastries he creates at his eponymous restaurant on Salzedo are as pretty to look at as they are to taste. It is no wonder, then, that the grand master of Gables pastries (voted in 2018 by his colleagues as the best pastry chef in the world) has now hit the astounding number of one million Instagram followers. Fortunately for us locals, we can see the real thing in the jewelry cases where they are on display. And we can eat them with our mouths as well as our eyes. At least with takeout, for now. ■

On the Spectrum

CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS A HAVEN FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

April is Autism Awareness Month, so we are bringing awareness to one institution that is making a difference for children on the spectrum and their families: Crystal Academy. “Crystal Academy is a holistic therapy center and school, whose mission is how to work with our kids in an individualized manner within a group setting,” says founder Mary Palacio-Pike. She created the center 10 years ago with her husband David. They started Crystal Academy because their oldest son, also named David, was diagnosed with autism as a baby.

According to the CDC, 1 in 59 children are being diagnosed with autism. That number has drastically gone up since their son was diagnosed 17 years ago. Back then, 1 in 166 children were deemed to be on the spectrum. Whether there are more cases now than ever before, or if there is simply better detection, is a question that no one has answered yet. However, research now lets us recognize signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder as early as 16-months-old.

The therapy center and school, located in the North Gables on Antilla Avenue, is comprised of classrooms, a music therapy room, a gymnastics room, and a language center (not part of tuition).

Their relaxation and calming (RAC) room was made possible through a grant from the Coral Gables Community Foundation. Back in 2018, the school was invited to the opening of the Umbrella Sky exhibition on Giralda Plaza. The RAC room, with padded walls and bean bag chairs, has four of

the umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. Palacio-Pike purchased them when the exhibition was being taken down, as a way to thank the foundation.

Every child at the school has an individualized plan and works one-on-one with a therapist. If a student had previously been working with therapists of their own (speech, behavioral, etc.), Crystal Academy will accommodate them. “Because we understand how parents feel, we always welcome therapists from other places to come here and treat the child that we have here,” Palacio-Pike says.

On the school side, they welcome all school-aged children – even PreK-4 students –depending on the situation. On the therapy side, they work with children as young as 18 months. “Early intervention is key for children in the spectrum,” Palacio-Pike says. “You don’t want to lose those years and then start from a base that has nothing at 4- or 5-years-old.”

Some stay at Crystal Academy all through high school, while some eventually go to another school, namely The Biltmore School. “We recommend The Biltmore School because they have a program that might be the transitional program that they [the children] need,” says Palacio-Pike.

Back at the Crystal Academy, occupational and behavioral therapists work with children to improve things like eye contact, bodily awareness and social interaction. Says Palacio-Pike, “Once you have a child on the spectrum, you realize all the things we take for granted.” ■

OTHER RESOURCES:

University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

A state-funded, university-based outreach and support center dedicated to helping people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities like sensory impairments, UMCARD provides individualized client and family support, family and professional training, public education and awareness, and community outreach. They work with both children and adults.

5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 2nd floor, 1.800.9.AUTISM

ACORN HEALTH

Acorn Health is moving autism therapy forward in its new center above Publix on Douglas. Using Applied Behavior Analysis, they work with children starting at 18-months-old. Each child is treated by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and has an individualized plan. 1500 Douglas Rd. Suite 230, 844.244.1818

Crystal Academy founder Mary Palacio-Pike. The therapy center and school, located in the North Gables on Antilla Avenue, is comprised of classrooms, a music therapy room, a gymnastics room, and a language center.

Window Dressings of Hope

This past winter, you may have noticed that the vacant storefronts on Miracle Mile were decorated with seasonal scenes. Now comes the latest version, with 10 empty storefront windows across six stores dressed up to bring Springtime to the Mile.

The scenes were created by Gables-based Inkberry studio, hired by the Coral Gables Business Improvement District (BID) to bring life to otherwise empty window display areas. Catalina Perez, the creative director at Inkberry, says the visuals were inspired by greenery, flowers, the beach, colorful fruit and retro characters.

“Spring has always been a sign of rebirth and hope. Our hope is that these sunny windows brighten someone’s mood, even if it’s for just a minute,”

says Perez. Phrases have been added to most of the designs, some a bit cheeky, like “I see what you are doing there. And I like it.” As an homage to Miami, the two windows on the corner of Miracle Mile and LeJeune are in Spanglish: “Hola, beautiful” and “Hello, guapo.”

The window at 355 is a sunny photo of a woman looking out to sea. It reads “Be Strong!” – hauntingly apropos, though designed before the coronavirus arrived. “Before claiming to be a clairvoyant, I have to point out that this window’s message, ‘Be Strong!’ is followed by ‘I whispered to my wifi,’ so, no relation to the current state of chaos,” says Perez. “Although, can you imagine not having good wifi right now with everyone hunkered down trying to watch Netflix?” ■

Photo by Nicholas Faber

Living Best Bets for

April

PLUS: A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN THE JAZZ MAP

A League of Their Own

WHEN IT COMES TO SOFTBALL, NO ONE HAS MORE FUN THAN THOSE WHO ARE YOUNG AT HEART

BY EMMALYSE BROWNSTEIN PHOTOS BY LIZZIE WILCOX

For most community youth centers, a weekday morning in early spring means empty fields and quiet activity rooms. But not for the War Memorial Youth Center. When the kids are in school, the Young Viejos come out to play. On every Tuesday and Thursday morning, you can find this 65-and-older league playing seven innings of softball.

It’s an unusual, yet refreshing sight: Players in their late 60s, 70s and even 80s are swinging bats, tossing baseballs, and jogging laps around the diamond. Some are dressed in pinstripe pants and cleats, others in shorts and sneakers. But all wear the same bright blue jersey with “Young Viejos” displayed proudly across the chest.

The late Howard “Roxy” Roxborough, an accountant from Canada who retired to Coral Gables, started the team in 1994. His wife coined the team’s Spanglish name, translated as “the young old men,” to celebrate Miami’s Hispanic roots.

Baseball was a huge part of many of the players’ childhoods. Jesus “Junior” Martinez, 81, has been playing ball since he was six and umpiring for 55 years. He umpires every Young Viejos game. Hector Martinez never imagined that he’d still be playing at 78. “When you’re young, you never think you’re going to get old,” said Martinez, a retired school administrator. “You don’t think time is going to fly over you.”

The average age of a Young Viejos player is 77, according to Jerry Llevada, one of the team

directors. The oldest player? Augustin Gonzalez, 97, who arrived in Miami from Cuba in 1966 and has been on the team for 15 years. For these baseball lovers, age is just a number. “That guy there is in his late 60s,” Llevada said, pointing to a base runner. “He catches, he throws, he runs. And that guy there is 87,” Llevada said, pointing to the pitcher. “He had a heart issue and the paramedics told him to take it easy. He said, ‘If I die here, that’s the way I want to go.’”

Despite their positive attitude and love for the game, some modifications are necessary. Martinez, who is usually an outfielder, now sticks to first base because of the tendonitis in his shoulder. “All these guys — they’re hurting somewhere,” Martinez said. “We forget about all the pain and aches when we come here. A lot of time, it’s a state of mind.”

Aside from their usual field at the Youth Center, where they pick teams to play each other, the Young Viejos – now celebrating their 25th anniversary – also play an annual game at Marlins Park.

“Softball is the most beautiful game ever invented,” said Gonzalez. “Football, hockey, basketball — every other game has the same philosophy. In baseball it’s totally different. You could be losing 10 to nothing — which we have been here — and the last inning, with two outs, we’ve come back to win. In baseball, there’s always a possibility. There’s always a hope. Because it’s not over until it’s over.” ■

Field of Dreams: The “Young Viejos” – in their 60s, 70s and 80s – play each other every Tuesday and Thursday.

Above: Grammy winner, Brian Lynch, performs regularly at Open Stage, photo by Tomoji Hirakata

Best Bets

FOR APRIL

With the coronavirus shutting down most events in and near the city, there is not a lot to look forward to – at least not in the first couple of weeks of April. We hope that the situation will improve by later in the month. These are two events that were still scheduled for that time. Make sure to call first.

EL MATRIMONIO SECRETO

A new production of one of the most successful comic operas from the late 18th century with a Miami twist performed in Spanish by the Florida Grand Opera. It now takes place in South Florida with a Cuban family in the 1980s running Hotel Paraiso on Miami Beach. Six characters find themselves caught in awkward, compromising situations and drinking Cuba Libres until a family secret is uncovered. April 18, 21, 23, 26. Miami-Dade County Auditorium. Tickets: $15 - $225. 2901 W Flagler St. 305.547.5414.

HEADLINES! 117 YEARS OF THE MIAMI HERALD

The Coral Gables Museum is pulling out all the stops for its retrospective exhibit of headlines from the Miami Herald. The front page blasts will be accompanied by scores of artifacts, including vintage gear, such as period typewriters and type sets and a scaled architectural model of the iconic Miami Herald Building (now demolished). Visitors will even be able to obtain a printed copy of the Herald’s front page from the day they were born. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibit will be donated to the Miami Herald Investigative Journalism Fund. The museum is hoping to reopen before the end of April; the exhibit will last for six months. 285 Aragon Ave. 305.603.8067.

PLUS: ARTIGIANO OHM BOUTIQUE

Rattan framed accent mirror from Victoria’s Armoire. Page 40

If the Shoe Fits

THE HIDDEN ARTIGIANO SHOP ON LAGUNA STREET IS A FIND FOR MEN IN SEARCH OF FINE FOOTWEAR

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

When Artigiano first opened shop on Laguna Street in 2002, it was a small, stand-alone building in a largely industrial area near what would soon open as the Shops at Merrick Park. It was a lucky break for the three partners who started the men’s fashion shop, giving them a prime location without the prime cost of being inside a mall – though many customers have had to find their store by stumbling across it. Which is just fine, says partner Alex Odio. “Our customers walk in as strangers and most quickly become loyal friends.”

Now the area where Artigiano is located has become a hotbed of development, with the recent completion of Merrick Manor just down the street and several mid-rise apartment buildings under construction. And by this point, the trio of partners – Odio, Waldo Pacheco and Jorge Saez – have built a loyal cadre of clients, though they are now finding it harder to park near the store.

When I stumbled across Artigiano, walking with a friend from Trésor Jewels over to the Shops, the place felt cozy and friendly, full of racks of suits and shirts. But that wasn’t what intrigued us. After all, Coral Gables has more than one fine establishment for custom men’s clothing. What got us were the shoes, gleaming leather beauties that, as they soon explained, were custom cut, stitched, glued and hammered by cobblers in Italy.

I know men who dream of those London shoe shops where they keep a model of your foot, so they can build custom shoes

anytime you call the order in. The Artigiano trio does not keep a model of your foot, but they do take precise measurements and send these to Italy for handmade shoes of exquisite quality.

Artigiano works with several Italian manufacturers, including Paolo Scarfora in Napoli. Want the best tassel loafers you’ve ever put on? How about a pair of oxfords in antiqued grigio leather? Or a pair of two-toned derbys in Amalfi leather?

Here you are going to pick the leather and every detail of the shoe, while your foot is meticulously measured for their Italian artisans. “This is the highest level of shoemaking and the most beautiful shoes that I’ve ever seen,” says Pacheco. Prices range from $1,500 to $7,000 depending on the design and the quality of leather.

The store also offers shoes that are ready to wear, for prices in the $300 to $500 range, and about 60 percent of their customers buy these. The rest are well-healed enough to be, well, superbly healed.

There is an old expression, “For the man who wears shoes, the whole world is covered with leather.” The real question is what kind of leather, and how well it fits. We prefer the Mark Twain quote on the Artigiano website: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” ■

ARTIGIANO 4212 LAGUNA STREET CORAL GABLES, FL 33146 305-569-9970

HOURS OF OPERATION

MONDAY – FRIDAY:

10AM-7PM

SATURDAY 10AM-6PM

SUNDAY CLOSED

Partners Waldo Pacheco and Alex Odio: “The most beautiful shoes” they have ever seen. And they are Italian.

OHM... Sweet OHM

THIS BOUTIQUE ON SUNSET IS NOW NEARLY A DECADE OLD, AND STILL IN STYLE

BY KIM RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS BY LIZZIE WILCOX

Somewhere in the crossover between comfort and New Age is the stylistic sensability that has driven Vanessa Sauma’s shop on Sunset Drive for the last decade. Here, on the cusp of Coral Gables, she has pursued her vision of boho chic in a shop that has never changed location (though it has grown in size).

Sauma is the sole owner of OHM, but she relies on her team to help create the OHM effect. A believer in positive energy, she keeps a note on the cash register that says “smile” to remind them that a grin goes a long way when a customer (or a sales person) is having a bad day.

The store is filled with the boho-esque styles and color palettes that the OHM brand stands for – think free flowing fashions, with natural fabrics and earthy tones.

This spring the flow will continue with dresses of all lengths; you can find easy casual day dresses in bright prints as well as your go-to evening apparel. If pants are more your style you will find palazzo pants, paper bag trousers, and always lots of denim.

OHM also carries several local bathing suit designer labels and all the accessories you need for a day at the beach. Some of the brands she carries are Pistola jeans, Quay sunglasses, Kaari swim, Elan, and Olivacious. The price points are very affordable, with almost everything under $100.

“We’ve managed to dress the 20-something-year-old,

her mom, and her grandma,” says Sauma. “If chic, easy, boho style pieces are what you’re into, you’ll find something at OHM.”

For founder Sauma, OHM is a dream come true. Always a fashion junkie as a kid, during high school at St. Brendan and college at Miami International University of Art & Design (aka the Miami Art Institute) she worked in several local boutiques in sales and management. When she turned 22 she and one of her brothers, with the support of their parents, opened their retail store on Sunset.

It was a family project from the very beginning. Her parent’s loan and the help of four siblings enabled Sauma to get the doors open in just five weeks. “Being born and raised in this area I knew our little corner was just meant to be,” she says. “I’ve always loved shopping in the Coral Gables and South Miami areas, and knew when I started my business that I wanted to be a part of this exact community.”

Sauma clearly loves what she does, and with her team has created a special place at OHM – relaxed, fun, and friendly. No hard sell, lots of customer service, and they will even recommend other local boutiques if you can’t find it at OHM.

And if you can’t visit, go to ohmboutique.com. ■

Kim Rodriguez is a personal shopper whose clients include many Coral Gables residents. krpersonalstyle.com

Owner Vanessa Sauma says, “We’ve managed to dress the 20-something-year-old, her mom, and her grandma. If chic, easy, boho style pieces are what you’re into, you’ll find something at OHM.”

What’s Hot

APRIL 2020

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

This month, we’re feeling inspired by the verdant greenery that’s blossoming across our city. And from clothing to décor, these botanical finds are sparking some major joy.

FLOWER POWER

If you’re on the hunt for chic, coastal-inspired décor, head to Victoria’s Armoire. This rattan framed accent mirror would be a fun addition to an entryway or a child’s bedroom. Retail: $159. Victoria’s Armoire, 4077 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-445-3212.

PLEASANTLY PRINTED

Nothing signals bright days ahead better than Lilly Pulitzer. This season, I’m loving the vibrant Evelina dress, which could be thrown on over a bathing suit or dressed up for a night out.

Retail: $228. Lilly Pulitzer, Shops at Merrick Park #1525, 305441-9837.

THE BALM

Tommy Bahama recently launched a new home fragrance collection, and we’re especially keen on the trio of tropical lip balms, which are packaged in eco-friendly paper tubes.

Retail: $12.50. Tommy Bahama, Shops at Merrick Park #1240, 305-445-8896.

GARDEN PARTY

Looking to infuse your home with greenery without overdoing it? Grab a copy of Small Garden Style: A Design Guide for Outdoor Rooms and Containers, an inspiring look at creating lush little gardens and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

Retail: $19.80. Barnes & Noble, 152 Miracle Mile, 305-446-4152.

BENCH WARMER

A popular style from the esteemed French design house Roche Bobois, the sleek Parcours ottoman is now available in Hawaii, a pastel floral fabric that’s sure to jazz up any space. Retail: from $3,630. Roche Bobois, 450 Biltmore Way, 305-444-1017.

Villa Valencia brings together world-class services, cutting-edge technology, sophisticated design and a passion for nature in one limited collection of stately residences. Just steps away from Downtown Coral Gables, this is where the sophisticated reside in the City Beautiful.

Bites p46

Cantonese Redux

Hot and Sour Soup, thick and rich with both spicy and sour flavors.

CANTON TOO

PHOTO BY JON BRAELEY

PLUS: MEAT ME FRIDAYS BULLA GASTROBAR JUICE BARS OF CORAL GABLES

Cantonese Redux

CHINESE RESTAURANTS ARE SCARCE IN THE GABLES, BUT CANTON TOO IS STILL HERE

Anyone from New York, Chicago or Los Angeles takes Chinese food for granted. Even a cursory visitor to these cities can’t help noticing that Chinese restaurants are, well, everywhere. And as any fan of “The Big Bang Theory” or “Seinfeld” knows, Angelenos and New Yorkers are constantly eating Chinese food from cardboard to-go containers.

So why, then, are there so few Chinese restaurants in Coral Gables? With the departure of No Name Chinese (which was really in South Miami, anyway) and the exception of tiny Wu’s takeout on Madruga, the only Chinese restaurant in the Gables is Canton Too on Ponce.

We asked manager Steve Ho Sang, who is by marriage part of the Ng family that owns Canton Too, why the dearth of restaurants? “The problem with Chinese food is that it is Chinese food,” he says. “It is not extravagant; people can have it anytime. But people here [in Coral Gables] are always rushing to try the new and the trendy. We are not new. We are the old comfort food for the family.”

Indeed, Ho Sang says the busiest times for Canton Too are the holidays – any holiday, from Mother’s Day to Christmas –when entire families come to eat. Fortunately, the restaurant can

seat 180 diners, including families at large round tables with lazy Susans, those big turntables for sharing dishes.

In the meantime, the once-packed Canton Too (now open four decades) serves its limited clientele lunch and dinner daily, staying open till midnight most nights. The good news: You will always get a seat, the waiters are efficient, and the tea is hot. The better news: The food is excellent, especially for the price. While Ho Sang will tell you that theirs is a mixed Chinese menu, with Sichuan and Hong Kong style dishes, what Canton Too specializes in are tried-and-true Cantonese recipes, those familiar plates of chicken chow mein, sweetand-sour pork, shrimp lo mein, barbecue ribs, egg rolls, etc.

Ho Sang says their most popular dishes are honey garlic chicken, sweet and sour chicken and pepper steak. We would have to add to that their excellent hot-and-sour soup, perfect veggie spring rolls, and a tasty new barbecue pork loin dish. And considering the amazingly low prices (lunch combos for $7 to $9, and for dinner a half duck for $11.75), there is little excuse not to take a red leather booth seat beneath a silk painting of a tiger at Canton Too. ■

Meat Me Friday

With all due respects to those Catholics among us who still adhere to the edict of meatless Fridays during Lent, the last weekday is taking on a carnivore lunchtime spin in the Gables. First, we have Perry’s at the Shops at Merrick Park, which serves its famous seven-finger-high pork chop only for dinner – except on Fridays, when a slightly smaller (but still hefty) version is available for lunch. Not far away at Havana Harry’s, the Friday lunch special

is the spicy Oxtail Stew, which at $16.95 is the most expensive special of the week (the others hover around $10), but worth it, say fans. And then there is lunch at either Fleming’s or Christy’s, both legendary steak houses. They are open only for dinner – except on Fridays, when you can return to the days of the two martini lunch, when men were men (foolishly, of course) and steaks were thick, even in the middle of the day. ■

TOP: Shrimp Lo Mein

ABOVE: Barbecue Pork Loin

2005 “SELQET”

125’ Westport RPHMY 2018 “PEPPER XIII”

112’ Westport RPHMY 2014 “OMNI SEA”

La Hora Feliz

SPANISH RESTAURANT BULLA GASTROBAR IS A HAPPY HOUR HOTSPOT

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

Ever since Tarpon Bend closed its doors last year, we’ve asked ourselves, “Where has the happy hour crowd gone?” On any given night, Tarpon Bend would be packed and overflowing onto Miracle Mile for a post-work, half-priced drink. Well, our question has been answered: Bulla Gastrobar. Even on a Wednesday night, this place is packed, from couples going on a midweek date night, to girlfriends reuniting, to people taking advantage of the happy hour deals while placing an order for the paella (minimum 30 minutes) to be ready for dinner.

The appetizers aren’t discounted during happy hour, so we won’t harp on them, but we had the croquetas de jamón, tartar de atún, and the ceviche de jalapeño. All were outstanding: The Serrano ham croquetas come with a muy delicioso fig jelly

for dipping; the tartar is both sweet and spicy, thanks to the mango cubes and Sriracha aioli; and the jalapeño ceviche – made with fish and shrimp – is actually quite mild (in a good way), soaked in lime juice.

The discounts are at the bar. Every day from 5 to 7 p.m., beer, liquor and house wines are half off. The Spanish Margarita is just $6, and even though you can’t taste it, there’s probably more Jimador Reposado in it than you think. We’ll leave it to you to decide whether that’s a pro or a con.

Our advice: Don’t leave happy hour at Bulla without having a Moscow Mule. It came highly recommended by a couple at the adjacent high top, both with a copper mug in hand. Even a bartender at another restaurant once raved to us about these Mules, so we had to put it

to the test. And it passed with flying colors.

Moscow Mules are having a moment, so you can find them on pretty much any bar menu nowadays. Some places try to mix it up by using a different kind of liquor or adding a fruit component. But Bulla sticks to the basics – Russian Standard vodka, Fever Tree ginger beer and fresh lime – with these tiny twists: Candied ginger and a cardamom and currant-infused syrup. The result is a bright, smooth, refreshing cocktail. The best Moscow Mule in Coral Gables. There, we said it. ■

ABOVE: Bulla Gastrobar’s famous Moscow Mule

BULLA GASTROBAR

2500 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 786.810.6215

A Peruvian Twist

A few years ago, except for Spanish tapas, octopus was just not on the menu. Today it is considered de rigueur for any fine dining establishment, especially prepared as grilled tentacles. Now Divino Ceviche on Giralda Plaza has its own presentation of the undersea cephalopod: Croquetas de Pulpo, fried round balls served in a pool of sweet and sour sauce, four for $10.99, above. Excelente, plus you can wash it down with one of seven craft beers from Peru.

Man Cannot Live by Pizza Alone

The owners of Terre del Sapore on Giralda Avenue claim they eat their pizza every day (actually, it’s that good), but even they needed to expand the menu. In addition to fresh pastas, gnocchi, and raviolis, they now have meat dishes like tagliata di pollo and meatballs parmigiana. But their masterpiece is a new ossobuco dish. While it’s a tad pricey at $27.99, other restaurants charge twice that, and none cook it like Terre – three hours in a brick pizza oven. Mamma mia!

Reading and Eating

Books & Books on Aragon has long been a hangout for the cooler among us, the would-be intellectuals, scholars, new agers, and, yes, moms who want their kids to read early. Their café is no less edgy, serving quinoa salads and avocado toast. With the vegan movement upon us, they’re also serving a darn good reason to go meat- and dairyfree: Wild Mushrooms Thai Stir Fry, with shiitakes, tofu, green beens, carrots and couscous. Live clean for $15. ■

Liquid Diet

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

Coral Gables was recently named the best place to live in Florida by Money Inc. for obvious reasons. But it could also be dubbed as one of the healthiest places to live in Florida, based on the amount of juice and smoothie bars alone.

One of the most popular smoothie destinations in town is Gables Juice Bar on Almeria Avenue. In true Gables style, most of their smoothies are named after luxury cars, save for the Very Berry and PMS – pineapple, mango, strawberry, that is. The M.Benz is made with strawberry, banana and pineapple; take out the pineapple and you have the Bentley. They only offer one size for $7.60, but it is large enough to fill you up for breakfast or lunch.

With a paseo side entrance on Alcazar Avenue is Banana Berry, formerly known as Green Berry. This might be a good time to get the Flu Fighter, made with banana, strawberry, orange, Vitamin C, Echinacea and Spirulina. If you’re not in the mood for

something fruity, head straight for the Super Smoothies portion of the menu, which has drinks like the Peanut Power and Coffee Builder. Its wood décor gives off a bohemian vibe that transports you to New York. But sitting in its cute outdoor garden-like area in the winter brings you straight back to Coral Gables.

The Dr. Smood chain recently opened a location on Giralda Avenue, bringing its organic juices and “smoodys” to the City Beautiful in a comfortable lounge-like setting. The Lean Green smoody is a mixture of celery, lemon and ginger juices, spinach, kale, avocado, plant protein powder and maca – whatever that is. Down the block at the east end of Giralda Plaza, you’ll find yet another juice bar: Green

Life Organic Bistro

The place is tiled, cool and clean, the fridge is stocked with cold pressed juices, and they have half a dozen smoothies ready to be made. We love the Strawberry Dragon because how often can

you find a smoothie made with dragon fruit?

In the South Gables (across U.S. 1), there are even more places to satisfy your liquid diet needs. Around the corner from Madruga Bakery, Raw Juce offers different levels of juice cleanses for the “juce warriors.” The beginner, intermediate and advanced packages range anywhere from $65 - $450 depending on how many days you cleanse. Next to Whip ’N’ Dip on Sunset Drive, Sun Juice Smoothie & Juice Bar has an almost overwhelming amount of options: tropical smoothies, berry smoothies, citrus smoothies, milk-based smoothies, new smoothies (which they change every two weeks). Allot yourself an extra 10 minutes just to take in the entire menu.

Regardless of your choice of vendor, a liquid diet is a great way to give your digestive system a break, while still getting key nutrients and doubling your bathroom breaks! ■

That’s How They Roll

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Sushi Maki (on Ponce) is rolling out a new sushi roll on the 20th of each month – and donating 20 cents from each sale to a local charity. Through April 19, they are featuring their Big Roll, with kanikama, spicy tuna, BBQ eel, shrimp tempura, avocado, fried spinach noodles, tobiko wasabi and spicy sweet chili sauce. Naturally, the charity donations for this roll go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami.

And Now, More Argentine

For those dismayed by the closing of House Kitchen and Bar in the Colonnades building, a new restaurant is now in its place: The Buenos Aires Bistro. The furniture has changed, but the wonderful marble horseshoe bar remains. Our question: Why another Argentine eatery, when down the street on Aragon there is Graziano’s, and nearby on Miracle Mile there is the Patagonia GastroBar and the El Poteño Bodegon Argentino? To differentiate themselves, the BA Bistro is also serving quinoa, humus and feta cheese “bowls.” We’ll see.

Finally Coming Soon

Once the virus passes, we should see two new restaurants that have been long anticipated. The first is the Red Fish Grill, in the old keystone building at Matheson Hammock that was washed away by Hurricane Irma. The second is The Gramercy, a new concept by Miami nightclub owner Roman Jones, which will replace the beloved Tarpon Bend on Miracle Mile. Both were scheduled to open months ago. ■

THE JUICE BARS OF CORAL GABLES

CELEBRATING TWO YEARS IN THE GABLES

It was two years ago this month that we launched our first issue of Coral Gables Magazine, the April 2018 issue shown opposite. It was an experiment, to see if the people who lived and worked in this city wanted a real magazine, one that was entirely about their city, and not one filled with generic stories about luxury lifestyles, or news from other places.

We are happy to report that our experiment has been a success. The reaction from our readers – that means you – has been overwhelmingly positive. Your letters and texts and emails and calls have been enormously encouraging and gratifying. Our favorite ones include the sentence: “I’ve lived here for [many] years, and I never knew that…”

Why that is so gratifying goes to the core of our mission, which is to report to you all that is taking place in Coral Gables in the areas of culture, politics, business, shopping, entertainment and eating, and to shine a light on the people who are making this city the marvelous place it is. It has been a pleasure to pursue that mission, and the deeper we get into it, the more that we discover. It is an endless voyage into the heart of a city that is a world unto itself, a green and leafy shire that no one wants to leave.

What follows are most of our covers from the first two years, along with a quick look back at some of the people and events we have covered for you, the readers who make all of this possible. If you want to read any of these stories, go to our magazine archives at www.coralgablesthemagazine.com.

THE BIG STORIES

2ND ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

APRIL 2018: THE GREAT SIDEWALK EXPERIMENT

It cost $24 million, and in the end, it took nearly two years to complete. Along the way businesses took a big hit. But what they had before on Miracle Mile was a narrow, broken, uneven sidewalk, and what they got afterwards was a broad, paved-stone promenade with room for sidewalk cafés – and a lot more pedestrians. Two blocks away, Giralda Plaza was transformed from a crowded street with lots of restaurants, but no parking. It became a pedestrian mall. This was our story about the price for that change, and whether it was worth it.

MAY 2018: INSIDE BACARDI

Coral Gables is home to more than 150 multinational corporations, many of them going about their business under the radar, with little exposure to the local community. One of the great corporations based here is Bacardi, still a tightly run family business that emerged from the Communist takeover in Cuba with such energy that it was reborn in the U.S. and became one of the most successful liquor companies in the world, with brands well beyond its famous rum. Here we went inside corporate headquarters and spent time with the scion and curator of the Bacardi family’s private collection of art and memorabilia.

JUNE 2018: ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Artists typically live in bohemian hangouts, legendary places like the West Village and 19th century Paris, where the rooms are cheap and the cafés are neighborhood dives. With the most expensive rental rates in the county, Coral Gables is not exactly the place to find artists who live and work here. But we did. Four of them. And this was our interview and pictorial on what it is like to live and practice art in such an affluent city.

OCTOBER 2018: BROADWAY BOUND

The city’s reputation as a center for the arts was just one reason why playwright Richard Kagan chose Coral Gables as the place to launch his musical about Cuba. The other was its proximity to Cuba, and the large numbers of its citizens with Cuban heritage. And then there was that fantastic facility, the Miracle Theater on Miracle Mile. So, after many months of rehearsal, “Havana Music Hall” saw its premiere in the City Beautiful.

NOVEMBER 2018:

DOG STORY

Does any city love its furry friends more than Coral Gables? In this first of what has become an annual feature, we took a look at some of the city’s resources for caring for its four-legged friends: Dog walkers, dog groomers, dog boarders, dog doctors, etc. And then we asked six canine-loving citizens to let us photograph them with their dogs – and tell us a tale or two about the endearing neurotic habits of their hounds.

2018: GREAT ART COLLECTIONS

DECEMBER

Coral Gables is home to scores of world-class art collections in the private residences of its citizens. Unless you are lucky enough to know a collector, or get to see the pieces on the rare occasions when they are lent out, then you won’t ever get a peek – unless you read this and the other articles in our series on private art collections in the Gables. In this first episode, we looked at collections in the homes of Mike Fernandez and Dr. Julio Ortiz, both of which focused on Cuban art.

MARCH 2019:

PUBLIC ART

One of the more unique pieces of local legislation is the city ordinance that requires developers to set aside a small percentage of their project costs for public art. Sometimes the art is part of the building itself – as with the Codina headquarters building on Salzedo. Sometimes it is outside the building – as with the stone bench in Balboa Park, donated by MG Developer CEO Alirio Torrealba (left). And it is not always without controversy. Here is a look at what several builders did.

APRIL 2019:

ANNEXATION DEBATE

Take a look at a map of Coral Gables and you will see two pockets carved out of the city – on the northern side is Little Gables, on the southern side is High Pines/Douglas. The city has for years toyed with the idea of annexing one or both of these areas. Despite the efforts of proponents for annexation, both within the city and within these two neighborhoods, the county has so far resisted even letting the locals hold a vote about their fate. This was our look at the debate and the arguments on both sides of the fence.

MAY 2019: GREAT GABLES GALLERIES

There were once more than 40 galleries filling the streets of Coral Gables, back when it was the center of culture in Miami-Dade County. That was before the advent of South Beach and Brickell, and before the rents drove all of the galleries away to Wynwood, Little Havana and beyond. Despite the myriad challenges, however, a few galleries managed to survive – and even thrive. In this story we took a look at three veteran and one new gallerist in the City Beautiful, all here to stay.

JUNE 2019: THE INNOVATION REPORT

For years, the city’s government and private sector have been pushing the Gables to become a Smart City, one that embraces innovation and technology to adapt to the future. We looked at innovation in the Gables in the areas of municipal information technology, police enforcement, environmental sustainability, health care, transportation, education, and entrepreneurism. We also took a look a gallery of innovators who have made a difference in the Gables.

JULY/AUGUST 2019: BEST OF THE GABLES

There are so many examples of excellence in what Coral Gables has to offer in the arts & entertainment, food, shopping & retail, sports & recreation, and architecture & public places, that it’s almost impossible to pick the very best. But someone had to do it. So, along with our panel of several dozen local pundits, we picked the best of the best of Coral Gables. If you didn’t know, now you knew.

SEPTEMBER 2019: MOMPRENEURS

Is it possible to pursue that dream of launching a business, and be a good mother at the same time? In this ode to the women who actually do it all, we broke it down with four local ladies who started successful enterprises at home while holding down the role of raising the kids at the same time.

OCTOBER 2019: MURDER IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Coral Gables enjoys a reputation of being a safe city, protected from the outside world of crime and mayhem. But deep within in its dark heart lurk these tales of murder most foul. For our Halloween issue, we looked at a handful of gruesome endings, starting with the death of a pioneer woman and ending with a more recent tale of a family’s murder for money. Scary stuff!

DECEMBER 2019: THE REBUILDING OF GABLES HIGH

Despite an amazing parade of successful and famous graduates, and its importance to the city’s sense of community pride, Coral Gables High School had become a rundown shell of its former self. While academic standards have actually climbed in the last decade, funds for the physical plant were nowhere to be found. Not until the parents and teachers and local lawmakers united to push through $25 million in capital improvement allocations, now in the process of transforming the proud public high school into a modern center for learning.

JANUARY 2020: THE GREAT BIKE DEBATE

Despite a master plan that calls for adding 33 miles of bike lanes along roads within the city, little progress has been made – mostly because of the resistance from residents along the planned paths. The main reason, say opponents, is that the streets where the new lanes will go could lose a significant number of trees. Proponents say it won’t be that bad, and the benefits to safety and health far outweigh any cost. So far, the lovers of the canopy have blocked any new bikes lanes.

FEBUARY 2020: NO BRIDGES TO THE BAY

With 40 miles of waterway and direct access to Biscayne Bay, Coral Gables is a boater’s paradise. With this feature we looked at the social, economic and lifestyle impact that our waterfront real estate – and its armada of yachts – has on the City Beautiful. The great advantage the city has compared to nearby competitors for big boaters (like Fort Lauderdale) is immediate access to the open bay, along with interesting places to sail or motor off to for a visit. The benefit is vast expenditures for the local economy – and a city with a great roster of successful people calling it home. ■

BUSINESS QUARTERLY Building the City of the Future

Don’t Panic

It may seem hard to believe in this challenging moment of the COVID-19 virus (also known as the novel coronavirus), but the Consumer Confidence Index in Florida hit a new peak this past month, rising 3.1 points to a level we have not seen in nearly 20 years.

Released the first week of March, these numbers indicate that Floridians continue to be optimistic about our state’s economic outlook, bullish on job creation (unemployment sits at 3 percent in Florida and 1.8 percent in Miami-Dade County, respectively) and the financial ability, timing and desire to make a significant household purchase.

Economic indicators across Florida have been positive throughout the past year. With the exception of one month, Florida’s over-the-year job growth has exceeded the nation’s average rate since April 2012 –nearly eight years running, across two governors and their administrations, as well as two presidents and their leadership. As a result, we are approaching full employment (meaning, everyone who wants a job has a job). Talk to any business owner looking for people with highly specific, specialized skills needed for open positions, and they will verify the challenge to fill open spots.

However, due in large part to the concerns over the coronavirus and its direct effect on supply chain, global trade and world travel, the last month saw the worst declines for stocks since 2008. This pandemic could ultimately hamper economic growth around the world and impact heavily our great State of

Florida, the 17th largest economy on the planet with its own trillion-dollar marketplace.

In conversations with our visitor industry, they too are seeing significant cancellations for conferences and industry meetings, especially those that convene large gatherings with international audiences. Even our much heralded eMerge decided to postpone its program in an abundance of caution over concerns about its delegates’ travel to Miami.

Thus, you have the two-headed monster – an economy that wants to continue to roar and a worldwide medical phenomenon that is putting a muzzle on growth.

What can we do? Well, support your local hoteliers, host your meetings and programs closer to home, and use additional hygiene measures that encourage a sanitary approach. Ask your sick employees to stay home until they have recovered fully and most of all, be flexible and understanding for those that might have come into contact with someone exposed to the coronavirus (or fear that they have). Yes, we know the flu kills many more people a year than COVID-19, but the uncertainty and confusion about this virus seems to know no boundaries.

In closing, our consumers remain confident – even in an era of ambiguity – and we need to continue to encourage them to shop and spend, while taking the best care possible of each other over the next few weeks and months. That is what neighbors do! ■

Mark Trowbridge is the President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

WE CAN’T LET THE CORONAVIRUS WRECK OUR ECONOMY

“YOU HAVE THE TWO-HEADED MONSTER – AN ECONOMY THAT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO ROAR AND A WORLDWIDE MEDICAL PHENOMENON THAT IS PUTTING A MUZZLE ON GROWTH”

R E D U C E R E U S E

R E C Y C L E

R E C Y C L E R I G H T F O R

A G R E E N E R C O R A L G A B L E S

I t e m s t h a t A R E Acce p t e d

• N a r row Ne c k P l a s t i c B o t t l e s a n d Co nt a i n e r s

• F l at t e n e d C a rd b o a rd & Pa p e r, M o d e r at e l y We t o r D r y

• G l a s s B o t t l e s & Co n t a i n e r s

• C a n s ( A l u m i n u m , S t e e l & T i n )

I t e m s t h a t A R E N OT Acce p t e d

• P l a s t i c B a g s ( U s e R e u s a b l e B a g s I n s t e a d )

• E x p a n d e d Po l y s t y r e n e ( S t y r o f o a m )

• P i z z a B oxe s o r S o i l e d C a r d b o a r d

Ad d i t i o n a l Ti p s

• K e e p r e c yc l a b l e s c l e a n , d r y a n d e m p t y b u t d o n o t b a g t h e m

• K e e p f o o d w a s t e a n d l i q u i d s o u t o f t h e r e c yc l i n g b i n

• W h e n i n d o u b t , l e a ve i t o u t

w w w. c o r a l g a b l e s. c o m / re c yc l i n g

Residents can no longer place cardboard on any household trash piles on the swales.

In Coral Gables, it ’s the law... and it ’s the right thing to do!

Do your par t to help us keep our Cit y Beautiful and clean! Please flatten all cardboard boxes and place them inside or nex t to your rec ycling container for pickup.

Code violators can be fined

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

It’s been noted in our feature about Gables-based banks, but for the record, Professional Bank raised $59.7 million with their initial public offering in February. That was back before the market collapsed under the pressure of COVID-19. The bank trades under the symbol “PFHD.”

THEY JUST KEEP GROWING

When we featured Coral Gables-based MasTec in the magazine last year, their revenue had reached $6 billion. That was for 2018. Revenue figures for 2019, reported in February, topped $7 billion. Their fourth quarter profits exceeded $100 million. MasTec is one of the leading telecom and energy infrastructure construction and service providers in the nation.

SALES SHIFT

Merrick Manor, the 10-story, 227-unit high-end development in the Merrick Village area, has engaged a new sales team. Having taken sales in-house after The Agency left the project, developer Henry Torres announced that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty would take over sales. The new team will be led by Patrick O’Connell, senior VP at EWM. The Manor is 60 percent sold, with about 100 units left. Prices start at just under $400,000.

NO CLOUD WITHOUT A SILVER LINING

Despite the rocky slide of the stock market due to the COVID-19 virus, there must be opportunities to buy. So says Gables-based PennyStocks.com, which rates and recommends penny stock buys. Their latest prognostications are for tiny biotech startups that could boom with the bust.

MORE TOWERS ON THE EDGE

While not actually inside Coral Gables, another development could join the highrise cluster growing at the Douglas Metrorail station on the edge of Merrick Village near the Shops at Merrick Park. The Adler Group and 13th Floor Investments are creating the Link at Douglas project next to the station, with two rental towers at 22 and 36 stories high. These will add 733 rental units. The next development, proposed by Gables-based Shoma Group, would add 400 rental units in two towers (17 and 18 floors) where the Deel Volvo dealership now sits on Bird Road. The idea is that renters will use the nearby mass transit for work, but shop in the Gables.

FAITH IN THE FUTURE

In a bet on the future of downtown Coral Gables, veteran real estate investor Bill Kerdyk, Jr., has purchased the Rey’s Cleaners building at 2619 Ponce de Leon Blvd. for $2.3 million. Kerdyk is president of Gables-based Kerdyk Real Estate, which already owns three other buildings adjacent to the property. With the new acquisition, Kerdyk owns 11,600 square feet on Ponce, with plans to create a high-rise project on the site in three to five years.

A CONDO GLUT?

In a new study issued last month, Condo Vultures Realty LLC reported that more than 40 luxury condos at a minimum price of $1 million are now listed for sale in Coral Gables. Based on the luxury condo sale average of two per month in 2019, that means the city has a 21-month supply of units for sales. A balanced market, according to real estate pundits, should have about a six-month supply of units for sale.

A NOD TO OUR EXPERTISE

With the market in turmoil, a recent article in the prestigious financial periodical Barron’s discussed the situation with leading wealth managers. The first expert quoted? Matt McGrath, managing partner and wealth manager at Gables-based Evensky & Katz/Foldes Financial, one of the oldest and most respected wealth management firms in South Florida (35 years).

GOOD FARMING

Coral Gables-based Fresh Del Monte Produce has doubled down on its sustainability efforts with the appointment earlier this quarter of Hans Sauter as the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. The move will enhance the corporation’s sustainable initiatives, which include increasing the amount of produce sourced from certified sustainable farms, expanding the use of solar energy and low-emissions vessels and vehicles, reforesting the areas where Del Monte farms, and applying water conservation techniques.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

It used to be that shared workspaces were for entrepreneurs, start-ups and solo professionals. Then came the maverick, flexible units of larger companies. Now it has become mainstream: The office of the Honorary Consul of Ireland, Mr. Ian O’Flaherty, is now officially in the WeWork complex on Giralda Avenue. ■

TOP: Jose Mas, CEO of Coral Gables-based MasTec, which saw a billion dollar jump in revenue last year.

ABOVE: Gables-based Shoma Group could add 400 rental units in two towers at the edge of Merrick Village, not far from the Shops at Merrick Park.

What Does it Take to Succeed as a Retailer?

IN A CITY DETERMINED TO UP ITS RETAIL GAME, THE ANSWERS ARE TO KEEP IT UNIQUELY LOCAL

Aweek before Coral Gables shut down most commerce to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, its Economic Development Department held a workshop at the Coral Gables Museum on the subject of making the downtown vibrant. A panel of four, run by retail consultant Midge McCauley (MM), consisted of Eating House chef/owner Giorgio Rapicavoli (GR), Books & Books founder Mitch Kaplan (MK), Maven Real Estate principal Marc Schwarzberg (MS), and Pine Real Estate principal broker/owner Barbara Tria (BT). Here are some of their answers.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO RETAIL TODAY?

MM: The coronavirus will probably take its toll of retailers and restaurateurs that have not been in a very strong position. [But] retail isn’t going anywhere. Retail is alive and well, it’s just changing. It’s getting smaller. Stores that were once very large are getting smaller.

WHAT MUST RETAILERS DO TO SURVIVE?

MM: Your retail experience has to be exciting, your customer service has to be outstanding, your stores have to look really great–and for restaurants your food has to be delicious – or you are not going to survive.

WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET?

MM: Shops have to have an online experience as well. But e-commerce also needs shops. They are finding that they need the physical presence of store. Online performs much better when you have a physical presence in the market. Nordstrom is a great example. Blue Mercury, a division of Macy’s, is another.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS VS. NATIONAL CHAINS?

MK: I am an advocate for small business. To see all those big companies out there deciding that they want to do “experiential stuff” doesn’t mean a whole lot to me, unless you are a landlord who wants to rent to them… The only way to build a community is knitting together a bunch of people who are committed to the community.

IS CORAL GABLES A GOOD PLACE FOR SMALL RETAILERS TO START?

BT: Three things in particular stand out when we talk to retailers coming into our market. First, we have a very robust consumer base [50,000 residents, 50,000 daily workers, and over 700,000 people within a 20-minute drive]… Second, lower rents, though that will change over time… Third, we have transit that gets people here (metro rail, trolley, freebee). We were pioneers for centralized valet, and we have reasonably priced parking decks.

WHY DID YOU START YOUR BUSINESS HERE?

MS: We were starting our families and looking for a shorter commute. We wanted to invest in Coral Gables, because we knew the city and its demographics.

GR: I wanted to make a neighborhood joint that was unassuming but where the food was creative and fun.

HOW CAN RETAIL DO BETTER?

MS: It is important to have variety. [In our properties on Giralda Plaza] we have nine restaurant spaces. It has become essential to capture different markets – the weekday lunch crowd, the weekend dinners, etc. We are trying to bring in a stronger night life. Taco Coyo [a tenant] is a great example, with a lounge open in the back until 2 a.m.

BT: [You must improve] the design of a store front and the design of the interior space. The outside has to look good to get people into the space. But then your inventory has to be organized and creatively placed, and well stocked…. You want to stroll around and discover things and experience things that you are not going to find somewhere else… What causes me to cross the threshold of a shop is the idea of discovery, something new, something different. ■

L to R: Mitch Kaplan, Barbara Tria, Marc Schwarzberg, Giorgio Rapicavoli, and Midge McCauley

Paseo Makes its Mark

DESPITE SOME CONCERNS, THE FIRST OF NRI’S “BOOK ENDS” ON U.S. 1 REACHES COMPLETION

BY DOREEN HEMLOCK

When Brent Reynolds set out to develop Paseo de Riviera several years ago, he envisioned an “Urban Living Room” where residents, neighbors, students and visitors could gather and share. Starting in May, his dream will become reality, with event programming to include “Innovative Thinkers and Unique Minds,” a series for entrepreneurs to pitch ideas, and “Art Walks,” a monthly mixer with local artists.

Reynolds’ team planned Paseo as the southern bookend for Coral Gables on the U.S. 1 corridor, with his partnership investing some $215 million. They’re joining with South Florida’s James Beard award nominee Chef Niven Patel, who will open two restaurants onsite: Mamey, a tropical tapas bar, and Orno, featuring a wood-burning oven and farm-to-table cuisine.

Many developers build to sell, but newly renamed Nolan Reynolds International (formerly Nolan Partners International) is committed to long-term ownership. The construction-hospitality group is launching its new Thesis hotel brand at Paseo, offering 245 rooms and a presidential suite, Patel’s eateries, event spaces and other amenities in what it hopes will become a community hub.

“We want to curate something that feels authentic and truly immerses you in the local culture,” says Reynolds, CEO of the company that also owns the Casa Chameleon hospitality brand in Costa Rica and has completed over $6 billion in projects in Latin America and the U.S.

Paseo is debuting in stages: The main areas of the hotel and Paseo’s 204-unit apartment building will open in May and other retail, restaurants and amenities will launch this summer. Prices for the mid-to-upscale hotel rooms likely will start around $180 per night and rents in apartments at some $3 per square foot, targeting locals that include students at the nearby University of Miami.

Reynolds also is busy completing what he calls the northern bookend for Coral Gables’ U.S. 1 corridor: The $330 million, 496-apartment Gables Station project set for completion next year. It aims, like Paseo, to link with Metrorail transit and offer a “livework-play environment.”

Not everyone is thrilled about NRI’s developments. Vice Mayor Vince Lago objected to the scale of Paseo and voted for height reductions that kept it in line with adjacent structures. He opposed Gables Station for being far larger and taller than its neighbors. In early March, Lago led a workshop aimed to revive a long-touted study on the U.S. 1 Corridor that could lead to a master plan, covering buildings, pedestrian and bicycle access, open space, landscaping and other basics.

“We don’t want to have Coral Gables reduced to piecemeal

“WE WANT TO CURATE SOMETHING THAT FEELS AUTHENTIC AND TRULY IMMERSES YOU IN THE LOCAL CULTURE” SAYS BRENT REYNOLDS OF NOLAN REYNOLDS INTERNATIONAL, AT THE NEW THESIS HOTEL BRAND AT PASEO.

projects not properly defined,” says Lago, concerned about prospects for other new ventures on U.S. 1 and 57th Avenue. “We want a master plan to provide guidance for the entire Corridor.”

What people object to is how close the two large projects are to U.S. 1 itself, though many smaller buildings are already adjacent to the six-lane road. But Reynolds, who conceived his $545 million Gables bookends while commuting on busy U.S. 1, says he believes a street wider than 100 feet warrants larger structures with varying heights close to the street, rather than set back behind parking lots, “to create more of a boulevard feel.” Larger structures, he suggests, can be placed “closer to the road in a thoughtful manner that still provides a welcoming pedestrian experience.” ■

The New Office Experience

SHARED WORKSPACES IN THE GABLES ARE FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND MAVERICK COMPANIES, RIGHT? SO, WHY IS MILLICOM FILLING THREE FLOORS AT WEWORK?

BY MIKE CLARY

Millicom International Services is a growing multinational corporation, a leading provider of cable and mobile services in Latin America and Africa with 22,000 employees, 30,000 contractors and reported revenues last year of more than $4 billion.

But the look of its global operational headquarters, located in downtown Coral Gables, is far from a buttoned-downed corporate culture marked by business suits and cubicle farms. Instead, their workplace looks more like a glass maze combined with a multi-storied coffee shop, where colleagues with a laptop in one hand and a cappuccino in the other might gather at a wooden conference table or settle into a cozy communal living room to discuss the day’s agenda.

Millicom’s 220 Gables employees do not, in fact, work in a company-owned headquarters, or even in a conventional leased space. Instead they occupy three and a half floors of shared, modular office space in WeWork’s new site at 255 Giralda Avenue.

“The WeWork style matches the office culture we want to foster,” says Susy Bobenrieth, Millicom’s executive VP and chief human resources officer, explaining the company’s decision to abandon the traditional office space on Alhambra Circle the firm had outgrown. Flexible, shared areas in the workplace promote interactions and combat isolation, she says. “We are about team,” she says.

The other advantage is flexibility for change. While the square footage in shared office space costs substantially more per square foot, leases for traditional office spaces are typically much longer, not allowing tenants to grow or shrink as needed. And shared office spaces also offer the kind of hip, communal areas that Google is so famous for.

Founded in 1990 by a Swedish entrepreneur, Millicom operates in nine countries in Latin America and one in Tanzania, Africa. The company maintains a corporate headquarters in Luxembourg, but relocated its operational headquarters to Coral Gables from Fort Lauderdale in 2012. “Coral Gables is central,” Bobenrieth says. “We are close to the airport, we can walk to restaurants.” Now, with the move to WeWork, “We created showers here so people could take advantage of gyms in the area, or ride bicycles to work,” she says. Some employees even show up hours before the workday for 6:30 a.m. runs around the Granada Golf Course.

The relaxed ambiance of the new Millicom workplace is easy to see. On sunny days, employees gather for lunch at rooftop tables. There is a pool table nearby. Pets are welcome. The coffee and tea are free. Yoga classes and a quiet room for meditation or for nursing mothers are available. Perhaps unsurprisingly in an interactive workplace studded with Millennials, several employees have come together to form a band, with a dedicated rehearsal space on the ninth floor.

“I love the office experience we have here,” says sustainability reporting specialist Marina Williams, also a singer with the band. “To top it off, in the new facilities we can rehearse with the company band... Every time we squeeze in a jam session, we feel energized and it boosts our sense of community.” ■

THE RELAXED AMBIANCE OF THE NEW MILLICOM WORKPLACE IS EASY TO SEE. ON SUNNY DAYS, EMPLOYEES GATHER FOR LUNCH AT ROOFTOP TABLES. THERE IS A POOL TABLE NEARBY. PETS ARE WELCOME. THE COFFEE AND TEA ARE FREE. YOGA CLASSES AND A QUIET ROOM FOR MEDITATION OR FOR NURSING MOTHERS ARE AVAILABLE.

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Home Field Advantage?

CORAL GABLES-BASED BANKS HAVE BEEN THRIVING DESPITE CHALLENGES THAT INCLUDE LOW INTEREST RATES, ONLINE COMPETITION AND NOW, THE CORONAVIRUS. SOLUTIONS RANGE FROM MERGING TO GOING HIGH TECH

BY DOREEN HEMLOCK

Abel Iglesias has seen plenty of change during his 40 years in banking in Miami-Dade County. But this year may top them all for the president of Coral Gables-based Professional Bank.

In just the first quarter, he’s helmed a stock sale on Wall Street, led a merger with a neighboring bank, and started to tackle the latest financial wild card: Coronavirus. Plus, he’s busy working with his digital team, trying to stave off growing online rivals that range from Quicken Loans and Venmo to Apple Pay.

Banking is far more complex business nowadays than just a decade ago. Compliance costs have soared since the 2008 financial crisis. Technology needs are spiking. And years of historically low interest rates have squeezed profit margins, making it more important than ever to operate efficiently.

“The biggest challenge is probably the low-interest environment,” says Iglesias. “It’s very difficult to navigate.”

That complexity helps explain why the number of banks based in Coral Gables has been slipping: Down from seven in 2015 to five last year, and with this spring’s merger of Professional and Marquis banks, heading to just four. (See chart from Bauer Financial). Many smaller, local banks are merging – or agreeing to be purchased – in order to spread their back-office costs across a larger network and boost economies of scale. What’s more, few new banks are opening nowadays because of the tougher rules, tech challenges and profit squeeze, analysts say.

The consolidation comes even as banking flourishes in affluent and centrally-located Coral Gables. The city hosts dozens of branches from banks based elsewhere, and last year, became home to the executive offices for a major Miami bank.

“The biggest banking challenge is probably the low-interest environment,” says Iglesias. “It’s very difficult to navigate.”

Abel Iglesias, president of Coral Gables-based Professional Bank.

PROFESSIONAL BANK: FAST GROWTH AND CONSOLIDATION

Iglesias’ Professional Bank illustrates the trend. A group of local investors, led by physician Larry Schimmel, started the bank in 2008 before the financial crisis, aiming to offer loans to area professionals including doctors and lawyers with a high level of customer care. Professional sought to draw customers dismayed by bureaucracy at large corporate banking chains.

“Our clients want to know that they can pick up the phone and call us, that they can get us on the line, and if there’s a problem, we’re going to take care of it immediately,” says Iglesias, who spends much of his time directly with customers.

By 2020, Professional’s business had boomed, with assets topping $1 billion and offices located in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

To fuel growth, the bank raised $17 million from investors in 2017 and another $20 million in 2018. It recruited digital banking experts in Ohio to drive innovation online. And this year, it completed an Initial Public Offering on the Nasdaq exchange on Wall Street, taking in nearly $60 million more.

Now, Professional is merging with Coral Gables-based Marquis Bank in a noncash deal, trading shares for shares. Iglesias says his team opted to join with Marquis (founded in 2007, assets: Roughly $600 million), because both share a similar culture. Marquis also targets professional and business clients with personal care, providing mostly real estate loans. “And Marquis also has a very talented group of bankers, led by Javier Holtz and Miriam Lopez,” says Iglesias, calling deep relationships with bank clients the key to success in the industry.

SOUTH AMERICAN BANKS EXPANDING, DIVERSIFYING

Some banks based in Coral Gables also are changing hands, with new owners eager to tap the well-heeled market in the City Beautiful and beyond.

Last year, Brazil’s financial giant Bradesco agreed to buy veteran BAC Florida, offering some $500 million in a share-purchase agreement. The deal has yet to close. BAC Florida was founded in 1973, is part of Nicaragua’s Grupo Pellas and has grown local assets to top $2 billion. It’s known for offering real estate loans, private banking and other services mainly to Latin Ameri-

can clients.

Analysts say Brazil’s banks have been expanding in South Florida to serve both Brazilian clients moving to the area and to diversify from their homeland by obtaining deposits from U.S. residents and other Latin American customers.

Also changing ownership and pushing for more U.S. deposits is Amerant, the Coral Gables-based bank with the most assets: Nearly $8 billion. In 2018, the bank – formerly known as Mercantil Commercebank – spun off from Venezuela’s Mercantil financial group, changed its name and sold shares for the first time on Wall Street, partly to branch out from its longtime base of Venezuelan customers.

Venezuela’s Mercantil became active in Coral Gables in 1987, when it bought a North Miami Beach-based bank that had $53 million in assets and a local branch. Business mushroomed, including the 2006

purchase of Florida Savings Bank, and after the tumult of the 2008 financial crisis, through growth in Texas.

Today, Amerant boasts some two dozen banking centers in Florida, Texas and New York and calls itself the largest community bank based in Florida. CEO Millar Wilson sees room for expansion. “We continue to focus on growing domestic loans, improving profitability and efficiency, and navigating a low interest rate environment and strong competition,” Wilson told analysts recently after reporting profits of $51 million last year, up 12 percent.

SOME DOWNSIDE TO CONSOLIDATION

To be sure, consolidation is not limited to Coral Gables. The 2008 financial crisis changed America’s landscape, as some banks stumbled and authorities tightened rules.

Nationwide, the tally of banks has fallen nearly 40 percent since 2008, to roughly 5,310 federally-insured deposit institutions today, government data shows.

Banking analyst Ken Thomas sees some downside to the consolidations. He says smaller, locally-based banks tend to be more responsive to their community – more apt to buy uniforms for the neighborhood Little League and more likely to lend for affordable housing and other community needs. That’s partly because executives who live in the area run into their customers and neighbors and hear community plans, complaints and other feedback firsthand.

“You can see the president of a local bank at Publix or the Coconut Grove Art Fair,” says Thomas, president of Miami-based Community Development Fund Advisors. “You’re never going to get to the top people of banks based elsewhere.” Still, Thomas says some non-local banks have become more responsive after mergers or purchases, leaving in place local managers and “keeping good local people.”

SUNSTATE: IN TALKS FOR ANOTHER ACQUISITION

In any case, there’s no end in sight to consolidations. As low interest rates squeeze, even U.S. banking giants are joining forces: BB&T (assets: $237 billion) and SunTrust (assets: $227 billion) recently united to form Truist, the sixth largest U.S. bank. Thomas estimates that community banks need close to $1 billion in assets to achieve real economies of scale and compete effectively in today’s environment.

Little wonder then that SunState Bank, based near Coral Gables in Palmetto Bay, is on the acquisition trail. In 2018, SunState bought InterContinental Bank of West Miami for $28 million, boosting its assets beyond $400 million. Now, it’s working to buy another area bank, says Lloyd DeVaux, president and CEO, declining to specify the name. “We’re in the final throes of negotiations,” he says.

SunState began in 1999 as Sofisa Bank of Florida, owned by a Brazilian family that also owns Sofisa Bank in its home country. The Florida bank has attracted Brazilians familiar with Sofisa among its customers. Like other small local banks, it counts real estate loans as the biggest part of its lending portfolio, says DeVaux. Business has been “phenomenal” in the past few years, but now faces uncertainty from the global coronavirus pandemic.

(OPPOSITE) Millar Wilson, CEO of Amerant: Profits were up 12 percent

despite competition.

(ABOVE) Ken Thomas, president of Community Development Fund Advisors: Locally based banks benefit the community.

“Coronavirus is a wild card out there,” says DeVaux. “There is a real possibility that it will push us into a recession.” The pandemic has already sent U.S. interest rates down near zero.

COMPETITION RISING FROM NON-BANKS ONLINE

Banks also must prepare for non-bank rivals expanding online. DeVaux says payment apps like Starbucks or PayPal “take away deposits from banks.” And Quicken Loans and other fintech firms are garnering “more of the lending business,” making banks focus on their own tech offerings, says DeVaux.

At Professional, Iglesias recruited digital banking expert Ryan Gorney (formerly of accounting firm E&Y) and his team to lead online innovation from their Cleveland base, customizing off-the-shelf software and creating new products as well.

CITY NATIONAL RELOCATES ITS TOP EXECUTIVES FROM MIAMI

Regardless of the challenges ahead, there’s no denying Coral Gables’ allure for banking. Ask Jorge Gonzalez, president of Miami-based City National Bank, which has grown assets to $16 billion since its 2015 purchase by Chile’s Banco de Credito e Inversiones (Bci). Last year, Gonzalez moved City National’s top executives and client-facing divisions to a hub in Coral Gables, leaving such back office functions as tech and human resources at the bank’s Miami base. Among other services, the first floor at new 2855 Le Jeune Road offices offers private banking for clients.

Why the move? Coral Gables beckons with a central location near Downtown Miami and the international airport, and away from the traffic woes of Miami’s Brickell financial district. “It’s more user-friendly,” says analyst Thomas. “You can save at least a half hour off your commute, you have many nice places to eat and walk around, and restaurants that are often less expensive than Brickell.”

Iglesias, a longtime Coral Gables resident, knows the city’s pull. When Professional outgrew its first headquarters, executives considered relocating to another town, but decided to stay put. But even a strong location doesn’t make banking easy. With coronavirus closing many local businesses, Iglesias now is finding ways to keep in touch with staff and clients online, or sometimes, in-person – but with “social distancing.” ■

SUNSTATE BANK, BASED JUST OUTSIDE OF CORAL GABLES IN PALMETTO BAY, IS WORKING TO BUY ANOTHER AREA

BANK, SAYS PRESIDENT AND CEO LLOYD DEVAUX

THE MAN FOR THE JOB: City Manager Peter Iglesias looks over floor plans for the city’s new Public Safety Building, which will house its police, fire, EMS, and IT departments (shown opposite). Iglesias was recently named the 2020 Engineer of the Year by the Association of Cuban-American Engineers.

Building the City of the Future

IN A SPAN OF THREE YEARS, CORAL GABLES WILL INVEST MORE THAN $100 MILLION UPGRADING ITS PUBLIC STRUCTURES TO STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES READY FOR TOMORROW

BY J.P. FABER PHOTOS BY JON BRAELEY

The quality of public buildings in any city is a measure of its success and prosperity, as well as an inspiration to its residents. In Coral Gables, the roster of city-owned historic architecture, from the Biltmore to the Venetian Pool, is one of its claims to fame. But these are the monuments of yesterday. What the city is more focused on now are service buildings for the future, buildings that will serve the needs of transportation, administration, police, fire and emergency medical personnel.

“We want state of the art buildings,” says City Manager Peter Iglesias. “We want buildings that will be functional for the next 50 years.” And Iglesias, now entering his second year as city manager, is perfect

for the job of honchoing the city’s new construction projects. While he is responsible for running all city departments, Iglesias comes from a building and engineering background, one of the reasons the city commission chose him for the job of city manager last year. And there is no doubt that he relishes the task of refurbishing key city buildings.

“I’m handling vertical,” Iglesias says of the building projects. “That’s one of my part time jobs. I have public works handling the horizontal parts, which is roadways, drainage and all of that, but I have been handling vertical, along with Ernesto Pino.” Pino, an ex-assistant director of public works, is now the department’s senior project manager for

vertical projects. Together, Iglesias and Pino are overseeing more than $100 million in new and refurbished city buildings over the next three years, moving along at a clipped pace to meet what Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli calls “extremely high priorities.”

WHAT MUST GO UP

“We are doing things that are very much needed,” says Valdés-Fauli, including constructing a new public safety building, a new trolley building, two new fire stations and two new parking garages, along with restoring city hall and its annex building. While the scope seems ambitious, says the mayor, it is really just a continuation of the city upgrades that began with the StreetScape

project that was finished in 2018. “We are always doing things to benefit our citizens.”

But whereas the StreetScape project to upgrade Miracle Mile and turn a block of Giralda Avenue into a pedestrian mall cost $25 million, the current plans will cost more than four times that amount. “We are solvent, thank heaven, so we have the money to do it,” says Valdés-Fauli. And, unlike the extended StreetScape project, the current buildings are going up on time. “The public safety building has been on schedule since day one,” says Pino. “It started when it needed to start, and the schedule has been kept.”

“Yes, we have an aggressive building schedule. But we haven’t done a lot for quite a number of years, and our infrastructure is so very important,” says Iglesias. “Plus, we are prioritizing all the maintenance issues, so that we never let maintenance come down [again]. When you do that it gets expensive.” Here, then, are the key projects slated for completion this year, next year and in 2022.

PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND PARKING GARAGE 7.

The existing public safety building, a brutalist style structure on Salzedo west of Ponce Circle, currently houses the police department, fire department and emergency medical services. But its functionality has been compromised for years. “The building has been settling, so you can’t even park fire trucks there,” says Valdés-Fauli. “The building leaks and floods. It’s ridiculous.”

The new public safety building, at the intersection of Salzedo and Minorca, above, is slated to be finished this August, after which it will take two months to move in police, fire and EMS. “It is not a simple building,” says Pino, because it houses the city’s futuristic IT department, as well as the city’s first responders. As a consequence of its precious cargo, including the city’s command center for emergency operations, “It’s a hardened building,” says Pino. “It’s a bunker, with reinforced, grouted masonry, and glass that is thicker and stronger than [standard] impact glass… we can’t afford for it to go down in a hurricane.”

Adjacent to the public safety building (PSB) is where Parking Garage 7 will go up next year. While its primary function will be to increase parking for the north Gables with 450 spaces, it’s been specially designed to house emergency equipment as well. “When you go into a parking garage the ceilings are very low, to minimize the height of the garage,” says Iglesias. “But that height does not work for large vehicles, vans and things like that.” The new garage can

CITY PROJECTS IN THE WORKS

City of Coral Gables Public Works Department

accommodate emergency vehicles, and, in the case of emergencies, a firewall between the garage and the second floor of the PSB will come down and the buildings will be interconnected.

FIRE STATION 2 AND THE TROLLEY BUILDING.

By later this year, Fire Station Two on U.S. 1 at Riviera Drive will be entirely rebuilt, keeping only the external shell of the original building, while adding a two-story structure for more fire trucks, training classrooms, and a gym. All together it will have six bays for trucks, up from the current two. Next door will be a new Trolley Building to house the city’s fleet of trolleys, which are currently kept near the airport. The building will also be used for trolley maintenance and minor repairs. “The nice thing about keeping the trolleys here is that, instead of parking them way off from the city, we can park them here and get a little additional service time,” says Iglesias. “Maybe we can get another half an hour of road time. I’ll take it.” The Trolley Building will also have a backup 911 communication tower. “We should be redundant, just in case,” says the city manager.

The Annex Building and City Hall. “It’s a 1926 building that needs a heck of

a lot of tender loving care,” says Mayor Valdés-Fauli. “You can see leaks. You need preservation, and the expenditure of money to keep such a historic structure alive.” While no price tag has been established, the multi-million-dollar fix will replace plumbing and electrical wiring, restore the floors, waterproof the walls and replace the roof.

Before that can happen, however, the adjacent city annex building at 427 Biltmore Way, which Iglesias says is in “terrible condition,” will be rehabbed from top to bottom, and become “the one-stop shop” for all city development services. Once that’s done, the city’s planning and permitting departments, currently on the third floor of City Hall, will be relocated there and the process of repairing City Hall can begin.

FIRE STATION 4.

While no designs have been finalized, the new Fire Station 4 on Sunset east of Red Road will fill a critical gap in EMS coverage for Coral Gables, filling in the gap between Fire Station 2 on U.S. 1 and Fire Station 3 at the end of Old Cutler at 57th Avenue. It will be designed to look like a single-family home to better blend in with the neighborhood, and will include a park behind the station on San Ignacio Avenue.

Source:

The city is currently purchasing the $2 million property for the station.

PARKING GARAGE 1.

Of all the projects the city is working on, none excite City Manager Iglesias more than the complete re-invention of Parking Garage One, which is located on the north side of Andalusia Avenue between Salzedo and Ponce, just east of the Miracle Theatre. Currently a heavily used but somewhat shabby structure in the middle of the business district, the garage will become what Iglesias describes as a state-of-theart “mobility hub” that can adapt to the city’s transportation needs of the future. It will hold 750 cars (up from 450) and have spaces for ride sharing, bays for electric

car recharging, and accommodations for self-driving vehicles.

“It will use smart parking technology that will exceed [the technology] of what Walt Disney World uses right now,” says Iglesais. “This goes along with Coral Gables as a smart city.” The building will also house street level retail (right now cars face the street) and the roof will be “activated” as an elevated public park. The project will be put out for design bids, with the city “looking for a high-end, state of the art structure, that can adapt to new parking technologies,” says Iglesias. “Who knows? It might make other parking facilities we own obsolete, especially with autonomous vehicles [on the horizon]. The other garages may become things we do not need.” ■

IN MASONRY WE TRUST (opposite): The new Public Safety Building, when completed, will be able to withstand category 4 hurricanes, and function as the city’s emergency operations center in the event of catastrophe.

TROLLEY AND FIRE CENTRAL (top): The current Fire Station No. 2 with its pitched roof (left) will be refurbished and augmented by a new building (center) and joined by a Trolley Building (right) for the city’s fleet of intra-city trolleys.

LUCKY SEVEN (above): The city’s new Parking Garage 7 will add 450 spaces and street level retail to the North Gables – as well as parking for city emergency vehicles if needed.

FIRE STATION 2 AND TROLLEY BLDG

PARKING GARAGE 7

Colombia

The Consular Corps of Miami is comprised of diplomatic representatives from foreign nations assigned to South Florida to care for the citizens of their home countries who visit, work, or live in our area. There are 26 with offices in Coral Gables. These Consul Generals (and Honorary Consuls) play an important role in the city, where they serve their citizens as well as home-based companies that do business and/or keep offices here. In this series, we interview the Consul Generals based here. This quarter’s guest is Pedro Agustin Valencia, Consul General of Colombia (shown right).

WHEN DID YOU ARRIVE IN CORAL GABLES?

February 11, 2019

WHERE WERE YOU PREVIOUSLY POSTED?

With the local government of Bogotá, Colombia´s capital.

WHAT IS YOUR JURISDICTION?

All South Florida, from Port St. Lucie to the Florida Keys.

WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?

To protect the interests of Colombian citizens in the U.S. in accordance with the law, and to provide the services of identity documents, passports, document authentication, and electoral functions, among others. Our Consulate also guides foreign citizens who would like to visit our country, with immigration status and travel requirements (visas).

HOW LONG HAS THE CONSULATE BEEN LOCATED IN CORAL GABLES?

Since 1981. Previously, our offices were in Downtown Miami.

WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS HERE?

Through the Ministerio de Relaciónes Exteriores (Colombian Foreign Affairs Ministry), to offer more and better services to Colombian nationals – and to celebrate our generous Colombian culture.

WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF CORAL GABLES AS A PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK?

Great central location, beautiful landscape, fine architecture, diverse gastronomy, hospitable residents, a perfect business and residential mix, and a place where one can live and have a short walk to work. Also a great place for a business lunch or dinner with family.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE CORAL GABLES RESTAURANTS?

Juan Café for a Colombian breakfast and coffee. Barista for a traditional Colombian lunch. Ocio for great Colombian dishes for dinner.

WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY ENJOY ABOUT CORAL GABLES?

The parks, and the events offered throughout the year, such as the Farmers Market, Carnaval on the Mile, Miami Spice, and the art festivals. We also enjoy the first Friday of each month, when art galleries open their doors to the public. We participate by hosting Noche de Galeria from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when Colombian artists exhibit their art.

WHAT ARE SOME LOCAL BUSINESS OWNED AND/OR OPERATED BY COLOMBIANS IN THE GABLES?

Servientrega, Avianca Express and Docurapi.

This interview was conducted by Don Slesnick, Honorary Consul of Australia and former Mayor of Coral Gables

TRADE FIGURES

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Colombia ranked 2nd total trade value in 2018 and 2019 for Latin America

Total trade: $4.27 billion (Exports: $2.61 billion, Imports: $1.66 billion)

Top Imports: Flowers (166 tons), fish (6.8 tons) and cosmetics (4.3 tons)

PORT OF MIAMI

Colombia ranked 8th in total trade value in 2018

Total Trade: $881.76 million

Exports: $747.66 million; Imports: $134.10 million

COLOMBIA’S MIA RANK

(Among Latin American & Caribbean Trade Partners)

By tonnage: No. 1.

By dollar value: No. 2

(Source: Latin America & Caribbean Data Analysis; Miami Airport – Miami Dade County)

HOME & GARDEN

THE ART OF THE SURFACE

This month we feature a Gables Estate home where the wall, ceiling and floor surfaces were given special treatments. The hallway pictured here is marked by a unique painted rug, deliberately showing the wood grain below.

GONZALEZ-PALACIOS, RICARDO, "SEA ESCAPE"

ART GALLERY

CORPORATE ART CONSULTANTS

Irecently interviewed a client who asked me to come by and see their property. This is always an exciting prospect and a jolt into bewilderment, as I never know what challenges lay before me. In the dining room the client asked me to enlighten her on what approach I would take for what they described as a very significant room, even though it hardly got used. So, I thought, for those of you are considering redecorating your dining rooms, why not share some of these tips?

If you do have a formal dining room and know that it’s rarely used, this is where you can be creative with color selections and décor. And perhaps, by the time you redecorate the room, it could become a place you occupy more often.

The seating is an excellent place to start. Just by recovering those dining chairs you can make a big difference. And before sending them to the upholsterer, you might consider having them refinished by painting the frames; this could give those old wooden frames a new life. Another idea is to break up the rhythm of wooden chairs around the table by adding two fully upholstered end chairs.

For the windows, you should consider changing the curtains. If your window treatments are in good condition, however, just adding a colorful banding on the leading edges will change the look dramatically.

Changing out your buffet to something more colorful can also spice up the room, and don’t forget to place a large mirror or art above it; these decorative elements can give you a new look without significant expense.

The walls provide another opportunity to use your artistic license and create something unexpected. Try using a dramatic wallpaper or even painting them with horizontal stripes, especially if your room is small. If your dining room is an open space lacking warmth, it could be a challenge to bring character to the room. Consider enhancing the architectural details by using wood paneling or simple wainscoting, or even a large display cabinet as a wall feature. Whether in wood or by paint, the idea is to highlight the room’s architectural details.

Bookcases are another fabulous feature to consider. Even if it’s in a room you don’t intend to use for reading, books and art can be great for stimulating conversation. If your room already has existing built-ins, why not consider painting the interior of the shelves by using a complementary color to the décor? Imagine a deep red or even a Provençal blue; this will give that flat piece of furniture a fantastic facelift.

Lastly, don’t be shy to mix color and add patterns. It’s another chance to be creative, even if it is the least used room of your home. ■

Decorating Your Dining Room

A FEW TIPS AND TWEAKS TO HELP WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FORMAL EATING SPACE

BY VINCENZO AVANZATO

TOP: The unexpected wall decoration in this dining room interior becomes a focal point.

BOTTOM: In this dining room with dramatic wallpaper, the rhythm of wooden chairs is broken by adding two fully upholstered end chairs.

Vincenzo Avanzato is the creative force behind Avanzato Design (on Douglas Road), which works on luxury residential projects worldwide, including homes in Cocoplum and Gables Estates

What

1. Less is More: Most patients with aging are bothered by their neck and jowls, as well as a tired eye appearance. Focusing the surgery on these areas serves most patients well and avoids an ‘overdone’ look. Most don’t need a brow lift or full face lasers.

2. Respect anatomy: The face droops as it ages, at multiple levels. Surgery has to lift saggy areas back into their previously normal position. This is done by tightening slack infrastructure and removing loose skin. Incisions are hidden along anatomic lines.

3. Use tension judiciously: Too much tension and the face looks pulled, too little and slack remains or recurs quickly. Most negatives in facelifts are caused by excessive tension.

4. Skin doesn’t hold up the face: Skin’s function is to cover the face. It’s the infrastructure’s job to hold up the face. Pulling tight on the skin to lift the face creates distortion, poor scars and the obvious result most people don’t like.

5. Not easy: Facelift surgery takes years to learn. It is complex and challenging. The stakes are high - it’s your face! It requires intense focus and attention to numerous details over several hours to create a result that looks natural, pleasing and can’t be spotted. To produce optimal results, the surgeon must be in excellent shape, both physically and mentally, as should be the patient.

6. Facelifts are powerful: They add a lot as they focus on the core of facial aging. But judiciously restoring lost facial volume and treating lines with fillers (or fat) is also important even though it won’t substitute for a facelift despite how much we would like it to. Further, careful use of Botox, is beneficial to enhance overall appearance.

7. Facelifts can’t do it all: A professionally designed skincare program, including a daily sunscreen, as well as an experienced cosmetic dermatologist, are a big plus for the full package. And, of course, a healthy lifestyle!

Baker MD

THE ART OF THE SURFACE

THE ELEMENTS OF FURNISHINGS NOTWITHSTANDING, THIS GABLES ESTATE MASTERPIECE IS DRIVEN BY ITS UNIQUE WALL SURFACES – AND ONE SPECTACULAR CEILING

BY JAMES BROIDA

When interior designer Vincenzo Avanzato was asked to transform this property in Gables Estates, he recalls, the owner gave him carte blanche. “He said to me, ‘I want you to be Ralph Lauren for Florida.’ I took that as a way to express, to use a lot of innovative and different finishes, and to be creative rather than be run of the mill,” says Avanzato. “We can do a lot of things that clients want, but with finishes, and the artists we deal with, we can create something unique for them.”

And so began what Avanzato describes as a dream assignment, one that allowed him to create extraordinary wall finishes that layered paint onto plaster, and layered paint colors with finishes of white glaze that could be striated to create patterns that ghosted their designs and gave them visual depth. Avanzato was also given a free hand to search the world for just the right furnishings and objects. “What he told me was, ‘It is your job to find everything, it is my job to appreciate it.’”

FAMILY ROOM

The painted ceiling was done by European Décor of West Palm Beach to resemble a work of art by Chagall. “He [the owner] is an art collector, with pieces by Chagall. He wanted to portray the family in their tightness and closeness to each other. So, the scenes have a lot to do with family and children. And because they also like to travel, we use Paris on one end and New York on the other, and in the middle is the Venetian Pool and on the other side, London.”

The yellow walls are done with Mamorino plaster, which is a Venetian stucco, matte finished. The furnishings are deliberately casual, with couches by Donghia and a coffee table that is 19th century Chinese. Carrying the Chinese theme is the beautiful red veneer of the bar.

LIVING ROOM

All of the sofas in the living room are custom made by Le Jeune Upholstery in Miami, and dramatically enhanced by an early (1956) painting by Colombian artist Botero. The chairs are Regency style, painted, from the UK. The two tables at either end of the central couches are Empire style reproductions from France, the coffee table is an antique reproduction purchased in Los Angeles, and the two red lamps are Mirano glass. “We put in the wainscoting and crown molding,” says Avanzato. “It was a complete renovation” (opposite page).

“ I LOOK AT A WINDOW AS A FRAME, SO WHEN I DRESS A WINDOW, I AM FRAMING A PAINTING. EVEN IN A MODERN HOUSE YOU CAN FRAME A WINDOW,” SAYS AVANZATO. “ IT SOFTENS THE EDGES.”

DINING ROOM

The walls of the dining room consist of three layers: The background painted in yellow, then painted with a purple ’50s floral design, then overwashed with a white glaze that is striated. “It [the glaze] allows the images to almost soothe through the walls, as though they are there but not there,” says Avanzato. The side chairs are custom made, designed by Avanzato and crafted locally. The dining table is late 18th century English (above).

BREAKFAST NOOK

This small dining area is actually at the end of the formal dining room. “When we laid out the room, because it was so large and the kids were grown up, they wanted a place for intimate dining,” says Avanzato. “This is what we created in the bay of the window.” The dining couch is a John Saladino creation, with two reproduction Empire French chairs from Formations in California. The Venetian dress curtains atop are silk, while the dropdown shades are custom made from raffia palm tree fiber (left).

THE LIBRARY

All of the wooden walls for the library were installed, refurbished panels from the UK retrofitted for the room and French polished afterwards for a high gloss finish. The painting over the fireplace is by Ferdinand Leger. The desk is an antique Empire style piece purchased in Hallandale, the rug an antique purchased in Dania. The reading chairs are Lucien Rollin reproductions in orange suede.

“They are exactly as they should be, because they are licensed to be made, in this case in Canada,” says Avanzato. “These days it’s a nightmare trying to find good reproductions.” The English round desk chair and the serving table were both found in London, while the custom silk curtains are embroidered and theatrically pulled back, using hardware from Houlès, in Paris.

MASTER BEDROOM

With an original Renoir on the wall, this room is a study in yellow-green, where the color is essentially monochromatic but nonetheless resonates liveliness through its subtle variations. “For the wall finish we imitated an old silk wallpaper,” says Avanzato. “We painted right on the plaster, which absorbed a lot of the paint, and we did it in sections to look like wallpaper.”

The custom designed silk curtains, in granny smith green, are banded at the bottom to match the wainscoting, which was also installed. At the top of the window are natural raffia fiber blinds. The desk was custom designed, with a John Saladin chair and Mirano glass lamp. At the end of the bed is a Donghia chair, now rare; the headboard of the bed is cotton velvet, from Le Jeune Upholstery in Miami.

FLOWERING TREES, OLD SCHOOL STYLE:

THE RELIABLE, NO MAINTENANCE GEIGER

BY KENNETH SETZER

There are actually hundreds of what we call Geiger trees, all members of the Cordia genus. Some Cordia are found naturally in India, Australia, the Middle East and tropical Africa, though most are Neotropical, making them ideal candidates for Coral Gables gardens.

The three Geigers found most commonly in Florida landscapes are the orange Geiger (Cordia sebestena), yellow Geiger (C. lutea) and white Geiger (C. boissieri), named for the color of their flowers. All three share some similarities: the bark is rough, deeply furrowed, and exfoliated (it feels and looks like coarse manila rope); their foliage consists of large, velvety oblong leaves which mature to a sandpapery feel you’ll want to experience.

The orange-flowered Geiger is usually the show stealer, and my favorite. Some claim it is a Caribbean-Lower Keys native. Other sources, including John James Audubon, suggest it was introduced from Cuba into Key West through commerce in the early 1800s. The common name “Geiger” comes from, the story claims, Audubon himself. While visiting his friend John Geiger in Key West, he supposedly was so impressed by the tree’s orange blossoms, growing in Geiger’s yard – or possibly the neighbor’s yard – that he named it the Geiger tree. The twist is that Geiger built his house – currently the Audubon House – in 1846-1849. Audubon had already included orange Geiger flowers in his painting of white-crowned pigeons of circa 1832.

Geigers are generally tolerant of salt spray, so make nice coastal plantings. All three are also very drought tolerant. The white Geiger is native to Mexico and extreme southern Texas, where it’s called Texas white olive. White Geiger has the added benefit of cold tolerance, showing no damage from our occasional wintertime dips to the upper 30s. Growing slowly to about 25 feet, it’s compact, but with a spreading crown. Prune them to encourage upward, not outward, growth. (Orange Geigers get a few feet taller, but with similar spread.)

The yellow Geiger’s flowers are an intense, saturated yellow, but really all of them are stunning and flower year-round –though more so in summer – and while the white Geiger’s flowers are a bit understated, at night they reflect light and attract big, beautiful sphinx moths. Grow Geigers in

GEIGER TREES ARE A EASY WAY TO BRING INTENSE COLOR TO YOUR LANDSCAPE WITH MINIMAL CARE

full sun; they thrive in our harshest midday summer sun. The sandy, alkaline soil we find here is also not a problem. I watered mine as a seedling after planting, but only for a couple weeks. In about ten years it grew to about 10 feet, and never required irrigation or fertilizer.

They are somewhat deciduous, losing foliage during drier, cooler conditions, so don’t be alarmed when they drop leaves in winter. When warm rains return, new foliage will appear followed by clusters of flowers; spheres (teardrop shaped in orange Geiger) of greenish fruit will follow. Birds eat them to an extent, but I don’t see a lot else eating the fruit.

The only drawback to their flowers is that they are, at least to most human noses, unscented. But they make up for this by feeding our eyes, and also feeding moths, skippers, and bees. The Geiger seems unperturbed by scale, aphids, thrips and whiteflies. Geiger tortoise beetle larvae (Eurypepla calochroma) may feed on the foliage of orange Geiger, causing minor, temporary cosmetic damage. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of these beetles; they are spectacularly beautiful metallic gold insects.

Consider using orange Geiger as “statement” trees, flanking paths and driveways, while yellow Geiger can be encouraged to grow into a large hedge. White can be utilized where your property doesn’t demand as much intense color. Choose any or all for no-maintenance, reliable ornamentals guaranteed to lend your landscape a tropical Caribbean feel. ■

Intensely colored, frilly, trumpetshaped yellow Geiger flowers (opposite page).

Given enough sunlight to lower areas, Geigers can be grown into a hedge (top left).

The sandpapery feel and olive green of white Geiger foliage (top right).

Even the Geiger insect community is attractive; here, a Geiger tortoise beetle (center).

The beloved orange Geiger, an archetypal tropical Caribbean tree (bottom right).

What $6 to $9 Million Will Buy in Coral Gables

The Coral Gables housing market has slipped slightly over the past year, but the prognosis is good. While prices are down 0.8 percent from last year, Zillow predicts that prices will rise 2.8 percent by 2021, so now might be a good time to buy. Currently, the median value of a home in Coral Gables is $797,290 – more than twice the

median home value for Miami-Dade County as a whole ($302,600). The median price per square foot ($454) is also almost twice the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach average ($230). To see what $6 to $9 million would buy today, we asked three real estate agents to submit one of their homes for sale in that price range.

On the Gables Waterway

287 LAS BRISAS COURT

Listing Price

$7.875 million

6 BED/7 BATH/3-CAR GARAGE. 6,389 SQ. FT.

Located in the Islands of Cocoplum, this house is designed by an award-winning architect in the Polynesian Contemporary style. The residence, set back from a cul de sac, offers no-bridge access to Biscayne Bay. It has a living green wall, reflection pools, glass front door and a double-height glass stair atrium. Listing Agent: Terre Shelton Bernace (Shelton and Stewart Realtors), 305.607.7212

Listing Price

$6 million

6 BED/7.5 BATH/POOL 7,989 SQ. FT.

Located in leafy South Gables, not far from Gables Estates, this is a modern, light-filled classic. With white marble floors and impact glass throughout, the chef’s kitchen with pantry room has a double oven and large double-door refrigerator. With descending staircase and working fireplace, the house boasts a four-car garage and large patio with built-in custom-made summer kitchen.

Listing Agent: David Siddons (Douglas Elliman Real Estate), 305.508.0899

Oasis in the Sky

60 EDGEWATER DRIVE. UNIT TS-E Listing Price

$8.75 million

3 BED/7 BATH/8,000 SQ. FT.

This two-story condominium has incredible views in all directions and enormous entertainment areas as well as more intimate areas, including den with wood paneling and fireplace. Within the unit is a gourmet kitchen, a private gym, a movie theater, and a second bar and kitchen upstairs for simpler family gatherings. Listing Agent: Sheila Freed (Coldwell Banker Realty), 305.793.0005

EXTRAORTANIQUE

THE CULINARY WIZARDRY OF CINDY HUTSON INFUSES ORTANIQUE

BY ANDREW GAYLE

What surprised us most about Ortanique was, well, everything. It’s not what we expected from a restaurant with a reputation for haute Caribbean cuisine.

First, the appearance. The interior looks almost Arabic, as in the Arabian Nights, with billowy curtains, pillars, and raised, canopied seating areas that can be made private with a veil of drapery. The green and white Cuban tile floor looks positively Persian, and adding a theatrical touch, one wall is the actual curved side of the round entrance plaza of the Miracle Theatre next door. It also has a warm feeling, with Tuscan-orange walls above dark wood wainscoting, complimented by the yellow of the curtains and the electric “candles” on white tablecloth settings. Elegant, romantic and exotic all at the same time.

More surprising is the food. It is not just good, it’s great. The tastes are creative and refreshing, with a flavor palette born of the Caribbean and then expanded to what Chef Cindy Hutson calls “the cuisine of the sun” – basically any place she fancies with a healthy dose of solar energy. The West Indian Style Bouillabaisse uses a red Thai coconut curry for its broth, for example, while the jerked chicken is cooked with penne pasta and sun-dried tomatoes. When you taste these, you will forgive Hutson any culinary whim.

Of course, having started her cooking career using the recipes

of her boyfriend’s mother (famed Jamaican chef Norma Shirley), the spices of the Caribbean underlie virtually every dish. From Hutson’s pan seared fish with scotch bonnet and Jamaican allspice, to the mussels steamed with Red Stripe beer instead of white wine, her island roots show through. And when Ortanique does a dish that is pure Caribbean, they are unsurpassed. Their West Indian Cornish game hen, marinated in jerk sauce and topped with Jamaica brown stew sauce, is simply delicious, with its deep flavor blend of onion, scallion, garlic, brown sugar, caramel, ginger, thyme, paprika, and chili powder, served with classic Jamaican peas and rice, and sautéed broccolini.

Chef Hutson has been on Miracle Mile adjacent to the Miracle Theatre for 20 years now, lured to that location by the city (which owns the property) from her restaurant Norma’s on the Beach (Miami Beach, that is). Clearly Hutson is doing something right to have survived – and thrived – for so long in a city that can be brutal on restaurants. That something is a cuisine entirely her own, the essence of a chef-driven restaurant.

Half of the dinner menu at Ortanique is devoted to dishes “that my customers would kill me if I removed,” things like her jerked chicken, Cornish game hen and bouillabaisse. There are a few killer appetizers in this column, too, led by a flavorful “West Indian Curried Fresh Jumbo Lump Crab Cake,” that

ORTANIQUE ON THE MILE

278 MIRACLE MILE 305.446.7710

MON-THU: 11:30 AM - 10 PM

FRIDAY: 11:30 AM - 11 PM

SATURDAY: 6 - 11 PM

SUNDAY: 5:30 - 09:30 PM

West Indian Curried Fresh Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with red peppers, scallions, Japanese panko, and mango papaya salsa (top left).

Norma’s Terrace Salad, with cucumber curls, orange segments, hearts of palm, feta cheese, gourmet greens, Caribbean caramelized pecans, and julienne of mango, with a passion fruit vinaigrette (top right).

Coffee-cocoa crusted Salmon with chipotle agave glaze, atop creamy corn polenta with sautéed baby bok choy on the side (bottom left).

Peanut Butter Bomb made with peanut butter mousse covered in chocolate ganache atop an Oreo cookie crust (bottom right).

Chef Cindy Hutson, oversees a dinner menu at Ortanique which is devoted to dishes “that my customers would kill me if I removed.”

is dramatically enhanced by a mango papaya salsa. And then there is Norma’s Terrace Salad, a show stopping tumble of cucumber curls, orange segments, hearts of palm, feta cheese, gourmet greens, Caribbean caramelized pecans, and julienne of mango, with a passion fruit vinaigrette. A real cuisine of the sun.

The other half of the menu is given to new dishes, or more esoteric crowd pleasers that are on rotation. We tried two of these and both were exceptional: A coffee-cocoa crusted salmon with chipotle agave glaze, atop creamy corn polenta with sautéed baby bok choy on the side; and an Angus beef churrasco steak, with mojo yucca mash, broccolini and mango chimichurri. Both were exceptionally good (especially for $32 and $31, respectfully).

For dessert we ducked the sticky toffee pudding and went instead for the bread pudding of the day and the peanut butter bomb, the former a raspberry delight and the latter recommended by our waiter Jo-Jo, who has been on staff for 10 years. “It is the bomb,” he said, and rightfully so: Peanut butter mousse covered in chocolate ganache atop an Oreo cookie crust. We didn’t know what part of the Caribbean it came from, and we didn’t care. ■

THE TASTES ARE CREATIVE AND REFRESHING, WITH A FLAVOR PALETTE BORN OF THE CARIBBEAN AND THEN EXPANDED TO WHAT CHEF CINDY HUTSON CALLS “THE CUISINE OF THE SUN...”

April 2020

THE TOP RESTAURANTS IN CORAL GABLES

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants are closing their dining rooms to prevent spreading the illness. However, many are keeping their kitchens open and offering takeout, curbside pickup and delivery. Some even have special offers or free delivery through apps like Postmates Uber Eats, GrubHub and DoorDash. The city is converting all centralized valet locations in the downtown to takeout and pickup zones, except for the valet stand on the 200 block of Miracle Mile. Parking lot 25 adjacent to Giralda Plaza, the 200 block of Andalusia Avenue near Chocolate Fashion and the 2400 block of Ponce de Leon Boulevard near Cheesecake Factory will also be designated pickup zones, where parking is free for 10 minutes. Here is a comprehensive list of restaurants that you can still enjoy –on your couch, of course.

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

Bachour

Takeout and delivery $ - $$

2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

California Pizza Kitchen

Takeout and delivery $$

300 Miracle Mile 305.774.9940

Cheesecake Factory

Takeout and delivery $$

2418 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.529.0703

Clutch Burger

Takeout and delivery  $$

146 Giralda Ave. 305.400.8242

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar

Takeout and delivery. Save your receipts from in-house pickup or any delivery platform made between March 18 and April 14, and receive a gift card equal to 50 percent of the total purchases. $$

301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220

Eating House

All-day menu available for takeout or delivery through Postmates. Now offering pasta kits for pickup: Choose from four different types of pasta dishes (Pomodoro, pesto, Bolognese, carbonara). Serves four, comes with a mixed green salad, parmesan cheese and “dirt cups,” made of whipped Nutella mousse, Oreos, pretzels and salted caramel. $$ 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.448.6524

The Globe Takeout and delivery $-$$

377 Alhambra Circle 305.445.3555

Hillstone Takeout $$$ 201 Miracle Mile 305.529.0141

Miller’s Ale House

Takeout and delivery $ 101 Miracle Mile 305.444.3600

Seasons 52 Takeout $$

321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552

Tap 42

Takeout or delivery through Postmates and Uber Eats $$-$$$

301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566

The Local Craft Food & Drink

Takeout and delivery. Get $3 off orders above $15 through Postmates and Uber Eats. $$

150 Giralda Ave. 305.648.5687

Yard House

Takeout $$

320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273

ASIAN

Benihana

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash $ - $$ 242 Miracle Mile 305.567.2000

Canton Chinese

Takeout or delivery through Postmates, DoorDash, Chow Now and Seamless $

2614 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.448.3736

Ichimi Delivery $-$$

2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016

Izakaya

Takeout $$

159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584

Kao Sushi & Grill

Takeout or delivery through ChowNow. 50 percent off all sushi rolls and fried rice $$

127 Miracle Mile 786.864.1212

Kae Sushi

Takeout or delivery. Free delivery within a certain distance. Delivery also available on Postmates, Uber Eats and Grubhub $ - $$ 143 Giralda Ave. 305.814.5872

Lotus Garden

Takeout our delivery through Postmates $ - $$

318 Miracle Mile 305.446.2360

Malakor Thai Isaan

Takeout and delivery $$ 90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862

Miss Saigon

Takeout $

148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006

Moon Thai

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats or Postmates $ - $$

1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890

Ohho Noodles Market

Takeout and delivery $

1100 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.663.5881

PokeBao

Free delivery through Postmates and Uber Eats $

153 Giralda Ave.

Sushi Maki

Takeout and delivery. Offering family meals designed to be enjoyed at home. The family of four meal ($49.99) comes with Edamame, two side salads, 12 pieces of gyoza, your choice of two sushi rolls, special fried rice and eight

THE GLOBE

MOON THAI

Thai doughnuts. The family of six meal ($69.99) comes with Edamame, three side salads, 12 pieces of gyoza, four spring rolls, your choice of three sushi rolls, special fried rice and eight Thai doughnuts. $ - $$

2334 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.443.1884

FRENCH

Brasserie Central Takeout or delivery through Delivery Dudes. 15 percent off all orders.

$$-$$$

Shops at Merrick Park 786.536.9388

Chocolate Fashion

Takeout or delivery through Postmates, Uber Eats and Grubhub $ 248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200

Frenchie’s Diner

Takeout and delivery $$-$$$ 2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554

Pascal’s On Ponce

Takeout and delivery $$$

2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024

ITALIAN

Amore Restaurant and Bar

Takeout and delivery $$

94 Miracle Mile 305.200.3216

Bugatti Takeout $$

2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.2545

Caffe Abbracci

Takeout $$$

318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

Fiola

Takeout and delivery. Delivery only available to the following zip codes: 33133, 33146, 33143, 33134, 33156, 33155 and 33173 $$$$

1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639

Fratellino

Takeout $$$

264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068

Salumeria 104

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats. Order online for 50 percent off all wine options $$ 117 Miracle Mile 305.640.5547

Terre Del Sapore

Takeout, delivery through Postmates or Uber Eats $ 246 Giralda Ave. 786.870.5955

Zucca

Takeout and delivery. Free delivery and no extra fees. Pickup orders will be brought to your car curbside. $$$-$$$$ 162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731

LATIN & SOUTH AMERICAN

Aromas del Peru

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats. Free delivery. 10 percent off when your order off their website $$ 1930 Ponce de León Blvd. 305.476.5886

Caffe Vialetto

Takeout and delivery $$$ 4019 Le Jeune Rd. 305.446.5659

Caja Caliente

Takeout or delivery through Postmates and Uber Eats $ 808 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.431.1947

COYO Taco

Takeout, delivery through Postmates, Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash $ 126 Giralda Ave. 786.629.7929

Divino Ceviche

40 percent off delivery $ - $$ 160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775

FRENCHIE’S DINER

El Porteño

Takeout and delivery $$

271 Miracle Mile 786.534.8888

Graziano’s

Delivery from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. through Postmates, Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats $$$

394 Giralda Ave. 305.774.3599

Havana Harry’s

Delivery and takeout $$

4612 S. Le Jeune Rd. 305.661.2622

La Casita

Takeout and delivery $

3805 SW 8th St. 305.448.8224

Patagonia Gastrobar

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats and Postmates $

244 Miracle Mile 305.640.8376

SEAFOOD

La Dorada

Takeout $$$$

177 Giralda Ave. 305.446.2002

Sea Grill

Takeout from 12 – 8 p.m. $$$

4250 Salzedo St. 305.447.3990 (Shops at Merrick Park)

SPANISH

Bulla Gastrobar

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats. Delivery for lunch available from 12 – 3 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 –9:30 p.m. Receive a free dessert when you call directly for pickup $$ 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.0107

La Taberna Giralda

Takeout and delivery $$ 254 Giralda Avenue 786.362.5677

STEAK

Amigo Grill & Co.

Takeout or delivery through GrubHub, DoorDash and Postmates $ - $$ 98 Miracle Mile 305.456.8125

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Takeout $$$-$$$$

2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.7995

Morton’s The Steakhouse

Takeout from 12 – 8 p.m. $$$

2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.442.1662

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Takeout. Two-course lunch for $29,

three-course lunch or dinner for $45, four-course lunch or dinner for $50, 50 percent off wine with food purchase. Two-course lunch available Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Three- and four-course lunch and dinner available Mon. – Sat. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. $$$$ 4251 Salzedo St. 786.703.9094

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse 25 percent off takeout orders above $75 when you order by phone $$$$ 2320 Salzedo St. 205.461.8360

Shula’s 347 Grill

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats and Postmates $$$ 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661

PUBS, CAFES & MISC.

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

Takeout and delivery $ 169 Miracle Mile 786.360.4026

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

Takeout from 4 – 9 p.m. Currently working to partner with food delivery apps. 10 percent off orders over $20. 20

MAROOSH MEDITERRANEAN

percent off for all first responders $$

60 Merrick Way 305.774.1883

John Martin’s Irish Pub

Takeout or delivery through Delivery

Dudes and Postmates $

253 Miracle Mile 305.445.3777

Madruga Bakery

Takeout $

1430 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.262.6130

Maroosh Mediterranean

Takeout $ - $$

223 Valencia Ave. 305.476.9800

Ortanique on the Mile

Takeout or delivery through Postmates or Uber Eats from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. $$

278 Miracle Mile 305.446.7710

Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market

Takeout or delivery through Uber Eats

216 Palermo Ave. 786.801.1074 $ - $$

Pincho

Free delivery on Uber Eats. 50 percent off for hospital workers and first responders $ 30 Giralda Ave. 305.446.5666

Someone’s Son

Takeout and delivery $ - $$

800 Douglas Rd. Ste. 145 786.334.6374

Sports Grill

Takeout or delivery through Postmates, Uber Eats and DoorDash $ 1559 Sunset Dr. 305.668.0396

Threefold Café

Takeout and delivery $$

141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007

CASUAL & TAKEOUT

Chicken Kitchen

Takeout or delivery through Postmates, Uber Eats and DoorDash $

111 Miracle Mile 305.442.7555

Denny’s

Free delivery through April 12. Order on the Denny’s website $ 1 Miracle Mile 305.445.2300

Five Guys

Takeout and delivery. Delivery fees waived when order places on Five Guys app or website. $15 minimum $ 1540 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.740.5972

Giardino Gourmet Salads

Takeout or free delivery through their app or website $ 2346 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.460.6010

My Ceviche

Takeout and delivery. Free delivery on

Uber Eats. 50 percent off for all hospital workers and medical personnel $ 232 Miracle Mile 786.409.7329

P.Pole Pizza

Download the P.Pole Pizza app to order takeout and delivery. Receive 50 percent off your first order with the code PPOLEAPP $ 279 Miracle Mile 786.618.5287

Shake Shack

Takeout and delivery. Free delivery through Grubhub $ 1450 S. Dixie Hwy. 786.470.3701

Spring Chicken

Takeout and delivery $ 1514 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.699.6098

DESSERT

Morelia Gourmet Paletas

Free delivery. Get a free Belgian chocolate paleta with any order above $15 through Uber Eats $ 76 Miracle Mile 305.456.1306

Whip ‘N’ Dip

Takeout, online ordering available $ 1407 Sunset Dr. 305.665.2565

MADRUGA BAKERY

Gables Street Style

A study in blue: Pictured is local designer Cary Castro, who we captured at the Carnaval on the Mile festival last month. Photograph by Emily Fakhoury.

Relax before the runway.