Coral Gables Magazine February 2021

CORAL GABLES

LET THERE BE LIGHT

ILLUMINATE CORAL GABLES COMES TO THE DOWNTOWN

5520 OAKWOOD LANE, CORAL GABLES OFFERED AT $4,250,000

This approach avoids muscle and the need to break bones, which means that patients can recover faster and get back to their daily lives.

Because surgeons can also keep the heart beating, patients don’t experience the complications associated with “waking up” the heart after surgery. Dr. McGinn estimates that he’s performed the technique at least 1,800 times, with many of his patients traveling from other states and countries to have the procedure. His work has generated hundreds of presentations at scientific meetings and articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. The American Heart Association has also recognized his pioneering efforts with the Samuel L. Koontz Award for Clinical Excellence.

New Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute surgery chief pioneered life-changing coronary bypass technique

“Dr. McGinn brings world-class expertise and innovation to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute,” says Barry T. Katzen, M.D., founder and chief medical executive of the Institute. “He is an excellent addition to our team of highly skilled cardiologists and surgeons who are committed to excellence in patient care, innovation and team building.”

When 43-year-old Isaac Del Val found out he needed a cardiac bypass, he was in shock. The thought of heart surgery ––– and its recovery ––– was overwhelming. But with two severely blocked arteries, he needed the procedure to avoid a second heart attack.

Luckily for Mr. Del Val, he was at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, where Joseph McGinn Jr., M.D., had recently been named chief of cardiac surgery. Dr. McGinn is recognized worldwide for pioneering a minimally invasive coronary bypass procedure, which he used to help Mr. Del Val.

“Dr. McGinn does a different type of procedure,” says Mr. Del Val. “He was unbelievable.”

The approach that saved Mr. Del Val’s life is called the “McGinn Technique.” It’s a minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass graft, or MICS CABG. Few cardiac surgeons perform the procedure because of its complexity and need for specialized equipment. Rather than opening the chest for the cardiac bypass, the McGinn Technique uses small incisions in between the ribs to access the heart and arteries.

Before joining the Institute, Dr. McGinn was chair of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, part of Atrium HealthCare in North Carolina. Prior to that, he was a leading cardiac surgeon in New York City and served as medical director of the Heart Institute at Staten Island University Hospital for 16 years.

“I’m thrilled to join an institute where innovation plays a major role in patient care,” says Dr. McGinn. “Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute has an amazing team that works together under one roof to deliver the most comprehensive, innovative care to the community.”

Dr. McGinn has trained hundreds of surgeons around the world in minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques. He brings that training to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, where he’s helping his colleagues master life-changing procedures for patients like Mr. Del Val.

“Without the surgery, things could have been so much worse,” says Mr. Del Val, who is continuing his heart care at the Institute. “It’s changed a lot in my life, and I’m grateful.”

This approach avoids muscle and the need to break bones, which means that patients can recover faster and get back to their daily lives.

Because surgeons can also keep the heart beating, patients don’t experience the complications associated with “waking up” the heart after surgery. Dr. McGinn estimates that he’s performed the technique at least 1,800 times, with many of his patients traveling from other states and countries to have the procedure. His work has generated hundreds of presentations at scientific meetings and articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. The American Heart Association has also recognized his pioneering efforts with the Samuel L. Koontz Award for Clinical Excellence.

New Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute surgery chief pioneered life-changing coronary bypass technique

“Dr. McGinn brings world-class expertise and innovation to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute,” says Barry T. Katzen, M.D., founder and chief medical executive of the Institute. “He is an excellent addition to our team of highly skilled cardiologists and surgeons who are committed to excellence in patient care, innovation and team building.”

Before joining the Institute, Dr. McGinn was chair of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, part of Atrium HealthCare in North Carolina. Prior to that, he was a leading cardiac surgeon in New York City and served as medical director of the Heart Institute at Staten Island University Hospital for 16 years.

“I’m thrilled to join an institute where innovation plays a major role in patient care,” says Dr. McGinn. “Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute has an amazing team that works together under one roof to deliver the most comprehensive, innovative care to the community.”

Dr. McGinn has trained hundreds of surgeons around the world in minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques. He brings that training to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, where he’s helping his colleagues master life-changing procedures for patients like Mr. Del Val.

“Without the surgery, things could have been so much worse,” says Mr. Del Val, who is continuing his heart care at the Institute. “It’s changed a lot in my life, and I’m grateful.”

786-596-1230

When 43-year-old Isaac Del Val found out he needed a cardiac bypass, he was in shock. The thought of heart surgery ––– and its recovery ––– was overwhelming. But with two severely blocked arteries, he needed the procedure to avoid a second heart attack.

Luckily for Mr. Del Val, he was at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, where Joseph McGinn Jr., M.D., had recently been named chief of cardiac surgery. Dr. McGinn is recognized worldwide for pioneering a minimally invasive coronary bypass procedure, which he used to help Mr. Del Val.

“Dr. McGinn does a different type of procedure,” says Mr. Del Val. “He was unbelievable.”

The approach that saved Mr. Del Val’s life is called the “McGinn Technique.” It’s a minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass graft, or MICS CABG. Few cardiac surgeons perform the procedure because of its complexity and need for specialized equipment. Rather than opening the chest for the cardiac bypass, the McGinn Technique uses small incisions in between the ribs to access the heart and arteries.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

The idea of public art, and its importance for the civic life of Coral Gables, has become the new mantra for the city. That effort is reaching a tipping point with the advent of Illuminate Coral Gables, an ambitious project to plant the flag of Coral Gables on the national art map once again. While it has been scaled back due to Covid-19, Illuminate Coral Gables will debut Feb. 12 for a month-long run of dramatically lit buildings in and around the downtown.

ROMANCING THE STONE

Whether to show romantic love, mark a milestone or simply give oneself a bit of sparkle, what is better than a gift that will last a lifetime? So, what should you be looking for to wow your special partner this year? What’s new in 2021? Traditionally, diamonds have been the stone of choice, but other stones are becoming just as synonymous with love and romance.

It’s All About the Downtown

This month’s cover highlights a daring experiment in Coral Gables in the use of art in public places: Illuminate Coral Gables. Starting Feb. 12, the downtown will be lit by eight light installations, including “Fire Flies,” a procession of 27 pedicabs festooned with Chinese lanterns (the image featured on our cover).

The organizers of this ambitious display, Venny Torre and Patrick O’Connell, hope that it becomes an annual event, something that will attract visitors by the thousand. For both of these civic minded gentlemen (Torre was just chairman of the downtown Business Improvement District, O’Connell the recent chair of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce) the idea is to breathe life into our precious urban core.

There is little doubt that the downtown, and Miracle Mile in particular, was wounded by the long construction of the Streetscape project. And the rebound had just begun when the pandemic hit. In the summer before Covid, however, there was a colorful ray of hope – the Umbrella Sky installation over Giralda Plaza – which drew thousands of visitors. That lesson on the power of public art was not lost, and Illuminate now promises to take that concept to the next level – while providing a lot of fun as well.

As beneficial as Illuminate promises to be, however, it’s not a permanent solution for bringing life to the downtown – though it

certainly can be one piece to solve the puzzle. For a return to robust pedestrian traffic, there have to be changes.

For what those changes should be, we talked with retailers on the Mile and asked them for their solutions. You can read the responses in our “What Can Revitalize Miracle Mile?” story in Streetwise. You can also take the temperature of locals in our report on the recent community meeting about the new zoning code for Miracle Mile.

The good news is that there are growing signs of recovery. Thanks to city ordinances that allow outdoor dining for Covid safety, nearly 100 restaurants now have some form of al fresco dining. Try walking down Giralda Plaza or along Miracle Mile on a Friday night. There’s hardly an empty seat anywhere.

“We are not dying, we are reshuffling,” says Aura Reinhardt, executive director of the downtown Business Improvement District, whose task it is to market downtown businesses. “We are in a tough situation, but it has existed for a long time… [right now] I hear negotiations for new leases are happening all over [the downtown]. If you have a constant flow of interest, it is telling you that businesses want to be here,” she says. Now, all we have to do is spend more time shopping in the Gables!

Cover: Illuminate artist Cai Guo-Qiang’s installation of “Fireflies.”

CEO & PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P.Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

ASSOCIATE EDITOR & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Lizzie Wilcox

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

SENIOR WRITER

Mike Clary WRITERS

Lily Faber

Andrew Gayle

Gina Lee Guilford

Mallory Evans Jacobson

Kim Rodriguez

FILM & VIDEO CRITIC

Michael Roffman

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Campina

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 1200 Anastasis Ave. Suite 115, Coral Gables FL 33134. Telephone: (305) 995-0995. Copyright 2021 by City Regional Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Send address changes to subscriptions@ coralgablesmagazine.com. General mailbox email and letters to editor@coralgablesmagazine.com. BPA International Membership applied for March 2019.

The Legend Lives On

Gordon “Butch” Stewart blazed trails in the hospitality industry, and it all began with one resort and a big dream. Forty years later, he turned that dream into the world’s only 5-Star Luxury Included ® Vacation. Today, there are 20 Sandals ® and Beaches ® Resorts on 10 islands across the Caribbean.

A visionary like Butch Stewart comes along once in a lifetime. He believed in dreaming the impossible dream, and that’s how he forever changed the all-inclusive vacation industry. His legend will live on as Sandals looks to new horizons by expanding to more islands, building more resorts, and off ering more cutting-edge innovations that make vacation dreams come true for our guests.

Love

If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences, you can email allthatsgood@sandals.com

legacy

live

forever.

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

Exercise for All

The January 2021 or “Rosie” issue of the Coral Gables Magazine featured a timely article “New Year New You” on a half dozen commercial gyms available to pursue exercise activities. An interesting variety of options were presented. Your older Gables readers would additionally benefit from awareness that the city offers useful exercise classes at the Adult Activity Center on Anastasia as part of the Gables Parks Department. During this COVID year several free classes have been offered safely via Zoom. My wife and I, in our seventies, happily participate – and urge other seniors to explore the AAC.

J. Berlin

Editor’s Note: Thank you for that information. So much of our world has gone virtual, but it’s clearly not such a bad option while we endure the stay-at-home pandemic. And we all know that exercise is key for our immune systems.

Clean Water is All Important

After having read your article showcasing the cleanup event that I hosted with the City of Coral Gables in 2020 (“The Art of Trash Pickup”), I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude for your continuous efforts in spotlighting community initiatives with this marvelous publication.

As many people are aware, I have always been driven by the importance of environmental stewardship and I am proud to live in a city like Coral Gables which boasts a large array of natural resources, such as our beautiful waterways and the majestic trees that line our streets. In exchange for being able to enjoy all that nature offers, it is our duty to be proactive and care for the world we live in.

As a father to two young girls, I am truly concerned about the future of our environment. It is very important to teach our children and educate the public about the importance of conservation and reducing our carbon footprint. Awareness and education are key. Each weekend, my

two daughters and I have made it part of a family tradition to collect any litter we find in our neighborhoods. I like to think that we set an example on the importance of caring for our environment and play a small role in diverting litter and plastics from entering our waterways, which can be harmful to wildlife and pose a threat to our drinking water. I encourage everyone to adopt similar habits and motivate others to do the same.

Once again, thank you Coral Gables Magazine for drawing attention on such an amazing initiative like our 2020 Cleanup which allowed our community to come together, clean up our waterways, and set a precedence for future cleanups. I am proud to have spearheaded this initiative and look forward to seeing you at our next event.

Please note, my door is always open and always feel free to call me at 786-3973957 or email me at vlago@coralgables.com.

Vice Mayor Vince Lago

Editor’s Note: We could not agree more that keeping the Coral Gables Waterway, and our Biscayne Bay coastline, clean, clear and free from trash and pollutants needs to be a top priority for the city. We applaud your efforts in this regard.

The Entrepreneurial Way

Thank you for sharing monthly features that are of continued importance to the Coral Gables business community. We are indeed a proud City that fosters a strong and inviting business climate while serving as a catalyst for growth and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Long heralded for our small businesses, Coral Gables still relies upon partners like Coral Gables Magazine to evangelize about our unique opportunities and to also tell our stories. I am honored to help contribute to the messaging on a quarterly basis in my own column, but must say this past issue on innovation and entrepreneurs was timely and essential. [“Start Me Up: Entrepreneurism in the Gables, Jan. 2021].

Thanks to you, Coral Gables is poised for a stronger recovery for our local busi-

nesses (and the recruitment of new ones) because of your encouragement, authenticity and storytelling.

Mark A. Trowbridge

President & CEO, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

Editor’s Note: Thank you for your kind comments, and we do what we can. But really the thanks should go to you and the chamber for keeping the business community informed, connected and motivated.

Humbled

Just saw the new edition of your magazine and am very honored to be featured (jump suit and all).  Besides my article the content of this edition is extremely informative, and the highlights of the various entrepreneurs are well done.

My Mother will love the photograph and the comments when I show it to her! Hopefully, nobody will misread the highlighted quote and think that I felt that I somehow deserved a Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart – as to the first, it is way above my station in life and as to the second, I was very fortunate to survive 27 years of service without injury.

Don Slesnick Mayor of Coral Gables 2001-2011

Happy New Year

Loved the January issue. It’s always nice to start the New Year off with female empowerment. But, did you know January was “Walk Your Dog Month”? Since New Year’s equals “new” beginnings, what greater way to begin 2021 than by walking your dog Why not dust off those sneakers, grab your dog’s leash, and head over to Greenway for some exercise together.  We are so fortunate to live in the City Beautiful. What better way to explore, make new friends, and start those get-fit resolutions!

Nicole Packin Miami Pet Concierge

Real Estate that Moves You.

4 Bed 3.5 Bath 3,475 Adj. SF

Sun-filled Key West style home a short distance to the Village Center. Pool, 2-car garage and summer kitchen included. $1,650,000

3633

5 Bed 3 Bath 3,024 Adj. SF

Idyllic, updated home on 11,100’ lot on quiet street includes office, pool, impact windows, and great entertainment area.

$1,599,000

3 Bed 2.5 Bath 3,173 Adj. SF

Fabulous contemporary in the Grove also includes an office/media loft, pool, and garage. $1,499,000

1317 Alhambra Circle

4 Bed 4 Bath 2,988 Adj. SF Original 1930s beauty on 15,000 lot includes guest house and many original details. $1,149,000

3628 Royal Palm Avenue

3799 Solana Road

Coconut Grove

Harlano Street

Coral Gables

Coconut Grove

Coral Gables

Cocoplum,

No Bridge to Bay! Wide waterway, oversized lot. Sold AS-IS with Plans (in approval process).

6/6/1 | 7,897 adj. sf. | 22,730 sf. lot | $6,500,000

5/6/1 | 6,164 sf. living | 20,375 sf. lot | $4,995,000

Cocoplum best wide water location and view! If your buyer wants everything, this is it! 50 ft. dock/lift.

| 6,885 sf. living | 22,546 sf. lot | $4,950,000

home, no bridges to Bay. 3 car garage. Gated for privacy on cul-de-sac. high ceilings, elevator.

6/6/1 | 7,844 sf. living | 20,842 sf.

New Listing! Waterfront Contemporary one-story home. Recently remodeled, new roof, impact windows/doors 5/5/1 | 4,135 Adj. sf. | 32,560 sf. lot | $4,250,000

updated one-story home. Great views of the pool area and waterway. Impact windows and doors

hand-selected in Spain.

6/5/1 | 6,034 sf. living | 32,563 sf. lot | ↓$3,949,000

4/4 | 6,188 adj. sf. | 15,700 sf. lot | ↓$2,595,000

Shelton-Stewart Group

Consuelo Stewart 305.216.7348

Tere Shelton Bernace 305.607.7212

Teresita Shelton 305.775.8176

1228

Coral

Villa Biltmore - Breathtaking new condo development, next to the Biltmore Hotel and Golf Course. 2 units left! 4/4 | 2,685 sf. | 3 cov. pkng per residence | ↓$2,442,572

See

287 Las Brisas Court - Islands of

Coral Gables

Anastasia Avenue -

Gables

191 Los Pinos Court - Cocoplum, Coral Gables

272 Veleros Court - Islands of Cocoplum, Coral Gables Waterfront

7425 Los Pinos Blvd. - Cocoplum, Coral Gables Waterfront

208 Costanera Road - Islands of Cocoplum, Coral Gables

470 Costanera Road - Islands of Cocoplum, Coral Gables Fabulous Waterfront home fully redone. Chef’s kitchen, all impact, new beach entry pool/dock.

7180 E Lago Drive - Islands of Cocoplum Contemporary home, perfect for entertaining. High ceilings, glass doors overlooking pool and patio.

7801 Los Pinos Blvd. - Cocoplum, Coral Gables Spanish Colonial estate with classic finishes. Beautiful arch. details and materials

Streetwise

FIVE YEARS AFTER ITS ACQUISTION BY THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THE HISTORIC FINK STUDIO ON PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD (PHOTO HERE FROM THE 1940S) IS READY FOR PRIMETIME. SEE PAGE 22.

From City Hall

AT THE FIRST CITY COMMISSION MEETING LAST MONTH, THE COMMISSIONERS:

VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO EXTEND the temporary permits for restaurants in the city to continue expanded outdoor seating and the use of oversized signage, until June 15 of this year. (Item sponsored by Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli).

VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ESTABLISH a recycling program for all the commercial businesses and multi-family residences in the city, and to expand resources to deal with the disposal of cardboard in alleyways, now a problem due to increased holiday shipping and returns. Must be voted on again. (Item sponsored by Vice Mayor Vince Lago).

LISTENED TO A PRESENTATION BY clean water advocate Alberto Aran, who proposed a program to restore the population of native oysters as a way to restore clean waters to bayside Coral Gables. Aran suggested that dock owners propagate the oysters on ropes and pilings, noting that a single string of 100 oysters can filter (and clean) 5,000 gallons a day. (Item sponsored by Vice Mayor Vince Lago).

LISTENED TO A PRESENTATION BY Samuel Joseph on the Summer Family Literacy Festival, a book fair set to launch as a pilot program this summer. Joseph, a member of the city’s School Community Relations Committee, said the purpose is to “promote family literacy as a solution and alternative to the student’s summer slide” which has been accelerated by Covid. “Every child will leave with a book,” said Joseph. (Item sponsored by Vice Mayor Vince Lago).

VOTED TO URGE THE BAHAMIAN government to revoke offshore oil drilling exploration licenses and permanently ban offshore drilling in Bahamian waters. (Item sponsored by Commissioner Pat Keon and Mayor Valdés-Fauli).

LISTENED TO AN UPDATE ON THE city’s storm water purification pilot program by Bob Backman, CEO of Abtech Industries. He explained how his firm’s “smart sponge” technology could filter out oil, grease, bacteria, heavy metals and fertilizer chemicals. Last October the firm used a boom to capture runoff into the Gables waterway from the Riviera neighborhood. It was overwhelmed by solid trash, but also showed that just this one source generated an annual discharge of 96 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel alone. (Item sponsored by Vice Mayor Vince Lago). ■

News of Importance

THE CITY HAS COMPLETED its distribution of grants to local small businesses to help them pay rent. More than 60 grants of $15,000 each were distributed to places such as Fritz & Franz, Barista Café, Clutch Burger, Blue Serenity Boutique, and Gables Cigar Shop.

THE CITY’S NEW $55 MILLION Public Safety Building is finally finished. The five-story, 190,000-square foot building (including parking) at Salzedo and Minorca, will now house the city’s Police, Fire, Emergency Management, IT and Communications departments.

JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM announced that it would build an urgent care facility in Coral Gables, breaking ground later this year. The 10,170-foot one-story building will rise on the corner of Galiano Street and SW 8th Street. The building will house an emergency department as well as space for primary care.

PARENTS AT CARVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL are suing the City of Coral Gables in an effort to stop the consturction of a Wawa gas station and convenience store being built across the street from the entrance to the school. The Gables Accountability Project, composed of parents and residents, has filed a civil suit alleging that the city violated its own laws by fast-tracking the project, which they say compromises the health and saftey of the students.

GABLES-BASED PROFESSIONAL BANK, which had previously lent money to Donald Trump and his family, announced that it would drop the former president in the wake of the storming of the Capitol building. In 2018, the Trump Organization borrowed $11.2 million from Professional to purchase a home in Palm Beach. Trump also had a money market account with the bank.

IN ORDER TO HELP PROTECT THE U.S. Capitol during the presidential inauguration, the Coral Gables Police Department provided 27 officers. “We’ve all watched on the edge of our seat what happened in D.C.,” said Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak. “These men and women are committed to making sure that that does not happen again.” ■

NOEL MACCHI, OWNER OF BLUE SERENITY BOUTIQUE, (CENTER) RECEIVES A GRANT OF $15,000. WITH HER ARE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR DIANA GOMEZ AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR JULIAN PEREZ.

GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, A NEW POLICE & FIRE HQ, A NEW JACKSON HEALTH CENTER AND MORE…

What Can Revitalize Miracle Mile?

BY GINA LEE GUILFORD

Miracle Mile, the heart of downtown Coral Gables, has suffered setbacks in recent years. The Streetscape project took longer than expected, chasing many customers away, and the pandemic has since brought businesses to a standstill. The latest crisis could also present an opportunity for Miracle Mile to reinvent itself. We asked retailers, restaurateurs and businesspeople on the Mile what should be done to bring people back to this unique shopping and dining destination.

JEFFERY WOLFE, WOLFE’S WINE SHOPPE OWNER AND OPERATOR SINCE 2001

“I think the mix [of businesses] is definitely wrong for the Mile and I think it’s been wrong for a long time,” he says. “There are too many restaurants. We need exciting retail here to draw people in,” Wolfe says. “Small, independent stores is what makes Miracle Mile special and they are lacking.” He also believes upscale events, like a Vintage Car Show or a White Dinner Party on the Mile, could entice visitors back. “We could close down the Mile one night and set up a five-course dinner for 300 to 400 people,” he suggested. “We need to do an event that’s in keeping with the flavor of Coral Gables.”

STEVEN

GONZALEZ, SPY WORLD GENERAL MANAGER AND OWNER SINCE 1993

Gonzalez believes the solution to attracting shoppers to Miracle Mile is Search Engine Optimization (SEO). “When people Google something, we’re not coming out on Google as we should,” says Gonzalez. While some argue that improving businesses’ SEO should be left up to the individual businesses, Gonzalez believes organizations like the Business Improvement District (BID), should assist less tech-savvy operators.

Gonzalez also believes that art installations like Umbrella Sky on Giralda Plaza (2018) need to happen every six months to attract more foot traffic. He says that installation did wonders for his business. “That was the most traffic my store has ever had,” Gonzalez says. “It made Coral Gables the place to be.”

RICK ALBERTY, WELL GROOMED GENTLEMAN (SINCE 2014) DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

“A lot of people are working from home now,” says Alberty, a bad sign since “a lot of people who work in the Gables don’t actually live here.” He says business is down 30 percent due to Covid. The Well Groomed Gentleman has survived, Alberty says, with greater remote connectivity. In the past, most customers were walk-ins. These days, 75 percent of customers set up appointments first. It will take a “lack of fear” to bring back walk-ins, he says. Alberty also advocates a different retail mix. “Most of what you see opening on the Mile now is restaurants. What we need more of is tech stores.” Alberty believes an Apple Store would do great and generate desperately needed foot traffic.

EDDIE SNOW, SNOW’S JEWELERS OWNER SINCE 1974

Snow, an outspoken critic of the Streetscape (“It killed us”) believes the solution is more parking. “The Streetscape eliminated 35 percent of the parking,” he says. “They took out the angled parking and put in the parallel parking. If people can’t find parking, they won’t come.”

Snow concedes that public parking lots, valet parking and ride-sharing options have improved the parking situation, but says that the Miracle Mile shopper “is a strange bird… While shoppers at Dadeland Mall have to park and walk probably a mile to reach their destination, shoppers here want to park right in front of the store they’re shopping at… changing the parking with the Streetscape really hurt us.”

Josie Esquijarosa believes more advertising is key. “The BID and the City of Coral Gables should do much more,” Esquijarosa says.

Continued on page 20

JOSIE ESQUIJAROSA, ROSE TREE COTTAGE OWNER SINCE 1995.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE EXTENDED SIDEWALKS OF MIRACLE MILE SAW LITTLE FOOT TRAFFIC.

CARRIE FOOTE

The information contained herein, while not guaranteed, has been secured from sources we believe to be reliable. However, information is subject to verification by purchaser, and broker assumes no liability for corrections thereof. Square feet shown may be living, adjusted or total area - see agent for details. For sale offerings are made subject to errors, omissions, change of price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. In accordance with the law, properties are offered without respect to race, color, creed or national origin. If a property is located in a flood or hurricane zone, broker assumes no responsibility for providing information on elevations or other information pertaining thereto. If you are working with a Realtor, this is not a solicitation.

, SUZANNE SANTOS, BEATRIZ CARDONA, BLAIR SONVILLE, MARIANNA E. PEREZ, CARLA OLIVARES, S .LANI KAHN DRODY, PATTI CECCHERINI, JJ SNOW HANSEN, WESTON LYONS, LILIANA QUINTERO-SIDERIS, LAUREN BILLINGSLEA DOWLEN, JOHANNA ROLDAN

“Where do they advertise for us? They do a cute set-up for Halloween, but they need to advertise Miracle Mile as the place for people to come.” Esquijaros also believes that rising rents are causing people to leave Miracle Mile. “The landlords need to take a drive down Miracle Mile and see what’s happening here. So many stores have closed,” she says. Similar to the monthly Friday Gallery Nights, Esquijarosa also believes there should be a weekly event. “One night a week, all the shops on Miracle Mile should stay open late for shopping.”

WAYNE ELDRED, TARPON BEND RESTAURANT OPERATOR 2005 TO 2019, OWNER 2013 TO 2019

Eldred closed Tarpon Bend in 2019 because the rent increases (up 45 percent from opening) made it impossible to survive. “You can only charge customers so much for a chicken sandwich,” he explains. While he admits some landlords have lowered rents in the harsh light of the pandemic, he doesn’t believe they’ve been lowered enough. He says that at current rent prices, it would take 10 years for a new restaurant to make a return on investment, when it should be five years. His solution to lowering rent on restaurants is to

Mad for Mangroves

RAIN OR SHINE, IT’S MANGROVE TIME, GARDEN CLUB STYLE

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

slightly raise rents on office spaces and parking. Without quality restaurants, he doesn’t anticipate Miracle Mile coming back. “Restaurants and retail are like peas and carrots – they go together.”

WILLIAM “BILL” KERDYK JR., KERDYK REAL ESTATE CEO AND MIRACLE MILE LANDLORD

Kerdyk, a former City of Coral Gables commissioner for 20 years, admits the market on Miracle Mile has softened due to the Streetscape, the pandemic and the shift to more online shopping. But, he explains, “The real estate taxes in the Gables have gotten cost-prohibitive and insurance has been rising; it puts a burden on owners just to break even.”

Nonetheless, he says, “It’s my philosophy that I would rather take a little less rent and have the space occupied, than to have a space sit empty.”

Between the favorable demographics, foot traffic and cars traveling by, Kerdyk believes prospects are strong for Miracle Mile. “The biggest thing … for long-term success is the work, live, play concept of mixed-use buildings,” he says. ■

It all began with a bike ride through Matheson Hammock Park during a King Tide in 2019. That’s when Coral Gables resident, attorney and Garden Club member Rhonda Anderson was amazed by hundreds of red mangrove propagules – nicknamed “pups” – washed onto the bike path. Fearing they would be destroyed, Anderson began picking up pups for weeks, leading to the ambitious sprouting and potting of over 700 of these seedlings.

Five years earlier, Coral Gables Garden Club members had sprouted 300 pups, and with the help of FIU students, raised and planted them in Matheson Hammock Park. Anderson proposed they do the project again in 2020 – this time with the goal of raising at least 500 native red mangrove trees to protect and clean our intercoastal waters.

The initial plan was to hold multiple educational potting events in 2020, but after a first session in January, Covid canceled further meetings – while volunteers raised the potted pups in their driveways, backyards and balconies. The majority were raised on Anderson’s impromptu driveway “nursery,” potted to replicate their natural environment.

In early October MANG

GEAR, a Florida sportwear company, filled their truck with 500 of the healthy potted trees, with plans to pick up the remaining ones early this year. MANG GEAR, which sells clothing to fishermen (and women) online, offers its customers the promise of “Buy One. Plant One,” and has created over 126 acres of mangrove forests in the last five years. They hauled the seedlings to warehouses and yards in Broward, where they will grow to four feet in height before planting.

For Anderson, the project was one she could not refuse. “I was so afraid that these pups were going to be destroyed,” she says, recalling her fateful bike ride. “So, I picked some up and just kept coming back for more.” The importance of the pups, notes Coral Gables’ Senior Sustainability Analyst Matt Anderson (no relation), is the role mangroves play “in providing habitat for fish and other aquatic species and protecting our coastline from wind and storms.” Adds Anderson, “Red mangroves filter out impurities in our water… The planting of red mangroves can help play a key role in improving water quality.” ■

To learn more about the Coral Gables Garden Club, please visit coralgablesgardenclub.org.

GARDEN CLUB PRESIDENT JUDY MANGASARIAN (LEFT) AND MEMBER RHONDA ANDERSON WITH THE MANGROVE PUPS

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Miracle Mile: “We Can’t Get it Wrong”

RESIDENTS PROBE THE NEW ZONING CODE FOR THE DOWNTOWN

BY MIKE CLARY

Afinal city commission vote on the controversial rewrite of the city’s zoning code may come as soon as this month. But debate over changes that could trigger six-story buildings on Miracle Mile rages on.

Another virtual powwow on proposed revisions to the 1,000page document seems likely after a January 14 community meeting, when more than 250 residents Zoomed in. Many expressed fear that developers were poised to change the historic character of the downtown fourblock business district. “Height is my chief concern,” said resident Juan Carlos Diaz-Padron. “What will the code end up producing?”

The goal of the rewrite is to simplify and streamline the decades-old zoning code, say city officials. The idea is to attract office space and residences in two- and three-story additions to existing buildings on the Mile and revive sagging businesses. The code would cap the height of any new hotels or office buildings at 70 feet while offering the option of remote parking.

Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, the urban planner and Gables resident hired as a consultant on the rewrite, said revisions to the code are aimed at creating a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use downtown where “empty nesters, first- and second-time buyers, [and] smaller households” live above thriving retail outlets in buildings no taller than four stories.

“I regret there is a general perception… that this is a drastic enlargement of buildings on the Mile,” Plater-Zyberk said. She said her aim was to preserve “the small-town scale you all love.”

Planning and zoning director

Ramon Trias, in a presentation that opened the two-and-a-halfhour meeting, acknowledged the city had more convincing to do.

Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli has described Miracle Mile as “sick,” pockmarked with empty storefronts and in desperate need of pedestrian traffic. The $25 million Streetscape project completed in 2018 that promised to lure people to the downtown failed to produce a pedestrian bonanza.

“The city bungled the renovation,” said Karelia Martinez Carbonell, president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables. “They made it worse.” She suggests the best way to rejuvenate the Mile is to promote it as a historic heritage site and find unique shops that want to be a part of that. “Nostalgia is an economic asset,” she says.

Trias rejects suggestions that the proposed changes could transform the Mile into a “concrete canyon” of high-rises. The existing zoning code actually already allows buildings up to six stories and 70 feet. The new code, by allowing remote parking, is designed to encourage smaller developments by not requiring parking garages in buildings. The worry is that this could make it easier (less expensive) to build large.

Diaz-Padron, who is in the insurance business, advocates more community meetings on the new zoning code before a final vote. “Miracle Mile has been our Main Street for nearly 100 years, and we can’t get it wrong,” he says. Vice Mayor Vince Lago has called for a second virtual community meeting before the rewrite vote. ■

The Fink is Finally Finished

THE HISTORIC STUDIO OF AN ICONIC GABLES ARCHITECT FINDS A PURPOSE

It has been five years now since the City of Coral Gables purchased the historic Fink Studio on Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Since then, renovations have proceeded at a snail’s pace while the city has tried to figure out what to do with the historic structure, designed in 1925 by H. George Fink.

Fink was one of the city’s first and most prolific architects for the city’s Mediterranean style. He occupied the building as his home office and studio until 1932. It has changed hands many times since, but finally was purchased by the city in 2016 for $2.6 million. Since then it was

leased to become home to the Spanish Culture Center, but that never came to fruition. Now the building will become the home of the city’s Economic Development Department, with the front part housing art displays, open to the public. Late last month the renovated building was inaugurated in a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli and a coterie of city officials. “We promise to be good stewards of this building and respect its historic value,” remarked Julian Perez, director of the Economic Development Department. His team is expected to move in before summer. ■

Have we reached the COVID peak?

CASES IN CORAL GABLES ARE BEGINNING TO LEVEL OFF – BUT DON’T LET YOUR GUARD

BY J.P. FABER

To say that 240 new cases of the coronavirus in a week in Coral Gables is good news is a little sad. Compared to the early months of the pandemic –in March and April 2020, when new cases were running at 20 to 30 per week – 240 is a huge number. But compared to 351 cases in the first post-holiday week of the New Year, that third week total doesn’t look so bad.

That is good news for medical resources in the Gables, where the ICU at Doctors Hospital reached 90 percent capacity in mid-January. That percentage is now beginning to drop. “As of this week [ending Jan. 24] we are discharging more patients than we are admitting,” says Doctors CEO Javier Hernandez-Lichtl. “It seems we are trending in the right direction, but we can’t let our guard down.”

Even better news is that the number of patients dying from the virus, per capita, is also

dropping, as Doctors and other hospitals are developing better therapies

One big advance is the transfer of antibody rich plasma from people who have had the virus – “plasma convalescence” for patients in serious condition – an area where Baptist Health (of which Doctors is part) has been a leader. Doctors is also having great success administering monoclonal antibodies to people who test positive but have yet to develop severe symptoms; the injection can forestall the infection.

“Every day is a different challenge,” says HernandezLichtl. “But the federal government is now taking a greater a role in working with the states… so I am optimistic that we are going to make progress.” Needless to say, the vaccines being administered by Baptist and others should also start to show results in the coming months.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ-LICHTL, CEO OF DOCTORS HOSPITAL

Living

TIME FOR AN UPGRADE: COMMISSIONER PAT KEON IN FRONT OF THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH LIBRARY

PHOTO BY EMILY FAKHOURY

COMMISSIONER PAT KEON IN FRONT OF THE BRANCH LIBRARY: A PERSONAL MISSION TO UPGRADE THE FACILITY.

INSIDE THE NEW TEMPORARY LIBRARY ON MIRACLE MILE (BELOW)

The Library Gets an Upgrade

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO UNDERGO RENOVATION WHILE A DOWNTOWN SPACE TAKES ITS PLACE

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

It has taken years of pushing, but the Coral Gables Branch Library is finally getting a facelift. Thanks to lobbying efforts started by Commissioner Pat Keon in 2017, the library will get $3 million in county-funded renovations that will include new flooring, furnishings, lighting, painting, wood restoration, wall finishes, acoustical ceilings and restroom improvements. The improvements include infrastructural upgrades as well, like installing impact resistant windows, a new HVAC system and a new roof. There will also be more IT gear, more computers, and more spaces where users can plug in their own computers. “Everything was just quite dated,” said Keon.

The construction is estimated to take 18 months, says Ray Baker, director of the MiamiDade Public Library System (MDPLS), and was initially delayed because the city needed the old library open as a voting location during the elections. All of the renovations were agreed upon after a series of community meetings at the library. “We have worked closely with the City of Coral Gables, including city officials, the Library Advisory Board and Historic Preservation Board throughout the conceptual design and permitting for this project,” said Baker.

The Historic Preservation

Board was a part of the process because the exterior of the building is considered historic. “The elements that were historic in nature will be preserved throughout the renovation,” said Keon, like the fountains and coral rock. Also to be preserved are the Garden Club’s butterfly garden and the original Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls on display in the library.

While the Branch Library is under renovation, there will be a temporary library at 308 Miracle Mile, next to what used to be California Pizza Kitchen.

The MDPLS signed a two-year lease with Terranova Corporation, a major Miracle Mile landlord, for the space. “We wanted to maintain a presence and continue to have library services available to the public during the project,” said Baker, adding that the location was chosen for its visibility, the area’s foot traffic and the nearby amenities of downtown.

“We hope to introduce our services to a lot of new library users while we are there,” he said.

The Coral Gables Branch Library, one of the highest circulating libraries in the system, won’t entirely close until after the municipal elections in April, as it is a polling location. And once the construction is complete, says Keon, “We will have a really beautiful state-ofthe-art library.” ■

There’s another place in the Gables where book lovers can get new titles: Little Free Library. Little Free Library is a nonprofit that installs book-sharing boxes around the world. Their mission is to improve literacy rates by increasing access to books. Take a book that you want to read or leave a book that you’ve finished and want to share with the world. Thanks to Vice Mayor Vince Lago, there are currently three Little Free Libraries throughout the city at Catalonia, Majorca and Rotary Centennial parks. To sponsor a library in your neighborhood park, contact 305.460.5620 or visit littlefreelibrary.org.

Micro Libraries

A Little Night Music

Coral Gables, despite the best efforts of the downtown’s Business Improvement District to put musicians on the street, has never been a music hotspot. And, with the loss last year of the Open Stage Club and John Martin’s Irish Pub, things have been looking – or sounding – less auspicious.

The good news is that the mainstay of jazz in the Gables, The Globe, has returned with their three sets every Saturday night. Right now, you can listen to the Entre Amigos Trio, a super-hot Afro-Cuban band led by Latin Grammy-nominated artist Calixto Oviedo, which is wrapping up a Winter residency at The Globe. Also back in action is the library lounge at the Biltmore Hotel, where on Friday nights you can listen to jazz vocalist Melinda Rodriguez and on Saturdays there’s a piano player.

The other good news is that new music venues are beginning to fill the ranks. Jazz on Thursday nights has cranked up at Public Square on Red Road, live salsa is blasting out from Calle 23 on Miracle Mile on Friday and Saturday nights, and rock and folk

music returns to Threefold on Giralda Plaza on Friday nights this month after a brief hiatus.

Also encouraging are plans to bring back rock and blues at another Gables live-music standard, Titanic Brewery. Owner Kevin Rusk, who has been stagin music there for more than a decade and a half, says he is only waiting for more vaccinations. “We will do it as soon as possible,” he says. “I just don’t want to endanger anybody, because it will definitely draw a crowd.”

Those concerns are mitigated at The Globe and Public Square by outdoor seating and open glass doors that let in plenty of air. Titanic has a large backyard space they have leased from UM, but they’re not allowed to blast anything loud, so discussions are afoot to hold live acoustic sessions there. Bay 13, the new brewery pub on Alhambra Circle, is also mostly outdoors and expects to start live music in the coming months. Also over the next few months, expect a return to live music at Books & Books, La Taberna Giralda and Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant. All we need is a few thousand jabs in the arm first. Stay tuned. ■

For the past decade, local wine luminaire and author Patrick Alexander has been holding sixweek courses on wine appreciation at Books & Books, often tying the vino to literature.

Now, the Gables leading oenophile will take on the theme of romance for Valentine’s Day, holding forth in a special Zoom talk about the doomed lovers of history – and the wine they imbibed, where appropriate.

“We will drink wine during the presentation, but we will be talking about lovers throughout history,” says Alexander, with a focus on a dozen tragic affairs. “If I may paraphrase Tolstoy, happy relationships are all the same. It’s the unhappy ones that are interesting. These stories are a litany of broken hearts and despair, where the lovers kill themselves or each other or commit adultery.” Doomed lovers include Tristan and Isolde, Lancelot and Guinev-

ere, and Anthony and Cleopatra. While this may seem like a Valentine’s Day downer, Alexander says the spin will be positive. “Those viewers who are in romantic relationships can say, ‘At least our relationship is better than that.’ And those not in a romantic relationship can say, ‘Thank God I’m not.’”

Viewers will be advised to start the evening with a white wine (“something floral and mouth filling”) and then move to a red wine (“something low in tannins”). During the evening, wine references will be discussed. So, get ready to learn about a wonderful wine from Verona, where Romeo and Juliet committed suicide. ■

Wine and Roses

PHOTO BYNICHOLAS FABER

Best Bets

FULL MOON GLOW-UP (TOP)

Join former MLB player and current Fox Sports Florida studio analyst J.P. Arencibia at the next Full Moon Glow-UP event at Coral Gables Museum. This month’s event will include pop-ups like Candles by Janet, Lo Bueno Juices and a henna artist. There will be a one-hour yoga class starting at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets: $25. Coralgablesmuseum.org/full-moon-glow-up.

THE WIZARD OF OZ

After being closed for nearly a year, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre reopens its doors for a live production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Masks must be worn at all times; once you purchase your tickets, the surrounding seats will be blocked off to maintain social distancing. Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. from Feb. 20 –March 31. Tickets: $25.

A VERY CORNY VALENTINE’S DAY MENU

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Eating House with a special dinner menu. Dishes include local burrata, sea scallops, beef short ribs, and sweet corn panna cotta with sugared strawberries and meringue. The menu is $79 per person and is meant to be shared. The wine pairing is an additional $39. Available on Feb. 13 and 14.

THE SWEETEST STROLL (BOTTOM)

Share the love at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Stroll through the gardens and visit vendors like local bakeries, confectioners and artisans. Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free for members, $24.95 for non-members.

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FOR OVER 25 YEARS, PEPI BERTINI HAS BEEN DRESSING SOME OF THE BEST DRESSED MEN IN CORAL GABLES. SEE PAGE 36.

What’s Hot for Valentine’s Day

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

Simply put, we could all use some extra affection. So, go ahead and indulge your sweetheart with one (or more!) of our Valentine’s Day gift picks, all available at Coral Gables retailers.

1. LADY IN RED

With a feminine silhouette and a vibrant crimson hue, the Clarence dress by Silvia Tcherassi is truly stunning. While it would be a lovely choice for dinner al fresco at a local haunt, it would be just as beautiful for an extra special night at home. Retail: $1,595. Silvia Tcherassi, 350 San Lorenzo Ave. #2140, 305-529-0004, silviatcherassi.com.

2. GET COZY

Made from super soft cotton terry fabric and emblazoned with a classic take on our favorite four-letter word, this sweatshirt is guaranteed a spot in any gal’s loungewear rotation. Retail: $69.50. J. Crew. 350 San Lorenzo Ave. #2205, 305-444-3162, jcrew.com.

3. ROSÉ COLORED

This bespoke rosé wine from Oregon winery Elouan offers vibrant flavors of fresh strawberry and ripe raspberry. And although it may be the unofficial libation of summer, that doesn’t mean we have to wait until June to enjoy it. Retail: $19.99. Mystic Wine & Spirits, 248 Giralda Ave., 305-456-8553, mysticwinespirits.com.

4. THINK PINK

Jimmy Choo’s pink satin Bon Bon bag is basically a dream. With a crystal-embellished bracelet top handle and a chic drawstring chain, it signals major glamour.

Retail: $1,895. Jimmy Choo, 360 San Lorenzo Ave., 305-443-6124, jimmychoo.com.

5. PUCKER UP

For the design of this cheeky Rosetti vase by Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti focused on the lips of his eternal muse, opera singer Lina Cavalieri. Does it get more romantic?

Retail: $1,200. Violetas Home Design, 221 Miracle Mile, 305-381-0711, violetashomedesign.com.

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

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

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

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

It’s A Man’s World

FOR OVER 25 YEARS, PEPI BERTINI HAS BEEN DRESSING SOME OF THE BEST DRESSED MEN IN CORAL GABLES

BY KIM RODRIGUEZ

Cuban born Pepi Bertini fell in love with the art of making a beautiful suit from his dad, who was in the manufacturing and retail business in Cuba. His father loved pinstripe suits, leather shoes and thin ties. The glamourous ’50s nightlife of Cuba, when men wore suits almost everywhere, left an indelible mark on young Bertini.

Upon moving to Miami, Coral Gables was home to the family. Bertini grew up biking all over the city and the Venetian Pool was his favorite destination. He started his career in the Gables working at an Italian clothing store while taking classes at Miami Dade College in Fashion Merchandising and Design, opening his shop in March 1993.

Pepi Bertini is a serious men’s boutique. You can certainly pop in and buy off the rack, but most likely you’ve made an appointment to see the master himself for the fitting of an immaculate suit and custom shirt. You may also be there for your custom wedding tuxedo or groomsman suit, which has become a big part of his business.

“Custom suit-making and tailoring is a science like any other field,” he says. “It’s a true

art form to get it right, and when it’s right you have a suit that has taken at least 16 hours of handwork to complete and fits you perfectly.” If you aren’t sold yet, he says the right fit can make you look taller and thinner, and who doesn’t want that?

This comes with a price, of course, but the steady clientele certainly dictates that it’s worth it. Ties cost $140 and up, stock shirts go for $300, and off the rack suits (with renowned Canali and Zanella labels) start at $1,500. Custom pieces go up from there – $2,100 to $8,000 for suits and $375 to $800 for shirts. We asked about trends, but it really isn’t their thing. The brand is elegant, classic and timeless. Bertini did, however, mention florals will be big for shirting this spring.

Bertini is the consummate professional and gentleman. He says it’s an honor to work with all his clients, many he now considers friends, and because of his “you have to work harder than 100 percent all of the time” mantra, he has managed during the pandemic to add another 40 clients to his already long and established list. “I feel I am part of a big family in the City Beautiful,” he says. ■

“IT’S A TRUE ART FORM TO GET IT RIGHT, AND WHEN IT’S RIGHT YOU HAVE A SUIT THAT HAS TAKEN AT LEAST 16 HOURS OF HANDWORK TO COMPLETE AND FITS YOU PERFECTLY,” SAYS PEPI BERTINI ON MAKING CUSTOM SUITS.

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Deco Dreams

FRENCH ART DECO LIVES ON IN THE MARTELL GALLERY

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

Coral Gables is known for its rich history, beauty and expensive real estate. The same could be said for the items found in Martell Gallery, an antique store on Ponce de Leon Boulevard that specializes in early 20th century decorative objects, with an Art Deco focus.

Waltford Gonzalez, who owns the shop with his partner Juan Pichardo, has been collecting and dealing antiques for over 25 years. Born and raised in Venezuela, Gonzalez moved to Miami in the early ’90s and to Coral Gables in 2010. He began his career at an antique store in Coconut Grove before becoming a private broker. He then opened Martell Gallery in 2019. “My clients wanted to see the inventory in one place,” he says.

Those clients are mostly residents from the Gables and the surrounding area, with some driving down from as far as Palm Beach to visit the gallery. “You don’t find this stuff everywhere,” says Gonzalez. “It’s very unusual to find a collection like this.”

Of all the antique items at Martell Gallery, the oldest is a cast bronze statue from the early 20th century; Gonzalez estimates between 1902 and 1905. “This was from a private collector who bought it in France in the early 1990s,” he says. The price tag? $89,000.

While this piece is from the early 1900s, Gonzalez specializes in items from the French Art Deco period from 1920 to 1940. “I started to do

more research on it when I was majoring in art history and I fell in love with the period,” he says. Everything about Art Deco was glamorous, from fashion to furniture, Gonzalez explains. Pieces from those two decades have materials that aren’t found in furniture anymore, like ivory, silver and even stingray skin. “It was a very opulent and ostentatious period,” he says.

So it comes as no surprise that Martell’s most expensive item is from this period: A sculpture made by Demétre Chiparus in 1925, priced at $936,000. His works are known for their decorative affectations, and this sculpture in particular depicts Russian dancers. “He would go to the ballet and get inspiration for the sculptures,” says Gonzalez.

On the other end of the spectrum, the least expensive pieces are ceramics, glassware (such as vases and pitchers) and smaller handmade boxes, which range from around $600 to $800.

Like most businesses, the gallery was hard hit by the pandemic, especially because customers couldn’t visit the showroom and browse the antiques. “This [past] year was a really tough one,” he says. “I did a lot of business with Instagram and [other] platforms, so that has been giving me sales.” Fortunately, in-person shopping has resumed and Gonzalez can continue to do what he loves: Collecting and selling antiques. “For me,” he says, “it’s a passion.” ■

TOP: CO-OWNERS WALTFORD GONZALEZ (LEFT) AND JUAN PICHARDO SPECIALIZE IN ITEMS FROM THE FRENCH ART DECO PERIOD. “I STARTED TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON IT WHEN I WAS MAJORING IN ART HISTORY AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PERIOD,” WALTFORD SAYS.

ABOVE: SCULPTURE OF RUSSIAN DANCERS BY DEMÉTRE CHIPARUS IN 1925. PRICE: $936,000.

Bites

CRISPY SUCKLING ROAST PIG BY PUBLIC SQUARE, ONE OF A DOZEN NEW RESTAURANTS IN THE GABLES .

The Brunch is Back!

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

The Premier Brunch at the Biltmore Hotel has been a premier event on Sundays in the Gables for years. Then came the coronavirus. Now, after taking a pandemic hiatus, Fontana at the Biltmore has brought back its renowned Sunday feast – albeit with a few adjustments. Whereas it used to be an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet for $90, something about standing in line amongst fellow diners and having a universal serving spoon doesn’t exactly scream “CDC guidelines.” So now Fontana offers an a-la-carte brunch menu. Or you can still pay $90 and get two “boards,” dessert and bottomless mimosas or bellinis.

The boards are literally that, planks laden with food, and there are seven to choose from: Continental breakfast, breakfast, specialty, ceviche trio, caviar trio, from the garden and Scottish salmon. If you’re in the mood for

breakfast food, get the continental breakfast, breakfast, or Scottish salmon board. The continental board comes with fruit, American coffee, juice and two out of four options: Chocolate chip banana bread, a pastry basket, oatmeal or a yogurt parfait. The breakfast board includes two eggs any style, waffles, chicken apple sausage links and roasted potatoes, which were probably our favorite part of the whole meal (all of the other dishes were amazing, we just have a deep passion for potatoes). The Scottish salmon board is served with tomatoes, red onions, capers, mini bagels and two different types of gourmet cream cheese –an ideal meal for any New York transplant.

If you have a later seating and want lunch food, there’s the specialty board, where you can choose between entrees like pork osso bucco, squid ink tagliolini and Spanish meatballs.

Though we were already stuffed after working our way through two boards, coffee and countless mimosas, we couldn’t pass up the dessert board, which had sample sizes of all of our favorites: Key lime pie, pecan tartlet, tiramisu, fruit tart and chocolate cake with a peanut butter frosting. Though it won’t be buffet style till the virus passes, it’s still more food than you can eat. All of the boards are $30 to $40 and bottomless mimosas are $45, so the $90 two-board menu definitely gets you the most bang for your buck.

Since rolling out the a-lacarte menu in December, the brunch crowd has flocked back to the Biltmore, where they are doing over 200 covers every Sunday, according to Chef Carlos Aguilera (in non-Covid times, they did 500). Despite the changes, Fontana is once again the go-to brunch spot where you’ll definitely need a to-go box. ■

Hutson Redux

One of the tragic pandemic losses to our local culinary scene was the shuttering of Ortanique, long a favorite on Miracle Mile. And we locals are not the only ones mourning. A photo of Owner/Chef Cindy Hutson was featured on the front page of the Sunday New York Times at the end of December in a story entitled “A Farewell to the Landmarks We Lost.”

Hutson is too talented to stay quiet for long, of course. She is already working on the menu at Cervercería La Tropical, a new brewery opening in Wynwood. “I have designed the menu concept, Cuban Caribbean inspired,” she told us. “I will be training and assisting in delivering a menu to compliment the fantastic beer.” As for why Hutson was forced to shut down Ortanique, she says, “You do the math.” After Covid hit and restaurants were limited to takeout and delivery, her revenue fell by 80 percent, while “overhead was at 100 percent.” The city offered two months of deferred rent (March and April, to be paid back), but expected full rent to resume in May. “Our loyal customers were fantastic in their support but unfortunately not enough to warrant keeping the doors open,” she says.

So, will the Gables ever see a Hutson restaurant again? “If the right opportunity came along, we would seriously consider it.” Any investors out there? ■

THE BILTMORE’S FONTANA HAS A NEW APPROACH TO ITS FABLED SUNDAY REPAST

THE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST BOARD WITH FRUIT, PASTRIES AND BANANA BREAD

CINDY HUTSON

Thinking about improving your shape?

Liposuction (“Lipo”) could help. But first things first: Is your weight (relatively) normal or does it need some work? Lipo is not a way to lose weight - nutritional modifications and exercise improve your weight (and your all-important health).

Lipo is a contouring tool to shape select areas of your body that remain annoying despite your best efforts at eating smart and exercising. The amount of fat removed doesn’t really weigh much and won’t make you lighter. So there goes one myth.

Lipo is however a powerful tool to improve shape and contours in many areas of the body (hips, thighs, flanks, tummy, arms). But to work well, your skin needs to have sufficiently good elasticity or things may end up looking the same or worse with irregularities and lax skin. Not everyone is a good candidate for lipo - a sad reality (similar is true for freezing fat as in CoolSculpting®). So before jumping in on this, you need to be professionally examined and ‘ethically’ evaluated.

Should you be a suitable candidate, it is worth noting that good results will only last if you maintain (or initiate) good nutritional and exercise habits. A word on power assisted lipo such as laser, ultrasound or Vaser to ‘tighten’ skin: still no magic there and similar considerations apply.

What about if you’re not a good lipo candidate? What else could you do? If your tummy is lax after babies, then a tummy tuck would be the way to go to get rid of the slack skin, excess fat (if present) and to retighten the stretched muscles - this is usually quite dramatically effective. At the same time, some (limited) lipo can be added in the hip or other areas.

If weight is a big problem and beyond your control, then a bariatric consultation may be helpful. Weight loss after bariatric procedures (lap banding, etc.) is often dramatic and health improving but the resulting skin laxity tends to be significant. In this situation, lipo is not really helpful since the lax skin needs to be removed with skin excision surgery (tummy tuck, hip, body, thigh and arm lifts).

Overall, body contouring surgery, of which lipo is a part of, can create exciting results but works best in those committed to a healthy lifestyle. It is technically and

aesthetically challenging (“living sculpture”) and requires much experience to optimize outcomes while minimizing potential complications and disappointment.

So, as always, engage in careful research before proceeding.

Christy’s Revival

RESTAURANTS REOPENS

BY J.P. FABER

Christy’s is one of the Gables’ oldest restaurants, a place that would have fit into the TV series “Mad Men,” back when steak was considered a health food and the two-martini lunch was de rigueur. And so, it was sad to see the venerable house of prime rib, Caesar salad and shrimp cocktails close their doors last March, apparently never to reopen – especially after June when the owners sold the building.

In the following months, however, Chris Klaic – the restaurant’s managing partner for more than two decades and owner of its intellectual property – decided Christy’s was not ready to go. Taking on investor Michael Bromley as partner, Klaic rented the original Ponce de Leon Boulevard premises from its new owners, upgraded the interior and is reopening this month.

Comings and Goings

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

“We still have the sconces and the red walls, but we went to very contemporary art. We also put in two chandeliers, one in the bar,” says Klaic, who hopes to attract a new wave of younger clientele. For the old-school customers, he says the menu will remain the same, as will the staff, most of whom have returned.

To emphasize its history, for its first three days open (Feb. 9-11) Christy’s will serve four items from its original 1978 menu – filet mignon, New York strip steak, onion soup and Caesar salad – at the original prices. That means $9 each for the steaks, and $1.50 each for the soup or salad. Remember when the dollar was king? “This place has so much history. We want to keep it going, but with a modern twist – as long as we don’t change the food,” says Klaic. ■

COVID-19 has been harsh on many industries, but it has been especially hard on hospitality. The past 11 months have seen a lot of change in the restaurants that grace the Gables. Sadly, many have not been able to keep their doors open; although not all restaurants closed solely because of coronavirus –John Martin’s, for example, was planning to close down in May regardless. Other restaurants only temporarily closed, only to reopen with a new name or menu. And some restaurateurs have been daring enough to open in the face of the pandemic. Here’s a listing of the changes to the Gables dining scene.

CLOSED DURING COVID

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN

CIBO WINE BAR

EL PORTEÑO

JOHN MARTIN’S IRISH PUB

LA DORADA

MILLER’S ALE HOUSE

OPEN STAGE CLUB

ORTANIQUE ON THE MILE

PATAGONIA GASTROBAR

OPENED DURING COVID

BAY 13 BREWERY AND KITCHEN

GUSTAVE

LA SANDWICHERIE

MAMEY

MERRICK PIZZA

MKT KITCHEN

PORTOSOLE

REDFISH BY CHEF ADRIANNE

RODILLA

SWEETGREEN

THE GRAMERCY

PLANNING TO OPEN

DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT

LUCA OSTERIA

MACCHIALINA

SEASY MEDITERRANEAN

SEGAFREDO

ZITZ SUM

REBORN

BANGKOK BANGKOK II – NOW

KHAOSAN ROAD

CHRISTY’S – STILL CHRISTY’S (REOPENED AFTER RENOVATIONS)

SHULA’S 347 GRILL – NOW PUBLIC SQUARE

ONE OF CORAL GABLES MOST ICONIC

THE COVID ERA USHERS IN A NEW CLUTCH OF RESTAURANTS AS OTHERS SAY GOODBYE

RED KOI THAI & SUSHI LOUNGE SMALL TEA CO.

GENERAL MANAGER JULIANNA ALUMA, MANAGING PARTNER CHRIS KLAIC, PARTNER MICHAEL BROMLEY

BAY 13 BREWERY AND KITCHEN

Get Your Greens

THE BEST SALAD SPOTS IN CORAL GABLES

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

Every day, you wake up and think, “What should I eat today?” Well, if you don’t, it’s an important choice for most of us. Maybe you need something to power the rest of your workday, but don’t want a heavy meal that will put you in a food coma. Or maybe you need to grab something quick for dinner, but still want to eat healthy. You can never go wrong with a salad. In downtown Coral Gables, the options for where to go for this simple yet satisfying dish are seemingly endless.

1. CARROT EXPRESS

259 MIRACLE MILE

Opened almost two years ago, Carrot Express is a haven for health-minded foodies. They have a wide variety of salads, from a kale Caesar to the Oriental crunch. In the mood for Mexican, I got La Mexicana, which has romaine, roasted corn, black beans, jack cheese, tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro and tomato and tossed in a honey-lime vinaigrette. I added grilled chicken, but if you’re vegetarian, the black beans also serve as a great source of protein. The honey-lime vinaigrette is thick and creamy and adds both a nice texture and sweet and sour flavor to the dish.

2. GREEN GABLES CAFÉ

327 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE

I could not write about salads and exclude Green Gables Café, one of the most popular spots in town for a healthy meal. Surprisingly, they only have a few salads on their menu, but they are excellent. I ordered the Citrus Cilantro salad, made with romaine, avocado, tomato, red onions, cilantro, parmesan shavings and citrus cilantro dressing. Adding chicken definitely puts it on the pricier side; what was already a $12 salad is now $18. It is a great salad, though, and the friendliness of their staff almost makes you forget about the dent in your wallet.

3.

SWEETGREEN

122 GIRALDA AVE.

Having just opened on Giralda Plaza in December, the chain is already taking Coral Gables by storm. If you’re going during the lunch rush, there will definitely be a wait, but it will be worth it –especially if you’re waiting for the Guacamole Greens salad. It has a heart next to it on the menu, meaning it’s a customer favorite, and now I know why. Made with romaine and spring mix, half of a lime is squeezed onto the lettuce before adding the lime cilantro jalapeno vinaigrette, roasted chicken, avocado, cherry tomatoes, shredded cabbage and crushed tortilla chips.

4. CHANDLERS PLACE

166 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE

Chandlers Place is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall in the best way possible. You may not have even noticed it until they added a nice outdoor seating area in the parking spots on Alhambra Circle. But this tiny spot a block north of Giralda Plaza really packs a punch. Here, the food is good, the price is right and the service is

1.

2.

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4.

friendly. A small Caesar salad is $3.95 and a large is $6.95. You can add chicken or tuna for $2 - $3. Ask owner Chandler for their daily specials and if shrimp is one of them, definitely add it to your salad.

5. GIARDINO GOURMET SALADS

2346 PONCE DE LEON BLVD.

Founded in 2004 in Coral Gables, Giardino Gourmet Salads now has more than a dozen locations across Florida. As a Giardino regular, my favorite is the Thai Thai salad, made with romaine and iceberg lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, red cabbage and spicy peanut dressing. Add a scoop of curry turkey for some added flavor and protein. This definitely has a kick, so if you don’t like spicy foods, you can sub the curry turkey for deli turkey or tropical chicken and the spicy peanut dressing for ginger dressing. Or just get an entirely different salad. You really can’t go wrong with any of the salads on the menu here.

6. SANATOS HEALTHY MARKET

190 MINORCA AVE.

Another hole-in-the-wall is Sanatos Healthy Market If it weren’t for the sign out on the sidewalk, you would walk right past it. Its secluded location makes it a great detour when you need to be in and out in five minutes. They have a half dozen different types of salads on the menu – like the Buda Salad (spinach, quinoa, tomatoes, mango, avocado and nuts) and the Mediterranean salad (mixed greens, grilled chicken, black olives, tomatoes, pistachios and feta cheese. But I went for the simple Farm Salad with mixed greens, grilled chicken, avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and balsamic dressing – a standard salad, perfectly executed. ■

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Bringing the Best to The City Beautiful Elect

Vince Lago for Mayor of Coral Gables

With his practical yet creative approach to problem-solving, Vince Lago has a track record of success as Vice Mayor of Coral Gables. Now he wants to continue this success as your Mayor.

Vince will lead the city with a focus on transparency, efficiency and resiliency as he works to maintain and improve our exceptional quality of life. He plans to:

 Build on the progress already achieved in addressing issues such as ocean pollution and sea-level rise, among others.

 Support the needs of our residents by providing accessibility for the disabled, recreational programs for seniors and community green spaces for families.

 Encourage civic engagement and participation in policymaking.

Together we can make Coral Gables the very best it can be.

VOTE VINCE for Mayor!

For more information, please visit vincelagoformayor.com

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JASMINE B. HARRIS, ED.D., HEAD OF SAINT PHILIP’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL PAGE 54.

Lawrence Kline grew up in Miami Beach and studied architecture at the University of Florida before earning his master’s degree from Syracuse University and joining the preeminent Coral Gables firm of Spillis Candela & Partners in 1985. There, he began his career designing corporate, educational and civic projects. In 2013, Kline joined the globally acclaimed architectural and design firm Perkins&Will to lead its Coral Gables studio as Managing Director. Today, he focuses on the strategic growth of the studio, and works on a broad array of projects across Florida, the Caribbean, Latin America and even Africa, where he recently completed a sustainably designed hospital in Ghana.

Lawrence Kline

PRINCIPAL, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT PERKINS&WILL

BY MALLORY EVAN JACOBSON PHOTO BY EMILY FAKHOURY

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Perkins&Will’s Coral Gables office recently received the Honor Award of Excellence for Interiors from the American Institute of Architects’ Florida chapter. The firm moved to its current space on Ponce de Leon Boulevard in 2018, and enjoys what Kline refers to as a living lab. “It’s an open, lightfilled setting with a variety of collaborative spaces,” he says, “allowing us the flexibility to shift project teams easily across the studio.” Kline also donates his time and expertise to several community organizations, including the Bakehouse Art Complex, a nonprofit organization in Wynwood that provides space for emerging artists. He serves as vice president of the board, and is helping rezone the property to allow for affordable housing for local artists, teachers and other creatives.

WHAT HE SAYS

On his inspiration to pursue architecture, Kline says, “My consistent exposure to some of the world’s best 1950’s tropical modern architecture definitely influenced my career path. Miami Beach, and South Florida in general, are unique in that the architecture is rooted in the context of climate with an understanding of the impact of sun, shade, and breezes informing most aspects of the designs.” As for his current projects, says Kline, “Right now, we’re working with Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables to repurpose the historic Coral Gables Police and Fire Station [on Salzedo Street, recently vacated by the city] into a new showroom and office space,” he noted, “and we’re writing a new zoning code for the City of Miami Beach.”

“MY CONSISTENT EXPOSURE TO SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST 1950’S TROPICAL MODERN ARCHITECTURE DEFINITELY INFLUENCED MY CAREER PATH.”

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Jasmine B. Harris, Ed.D., attended the University of Texas at Austin for a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then Texas Women’s College for a master’s in educational leadership. After teaching for several years, she earned a doctorate in educational administration at Baylor University. Prior to becoming the head of school of Saint Philip’s, she held positions as teacher, administrator and assistant principal at five other public and private schools in Texas. Her first experience in private school was at The Hockaday School, an all-girls day and boarding school in Dallas.

Jasmine B. Harris, Ed.D.

HEAD OF SCHOOL, SAINT PHILIP’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Dr. Harris started her role as head of school of Saint Philip’s Episcopal School on July 1, 2019. A Dallas native, this is her first time living outside of Texas. Running a school is no small feat during normal times, let alone in a pandemic. Saint Philip’s is giving the students the option to do in-person or virtual learning, although the vast majority of students opted for in-person. “I’m taking every day that we’re open and on campus as a blessing because children need to be in school,” she says. “This is where they learn, this is where they make friends.”

WHAT SHE SAYS

“People do this job because they love children, or they love learning or a combination of the two,” says Dr. Harris. “Even though it’s very hard, we do [this work] to be impactful in the lives of children.” She didn’t always want to be an educator, however. Thanks to the TV series “Perry Mason,” Dr. Harris grew up dreaming of being an attorney. Then as an undergrad, she worked at an after-school program for children and had an epiphany that changed her plans. “I loved school and I wanted kids to love school,” she says.

“I HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT’S WARM AND WELCOMING.”

Matias Nieto

As a child, 16-year-old Gables resident Matias Nieto enjoyed swimming in the waters of Matheson Hammock Park. Years later he began noticing the deterioration in local waterways without fully understanding why. Feeling a moral duty to do his part, he began volunteering for beach cleanups through Miami Waterkeepers, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to ensuring swimmable, drinkable and fishable water throughout South Florida. As a high school student, he appealed to City of Miami commissioners to pass (which they did) a resolution supporting “The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act” (H.R. 763). Earlier, as a guest of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, he attended public hearings in Washington, D.C. and lobbied Florida Reps. Ted Deutch and Donna Shalala for the same act.

LATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Nieto recently completed one full year of training to become a Junior Youth Ambassador for the Miami Waterkeepers. Program coordinator Collin Schladweiler describes their training programs as “opportunities to engage with local, science-based advocacy [leaders] and volunteer service experiences.” These included monthly lectures, advocacy campaigns (letter writing to politicians) and presentations, such as an upcoming address to his high school. His last two beach cleanups alone collected 100 pounds of trash. Schladweiler reports that in an average year, their organization picks up about 1,400 pounds of trash.

WHAT HE SAYS

“I learned about climate change in 8th grade, but it was only a word to me. Then Irma hit in 2017. I saw the flooding, debris, storm surge, loss of power and after that I became more aware,” says Nieto. “I love doing beach cleanups. It’s so simple. It’s so calming to go to a local beach of ours. If I had a magic wand, I’d get it all cleaned up.” He advises that residents should do their part, no matter how small: Eliminate fertilizers or go organic with them, avoid proximity to water sources/sewage drains, and refrain from their use during the June-September rainy season. Change takes place, he says, “in the little and big things.”

STUDENT, BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL

“I LEARNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN 8TH GRADE, BUT IT WAS ONLY A WORD TO ME. THEN IRMA HIT IN 2017.”

Valentine’s Day in the Gables

Whatever your heart desires, you can find it here

by Aura Reinhardt

Valentine’s Day has a very special place in the February calendar – and in our lives. Who doesn’t remember the Valentine cards you got as a kid, or crafted for your teachers, or the drawings your kids made for you? How about today’s e-messages sent from friends and family near and far? All of these made (and make) you happy, and that is what love is all about – that happy feeling. But love is also an action, the feeling you get giving something to someone you care about. So for Valentine’s Day, I suggest we take charge of our feelings, and find some of the many ways to experience love right here in the Gables.

For starters, who doesn’t ‘love to dance? And having a partner who enjoys the music, the steps and the fun is special. If you need to brush up on your moves, sign up together at one of our dance schools in the Gables (Arthur Murray or The Fred Astaire Dance Studio). It will be an experience you won’t regret. Or is it words you want to use to express your love? Then you can pick up a book of poetry (Books & Books or Barnes & Noble). No need to be a poet laureate; just share your thoughts and let that someone know how you really feel. It’s OK to be romantic! If you are happiest celebrating the ‘loveliest day of the year’ with adventure, then I suggest a tandem bicycle ride (No Boundaries) and head out to experience a

sunset, or peddle over for a special meal at any of the restaurants and cafés along the Mile or on Giralda.

If you want to do something different, buy that bottle of wine (Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe, Mystic Wine and Spirits or Graziano’s Market will have what you’re looking for), grab a baguette and some cheese from a local French café (Gustave), grapes or apples from the Farmer’s market or Publix, and head off to your favorite park bench. Tell your loved one you care, share some quality time, and give them the gift you’ve saved for this special day (a piece of jewelry? a new puppy? or a SPA day for two?). Of course, there is also selflove, and I’m a full believer in a splash of ‘self-love’ with a relaxing massage or refreshing manicure. Maybe I will see you as we treat ourselves to a little luxury – so many choices in the Gables!

Within the hundreds of stores, restaurants, and cultural destinations in Downtown Coral Gables, you can find your unique way to Experience Love in the Gables. I suggest you visit the directory on www.experiencecoralgables.com and build your ideal Valentine’s Day itinerary, and stop by some of my local favorites to sweeten the day, including: Stephanie’s Crepes for a Bouquet of Crepes and Chocolate Fashion for a variety of heart-shaped treats. And just have FUN.

Aura Reinhardt is the executive director of the Business Improvement District of downtown Coral Gables

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IT’S WHAT DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES IS MADE OF EVERY DISH PREPARED, EVERY SHIRT FOLDED, EVERY HAIRCUT GIVEN, EVERY ‘WELCOME’ SPOKEN COMES FROM THE HEART. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF PROVIDING AN UNFORGETTABLE GABLES EXPERIENCE.

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“WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT COULD TAKE HOLD AND BE AUTHENTIC TO CORAL GABLES… THE LIGHT SHONE UPON US THAT THIS WAS THE PERFECT PROJECT.”

LET THERE BE LIGHT

VENNY TORRE AND CO-CHAIR PATRICK O’CONNELL (SEATED), SPEARHEADED THE PROJECT

VENNY TORRE, CO-CHAIR

ILLUMINATE CORAL GABLES SHINES A BEACON ON THE CITY

BY J.P. FABER

The idea of public art, and its importance for the civic life of Coral Gables, has become the new mantra for the city. And for good reason. In a slow decline over the past few decades, the Gables – once home to a stunning collection of art galleries – lost its patina as ground zero for fine art, as those galleries fled to cheaper spaces in Wynwood. Meanwhile, Miami Beach and the Design District ascended under the banner of Art Basel.

Coral Gables is, however, moving to restore the shine to its former crown as a center for fine art. Its Art in Public Places program, for starters, now requires that all developers set aside at least one percent of their gross budgets for public art, resulting in an array of new and planned sculptures and fountains, from a bronze statue at Villa Valencia to the fountains and monumental sculpture being installed at The Plaza Coral Gables.

Now that effort is reaching a tipping point with the advent of Illuminate Coral Gables, an ambitious project to plant the flag of Coral Gables on the national art map once again. While it has been scaled back due to

INSTALLATION: URBAN UNIVERSES

ARTIST: CARLOS ESTEVEZ

“ILLUMINATE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON LIGHT-BASED EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WORLD ...BUT [THEY WERE] NOT BY MUSEUM QUALITY ARTISTS.” THIS BECAME THE GOAL.

Covid-19, Illuminate Coral Gables will debut Feb. 12 for a monthlong run of dramatically lit buildings in and around the downtown.

“The art scene has been beaten up badly, and we wanted to make sure that art could continue and be relevant in such a period of malaise,” says Venny Torre, who, along with co-chair Patrick O’Connell, has spearheaded the project. “We wanted something that could take hold and be authentic to Coral Gables… The light shone upon us that this was the perfect project.”

That project now consists of an array of eight dramatic light displays, most of them projected on downtown buildings, and a fleet of pedicab “fireflies” to take people from one illumination to the next. Originally the idea had been for 22 installations, but many of those were designed as indoor light shows, something no longer sensible during the pandemic. The funds available also fell short, though between the city, the downtown Business Improvement District (BID) and private donations, some $600,000 ultimately went toward the project, including $200,000 for an installation of light constellations on Giralda Plaza.

“The funding is much smaller than what we originally wanted, but we had to scale back because of Covid,” says O’Connell. “We had to focus on projection work, rather than sculptural work where people tend to gather closely around.” Nonetheless, he says, “We have gotten great support from the local community, with [private] sponsorships and grants close to $200,000. That is pretty good during a pandemic.”

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

The advent of Illuminate Coral Gables is literally an idea whose time had come. Torre says the idea first came to him when he saw a light show projected onto the flanks of the cathedral in Rouen, France, where he was visiting. So, in 2018, he approached then-City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark with the idea of “using our great architecture, streets and downtown as a canvas for projected light.” Torre, CEO of Torre Construction, was then-chairman of the BID, which pledged $100,000 in seed money “so the idea wouldn’t be taken lightly.”

At about the same time, O’Connell – the senior VP for business development at BHHS/EWM Realty – also thought of doing a projected-light project downtown. He approached Catherine Cathers, the city’s Art and Culture Specialist, and its Arts Advisory Council, with the idea. “What happened from there was that Catherine, the city’s Arts and Culture specialist, realized there were these two people in the city talking about the same thing. She suggested we put our heads together.” So, in the beginning of 2019, “we met and envisioned how we would make this happen.”

That meeting began a process that has taken a full two years to bear fruit. In many ways, however, the seeds for the Illuminate project had already been planted in a city searching for a way to project itself in the art world. “The mayor has been putting the arts

ILLUMINATE CORAL GABLES

WHAT: A WORLD-CLASS ART EXHIBITION OF LIGHT INSTALLATIONS IN DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES

WHEN: FEBRUARY 12 TO MARCH 14

WHERE: DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES

CO-FOUNDERS/CO-CHAIRS: PATRICK O’CONNELL AND VENNY TORRE

CURATORS: LANCE M. FUNG, CATHERINE CATHERS, JENNIFER EASTON, ROSIE GORDON WALLACE

ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE: DAVID Y. CHANG, CAROL DAMIAN, JILL JOHNSON DEUPI

SPONSORS: The City of Coral Gables; The Business Improvement District; The Knight Foundation; The Kirk Foundation; The Arthur B. McBride Sr. Family Foundation; The Ortega Foundation; Gables International Plaza; the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Art of Black; Greater Miami and the Beaches; Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs; BHHS/EWM Realty; Torre Companies; Terranova; Ocean Bank; FPL; Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables; Gunster; Alberto Perez; MG Developer.

CATHERINE CATHERS, ART & CULTURE SPECIALIST, CITY OF CORAL GABLES

at the forefront for years, and he was one of the early inspirations… This really started when the mayor talked about using lights as a significant feature in the arts of Coral Gables,” says Cathers. “When anything starts, it starts as a seed, but sometimes people forget where that seed came from, once the momentum gets going.”

Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli has indeed been a major proponent of public art since winning re-election in 2017, and has been a cheerleader for Illuminate – including endorsing an early request for $100,000 in seed money from the city. “We want to be known as a city of the arts,” he says. “But it is difficult with modern galleries requiring a lot more space than we have here.” The Illuminate project goes beyond the limitations of space by using the city itself as its canvas, “and the more attractions of light and art that we can have, the better it is for everybody,” he says.

Once in motion, the two founders of the Illuminate project realized “it had to be more than a couple of guys doing this,” says Torre, so they created a board that included, in addition to the city and the BID, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the Coral Gables Museum and the Coral Gables Community Foundation, each doing its part.

“The Community Foundation has been involved since day one as the project’s fiscal sponsor,” says Mary Snow, executive director of the foundation. “We are the nonprofit umbrella working in the background as the project’s bank account.” Besides providing back office support for accounting, invoicing, etc., the foundation provided the project with its nonprofit status.

Calling the Community Foundation the umbrella for the Illuminate project is a knowing nod to the most successful art installation in the Gables to date, the 2018 Umbrella Sky project that

CHIEF CURATOR LANCE FUNG

covered Giralda Plaza with a canopy of brightly colored umbrellas and drew tens of thousands of spectators. Like that project, which was Snow’s idea, Illuminate needs to be “beautiful, Instagram-able and functional,” she says.

BRINGING IN THE PROS

Even with help from community organizations, Illuminate needed input from someone who not only had a background in creating massive installations, but who also brought in national level art contacts. “We needed a curator who had the experience to lead the way,” says O’Connell. So in August 2019 they put out an RFP for a curator, which triggered more than 40 responses from individuals and companies across the U.S. and the world. “The board took two months to go through and vet these, and eventually agreed unanimously on the Fung Collaboratives,” says O’Connell.

Fung Collaboratives, led by chief curator Lance Fung, had experience conceptualizing, organizing and executing major public art installations around the world. Most recently, Fung curated “Fireflies” by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang, a celebration of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia that used brightly decorated pedicabs to take viewers around lit up buildings in the city. Fung had also created important exhibitions in cities ranging from Venice, Italy and Seoul, Korea to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Siwa, Egypt. Just as importantly, Fung had worked, and had relationships, with a bevy of internationally renowned artists, such as Norman Foster, Tadao Ando, Yoko Ono and Kiki Smith.

“Illuminate in the early days did a lot of research on light-based exhibitions around the world,” says Cathers, who became part of the project’s curatorial team. “What they found was that many of those exhibitions promoted touring pieces, maybe done by a designer, or a company that specialized in lighting, but not necessarily by museum quality artists.” That became the goal of Illuminate Coral Gables: To create a light installation that incorporated the works of serious artists, both from South Florida and from around the world.

FUNGTASTIC

One reason Fung Collaboratives was chosen was their immediate recognition of what Illuminate Coral Gables could become: A recognized event in the art world. “We recommended in the interview to move it away from a light festival and to a curated, proper public art installation that uses light,” says Chief Curator Lance Fung. “There are a number of light festivals around the world and the USA, [but] these are cities that will project pretty decorative elements onto big buildings to get people to come out to a beer booth. It’s not about the art quality.”

Fung set out not only to attract artists he was familiar with, but to also assemble a local curatorial team that could recommend South Florida artists as well. The challenge came, he said, when

“I GUARANTEE THAT ILLUMINATE 2021 WILL BE A SOLID, WORLD-CLASS ART EXHIBIT FOCUSING ON LIGHT AND PUBLIC SPACE, AND MORE RELEVANT THAN EVER BECAUSE IT IS FREE AND OUTDOOR.”

ALHAMBRA CIR

ALHAMBRA CIR

GIRALDA AVE

ARAGON AVE

MIRACLE MILE MIRACLE MILE

ANDALUSIA AVE

VALENCIA AVE

INSTALLATION MAP

FIREFLIES ROUTE

URBAN UNIVERSES – CITY HALL

ARTIST

CAI GUO-QIANG

CARLOS ESTEVEZ

ECHOS OF SOULS – OCEAN BANK, VALENCIA AVENUE (AT LE JEUNE) DAVID GUMBS

ECHOS OF MY SKIN – MIRACLE THEATER WALL, SALZEDO STREET DAVID GUMBS

SI, NO – VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS

THE PASSAGE – 204 AND 257 MIRACLE MILE

“YOU ARE HERE” – SIDE OF GABLES MUSEUM ON SALZEDO STREET

90 MILES: LIVING IN THE VORTEX – COLONNADES ON MIRACLE MILE

BLUE NIGHT – EAST SIDE OF GIRALDA PLAZA

RUBEN MILLARES & ANTONIA WRIGHT

JOSEPH CLAYTON MILLS

JONATHAN PEREZ AND FIU ARTISTS

SANDRA RAMOS

KIKI SMITH

Covid curtailed everything, including funding: “The team felt my pain, that if we cut it back too much we would lose the impact.” In the end, says Fung, both he and the local curators were able to attract a coterie of artists who delivered stellar works for reduced fees. “This is a multi-million dollar show we are doing for less than a million,” he says. “I want people to understand how huge this show is and how vested every artist and staffer is, with everyone tightening their belts.”

While Fung is already working on a robust Illuminate 2022 program that will more closely match the original vision, he says, “I guarantee that Illuminate 2021 will be a solid, world-class art exhibit focusing on light and public space, and more relevant than ever because it is free and outdoor.”

“I have never worked on a project that is supposed to have this kind of bang with these kind of dollars,” says Rosie Gordon Wallace, a local curator with an expertise in Caribbean art who was asked to help. “In order to deliver the caliber of work this deserves, Lance had to be a magician… We needed blockbuster artists like Cai GuoQiang, Kiki Smith and Sandra Ramos, and we needed artists that reflected the community of Miami.”

That is where the local clout and knowledge of Wallace and Cathers brought in artists like Carlos Estevez, David Gumbs and Ruben Millares, not to mention Jonathan Perez and a team of young FIU artists. “Coral Gables will now have a global conversation with lights, and they will be mentioned now when any public projects [are executed] in this imaginary way. This looks easy, but it is not an easy project, it takes a lot of work,” says Wallace.

The result will leave a “halo” over the city, which will be seen as

“inclusive, thoughtful and embracing,” says Wallace, who originally immigrated from Jamaica in 1978 to work at UM. “I think that particularly in the psycho-frenetic times we are in now, we can all benefit from a kaleidoscopic display of color. We haven’t had many magical moments lately, so this is a good time to say ‘Wow.’”

THE ARTISTS & THEIR INSTALLATIONS

FIREFLIES BY CAI GUO-QIANG

Cai Guo-Qiang is a Chinese artist with a huge international reputation. Known for dramatic works that include video, installation and performance, he was one of first artists to receive the U.S. Department of State Medal of the Arts for contributions to international cultural exchange. He has had exhibitions at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim Museum, Madrid’s Museo del Prado, Florence’s Uffizi Galleries and Moscow’s Pushkin State Museum. One of his recent projects was “Fireflies,” curated by Lance Fung, where 27 pedicabs festooned with 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns paraded through the streets of downtown Philadelphia. That nighttime spectacular now comes to Coral Gables.

SI, NO BY RUBEN MILLARES & ANTONIA WRIGHT

A native of Miami, Ruben Millares is an artist with a formal education as Certified Public Accountant and Financial Planner. As such he searches for a fusion between practicality and imagination. His installation of glowing barricades throughout the downtown, called “Si, No,” illustrates this juxtaposition, using a symbol that is associ-

INSTALLATION: FIREFLIES ARTIST: CAI GUO-QIANG

ated with both crowd safety for special events and crowd control for protesters. Millares created his installation with colleague Antonia Wright, another native Miami artist who specializes in photography and video. Both have enjoyed exhibitions at the Margulies Collection in Wynwood, along with museums in Washington, D.C.; Buenos Aires; Los Angeles; Basel, Switzerland; New York and many others.

URBAN UNIVERSES BY CARLOS ESTEVEZ

A native of Cuba who was educated at the Superior Institute of Art in Havana, Carlos Estevez left Cuba in 2003 and came to Miami in 2004. His works can be found in the collections of prestigious museums worldwide, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Perez Art Museum Miami. Estevez’s work is distinguished by its iconography, which includes hybrid creatures that are half human, half animal. His installation at Illuminate Coral Gables, called “Urban Universes,” will project light and moving images onto City Hall.

ECHOES OF SOULS/ECHOES OF MY SKIN BY DAVID GUMBS

David Gumbs is an award-winning interdisciplinary Caribbean artist, born in Saint Martin and based in Martinique. His New Media digital works have been shown in cities worldwide, from Beijing and Paris to New York and Portland. His installations at Illuminate Coral Gables are twofold: “Echoes of Souls” will be projected on the side of the Ocean Bank building at Le Jeune Road and Valencia Avenue, while “Echoes of My Skin” will be projected on the wall of the Miracle Theatre on Salzedo Street. They consist of dramatic patterns of computer-generated animations and patterns triggered in real time by vehicular and pedestrian movement.

“IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE CALIBER OF WORK THIS DESERVES, LANCE [FUNG] HAD TO BE A MAGICIAN… WE NEEDED BLOCKBUSTER ARTISTS LIKE CAI GUO-QIANG, KIKI SMITH AND SANDRA RAMOS, AND WE NEEDED ARTISTS THAT REFLECTED THE COMMUNITY OF MIAMI.”

INSTALLATION: ECHOES OF SOULS

ARTIST: DAVID GUMBS

ROSIE GORDON WALLACE, A LOCAL CURATOR

Rosie Gordon Wallace, a local curator

THE PASSAGE BY JOSEPH CLAYTON MILLS

A Chicago artist, Joseph Clayton Mills works in a variety of mediums, including sound. His text-based paintings, assemblages and sound installations of experimental music have been exhibited in the U.S. and Europe, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago. His installation for Illuminate, “The Passage,” will consist of ghostly figures that shift, dance and blur in storefront windows along Miracle Mile. The images are derived from archival footage from Coral Gables and the surrounding communities, projected through an array of rotating mirrors.

STORIES BY JONATHAN PEREZ AND FIU ARTISTS

Jonathan Perez is an assistant teaching professor of digital arts for the Art & Art History Department at FIU, and his installation – projections on the side of Coral Gables Museum – is the culmination of a course that uses art to realize an inclusive and historical look at the City of Coral Gables. The side of the museum will come alive with video mapping and sound elements that share stories about the past and present of the Gables. Seven students participated in creating the installation: Ari Temkin, Emily Silverio-Williams, Heather Kostrna, Jennifer Hudock, L’nique Noel, Maria Daniela Maldonado and Tara Remmen.

90 MILES: LIVING IN THE VORTEX BY SANDRA RAMOS

A native of Havana, Sandra Ramos graduated from Cuba’s Higher Institute of Arts in 1993 and now lives and works in Miami. She uses a wide range of materials, such as engraving, painting, video and

installations, to bring attention to social realities in the contemporary world. Her works have been exhibited in numerous museums, including the American University Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Ramos’ installation, “90 Miles: Living in the Vortex,” consists of a 32-foot walkway of light boxes at the Colonnades on Miracle Mile. Together they form a symbolic bridge between Miami and Havana, glowing with aerial photos taken by Ramos.

BLUE NIGHT BY KIKI SMITH

German-born Kiki Smith is among the most important postmodern artists in America today. Working in sculpture, glassmaking, printmaking, watercolor, photography and textile, Smith (daughter of sculptor Tony Smith) has been the subject of over 25 solo museum exhibitions around the world since 1982, including at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and museums in Barcelona, Munich, Florence, Vienna and Paris. She has also been featured in hundreds of group exhibitions. The winner of numerous accolades, awards and honors, Time magazine recognized Smith in 2006 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Smith’s installation for Illuminate, “Blue Night,” consists of 42 animal constellations suspended over Giralda Plaza. Each animal constellation is made from transparent blue plexiglass, with artificial diamonds as stars. The artworks will also trigger an augmented reality feature (via cell phone) that will highlight every constellation. ■

INSTALLATION: BLUE NIGHT

ARTIST: KIKI SMITH

“A JOY FOREVER”

WHETHER

ROMANTIC LOVE, MARK A MILESTONE OR SIMPLY GIVE ONESELF A BIT OF SPARKLE, WHAT IS BETTER THAN A GIFT THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME?

TO SHOW

BY LILY FABER

Since ancient times, humans have adorned themselves with beautiful things. Precious stones and minerals, collected with care to make jewelry, have beguiled us for millennia, and in return we have bestowed meaning and value upon them.

The great Cleopatra was obsessed with amassing emeralds to both wear and engrave with her portrait as gifts for her subjects. To maintain her status as the glamorous and powerful Queen of Egypt, she sent workers to every gem mine in her dominion so that she could amass a cache of the rich, green stones.

Queen Victoria had a fondness for opals, but also wore earrings set with her children’s baby teeth. And the queen of classic Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor, accumulated such a large collection of dazzling diamonds, rubies and sapphires that the Christies auction of her estate after she died went on a world tour; fans lined up in cities around the globe just to sneak a glimpse. In recent years, Gables celebrity resident Jennifer Lopez has kept the tradition alive, boasting her incredible 15-carat, emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from beau A-Rod, reportedly worth over $1 million. In short, humans have always gravitated towards sparkly and colorful gems. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, one can’t help but think of the queen of gemstones, the diamond. John Keats said it best in his 1818 poem “Endymion”, which began with the line, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” More than 100 years later, this sentiment would be cut and polished by the DeBeers Group with their slogan, “A Diamond is Forever,” one of the most successful advertising campaigns ever. And there is some truth to this. Diamonds are nearly as old as the Earth itself, forged over millions years under enormous pressure (up to 60,000 times greater than the atmosphere) and in temperatures hotter than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. These

sparkling gemstones are the hardest natural material known to humankind (only a diamond can cut another diamond) and if well cared for will last far beyond our lifetimes.

So, what should you be looking for to wow your special partner this year? What’s new in 2021? Traditionally, diamonds weren’t always the stone of choice, though after DeBeers’ tour de force, we think of diamonds as synonymous with love and engagement rings. This is now changing as color is coming to the fore. More and more colored gemstones such as sapphires, emeralds and rubies are taking center stage as a symbol of everlasting devotion. Remember Princess Diana’s deep blue sapphire engagement ring? More recently, Orlando Bloom chose to wow Katy Perry with a stunning ruby, perhaps to match her cherry chapstick. And as color becomes more popular, consumers are looking for deeper meanings ascribed to their jewelry. Gemstones that correspond to a loved one’s birthstone, for example, are increasingly being purchased.

If you’re still not convinced, your wallet might be. Some colored stones can be far cheaper than diamonds, particularly if you’re not buying from well-known luxury brands. So, while white diamonds still dominate romantic jewelry, before you put three months’ wages down for the perfect classic engagement ring, take a moment to see what else is out there. In order to assist you, we’ve taken a look at five local independent jewelers.

Whatever the trend that has taken hold - past, present or future - one thing is for certain: Jewelry has and always will hold special meaning to us. After all, a thing of beauty is a joy forever. ■

Lily Faber is a former appraiser for Christies and currently a gemologist who teaches for the Gemology Association of Great Britain.

Diamonds by Daniella

THE SHOP: THE OWNER:

SPECIALTY:

DIAMONDS BY DANIELLA

300 ARAGON SUITE 360 305.200.5945

DANIELLA DE FRANCESCO

DIAMOND BRIDAL JEWELRY

GIA DIAMONDS AND EXOTIC GEMSTONES CUSTOM & HANDCRAFTED CREATIONS

ESTABLISHED:

2019 (IN THE GABLES)

Daniella De Francesco had no family background in the jewelry business, only a childhood love of gemology that propelled this former real estate investor to jump into the industry in her 20s. “I saw an open opportunity. Before the [2008] crash you only had fine diamond jewelers in shops or fashionable jewelry in shopping malls,” she says. “There was a middle market there, for real stones that were affordable – not costume jewelry, but not too expensive.”

With that idea in mind De Francesco invested her real estate capital into purchasing semi-precious stones overseas and opening in a Tampa mall, specailizing in ready to wear and custom creations.

Flash forward a dozen years and today De Francesco is launching a second proprietary line, a more affordable “Hearts of Rose” collection to compliment her bridal line, Diamonds by Daniella. She has also relocated to Coral Gables from downtown Miami, where she operated an international wholesale business for nearly a decade. Here in the Gables, her focus has shifted more intensely to retail sales and to custom made jewelry.

“Working in the international trade helped me understand market trends and get really good at the science behind the industry.... Now, I have my own casting, my own setters, my own 3D printers. My challenge is if the brands grow, how to keep up…”

In the meantime, she continues to expand her clientel with sales of GIA Ideal dimonds, exotic gemstones and casting quality 18-22k gold. “Now I am working with exotic gemstones from around the world, investing in high quality roughs, stones like sapphires and rubies… really interesting gem quality stones.”

With her stone cutting gear in house, “You go from a stone that looks pretty to the naked eye, to something that is cut so there are no dark spots, and every facet is cut to bring out the beauty.” Daniella says that at present, about half her sales are of custom-made jewelry, the other of items she has in stock. Prices for her Hearts of Rose “fun brand” run from $100 to $2,000, and start at $7,000 for custom-made pieces. ■

“NOW I AM WORKING WITH EXOTIC GEM STONES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, INVESTING IN HIGH QUALITY ROUGHS, STONES LIKE SAPPHIRES AND RUBIES…”

OWNER DANIELLA DE FRANCESCO

Snow’s Jewelers

THE SHOP: THE OWNER:

SPECIALTIES: ESTABLISHED:

SNOW’S JEWELERS

270 MIRACLE MILE 305.443.7448

EDDIE SNOW

DIAMOND RINGS

DIAMOND NECKLACES

CUSTOM JEWELRY AND WATCH REPAIR

1974 (IN THE GABLES)

Most people, when they buy jewelry, buy for someone else, says Eddie Snow, who has been vending jewelry in the Gables since the early 1970s. “Most buy for someone special and, like the saying goes, it really is better to give than receive. The buyer feels as good or better than the person who is receiving it.”

Snow’s Jewelers has been providing that sense of benevolence in its current location for nine years, and from another Miracle Mile spot for 20 years, and before that at another Gables spot for 18 years. The resultant base of repeat customers is what carried the business through the pandemic, says Snow. “People still came in, just not as many. This [past] Christmas we were about even with last year, but with fewer customers. Some people would just call in and ask for diamonds.”

Diamonds are, in fact, Snow’s mainstay, along with a fair amount of vintage and estate jewelry that can be sold at lower price points. “Diamond engagement rings, diamond studs, diamond wedding rings, diamond necklaces – diamonds are our strength, our bread and butter,” he says.

For his pricing and appraisal of diamonds, Snow uses the Rapaport Price List, also known as the Rap Report, the industry bible produced in New York’s diamond district. Whereas jewelry chains such as Mayors or Tiffany’s will sell their diamonds at 30 to 35 percent above Rapaport, independents like Snow’s will sell at or below the suggested list price. This is a big reason why independent shops such as Snow’s can compete with the big-name brands. That, and because they also offer other pieces at all price points. “I have things for under $100 if someone really wants something but has no budget. On the other hand, one of the diamonds we sold at Christmas was $80,000. So, we really have something for everyone.”

Snow says that despite problems with parking and foot traffic, Coral Gables is among the best places anywhere for a jewelry business. “I can only think of three incidents [robberies] in the nearly 50 years I’ve been here. It’s a very safe place.” ■

“DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RINGS, DIAMOND STUDS, DIAMOND WEDDING RINGS, DIAMOND NECKLACES...

DIAMONDS ARE OUR STRENGTH, OUR BREAD AND BUTTER…”

OWNER EDDIE SNOW

Jae’s Jewelers

THE SHOP: THE OWNER:

SPECIALTIES:

JAE’S JEWELERS 237 MIRACLE MILE 305.443.7724

THE HORNIK FAMILY DIAMONDS VINTAGE JEWELRY ESTATE JEWELRY

ESTABLISHED:

1945 (IN THE GABLES)

For Jill Hornik, heir-apparent to the jewelry business started by her grandfather at the end of World War II, the key was education. First, she earned a Graduate Gemologist dipolma from the Gemological Institute of America, and then went on to get a more specialized degree as a Certified Gemologist from the American Gem Society, a degree that requires an annual exam to maintain. “There are so many changes in terms of technology, synthetics, mining, lab equipment and appraising, which we learn in our annual certification,” she says.

Hornik spent five years working for a diamond and watch dealer in California before returning home in 2013 to work for the family business, which started out as a shop where Giardino’s now stands before moving to its present location on the Mile in the mid 1950s. “I thought it was going to be more difficult,” she says, “but I get along great with my father,” who inherited the business from his father.

Like other local jewelers, Hornik says success depends on trust, and their unique combination of service, selection and value. “Many of our new clients come here for [jewelry] repair and then look around,” she says. “Then we start to build a long-term relationship.”

As for specialties, that would be diamonds and estate jewelry. “We purchase jewelry from the public, custom create our own designs, and also purchase jewelry at trade shows during the year,” says Hornik. Jae’s Jewelers is also an authorized dealer for Roberto Coin, Montblanc, Alor and Masriera, in addition to other designer lines.

“Jewelry is a gift from the earth,” says Hornik. “We take beautiful natural products from the earth and turn them into wearable pieces of art that you can wear every day of your life and then pass down to family members.” Hornik says that about 60 percent of the purchases in her family shop are gifts for other people, though “we have a lot of women who are self-purchasers, who just like a fun stone or a fun gold ring. We sell some colorful jewelry.” ■

“WE TAKE BEAUTIFUL NATURAL PRODUCTS FROM THE EARTH AND TURN THEM INTO WEARABLE PIECES OF ART THAT YOU CAN WEAR EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE…”

OWNER JILL HORNIK

Montica Jewelry

THE SHOP: THE OWNER:

SPECIALTY:

MONTICA JEWELERS

500 SOUTH DIXIE HWY #203 305.446.2957

MARICHI O’ROURKE

CUSTOM JEWELRY BRIDAL AND ENGAGEMENT RINGS REPURPOSING VINTAGE PIECES

ESTABLISHED:

1982 (IN THE GABLES)

Marichi O’Rourke first learned the jewelry business from her parents, who would sell from their home and at private dinner parties. “I didn’t want to do it that way,” she says, and so set up a shop first on Douglas Road near Miracle Mile, then on Miracle Mile itself. But when the Streetscape project began in 2016, she decided to avoid the construction and moved to her current location on Dixie Highway.

Since then, she has developed a robust and wide-ranging clientele, with a penchant for custom-made jewelry and a price range that brings in women ranging from UM college students to elderly heiresses. “We sell bridal [rings], necklaces and diamonds, and we can create whatever your heart desires,” she says. “A one-of-a-kind ring is our specialty.” One area where Montica shines is in the updating and transformation of older jewelry. “A lot of time customers can’t wear it because it’s out of style,” says O’Rourke. “We can recreate a family heirloom, to modernize it, or use the diamonds to make something more beautiful. You create something that is more wearable, fashionable and contemporary.”

“We had a bracelet, a heavy-duty antique bracelet from one woman, and from that we created an engagement ring, a wedding ring, and eight wedding bands for her granddaughters,” says O’Rourke. “They can always remember their grandmother that way.”

Besides diamonds, O’Rourke likes working with precious stones such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds and aquamarines, and she carries lines such as Tacori, Hearts on Fire, Fana and Dove, along with Benchmark men’s rings and Michele watches. But her passion remains custom jewelery and the repurposing of things like diamonds from old-fashioned pendants into necklaces. “Jewelry can tell you how much you are loved and appreciated,” she says. “It can also mark a milestone for something important, to signify and immortalize a special moment in time…”

Like many local jewelers, O’Rourke says that clients become friends over the years. “I have customers from back when I first started, and their children and grandchildren,” she says. “We were once invited to a three-day wedding [for a client] in Southern France. That was special.” ■

OWNER MARICHI O’ROURKE

“WE CAN RECREATE A FAMILY HEIRLOOM, TO MODERNIZE IT, OR USE THE DIAMONDS TO MAKE SOMETHING MORE BEAUTIFUL…”

Gables Gems

THE SHOP: THE OWNERS:

GABLES GEMS 250 MIRACLE MILE 305.444.2335

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ-SAMPEDRO (CENTER) AND HIS TWO SISTERS, REBECA BARED (LEFT) AND CRISTINA GUTIERREZ-TAQUECHEL (RIGHT)

SPECIALTY:

ESTATE JEWELRY ART DECO AND 1940S RETRO EUROPEAN JEWELRY DESIGNERS

ESTABLISHED:

1996 (ON MIRACLE MILE)

For owner Miguel Gutierrez-Sampedro, the big choice he faced at age 18 was whether to become a lawyer or go into the jewelry business. Having worked during his high school years in Miami for a jeweler, he decided to study gemology and moved to New York City to work in the antique jewelry business. “From there I jumped to Macy’s as an estate jewelry buyer. They had an office to buy from the public at their Herald Square building, where I appraised and purchased jewelry.”

After five years in the Big Apple, Gutierrez returned to Miami to work for the jewelry department at Saks Fifth Avenue, where he developed a sufficient client base. After six years, he launched his own store in Coral Gables. “We started as a smaller shop, but business went so well that we decided to build a bigger place” on Miracle Mile, where they have been since 2000.

Having learned “how to do bench work and jewelry manufacturing” as a young apprentice and later in New York, Gutierrez’s Gables Gems shop offers custom jewelry as a service to clients. For others, it’s the unique selection Gutierrez assembles from estate sales and the different trade shows he attends. “We buy some very unique pieces. I don’t buy everything, but we have a collection of clients that like them,” says Gutierrez, who also buys lines from European designers.

Gutierrez says that 80 percent of his sales come from repeat business – locals as well as clients who fly in from New York, Latin America and the Caribbean. Most, he says, are Spanish speaking, which gives the Cuban-born Gutierrez a minor advantage over his Anglo competitors. Gutierrez, who is modest about himself, says that buyers return again and again because of his inventory and because “we offer our clients knowledge and honesty, and educate them about what exactly they are buying.” Like other independent jewelers, he disdains the “huge difference in prices” when clients buy from Cartier or Tiffany’s. He asks, “Do you want to buy a name or put your money in the value of the stone?” ■

OWNER MIGUEL GUTIERREZ-SAMPEDRO

“WE OFFER OUR CLIENTS KNOWLEDGE AND HONESTY, AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THEY ARE BUYING...”

THE ENTREPRENEUR

RAFAEL GONZALEZ

CEO, Engipartners, based at WeWork Coral Gables

WHAT: Engipartners is an engineering firm focused on design and consulting for general contractors, architects, electricians, plumbers and others in the building trade. In the Gables at WeWork since 2018, now with 20 employees, including drafters and designers.

WHO: Company founder Rafael Gonzalez, 33-years-old, is a native of Puerto Rico, where he earned his degree in engineering. Came to Florida in 2013, earned an MBA at the University of Miami.

WHY CORAL GABLES? “I live downtown and like its walkable urban design. I did my MBA at UM, so I knew the area. I wanted to be close to the campus, because I like the university culture. I also like the WeWork facilities here… I like the architecture of Giralda Place and the city in general. It’s colonial with a modern mix.”

WHY START UP? In early jobs, Gonzalez says he didn’t find the right challenge, and felt overqualified for many available positions. “With my engineering and business degrees, I thought I could offer greater value to society if I started my own company.”

PROS OF CORAL GABLES? “There’s a great reputation when clients see the office address is in Coral Gables.”

COVID IMPACT? Although the team is largely working remotely now, “We’ve found construction hasn’t been affected as much as other industries… We haven’t had to downsize.”

Bling in the 2021 New Year

Ring in 2021 with bling! Lighting is a great way to lift the positive energy and as we enter 2021, let’s radiate positivity. From in-your-face opulence to shimmer in unexpected places, the product experts at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery recommend products that add a dazzling touch and illuminating sparkle to any space.

According to Lindsey Root, Texas showroom marketing manager, “Rooms are a lot like people – they have their own personality. A kitchen or bath with a little sparkle is never forgotten. When you look for unexpected ways to introduce creativity and uniqueness into a space, you are creating an environment with a lasting impact.”

Rooms are a lot like people – they have their own personality.

ADD SPARKLE TO THE KITCHEN AND BATH SPACE

Waiting to Bloom

IN THE ORCHID HOUSE WITH MAYOR RAÚL VALDÉS-FAULI

Coral Gables Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli had already been an avid collector of orchids – a habit he acquired from his father – when he bought his home on North Greenway Drive in 1977. That was when the assemblage began to expand in earnest. Today his collection exceeds 500 orchid varieties.

“They usually bloom in the spring and fall, and they are beautiful,” he says. “I bring some into the house, and some have a lovely, sweet smell.” Taking care of his floral

entourage is no easy task, he says, involving fungicides, insecticides, fertilizer and the repotting of the flowering plants. “It’s nice Saturday and Sunday morning work, and you can see the rewards,” he says. His framed greenhouse can be covered in summer when there is too much sun; it can also be covered in winter during a freeze, “but I have never had to do that,” he says.

The orchid house should be in full bloom in April, the mayor’s last month before he retires from office. ■

• Revitalizing Downtown Core: Spurring economic development and creating an environment where local businesses can thrive long-term in even the most unforeseen of circumstances.

• Responsible Growth: Encouraging responsible development and diverse transportation options in the urban core, while persevering the peaceful character of our existing neighborhoods.

• Mitigating Traffic: Discouraging cut-through traffic from inundating our residential streets, and endangering our children and pets, by expanding traffic calming measures throughout the City.

• Environmental Sustainability: Developing smart sea level rise building practices, enhancing tree canopy to encourage more pedestrian activity, and protecting our greenspace, oceanfront and waterways.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Tania Cruz-Gimenez for City of Coral Gables Commissioner, Group 2

What $2.5 Million Will Buy in Coral Gables

The Coral Gables market for single family homes continues to be robust, as demand grows from families looking to relocate from the Northeast or locally from condominiums in Brickell high rises. That demand has sent prices skyward. According to Redfin, the median sale price of a Coral Gables home rose 39 percent last year, to reach

$895,000, while the average price per square foot rose almost 15 percent to $410. To see what $2.5 million would buy today, we asked three real estate agents to submit one of their homes for sale in that price range – give or take a few hundred thousand dollars. Here is what they came up with, in different Gables locations.

Modern Living

11050

TANYA ST.

Listing Price

$2.6m

4 bed/3 bath/1 half bath/pool 4,711 sq. ft.

With soaring ceilings, loft family room with fireplace, oblique angles and huge windows, this light-filled home is located in the gated community of Hammock Oaks, adjacent to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. Amenities include a seven-car garage and a private boat dock directly across the street. Built in 1989, but feels very 21st century. Listing Agent: Audrey Ross (Compass) 305.206.4003

On Granada Golf Course

751 N. GREENWAY DR.

Listing Price

$2.595m

5 bed/4 bath/1 half bath/pool. 4,390 sq. ft. This historic property – constructed in 1923 – is the eighth home that was built in the city. It was completely renovated in 2005 with new plumbing, electric, roof, impact windows and a chef’s kitchen. Overlooking the Granada Golf Course, it has a coral stone fireplace and guest house. Available for the first time in 43 years. Listing Agent: Judith Zeder (Coldwell Banker Realty), 305.613.5550

Listing

Islands of Cocoplum

199

5 bed/5 bath/2 half bath/pool. 5,696 sq. ft. Located in the gated Cocoplum community, this designer-built home has a living room with fireplace and vaulted ceilings, and a kitchen with underlit marble tops, custom wood cabinetry, and all Viking and SubZero appliances. There is also a guest house with bed and bath, and a backyard gated entry to Green Park. Listing Agent: Tere Shelton Bernace (Shelton & Stewart Realtors), 305.607.7212

CAOBA CT.

Price $2.75m

Traveling to Turks

PROVIDENCIALES: A SAFE VACATION DESTINATION

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

Having canceled our travel plans in 2020, we are looking forward to fewer work from home days and more vacation days in 2021. And while there is still a travel ban to many international destinations, the former British colony (and still a dependency under the queen) of Turks and Caicos is not one of them. American Airlines flies direct from Miami International to the capital Providenciales, so for a quick weekend getaway, Turks and Caicos is an easy escape.

As with most international travel, you have to test negative for coronavirus within five days of your flight. After you upload your test results to the Turks and Caicos Tourism website, you’ll be given a travel authorization that permits entry to the country. Show that travel authorization at the American Airlines counter, and you’re free to go. Once you board, you’re flying over the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea in

under two hours. And there isn’t a safer way to fly; American just became the first airline to receive accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) for its commitment to cleaning and disinfection. After landing in Providenciales, we took a 20-minute taxi ride to our final destination: Ocean Club Resorts. Located on the famous Grace Bay Beach, Ocean Club Resorts is comprised of two beachfront properties: Ocean Club and Ocean Club West. We stayed in a deluxe suite in Ocean Club, which had a kitchen, living area, two bedrooms and bathrooms, and a screenedin patio with a dining table and two chaise lounges. We were there only for the weekend, but it had all the amenities you’d need for an extended stay, like a stove, cookware, and washer and dryer.

Guests who stay at Ocean Club have access to all the facilities and restaurants at

OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE: OCEAN CLUB RESORTS LIES DIRECTLY ON THE IMMACULATE, WHITE-SAND GRACE BAY BEACH WHERE YOU CAN TAKE A STROLL BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES.

COMPLIMENTARY ADULT BICYCLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL GUESTS THAT WISH TO EXPLORE THE GRACE BAY AREA.

BOTH PROPERTIES HAVE A POOL, FITNESS CENTER, SPA, AND TENNIS COURTS. POOLSIDE GRILLS ALLOW YOU TO BARBECUE AND SHOW OFF YOUR CULINARY SKILLS.

THE OCEAN CLUB DELUXE SUITES BOAST A KITCHEN, LIVING AREA, TWO BEDROOMS, BATHROOM AND A SCREENED-IN PATIO WITH DINING TABLE AND CHAISE LOUNGES.

Ocean Club West and vice versa. The two properties are a mile apart, so you can stroll down the beach, ride the resort’s bikes or take the guest shuttle from one to the other. Both properties have a pool, fitness center, spa, tennis courts, watersports and their signature pink beach umbrellas. The pool areas at both also have grills if you want to barbecue al fresco. Ocean Club is closer to the Provo Golf Club while Ocean Club West has a beach bar and is closer to downtown shops and restaurants. After spending time at both locations, Ocean Club seemed to have more families with young children and Ocean Club West had more adults and couples.

Ocean Club has two restaurants, Cabana Bar & Grill and Opus Wine-Bar-Grill, while Ocean Club West has one, Solana. Cabana Bar & Grill is the most casual, with breakfast, lunch, dinner and a daily happy hour from

5 to 6:30 p.m., with snack bar staples like quesadillas, chicken wings and sliders. Opus Wine-Bar-Grill is upscale and open for dinner only, with a good wine list and entrees like a rack of lamb and filet of mahi-mahi. Solana is also open for all meals, with a sushi bar and entrees with an Asian flare.

While traveling during a pandemic can be daunting, it was comforting to know that all resort guests had recently tested negative. And between capacity limitations and the reduction in travel right now, at times it felt like we had the whole resort to ourselves.

For the active vacationers, there are plenty of excursions to book at the front desk. You can go diving or snorkeling to explore the colorful marine life of the islands (Turks and Caicos has one of the longest coral reefs in the world). You can go deepsea, bottom or bone fishing, or windsurf, sail, kayak and paddle board in the clear blue

waters. You can even take a tour through nearby mangroves to spot the local wildlife, like giant iguanas (the islands are considered a biodiversity hotspot). Or you can simply take a boat out at sunset on Tuesdays and wait for the famed “green flash” which zaps along the horizon at the moment the sunsets.

We did not see the green flash or Sapodilla Bay Hill where shipwrecked sailors carved the date and their names into rocks. We chose instead our favorite activity, listed on the resort’s website as “do nothing at all.”

Among the things on the “revised to-do list” were sleeping in, lying on the beach, reading a book, going for a swim, sipping a cocktail, strolling on the beach and eating a leisurely meal. After such a long and strenuous year under house arrest, we were perfectly content to relax under the blue skies and pink umbrellas. ■

Zucca Magic

ELEGANT, SOPHISTICATED, DELICIOUS AND NOW OUTDOORS

BY ANDREW GAYLE PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CAMPINA

The Italian word Zucca has several translations. One of them is pumpkin. So, it makes sense that Zucca, now in its fourth year at the Hotel St. Michel, offers a signature dish of pumpkin-stuffed ravioli sauteed with butter and sage. It is an exceptional dish, perfectly balancing the al dente pasta with the rich flavors of pumpkin, sage and butter.

Zucca also means squash, and members of the squash family, such as zucchini. And, not to be pigeon-holed by his fantastic ravioli, Chef Manuel Garcia also prepares another signature dish, Fiori di Zucca Ripieni di Caprino. This is the flower of the zucchini, stuffed with goat cheese, gently fried and sprinkled with truffle honey. As prepared by Zucca, it is light and delicious.

For all his wizardry in the kitchen, Garcia (who has been at the helm of Zucca for three years) is neither Italian nor originally schooled as an Italian chef. From Venezuela, he trained in French cooking before learning to master Italian cuisine during his dozen years at Miami Beach’s fabled Casa Tua restaurant.

“There are almost no French restaurants here, but plenty of Italian restaurants,” says Garcia, whose arsenal of dishes come from regions across Italy. He says the Zucca menu follows northern Italian cuisine in the winter and moves to southern Italian cooking in the summer. Right now it’s winter, so there is a definite tilt toward seafood, wild mushrooms, potatoes and risotto, and greens like artichokes, asparagus and broccoli rabe.

Zucca serves a flavorful selection of veal, beef and lamb.

The veal carpaccio floating in a tuna/caper emulsion, the slow roasted pork with herbs (porchetta alla romana) and the tasty lamb meatballs – the only tomato sauce dish on the menu–will all make you want to abandon any thought of becoming a vegetarian.

What Garcia does with seafood, however, is quite special. He prepares dishes with cuttlefish, lobster, mussels, octopus, salmon, clams, sea bass and prawns. His very fresh Chilean sea bass with a saffron and parsnip sauce is amazingly light and fluffy, with a perfect suggestion of crust, served on a contrasting bed of salty black lentils. You will never taste it prepared better anywhere. His prawns wrapped in phyllo pastry with an avocado emulsion, served on a bed of organic black rice, is another outof-the-ordinary seafood dish; a complex nutty shrimp flavor with a crispy edge. Needless to say, simple classic dishes – like the linguine with clams – are executed flawlessly.

Other standouts on the menu include burrata cheese on a bed of peeled, marinated heirloom tomatoes, fresh and creamy, with thin slices of crunchy crostini; and potato gnocchi filled with asiago cheese, sautéed with asparagus and “pioppini” forest mushrooms. Both are delightful.

What makes the food at Zucca even better is the service and ambiance. Maitre D’ Lorenzo Cassano is the consummate host, making customers feel cherished. Hailing from Milan, Cassano has been at Zucca for more than two years, having previously been at the helm of upscale Italian gastro stars

PRAWNS

TOP : CHEF MANUEL GARCIA PREPARES DISHES FROM REGIONS ACROSS ITALY.

ABOVE: ZUCCA’S ELEGANT NEW OUTDOOR TERRACE

OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE: POTATO GNOCCHI FILLED WITH ASIAGO CHEESE.

FIORI DI ZUCCA RIPIENI DI CAPRINO - FLOWER OF THE ZUCCHINI, STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND GENTLY FRIED.

WRAPPED IN PHYLLO PASTRY. PUMPKIN-STUFFED RAVIOLI SAUTEED WITH BUTTER AND SAGE.

like Casa Tua, Cavalli Miami Restaurant, and Cecconi’s Miami at Soho Beach House. Among other things, Cassano knows his way around the Zucca wine cellar, and his recommendations are spot-on. “My mother used to cook every day for us, and the dishes here? I couldn’t find better in Italy,” he says. “The authenticity is really unique… And the customers are here not just for a restaurant with Italian food. They come for the Italian experience.”

That experience has been enhanced by a new outdoor terrace. While Zucca’s interior remains the sophisticated, elegant Milan-modern space it has been for years, there is a now al fresco dining on Alcazar Avenue. It is probably the best sidewalk transformation in the city – a wooden platform surrounded by short wooden walls and framed by industrial scaffolds with a metal roof, festooned with greenery and twinkling lights. When you add the background of the vine-covered, old world façade of the Hotel St. Michel behind it, the experience is one of a somewhere-in-Europe café; you feel transported elsewhere, a welcome escape from our Covid-quarantined world. ■

February 2021 THE TOP OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS

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

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

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

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

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

AMERICAN

Bachour

Known for their pastries, Bachour also serves innovative breakfast and lunch items in their expansive courtyard, which has plenty of outdoor seating options and a constant breeze circulating fresh air throughout. $ - $$ 2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552

Burger Bob’s

Great burgers and chili for 1950s prices, along with tuna wraps and BLTs. They’ve set up a few tables outside, so you can eat your classic burger while enjoying a view of the Granada Golf Course. $ 2001 Granada Blvd. 305.567.3100

Cheesecake Factory

We still don’t know how they can deliver a menu with over 250 menu items. But they do, with something for everyone, including a covered outdoor patio with a fire pit on Andalusia Avenue. $$ 2418 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.529.0703

Clutch Burger

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

Copper 29

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

Doc B’s

With some of the nicest outdoor seating on the Mile, this American eatery has the best fried chicken in the Gables, along with wok bowls and a popular shredded brussels sprout salad –not to mention cinnamon swirl pancakes. $$ 301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220

Eating House

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

Seasons 52

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

Sports Grill

Their special grilled wings are still the best in the Gables, and now you can enjoy them without the fear of catching COVID. Outdoor seating both in front and along the alleyway. $ 1559 Sunset Dr. 305.668.0396

Tap 42

The outdoor scene at Tap 42 hasn’t changed a whole lot, with open seating along Salzedo Street. We’re just happy that the brunch scene is alive and well. $$ 301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566

The Globe

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

Titanic Restaurant and Brewery

The venerable brewery/restaurant next to the University of Miami has teamed up with the university to create outdoor seating on picnic tables in a big yard behind the restaurant. $ - $$ 5813 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.667.2537

Yard House

Plenty of outdoor patio seating under umbrellas in the courtyard of The Shops at Merrick Park lets you enjoy their extensive American menu with lots of Asian twists (garlic noodles, Korean ribs, etc.) $-$$ 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273

ASIAN

Canton Chinese

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

Izakaya

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

Kao Sushi & Grill

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

Khaosan Road

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

Lotus Garden

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

Malakor Thai Isaan

Malakor prides itself on authentic, tasty Thai food (pork skewers with sticky rice, great pad Thai and Thai curries). Now they have tables on the Mile. $$ 90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862

Miss Saigon

Being on Giralda Plaza, Miss Saigon has plenty of seating for excellent, healthy Vietnamese fare. You can’t beat their special pho or

BAY 13 BREWERY AND KITCHEN

Experience You Can Count On

Elect José Valdés-Fauli for Commissioner

With more than 35 years in local banking and finance and giving back to the community, José Valdés-Fauli is uniquely qualified to serve as Coral Gables commissioner. His plan will protect and improve public services while strengthening the city’s financial position, all with a commitment to transparency and responsiveness.

As your commissioner, José will focus on the issues that matter to residents:

 Building financial strength and stability.

 Improving traffic and parking issues.

 Controlling downtown development.

 Enhancing public safety.

 Mitigating the effects of climate change.

 Supporting historic preservation, culture and the arts.

by José Valdés-Fauli, Candidate for Coral Gables Commission.

Coral Gables is our home. It’s where we raise our families, work to build a more prosperous future, and enjoy the peaceful pleasures of life. As your Mayor, no one will work harder to ensure The City Beautiful preserves its unique aesthetic and remains among the safest and most financially-sound communities in the world. I would be honored to have your support and your vote.

door space on Andalusia, surrounded by large planters, so guests can enjoy their great selection of Spanish tapas al fresco. Also superb sangrias. $$ 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.810.6215

Tapeo Eatery & Bar

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

STEAK

Morton’s the Steakhouse Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnade gives it a unique elegance with outdoor seating under the arches. Prime aged beef, excellent salads. $$$ 2233 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.442.1662

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fantastic aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end of its depth – and now tables wrapped around the building, under arches, if you wish to eat

outside. $$$ - $$$$ 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.7995

Perry’s Steakhouse

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

PUBS/CAFES/MISC.

Café at Books & Books

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

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

Tons of seating options from two-person tables under umbrellas on the sidewalk to larger tables and couches under the arches of the Colonnade building. Wonderful coffee, nice breakfast selection and top sandwiches. $ 169 Miracle Mile 786.360.4026

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

Massive outdoor patio on Merrick Way for German fare and beer. Enjoy schnitzel and Weissbier in a two-liter boot, sans fear of getting infected with COVID. $$ 60 Merrick Way 305.774.1883

Liberty Caffe

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

Mamey

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

Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market

Who says there aren’t cool neighborhood pubs in the Gables? And they have a leafy patio out back! Happy hour sliders, bennies and crepes for brunch, and a tasty din-

ner selection of meat and fish. $$-$$$ 216 Palermo Ave. 786.801.1071

Sacha’s Café

The courtyard setting of Sacha’s is one of our favorite places to lunch, tucked away off Ponce, far from the madding crowd. The tables are now a bit more distant from each other, but the food – Salmon dishes always available – is gourmet deli. $ 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.1300

Threefold

The first breakfast-all day restaurants in the Gables, Threefold has a cult following for their favorites of smashed avocado toast, salmon scramble, and mushrooms with white beans. Lots of outdoor seating, and dinner now served on weekends. $$ 141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007

Tur Kitchen

A wonderfully inventive menu of Mediterranean cuisine, including excellent lamb and Aegean seafood dishes. Elegant seating under the arches along Giralda. $$$-$$$$ 259 Giralda Ave. 786.483.8014

Cathedral of Green

The tree canopy of Coral Gables is among its salient characteristics. Leaving the city can feel like abandoning Eden as you drive into the shade-less, concrete jungle beyond. Its urban forest is aided by the city’s mission to monitor and maintain more than 38,000 trees in public spaces – in parks or on the swales that run along streets. The tunnel of Ficus pictured here is on Almeria Avenue between Granada Boulevard and Cordova Street. Photograph by Emily Fakhoury.

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