Coral Gables Magazine October 2020

CORAL GABLES

Where to Dine Al Fresco

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PHOTO: 185 LOS PINOS COURT, CORAL GABLES | SOLD BY BHHS EWM REALTY | $5.3 MILLION

Your Property, Our Priority

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David Siddons: M 305.508.0899

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Mariana Niro: M 305.323.2806

Coral Gables | 4001 Monserrate Street

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Hilda Jacobson: M 786.213.4511

Shlomi Betesh: M 305.501.9176

AL FRESCO CAFÉ SOCIETY

Eating out has literally come to mean eating out, and with that in mind, we set out to pick the best outdoor dining experiences in the Gables. We based our choices on different criterion: the feeling of open space, the comfort of the seating, the visual setting, the protection from sun and rain, the presence of fans or breezes, and, of course, the quality and character of the food.

THE LANGUAGE OF DESIGN

In the world of interior design, many shops have come and gone in Coral Gables. But one downtown showroom has stood out as an icon since 1976: Luminaire, a testament to the vision of its immigrant founders, the husband-wife team of Nasir and Nargis Kassamali. Today they are recognized around the globe as game changers and legends in design.

BUSINESS QUARTERLY

Coral Gable is home to numerous wealth managers. Here, they discuss one of the most powerful wealth-building strategies: Growing and selling a sucessful business.

COMMENTARY: MARK TROWBRIDGE

BUSINESS BRIEFS: MANSION SALES

WEALTH MANAGEMENT (ABOVE)

INSURANCE: COVID CLAIMS DENIED

COVID PIVOT: BUSINESS STRATEGIES

REAL ESTATE: A SELLERS’ MARKET

INTERNATIONAL: GLOBAL MURRAY

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CENTRALLY LOCATED PRIVATE, TROPICAL CORAL GABLES RETREAT IS LARGER THAN YOU THINK AND WOWS YOU AT EVERY TURN!

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What’s Wrong with a Little Law & Order?

Early last month the Miami Herald ran a front-page story about Coral Gables, entitled “City program often targets Black defendants.” The story criticized something called the Justice Advocate Program, which the city uses to provide public prosecutors with additional resources to convict those who commit crimes against the citizens of Coral Gables.

The program was created in 2014 under then-mayor Jim Cason and City Attorney Craig Leen. It funds the efforts of attorney and former judge Israel Reyes, to make sure that none who perpetrate a crime in Coral Gables escape prosecution to the full extent of the law. Since its inception the program has enjoyed continued support from the city, including today from Police Chief Ed Hudak – and from City Attorney Miriam Ramos, who told the Herald, “Having an extra set of eyes on a case as it travels through [the court system] is a benefit to the residents of Coral Gables.”

The Herald took all kinds of swipes at the program, saying that Reyes was overcharging the city at $250 an hour (they need to check what law firms are billing these days), that the city’s crime rate would have gone down anyway (not sure we’re willing to take that chance) and that the city was unfairly targeting minorities (that 28 percent of defendants tracked by the system were Black, even though only 3.4 percent of the city’s population is Black and only 23 percent of arrests in the city were of Black persons).

As to the last point, it is certainly in vogue today to accuse all police departments of unfairly targeting Blacks. But this is Coral Gables, a city which had the most peaceful post-George Floyd demonstrations in the country, and where there is no pattern of racist police brutality.

Perhaps the most absurd swipe by the Herald was against the city’s attempt to increase the penalty for trespassing into an occupied home. This related to the high-profile arrest of seven teens who broke into the home of Miami Heat star Ray Allen in 2014 (who just happens to be Black, which the Herald did not mention). Because police could not prove forced entry, criminal intent or theft, the teens were let go with a misdemeanor charge.

That a gang of teenagers can break into your house at night when you are home and get little more than a ticket is absurd. If our attempts to stiffen the penalties for that are considered over-zealous, then count us in.

There is no doubt that the over-worked Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office sometimes cannot help but let criminals slip through the cracks, and the movement to protect victim’s rights has gained considerable traction in recent years. Kudos to Coral Gables for helping out.

CEO & PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P.Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lizzie Wilcox

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

SENIOR WRITER

Mike Clary

WRITERS

James Broida

Katrina Daniels

Andrew Gayle

Doreen Hemlock

Mallory Evans Jacobson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Campina

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 2051 SE Third St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. Telephone: (786) 206.8254. Copyright 2020 by City Regional Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Send address changes to City Regional Media, 2051 SE Third St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. General mailbox email and letters to editor@ coralgablesmagazine.com. BPA International Membership applied for March 2019.

Outdoor dining at Gringo’s Oyster Bar.

Photo by Emily Fakhoury

A SWIPE BY THE HERALD LEAVES US NONPLUSSED

GENEROSITY HELPS YOU NAVIGATE THROUGH UNCHARTED TERRITORY

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer you have a million questions and more than a little anxiety. At Miami Cancer Institute you aren’t alone on this journey. The Institute offers an innovative Patient Navigation Program. From managing symptoms and understanding treatment options to assisting caregivers and helping resolve insurance challenges, the Patient Navigators provide compassionate care to help you throughout your cancer care journey.

There’s more. Miami Cancer Institute’s Cancer Patient Support Center also provides nutrition counseling, group exercise and yoga classes, and inspirational webinars at no cost to our patients. All of these programs are nonreimbursable, but non-negotiable in providing a superior patient experience. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors we can offer these programs absolutely free.

Generosity Heals.

READERS LETTERS

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

SUPPORT LOCAL

I would like to thank you for doing an excellent job with the Coral Gables Magazine, I just received the September 2020 issue and the articles and lay outs are terrific. I think the magazine reaches a nice cross section within the Coral Gables community and is important for people to understand and to support local Gables businesses as well as understand the affairs going on in Coral Gables.

Jed Kurzban Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, PA

THINK LOCAL

Well done on your September editorial. We should Think Locally for not only our restaurants and boutique stores but for all of those that contribute to our community and make it a wonderful place to live.  The local banks, automobile dealers, lawyers, accountants, professionals of all types, doctors, art galleries, artists, charities, theaters, beauty shops, barbers, and anybody that sets up an office and presence here. And hire locally,

especially to get our younger talent starting their career here and remaining here. We are all in this together and we all make this a better place to live.

Think Local and Live It. If you don’t it will all be gone, or most of it. Thanks for your leadership, skills and sense of community. Keep it up. The Magazine is an asset of the community.

Dennis Nason Banking Consultant

PRESERVE LOCAL

Kudos to the City Commission for approving the purchase and restoration of the Fink Studio at 2506 Ponce [noted in this and September’s issue]. This was the architectural studio and office of George Fink, who has been described as Coral Gables’ most important, prolific, and dynamic architect. His Mission Revival home is still extant on Coral Way as well as his son’s Minimal Traditional abode (that he designed together with George “Buddy” Fink, Jr.) on Sevilla. This is an excellent example of finding an

adaptive reuse for one of our most iconic buildings. I will be forever grateful!

But the kudos are bittersweet after a string of epic failures by the City to preserve several irreplaceable historic resources such as 333 Catalonia (the Mission Revival apartment house that is the last vestige of founder George Merrick’s vision for artisan housing). The city manager states that historic preservation is a priority, but the proof is in the pudding. I cannot think of one thing he has done to advance historic preservation in this city. Quite the contrary, he continues to underfund and understaff the historical department, and the Commission tolerates this. As a person, business, or municipality at least one thing remains constant: where your treasure is, there your heart shall be. If we as a city value history and architecture, then let’s value and cherish it across the board.

Brett Gillis Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables

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Streetwise

FROM CITY HALL

THE STATE OF THE CITY COULD DOWNTOWN GROW UP? IN THE NEWS

THE POWER OF A NAME MORE BANG FOR THE BID SHADE IN THE NAME OF JUDE

CATALINA PEREZ (LEFT), BID MARKETING CO-CHAIR, WITH JILL HORNIK (RIGHT), FELLOW MARKETING CO-CHAIR AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BID BOARD. SEE PAGE 20.

From City Hall

In its recent bi-monthly meetings, the city commission has decided on the following:

THEY’RE BACK! After months of virtual Zoom meetings, the Coral Gables City Commission returned to City Hall for its final September gathering – with the mayor and commissioners wearing masks. Individuals addressing the commission for agenda items entered the chamber one by one, masked and protected by plexiglass. Citizens with un-schedule comments addressed the commission via Zoom, for a “blended” meeting. All commissioners wore orange City of Coral Gables masks until Commissioner Pat Keon when rogue and donned a tie-die rainbow mask mid meeting.

FINALLY, THE FINK. After years of trying to figure out what to do with the historic H. George Fink Studio on Ponce de Leon Boulevard (pictured above), the city will now use it to house the Economic Development Department. The ground floor will house a gallery for events and public displays of art.

DISASTER PREP. The commission voted to approve $1.1 million to purchase a mobile command unit for the police department. This will enable them to handle any disaster relief situation under any conditions. Think command tank.

DE WALLS, BOSS. Taking a page from the Wynwood Walls, the commission voted to partner with the downtown Business Improvement District to fund four large murals to be painted along Miracle Mile. The city and the BID are each contributing half of the $50,000 price tag. The idea is to attract people with selfie-ready art.

MORE MONEY FOR PARKS. The commission voted to split the proceeds from the $3 million sale of the former Southern Command House between improving the Fink Studio and the acquisition of new parks. The goal, said Commissioner Pat Keon, is to have every resident within a 15-minute walk from a park. Likewise, the commission voted to use half the proceeds from the upcoming sale of Municipal Parking Lot 24 to purchase and maintain parks.

The State of the City

Each September, our mayor gives his State of the City address to the assembled membership of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, during the chamber’s annual induction of its new chairman and board. This year was a little bit different, as Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli addressed the chamber via Zoom. Still, it went fairly smoothly, even the traditional handing over of the gavel, which occurred magically (okay, the recipient had an exact copy stashed nearby).

For those who missed it, here are the salient points from the mayor’s speech:

Invoking the words of Charles Darwin, the mayor noted that it was not the strongest or most intelligent of species that survived, but rather “the most adaptable.”

The good news, says the mayor, is that “the city and the Chamber have adapted to the reality of COVID, making the changes needed to support our affected businesses through the pandemic.” He lauded the city, with chamber help, for the following:

1. Setting up an Economic Recovery Task Force that combined the efforts of the city, the chamber and the downtown business improvement district (BID).

2. Allowing restaurants, closed by the county, to use sidewalks, city property and street parking spaces to put tables outside for their diners.

3. Issuing ongoing permits for zoning, new construction and remodeling without pause, moving its operations to the courtyard of City Hall.

4. Providing rental lease deferments to tenants on city property, as well as micro-grants and technology webinars for small businesses.

The mayor praised the efforts by all to support outdoor art, including the upcoming projects to paint murals along Miracle Mile (November), to hang crystal and plexiglass “constellations” over Giralda Plaza (January) and to inaugurate the first Illuminate Coral Gables project to dramatically light up downtown buildings (January).

Mayor Valdés-Fauli also pointed out the city’s nimble adaption of technology, including virtual city commission meetings, virtual Adult Activity Center classes and support group forums, and the ongoing conduct of all city business through remote technology.

In the end, said the mayor, “If there’s any bright side to this pandemic, it’s been the time it’s given us to spend together with our loved ones and enjoy the nature that surrounds us” – and to reboot “our physical and technological infrastructure” in order “that Coral Gables will keep on adapting, just as we did in our early history, to ensure continued economic prosperity for all.” ■

Commissioner Pat Keon

Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli

Could Downtown Grow Up?

THE NEW GABLES ZONING CODE REWRITES THE RULES

BY MIKE CLARY

In The News

THE GABLES POLICE MOUNTED PATROL

Downtown Coral Gables has earned a reputation as one of South Florida’s most iconic business districts, featuring a walkable, low-rise Miracle Mile that offers a mix of high-end shops, boutiques and restaurants.

But the profile of downtown could be on the rise thanks to proposed changes to the city’s zoning code designed to encourage small storefront property owners to add a story or two to their buildings for residential apartments or office space.

“Coral Gables is not going to look different in some drastic way,” says Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, the acclaimed architect and urban planner hired as a consultant on the project, which began in early 2018, to revise and update the zoning code. As the city builds and rebuilds, she says, the goal of a revised zoning code is to facilitate “a pedestrian-friendly, urbane, mixed-used downtown, with plazas and courtyards.”

To that end, the proposed zoning changes tweak regulations that now allow builders to scatter required open space around the edges of a building rather than creating more useful space, like plazas, for example. “We are trying to have the city think of itself for what it is, an urban center,” says Plater-Zyberk.

The revised 1,000-page zoning code was the focus of a Sept. 15 commission meeting at which commissioners approved the reorganization of the existing code, but put off a discussion and vote on the proposed substantive changes. Those changes have been endorsed by the city’s zoning department and the seven-member planning and zoning board.

Revisions to the code that could lead to more residents in downtown Coral Gables represent the “most visible changes” in the new proposals, according to Plater-Zyberk. Under the revamped code, all four blocks of Miracle Mile on the ground floor would remain retail. “You don’t want other things happening,” she says. “But there could be entrances for residences or offices, with people working above the shops. That will only help the shops.” ■

For the first time in more than 91 years, the Coral Gables Police Department has a mounted patrol unit. Officer Ashley Sheran and her thoroughbred Rockaway (above) – a former racehorse rescued by Sheran – took to the streets Sept. 18 to begin regular four-day-aweek patrols. “We’ve been through a lot together,” said Ofc. Sheran of the 10-year-old gelding she bought six years ago. “But he loves the attention and is happy to be working.” Francis Cyril Guest, the only other mounted patrol officer in department history, was struck by a drunk driver and killed on Christmas Day 1928.

LET THERE BE SPLASHING

The beloved Venetian Pool, closed for winter last November, has finally been reopened. In an abundance of caution, capacity will be reduced – and unless you are in the water, a mask is required – but as of Sept. 15, the pool was back in business (albeit with the grotto closed for now). Admission tickets must be purchased in advance, and all guests will get their temperatures taken on arrival. Call 305.460.5306 or email vpinfo@coralgables.com

RECORD PHILANTHROPY FOR SYLVESTER

The single largest donation in the history of the University of Miami – a gift of $126 million to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at UM’s Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine – was made last month. The unrestricted anonymous gift was made in honor of Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., director of Sylvester and the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. “I am truly humbled by the magnitude of this gift,” said Nimer.

A SILVER LINING TO THE PANDEMIC. OF SORTS.

Among the unfortunate victims of COVID-19 is I Know Science, the award-winning interactive toy store and science camp for kids in the Shops at Merrick Park. Forced to declare bankruptcy, the store remained full of toys and science gear. Normally such assets are auctioned off to pay creditors – the landlord in this case – but once costs were factored in, that made little sense. So, the Shops agreed to attorney Alan Rosenberg’s suggestion to donate the toys to the Chapman Partnership, a nonprofit that works with the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust. ■

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The Power of a Name

COULD THE MERRICK NAME BE REMOVED FROM UM CAMPUS BUILDINGS FOR RACISM?

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

In the past year, the tearing down of statues and the renaming of buildings associated with racist historical figures has become almost commonplace, even at universities. At Princeton, for example, the name of Woodrow Wilson was removed from its public policy school, thanks to the former president’s history of supporting segregationist policies.

Now the movement has hit home with a petition to rename all facilities named after Coral Gables’ founder George Merrick or his father, Solomon, at the University of Miami. There is currently the Solomon G. Merrick Building, the Merrick Garage and George E. Merrick Drive.

The petition, started by UM alumnus Evan Kissner, reads, “Working with local Miami-based historians, our group investigated Merrick’s past and discovered much evidence confirming that George E. Merrick both held and acted upon racist and segregationist beliefs … including in his role as head of the Miami-Dade Planning Board.” The petition so far has 3,000 signatures.

Merrick advocated for a “Negro resettlement plan,” which would move Black residents to rural settlements outside the Miami city limits from what is now Overtown. The plan was approved by the Dade Planning Board in 1936. “We can’t be celebrating people who really did not believe in racial equality and had these antiquated ideas,” said Naomi Feinstein, managing editor of the school’s newspaper The Miami Hurricane, who wrote an article on the petition.

Before the petition gained momentum, Landon Coles, president of the United Black Students organization on campus, and current student government president Abigail Adeleke sent a 15-point plan to the university with requests for a

global Black studies center, and more support for pre-existing programs, like the Students of Color Symposium. From that plan, UM President Julio Frenk appointed a racial justice advisor, who organized a committee to review the request to rename the Merrick buildings.

Coles is the only undergraduate student on the 12-person committee. It is also comprised of graduate, law and medical students, faculty and staff. “The purpose of the committee is not just to review the names,” Coles said, but to create a method the university can use if there is another request for a facility or building to be renamed. “Our job is to be the catalyst for that process,” said Coles.

The issue is complicated by the fact that the university would not exist without George Merrick, who donated 463 acres for the campus and pledged $5 million in mortgage-backed securities to start the school. Also, the only classroom building with a Merrick name is the Solomon G. Merrick Building. “That building is named after his father,” said Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli. “He was a preacher and had nothing to do with [George] Merrick. To take his name off is absurd.” As for George Merrick, “He lived in his times and reflected the attitudes of his time… and he founded the university.” Looking at the policies of Stanford, Princeton and Yale, the question is whether the person for whom a facility was named is inextricably associated with unacceptable behavior, or whether those behaviors are balanced by both the context of the times and positive contributions to the community.

Despite the controversy, both Feinstein and Coles are optimistic. “I think there is truly a commitment to racial justice and social justice in our campus community,” Coles said. ■

TOP: THE SOLOMON G. MERRICK BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI WAS BUILT IN HONOR OF GEORGE MERRICK’S FATHER

BOTTOM: CORAL GABLES FOUNDER GEORGE MERRICK IS HONORED WITH A STREET NAME ON THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

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More Bang for the BID

WITH THE CORONAVIRUS TAKING ITS TOLL ON THE DOWNTOWN, THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TEAM STEPS UP

BY J.P. FABER

Ask most merchants in the downtown, and they’ll tell you that their special marketing organization – the Business Improvement District – has been fairly quiet over the years. Yes, they were behind the signs that covered the windows of vacant stores with bright scenes of happy shoppers, and they organized the Giralda Under the Stars monthly musical events, and they maintained a website and e-newsletters promoting stores in the area bound by Douglas and Le Jeune roads on the east and west, and by Aragon and Andalusia avenues north and south.

But outside of that, the organization’s staff pretty much stayed in their second-story offices at the intersection of Ponce and the Mile. That is all changing, and dramatically so. With new board members coming on last year, and a vibrant new executive director this year, the BID is on a tear to make a difference for the beleaguered downtown.

“We see this time as a renaissance, a rebuilding from the inside out,” says Jill Hornik, the volunteer vice president of the BID’s board and one of the co-members of its marketing committee. “Unfortunately, this is happening at the same time as the pandemic. But we want to make it easier for businesses to get through that, too.”

Hornik is herself a merchant with skin in the game; her family has owned and operated Jae’s Jewelers on Miracle Mile for 75 years. The same goes for her marketing co-chair Catalina Perez, who operates the down-

town design and marketing firm Inkberries. “In January there was a kind of opening of the curtains of what we were about, what the purpose of the BID was,” says Perez, who joined the BID board last year. “That brought about a big change.”

One of the biggest changes was the hiring of Aura Reinhardt as the new executive director of the BID. An aggressive and dynamic personality with decades of experience in national brand marketing, Reinhardt has made an immediate impression. “The new person they have for the BID [Reinhardt] has been fantastic,” says Stephanie Cheung, the owner of Stephanie’s Crepes on Galiano Street. “She has already come here twice, and she helped me get my permit for outdoor seating. The old BID? I got lost by the wayside.”

The imperative to visit every retailer in the BID’s area was first on Reinhardt’s agenda. “The most important thing for me was that the BID has not had a face with its members,” she says. “Going out and spending time meeting people and finding out what is going on in their world [is what we needed]. It’s too easy to sit at a desk. We needed to get the feedback and hear what was important to them.”

Reinhardt’s arrival, plus the newly energized marketing team of Hornik and Perez, is already paying off with a slew of new programs to help local merchants. Among them are:

1. The immediate distribution of 5,000 face masks to retailers, so that no customer

TOP: JILL HORNIK (RIGHT), VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BID’S BOARD AND MARKETING CO-CHAIR CATALINA PEREZ (LEFT).

ABOVE: AURA REINHARDT, THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BID.

had to be turned away for lack of facial covering.

2. A pro-bono program with veteran marketer Gabriella Reyes of Brandvelop to work with 15 merchants to revamp their marketing outreach.

3. A campaign to more effectively use social media micro-influencers to promote shopping and dining downtown.

4. The creation of a marketing handbook for merchants, available online, detailing best practices and “walking retailers, step by step” through do-it-yourself marketing strategies.

5. A new local loyalty program, Resorcity, launching this month as a digital app to reward shoppers and run promotions.

Beyond specific programs to help market merchants, however, is a new vision to promote downtown Coral Gables as an experience. “Our whole focus for the coming year is going to be more around what you can

experience in the Gables,” says Hornik. “Right now, our website is ShopCoralGables[.com], but most people come here for other reasons, like dining.”

However, that is just the beginning. Among the planned experiences is an Art on the Mile program to install working artists in seven empty storefronts, so that people can interact with them. “So much of what we want people to do is come here and experience something new and different,” says Reinhardt. “With art we can give them that – especially if they see a man inside with his pottery wheel.”

Another initiative is a series of four large murals, scheduled to be painted this fall, in a program partnering with the city’s Economic Development Department. One is planned for the wall on the southwest intersection of Ponce and the Mile, two for “McBride Plaza” adjacent to Barnes and Noble, and a final one for

the wall of the Miracle Theatre along Salzedo Street. The idea is to create compelling visuals, like the walls in Wynwood, “so that people will have somewhere to go and take a picture,” says Hornik, “so that other people will see it and say, ‘I want to go there.’”

Possibly the most exciting of such “experiential” projects is Illuminate Coral Gables, the brainchild of Venny Torre, the outgoing president of the BID and the current president of Illuminate’s board of directors. This ambitious project, backed now by $100,000 grants each from both the city and the BID, will light up buildings throughout the downtown with installations by nationally known artists. “The idea is to use light and technology to transform the city with public art that will become magical at night,” says Torre, not only putting the Gables on the national art map, but also drawing thousands of new visitors downtown. ■

THE IDEA IS TO CREATE COMPELLING VISUALS, LIKE THE WALLS IN WYNWOOD, “SO THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO AND TAKE A PICTURE,” SAYS HORNIK, “SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL SEE IT AND SAY, ‘I WANT TO GO THERE.’”

Shade in the Name of Jude

Since 1927, the Coral Gables Garden Club has been helping to beautify the city with landscaping projects. That year, they began by planting trees and bushes in the interior patio of Coral Gables Elementary School. Since then they have landscaped everything from the grounds of the Alhambra Water Tower to those of the Coral Gables Youth Center.

Now the club wants to throw shade – in a good way – on the campuses of five local schools: Coral Gables Prep, Coral Gables High, Ponce de Leon Middle, G.W. Carver and Henry S. West Laboratory. The goal, says club member and project director Susan Rodriguez, is to plant three 14-foot trees at each school.

“What we wanted to do this year in particular is to provide

shade trees and increase our canopy, for a variety of reasons,” says Rodriguez. “Shade for kids, natural habitat for native wildlife and to reduce storm water runoff.” Most importantly, says Rodriguez, “Project Canopy” will be dedicated to longtime garden club member, and environmental advocate, Sallye Garrigan Jude. To honor Jude, who is now 94, the Coral Gables City Commission issued a proclamation last month in support of the project.

The first school to accept the trees was Carver. Unfortunately, their campus layout will not permit the use of heavy equipment for planting. So, they have opted instead for five smaller trees that will be planted by hand, pro bono, by the crew of Steve Pearson’s Miami-based nonprofit TREEmendous ■

PROJECT CANOPY IS DEDICATED TO LONGTIME GARDEN CLUB MEMBER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE, SALLYE GARRIGAN JUDE

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.”

Living

WHAT’S YOUR BAG? LET THERE BE LIGHT HOME BALL WILL PLAY FOR FOOD BEST BETS FOR OCTOBER

“PURSEONALITY: A STYLISH HANDBAG HISTORY,” AT THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

What’s Your Bag?

Anyone who thinks a handbag is just a handbag needs to visit the Coral Gables Museum for its latest exhibit, “Purseonality: A Stylish Handbag History,” running now through January. Hundreds of women’s handbags are on display, taken from the private collection of Ilene Hochberg Wood – whose collection of 4,000 bags will soon enter the Guinness Book of World Records.

Wood was on hand for the opening of the show, happy to expound on the significance of handbags for those who carry them. “Purses are deceptively simple, but in fact carry a lot of subliminal messages. A red leather bag says something very different than an orange vinyl bag,” she said. “They are symbols of economic values, social values and culture. And they reflect the personality of the owner.”

What the viewer will discover is an incredible array

of styles and designs. Want to know which is the most expensive? That would be the red alligator skin Hermès “Kelly” bag, named after Grace Kelly, who used it in the movie “To Catch a Thief.” It is valued north of $100,000.

Well beyond the celebrity purses, the array of creativity in the collection is astounding, with everything from Victorian travel bags to jewel-studded purses and others done as tapestries. And, of course, there are the classics by Chanel, Dior, Judith Leiber and Louis Vuitton.

“The show works here because women in Coral Gables are fashion obsessed,” said Wood, who was encouraged by friends who live here (Wood hails from Pennsylvania). And what handbag was she carrying? A squarish black purse that looked like a book, with the words “I carry my life in my handbag” written on it. ■

Let There Be Light

The Kerdyk family is known for its community generosity, from last year’s donation of $75,000 to the Coral Gables Garden Club to the decades of charitable contributions that led to the city naming Kerdyk Family Park in the south Gables. Now the youngest member of the clan, Leigh Kerdyk, is leaving her mark. A project she began nearly five years ago finally came to light this past summer: The installation of two of the historic lights on the Gables Waterway, originally put in place to illuminate the waterway for gondolas from the Biltmore Hotel in the 1920s.

The project began when Leigh got a $10,000 grant from the city’s Historic Preservation Department, followed by another $5,000 grant from the city’s “Parknership” program. Gables Historian Arva Moore Parks (who passed in May) consulted with Leigh, providing her with guidance on everything including paint colors. Former Gables Historic Preservation Officer Dona Spain found the solar lights and purchased them with funds from

the Coral Gables Community Foundation.

With the help of Glen Larson of Dock & Marine Construction, who agreed to donate the labor to transport and install the light poles, the project came to fruition – but with little fanfare, thanks to the pandemic shutdown of public gatherings.

“My dad and I would go out in a canoe on the waterway, looking for [the old lamps]. We found one almost falling apart, disintegarting. At that point it became a reproduction project,” says Leigh.

The poles were installed near Cocoplum Circle – aka Cartegena Plaza – because they could be seen there by tourists and residents stopping there or at nearby Ingraham Park. “The idea was that they could be seen by the public. That is also where they originally were… We wanted to make them authentic and to celebrate a special part of our history,” says Leigh, who plans to return home after she gets her graduate degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. ■

THE YOUNGEST KERDYK TAKES UP THE TORCH. OR THE LAMP.

THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM WILL NOW ANSWER THAT QUESTION

Leigh Kerdyk and her dad Bill

A ‘Mommy Makeover’ includes a tummy tuck and breast rejuvenation. The tuck restores abdominal contour by removing stretched skin, excess fat, as well as tightening of the muscles. The breast component addresses breast deflation or droopiness after breast feeding.

Of course, it seems desirable, and efficient, for a patient to have both the tummy and the breast ‘made over’ at the same time, with only one recovery. But this needs to be evaluated individually.

First, let’s recall the top priorities for cosmetic surgery: safety and optimal aesthetic outcomes. There isn’t much desirable about a suboptimal result. Neither is it desirable, or efficient, having to deal with a potentially avoidable complication.

A one-stage approach is aesthetically optimal and efficient when combining the tummy tuck (a three hour procedure) with a breast augmentation (a one hour procedure), as both can be accomplished well and safely within a four hour time span under anesthesia.

A two-stage approach should be considered if breasts are too saggy or too large to benefit from an implant alone. That scenario calls for a breast lift (with or without implants) or a breast reduction. Either breast surgery takes about three hours. When adding this to a tummy tuck, the combo surgery becomes about six hours long. The body now needs to heal two different anatomic areas and the length of time under anesthesia makes for a tougher recovery, unnecessarily increases surgical and anesthesia risks and potentially reduces aesthetic outcomes. Therefore, in these situations, a two stage approach is a wise choice, separated by a few months, to minimize risks and optimize the cosmetic result.

It is worth to remember that good work always takes time and ‘haste makes waste’. The purpose of cosmetic surgery is to end up with the best (and safest) result possible so I’ve never been interested in rushing through a patient’s surgery, or assuming unnecessary risk. Beauty is surprisingly hard to create, and beyond the obvious need for solid training and

much experience, requires attention to many details. This takes time and sustained surgeon stamina and focus. So a two stage approach, in such cases, despite not being particularly desirable or appearing ‘inefficient, is the safer and long term better choice.

As always, research and reflect carefully before you proceed with any cosmetic surgery. Your well-being and happiness depend on it.

Home Ball

THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BALL WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT

One of the premier social events of the season is the annual Biltmore Ball by the Coral Gables Community Foundation. Each year, this signature fund raiser – which also honors exemplary individuals who have contributed to the community – revolves around a theme. Last year it was “London Calling,” the year before “Venetian Fantasy,” giving ball goers a motif for their finest attire.

This year’s ball was to have a French theme, but alas, the pandemic has relegated that thesis to à la maison. Yes, this year’s ball

“L’Art de Recevoir” – the Art of Receiving – will be held at the homes of charitable donors who will receive guests there. That does not mean it will be a dull affair. Au contraire, each donor can host tables of up to 10 persons at their manse, and each table will be supplied with wine, flowers, food, a waiter, a chef and even musicians, all locally sourced. The vino will come from Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe, the flowers from Belle Fleur, the main courses from La Basque, and the desserts from Bachour. The music will be provided (for an

Will Play for Food

THE FROST SCHOOL AIMS TO GO LIVE, ONE MUSICIAN AT A TIME

In these unprecedented times, unprecedented solutions are required. With that in mind, UM’s Frost School of Music is offering local citizens the opportunity to hire its musicians for special occasions, or as private tutors. With the pandemic shutting down live performances across South Florida, Frost’s musicians have lost myriad opportunities to play for pay.

“Live gigs are just not happening, and this is at least a way to keep the music going and the musicians playing – and to help them make a living at the same

time,” says Frost spokeswoman Pat San Pedro. “So far we have placed about 40 of them.”

Frost suggests hiring musicians to celebrate a milestone, like a birthday or anniversary, or to serenade a loved one, or to play music at your next Sunday religious service. Music lessons are another option. The musicians can either perform virtually, coming to you on the small screen via Zoom, or they can perform in person, with appropriate social distancing. Go to: www.frost.miami.edu/aboutus/hire-a-frost-musician. ■

extra donation) by students and/ or faculty from the Frost School, who will perform at your home or virtually (see story below).

“It can be just you and your spouse, or a group of friends,” says Foundation Executive Director Mary Snow. “You can be in a ball gown or in shorts and flip flops. The point is to have fun.” The seven honorees this year are past foundation chair Bill Bonn; CEO of the Miami Cancer Institute Dr. Michael Zinner; founder of The Underline project Meg Daly; philanthropist Matthew Mee-

han; couture designer Mayda Cisneros; wealth management guru David Evensky; and famed Gables High graduate and Super Bowl winner Jonathan Vilma. Their remarks, along with those made by gala chairs Sissy DeMaria-Koehne and Lauren Harrison-Brown, will be prerecorded by Coral Gables TV and broadcast to all attendees at 8 p.m. on the evening of the event, Nov. 7. Bon appétit! ■

For further information: mary@gablesfoundation.org or 305.446.9670

“YOU CAN BE IN A BALL GOWN OR IN SHORTS AND FLIP FLOPS. THE POINT IS TO HAVE FUN...”

MARY SNOW, CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Best Bets

FOR OCTOBER

RENT A HORROR FILM

Even though there will be no pumpkin patches or haunted houses this Halloween, we can still get in the spooky season spirit with a good old fashioned scary movie. The Gables Cinema Drive-In has two classics: “House on Haunted Hill” and “Night of the Living Dead.” Both are available on their website, gablescinema.com, free of charge.

HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT CARAVAN

Celebrate Halloween while following social distancing with the City of Coral Gables trick or treat caravan. Dress up in costume, decorate your car and go to the Youth Center where Count Dracula, the Mummy and Frankenstein will be handing out candy. Saturday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 per vehicle and must be purchased in advance at playgables.com. Trick or treaters must stay inside their vehicles and wear a mask or face covering.

BOOKS & BOOKS’ VIRTUAL AUTHOR SERIES

The independent bookstore continues with its virtual author series. October’s lineup includes author Amy Paige Condon in conversation with Dr. Gregory Bush and Craig Baggs, son of the late editor of the Miami News, Bill Baggs. It also includes former U.S. Senator Connie Mack in conversation with Jeb Bush, (shown right). Go to www.booksandbooks.com for a full listing and to register for events. ■

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR EVERYONE

Our Water Warrior, Daniella has spent decades fighting for a sustainable future in Miami-Dade. As we rebuild in the wake of Covid 19, she’s stepped out boldy with a vision of real change.

RESPONDING TO CRISIS

Our front line healthcare workers have sacrificed so much for us during COVID-19. Daniella will always stand up for them by investing in our public health system , and she’ll expand access to care for uninsured residents.

AFFORDABILITY & HOUSING

Daniella has been tackling our affordability crisis for decades. As mayor, she’ll invest in underserved communities, support housing programs, and fight for earned leave. No one should have to choose between staying home when they’re sick and paying the bills.

SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT & INFRASTRUCTURE

Miami-Dade’s aging and crumbling infrastructure is a crisis. This drains our economy and hurts working families. Daniella will make important investments to modernize our transit, roads and water systems to create jobs and help get Miami-Dade moving!

TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Daniella will change the culture in County Hall to stop corruption and stand up for transparency. She’s the only candidate with a comprehensive plan to hold police accountable and bring real reform to policing in Miami-Dade.

LA L F

under its spell

EXPERIENCE THE GABLES THIS SEASON

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

THE NEW DESIGNS OF MAYDA CISNEROS REFLECT THE TIMES

PHOTO BY MICHAEL RUSSEL

Fashion in the Time of Coronavirus

BY JAMES BROIDA PHOTOS BY MICHAEL RUSSEL

Ask Gables haute couture designer Mayda Cisneros how the pandemic has affected her business, and several disparate answers pop forth. The first is how it shut down all the special events, galas and weddings that normally propel her design studio, so much so that she had to send her staff home and close her atelier on Palermo Avenue. The second is how she pivoted to design for the new era, coming out with a new line that emphasizes comfort.

“I just rediscovered cotton again!” she says. “My first collection as a young designer in New York was made out of Liberty of London cotton, which is sustainable and feels great. With this current collection there is a contact with nature and an ‘old fashioned romanticism’ inspired touch.”

“I have found that COVID has impacted the community and the world in a way that everyone is more sensitive to the needs of those around us and have become so much more in touch with home and family,” says Cisneros. “Those private clients that have always been with us are still there and have turned to us to make them custom blouses, sportswear and

beautiful cotton dresses for their new life.”

While some local designers have turned to a “ready-to-wear” approach that eschews the haute couture that has vanished this fall, Cisneros remains dedicated to creating unique ensembles for her clients, working from a studio in her Gables home.

“Fashion is always with us and I feel like this pandemic has made major changes in our lives and will make us much more selective. The client will not just buy what is ‘off the rack’ but will want that special item, be it by the touch of the fabric or the uniqueness of the style,” she says. “There is a new meaning to the word luxury. It will be associated with comfort and unexpectedness. We will be able to wear glitter fabrics in the morning mixed with cotton tees and feel comfortable.”

Cisneros says her next fashion show, scheduled for January, will be a virtual one. ■

MAYDA CISERNOS

PHONE: (305)448-5848

WWW.MAYDACISNEROS.COM

THE NEW DESIGNS OF MAYDA CISNEROS REFLECT THE TIMES

“FASHION IS ALWAYS WITH US AND I FEEL LIKE THIS PANDEMIC HAS MADE MAJOR CHANGES IN OUR LIVES AND WILL MAKE US MUCH MORE SELECTIVE...”

MAYDA CISNEROS

On the Home Front

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

As we continue to settle into our at-home routines, it’s clear that our residences should evoke both happiness and peace. That being said, we’ve put together a selection of home décor and furnishings to elevate your pad from its current state to one that is a little more dreamy.

WILLIAMS SONOMA (CENTER)

Brewing your morning cup of joe will never be the same (at least visually speaking) with the addition of Smeg’s Dolce & Gabbana coffee machine. The joy-inducing appliance makes 10 cups in two coffee strengths, and also offers a setting for smaller quantities.

Retail: $950. Williams Sonoma, 350 San Lorenzo Ave. #2005, 305-446-942, williams-sonoma.com.

TREASURE BOX (BOTTOM LEFT)

Envisioned by Marcel Wanders for Roche Bobois, the Wonder cabinet features a sleek lacquered façade and a round display window, perfect for showing off a few gems. But the best part of this piece is revealed once you open its doors; inside, you’ll find a whimsical fresco inspired by travel.

Retail: $10,155. Roche Bobois, 450 Biltmore Way, 305-4441017, roche-bobois.com.

EYE CATCHING (BOTTOM RIGHT)

L’Objet’s Lito bookends will corral your favorite novels while infusing your space with a playful touch. They’re sold individually, but we think the pair is a total vision (get it?).

Retail: $250 each. Violetas, 221 Miracle Mile, 305-381-0711, violetashomedesign.com.

LIGHT RAIN (LEFT)

Aptly named Droplets, this ethereal light fixture was inspired by the natural phenomenon that is the movement of rain. Designed by Jan Plechá and Henry Wielgus for Lasvit and available through Luminaire, its delicate form and tranquil glow will make any space feel like a sanctuary. Retail: from $32,330. Luminaire, 2331 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-448-7367, luminaire.com.

PILLOW TALK (ABOVE)

Who doesn’t want an elaborate jungle king pillow for their sofa? This playful cushion by Christian Lacroix also features a monochromatic chevron back and would enhance any sitting area in seconds. Retail: $155. Neiman Marcus, 390 San Lorenzo Ave., 786-999-1000, neimanmarcus.com.

No Boundaries and They Mean It

A STORE NOT ONLY FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

As a runner, I have always worried about getting the right kind of shoe. Having read “Born to Run,” I’ve been concerned that the wrong kind of running shoe could not just hinder me, but actually do harm.

So, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that No Boundaries, the sports gear emporium on Aragon Avenue, provides a free gait analysis to determine whether one’s feet pronate, supinate, or land squarely. These are fancy ways of describing deviations as you step or run, which a shoe can mitigate. The most common orthopedic complaint, however, is plantar fascia, which (painfully) affects the muscle on the bottom of the foot.

Though suffering from this condition, local attorney and No Boundaries client Court Keeley decided to run the New York City Marathon. “In preparation I knew I needed to have the right shoe,” he says. “You are putting your body through a lot of strain. I had never run that far ever before. I had my doubts if I’d complete it.” In 2017 he achieved his goal, with footwear from No Boundaries. The store will also advise on footwear and gear you need for hiking, for all those Gables folk who vacation in North Carolina and Colorado.

But what No Boundaries offers in abundance are bicycles. Lined up by the score on the floor. Dangling from the ceiling. I have not seen so many since my trip to Amsterdam.

Not having purchased a new bicycle since my pink beach cruiser more than a decade ago, I was shocked by the price range. While you can still get a good bike for $280, they range from there up to $12,000. I can buy a good used car for less. What is

so amazing about these bicycles?

It’s all about the weight and the performance, explained store manager Israel Rodriguez. The least expensive are one-gear-only cruisers. From there it’s a matter of lighter metals – aluminum instead of steel, carbon instead of aluminum – and how complex your gear shifting gets. “Once you get into the carbon bikes you get into components,” says Rodriguez. “That can be anything like the gear, your shifters, your wheels, and things become more expensive from there.” The good news is that bike hooks for storage are only about $30.

The other good news is that No Boundaries is also in the business of bike repair – an essential service as more residents have turned to their old two wheelers as a healthy alternative to sitting at home during the coronavirus. As one customer posted in a Google review: “I messed up my bike chain on the side of the road. But thankfully someone from No Boundaries was able to fix it. They even offered to put air in my tires.”

The store also offers all the accoutrements used by riders. They stress the need for protective gear like helmets, gloves, sunglasses, and even elbow and knee pads for protection. Not sure I need all that for my pink cruiser, but good to know it’s here when I sign up for the Tour de France.

“We realize that sports are hugely intimidating to people,” says Rodriguez. “So our shop becomes a place where not only can you get some gear, but see friendly faces to reassure you that you can run that half marathon, or do that big hike, or cycle your first century. And help you achieve it.”  ■

BIKES YOU GET INTO COMPONENTS... THAT CAN BE ANYTHING LIKE THE GEAR, YOUR SHIFTERS, YOUR WHEELS, AND THINGS BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE FROM THERE.”

ISRAEL RODRIGUEZ, STORE MANAGER

Bites

MIDDAY IN A SPANISH COURTYARD

SAVE OUR RESTAURANTS, FEED THE CHAIN

KAREN PINO, OWNER OF LA TABERNA GIRALDA, WELCOMES YOU TO HER SPANISH COURTYARD

PHOTO BY JON BRAELEY

Midday in a Spanish Courtyard

LA TABERNA GIRALDA IS KNOWN MORE FOR ITS FLAMENCO SHOWS AND TAPAS, BUT LUNCH HERE IS SPECIAL

BY J.P. FABER PHOTOS BY JON BRAELEY

For Karen Pino, La Taberna

Giralda has been a quest to connect to her Spanish roots. Her family is from Galicia, the extreme northwestern province of Spain known for its seafood dishes (it has over 1,000 miles of ocean coastline, after all). And, like other regions of Spain, its towns and cities are filled with places that serve tapas.

“I always had this idea of starting a Spanish tapas bar,” says Pino, who was (and still is) a licensed clinical social worker when she opened La Taberna Giralda in 2012. “At the time, small bites type of places weren’t popular.” Though Pino was raised in Hialeah, she visited her family in Spain in the summers, where she experienced the tapas concept of small plates. “I thought to myself, man, there’s no tapas place over here like what they have over there. Here, even the ones that do it serve dishes a little too large. It’s the concept of sharing little dishes, with the idea of getting lots of different flavors.”

So, along with flamenco shows on Thursday and Saturday nights – which will be returning as restaurants reopen inside – Pino has been faithfully serving tapas that range from the traditional, like shrimp in garlic olive oil or potatoes brava, to more regional ones like blood sausage on toast or whole fried anchovies. She also serves three kinds of paella for two, including one made with squid ink.

But we are getting off track.

In the search for outdoor places to eat, we belatedly discovered the charming, shady courtyard in the back of La Taberna, and its special lunch menu. For $13, you get two very Spanish dishes, with two different picks each day for first and second courses. “We used to charge more with a dessert,” says Pino. “But now…” Say no more, in the days of quarantine weight gain.

What you do get are amazing selections. One Friday we chose the Caldo Gallego, a hearty Galician soup with ham shoulder and potatoes, for our first course. Wonderful. For the second course: Trucha al ajillo, a trout filet in garlic and olive oil sauce (apparently there are a lot of mountain streams in Galicia). On a Thursday we had fried sardines followed by grilled salmon in a light lemon sauce. Every day is different and interesting.

If you do insist on demanding tapas beyond the lunch specials, or you are coming in at night, make sure to ask for the faena de croquetas, a mixed platter of croquetas made with serrano ham, blue cheese or cod. Or come in on Tuesday for lunch and have blue cheese croquetas followed by marinated pork tenderloin with boiled potatoes.

Viva España ■

“I ALWAYS HAD THIS IDEA OF STARTING A SPANISH TAPAS BAR...

AT THE TIME SMALL BITES TYPE OF PLACES WEREN’T POPULAR.”

KAREN PINO OWNER, LA TABERNA GIRALDA

Drew Kern Closes a Sale EVERY 4 DAYS

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

Save Our Restaurants, Feed The Chain

THE HUNGRY POST LAUNCHES A PROGRAM TO HELP LOCAL RESTAURANTS

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

In an effort to save the restaurant industry while helping those in need, The Hungry Post, a Miami-based online platform for restaurant recommendations, launched their #FeedTheChain initiative. How it works is The Hungry Post receives donations through a GoFundMe page they set up, money they use to buy $10 meals from restaurants to feed those who need them. The GoFundMe page description says, “Every dollar raised through this social initiative will be used to help keep restaurants operational and simultaneously feed healthcare providers, those that have been laid off, kids in need and others during these troubling times.”

When #FeedTheChain started in March, restaurants were struggling to stay open with a takeout-and-delivery-only model. “We felt that if we were helping the restaurants, we were helping the staff, the purveyors, the delivery drivers and it would

be a trickle-down effect,” says Andrea Becerra, managing editor of The Hungry Post.

Here in the Gables, Coyo Taco was one of the restaurants that particpated in the program. “It’s about raising money and then putting money back into the community by buying meals from us,” says Scott Linquist, chef partner/owner of Coyo Taco. “It basically helps everyone in the whole chain.”

For $10, they provided their taco kits, which feed up to four people, complete with pollo al carbon, a dozen tortillas, salsa, guacamole and everything needed to make a taco. “We want to give as much as we can to these people that are struggling right now,” Linquist says.

Eating House has also been a part of #FeedTheChain, providing their pasta kits that include enough pasta, salad and dessert to feed a family of four. “We want to give them good food, we want

it to be healthy, we want it to be hearty, what we would eat,” says Becerra. This month, Caja Caliente is a participant in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

#FeedTheChain has received a $5,000 grant from the Miami-Dade County Community Resilience Prize and a $5,000 donation from g.l.o.w., a California-based nonprofit. Most of the donations have come from The Hungry Post’s Instagram followers. “It’s just amazing to see how people have very strong connections with restaurants in Miami,” says Becerra.

Their goal is to reach $100,000. At the time of publication, they were at $24,000. Restaurants that are interested in participating, and can produce full meals for less than $10, should contact The Hungry Post at info@ hungrypost.com. If you’d like to donate to the #FeedTheChain initiative, go to gofundme.com/f/ feed-the-chain. ■

Coffee Vietnamese Style

Being on Giralda Plaza, Miss Saigon has plenty of seating for excellent, healthy Vietnamese fare. You can’t beat their special pho. But equally special is their Vietnamese coffee, which drips through a small, metal filter pot into a glass below, which has a half inch of sweetened condensed milk. At $4.95, it’s the Starbucks of Saigon. Just ask for a glass of ice if you can’t take the heat.

The Real Thing

Coral Gables does not have a large population of Venezuelan exiles. But it does now have incredibly authentic Venezuelan cuisine served in a small café on Andalusia Avenue, called Punto Criollo. The arepas las gaiteras and the pechuga al grill are standout items on the menu, but the wonderful Ajiaco soup (corn, chicken, potatoes, milk, celery) is unique. Plus, their prices are crazy low –empanadas for $1?

Best Tacos in Florida?

The Gables, like most of South Florida, is no stranger to tacos. Now a national survey has concluded that the best taco in the state – not necessarily the best taco place, but the single best taco – is the lechón taco served by Caja Caliente at 808 Ponce de Leon Blvd., just south of 8th Street. The irony, of course, is that tacos are a Mexican staple, whereas Caja Caliente is a decidedly Cuban house of tacos. No matter. Anyone who loves the moist, onion-laced roast pork known as lechón won’t contest the accolade from national website Eat This, Not That. ■

THE BEST OUTDOOR DINING EXPERIENCES IN THE GABLES

BY CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE STAFF

When Miami-Dade County ordered indoor dining closed in July, restaurants across the Gables rose to the occasion with inventive outdoor options. The number of restaurants with outside seating rose from less than 40 to more than 90.

We are now back to 50 percent capacity inside, so the flood tide is receding. Hillstone, arguably the city’s busiest dining spot, has pulled its tables back inside. But the vast majority of establishments are keeping their outdoor seating in place, at least for now. For those wary of the coronavirus, it still feels like the safest way to share a meal. Dining out has literally come to mean dining out, and with cooler weather on the way, it’s becoming an even more pleasant experience.

With that in mind, we set out to pick the best outdoor dining experiences in the Gables. We based our choices on different criterion: The feeling of open space, the comfort of the seating, the visual setting, the protection from sun and rain, the presence of fans or breezes, and, of course, the quality of the food.

Exploring (as we did for the sake of our readers) scores of places with outside seating, we came across many excellent out-of-doors options. In the end, we leaned toward places with permanent al fresco spaces – a courtyard, for example, rather than a converted parking lot – to come up with our top 10 picks for outdoor dining in the city. If you are still hesitant to venture out during the coronavirus, these places all felt pretty safe.

And, because there were so many other, worthy outdoor experiences beyond the top 10, we must mention some of our other favorite places: Morton’s, under the arches of the Colonnade; Fontana, under the huge umbrellas at the Biltmore; Salumeria 104, a great lunch in the alcove or on the sidewalk; Tur Kitchen, in the arcade of Gables Place, for unique south Mediterrean dishes; at the elegant outdoor tables of Doc B’s on Miracle Mile.

DINING IN STYLE AT THE CASCADE POOL CAFE, BILTMORE HOTEL

PHOTO BY JON BRAELEY

Café Society

BEST BRUNCH: BACHOUR

The outdoor grand breezeway where Bachour patrons can sit illustrates a principle of science that Florida pioneer builders used: Convection. You create a large inner space – in this case the huge courtyard of the 2020 Salzedo Building – where heat causes the air to rise. Then you create a smaller space – in this case the Bachour breezeway – where the air has to rush through to fill the vacuum left behind by the rising hot air. The result is a constant flow of air through the breezeway – and, p.s., calling the outdoor Bachour eating area a breezeway does not do justice to its 20-foot arched ceilings.

And then there is the food. Chef Antonio Bachour is known worldwide as a brilliant pastry chef, and his miniature desserts are all available (under glass cases inside). But he is also a master of the breakfast dish, including his breakfast pastries on steroids, like his red velvet croissants with cream cheese or his sticky caramel monkey bread with a vein of Nutella inside. Add to that a superb brunch menu that includes his delicious guava pancakes and his amazing salmon eggs benedict. This is what a perfect poached egg is all about.

$$-$$$ 202

MOST COMFORTABLE: BUENOS AIRES BISTRO

This relatively new addition to the Gables dining scene has won us over with its cushioned chairs and couches. Don’t shy away from the low-lying seating; once you get settled in, it’s way comfortable. It’s the kind of place you want to come when you have time to kill and can just lean back with a drink in hand. Located under the arches of the Colonnade building, the seating is shaded, protected from sun and rain, and a great place for people watching on Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

Speaking of drinks, cocktails, beer and wine are half-off from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, when there is a lively happy hour. You can never go wrong with a refreshing cucumber martini or a chilled Sauvignon Blanc on a hot evening. Foodwise, the Buenos Aires Bistro naturally leans toward the Argentine, with lots of beef choices – including their massive parrillada mixed grill (yes, blood sausage included) for two. But they balance this out with healthy salads, including a red quinoa and a bosc pear. For lunch, the glazed salmon and quinoa bowl is a must – unless you want that steak and brie sandwich with caramelized onions.

$$$

BEST SELECTION: GIRALDA PLAZA

Welcome to the United Nations of food. Step onto this pedestrian plaza and the world is at your fingertips (at least gastronomically speaking). You have Italian at Lorenzo’s Pizza; American at Threefold Café, The Bar, The Local and 77 Sport Bar; and Middle Eastern at Rice Mediterranean Kitchen. For Mexican food there is Talavera Cocina Mexicana and the less formal Coyo Taco. Espresso Cubano has Cuban food and Divino Ceviche brings an authentic taste of Peru to Giralda. Representing the continent of Asia, Kae Sushi is Japanese, Bangkok Bangkok II is Thai and Miss Saigon serves the best Vietnamese food in all of Greater Miami. Finally, La Sandwicherie has French-style sandwiches served on a baguette or croissant (extra vinaigrette, please); and Tapeo has tapas from across Iberia.

Half the fun here is the ambiance. With no cars to worry about, diners are free to roam until they find the cuisine they’re craving. Most restaurants have umbrellas to provide shade during the day, and there is some tree shade; we prefer Giralda at night when the lights strung throughout the palm trees are all aglitter.

$-$$$

GIRALDA PLAZA

BEST HAPPY HOUR: GRINGO’S OYSTER BAR

The first ingredient here is the long, open alley that Gringo’s shares with the Sports Grill on Sunset Drive. It has a high rooftop with a gap that lets in plenty of light while it shades and protects. And then there are the fans, which blow down the alley with misters. Even the lighting fixtures are elegant, and there is a sense of openness for the entire restaurant, which has an abundance of sliding glass-door openings. During the pandemic’s worst shutdown, Gringo’s provided a welcome neighborhood hangout for the South Gables. But why the happy hour accolade? It’s the oysters, man, the oysters, which are delicious at any price but especially so from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 3 to 6 p.m. on Fridays. During our last visit we sampled Wellfleets from New York, and Blue Points from Washington. They always have three or four choices, from different oyster beds on the East Coast, West Coast and Canada. Some are pillow soft and sweet, others brisk and briny; it’s always a treat to find out. They also serve a good selection of beer, without which, as any Cape Codder will tell you, the oyster experience is incomplete. Some nice pub and fish food, too, like crab cakes, conch ceviche and lobster sliders.

$$-$$$

1549 SUNSET DRIVE 305.284.9989

(BETWEEN PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD AND GALIANO STREET)

BEST OPEN SPACE: SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK

The ground floor of the Shops at Merrick Park was practically designed with outdoor dining in mind. With its enormous public courtyard, festooned with royal palms and fountains, every restaurant has a spacious patio, so that even with the distancing requirements there are still plenty of tables. And whether it’s an awning or an umbrella, every table has some sort of covering to protect diners from the relentless Florida sun. With only one street running through the center, you’re also protected from the noise of traffic; dining under the overpass is also the ultimate protection against rain.

You can’t go wrong with any of the choices in the Shops at Merrick Park, in terms of both food quality and dining options. Yard House has a vast American menu and reasonable pricing; Sawa has a uniquely mixed Japanese and Lebanese menu, with a belly dancer (outside) on weekends; popular Villagio serves traditional Italian cuisine; Sea Grill has fresh seafood flown in from the Aegean daily; the bottomless brunch at the French café Brasserie Central is not to be missed; and Perry’s Steakhouse Friday pork chop special has become legendary.

$$-$$$$ 358 SAN LORENZO AVE. 305.667.2537

BEST LATE AFTERNOON: TITANIC BREWERY & RESTAURANT

The University of Miami has allowed Titanic Brewing Company to take over a large, open area behind the brewery. They have filled the area with socially distanced picnic tables and green and orange umbrellas (Go Canes), making it a relaxed, shady spot to grab a beer. Sitting here takes you out of the urban setting and brings you to a park with a New England vibe – like you’re at a potluck dinner in Vermont – except for, you know, the heat and humidity. Their beers are brewed in-house and Titanic offers a wide variety from ales to stouts. And though there will be no Oktoberfest-ing this year (thanks, coronavirus), you can still get in the fall spirit with any of their seasonal brews. The menu is full of comfort pub food, like wings, sliders and a creamy, non-fishy smoked fish dip. This is a temporary arrangement until at least January, but we hope it becomes permanent. If you stay until it gets dark, the staff comes around and attaches light fixtures to the umbrella so that you can keep drinking craft brews well into the evening. The perfect way to round out the day with family and friends. $$

BEST KEPT SECRET: CASCADE POOL CAFE

When you think of dining at the Biltmore, you usually think of Fontana in their courtyard, or the award-winning Palme D’Or, or even the 19th Hole restaurant on the edge of the golf course. Rarely do you think of Cascade, the iron-table, iron-seat lunch spot that rests under a colonnade along the largest swimming pool in the state of Florida. The view is pure eyeball candy, a huge sea of sparkling blue, with the Tuscan-yellow walls of the hotel as backdrop. And the colonnade seating, with the aid of a water fall and fans, is a natural breezeway.

The menu is an abbreviated version of the larger Fontana menu next door, carrying some of their classic dishes – like their grilled salmon and Brussels sprouts, or their linguine with clams - along with a few special “cool” dishes, like the chilled gazpacho and the chilled lobster roll. The service is crisp, as is their perfect Caesar salad, which we prefer with shrimp. They also serve one of our favorites from Fontana Chef Beppe Galazzi’s menu of dishes – Frito Misto, which combines fried calamari with fried shrimp and fried zucchini.

$$-$$$

BILTMORE HOTEL

1200 ANASTASIA AVE.

305.913.3189

BEST OFF THE BEATEN PATH: FRITZ & FRANZ BIERHAUS

You can’t see it from Aragon Avenue, you can’t see it from Giralda Plaza. But it’s there at the intersection of Merrick Way and Aragon Avenue, perhaps the most urban space in the Gables: a large triangular courtyard, in front of the curved entrance to Fritz & Franz, with buildings rising on all three sides. It feels more like you are in Barcelona than Coral Gables – with the added advantage that air is channeled down the streets that meet at the courtyard, so there is always a guaranteed breeze. Further relief from the heat is provided by the umbrellas at each of a dozen picnic tables in the plaza, along with the shade from the buildings and the chilled liters of beer.

Fritz & Franz, as the name indicates, is a German tavern, and something of a sports bar – especially via massive screens inside and out. We don’t come to watch soccer, but to sample from their huge selection of German beers, both on tap and in the bottle. And while German food does not typically make it to the top of our gourmet dining lists, you will thank us if you order the currywurst. The wiener schnitzel isn’t bad either.

$$ 60 MERRICK WAY

305.774.1883

BEST SUNSET: REDFISH BY CHEF ADRIANNE

Redfish scores on multiple fronts as an outdoor venue, not the least of which is because it’s the only waterfront restaurant in Coral Gables. Down past Matheson Hammock Marina, it lives in a historic coral rock building from the FDR public works days, with an unparalleled view of the lagoon and open bay, palm trees dotting the horizon. Recently restored, the patio area has been expanded, with an outdoor bar, modern design elements and plenty of room. Adding significantly to the breezy ambience is the food, masterfully conceived and executed by Chef Adrienne Calvo. This is a shrine to fresh seafood (they keep their own dedicated oyster beds on the shores of Maine and Washington, for bi-coastal variety, and buy local catch daily). Her inventiveness makes each dish a gustatory treat – like her brown sugar crusted salmon, or her cioppino seafood stew. The crew even changes all of the cooking oils every day to keep it clean. Surprisingly good vegetable preparations, like her roasted broccolini with shallots or garlic fingerling potatoes. On the pricey side of menus, but worth it if you are after a gourmet seafood experience in a sharply designed outdoor patio with stunning views and plenty of fresh air.

$$$-$$$$

9610 OLD CUTLER ROAD

305.668.8788

BEST BREAKFAST: CREMA GOURMET ESPRESSO BAR

Between the freshly brewed coffee, the delicious, affordable menu and the comfortable seating area, Crema is a no-brainer for the best outdoor breakfast experience. We’re big coffee drinkers, so the quality of the java is of the utmost importance, and Crema always meets our expectations. The lengthy coffee menu includes espresso, cappuccino, latte, Americano, pour over and affogato, to name a few. Mocha, vanilla, hazelnut or caramel syrup can be added to any coffee for 75 cents.

One of the best things about Crema is that they serve breakfast all day – though they also have a fine sandwich selection for lunch. As for a breakfast repast, you can’t go wrong with their chocolate chip pancakes, topped with banana and almond slices, or the open face breakfast sandwich, made with fried eggs, ham, bacon and Swiss cheese. They will also cook you an omelet to order, as we discovered when asking for one with just veggies. Of course, it wouldn’t be the same without the shaded arcade of the elegant Colonnade building, with fans providing a breeze. You can also sit at a table on the sidewalk if you’re not comfortable in a lounge chair or on a couch.

$-$$ 169 MIRACLE MILE 786.360.4026

BRING YOUR BUSINESS TO BRING YOUR BUSINESS TO CORAL GABLES! CORAL GABLES!

DOREEN HEMLOCK

In the world of interior design, many shops have come and gone in Coral Gables. But one downtown showroom stands out as an icon since 1976: Luminaire, a testament to the vision of its immigrant founders, a husband-wife team recognized around the globe as game changers and legends in design.

Since he was a teenager, co-founder Nasir Kassamali dreamed of creating a “church” of good design – a place where visitors could see well-executed works, learn about their makers, hear lectures, read books and otherwise savor the beauty of tables, chairs, lights, sculpture, painting and contemporary objects. Nasir bonded with his wife, Nargis, on a college trip to Denmark to study design, and the couple has been transforming that dream into reality ever since.

THE FLAGSHIP SHOWROOM ON PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD SHOWS THE KASSAMALIS’ COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING GOOD DESIGN, FROM CLASSIC AND MODERN FURNITURE TO ACCESSORIES, LIGHTING AND DECOR

Indeed, the Kassamalis and their shop are so well regarded that when their first California locale opened in 2018, the Los Angeles Times penned this admiring headline: “Luminaire expands to L.A. (finally).”

A SANCTUARY TO DISCOVER OUR “THIRD SKIN”

As soon as you enter Luminaire on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, you feel the sense of sanctuary and peace. There’s a gentle fragrance of tea in the air. Calming, instrumental music plays on a high quality sound system. Natural light flows into every room, some through the high peaked glass ceiling at the central atrium.

The quiet, open space lets you contemplate the objects, many one-of-a kind or limited editions. Most pieces carry no price tag, so the well-versed staff can share stories about the works and their creators.

The Kassamalis say Luminaire has stood the test of time because their mission is to study, educate and share design, not just sell it. The couple organizes lectures by top designers at Luminaire locales. They sponsor young designers at museums. Nasir serves on juries at design fairs worldwide. And in recent years, they’ve auctioned off pieces made by designer friends for charitable causes, donating over $1 million to the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center alone.

Further proof of their commitment to design: The warehouse corporate headquarters they opened in Doral in 2000 won awards for excellence from top architecture groups. “We’re not in the furniture business,” says soft-spoken Nasir, whose design opinion is sought out by artists and critics in Europe, Asia and beyond. “We create environments that improve people’s lives.”

For the Kassamalis, design is a language, a philosophy and a way of life.

“GOOD DESIGN, LIKE GOOD ARCHITECTURE, MUST COMMUNICATE SILENTLY AND STAND THE TEST OF TIME.”

NASIR KASSAMALI

Nasir describes the objects that we choose to surround us as our “third skin.” Our first skin is the one on our bodies, which can be pinched or caressed. The second is our clothes, which can be sensual, if we so choose. (The couple often wears Japanese designer fashions, made with top quality materials in solid colors in unusual geometries). Our “third skin” of well-curated objects, like a serene bedroom or the interior of a fabulous car, can touch our souls and inspire silent reflection.

“When you are in silence, you can hear your own breath and hear your heart beat, and that’s the closest you can be in peace with yourself,” says Nasir. He likens inspiring design around us to “the religion of now” and a well-designed space to the chance “to experience heaven when you are still alive.”

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AT LUMINAIRE

For visitors to Luminaire, “heaven” often begins with a cup of espresso coffee, served with three cubes of sugar perfectly placed and a tiny cookie on the side. The staff strives to engage, so customers leave more informed about designers, with the objects acquired evoking the meaning and experience that the customers seek. “It’s not a transaction. It’s a relationship,” says Nargis.

Extroverted Nargis leads in-store efforts in Coral Gables, overseeing a team of 10, including architects and designers. The staff is trained to be customer-focused and gracious. On average, each has spent a decade with the firm. They’ve built such strong ties, she says, that some clients drop by to share pastries; others invite the Kassamalis to weddings in Florida and overseas.

“Seventy percent of our business is from clients who have bought from us before,” says Nasir, a self-described introvert. “And even though they might finish their home with us, they continue to come ... just to see what is new, maybe to buy a gift for somebody, or even just to say hello.”

Nargis says she’s come to appreciate and nurture relationships and kindness more, as a result of her repeated bouts with cancer since age 36. “Cancer has taught me to be a better person,” she says.

The couple also cultivates relationships with designers and other suppliers, becoming personal friends with such luminaries as Italian architect Piero Lissoni, Brazil’s furniture prodigy Jader Almeida and Germany’s lighting innovator Ingo Maurer.

THE UP SERIES: ARMCHAIR DESIGNED BY GAETANO PESCE IN 1969. THIS POP-CULTURE PIECE EXPRESSES ALL THE UNABASHED ENERGY OF THE ’60S. THE SEAT WITH A BALL “CHAINED” TO IT, IS A METAPHOR FOR THE FEMALE FIGURE THAT IS BOTH ENDOWED WITH A WOMB AND IS YET A PRISONER

CORALLO: SEATING FROM FERNANDO & HUMBERTO CAMPANA OF IRREGULAR WEAVING OF HAND-BENT STEEL WIRE WITH EPOXY FINISH. AVAILABLE IN BLACK, WHITE AND CORAL

Their tight bond with the founder of the B&B Italia furniture brand, Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, led to Luminaire becoming the brand’s exclusive retailer in the United States. Today the B&B Italia line occupies a dedicated space on the first floor of the Gables showroom.

FROM EAST AFRICA VIA SCANDINAVIA TO SOUTH FLORIDA

All that is a long way from the Kassamalis’ roots in eastern Africa. Nargis was born in Tanzania and Nasir in Kenya, both children of families originally from India. The two met at the University of Nairobi, fell in love during their study trip to Denmark, and later moved to South Florida thanks to a friend who lived in the Coral Gables area.

Nasir traces his love of design partly to his father. His dad owned an electricity business and installed power systems in homes and buildings. From an early age, Nasir took an interest in the firm’s wood-working shop. He tagged along with his dad to meetings with architects, fascinated by their talks on design. When his dad gave Nasir a book on the Bauhaus movement, the teen began dreaming of his “church” of good design – the idea that prompted the first Luminaire store, which opened in 1974 in a strip mall in North Miami Beach. It was a tiny shop that offered only contemporary Danish lighting.

The couple expanded to Coral Gables in 1976, starting out in a clothing shop on Miracle Mile, offering a wider variety of items that drew local architects and university professors. In 1984, they debuted their current showroom building, designed by Mateu Architects, on the site of a former movie theater. The corner building has repeatedly won the Test of Time award from state and local architect groups.

“They were visionary in designing a modern, glassed building, not highly ornamented, to reflect their design philosophy and the contemporary products they sell,” says Coral Gables architect Nati Soto, former president of the Florida and Miami chapters of the American Institute of Architects.

Luminaire’s hand-picked furniture and accessories also stand the test of time, says interior designer Ivette Arango of Coral Gables. She often takes clients who like clean, modern, original, high quality design to shop at the store. And in her own conference room, she features a set of plexiglass, swivel chairs she bought at the showroom decades

back, which she continues to love – and recently reupholstered.

“They have a good formula, because I don’t believe there’s a store that competes with them in unique designer pieces that aren’t available [elsewhere] in South Florida,” says Arango. “They’re like the Marlborough Fine Art Gallery. If you get in, you’re up there. You’re sitting together with the masters.”

EXPANSION TO NEW YORK, MILAN AND BEYOND?

Today, Luminaire operates three South Florida locales: The Coral Gables flagship, their Doral headquarters and a Design District lab that offers exhibits and talks. It also has a longstanding Chicago showroom and its new Los Angeles locale, employing 80 people across all of its sites.

But there are plans for significant expansion, since the couple in 2017 sold a major interest to Haworth, a privately-held, family-owned furniture company based in Michigan. Haworth hopes to open Luminaire stores in New York, Milan, Paris and other cities known for contemporary design, says Nasir.

The Kassamalis, now in their 70s, continue to lead Luminaire’s design choices, applying relentlessly high standards. (They also retain ownership of the Gables property and other real estate). A tour of the showroom reveals how varied and demanding their choices are – from works by younger craftsmen to iconic pieces from 20th century masters.

One recent find: A sculpture by German artist Christoph Finkel (born 1971), who is known for shaping heavy, raw wood into bowls and other forms that “evoke the feeling of a tree trunk,” says Nasir.

Among the table lamps: The Poul Poul, designed by the late Ingo Maurer and Dagmar Mombach (born 1958). They were influenced by the late Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi and his use of folded paper. Light moves subtly through the lamp’s handmade, hand-pulled paper “like a sailboat,” Nasir explains.

“We don’t sell this. We don’t want you to buy it. We want you to acquire it. Because when you acquire something, part of the artist is coming to you or coming with you,” says Nasir. “And if you take care of it well, it could be considered an heirloom, right? And your grandchildren or great-grandchildren will understand your taste, silently, without you having to tell them.” ■

BROKERAGE SALES SINCE 1980

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

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

45' Azimut 2013 "Pretty Penny" Call: Ryan Danoff (954) 260-5507

Mark Peck + Vinny Pyle + Ryan Danoff + Helen Wozunk Dave Hayne + Ed Breese + Charlie Fluery + Billy Maus + Louis Dvorak

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

40 Meter Westport - "No Name" 4

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

BUSINESS QUARTERLY Wealth Management

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS TO BUILD YOUR FORTUNE ALSO HOMES SALES EXPLODE ADAPTING TO COVID-19 DANCING AROUND THE WORLD PANDEMIC INSURANCE BLUES

At the Crossroads

Heading into any presidential election, much of the conversation centers on the state of our economy and how we are doing as a nation. That could mean: How are we doing financially? Are we better off today than we were four years ago? Is consumer confidence on the uptick? Are we heading in the right direction as a country?  Is my job secure?

All of these questions pique our interest and consume our thoughts. Mix them with our personal experiences and expectations these past six months – or three-plus years – and they will no doubt determine who we will vote for or, more likely, who will not receive our support.

In any race for high office where the stakes are significant, the reality is that it’s going to be all about “the economy, stupid.” It is what our Chamber is focused on each day and how we can help our local economy and consumer base get back to business. We had been humming along enjoying a low unemployment rate, significant growth and soaring consumer confidence.

But, given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and its deleterious effects on our economy, it is hard to predict what will happen on November 3. But we know this: No matter what happens leading up to and after the election, we will stand strong as a business community and be there for our members, partners and stakeholders.

There is no known or predictable timeline that will determine our economic recovery, but our businesses are

growing impatient, and this is having a tremendously negative impact on their survival. The reality is that they need you. They need your support. Every single day. They have grown weary in the face of COVID-19 and need a boost.

At the time of this writing, we are entering Phase II here in Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County. It has been six months since our economy shut down in the wake of the pandemic and more than two months since we took a step backwards from Phase I when Miami-Dade saw a significant spike of positive cases in July. And despite a small uptick in June, we have seen consumer confidence decline for the second straight month in September; it has now reached its lowest level in six years. This pessimism has been driven by the resurgence of the virus and also by behaviors that are anything but socially distant.

So, where do we go from here? The answer is simple. Do your homework, vote on election day (or early voting or absentee ballot), and understand that the economy is going to play a significant role in the results. As we enter the fourth quarter of the calendar year, let’s work collaboratively toward a full reopening, so that all of our businesses are able to recover more quickly than predicted. For our Chamber’s part, we are going to continue to support our local businesses, advocate for a successful Phase II and look to Phases III & IV, encourage a safe and healthy return to the office environment, and ask everyone to do their part. #wearyourmask. ■

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

WHICHEVER WAY THE POLITICAL WINDS BLOW, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ECONOMY

“NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS LEADING UP TO AND AFTER THE ELECTION, WE WILL STAND STRONG AS A BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND BE THERE FOR OUR MEMBERS, PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.”

V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t z o m m a g r o u p . c o m f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t o u r c o m p a n y ' s s e r v i c e s . E m a i l u s a t i n f o @ z o m m a g r o u p c o m f o r i n q u i r i e s

Business Briefs

RESTAURANT GRANTS

Using funds from an anonymous doner, the Coral Gables Community Foundation is distributing $100,000 in grants to local restaurants. Grants of $5,000 each will go to 20 restaurants in the form of gift cards to the restaurant for families in need, city workers and first responders, says foundation executive director Mary Snow.

AMERANT MICRO-GRANTS

Amerant bank, the largest bank based in Coral Gables, has announced the launch of a Micro-Grants Program for small businesses unable to get PPP loans or other government assistance. The program’s funds will initially be allocated through Branches, a local nonprofit serving small business and working families in Miami-Dade.

CC HOMES GETS $40 LOAN

Wells Fargo Bank has given a $40 million construction loan to Coral Gables-based CC Homes, a partnership owned by veteran developers Armando Codina and Jim Carr. The funds will be used to build homes in three communities in southwest Broward County.

THE MANSION SPLURGE

In a normal year, perhaps one or two Coral Gables properties worth $10 million or more will change hands. This year, largely because wealthy families (including those from up north) are looking for safe places to survive the pandemic, high-end mansions have been exchanging hands at a much faster pace.

“We have had an extreme uptick in the ultra-high end in the past six to eight months,” says Audrey Ross of Compass Realty, a specialist in multi-million-dollar real estate sales. “And it is continuing.” Ross says high-end rentals are also “flying off the shelf,” with monthly rents ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.

OFFICE BUILDING SELLS FOR $1 MILLION

A one-story office building (above) on the edge of Coral Gables has sold for $1,050,000, just $50,000 more than the previous sale price in June 2017. The building, constructed in 2000 on a 5,224 square-foot lot, is on 141 Grand Ave. in the historic MacFarlane district off U.S.1.

ITALIAN COMPANY BUYS INTO GABLES RIA

Italian asset manager Azimut has purchased 51 percent of Coral Gables-based registered investment advisor (RIA) Genesis Investment Advisors. The price was not disclosed but combined with Miami-based AZ Apice – another offshore wealth management firm it launched in 2016 – Azimut will oversee $600 million in offshore assets, primarily in Latin America.

CATALYST ENTERS CANADIAN MARKET

Coral Gables-based Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, which develops therapies for rare neuromuscular and neurological diseases, announced it was entering the Canadian market in partnership with Canadian firm KYE Pharmaceuticals. The two plan to market a drug for a rare autoimmune disorder.

“A great deal of this is being driven by people looking for office space [at home] and the ability to shelter in place with the same amenities you would have on a day-to-day basis, just not at home,” says Ross, who recently completed her 150th transaction in Gables Estates. By “amenities,” Ross means things like home theaters, large offices for both him and her, large play areas for children, indoor racket ball courts, etc. “I sold one property with a firing range under the house,” she says.

RECENTLY CLOSED SALES OF NOTE:

21 Casuarina Concourse, 9,963 sq. feet: $37.5 million

700 Casurina Concourse, 17,025 sq. feet: $30 million

90 Leucadendara Dr., 11,609 sq. feet: $22 million

115 Arvida Pkwy., 10,792 sq. feet: $20 million

23 Tahiti Beach Island Rd., 12,862 sq. feet: $16 million

340 Leucadendra Dr., 16,799 sq. feet: $12.25 million

CURRENTLY PENDING (AT PRESS TIME) SALES:

150 Arvida Pkwy., 10,694 sq. feet: $48 million (Shown above)

500 Arvida Pkwy., 13,418 sq. feet: $21.9 million

555 Reinante Ave., 10,860 sq feet: $15.495 million

24 Tahiti Beach Island Rd., 15,563 sq. feet: $13.9 million

“RISK MANAGEMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR ANY BUSINESS. YOU SHOULD ALSO HAVE A STRONG PERSONAL BANKING RELATIONSHIP, WHICH CAN BE VERY HELPFUL IN AN EMERGENCY LIKE THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN.”

JIM DAVIDSON, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF CORAL GABLES TRUST COMPANY

Turning Business Success into Wealth

EVEN IN THE DAYS OF COVID-19, SMART PLANNING CAN LEAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM

BY RICHARD WESTLUND

Throughout American history, business success has been the foundation for family wealth. Think of industrial magnates like Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller, as well as technology pioneers Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

That entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well today for Coral Gables business owners, executives and professionals willing to tackle the risks of a new venture in hopes of significant financial rewards. But there are no guarantees of success in the business world, as fierce competition, poor management or unexpected events like the COVID-19 pandemic can crush those dreams.

To turn entrepreneurial hopes into long-term individual and family wealth requires an understanding of the key issues at every stage of the business cycle from startup to exit, according to Coral Gables financial planning and wealth management professionals.

Reflecting on the long-term process of turning a business into wealth, Jim Davidson, chairman and CEO of Coral Gables Trust Co., puts it this way: “Get a good education, and pick a field that you enjoy. Don’t look for easy solutions, take on the challenges, work diligently and you will be on the way to success.”

SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

Launching, building and selling a successful business is one of the most powerful strategies for creating significant wealth. One example involves a Central Florida engineer who founded a manufacturing company decades ago. “He was able to do something he loved and turn it into financial freedom,” says Michael Walsh, wealth manager at Evensky & Katz/Foldes Financial Wealth Management, who advised the owner in a confidential client relationship.

“The entrepreneur came from humble

beginnings and had to mortgage his home to make the payroll in the early days of the business,” says Walsh. “But he worked hard and brought in a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day operations as the company grew. Recently, he sold the business in an eight-figure transaction (more than $10 million). Now, he is looking at traveling the country, getting involved in philanthropy or going back to doing what he loves best, which is tinkering on machines in his garage again.”

But to succeed in business, an entrepreneur or executive needs to navigate a constantly changing set of risks. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 50 percent of small businesses fail in their first five years, and only 33 percent survive for 10 years or longer. To keep moving ahead on the path toward wealth creation, Coral Gables entrepreneurs need to protect themselves from bumps on the road.

“Risks are everywhere in business,” said Carlos Carbonell, managing partner of Firestone Capital Management. “Today, it is COVID-19, but there can be other types of macro events like a recession, as well as micro events like a divorce or a new child with special needs. That’s why financial planning is important whether times are good or bad.”

Carbonell emphasizes the importance of an insurance package that covers property damage, liability risks and business interruptions, such as an extended power outage after a hurricane. It’s also important to avoid overspending, because an expensive lifestyle can leave you financially overextended in the event of a problem with your business,” he says.

“Risk management is essential for any business, adds Davidson, who points to the importance of having adequate working capital and establishing a revolving line of credit to cover unexpected expenses. “You should also have a strong personal banking relationship, which can be very helpful in an emergency like the COVID-19 shutdown.”

SAVING FOR THE FUTURE

“Business owners and professionals should begin the process of creating wealth as early in life as possible,” says Joseph Nader, managing director and senior wealth advisor of Calamos Wealth Management. “Planning ahead can make all the difference in the world.”

Indeed, along with building a business, young entrepreneurs and professionals should begin saving and investing. “Instead of buying a Ferrari with your first big check, start putting money into savings or a qualified tax-deferred retirement account like an IRA or a 401(k),” says Davidson. “Compound interest over the years can have a remarkable impact on building wealth.”

Davidson also recommends that entrepreneurs prepare a financial plan that includes their spending needs, as well as a tolerance for risk. While things can change over time, a personal financial plan can help align business activities with longterm goals, he says.

Carbonell says saving early gives entrepreneurs and professionals “a tremendous head start toward retirement.”

Whether you make $1 million or $100,000 a year from a business or professional firm, you should save as much as is realistically

possible, he says.

Walsh recommends maximizing contributions to 401(k) plans, which allow a participant’s nest egg to grow tax deferred or tax-free for decades. “These plans are also a great way for businesses to attract, retain and reward their employees,” he says.

Highly compensated individuals may also benefit from cash balance pension plans, says Nader. “These plans allow business owners and equity partners to put away several hundred thousand dollars a year in a credit-protected, tax-deferred retirement strategy,” he says.

In any case, entrepreneurs and professionals in their 30s and 40s should take a holistic approach to their personal finances, according to Jay Pelham, president of Kaufman Rossin Wealth. If you are finding it difficult to pay off credit card debt, for instance, you might want to reduce your

“THESE PLANS [401(K) PLANS] ARE ALSO A GREAT WAY FOR BUSINESSES TO ATTRACT, RETAIN AND REWARD THEIR EMPLOYEES”

MICHAEL WALSH, WEALTH MANAGER AT EVENSKY & KATZ/FOLDES FINANCIAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT,

401(k) contributions temporarily and redirect those dollars toward lowering the balance. But if you have a low-interest mortgage, you don’t need to rush to pay it off. “Properly managed debt is not a bad thing,” he says. “Your mortgage payments may be tax deductible and with today’s low rates, carrying a loan could be part of your overall strategy.”

GETTING A STRONG START

Preparing for an eventual business sale should begin right from the start of a new venture, says Pelham. “A business with two or more owners needs to have a written shareholders or buy/sell agreement in place. That can avoid some of the obstacles that can trip things up.”

A formal agreement among partners or shareholders can specify ownership responsibilities, limit individual liability and cover unexpected contingencies. It’s particularly important when friends or family members launch a new venture together, says Pelham. “If one of your partners died, would that person’s spouse get involved in business decision making?” he asks.

Even if the business started off with a handshake deal, rather than a written agreement, the partners can ratify those decisions later on, says Walsh. “It’s all about documenting a meeting of the minds between the partners or the stakeholders of the company.”

Whether launched by an individual or several partners, the legal structure for a new business entity should be carefully crafted to mitigate liability and other risks, says George L. Metcalfe, Jr., a trusts and estates and tax attorney at Day Pitney. For example, a multi-member limited liability corporation (LLC) can provide more protection against creditors than a single-member LLC, he says. Certain types of entities may also offer tax advantages to individuals, partners or shareholders.

DETERMINING THE RIGHT EXIT STRATEGY

Entrepreneurs can look at the pending sale of a business in very different ways. “For some owners, the decision to sell a business is easy, but for others it’s a very difficult process,” Nader says. “Some prefer a clean break, while others want to stay on for several years.”

Those perspectives can shape the owner’s exit strategy, such as whether to aim for a lump sum payment from a buyer or stay on for a transition period in return for an

ongoing stream of payments.

Retirement planning should also involve a careful look at the owner’s current assets and goals, says Carbonell. “That can help determine an ideal sale price that provides enough funds for the owner to enjoy retirement,” he says. “There’s an emotional side as well, since some owners find it hard to walk away and wonder how they will fill the day. But after a year or two, many of our clients are enjoying life and tell us, ‘I should have retired sooner.’”

When planning for retirement, a financial advisor can run scenarios, such as working an extra one or two years before selling a business. “That can make a big difference,” says Pelham. “It’s also a way to extend your health coverage as long as you can. You might even sell the company but stay on as an employee to maintain that coverage.”

Another issue is finding the right buy-

“RISKS ARE EVERYWHERE IN BUSINESS. TODAY, IT IS COVID-19, BUT THERE CAN BE OTHER TYPES OF MACRO EVENTS LIKE A RECESSION, AS WELL AS MICRO EVENTS LIKE A DIVORCE OR A NEW CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THAT’S WHY FINANCIAL PLANNING IS IMPORTANT WHETHER TIMES ARE GOOD OR BAD.”

CARLOS CARBONELL, MANAGING PARTNER OF FIRESTONE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT.

er. Typically, there are two types of suitors: Current employees and competitors. If the entrepreneur wants to sell to employees, there are several options. “I have seen my clients enter into an earn-out arrangement where shares are transferred to the next generation of business owners and those employees buy out the founder’s share over time,” Walsh said. “Another method is to engage a third party, such as a bank or private equity firm, to finance the purchase.”

Carbonell recommends finding a business broker or investment bank that can provide an industry-specific valuation and assist in marketing the entity to prospective buyers. “Owners should also work with a tax advisor to see whether it makes sense to take a lump sum or an ongoing string of payments,” he says. “Sometimes you have to go with whatever arrangement the seller offers, but knowing the options can help you make a well-informed decision.”

Davidson notes that timing the sale correctly can do wonders for boosting the business’ value. “When the economy is struggling, buyers may be reluctant to make an investment,” he says. “You should

also pick the right time in the life of your company. Buyers today want to see organic growth that is not tied to acquisitions.”

Whichever method is used to structure the sale, Walsh says it is critical for the owner to allow future shareholders to start running the day-to-day operations. “This route is often advised because all parties feel they have a stake in the future of the company,” he says. “Also, both employees and customers understand that there will be a transition of power in the future.”

Once a business sale is completed, the successful entrepreneur faces another set of challenges: Where to invest the proceeds to protect or grow that newfound wealth. That means setting new goals and updating financial and estate plans.

“While preservation of wealth is often the highest priority after a sale, that goal can be challenging in today’s low-rate environment,” says Carbonell. “A financial advisor can review the investment portfolio, projecting income and expenses in retirement, and help the retired entrepreneur use the proceeds of the sale to enjoy life in retirement.” ■

“PROPERLY MANAGED DEBT IS NOT A BAD THING. YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS MAY BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND WITH TODAY’S LOW RATES, CARRYING A LOAN COULD BE PART OF YOUR OVERALL STRATEGY.”

JAY

(RIGHT) PRESIDENT OF KAUFMAN ROSSIN WEALTH

PELHAM

Staking Your Insurance Claim

BY RICHARD WESTLUND

Like hundreds of Coral Gables organizations, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre was forced to close its doors in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the nonprofit theater on Miracle Mile – a centerpiece in South Florida’s performing arts world – has filed an insurance claim for its lost revenues.

“We pay for business interruption insurance,” said Barbara Stein, executive director, Actors’ Playhouse. After the initial claim was denied, the nonprofit engaged an attorney to try to secure the insurance benefits, and the case is currently on hold. “These are very difficult times, and there is no telling when we can open our doors again,” added Stein. “Fortunately, we can sustain ourselves financially and have great support from the community.”

In the past six months, the economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 health threat has caused ongoing losses for Coral Gables restaurants, retailers, real estate companies, professional service firms and other types of businesses. However, it appears unlikely their insurance policies will support claims for compensation.

“Policyholders in Coral Gables would face uphill challenges under a typical business property policy that had business interruption coverage,” says attorney Ronald Kammer, partner, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in Coral Gables and co-chair of the national firm’s global insurance services practice. “These policies typically require a direct physical loss to the property in order to trigger coverage. Because a virus like COVID-19 does not cause physical damage, those claims would be dismissed by the courts.”

Other types of business policies contain “virus exclusion” wording that would preclude coverage, added Kammer. “If your business has suffered a loss, you should read your insurance policy, consult with your agent and perhaps a lawyer to determine if there might be

some coverage,” he said. “If you have been paying for a policy with additional coverage, you might be able to file a business interruption claim for a short period. If you can get even two or three weeks of coverage, that would certainly be better than nothing.”

Coral Gables businesses should also look at their liability policies to identify potential COVID-19 risks, says Holly S. Harvey, a Hinshaw partner who serves as coverage counsel for insurers’ high-risk claims. “We have only seen the tip of the iceberg in regard to COVID insurance claims,” she says. “We expect to see workers’ compensation and employer liability claims in the months ahead. That is already occurring in the cruise lines and hospitality industries.”

Other types of potential lawsuits include shareholder claims against public companies’ directors and officers (D&O) liability policies for failing to prepare for a pandemic or not disclosing the risk, says Harvey. For local businesses, the best defense against COVID-19 liability claims is to follow the law and the science.

Consequently, more than 100 COVID-19 insurance lawsuits have been filed in Florida courts since March, almost all of the insurance cases having to do with business interruption. Multiple class action lawsuits were filed by Miami-based Podhurt Orseck, including the one against SCOR SE, the insurer of the Playhouse.

The lawsuits allege breach of contract for refusing to honor business interruption claims from South Florida business, including those in the Gables. “Your business should take reasonable steps to protect the public and employees,” says Kammer. “If you have deviated from those steps and someone gets sick, you may wind up being responsible for those claims. It’s much better to take a proactive approach to reduce those risks.” ■

Boutique in Service, Global in Scale

We proudly bring the investment and wealth advisory services of world-renowned Calamos Investments, founded in 1977, to select individuals, families, athletes, entertainers, corporate executives and non-profit organizations of the South Eastern United States, from our regional headquarters located in Coral Gables, FL.

Our independence, skill in specialized risk-managed investments and integrity of our advice have, for decades, distinguished our organization.

Our team of diverse, multi-lingual, experienced professionals provide our clients with the following:

INVESTMENTS

> Tailored Investment Portfolios and Asset Allocation Services

> Aggregated Performance Reporting

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WEALTH ADVISORY

> Wealth and Estate Planning

> Specialized Retirement Strategies

> Trust & Fiduciary Services

Contact or visit us at: 220 Alhambra Circle, Suite 300 Coral Gables, FL 33134 305-424-0016

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* Trust services provided in conjunction with unaffiliated chartered trust companies. Calamos Wealth Management and its representatives do not provide accounting, tax or legal advice. Each individual’s tax and financial situation is unique. You should consult your tax and/ or legal advisor for advice and information concerning your particular situation. © 2020 Calamos Investments LLC. All Rights Reserved. Calamos® and Calamos Investments® are registered trademarks of Calamos Investments LLC.

The COVID Pivot

SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC IS ALL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO ADAPT

BY J.P. FABER

COVID-19 has been almost random when it comes to the businesses it has demolished, and the businesses it has spared. As people spend more time at home, iconic restaurants like La Dorada have gone un-

MARITZA FERNANDEZ FILOMENA FERNANDEZ

Maritza Fernandez owns and runs a design studio and retail outlet on Ponce de Leon Boulevard across from Neiman Marcus. She says that initially COVID-19 evaporated demand for her dresses, as everyone went into sequester. “I was in Milan working on my Fall/Winter 2020 collection when Italy – and specifically Milan – became the epicenter of COVID. The shortage of masks in different cities in Italy made me think they would be in high demand in Miami. We immediately started reorganizing our operation to produce fashionable and safe masks.” During the summer, Fernandez made and sold 2,500 silk designer masks online at $30 each. She also experienced a rise in walk-in traffic from Neiman Marcus refugees who wanted a safe, intimate shopping experience. “We are doing very well now,” she says.

RAMON CERNUDA CERNUDA ARTE

Ramon Cernuda owns and runs the premier gallery of Cuban art in Coral Gables. When the coronavirus hit, all six annual art fairs he attends were canceled, and visitors to his gallery on Ponce de Leon disappeared. “We decided to follow what we call a modified traditional gallery program,” he says. “In the early to mid-20th century, galleries did not attend art fairs, as there were none. And art openings at galleries were private gatherings for the artist, his or her family and friends.” Instead, galleries worked closely with major collectors, providing various services. One of them:

Transporting canvases to their homes. Cernuda has done just that, with great success. “Sometimes when they see the works of art, they just don’t want to let them go,” he says. Cernuda has also increased his online activity, “to inform our clients on what is available.”

der, while flower shop Belle Fleur has seen a flourishing business, for the same reason. We spoke to four business professionals in different fields, to see how they have pivoted during the coronavirus.

LESLIE PANTIN, JR. REGISTERED LOBBYIST

Leslie Pantin Jr.’s profession – a registered lobbyist at Coral Gables City Hall – was ill-adapted for a pandemic that made personal interaction impossible. “The actual ‘lobby’ part of lobbying has been eliminated,” he says. “By this I mean the casual bumping into or grabbing the attention of – always politely and respectfully, of course – a staff member or an elected official before, after or during a meeting.” Pantin also lost the opportunity to run into private individuals at City Hall. The solution, he says, has been to go virtual and work the phone. “This is where having strong relationships with key stakeholders is crucial. We are able to reach them via cellphone or text instead of meeting in person” he says. “It’s a little less spontaneous, but you get their full attention.” As for the rest, he says, “We have transitioned almost totally to virtual/Zoom meetings.”

BRENT REYNOLDS

CEO, NOLAN REYNOLDS INTERNATIONAL

Brent Reynolds was completing his massive mixed-use project Paseo on U.S. 1 across from UM when the pandemic broke out. Worst hit was the new THēsis Hotel in the complex, which as of September drew only 15 percent occupancy, despite projections for twice that number. Reynolds attributes the low occupancy to “The overall decrease in travel, and gatherings in general… Group business has been impacted the most,” he says. On the other hand, the 65 percent occupancy of 204 apartment units in the Paseo’s residential section was twice what his team had projected; the blend is how Paseo is surviving the pandemic. “We were well positioned with the current design to easily implement social distancing protocols,” he says, including for use of amenities like the fourth-floor pool deck. “We just stayed focused on the local market,” he says, notably staff from nearby UM.

A Seller’s Market

AS PEOPLE FLEE THE VIRUS, HOME SALES EXPLODE IN THE GABLES

BY J.P. FABER

One of the shinier silver linings to the coronavirus-damaged economy of Coral Gables has been a sharp rise in the sales of single-family homes over the last several months. Following a slowdown in May and June, the sales since then – in June, July and August – have skyrocketed. In August alone, 71 homes in the Gables were sold, more than double the August sales of 35 last year, according to figures from BHHS/EWM.

Condo and townhouse sales have not risen since last year, but have nonetheless held their own, especially in the over $1 million category. So far this year, 21 have sold. Sales of Coral Gables homes of all stripes for June through August crested $357 million, second only to Miami and Miami Beach (both much larger cities) and rising faster (53 percent up) than any other city in the county.

This is good news for homebuilders like Alirio Torrealba, CEO of MG Developer. This year he has sold six homes for more than a million each, from his new single-family models on Ponce to his upscale townhouses in Biltmore Parc just west of the downtown. “ We have been fortunate that our sales have not stopped during the pandemic,” says Torrealba. “One of our units had multiple offers at once, which is something we’ve never seen before.”

Torrealba says there are more cash buyers, especially ones from New York and Chicago, as well as empty nesters locally. “We see a lot of buyers who are downsizing from high-rise condos, buyers who prefer a more private townhome with separate entrances, a private garage and private elevators – not to mention those who are buying single family homes.”

For brokers, the burst of activity since spring has been a bonanza. “It’s been crazy,” says Ashley Cusack, a top agent with BHHS/ EWM. “ We were in a buyer’s market for quite a while, and the COVID hit and slowed things [even more]. And then all of a sudden everything was on fire.” Cusack says her small team at BHHS/ EWM has seen its inventory shrink from 20 to five as houses sell immediately. “I listed a new house yesterday and have three people seeing it today and three more tomorrow.” Likewise, says Lani Drody, president of Lowell Realty, “The problem right now is inventory.” In January, there were almost 400 single-family homes on the market. By August that figure had fallen to 305 homes, with monthly sales more than doubling. “It’s not what anyone expected when we entered the COVID. But the upshot is the incredible effect it’s had on Coral Gables, because the city has so many single family homes.”

That plethora of houses is what’s making the market so hot, says Ron Shuffield, president of BHHS/EWM Realty. “Most people think about single family homes when they think of Coral Gables,” he says, which makes the city attractive to those who are fleeing dense, high-rise urban centers in the Northeast and Chicago. In addition he sees demand coming from local Millennials who are finally settling down, and from local retirees, who are also increasing the demand for townhouses. “It used to be when people retired you went somewhere else,” he says. “Now people are retiring here, because we have so much to do.” Regardless of where the demand is coming from, says Shuffield, “it has created a frenzy of buying.” ■

ALIRIO TORREALBA, CEO OF MG DEVELOPER, OUTSIDE ONE OF HIS NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ON PONCE

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Source: BHHS/EWM

forDancingDollars – and Fun

BY DOREEN HEMLOCK

It’s among the oldest franchise companies in America, and from its headquarters in Coral Gables, it’s taking dance lessons and competitions worldwide via 280 franchises in 23 countries and growing. This Gables-based juggernaut? Arthur Murray International.

Engineer and dance lover Arthur Murray never imagined a century ago that the system of instruction he started would be encouraging dance parties worldwide, even in nations where ballroom and other forms of the art were traditionally skills to be mastered only for rigorous competitions.

But the innovative company he founded in New York in the 1930s, now called Arthur Murray International, has outlasted most franchises from his pre-transistor era. And thanks to new dance teacher franchisees like Alfredo DiNatale of Peru, the future looks bright – despite coronavirus.

“When I do a dance competition here in Peru, and participants get a chance to go to international events in Las Vegas, New Orleans or New York, that’s what makes us special and different,” says DiNatale, a dance champion who came to the U.S. doing tours of Peru’s “marinera” style. He chanced upon Arthur Murray studios and spent years teaching varied styles in Coral Gables. “It’s not a school. It’s a community. It’s a culture we’ve created for our students everywhere.”

Indeed, the late Arthur Murray not only systematized dance instruction and launched franchises, he popularized dance using every medium of his day. He started teaching as a youth in the 1910s at the Grand Palace in New York City, then wrote pamphlets and books to promote the social side of dance. In 1920, he arranged a radio transmission of live dance music to his students, a first for its day. By the time he formally incorporated in 1946, his 70-plus franchised schools were grossing nearly $20 million a year, a big sum for the time. He then boosted business through a TV show with wife Kathryn, “The Arthur Murray Party,” which aired from 1950 to 1962, featuring guest stars like Groucho Marx and Bob Hope.

Since the 1970s, the company has expanded internationally, with total revenues by all franchises about $154 million last year (Murray passed in 1991). Business has been lifted recently by the booming TV series, “Dancing with the Stars.”

DiNatale’s role as a judge in Peru’s version of the TV show helped him develop Arthur Murray studios in South America, including one that just opened in Chile. The 43-year-old dance icon positions his studios among the most expensive in the market, thanks to their tested teaching system, social dance activities and opportunities for travel to international events.

Going global has its challenges, however. In some European countries, dance schools are seen as places to train for serious competitions, not a community for people to learn, meet folks and enjoy dancing. It takes careful marketing to shift perceptions.

“We make it a total package, where you can use it like a club,” says Wayne Smith, a former Miami-Dade science teacher who’s been with Arthur Murray some 50 years and now heads up franchising from Coral Gables. “We try to build a family relationship around the world with our studios, where they have intercommunication with each other, and we create fun activities.”

TOP: ARTHUR MURRAY DANCING HIS WAY INTO A 70-PLUS FRANCHISE BOTTOM: DINATALE, A DANCE CHAMPION, SAYS OF THE CORAL GABLES STUDIO: “IT’S NOT A SCHOOL. IT’S A COMMUNITY.”

Coronavirus has stubbed business this year. Some studios have closed temporarily, others operate at limited capacity and online, and big events have been postponed. The Coral Gables unit that opened in 1956 still offers in-person classes.

For the year, the pandemic certainly will reduce the royalities from franchisees. Yet Smith and DiNatale are hopeful long-term, since social dancing is a central human experience. “Social dancing is romantic, fun and great exercise,” says Smith. “What else does that?”■

GABLES-BASED ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE STUDIOS HAVE GAMBOLED THEIR WAY ACROSS THE GLOBE

Pre-War Properties for Under $1.5 Million

Residential real estate in Coral Gables is suddenly in demand, with most buyers coming from the Northeast nationally, and from Brickell locally. Inventory for single family homes is shrinking, and prices are consequently rising. The hot spot right now is a home for between $1 million and $2 million, according to the pundits at

BHHS/EWM. With that in mind, we asked three real estate agents to submit one of their homes for sale in the low end of that price range – give or take a few hundred thousand dollars – and built in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Here is what they came up with, in different Gables locations.

Central Gables 1940

3270 RIVIERA DR.

Listing Price $1.3m

3 bed/2 bath/2 car garage/pool 2,158 sq. ft. Great central location, walking distance to Coral Gables Library, University Park, War Memorial Youth Center and the Biltmore Hotel. This 1940 home has been updated with impact glass throughout, and a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances. What makes it special are oak wood and travertine stone floors, crown molding and a working coral rock fireplace. Family room overlooks pool and tropical landscaping. Listing Agent: Stephan Burke (Douglas Elliman), 305.215.7833

Listing Price

$1.349m

South Gables 1930s

6812 SAN VICENTE ST.

5 bed/4 bath/1 half bath/pool 3,847 sq. ft. Located near Ingraham Park and the Coral Gables Waterway, this gated 1930s home is open and light, with high ceilings, wood floors, a working fireplace and lots of surprise alcoves, like a wine bar off the living room. The pool is heated and features a tropical waterfall. Open living spaces, with floor to ceiling windows facing the lushly landscaped yard. Listing Agent: S. Lani Kahn Drody (Lowell International Realty), 305.216.1550

Listing Price

$1.249m

West Gables 1926

1556 MURCIA AVE.

4 bed/4 bath/guest house 2,557 sq. ft. Located two blocks west of the Biltmore Golf Course, this 1926 two-story Spanish style home was designed by renowned Gables architect H. George Fink. On a quarter acre, entirely renovated (new 2018 roof), with hardwood floors throughout and modern stone fireplace. Guest house with one bed, one bath; large, updated kitchen opens onto dining area. Listing Agents: Laura Mullaney and Jane Gomez-Mena (Berkshire Hathaway/EWM Realty) 305.790.1000

And You Can Smoke, Too..

CARD ROOM AT A FRENCH CHATEAU, GABLES ESTATES STYLE

BY JAMES BROIDA

The home on Arvida Parkway in Gables Estates was 13,668 square-feet, and its design was inspired by a French château with high wood beam ceilings throughout. It had eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms, a wine cellar, a pool, a gym, a spa –but not this room.

“The client wanted a room where he could play cards, have friends over and smoke cigars,” says Patrick Lee, president of Shorecrest Construction, who was hired to retrofit the property with a variety of modifications, including this men’s parlor. “So, we got our carpenters to do all the mill work, all the paneling, and paint it all the same color. [The room] was made to have the details, but be subtle, to follow the French château look.”

What is not immediately visible is a powerful ventilation system installed for visiting cigar aficionados so they could enjoy it, says Lee. The color chosen for the walls and glass door trim was Prussian blue, to match the felt on the card table. Place your bet and pass the lighter. ■

“THE CLIENT WANTED A ROOM WHERE HE COULD PLAY CARDS, HAVE FRIENDS OVER AND SMOKE CIGARS...”

PATRICK LEE, PRESIDENT OF SHORECREST CONSTRUCTION

Top producer Mauricio J. Barba has been a mainstay in Miami’s uber competitive high-end real estate market since 1994. Respected in his native community by clients and colleagues alike; he has logged top honors for elite performance in his field. Mauricio is connected worldwide but specializes in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Brickell, Village of Pinecrest, South Miami, Palmetto Bay/ Falls area and the Beaches. His expertise is demonstrated through his ability to facilitate trouble-free transactions winning him clients for life who also become friends.

Mauricio enters every room with confidence and professional approachability. But more importantly he is prepared and precise, saving you time and effort. Clients rely on him to deliver and he takes the responsibility very seriously. “People trust me with their single largest asset. It’s a role that drives me to push for excellence every day. I give 110% because my success is their success.”

305.439.8311

mauricio@miamisignaturehomes.com

The Early Bird Survives

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. BUT BE AWARE EVERY MONTH.

BY KATRINA DANIEL

The eight little spots popped up quickly, no bigger than pinheads. I’d had a mammogram in August 2018, and the result was: All Clear. Then, less than 11 months later, I thought, “Let’s just get another mammogram because it’s time.” I was so proud of myself, because for once I was ahead of schedule.

Thinking nothing of it, I went for a common garden variety mammogram on a Monday, expecting another “all-clear” Tuesday. Instead I got a call saying, “Come back in, let’s do a biopsy.” A biopsy? Yup. Eight little manually undetectable spots had displayed themselves on the mammogram and they had to go. Stage 3 DCIS – Ductal Carcinoma in Situ – which is just a fancy term for “they haven’t grown yet, but are going to, so get ’em out now.”

And so, less than a week later, I was in pre-op getting ready for a lumpectomy. The surgery was way less traumatic than I expected. The experience was almost a non-event; I was back in Pilates four days later. I was also ordered to do a month of daily radiation treatments. I remember that the radiation technicians, all women, were wonderful and friendly, but had no sense of humor. As I lay there, arms above my head and seeing my reflection in the overhead mirror, I said, “So this is how I’m gonna look, stretched out on the morgue slab.” No one laughed.

While I displayed my angst with graveyard humor, others take it way more seriously. And they should, because one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Coral Gables resident and retired teacher Dale Dowlen took her diagnosis in 2000 seriously. “I knew I was in trouble when Lon [husband Urologist Dr. Lon Dowlen] started reaching out to his medical colleagues for advice,” she says. Dale went on to have the whole series of treatments, including a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and reconstruction. Dale thought she was free and clear, and she was until 2015 when another routine mammogram showed a tumor in her other breast. Again, she opted for a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, “I was grateful for my decision because a second, very early malignancy was removed,” she says.

The key for Dale was early detection, and that is all important for survival, says Dr. Felicia Knaul, Ph.D., who wrote the book, “Beauty without the Breast” (Harvard University Press, 2013) detailing her journey from diagnosis to survivorship. The directive “Do a monthly breast self-exam” has evolved, she says, and is now “Know your body” – look for changes and know yourself so well that when something is off, you recognize it and take action.

When Dr. Knaul was diagnosed with an aggressive Stage 2 breast tumor at only 41, the mother of two young children, she used her harrowing journey to make the experience less frightening and more hopeful for others. Her book has been a bestseller and an inspiration to thousands.

Now a professor at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller

School of Medicine, and a contributing researcher at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Knaul’s philosophy is not unique. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. “Your lifestyle is hugely important. Eating well, not smoking, exercising and avoiding obesity, that your alcohol intake is very moderate, all greatly reduce your risk of getting a breast cancer diagnosis,” she says. Currently Dr. Knaul is concerned because breast cancer diagnoses have plummeted 20 to 25 percent, which sounds good at first but, “just means fewer people are going to get mammograms during the COVID-19 crisis because they’re afraid of going to a medical facility.” She expects to see a huge spike in cases as the virus disappears. Dr. Knaul’s message: “Our health systems have figured out how to be safe and how to keep us safe. Schedule your mammogram. They will protect you.” I can vouch for that personally, having gone to the Baptist Health Diagnostic Center on Giralda Avenue in August for a check-up mammogram. It’s a large facility, so social distancing was easy to maintain. Still, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s undignified. But it can save your life. ■

WRITER KATRINA DANIEL IS A MEDICAL REPORTER WHO SERVED ON THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BOARD FOR 10 YEARS (2004 TO 2014)

Aiming to Prevent Breast Cancer:

Miami Cancer Institute Launches Breast Cancer Prevention Clinic

Physicians and other medical professionals at Miami Cancer Institute are as focused on providing lifesaving treatments for women with breast cancer as they are dedicated to preventing the disease. Using genomic information from so-called “germline testing,” along with their thorough knowledge of other known risk factors, multidisciplinary experts at the Institute — located under one roof for the convenience of patients — can identify those at high risk of developing breast cancer and initiate early measures designed to prevent breast cancer altogether. It’s a win-win for the South Florida Community.

Breast cancer kills more women than any other cancer in the U.S., with the exception of lung cancer. And while rates of breast cancer deaths have decreased in recent years due to earlier detection and more-targeted treatments, more than 42,000 women will die from the disease in 2020, according to the American Cancer Society.

“One of the biggest myths about breast cancer is that if you don’t have a family history, you don’t need to worry,” said Jane Mendez, M.D., chief of breast surgery, who leads an almost all-female team at Miami Cancer Institute. “This is the hardest myth to dispel, but the truth is, the vast majority of women who develop breast cancer don’t have any history in the family.”

Aside from being female, the risk factors for breast cancer include aging, obesity, leading a sedentary lifestyle, taking hormone replacement therapy and going through menopause at a later age.

It’s vital that women undergo regular screenings and mammograms and practice self-examination. To catch breast cancer early, Institute physicians recommend yearly mammograms beginning at age 40 for those at average risk.

Miami Cancer Institute recently opened the Breast Cancer Prevention Clinic to care for patients with underlying issues such as a genetic predisposition to the disease, a strong family history of breast cancer without an identifiable genetic mutation, breast biopsies revealing certain pathologic findings such as atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular neoplasia, or other known risk factors. The Clinic is designed to treat such patients in a comprehensive fashion, providing breast imaging, physical exams, personalized breast cancer risk assessment, treatment recommendations when necessary and genetic education and counseling.

“It’s our goal to keep those who have a predisposition to cancer free of the disease,” said Leonard Kalman, M.D., Miami Cancer Institute executive deputy director and chief medical officer. “It’s the concept of previvorship. We are getting better and better at treating breast cancer, but there are ways to identify those at high risk and intervene so that cancer never develops.”

The Institute also offers access to the experts through its Benign Breast Clinic, a comprehensive clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of patients who have experienced breast changes, breast pain and other noncancerous breast problems.

Miami Cancer Institute, which has been recognized as a top 3 Best Cancer Hospital in South Florida and one of America’s Best Hospitals for lung cancer surgery and colon cancer surgery by U.S. News & World Report, has implemented meticulous COVID-19 practices so that patients may safely come to the clinics and/or start or continue treatment.

For information on the breast clinics, call 786-596-2000 or visit MiamiCancerInstitute.com.

“It’s our goal to keep those who have a predisposition to cancer free of the disease.”

Jane Mendez,

M.D.,

Chief of Breast Surgery at Miami Cancer Institute.

THE MARVELS OF MAMEY

CHEF NIVEN PATEL’S NEW RESTAURANT IN THE THESIS HOTEL IS AN ASTONISHING SHOWCASE OF CULINARY WIZARDRY

BY ANDREW GAYLE

We aren’t the first to say it. After all, Chef Niven Patel was named one of the country’s 10 Best New Chefs in May by Food & Wine magazine. But we’ll second that emotion. Chef Patel is nothing less than brilliant, and his new Mamey restaurant, which opened in August, is the latest rage among Coral Gables diners.

This is culinary genius at work, as Patel transforms the food of the Caribbean with Latin, Polynesian and Thai fusions. Indeed, to call it Caribbean – as the name of the tropical fruit Mamey suggests – is to underplay Patel’s striking enhancements of foods that once seemed familiar.

Take his yellow tuna tostones. Patel’s are lighter and crispier than what Cuban restaurants serve, a perfect crunch against the sweet marinated tuna with tomato sofrito and scallions that top each one. Or his gheeroasted plantains. Like none you have tasted, softened by roasting in the clarified butter of ancient India, then finished with pickled onions and fresh cilantro, and served on a bed of jerk-spice yogurt. Creamy, delicious and an immediate house favorite.

The use of ghee is just one element from Patel’s culinary past, which began with work as an executive chef on Grand Cayman, progressed through work at Michael’s Genuine in the Design District and then blossomed into his Ghee Indian Kitchen, which continues to live in downtown Dadeland. “We are very

island-inspired but ingredientsdriven,” says Chef Patel, “and I bring all of my experiences from different places.” Picking among his inventive dishes is so hard that we asked for small plates to share everything served.

Among our favorites: A spectacular watermelon salad, with rectangular chunks of watermelon laced with creamy goat cheese, mint and peanuts, with starfruit slices and a tamarind sauce. A dish so uniquely juicy, salty, tart and sweet at the same time that one member of our group burst out, “This is like having a party in my mouth!” The local wahoo ceviche was equally complex in its flavors, with coconut leche de tigre, cachucha peppers, cilantro, red onion and avocado, expanding the flavor range of that traditional Peruvian dish.

After sampling the above from the Fresh & Light portion of the menu (and sadly forgoing the corn & callaloo empanadas from the Small Bites selections), we moved onto the Large Plates.

Here the superstar is the lemongrass glazed grouper, with bock choy, heirloom carrots, bamboo rice and Thai curry. The blend of flavors is so hypnotic you just want to close your eyes and savor it. The wagyu churrasco is another familiar dish turned up several notches with the quality of the beef, the flavor of a red pepper chimichurri and pairing with a bed of “island” spinach and yucca. The jumbo tiger prawns, freakishly

TOP: CHEF NIVEN PATEL AT THE HELM OF THE NEW MAMEY RESTAURANT BOTTOM: ONE OF THE TWO DINING ROOMS IS HEAVILY DECORATED WITH TROPICAL MURALS AND BIRDS OF PARADISE PLANTS

TOP CENTER: LEMONGRASS GLAZED GROUPER, WITH BOK CHOY, HEIRLOOM CARROTS, BAMBOO RICE AND THAI CURRY.

OPPOSITE TOP: WAHOO CEVICHE WITH COCONUT LECHE DE TIGRE, CACHUCHA PEPPERS AND CILANTRO.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM: JAMAICAN RUM CAKE WITH TOFFEE SAUCE AND VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM

large, came with a sauce of heirloom tomatoes, roast garlic, white wine and parsley over slow cooked, smoked chorizo grits; I would order this just for the sauce. Even the heirloom cauliflower, roasted with cilantro pesto, almonds and chickpeas, was a delight, with a crunchy, nutty flavor.

The short but impressive dessert menu is led by a Jamaican rum cake with toffee sauce and vanilla bean ice cream, even more scrumptious than it sounds. Mamey also serves a creative lineup of crafted cocktails (among them a terrific jerk margarita) and dessert wines. The pricing is remarkably reasonable for the quality; small plates range from $9 (ghee-roasted plantains) to $17 (glazed lamb ribs), and large plates from $22 (pork belly fried rice) to $36 (wagyu churrasco), with the exception of the jumbo tiger prawns ($49).

The interior of Mamey is almost as variegated as the food. The main indoor space is split in two by a long bar with a wall of bottles. On one side is a triangular space with traditional seating that fronts both a triptych of huge paintings in the entranceway and a long, high-ceilinged paseo breezeway outside, where there is plenty of al fresco seating. On the other side is a large room heavily decorated with tropical murals and birds of paradise plants, outfitted with low, modern (and very comfortable) furniture.

While the surroundings are pleasant, the food here is the star. The Gables is fortunate to have Chef Patel practicing his magic here. And beyond the stellar palate of newly nuanced flavors, there is an underlying lightness to the food that makes you feel refreshed. “With all of the styles of cooking I like, it’s all about lightness and getting away from heavy sauces,” says Patel, “so that you can taste all the ingredients.” Which you will. ■

October 2020 THE TOP OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMERICAN 77 Sport Bar

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

Bachour

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

Clutch Burger

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

Copper 29

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

Doc B’s

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

Eating House

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

Seasons 52

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

Sports Grill

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

Tap 42

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

The Globe

Plenty of tables on Alhambra Cir-

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

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

Titanic Restaurant and Brewery

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

Yard House

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

ASIAN

Izakaya

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

Kao Sushi & Grill

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

Malakor Thai Isaan

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

Miss Saigon

Being on Giralda Plaza, Miss Saigon has plenty of seating for excellent, healthy Vietnamese fare. You can’t beat their special pho or their fried seafood rolls. A favorite in the Gables, not long ago voted best restaurant in Miami-Dade. $$ 148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006

Mint Leaf

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

Moon Thai

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

BACHOUR

Sawa Restaurant & Lounge

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

Sushi Maki

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

FRENCH

Brasserie Central

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

Chocolate Fashion

This tiny but delightful French

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

ITALIAN

Caffe Abbracci

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

Caffe Italia

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

Cibo Wine Bar

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

Fiola

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

Portosole

The latest entry in the battle for Italian food lovers in downtown Gables, started by former staff of Zucca. With glass walls opening onto Ponce and Valencia, there is now plenty of seating at this elegant new North Italian eatery. 2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd. $$$ 786.359.4275

Salumeria 104

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

Terre del Sapore

We love eating here (seriously, they have some of the best

pizza in the city), and their small outdoor presence has expanded. Still, come in the evening when its cooler. $$ 246 Giralda Ave. 786.870.5955

Villagio

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

LATIN &

SOUTH AMERICAN

Buenos Aires Bistro

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

Caja Caliente

Prior to COVID, Caja didn’t have any tables outside. Now they have several tables on the sidewalk on Ponce. Voted best taco in Florida for their lechon taco.

It’s amazing what Gulliver students can do. Some call it unparalleled.

$ 808 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.431.1947

Calle 23

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

Coyo Taco

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

Divino Ceviche

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

El Porteño

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

Graziano’s Market

This gourmet Argentine deli and restaurant (with a great wine collection) has plenty of outdoor seating at high tops under the arches along Galiano, with signs indicating which ones have been sanitized. $-$$ 2301 Galiano St. 305.460.0001

Havana Harry’s

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

La Taberna Giralda

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

on the menu. $$ 254 Giralda Ave. 786.362.5677

Punto Criollo

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

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

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

SEAFOOD

Gringo’s Oyster Bar

A shrine for fresh seafood with the freshest and tastiest oysters you will find anywhere (as they should be at $3 each). Also great lobster rolls. A long alleyway on the side of the restaurant, with

overhead fans, lets you enjoy outdoors. $$ - $$$ 1549 Sunset Dr. 305.284.9989.

MesaMar Seafood Table

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

Sea Grill

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

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

Picture Frame SALE

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

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

Perry’s Steakhouse

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

SPANISH Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant

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

Bulla Gastrobar

Bulla has created an outdoor/

indoor space on Andalusia so guests can still enjoy the flavors of Spain. Highly recommend the tartar de atun and the sangria de cerveza. Or sip on a refreshing strawberry or blackberry limonada if you can’t take a post-meal siesta. $$ 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.810.6215

Cava

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

Tapeo Eatery & Bar

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

PUBS/CAFES/MISC.

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

If outdoor dining were a monarchy, Crema would be king. Tons of

seating options from two-person tables on the expanded sidewalk to larger tables and couches by the entrance. We prefer the loungelike area. $ 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-19. $$ 60 Merrick Way 305.774.1883

La Sandwicherie

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

Mamey

It is hard to pigeonhole this brilliant new restaurant, with its mix of Caribbean, Polynesian and Thai gastronomy. The good news is that they have outdoor seating so you can sample a new taste palate.

$$$ At the THēsis Hotel, 1350 S. Dixie Highway. 305.667.5611

Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market

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

Threefold Cafe

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

Tur Kitchen

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

Sky Dive

Life goes on at the University of Miami: This nine-photo composite shows diver and senior Zach Cooper’s descent at the University Center pool.

Photo by Mike Montero/UM

The best places are people.

Sometimes we find the places we want to go aren’t really places at all…they’re people. And our people are honored to take you to yours because you are why we fly