Coral Gables Magazine December 2020

CORAL GABLES

The Holiday Issue

LOOK BOOK FOR SHOPPERS

PHILANTHROPISTS’ CHARITIES

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST

HOLIDAY EVENTS

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HOME

We’ve rounded up a series of backyard items that are available across the Gables....

THE GIVERS

Here in Coral Gables, philanthropy is rampant. Partly it’s because we are an affluent community. Many residents have financial resources well in excess of what they need to live well. What is as remarkable as their monetary generosity is the extent to which Gables philanthropists also give of their time and energy.

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST

You would think that ghost stories would pertain strictly to the month of October. But thanks to Charles Dickens (and that Andy Williams song) they’re also a part of Christmas tradition. Or at least they used to be.

HISTORY PRESERVED

Among the many historic homes that grace Coral Gables, Coral Cove is a standout, both in terms of design and lore. Designed by Phineas Paist, the supervising architect for George Merrick’s Coral Gables Corporation (Venetian Pool, Coral Gables City Hall, Colonnade Building), Coral Cove was completed in 1937 on the widest lagoon of the Coral Gables waterway.

‘Tis the Season

In anybody’s book, 2020 has not been a great year. Hopefully it will go down in history as the Year of COVID. I say hopefully, because that would mean we got the pandemic under control in 2021.

The ripple effect of that virus has been astonishing, bringing our economy crashing to the ground. Mostly it demolished employment in the retail and hospitality industries, but those blows are working their way through other sectors, with impacts in commercial real estate, insurance, banking and so forth.

Not all businesses have been ruined. Some, oddly enough, have flourished in the “cosmic dodgeball” of the pandemic, as my wife put it. Most online enterprises have done well, for example, as we gravitate toward anything that avoids direct human contact. But for the most part, we are hurting as a people, with some worse off than others.

In this light, the entire concept of the holidays, those happy celebrations where we find that it is indeed better to give than receive, take on a new cast. Now more than ever we need to help each other, and to try and put a brighter spin on all our challenges. Perhaps we can’t hug as much. But it’s in times like these that we come to realize how important we are to each other, and how

easily we take for granted all the simple pleasures that came with just hanging out with friends and family.

There is something almost Dr. Suesslike in this, where a mean old Grinch has tried to steal our happiness by heisting all our worldly gifts, only to find that our happiness comes from somewhere beyond the material things we thought were so important.

In this issue we honor some of the many citizens of Coral Gables who are philanthropists – people whose fortunes have given them the opportunity to share with those less fortunate. Much of their work lies in the areas of education, healthcare and the arts, where the support they supply improves our situation not only today, but also in the future.

But you don’t have to be rich to give. So much of what is needed requires just a helping hand – time spent caring for the less fortunate, whether they are young or old. Keep that in mind this holiday season, and understand that even the humblest among us have gifts to share.

Cover: The Holiday Issue

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

Andrew Gayle

Doreen Hemlock

Mallory Evans Jacobson

Kylie Wang

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Campina

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

GRAPHIC INTERNS

Avani Choudhary

Alexandra Hopfenberg

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

J.P.FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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.

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

The David William Saga

What an informative article is Sally Baumgarten’s [November issue] about the history of The David William. Although I live near it and was there many times – especially when it housed Chez Vendome – I never knew the story of its builder’s persistence and ability to cope. Congratulations!

Frank Cooper

Dog Park Debacle

Bill Ogden of the Hammock Lakes HOA is being completely disingenuous in his comments about the closure of the gate of School House Road that gives access to West Matheson Hammock Park [November issue, The Great Dog Park Debate]. He says that the launching of this park revamping project and the closure of the gate is nothing to do with them, it’s the County’s decision. He doesn’t mention his active lobbying of Commissioner Suarez nor that of Arnaud Karsenti, the other major lobbyist in the HOA, who pressured Mayor Gimenez. Their emails and lawyers’ letters are now in the public domain.

As for the environmental sensitivity of this park, the grassy areas where people walk their dogs are no longer pristine wetlands, they are just grass. The land was ploughed and cultivated for decades, the soil is full of tin cans and waste from Hurricane Andrew, it is not remotely environmentally sensitive. However, thanks to their lobbying they are trying to force all park users to come into the park via the hugely endangered rockland hammock, so their pressure is causing environmental damage.

Sadly, the Parks Department has fallen prey to their lobbying and are prepared to commit environmental vandalism with their unwanted construction project on the beautiful nature trail. The public rejected the project back in 2015 as the park goers love the unspoiled beauty of the place, but Director Maria Nardi of the Parks Department is pushing her $5 million project through whatever we think. No need for reviews, no need for environmental permits, just do it quickly. Shame on you Nardi.

Niels Pace

Dog Park Blockers

Funny that the gated community wasn’t gated just a few years back, and now they considered the public roads theirs, and

don’t want the free transit that the public is entitled to. That is the main and only reason for this back and forth among the HOA and the park users. Of course, the residents are well known developers and have good relations with City officials, so the users have to get their cars and shoes dirty and walk half a mile to get to the park that the majority of those residents have never even set foot in it. The inconvenience of a few cars going in or out of the North gate is too much for them. So, they pulled some strings and Parks Director Ms. Nardi obliged, and is now spending $5 million on a boardwalk that nobody asked for.

Juan Garcia

Wildlife Rescue

We are so grateful and pleased with the great article “It’s a Hoot’” [November] highlighting the great work that the Seabird Station does to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife in Coral Gables.The city’s verdant tree canopy provides much-needed habitat to SFL native and migrating birds, including the sick eastern screech owl that was rehabilitated at Pelican Harbor Seabird Sation (PHSS), mentioned in the great article. We want to inform the Coral Gables community that we also treat native wildlife, including turtles, squirrels, and opossums, giving these sick, injured, and orphaned animals a second chance thanks to generous community members and foundations support. We invite you to follow us on social media (FB, Instagram and YouTube) and would be happy to give a zoom presentation on what PHSS does to rehabilitate SFL native wildlife to your organizations, business, or schools. If you ever find an injured wild animal, please don’t hesitate to call us at (305) 751-9840.

Kiki Mutis, Operations and Volunteer Manager. Pelican Harbor Seabird Station

Helping Our Military Vets

My name is Jenna Weber and I am a senior at Riviera Preparatory School. Last year, I founded a charity called Domino Effect for Vets, dedicated to serving veterans in poverty and inspired by the trials my family has faced due to my uncle’s PTSD. It consists of backpack drives with daily necessities that I bring to the Miami Veteran’s Administration for distribution. The name of my organi-

zation summarizes the cause which I try to spread awareness about: Firstly, the way in which the effects of war extend beyond veterans into their families and communities and, secondly, the contagious effect of proactive engagement. Founding my charity took considerable perseverance, and certainly built character. I truly think that is a story with a valuable lesson. Additionally, I am always looking to involve the community in my project. I would appreciate the opportunity to have your widely-distributed and well-read publication spread awareness about this issue and provide an outlet to help with it.

Jenna Weber, Senior Class President Riviera Preparatory School jennaweber@rivieraschools.com

Editor’s Note: We greatly appreciate your efforts and your community commitment. This is just what our city needs, and is an example to anyone who believes that empathy, energy and effort can go a long way to helping those in need – including the noble warriors who serve to protect us. For that reason, we have included your email, should anyone among our readers wish to help out.

Covid Budget

How do you reconcile the claim of a “balanced budget” with the figures presented in the story? [November issue] First of all, the story presents shortfall figures ($8.2m this year and $12.6m next). Second, the amounts of Total Expenditures greatly exceed Total Revenues in both 2019-2020 and 20202021 periods. Third, the difference in these Revenue and Expenditure totals are not the reported “shortfall” amounts. Fourth, the two Revenue Totals do not correspond to the sum of their respective components. Nothing in this story makes arithmetic sense.

Guillermo Anllo

Editor’s Note: Thanks for your close attention to the numbers. Yes, they don’t add up. The expenditures for 2019-2020 greatly exceeded revenues, but that is because they included capital projects, such as the new public safety building, which are not paid from those annual revenues but from special set-asides. The expected standard expenditures for 2020-2021 also exceed revenues, which is why the city has frozen certain line items on the expense side. Apologies for not making this clearer. ■

From City Hall

DURING RECENT MEETINGS, CITY COMMISSIONERS…

HEARD FROM ITS LOBBYIST TEAM in Tallahassee, which had secured funding for a number of projects – including $300,000 for dredging canals and $300,000 for sidewalk construction – all of which were vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis post-coronavirus. There were some policy victories, however, including pushbacks on bills that would have reduced the city’s sovereignty, and interfered with building design and fiscal transparency. “All in all, it was a good year,” said Nelson Diaz of Southern Strategy.

OPPOSED A MOVE BY THE COUNTY to “harden” the signal lights at Granada and Coral Way, which would create a huge metal arms over a historic intersection. The option of a roundabout will be pursued.

IN HONOR OF WORLD STROKE DAY, made note of the city’s new and unique use of telemedicine that links emergency personnel to neurologists at Baptist or Jackson Memorial hospitals.

INCREASED ITS FINES for contractors who discharge trash, garbage or pollutants into Gables waterways to $15,000.

HONORED DISTRICT 7 County Commissioner Xavier Suarez, for his help with the various city issues, including money for the Commodore Trail, city trolleys, and to refurbish the Coral Gables Library ($3 million).

APPROVED THE RENAMING of the area south of Bird Road between Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Le Jeune Road as the “Design & Innovation District.”

DELAYED APPROVAL OF THE new zoning code, except for single family housing changes, until the Dec. 8 City Commission meeting. ■

Business News of Note

PRE-LEASING HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED for the latest mega mid-rise along U.S. 1 south of the Shops at Merrick Park, a $500 million project by Minnesota-based Life Time health and wellness company. Adjacent to Gables Station – and in a joint venture with that complex’s builders (Nolan Reynolds International) – the new building will add 1.2 million square feet of mixed use facilities, including 495 upscale apartments, a 70,000-square foot athletic resort and a 22,000-square foot shared work space.

Cracking the Case

FROM THE FILES OF THE CORAL GABLES PD: THE MISSING MERCEDES

BY MIKE CLARY

Had Coral Gables Det. Joel Rios not stopped for lunch at a Pembroke Pines pizza joint, the case of the missing Mercedes might never have been solved. But after a slice of “meat lovers,” the officer decided to drive behind the strip mall on his way back to work, and there it was: The stolen car he’d been searching for.

“The license tag had been changed, and the VIN number did not match, but it had the same damage to the bumper and left side I had been told about,” says Rios.

The case began on Sept. 22 when former city commissioner Bill Kerdyk, Jr. reported his gray 2019 Mercedes Coupe stolen overnight from the driveway of his Granada Boulevard home. The key fob had been left inside.

Rios said he first contacted SunPass, which used the vehicle’s license plate to come up with a picture of the thieves driving the car northbound through the Golden Glades interchange. Then, after Kerdyk called Mercedes to have the built-in GPS tracking system activated, Rios followed the pings to a gated neighborhood in Pembroke Pines.

Rios says he had knocked

on about 20 doors along one street before breaking for that fortuitous slice.

Within days of the theft, the purloined Mercedes, valued at $50,000, had a new license tag, new VIN number and a phony title, and was sold via Craigs List for $16,500 to a Miramar woman. She is now without the car or her cash, says Rios.

The car thieves are still on the loose, and may be part of a Broward-based gang that had been targeting luxury vehicles in the Gables and other areas. Often, say police, thieves are alerted to unlocked cars by side mirrors that are not folded down.

For his dogged detective work, Rios was honored by the department as Officer of the Quarter and presented with a plaque at the Nov. 10 city commission meeting. Chief Ed Hudak praised “the tenacity of the detective” in pursuing the case.

Kerdyk was “super happy” to get his car back, says Rios, a cop for 22 years. Meanwhile, the hunt for the thieves goes on. “In 98 percent of cases, the cars have the keys left in them, but that does not deter Rios and [other officers] from doing what they can in breaking up this ring,” says Hudak. ■

RIOS AND HIS RECOGNITION WITH MAYOR RAÚL VALDÉS-FAULI

Signs of the Times

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS have pledged $75 million to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center on the UM campus. This is the second major gift to the cancer center; earlier this fall, an anonymous gift of $126 million was made. Both donations will be used to support over 300 doctors and researchers at UM Sylvester. UM will rename the Sylvester Courtyard in honor of the Dolphins Challenger Cancer (DCC) program.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI has announced they are conducting a pilot study for a new, rapid Covid test that examines air droplets from a person’s breath. Similar to the breath test for drunk drivers, the Israeli-produced COVID-19 Breath Analyzer is “as simple as a kazoo—you just blow into it,” says Roy E. Weiss, chair of the Miller School of Medicine Department of Medicine and chief medical officer for COVID-19. “And if it works, it will be a game changer.” ■

Wawa Wins

The city’s public works department has now inventoried all of the signs in the City of Coral Gables, with an eye to reducing “sign pollution.” Begun in 2018, the study determined that there were 12,751 signs in the city (traffic, regulatory, warning, guide signs, etc.), and 2,426 street name “monuments” – the white stone markers on the ground.

After investing $35,096 in a study of three areas of the city, the department’s consultants estimated that 29 percent of the

Rarely has there been such an array of opposition to the construction of a gas station/convenience store on U.S. 1. But in a recent city commission meeting more than 50 people – via Zoom – declared their unhappiness with the pending construction of a new Wawa on the edge of the MacFarlane subdivision, at Grand Avenue and U.S. 1

The reason for the opposition was that the Wawa will go up across from George Washington Carver Elementary School, and parents contended that it will create dangerous traffic, air pollution, increased crime and lead to obesity among students (in addition to junk food, Wawa serves breakfast, lunch and dinner meals).

“I do not want a gas station in front of my elementary school,” declared resident Julia Cantor. Said Estelle Lockhart, the PTA president for GW Carver, “We are appalled that the City of Coral Gables has pressed ahead with issuing

signs should be removed, and 22 percent changed, relocated or replaced.

When those estimates were expanded citywide, the costs were determined as follows: $87,000 to remove unnecessary signs, $52,000 to replace signs, and $55,000 to relocate signs. These estimates do not include signs controlled by the county, which are not likely to be changed unless they create a public danger. No word on when this effort will be funded. ■

permits.” The problem, noted City Attorney Miriam Ramos, is that the city long ago zoned the property commercial, and “The city cannot dictate what is built on that site, so long as it is consistent with the zoning and land use for that site.” In fact, the city held hearings in 2014 when it approved a site plan for the project. City officials then debunked the parent’s concerns over crime, traffic and air pollution.

In the end, noted Commissioner Michael Mena, the issue was one of property rights. “This is a private owner of private property. This is not a city project,” he said, and you cannot tell an owner what to build so long as it does not violate the zoning code. He also noted that the McFarlane neighborhood association liked the project, both for its convenience and for the jobs it will provide. Meanwhile, with only a few exceptions, almost all of the parents who opposed the project were not Coral Gables residents. ■

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The Soul of Miracle Mile

TRADITION, POLITICS, COLOR FIGHT OVER THE GABLES ZONING REWRITE

The assessment of Coral Gables’ signature downtown business district from Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli could not have been more dire. “Miracle Mile is sick,” he said at a recent commission meeting, sounding a warning aimed at fellow commissioners and residents alike. “Have you counted the empty stores? Because Miracle Mile is in trouble, and we have to do something to help it.”

That help could come via a rewrite of the city’s zoning code, opening the door to construction of six-story hotels on the iconic Mile and triggering development of smaller mixed-use projects designed to attract residents and visitors. At stake is not only the survival of retailers, but also the entire look and feel of the four-block business district.

Yet while the mayor and the other four members of the commission near a final vote on the city’s new, 1,000-page zoning code, there is far from unanimity about what to do about the Mile. The debate has already become a flash point in what’s expected

BY MIKE CLARY

to be a heated contest for mayor early next year between Vice Mayor Vince Lago and Commissioner Pat Keon.

“It is not appropriate to have a six-story building on Miracle Mile,” said Lago, who insists that allowing buildings above three or four stories would imperil the city’s distinctive “smalltown feel.” Lago, who announced his candidacy for mayor last year, added, “Height has never been a cure to our ills. What we need is more residential.”

Keon, who said she would formally announce her mayoral candidacy by the end of November, agrees that adding residences to the downtown area is key to revitalization. But she argues that opposition to six-story structures on the Mile is rooted in nostalgia for a past long gone. “There is so much misinformation,” says Keon, responding to fears that Miracle Mile could end up looking like a high-rise jungle. “How could a concrete canyon happen on a street with a heavily planted green median, sidewalks and shade canopy?... We know that

to revitalize the Mile requires [putting] people in that space, to frequent those businesses.”

A $25 million streetscape project, completed in 2018, did not create the surge of pedestrian traffic on the Mile that many officials hoped to see. Then the pandemic struck. Shops and restaurants closed and vacancy rates shot up. “I don’t believe there is a magic bullet to what’s ailing Miracle Mile right now,” said Commissioner Michael Mena. “But every analysis I know of, from the Business Improvement District to the Chamber of Commerce, suggests that one of the keys is more people living in the area.”

As it now stands, putting up six-story buildings on Miracle Mile is currently possible under the existing city zoning code, last revised in 2007. In October 2018 the city commission approved what are called Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to allow the real estate development firm Terranova to build a 120-room hotel designed by Arquitectonica on

the corner of Miracle Mile at Ponce de Leon Boulevard. But the requirement to provide adequate on-site parking effectively scuttled the project.

To block projects like Terranova’s, Lago has proposed permitting remote parking while tweaking the formula that sets the permissible floor-area-toheight ratio. That change would encourage Mile property owners to add on to their buildings, but go no higher than three or four stories. “Allowing six stories would change our historic downtown and be incredibly detrimental,” said Lago.

Commissioner Jorge Fors, who joined Lago in voting against the Terranova project last year, says he has been hearing from many residents who recognize the importance of the zoning code vote. “Miracle Mile is a special street, and we have to be careful about the decisions we make there,” he said. “In an era of uncertainty, we should err on the side of being conservative. With Miracle Mile, we better make sure we get it right.” ■

COMMISSIONER PAT KEON AND VICE MAYOR VINCE LAGO DEBATE THE VISION FOR A SMALL SCALE MIRACLE MILE

A River Runs Through It

THE CITY GETS SERIOUS ABOUT CONTROLLING WATER POLLUTION

BY MIKE CLARY

The imagery was shocking – a plume of pollution emanating from a construction site in Gables Estates, with grey runoff oozing into the pristine waters that feed from the Coral Gables Waterway into Biscayne Bay.

This incident, presented to the city commission by Vice Mayor Vince Lago earlier this fall, was a wake-up call. Lago used it specifically to increase fines for such acts of pollution from its current $500 to 30 times that amount. “$500 is not a fine for a $5 million project,” he said. “That is just a cost of doing business.”

Lago also used the incident – which took place in the same

time period as a massive algae bloom that left thousands of dead fish floating in the bay – as a call to action. “It is absolutely necessary for us to protect our waterways,” said Lago. “This is a non-partisan issue.” Besides the degradation of lifestyle that polluted waters cause, Lago pointed out the economic factor. “If the bay dies, what happens to property values?” he asked. What happens indeed. There are more than 40 miles of coastline in Coral Gables, and residents who live in waterfront homes on canals that front Biscayne Bay or along the Coral Gables Waterway provide 25 percent of property taxes for the city. Continued ...

“IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR US TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS. THIS IS A NON-PARTISAN ISSUE. IF THE BAY DIES, WHAT HAPPENS TO PROPERTY VALUES?”

VICE MAYOR VINCE LAGO

$1,650,000

$1,995,000

MIDDLE: AN FIU INITIATIVE TO MONITOR OUR WATERWAYS AND COLLECT DATA.

BOTTOM: WATERFRONT PROPERTIES ON CANALS AND WATERWAYS PROVIDE 25 PERCENT OF THE CITY’S PROPERTY TAXES.

“This is about the overall quality and respect we give to our waterways,” says Lago. “It makes complete sense that we need to make this our priority.”

With that in mind, the city has enacted a series of initiatives designed to protect the Gables Waterway and the shoreline along the bay. Part of that effort was the recent “cleanup season,” which ran from Sept. 19 to Nov.

1. Unlike previous (pre-Covid) cleanups, no gangs of volunteers could congregate, so this year solo cleanups were encouraged. Lago and his wife Olga contributed $500 each for prize money to the winner of the best “before and after” cleanup shot (winners to be announced in late November).

Among other steps taken by Coral Gables officials in recent months to cut back on pollutants flowing into the waterways:

• Installation of a “Smart Sponge Line Skimmer” at the Riviera Drive outfall, west of Coral Gables High School, a favorite wintertime gathering spot for manatees. The skimmer, a donation from SCR Mechanical of Coral Gables, is designed to prevent oil and other street runoff hydrocarbons from entering the waterway.

• Approval of a $5,000 pilot project to install in the downtown area up to 20 grates over storm drains designed to block trash from ending up in the waterway. If the program is successful, the grates would be installed over drains throughout the city.

• Increased monitoring of construction sites, where debris and pollutant runoff often spills into the waterways, and tougher penalties for violations. In October the city commission unanimously voted to beef up the code so that property owners or contractors could be fined up to $15,000.

• Tightened restrictions on the use of fertilizers during the June through November rainy season in an effort to prevent chemical runoff into the waterways, a measure initially introduced last year by Commissioner Pat Keon.

• Sponsoring an International Coastal Clean-Up competition; a socially-distanced, age-ofCovid effort in partnership with Ocean Conservancy and Keep Coral Gables Beautiful designed to encourage volunteers to compete for prizes by picking up litter and tracking on an app the amount of debris collected.

“Coral Gables is blessed with beautiful waterways, all tied to property values, recreational opportunities and the environment,” says Rachel Silverstein, executive director of the public interest group Miami Waterkeeper. “We have to be sure we are carefully controlling pollution that gets into those waterways from septic tanks, storm water runoff and fertilizer overuse… I think communities are realizing the value of clean water, of having backyards full of wildlife.”

Of course, cutting down on plastics, chemicals, oils and other pollutants that are washed, blown or dumped into local waterways may not be a panacea for sea level rise, sea grass die-offs, algae blooms, or massive fish kills. But it is a start, experts say.

Just how endangered Coral Gables waterways are may come into clearer focus thanks to a multi-year study of the city’s waterways being led by researchers at Florida International University. The study, for which the city has budgeted $1.2 million over next five years, will sample water quality as a means of pinpointing the sources of nutrients that run off into ground water and end up in Gables’ canals and Biscayne Bay. ■

TOP: KELLY COX FROM MIAMI WATERKEEPER, COLLECTING WATER SAMPLES TO TEST.

Demystifing the Facelift

Q &A’s: Mini or What?

1. MINI FACE: For someone with early cheek skin relaxation but no neck concerns.

2. MINI NECK: For the patient whose mid face looks good but with early neck skin loosening and no need for muscle band tightening.

3. FACE PLUS MINI NECK: Addresses prominent cheek jowls and early neck skin relaxation but no muscle bands

4. NECK LIFT: For the patient with a saggy neck and visible muscle bands that need tightening. Usually part of the Face and Neck Lift.

5. FACE AND NECK LIFT: The gold standard and longest lasting results. For the patient with cheek jowls, neck sagging and muscle bands that need tightening. Restores tone to the cheek and neck muscles and removes all loose skin. You look yourself but refreshed and no longer tired. Skin looks young again.

What to Choose?

It depends on anatomical findings and a patient’s expectations.

Where are the scars?

Designed carefully around the ear to be imperceptible.

Is there a scar under the chin?

Only if the neck muscles deserve tightening which provides for the longest lasting and best neck result. One inch long and hidden.

What about anesthesia?

Everyone’s worry, yet it’s safer than driving in South Florida, Local numbing is always utilized to prevent pain. How much other anesthesia is used depends on the procedure, but most patients prefer to sleep and wake up when surgery is over.

Everyone’s

How to get started?

Consult with an experienced plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Face surgery isn’t easy, so do your research - it’s your face after all.

STEPHAN

Stephan Baker MD

worry, yet anesthesia is safer than driving in South Florida

Living

BOOKS

The Art of the Kite

ARTIST CARLOS ESTEVEZ STARTS A KITE-MAKING CRAZE THAT WILL END UP IN GABLES SHOP WINDOWS

BY J.P FABER

In the best-selling novel “The Kite Runner,” the children battle each other with kites that are designed to cut each other’s strings. The last to stay airborne is the winner.

The opposite is the case this month, as children from across Miami-Dade County are being encouraged to construct kites by local artist Carlos Estevez. Everyone is included and everyone who participates is a winner.

The project is part of Illuminate Coral Gables, a city and donation-funded art installation project that will dramatically light up buildings around the downtown starting in the first week of January. Estevez was tagged to join Illuminate after curators of the massive light show saw his work on display at UM’s Lowe Art Museum. The building he will illuminate is City Hall, which will come alive with animated forms dancing across the windows at night.

In the meantime, Estevez – whose own kite creations have become collectable fine art (Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli owns one) – has filmed an instructional video workshop that will be shown via the Miami-Dade school system to students from 2nd through 12th grade.

“This workshop for children consists in building flying kites,” says Estevez. “They represent our quest for reaching our dreams. The kites include the construction of the structures and the drawings that cover them. The subject will be a self-portrait of each child, depicting their faces in an imaginary way.” The kites also represent the idea that anyone can create art using simple materials that can be found at home, a reflection of the resource-challenged Cuban childhood of

Miami-based Estevez.

“Carlos would use household items that he would create things from,” says Matt Hegge, who handles public relations for Illuminate, and whose firm MHCPCOLAB produced the instructional workshop video. “Likewise, the children [here] are building the kites from basic items they can find at home, in everyday life.”

The idea of the countywide kite building program was to include greater participation in what promises to be a national level art event for the city. “The kites are about self-portraiture and identity and inclusivity,” says Lance Fung of San Francisco-based Fung Collaboratives, the lead curator for Illuminate. “It shows the full nature of what art and Coral Gables embraces – that everyone should have a seat at the table.”

Originally, plans called for kids from across Miami-Dade to assemble near City Hall for a “giant kite parade” involving dance and music, as part of the Illuminate program. But the pandemic put an end to that. Instead, at the suggestion of Gables culture director Catherine Cathers, the kites will be offered for window displays throughout the downtown.

“We are offering them to businesses that are open if they want to incorporate them into their displays,” says Patrick O’Connell, senior VP of BHHS/EWM and co-director of Illuminate Coral Gables. The massive new lobby of the Plaza Coral Gables office tower on Ponce Circle will also be displaying a vast array of the kites.■

LOCAL ARTIST CARLOS ESTEVEZ IS ENCOURAGING CHILDREN TO CONSTRUCT KITES AS PART OF ILLUMINATE CORAL GABLES, A CITY AND DONATION-FUNDED ART INSTALLATION PROJECT.

Coming Together (While Staying Apart)

GABLES CHURCHES FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

DURING COVID-19

BY KYLIE WANG

Worshiping in public with friends and family was taken for granted before COVID-19 hit earlier this year. As the holiday season approaches, the question is: How can churchgoers stay safe while still coming together for prayer, especially during a time when many need it most? In Coral Gables, churches are looking to answer that question with increasingly new and inventive ideas.

At Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, Pastor Laurie Hafner has come up with an innovative new way for her congregation to come together while staying apart: Drive-in services. For monthly communion, attendees drive to the church parking lot, where they are met with greeters who hand out bags with the bulletin and communion sets inside, along with some snacks. Parishioners tune into an FM radio station that broadcasts the service inside their vehicles and respond at key times by honking their horns, moving their windshield wipers or blinking their lights for the Passing of the Peace.

“It takes a lot to coordinate this,” says Pastor Hafner. “We’ll keep figuring out ways to open our door wider to welcome folks in, whether that’s in person or virtually.”

Halfner admits that her congregation is itching to come back to in-person services, but not at the expense of the health and wellness of others. While the church waits to open back up, they also perform regular services over Zoom, which Hafner has dubbed “virch” or virtual church. People from all over the globe attend every Sunday, from places like Tahiti, Panama, England and Ohio.

The First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables

has also been performing virtual services since March 15, with Pastor Hedy Collver creating pre-produced videos every week to address the need for continued worship. Recently, she began doing live streams of in-person services, which have returned –albeit with social distancing measures in place. “Everybody’s been taking it seriously,” Collver says. “We have been very careful.”

The proof is in a large floor plan Collver created in the church entrance. It shows every pew, many of which are roped off, with each available seat covered with a numbered Post-it. Worshipers remove the Post-it for their chosen seat, which indicates it has been taken. Attendance is only at about 20 percent, but Collver and her parishioners are happy to be back inside their place of worship.

Over at Saint Augustine Church, Father Richard Vigoa started doing online mass and other events, like Parish Town Hall, which informed parishioners of the latest updates and brought in speakers like Mario Enzler, a former Swiss Guard who served Pope Saint John Paul II. This is the silver lining – that many speakers usually unable to attend a service in Coral Gables can now be Zoomed in.

“I think that online mass and the different shows we’ve been doing have been a lifeline for our parishioners because they feel that they’re still connected to the parish,” says Father Vigoa. “Although they may not feel safe venturing outside, they still have that outlet and that reminder that the spiritual life is the most important thing right now to help them get over this serious, anxious time.”

At the end of May, Saint Augustine Church started conducting in-person services again and are now allowing about 30 percent of their usual capacity inside. Father Vigoa is confident that they will be back to full capacity as soon as a vaccine is available. ■

CORAL GABLES CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IS HOLDING DRIVE-IN SERVICES WHERE THE CONGREGATION STAYS INSIDE THEIR CARS.

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Don’t Let Him Go

LOCAL BOOK GURU MITCHELL KAPLAN SCORES ON THE BIG SCREEN

BY DOREEN HEMLOCK

Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan has scored a major success with his latest film “Let Him Go” debuting last month at No. 1 at box offices in America, filling the house at its local premiere at Coral Gables Art Cinema, and drawing sterling reviews from movie critics.

The neo-Western thriller stars Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as a retired sheriff and his wife who leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from a dangerous family that’s living off the grid in the Dakotas. The movie opened Nov. 6 at nearly 2,500 movie theaters nationwide, earning $4.1 million its first weekend, according to industry reports.

It’s the fourth feature film from Kaplan’s production company that takes books to the big screen – and soon to the small

screen as TV series as well. Kaplan says “Let Him Go,” based on the Larry Watson novel, offers “a combination of a road trip movie and a mature love story, and it’s also a bit of a thriller, a throwback to the pulp thrillers.”

The movie, shot in Canada last year, was originally slated for an August 2020 debut. “There’s some sadness,” concedes Kaplan. “We weren’t really able to have an official in-person premiere where we could all connect again. And it’s doing so well that if it weren’t for the pandemic, more people would be seeing it” in theaters. The film is now available for at-home viewing.

Next for The Mazur Kaplan Company: “The Silent Wife,” based on the book by A.S.A. Harrison and starring Nicole Kidman. ■

Court is in Session

JUDGE MARILYN MILIAN HOLDS “THE PEOPLE’S COURT”

FROM HER GABLES HOME

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

The popular television show

“The People’s Court” looks a little different this season. Instead of filming at their studio in Connecticut, all participants of the show appear digitally, including Judge Marilyn Milian – who appears from the living room of her Gables home. Of course, it won’t look like a living room, but like a courtroom/television set.

They began filming the season this summer when Connecticut had a two-week quarantine requirement for people traveling from several other states, including Florida. “The question became do we not tape, or do we try to give America what they want and figure out a way to do it from home?” said Judge Milian. There is still a skeleton crew at the Connecticut studio, but the judge, plaintiffs and defendants appear

on screens in the “courtroom.”

For the judge, the biggest challenge in holding virtual court is the lack of separation between work and home.

“There’s no respite,” she says. The next biggest challenge is that her three daughters are all coming home for the holidays and there are lights and cameras where the Christmas tree usually sits. “It’s one thing to just work from your home, it’s another to have work take over your home.”

The show now also includes a segment called “After the Verdict,” where Judge Milian and her husband, Judge John Schlesinger, discuss cases and give legal advice.

“On top of the fact that we don’t leave our house, we also work together,” laughs Judge Milian, who has been a Gables resident since 1974. ■

Best Bets FOR DECEMBER

MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS (TOP)

Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre finally reopens this month for a live production of “Madeline’s Christmas.” There will be performances on Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at 2 p.m., as well as a special holiday performance on Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. Tickets: $25. Book your tickets early, as seating is limited. Actorsplayhouse.org.

HISTORIC HOLIDAYS EVENING STROLLS (BOTTOM)

Walk around the main grounds of Deering Estate to see the Historic Homes decorated by top interior designers for the holidays. Mrs. Claus will be reading stories and children are encouraged to drop off their letters to Santa. Dec. 4 and 16. Tickets: $7 – $15, must be reserved online in advance. Deeringestate.org.

HOT CHOCOLATE WITH SANTA

Sip on hot cocoa with Santa and decorate festive cookies on Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of City Hall. Admission is $5 per person and free for children under three-years-old.

MAGICAL PARK AFTER DARK

It’s a glow-in-the-dark event where families can experience the Magical Park augmented reality games at the War Memorial Youth Center athletic field. Bring a cellphone or tablet to explore this new virtual fantasyland. Dec. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, reserve tickets at playgables.com.

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Shop

GISELE COASTERS: RETAIL: $48 FROM ANTHROPOLOGIE AT SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK

For the Girl Who Has Everything

EXPLORING THE CHOICES AT ANTHROPOLOGIE

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

Anthropologie (or Anthro, as it’s lovingly known by its loyalists) is a staple in Coral Gables. It is a go-to destination for women with a particular mindset – and for those in need of a gift for said women. They are best classified as well-heeled, well-traveled, and sophisticated, with an earthy bent. And usually they already have the material items one would normally crave; therefore, Anthropologie’s meticulously curated selection of clothing and accessories, candles, décor and beauty products is appealing.

When I stepped into the Merrick Park store (it was a pretty big step, as it was my first time at a shopping center since early March), I was hit with the sensations of pure joy and wanderlust. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve missed getting out of the house, but it could also be the dried bouquets of flowers that decorate the vibrant displays, or the autumn-hued dresses and cozy sweaters that beckoned me to dream about a future vacation.

I visited the brick and mortar shop, rather than simply shopping online, because in my opinion there’s nothing like perusing a physical store. Also, I needed some inspiration. The goal was to find holiday gifts for a few special women in my life: My 27-year-old sister, my two

sisters-in-law, my mother, and my mother-in-law. Each of these women have different styles, but the common denominator is that they all fall into the category of women who are difficult to shop for.

Shopping for my sister wasn’t too tough this go around because she mentioned wanting a pair of shoes from Veja, the trending French footwear brand. Anthropologie carries almost a dozen styles, but I chose the classic low top Esplar sneakers (retail: $120). For my sisters-in-law, I made a beeline for the jewelry display. As both women have an affinity for dainty pieces, I chose two Tova colorpop monogram necklaces (retail: $88) and continued on.

Next up were the mothers. My mom is a devoted fan of all things animal print. So when I saw the Hadley knit kimono (retail: $98) in a “neutral” shade of light brown leapoard, I knew it would be the perfect piece for my mom to throw on whenever she feels like adding a little pizzazz to an outfit. For my mother-in-law, I selected the Arctic Twilight cheese board (retail: $88), as I know she could use it when entertaining in her modern kitchen. ■

TOP LEFT: TOVA COLORPOP MONOGRAM NECKLACES RETAIL $88

MIDDLE: VEJA LOW-TOP ESPLAR SNEAKERS: RETAIL $120

IF YOU NEED GIFTS FOR FRIENDS, COWORKERS, OR OTHER VIPS IN YOUR LIFE, HERE ARE A FEW MORE CRAVE-WORTHY OPTIONS:

COLORPLAY BACKGAMMON SET: RETAIL: $98

HEARTS EMBROIDERED SWEATER: RETAIL: $148

GISELE COASTERS: RETAIL: $48 (SEE PREVIOUS PAGE)

MEGAN CARN SAFARI PLAYING CARDS: RETAIL: $21

FOTINI TIKKOU VISAGE MUG: RETAIL: $14

ANTHROPOLOGIE SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK 305.443.0021

ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM

Miracle Miler

WITH A LOYAL CUSTOMER BASE AND AFFORDABLE FASHIONS, ESSENCE BOUTIQUE HAS WEATHERED THE COVID-19 DOWNTURN ON THE CITY’S MAIN STREET

BY KIM RODRIGUEZ

The beautiful shopping cornerstone of Coral Gables, Miracle Mile, has gone through decades of changes since the 1940s. Most recently the retail landscape here has endured the Covid impact, and before that a complete streetscape overhaul that finally wrapped up in 2018. The result has been the loss of a number of stores that have had to close their doors. But Essence Boutique remained hopeful, stayed open, weathered the storm and now looks toward a bright future on the famous Mile.

Owner Sandra Moreira, who left Bogota, Colombia 30 years ago for the Sunshine State, has seen her share of ups and downs. She and her family are entrepreneurs, after all, who decided to test the world of fashion retail by opening Essence Boutique in the heart of Coral Gables. Fifteen years later, they are still here.

Essence is truly a family venture, owned by Moreira and her son. She works in the shop every day and even her husband helps out. “We love the diversity of cultures in Miami,” she says.

“The Latin American, European and Caribbean cultural flair runs throughout the Gables, and it has always been the most beautiful neighborhood to us.” And, fortunately for the Colombian, it is a city with a huge number of Spanish speakers.

Moreira says that Essence has survived tough times, including the present-day pandemic, largely due to a loyal and gracious customer base. Most recently, she says, they were afraid she might close her doors,

and so supported her business rather than purchase from online mega stores. Another reason the store has survived is what it has to offer in the way of one-stop shopping, which is important to shoppers these days.

Moreira carries an array of apparel which spans from Colombian bathing suits, mini and maxi dresses, skirts, and an array of tops, to denim and trending pieces like shoulder padded tees and cute sweater and loungewear sets. She also carries shoes, bags, and affordable jewelry from Brazil. With price points ranging from $35 to $200, Essence can satisfy women of all ages.

The holidays are here so what’s in store for the boutique this season? “Since we live in the ‘sexy’ city of Miami, we always try to bring in new merchandise that caters to our local market, which is both sexy and classy,” says Moreira. There will be metallic and plaid pieces, short slip dresses, sequined midi dresses, and lingerie-inspired pieces that will pair back to the core collections. Follow them on Instagram @essencemiami for new arrivals and specials. ■

ESSENCE BOUTIQUE 78 MIRACLE MILE 305.448.6777

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

OWNER SANDRA MOREIRA FROM BOGOTA OPENED ESSENCE BOUTIQUE 15 YEARS AGO. SHE SAYS “THE LATIN AMERICAN, EUROPEAN AND CARIBBEAN CULTURAL FLAIR RUNS THROUGHOUT THE GABLES....”

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Bites

BURGER BOB’S IS FACING HARD TIMES INDUCED BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT PROPRIETOR BOB MCGUIRE IS GETTING HELP FROM HIS LOYAL CUSTOMERS. PAGE 44.

Chocolate? It Never Goes Out of Style

Every day at Chocolate Fashion is a little different. Different menu items rotate in and out as new recipes are tried. But there are two constants: The love of chocolate and the presence of owner Persy Berger.

While Chocolate Fashion started as a small bakery business run out of Berger and her ex-husband’s home 16 years ago, it is now a staple of downtown Coral Gables that specializes in French pastries and Frenchstyle breakfast and lunch. And, oh yes, a constant selection of goods made from that roasted and ground paste of cacao seeds known as chocolate.

Berger is behind the counter every day, often arriving at 5 or 6 a.m. with her head chef. “We make everything from scratch,” she says. “We don’t buy anything already-made.” That’s quite an accomplishment considering the

four display cases full of pastries, chocolates, tarts, cakes and more; cases that are already being depleted by 9 a.m. on weekday mornings. Everything from the jam to the salad croutons to the loaves of bread lining the walls are homemade from French recipes.

Berger is also constantly working with her head chef to develop new recipes, like a steak sauce (bourbon whiskey, balsamic vinaigrette and a secret ingredient) served with the filet mignon that usually appears on the weekend menus. But the real draw of Chocolate Fashion lies in the brightly lit cases that form the counter. Here you can find chocolate balls of every variety, fruit tarts loaded with berries and thinly sliced chocolate curls, and white chocolate mousse cakes with crème brûlée tucked sneakily inside.

The most popular pastries

are the flaky croissants, often drizzled with chocolate (of course) or loaded with sticky almonds and dusted with powdered sugar. But it’s hard to take your eyes off the brightly colored chocolate mousse topped with passionfruit, or the key lime tart with toasted whipped cream, or the chocolate cakes, chocolate eclairs, chocolate muffins – you get the idea.

“We don’t give our customers anything we wouldn’t want to be served ourselves,” says Percy. “And we do things with heart – not because we have to, but because we love to do it.” Our advice: Stop by for a pastry, but stay for breakfast or lunch. And don’t forget to take home a few chocolate bonbons. ■

chocolatefashiononline.com

Where the Twain Meets

Sawa restaurant in the courtyard of Merrick Park continues to proffer a menu that is split between Lebanese and Japanese dishes. Occasionally the two culinary worlds actually collide: We recently happily dined on their Japanese bento box with a skewer of juicy lamb where the sushi usually resides. Very inter-national.

The

Same Batter but Better

For Gables downtowners, Threefold means the restaurant on Giralda Plaza. But their so-called South Miami location (actually South Gables) is a small, breezy café version on Red Road just north of Sunset. Their menu contains the same favorites, like salmon scramble and Indonesian fried rice. We tried their generously portioned fish & chips ($16), unexpectedly tasty thanks to the fish used: Corvina rather than cod.

Down a Different Road

Speaking of Giralda Plaza, Bangkok Bangkok II has been a fixture there forever. Now it’s reinvented itself as Khaosan Road, the famous home to Thai street food. For diehard fans of the old menu, they’ve kept a few favorite dishes. But now you can order pork jerky with a spicy sauce, or chive dumplings with sweet soy, or fried tofu and boiled eggs with peanut sauce, straight from the ancient pedestrian road near Bangkok’s Grand Palace. ■

STORY & PHOTO BY KYLIE WANG

From Basque to Bravas

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

Formerly known as Mara Basque Cuisine & Lounge, Tapeo Eatery & Bar offers Spanish tapas at the east end of Giralda Plaza. They have an expansive interior, as well as plenty of outdoor seating options on the pedestrian walkway. Seeing as it was a cool evening (and by cool we mean below 80 degrees), we opted for a table on the Plaza.

From 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, Tapeo offers half-priced cocktails. Their drink menu includes lots of classics, like a margarita, a Moscow mule, an old fashioned (called a Rum Fashion here) and a cosmopolitan. However, after sampling quite a few happy hour menus in this city, it was refreshing to see some different concoctions.

Inspired by the people next to us (who were tossing back dirty martinis) we ordered the lychee martini. Instead of just mixing lychee juice with Tito’s, it seemed as though the fruit was

blended or pureed, giving it almost the consistency of a frozen drink. A+ for texture and flavor. We’ve sampled lychee martinis at a handful of Gables establishments and would argue that Tapeo has the best in the city.

Like any good Spanish restaurant, Tapeo offers both red and white sangria. The white sangria, made with cava, rum and topped with fruit, is served in a tall, narrow glass. The sweet, tropical-looking drink will transport you from the mainland of Spain to the Canary Islands. While lychee martinis and Aperol spritzes may be relatively standard drinks you can order at any bar or restaurant, we hardly ever see them on a cocktail menu, meaning they rarely enjoy happy hour discounts.

Unfortunately, their tapas aren’t part of happy hour. But we still wanted to sample a couple of plates. Fortunately, most of the small plates only cost around

$10. The menu is divided into three sections: The Soil (vegetarian), The Deep (seafood) and The Ranch (meat). From The Soil, the rustic baby potatoes ($8) – known as patatas bravas to the rest of us – are covered in a spicy brava sauce made with paprika. The potatoes are cooked to crispy perfection and the brava adds a nice side of heat. From The Ranch, the croquetas de vaca frita ($10, shown above) are a delicious spin on the classic ham croquetas (which are on the menu, too). They also have codfish croquetas in The Deep portion of the menu for those who prefer theirs in seafood form. If we were staying for dinner, we definitely would have tried the Andalucia chops – grilled lamb chops with saffron risotto – or the seafood paella for two. ■

Hot Chicks

Eating House already has great deals on pasta dishes on Wednesday nights. Now on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., they’re serving four different styles of hot chicken, like Nashville Style (cayenne and brown sugar) and Havana Style (cayenne and sazon completa). They can be served as a chicken sandwich, chicken and waffles, or with black truffle mac and cheese, coleslaw and corn on the cob.

Health Hub

Known for its healthy options, Carrot Express on Miracle Mile has released new dishes. The vegan picadillo bowl is made with Beyond Meat picadillo, served over brown rice and topped with black beans, avocado, pico de gallo and sweet plantains. The menu now also includes an avocado toast tartare: Zak the Baker bread with smashed avocado, crumbled feta, red pepper flakes and either tuna or salmon tartare.

Fresh Calories

The game to play at Seasons 52 on Miracle Mile is calorie counting. The menu keeps the count for you – along with leaf symbols next to “our favorites,” what they consider to be the top choices in their self-consciously fresh, seasonal fare. We went with these favs: A cup of butternut squash soup (190 calories), a shared Korean BBQ skewer (235 for our half), and a sesame-grilled salmon salad (510 calories). Funny, we didn’t feel that full after 935 calories! ■

An Ode to the Humble Hamburger (and Chili)

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

For those who have lived in the Gables for any length of time, Burger Bob’s on the Granada Golf Course is an institution. Under the same ownership for 27 years, it is a throwback in time, reminiscent of a soda-shop era when hamburgers were just hamburgers, orders sizzled on a hot grill and the waitresses called you “honey.” Today it still offers a bowl of its popular chili for $4 (50 cents extra for cheese and onions) and the only hamburgers anywhere that still sell for $5.

There is nothing formal here, just revolving stools at the counter and ersatz red leather-covered metal chairs at Formica tables. Depending on the time of day, you will find proprietor Bob McGuire behind the cash register or behind the

dishwasher, serving the regular customers that he says make up 80 percent of his business. The food consists of classic diner fare for breakfast, such as egg plates and pancakes, along with burger melts and sandwiches for lunch – with a good side of coleslaw or potato salad.

“Going to Burger Bob’s is like coming home,” says Hank Langston, a customer for 20 years, who visits about three times a week. “My favorite food is the hamburgers. But don’t miss out on the French toast for breakfast. Also, their Reuben sandwich. And their chili? It’s the best in town.”

Ask Bob what the secret to his success is, and he will tell you it’s all about finding the best help. “Good help, that’s all. And nice

people – nice neighborhood, nice customers.”

Waitress Rose has been with him for 19 years; Manager Rita, for 26 years. Ask for the secret formula to his ever-popular chili, and Bob just chuckles. “Rita and I are the only ones who know. The recipe goes to the grave with us,” he says.

Now, however, Bob is facing hard times induced by the pandemic. Still a stalwart who rises before dawn so he can stop at the farmers market for fresh produce, Bob rents his space from the city. When officials closed down Bob’s and the pro shop because of Covid, he was not even given

BURGER BOB’S 2001 GRANADA BLVD. 305-567-3100

BURGER BOB’S PERSEVERES, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM ITS FRIENDS

BURGER BOB’S ON THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE SERVES UP HAMBURGERS THAT TAKE YOU BACK TO THE HAPPY DAYS OF THE SODA-SHOP ERA.

the option of offering takeout.

The result was a predictable loss of revenue and an inability to pay rent, utilities, vendors, insurance and so forth. The debts accumulated quickly, with little recourse to pay them – until the community decided to help out. A GoFundMe page was set up by resident and loyal customer Steven Krams, with the aim of raising $20,000 to bail Bob out. As of press time, more than half that amount had been collected.

“His many local patrons are concerned that, with the stresses that he is dealing with, we might lose our beloved Burger Bob,” wrote Krams on a GoFundMe page entitled Helping Burger Bob’s. “He could use a little help from his friends to keep going until [patrons] start coming back in enough volume to pay all the operating expenses.” To make a donation, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/ helping-burger-bob039s.

Bob remains philosophical about the situation and is embarrassed by the funding efforts. Thinking back to when he took over the restaurant (which had been there for 30 years), he reminisces, “I probably needed a job. I cooked at home with my mother, and so I told them I was a cook. And here I am – back to where I started, washing dishes.” Bob actually had been a food service director at the Miami Heart Institute for 20 years before starting Burger Bob’s. He had already decided to retire and “was getting restless, so this was the thing to do. Coral Gables was the place to be.”

If you do decide to dine at Bob’s, just remember to bring cash. That is another throwback to an earlier era. And expect Bob to be there. “I’ve always trusted the community. Even if I’m in a wheelchair, we will be here another 27 years,” he says. “The city will be good to me.” ■

PROPRIETOR BOB MCGUIRE, SERVING REGULAR CUSTOMERS THAT HE SAYS MAKE UP 80 PERCENT OF HIS BUSINESS.

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

Explore our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve offerings for a Sense-ational holiday season and make the Biltmore part of your tradition.

Whether you are hosting a cocktail reception or a grand event, the Biltmore is the perfect setting for your gathering. Group reservations 305.913.3189 | privatedining@biltmorehotel.com.

Time to Shop Till You Drop

Won’t You Be Our Neighbor? Our Retailers Need You.

By Mark A. Trowbridge

Holiday shopping has long been a national pastime in America, right back to the earliest days of the Sears Roebuck Catalog and S&H Green Stamps. It was a one-month season bracketed by Thanksgiving week and Christmas Eve, creating less than a 30-day window to get it all done.

Last minute shopping became a contact sport before there ever was a Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday, and we reveled in all its red and green glory! It required in-person purchases, waiting in check-out lines, and managing your cash flow ever so closely – versus making a few clicks with a credit card to fill your online carts with the promise of free shipping and delivery by Christmas.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still creating havoc for our retailers and small businesses deep into the traditional fall season, holiday shopping takes on a whole new imperative and meaning this year. What a time to be alive right now and wow, what a time for ‘tis the season!

It is more than a new normal or pivot or way of doing business. It is the latest and greatest paradigm shift that will (hopefully) ensure our retailers thrive and survive to see another holiday season.

This past October, the holiday shopping season began before Halloween arrived, with retailers promoting new and exciting merchandise, holiday-like sales and invitations to get your shopping done even earlier this year.

And boy did they mean early. By the time December arrives, there will have been numerous Black Friday sales (usually extended and then extended again), holiday-style ads covered in glitter and a call to action to shop early “while supplies last.”

All of this was done to help our retailers stay afloat – and keep their doors open and team members employed – even if it meant only a few shoppers at a time allowed into the store to socially distance.

Now comes the hard part – and the key ingredient. You and your wallet! We need all of you to step forward, start now and then finish off your holiday shopping lists (checking them twice to see who’s been naughty or nice), buy early and often, and well, maybe even upgrade that gift for the husband/wife/significant other, sassy mother-in-law, ungrateful nephew or creepy uncle.

All of our retailers need your extra special love this year (and honestly, a gift is better than a virtual hug) and the stores along Miracle Mile, in downtown Coral Gables and at the Shops at Merrick Park are ready to help you sparkle like a diamond. This is your year to make a statement, to make some noise, to pull out all the stops. This is your time to shine!

And the winners in all of this early holiday shopping fandango? Our small businesses, who we will celebrate once again this year on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, in The City Beautiful.

Won’t you join them now for a little holiday cheer? They are counting on you.

Mark Trowbridge is the CEO and president of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, and an avowed shopper

Design By Alexandra Hopfenberg

THE LOOK BOOK MAP

A Selection of Holiday Shopping Choices

Whether you need a cut and color or just a blow-out, Phula will have you looking good and feeling good all season long. They also sell a wide range of products to give your hair that salon-fresh look year-round.

From cranberry mojitos to coquito, Bacardi has everything you need for holiday cocktails. Get a bottle to thank the host of the Christmas party and then get a bottle for yourself, because the holidays are stressful.

Gift all your friends and family jewelry without breaking the bank. From watches to earrings to necklaces, Gables Fancy Corner specializes in designer jewelry at an affordable price.

You may not typically think about holiday shopping at the Biltmore gift shop, but you should. This is where you can find Deena K Jewelry. With elaborate enameling and precious stones, Deena K’s pieces epitomize extreme luxury.

A private jeweler for 15 years, Daniella DeFrancesco’s specialty is sourcing and selecting high quality diamonds and gemstones. From rings to bracelets, they have it all at their Coral Gables showroom.

With local boutiques like Earthy Chic and Bognar & Piccolini, national chains like Vineyard Vines and Sephora, and home goods stores like Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list at the Shops at Merrick Park.

Not only does Mystic sell wine and spirits, but also craft beer, gourmet cheese and cigars. They even have a virtual sommelier – or “VirtuSOMM” – online. Simply write what you’re looking for in terms of brands and price range, and they’ll pick it out for you.

Since there won’t be any big holiday parties to attend this year, designer Maritza Fernandez has created a line that is both fashionable and comfortable. Her silk face masks make for a great stocking stuffer.

A family-owned shop on Miracle Mile, Jae’s Jewelers has been selling designer jewelry and custom pieces to the Coral Gables community since the 1950s. Also a great selection of vintage jewelry.

You can never have too many pairs of sunglasses living in South Florida. Edward Beiner carries a wide range of styles and brands of high-end sunglasses, like Cartier, McLaren and Dita.

Make a day of your holiday to-do list. Shop till you drop at the locally-owned shops and then dine at any of the restaurants in Downtown Coral Gables.

If you’re shopping for an engagement ring or a diamond ring for your significant other of over 30 years, Montica Jewelry specializes in diamonds, gemstones and precious metals.

If you’re in the market for an uber-luxurious Christmas gift, you definitely can’t go wrong with any style of Mercedes. Now all you need is one of those massive bows to put on top.

DESIGN BY AVANI CHOUDHARY

1. Phula

2. Gables Fancy Corner

3. Diamonds by Daniella

4. Mystic Wine & Spirits

5. Jae’s Jewelers

6. Business Improvement District

7. Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables

8. Bacardi

9. Deena K Jewelry

10. Shops at Merrick Park

11. Filomena Fernandez

12. Edward Beiner

13. Montica Jewelry

SHOP LIKE A CELEB, MAKE IT PRIVATE

For over a decade, Daniella De Francesco earns a pristine reputation for creativity, privacy, and wonderfully crafted signature jewelry for her clients. Custom Designer, Daniella, specializes in recreating timeless, multi-generational jewelry. We are pleased to announce the opening of her Coral Gables private showroom.

© 2020. BACARDI AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI AND COMPANY LIMITED. RUM – 40% ALC. BY VOL.

carolina herrera

Deena K is known for the depiction of nature in her jewelry designs, taking inspiration from the Persian art of blue pottery to the most glorious forms of Moroccan architecture.

From the old world Indian deities and Temple’s charm to the Mughal/Rajput reign, handcrafted and ornamental pieces flourished, studded with precious gems and enameled motifs. These magnificent jewelry styles, adorned by the Royals have been enhanced by Deena K with additional infusion of designs inspired by the ornate mosaics and frescos of Turkish museums, to the finely decorated fresco walls at The Biltmore Hotel.

Every one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece goes through 12 to 15 levels of Deena K’s craftsmen located

throughout the world. Each an expert in sculpting, engraving, painting, Meenakari enameling, stone cutting, gem setting or Kundan gold setting. This team of artisans has transcended time, maintaining traditions and techniques and representing skills and mastery learned from their fathers and grandfathers before them.

In all her pieces, the metal of choice is 99.5 percent pure silver, due to its malleability and consistency. However, all the uncut diamonds and the precious gems in the pieces are set only in 24K gold. As the purest form of metal, she believes that a bit of gold in each piece is the stamp for pure jewelry. Meaning, its purity will actually manifest in the actions and thoughts of its wearer!

THE GIVERS

THE ART OF PHILANTHROPY IN CORAL GABLES

BY J.P. FABER

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN DANN

The word itself tells the tale: Derived from the Latin roots for “loving” (philo) and mankind (anthropo), it means “love of mankind,” especially in the form of deeds of generosity and work for the good of others.

Here in Coral Gables, philanthropy is rampant. Partly it’s because we are an affluent community. Many affluent Gables residents either understand how tough life can be – having created their fortunes from scratch – or come from a family tradition of beneficence. What is as remarkable as their monetary generosity is the extent to which Gables philanthropists also give their time and energy. While the givers we recognize here are affluent, they give much more than money. Many are hands-on involved with the charities they love, helping to guide them and to raise additional funds.

Having lots of money, however, is not the point, says Thomas Abraham of the Abraham Foundation. “Each of us has the power to make a difference in other people’s lives,” he says. “If we all did our own little bit it would change the world. That is the message our foundation promotes. You don’t need to be rich… a respect for humanity can change the world, and it doesn’t take money for that.”

Indeed, while money can help a great deal, there is plenty of work to be done just by rolling up your proverbial sleeves and helping. “With these charitable organizations there is always the need for participants who can volunteer, take on chores and lead,” notes ambassador and philanthropist Chuck Cobb.

And while giving money to philanthropic causes may seem the province of families with

generations of wealth, many of Coral Gables’ most active givers came from modest backgrounds and see philanthropy as a way to help others who come from a similarly underprivileged place. “I grew up poor and believe that giving back is the grateful thing you can do… it’s about helping people in tough situations,” says attorney Aaron Podhurst. For such people, for whom a scholarship-based education proved critical in life, much of the charitable work focuses on helping raise money for schools, and for poor, but hardworking students.

In some cases, the philanthropy is based on deep religious convictions. This is the case with Trish and Dan Bell, whose latest charitable effort is the construction of an interfaith chapel at FIU. “Giving of course makes us feel good, but that is definitely not the primary reason we give,” says Trish. “We give because, for us, it is the proper response to having received so many blessings… This is actually not very different than what all of us learned in kindergarten – namely, that we all have an obligation to share.”

As former Florida Secretary of State Sue Cobb notes, “In the local community there are all kinds of different ways to help people. In the end, it is part of fulfilling our roles in life to help.”

And then there is simply the joy of giving, and how that makes you feel. Is it better to give than receive? “The feeling you get when you help someone out is indescribable,” says entrepreneur Matthew Meehan. “There is nothing you can buy, or anyplace you can travel to, that feels better than helping out a neighbor. That is a feeling I want to have over and over again.” ■

THE GIVERS:

THOMAS & NORMA JEAN ABRAHAM

FOCUS: GLOBAL

For siblings Thomas and Norma Jean Abraham, the idea of charity was inculcated at an early age. “[My father] was a rags to riches story,” says Norma Jean. “When he made a lot of money [through car dealerships, an ad firm and real estate] he said he wanted to give back.” Initially, the Abraham Foundation he started was run by their mother, who was a patron of both local opera and ballet. But when she passed away, the reigns were turned over to the children.

“I don’t like opera or ballet,” admits Norma Jean. “But we have stuck with [the charities] that had to do with children and education.” More than just sticking with them, the Abrahams have been active with more than 90 charities, from the Buoniconti Fund to cure paralysis to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to Camillus House. They also contribute to UM, Barry University, FIU, Ransom Everglades School and the Lebanese American University (the Abraham family is Lebanese).

A special place for them is St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, which their father started with fellow Lebanese descendant Danny Thomas. When their mother was alive, the Abrahams hosted an annual Miracle Ball for St. Jude’s, which often included celebrities. When their mothed died, Frank Sinatra came to last the ball, to honor her work.

The Abraham siblings have also worked to help in crisis locations worldwide, where there are local natural disasters, by donating to local churches to help with relief efforts. “Both of our parents were humble people who had a real concern for those who were distressed,” says Thomas. “It’s part of our Lebanese heritage, not because we like to be patted on the back, but because it’s the right thing to do.”

THE GIVERS: TRISH AND DAN BELL

FOCUS: UNDERSERVED FAMILIES, EDUCATION, FAITH-BASED ENDEAVORS

Over the past 30 years, the Bells have donated more than $30 million to more than 40 organizations, mostly within the Miami community. These have included faith-based entities, community support groups, educational institutions, medical organizations and arts organizations.

While Dan achieved great success as the founding CEO of Kos Pharmaceuticals (sold in 2006 for $3.7 billion), both he and Trish came from modest backgrounds. “Neither set of our parents ever had any ‘extra’ financial resources to share with others,” says Trish. But both sets “were very loving and generous individuals who would do anything they could to help others.” From the beginning of their marriage, the Bells made a practice of setting aside 10 percent of all they earned for charity, following the tithing practice of many churchgoers.

Over the years, that 10 percent set aside has steadily risen. “In essence, we believe that those who have been more generously blessed should also share more generously,” says Trish.

While the Bells don’t like to focus on any one charity at the expense of others, their most recent philanthropic project –creating an interfaith chapel on the campus at FIU, toward which they have donated $5 million – “is likely to bring us the most sustained joy for any we have yet undertaken.”

Another major effort they have dedicated considerable resources and time to for over 15 years is Branches, a nonprofit providing tutoring and mentoring to underserved children and their families. Since 2005, the organization has grown from serving 40 elementary school children at one small site, to now serving more than 400 K-12 students at three sites – and over 40 college students, most of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

THE GIVER: BILL BONN

FOCUS: THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

For Bill Bonn, the idea of giving back to the community was instilled at an early age. On one side of the family, his grandfather came from Germany via Ellis Island. That grandfather married the daughter of an English civil servant born in Barbados. “It’s really quite straight forward. My grandparents [on this side] were imbued with a sense of responsibility for the people around them, their siblings, their loved ones and their friends,” he says.

“The other grandparents came from the Outer Hebrides, where there is a real sense of helping each other,” he says. “The Scottish are a fiercely proud people and fiercely independent, but with a cultural background of civic duty and responsibility for your neighbors. My three siblings are the same, and we all try to give back in one shape or form.”

When Bonn retired from working as a high-powered corporate attorney and got more involved in charity, he says “It was a wonderful transition from a 70-hour work week to something I felt useful doing.” After moving here, he says the charity that caught his eye was the Coral Gables Community Foundation.

“The great thing about a community foundation is that you are giving back locally,” says Bonn. “When you give back at the local level, the impact of your time or money is readily apparent. I still give to national charities, but you don’t really see the impact there. At the local level it is much more emotionally rewarding.”

Bonn also loves the foundation’s flexibility. “When pockets of need appear, the CGCF can step in – like when the pandemic hit and a lot of people were out of work, they came up with the idea of distributing food from the leftovers [of farms and restaurants]... it’s clearly [partner] Ruben’s and my favorite charity.”

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THE GIVER: ADAM

CARLIN

FOCUS: HEALTHCARE AND THE ARTS

When it comes to charitable involvement, the thing that strikes Adam Carlin the most is how fortunate he is personally, and how others are afflicted with bad luck beyond their control. “When I was growing up, I never thought in a million years that I would have this blessed life,” says Carlin, a highly successful private wealth manager at Morgan Stanley’s Coral Gables headquarters. “Part of what happens in life is the luck of the draw. Some people have had a lot of unfortunate things that have happened to them through no fault of their own.”

That is a big reason – along with the fact that he has young children – that Carlin is so involved with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “They are not just focused on treating those illnesses that are the most common,” he says. “They are also on the cutting edge of looking for the best of research and treatments [for rare diseases] that can be devasting to a few beautiful young children.” Besides raising funds for the hospital, he personally underwrites an annual prom party for young patients there.

Having seen his mother suffer from cancer that crippled her, Carlin also raises funds for UM’s Sylvester Cancer Center, where he serves as Chairman of the Board. “Besides Nicklaus, the organizations I am most passionate about are Sylvester, UM [he is on the board] and the New World Symphony,” says Carlin. “They all play an incredible role for the community.”

THE GIVERS: CHUCK AND SUE COBB

FOCUS: UNITED WAY, GOODWILL, EDUCATION, THE CARIBBEAN

It would be hard to find a more accomplished couple living in Coral Gables. Charles “Chuck” E. Cobb, Jr. was the chairman and CEO of Arvida Corporation and the Disney Development Company; he later merged Arvida with the Walt Disney Company. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Iceland, and as assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Sue Cobb served as the U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, and as Secretary of State of Florida. An accomplished lawyer, she also ran the U.S. Department of State’s seminars for newly designated ambassadors and authored the book “The Edge of Everest” on her attempts to become the first American woman to summit Mount Everest.

These accomplishments hardly touch on the career positions and the boards the couple serve on, as they continue to run Gables-based Cobb Partners, a private investment, venture capital, real estate and resort development company. Nonetheless, the couple now devotes about 60 percent of their time administering the vast charitable foundation they started decades ago.

“[Chuck] came up with the idea that when we had sufficient funds to start some kind of meaningful giving, to have a foundation set up,” she says. Says Chuck, “We were able to contribute 20 percent of our income for every year from her law practice and my career. Now we can have a meaningful impact.”

Sue has been an avid supporter of the United Way and Goodwill Industries “for the variety of ways they help the community,” and is also active in charities for Jamaica and Haiti. Chuck has been a big booster for education, having served as a trustee of UM and former chair of the board. Among many other projects, he started a charter school with Barry University and is involved with the Annenberg Foundation. “Education locally has been really important to me,” he says. Both also support donating to churches in the Caribbean, especially where natural disasters occur.

At 3 weeks old, Lavondre was diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect, which means he had a hole in the wall that separates the right and left lower chambers of the heart. Thanks to the support of people like you, Lavondre and his parents were flown to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital where emergency surgery saved his life. In January, Lavondre celebrates his first birthday.

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THE GIVER: DAVID EVENSKY

FOCUS: THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

Charity and philanthropy have been an integral part not only of David Evensky’s upbringing, but also of his entire professional life. As a principal of the firm founded by his father, Evenksy Katz/Foldes Wealth Management, the Gables native has been involved in building and protecting the wealth of individuals for whom charitable causes are common.

“My family has always been philanthropic, and in a way my whole firm has gotten involved,” he says. “We manage more than a billion dollars, and at our core competency we are financial planners. We look at everything [our clients] do, and we see how many of them are philanthropists… we’ve actually gotten involved in some of their charities.”

While Evensky serves on many boards and supports local institutions such as the Coral Gables Museum, the Coral Gables Art Cinema, and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, his current passion is to build a 20,000-square foot community center for the Friendship Circle, a nonprofit that takes care of children with autism.

One of their programs connects high school student volunteers with autistic kids, befriending them and spending time with them so that, among other things, their parents can get some respite.

“These [autistic] kids are isolated and don’t have many friends,” says Evensky. “A high school student is assigned to a child and provides some social interaction and friendship… It’s a friendship program to help with the social fabric.” It also teaches the volunteer students a sense of responsibility and giving.

The campaign to build the Friendship Campus near Baptist Hospital is about half way to completing its fundraising goal of $10 million. “We do serve a lot of Gables children, and we have a lot of volunteers from the Gables schools,” says Evensky. “It’s a beautiful program.”

THE GIVER: MATTHEW MEEHAN

FOCUS: SCHOLARSHIPS, HOMELESSNESS AND THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

For Matthew Meehan, the financial barriers to education were clear to him as a child. “We were lower middle class, not poor, but living paycheck to paycheck,” he says. “I know certain things are out of reach except through scholarship programs and awards. That made things possible for me.”

Meehan also saw the power of education, as his mother earned first an associate degree, then a bachelor’s, then a master’s, and with each advance watched her earning power grow. “Seeing what that did for my family permanently changed my outlook on education and how powerful it is,” he says.

americas collection

For that reason, after joining the board of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Meehan took charge of the scholarship committee. “It was a sleepy committee for a long time, but we reactivated it,” he says. Last year, $150,000 went to deserving seniors at Gables High School. “I want to raise that to twice as much. So, if you read this article, don’t be surprised if I come for you.”

Meehan, who owns more than 30 companies (mostly in the beverage world), is also involved in other charities, including the New World School of the Arts and Dade Heritage Trust. Camillus House is one he loves because of their mission to educate and train their homeless “clients.” He also founded an orphanage in India in 2004, which has helped 20,000 kids to date.

But it is the Community Foundation –which gave him their Philanthropy Award this year – that he holds most dear. “What they do to keep the doors open in so many charities is one of the reasons I love it,” he says. “It doesn’t help just one cause. It helps every single organization in our community, and it is profoundly impactful in that sense.”

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THE GIVER: AARON AND DOROTHY PODHURST

FOCUS: ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE THE ARTS AND EDUCATION, AND SERVE THE POOR

Aaron Podhurst grew up in a poor family in upstate New York, but became a highly successful South Florida attorney after attending Columbia Law School. It never crossed his mind to become a philanthropist, he says, until he could.

“You can’t become a philanthropist until you get into a financial position to do so,” he says. “When I was young, I wasn’t particularly philanthropic. As I became successful as a lawyer, starting perhaps 30 or 35 years ago, it became an important part of my life.” He adds, with a wink, “People also like you [for being charitable] and that helps you in business.”

For the last three decades, he has given to organizations such as United Way and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation [where he was president], because “they give to many, many organizations. So, it’s a good way to spread your philanthropy. I give to each one annually.”

Podhurst was also instrumental in the launch of Perez Art Museum Miami, which he worked on starting for two decades. “I felt it very important to give to a public art museum in the county, which we never had in Miami-Dade County.” Not only did Podhurst donate his own time, energy and money, he also raised funds from friends and colleagues for the downtown art museum. “You can’t do it all yourself, so you have to use all your resources. A lot of people don’t like raising funds, but it doesn’t bother me.”

Since the pandemic started, Podhurst has also donated to food banks and organizations to help those affected. He is also a major backer of Breakthrough Miami, “an organization which, among many things, gives scholarships to younger people.”

THE GIVER: SWANEE AND PAUL J. DIMARE

FOCUS: FAIRCHILD, VIZCAYA, RED CROSS, WOMEN OF TOMORROW

Paul and Swanee DiMare are among the Gables most dedicated philanthropists. Together they have impacted numerous organizations. Paul is the president of seven family corporations, mostly in the agriculture sector (he was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southeast Produce Council).

Charitable giving was already part of Paul’s family tradition before he married Swanee, particularly with the University of Miami. With her, the scope of his philanthropy broadened to include the American Red Cross, United Way, Camillus House and the Chapman Partnership for the Homeless, among many others.

Swanee says she became a philanthropist after a career stint with Delta Airlines. “One of my collateral duties was to motivate employees to connect with charities, like March of Dimes, the Special Olympics, and the Youth Fair,” she says. “Delta wanted to be part of the community and to be known in the community [but] it was tough to get people to give up their days off… It gave me some real insight into what being charitable was all about.”

Since then, she has been involved with literally scores of organizations, most notably the American Red Cross (where she hosted several balls), the Miami Ballet, and today with Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Vizcaya and Women of Tomorrow.

“I’m very much involved with Fairchild, where we have the yearly ball,” says Swanee. “For me that’s important, because I have lived here in the City Beautiful all my life. As a kid I used hang out at the Venetian Pool.” One of her favorite charities is Women of Tomorrow, which helps at-risk girls in public high schools. “It is incredibly fulfilling to help people less fortunate than you are,” she says.

The Ghost ChristmasofPast

CHARLES DICKENS MIGHT LIKE THE STORY OF SPOOKS AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL

BY LIZZIE WILCOX

You would think that ghost stories would pertain strictly to the month of October. But thanks to Charles Dickens (and that Andy Williams song) they’re also a part of Christmas tradition. Or at least they used to be. Christmas takes place around the same time as the Winter Solstice, which was celebrated by pagans. One pagan practice was the telling of ghost stories in the winter when nights are longer and darker, thus setting the scene for spooky tales. Pagans also believed that the dead could cross over more easily into the living world during the Winter Solstice.

Christmas ghost stories became commonplace once again with Dickens. Starting with “A Christmas Carol” in 1843, he re-

leased ghost stories every year at Christmas time. So, in honor of that tradition, we’ve got a little scary story of our own this holiday season. If you’re one of those people who doesn’t watch horror films based on true stories, you might not want to keep reading.

THE BILTMORE’S RESIDENTS

Let me start by saying that I believe in ghosts. Maybe it’s because I grew up believing that my childhood home on Long Island was haunted. He was friendly though – more like Casper than the twins in “The Shining” – and would do things like turning on the lights in a room when you had your hands full. So, naturally, I wanted to spend the night

at the Biltmore Hotel. And not just in any room. I wanted to stay in the infamous 13th floor tower suite – a.k.a. the Everglades Suite –known to be the postmortem home of the ghost of Thomas “Fatty” Walsh, a gangster, who was gunned down in that very room 91 years ago. There is still the bullet hole notched in the massive fireplace in the main room of the suite, nicknamed the Al Capone Suite after one of Fatty’s gangster friends.

But Fatty isn’t the only ghost associated with Coral Gables’ oldest hotel. The Biltmore is famously haunted. During World War II, the federal government turned the hotel into a 1,200-bed military hospital. After the war, it was used as a veterans’ hospital. In the 1950s, it became the campus

for the University of Miami’s medical school until they built their own building. The hospital closed during the following decade, and the Biltmore was abandoned.

In my book, soldiers dying at the Biltmore is reason enough for the property to be haunted. While the hotel was vacant, people who were around the building claimed they saw windows open and close, and lights go on and off, despite the electricity being shut off. They also heard music.

Other spirit stories about the Biltmore include the sighting of a ghostly couple, seen waltzing in one of the ballrooms before vanishing into thin air. Another one describes the entity of a woman wandering the grounds looking for her child. No one knows the original tale; one account tells of a young mother who fell to her death while trying to save her son, who had climbed up on the balcony railing of their tower suite. Another says that she was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant while walking with her child on the property many decades ago.

There are so many ghost stories about the Biltmore, in fact, that the hotel had its very own storyteller for 10 years. Starting in 1994, Linda Spitzer would tell ghost stories in the lobby. Though she did her own research, staff would also inform her of strange occurrences, and guests would sometimes recount their own experiences –like lamps that were humanly impossible to reach being unplugged or the corner of a bed sinking down as if someone were sitting on it. Maybe the hotel was fated to be haunted, as the groundbreaking took place on Friday, March 13 in 1925.

THE GANGSTER GHOST

While many may scoff at the Biltmore’s haunted history, one ghost that everyone agrees on is that of “Fatty” Walsh, the New York mobster who was fatally shot in the Everglades Suite. The room was used as a speakeasy and casino, which Fatty ran with fellow gangsters Edward Wilson and Arthur Clark. One night in March of 1929, Fatty and Wilson got into an argument – most likely over a gambling debt – and Wilson shot Fatty, who died right in front of the suite’s grand fireplace.

This was where we set our bags down on the night we stayed, right where Fatty’s body once lay. To get here, we had to have a key card. Since the Everglades Suite is the entire 13th floor of the Biltmore’s tower, the only people with access are staff and guests who are checked into that room. Unless Fatty personally invites you up, that is.

THE 13TH FLOOR TOWER SUITE WHERE THE BRUTAL MURDER OF THOMAS “FATTY” WALSH TOOK PLACE IN 1929.

OPPOSITE: THE STAIRCASE TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE AL CAPONE SUITE.

As one story goes, a couple was staying on the fourth floor of the hotel. They pushed the “4” button in the elevator, but were brought to floor 13 instead. The elevator doors remained open, so the woman stepped out. Suddenly, the doors shut behind her, returning her husband to the hotel lobby. He told the staff what had happened and they all went up to the 13th floor where the wife was terrified. She said she had heard footsteps, heard talking and laughing and smelled cigar smoke. And this is not the only tale of a pretty woman being brought via elevator to the 13th floor.

ROOMING WITH FATTY WALSH

Well, since we were already staying in Fatty’s suite, we weren’t magically summoned there via elevator. Or maybe my friend and I just weren’t his type. No offense taken, Fatty. But we didn’t need a creepy welcoming from our ghastly host to be spooked. We were more or less on edge the entire time. Maybe we’re biased, having volunteered to stay in a renowned haunted hotel room. Or maybe it was the steep and creaky staircase to the second floor where there were doors at the end of every hallway, which were either locked or opened to a dark, empty room. Suffice it to say we closed the door to the upstairs entirely. We can’t blame the guy for wanting to spend his afterlife here: The place is absolutely gorgeous. The massive main area has two couches, two chairs, a coffee table, a dining room table, a wooden desk if you need to answer emails during your vacation and, finally, a grand piano. The master bedroom and bathroom are in the two back corners with a long closet and vanity area connecting them. There’s a second bathroom at the bottom of the stairs and another bedroom on the second floor.

The high ceiling in the main room alone is a work of art. Supported by decorated beams, the painted ceiling looks more like that of a European castle than a Florida hotel. There are balconies on either side of the main room: One with a view of downtown Coral Gables and Brickell, and the other looking over the golf course. And the stone fireplace, where Fatty took his last breaths, is stunning.

NIGHT CHILLS

After searching the massive suite for any paranormal activity, we headed to the pool for some non-spooky lounging. Once back in the room to get ready for dinner

at Fontana, we were relieved to find that none of our belongings had been moved, no hard-to-reach lamps unplugged or closed doors reopened. The more time we spent in the Al Capone Suite, the more confidence we gained. The key is to never be in a room by yourself, even if this means setting up camp in the bathroom while you take turns showering. However, once we got back from dinner it was officially nighttime and any false sense of bravery that we had garnered when the sun was up had vanished. We were watching Netflix in the main room and I was fully expecting the lights to turn off or the closed door to the second floor to open. But nothing happened. Maybe he’s media shy, I thought.

The first spooking came a little after midnight. We were ready to go to bed and had shut both doors to the master bedroom:

The one that led to the closet/bathroom and the one that led to the main living area. Upon reopening the door to the living room, the other one creaked open on its own. Was it Fatty?

Okay, so it turns out that it hadn’t been fully closed, and opening one door changed the air pressure in the room, causing the other one to open. I was relieved that Fatty wasn’t trying to tuck us into bed, but slightly disappointed that my jerk reaction was to scream and jump under the covers. We finally went to sleep, with the lights on of course, convincing ourselves that all the bumps in the night were just typical sounds that any 95-year-old building would make.

DAYTIME FRIGHTS

It was morning time! Ghosts don’t come out

“Ghosts don’t come out in the daylight, right?”

in the daylight, right? Wrong. We made it through the night, we were getting ready for breakfast at The 19th Hole and our spirits – no pun intended – were high, until they weren’t. I was at the his-and-her bathroom sink, looking over the golf course and sunny South Florida morning when I heard it: A clicking/tapping sound. I checked both sinks, the shower, the tub, even the toilet to make sure there was no running water. None of the faucets were on, so I shrugged it off and headed for the walk-in closet. I still heard the sound. I half-heartedly told myself that it was the plumbing or the 14th floor, but I had the distinct feeling that something – or someone – was following me.

After our stay, I came across a feature in the Sun Sentinel entitled “Phantoms of the Biltmore.” It was published in October of 1986, when the hotel was still closed for renovations. The author, Richard Winer, and fellow writer Nancy Osborn were permitted to conduct a séance in the hotel, recruiting a team of mediums from a spiritual group called the Arthur Ford Academy. According to the article, the five mediums were not informed of the location of the séance and

they were brought to the Biltmore in a van. They were brought to every floor, including what used to be the morgue and autopsy areas of the former hospital and medical school. Winer stated that nothing significant happened until the group reached the 13th floor, more specifically, the upstairs. (I’m really glad we shut the door to the second floor now). “Both of these floors emanate with energy,” said one of the mediums.

They began their séance in the suite and, once entranced, another one of the mediums said, “I hear the tapping of a cane – a cane like maybe a blind man.” I got full body chills after reading that line. That’s exactly what the noise sounded like, a cane tapping on the tile floor. This “blind man” apparently wanted to accompany me during my morning routine. Also, before we left the suite, I noticed the curtains of the windows to one of the balconies. One of the rods that you use to pull back the curtain was swinging on its own.

FAREWELL, FATTY

After an incredible breakfast at The 19th

Hole (highly recommend the breakfast wrap), we went back to our humble haunted abode to pack our bags and make coffee to-go in the kitchenette. Nothing further spooky happened as we said goodbye to 13th floor.

Like I said, we are full believers in ghosts, so we had no doubt that everything we heard or saw was the work of Fatty or one of his paranormal pals. Of course, skeptics will come up with any other reason as to why we heard or saw certain things. Sure, maybe the air conditioning was moving only one of the drapery pull rods, even though they were so close together that any breeze would surely affect both of them. Maybe the building is just old and happens to make very specific tapping noises that follow you throughout the room. Or maybe not. ■

THE MAIN AREA OF THE 13TH FLOOR SUITE IS MASSIVE, WITH TWO COUCHES, A DINING ROOM, A GRAND PIANO AND AMPLE ROOM FOR GHOSTS.

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

HOME & GARDEN

CORAL COVE VISITORS ARE WELCOMED AT A FRONT ENTRY THAT EMBODIES PAIST’S AESTHETIC FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL STYLE OF THE ESTATE.

PAGE 98.

Your Private Eden

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

In the novel “Candide” by the French philosopher Voltaire, the characters go through numerous and mostly terrible adventures before ending up on a farm with a walled garden. Here they forget about the world outside, and instead follow the book’s conclusion that to be happy “we must cultivate our own garden.”

Disconnecting from the world is more difficult today, with everyone interconnected more than ever. But for anyone who lives in a single-family home, the backyard is a place where you can escape from the clamor outside, especially if it provides a secluded, landscaped setting. If every person’s home is their castle, then the backyard is their cloister, a safe and protected place where they can relax and enjoy life without intrusion. When I imagine my ideal backyard,

it’s a tranquil setting. It’s the scene of the ultimate staycation; a place to rewind and rejuvenate, to spend an afternoon reading and resting, or to gather with my family for a home-cooked meal and cocktails at sunset.

These days, many of us are reimagining the design of this critical private space. Your project may entail just the addition of a few new items – a grill, an outdoor shower, or some comfortable lounge chairs – or it might go large, with the addition of a swimming pool, or a lushly enhanced garden. No matter the range of your goals, we believe it’s best to think big. So, to help spark some inspiration, we spoke with three local landscape architects who have worked on several Coral Gables residences that boast exceptional outdoor areas. ■

THREE BACKYARD SPACES TO INSPIRE YOU THIS SEASON

Tidy Tropical Paradise

LEWIS AQÜI LANDSCAPE + ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Tasked with envisioning the landscape design for a British Colonial-style home, Lewis Aqüi focused on the local vernacular, in terms of both foliage and hardscape materials. “We decided on a controlled tropical design,” says Aqüi. “Therefore, the landscaping is very lush and incorporates an array of plant materials, but it’s not a jungle.” Instead, the home is enveloped by an orderly array of mature thatch palms and pigeon plum trees, with a carpet of soft zoysia grass. “I tried to use every single inch of the property,” says Aqüi, “sometimes by expanding it to the most remote corner.” On the edge of the backyard, for example, is an additional sitting area surrounding a fire pit. In creating such an intimate but separate space, Aqüi was ahead of his time in terms of preparing his client for social distancing. lewisaqui.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANCISCO GONZALEZ

Natural Materials, Majestic Settings

GEOMANTIC DESIGNS, INC.

For the design of this local bayfront residence, Geomantic Designs, Inc. founder Robert Parsley III intended to emphasize specific focal points while taking advantage of the panoramic views of the water. “The feel is distinctly tropical, with native and non-native plants, to achieve the right aesthetic with material that can thrive in the micro-ecosystem of a residential garden,” Parsley says. For the walls and sculpture, he employed native oolite rock, which features a combination of both Florida and Dominican keystone. “My overall goal was to highlight the organic allure of the setting,” noted Parsley, “and what amounted was something quite magical.” The pool house also used native stone, with Phoenix palms to echo the columns. geomanticdesigns.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEOMANTIC DESIGNS, INC.

Sheer Sophistication

GROVESCAPES LANDSCAPING & DETAIL MAINTENANCE

While this South Gables compound is currently on the market, it’s evident that it will provide the perfect outdoor playground for a large family to enjoy. The waterfront home’s time-honored architectural style is accented by its elegant landscape design, which was imagined (and is preserved) by Ignacio Travieso, the principal of Grovescapes Landscaping & Detail Maintenance. “We incorporated a varied selection of palms, in addition to live oak trees and gumbo limbo trees, which are native to South Florida,” says Travieso, with soaring, slender palms providing height to the patio area. “And for a pop of color, the pergola that borders the pool area is accented by vibrant bougainvillea,” he says. 305-216-8233.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JILLS ZEDER GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIFESTYLE PRODUCTION GROUP

How to Elevate Your Backyard Oasis

For the last several months, we’ve all been wondering how to amplify our outdoor areas. The backyard has become a sort of safe haven, a place that is (almost) free from the stresses that the pandemic has imposed. To help you create a superior space, we’ve rounded up a series of items that are available across the Gables.

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

1

HANG

Get away (to a corner of your backyard) with the playful Boheme hammock from Mac-Kenzie Childs. Inspired by travel and wanderlust, it was designed to welcome relaxation; all you need to do is block out an hour or two, as it will likely also inspire a nice cat nap. Retail: $195. Neiman Marcus, 390 San Lorenzo Ave., 786.999.1000, neimanmarcus.com

2

FLOOR PLAY

Tie together a sitting area with an outdoor floor covering like this eco-friendly Tullia rug in the Cool Multi colorway. Decorated with a subdued geometric print and made from durable recycled fibers, it can complement a host of furnishings while withstanding high-traffic areas. Retail: from $99. Pottery Barn, 358 San Lorenzo Ave. #2115, 305.569.9022, potterybarn.com

PERFECTLY PLANTED

Let these red clay vases from the Tropique collection by Roche Bobois infuse your outdoor space with a very Miami vibe. Painted and enameled by hand, they’re substantial enough to be enjoyed for years to come. Retail: from $425. Roche Bobois, 450 Biltmore Way, 304.444.1017, roche-bobois.com

SET IN STONE

Inspired by nature’s ability to shape a hard surface into something beautiful, the River Stone coffee table from Phillips Collection evokes natural resilience. It’s made from resin and finished with polished aluminum, making it a guaranteed survivor of the elements. Retail: $1,797. Fine-Line Furniture & Accessories, 4217 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305.661.4414, finelinefurnitureandaccessories.com

SLEEK SHOWER

In our opinion, there is really nothing more serene than taking a warm shower beneath the stars. You can make this dream a reality with the beautifully designed Alvin stainless steel outdoor shower from Signature Hardware. Retail: $729. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, 4119 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305.507.6221, fergusonshowrooms.com

GRILL AND CHILL

This Argentinian-style Gaucho grill offers a superior wood-fired grilling experience. It features a 30-inch spoked wheel for raising meats high above the fire for low-temperature cooking, allowing for a variety of

TIGHT

flavors. Retail: $23,315. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, 4119 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305.507.6221, fergusonshowrooms.com

KICK BACK

By the heralded designer Patricia Urquiola for Janus et Cie, the Anatra chaise lounge will add instant elegance to your pool deck. Its powder coated aluminum frame is wrapped with textured braiding, making for a luxurious yet comfortable silhouette. Retail: $4,500 (for frame and cushion). Janus et Cie, 2332 Galiano St. #101, 305.438.0005, janusetcie.com

CHIC SEAT

Designed by Danish duo Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen MDD, the aptly named Nest round chair resembles a carefully crafted bird’s nest – and looks just as cozy. Retail: $1,395. Patio & Things, 240 Aragon Ave., 305.446.6163, patio-n-things.com

SERENITY NOW

This serene backyard setting inspired our selection of products. It features the latest high-grade quartz surfaces from Caesarstone, which are available through Innovative Surfaces on Ponce. The featured image highlights Midday, a new concrete-finished material that is part of Caesarstone’s Solaris collection; it includes a palette of neutral tones that are consonant with the beauty of nature. Retail: From $75 per sq. ft. Innovative Surfaces, 3218 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305.446.9059, innosurfaces.com

CORAL COVE

Mocca Construction was commissioned to restore Coral Cove and expand its 1937 footprint. The epic project included the addition of guest accommodations, leisure space and a four-car garage, replicating Paist’s symmetry and signature details; the new wing was seamlessly adjoined to the original structure via a carport breezeway.

History Preserved

BY HUNTER RENSHAW

Among the many historic homes that grace Coral Gables, Coral Cove is a standout, both in terms of design and lore.

Designed by Phineas Paist, the supervising architect for George Merrick’s Coral Gables Corporation (Venetian Pool, Coral Gables City Hall, Colonnade Building), Coral Cove was completed in 1937 on the widest lagoon of the Coral Gables Waterway.

It was designed for living large by its first owner Roy Page, with a 33-foot long living room, a mini Olympic pool, an elevator, a tidewater pool and more than a dozen bathrooms. A subsequent owner added two roomy boathouses, carved out of the oolitic limestone ridge that runs through Miami-Dade County. Cuban dictator Batista once considered buying it and Billy Graham left behind a signed Bible.

The boathouses, which provided safe harbor for a string of yachts over the decades, led to the role the estate played in the 1960s as HQ for CIA operatives engaged in infiltrating Castro’s Cuba. From here, heavily armed CIA agents would motor down the Gables waterway and head for Cuba, to carry out missions aimed at destabilizing Cuba’s communist government.

The storied estate recently exchanged hands in a quiet, off-market $14.9 million sale that breaks the record for a Coral Gables residence sited outside of a gated community. The compound was sold by owner Rene Garcia, the celebrity perfume purveyor and founder

of Jacavi Holdings, to iAero Airways President Jeff Conry.

The last previous sale was in 2011 for $4.5 million. While Coral Gables real estate has proven a fairly sound investment, the notable 300 percent jump in value can largely be attributed to the meticulous restoration of the 11,203-square foot estate by Miami-based Mocca Construction.

Designated a historic landmark by the City of Coral Gables, Mocca Construction founder Alex Pirez painstakingly navigated the estate’s restoration, working closely with the city’s Historic Preservation office. Removing every viable barrel tile from the original roof, popping every length of cypress plank and every Cuban tile, and even pulling out beams and rafters, Mocca fortified the structure, rewired it and brought it up to modern day standards. They then returned all the salvaged components to their rightful places, to preserve the home’s period authenticity.

For Pirez, who received the commission in 2012, “It was an honor to be able to breathe new life into a home with so much history, while preserving its integrity,” says the Gables resident. “And I learned much more about Old World artisan craftsmanship in the process.”

Today, Coral Cove embodies all the charm and grace of Paist’s original Mediterranean Revival style, with a backbone of contemporary technology. George Merrick would have been proud. ■

“IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO A HOME WITH SO MUCH HISTORY, WHILE PRESERVING ITS INTEGRITY”

ALEX PIREZ, FOUNDER, MOCCA CONSTRUCTION

PATIO SEATING (OPPOSITE)

A fairytale mood of Old Hollywood glamour reigns at Coral Cove, where Phineas Paist’s masterful understatement sets the architectural tone indoors and out.

LIVING ROOM

The living and dining areas were opened up to accommodate modern day sensibilities. Plentiful sunlight, waterway views and “Ready for Flight,” a metal sculpture by Lewis Tardy, complement the space.

STAIRWELL

Architect Phineas Paist was best known for his Mediterranean Revival style, but he was also influenced by the Art Deco movement, as evidenced in the home’s curvaceous staircase.

KITCHEN

Elegant restraint distinguishes the timeless kitchen, which is outfitted with Viking and Wolf appliances. The original wall tiles were all replaced once modern ventilation was installed.

BATHROOM

The original Cuban tile in the charming powder room (and elsewhere) was painstakingly lifted, restored and re-laid by the Mocca crew which replaced electrical and plumbing. The wash bowl is a throwback to an earlier age.

THE CORAL POND

This view of the storied 1937 residence is from the actual “Coral Cove” tidewater pool, the widest spot on the Coral Gables Waterway, for which the estate was named.

BOAT HOUSE

The two extraordinary boathouses cut into the oolitic limestone ridge on which Coral Cove sits proved extremely useful to CIA operatives in the 1960s. Mocca artisans restored this sweeping mural, titled “Man’s Quest.”

What $10+ Million Will Buy in Coral Gables

Single family homes in Coral Gables are currently in high demand, with Northeasterners fleeing to warmer – and safer –climes. Sales of high-end Gables homes in particular – those starting at $1 million – more than doubled in the third quarter this year over last year. And in the category of $10 million or

more, sales are unprecedented. In a normal year, perhaps one or two houses in this category sell. This year it could cross a dozen. “We have had an extreme uptick in the ultra-high end,” says Audrey Ross of Compass Realty, who specializes in multi-million dollar sales. Here are three currently on the market.

In Gables Estates

8815 ARVIDA DR.

Listing Price $14.85m

Listing Price

$11.8m

In Old Cutler Bay

9320 GALLARDO ST.

8 bed/9 bath/2 half bath. 9,264 sq. ft. Originally built in 2007 and remodeled in 2015, this home has a 100-foot dock on 170 feet of waterfront. Designed by famed architect Ramon Pacheco, it has a soaring entrance with a sweeping stairway. There is a full-home generator, home theater, three guest suites, staff quarters, four-car garage and infinity-edge pool.

Listing Agent: Raquel Cordon (Brown Harris Stevens), 305.778.1910

BROKERAGE SALES SINCE 1980

37' SeaVee 2015 "No Name" Call: Ed Breese (561) 248-2018

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

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

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

35' Scout 2020 "No Name" Call: Ryan Danoff- (954) 260-5507

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

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

Build It and They Will Come

CC HOMES, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN JIM CARR AND ARMANDO CODINA, RIDES THE WAVE OF NEW DEMAND FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

BY J.P. FABER

The mantra of real estate is, of course, location, location, location. But in the case of CC Homes, it is also timing, timing, timing. With a huge inventory of home sites, many acquired at bargain prices during the Great Recession, the Coral Gables-based home builder is now sitting in the proverbial catbird seat, with sales of new, single-family homes exploding.

According to recent figures provided by BHHS/EWM, singlefamily home sales across Miami-Dade and Broward counties rose about 10 percent July through September, compared with a year earlier. But if you look at homes that were built in just the last five years, that figure jumps to a nearly 60 percent increase. That is the CC Homes niche.

CC Homes was formed by Jim Carr and Armando Codina in 2008, when the two close friends decided to buy and develop large tracks of land throughout Florida. Codina had already built a real estate fortune constructing office buildings in Downtown Miami and Coral Gables, and warehouse space west of Miami International Airport. Carr, meanwhile, had years of experience building thousands of homes as the founder of Westbrooke Communities and then Carr Residential.

In what proved to be uncannily good timing for CC Homes, the global recession of 2008-2009 bottomed out the real estate market and proffered immense opportunities. “Originally we started by buying land and debt when all hell broke loose,” says Jim Carr. “The original plan didn’t actually include housing construction, but we were buying land at very favorable prices and found the best way to monetize our investment was to build ourselves.”

Since land cost represents up to a third of the price of a house, that meant CC Homes could sell quality housing at lower prices. And they could provide a middle class lifestyle for those willing to commute. In Ave Maria, for example – a small town 25 miles northeast of Naples – they purchased close to 2,500 lots. “It was at a good price and we were able to pass that along” in homes they could sell from the low $200,000 range to the low $300,000 range.

“The most important thing to a family is security and education,” says Carr. And that Ave Maria location? It wasn’t just about commuting to Naples, he says. “It’s an hour drive to Sawgrass Mills. So instead of buying an old house in West Broward, for the same price you could get something new and super safe. I mean, these were new communities where your kids could leave their bicycles outside without a lock. And with good, new schools.”

More recently, CC Homes has focused on South Florida, especially in pockets of southern Broward County and in Doral, the west Miami-Dade city where Codina has in recent years built a live-work-play downtown. In both areas, the housing is relatively affordable, albeit at higher prices than inland. New homes at their Marbella community in Miramar (which they purchased for its debt) range from the low $600,000 to the low $700,000 range, for homes that are 2,500 to 4,000-square feet. Other projects are in Cooper City, Southwest Ranches and Davie.

In Doral, the housing is more vertical, more urban and more

expensive. While some of their townhouses there start at $500,000, many of their larger, more prestigious models start at over $1 million. Even here, however, CC Homes has hit a sweet spot. According to the data, sales of new homes for $1 million or more is the fastest growing category in South Florida; in Miami-Dade alone, from July to September, sales in that category grew by almost 90 percent over the previous year.

“Our sales on all projects are up,” says Carr. In October, for example, CC Homes (now one of the top five homebuilders inSouth Florida) sold 65 homes, three times the number sold in October 2019. “People want single family homes,” says Carr. “They want to spread out a little – and be safe.”

“Home building is a great business as long as Jim Carr is making the decisions,” says Codina. “He is the best partner and friend a person could have… the other part is his civic commitment.” Carr has been involved with Baptist Health South Florida for the past 20 years and is currently chairman of the board. With that connection in mind, CC Homes recently sweetened their deals in Doral and Ave Maria by offering new homebuyers complimentary Baptist Health Digital Health Kits, which offer unlimited virtual care visits and include personal self-exam devices. As their release said, “access to high quality healthcare is the greatest luxury.” Well, maybe, except for affordable new homes. ■

CC HOMES FOUNDER JIM CARR, ABOVE, JOINED WITH ARMANDO CODINA IN 2008 TO DEVELOP LAND THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.

Flying the Safe Skies

BY NICHOLAS FABER

Like many Americans, I’ve been grounded since the pandemic hit. Heck, like many Americans, I’ve hardly gone out, let alone taken a flight. But after researching the subject, I finally decided to go airborne on an American Airlines flight to Bogota. The data looked good. In one test for air quality in 777-200s and 767-300s (which they repeated 300 times), they released 180 million airborne particles that simulated the virus. Within minutes, 99.99 percent of the particles were filtered out. In another study, the University of Arizona concluded that air travel was basically safer than going to a supermarket.

My first challenge was to get Covid tested. Most countries require a valid negative test result for the coronavirus before traveling. I had my test in hand, but it proved to be a test just

for antigens, which only show if you’ve had it in the past. I could not board. Fortunately, the American staff saw me through the emergency. They rebooked me for a later flight and sent me off to a clinic that could turn around the results in a matter of hours. I got the results on my cellphone at the airport and made the second flight.

The airport concourse did not seem much changed, except that ticket and TSA agents were behind plastic shields. I was happy to see that social distancing has become the norm at Miami International, with those little blue discs for the lines to checkin counters, for the lines through security, for the lines at the gate and for the airbridge into the aircraft. Once inside, not so much; everyone was packed together as we found our seats. But it went fast and everyone – I mean every

single person – was masked. And a few had face shields as well.

Once seated, I felt safe and comfortable. Why? Because of a ceiling-to-floor circulation system that pulls the air down into the floor, where it is scrubbed clean by hospital grade HEPA filters. The draw was so steady – all the cabin air is changed every two minutes – that it was actually chilly. Which, ironically enough, made it comfortable to wear my mask the entire 3+ hour flight. The strong, cold air made me want to wear it, like a muffler up north during a cold front.

On the way to Bogota the food was served in protective plastic wrap – pre-wrapped cheese and fruit plates or prewrapped sandwiches. Nothing hot or cooked, and all of it handed out by masked stewardesses with latex gloves. Customs at Bogota International was easy,

with no waiting. And they had something we don’t – hand sanitizer machines activated by foot pedals. Take note, MIA.

On the way back, safety precautions were even greater – not only do they take your temperature on the way in, but again with a thermal body scan before boarding. This time the food was a pre-wrapped goodie bag of hand sanitizer wipes, cookies and water, which you picked up as you boarded.

Back in Miami there was no wait at all for customs. Actually, I was the first in line. It was like a dream. The customs officer was texting on his phone, probably bored. “Oh, so where are you coming from?” he asked, looking up. He had me pull my face mask down, checked my passport, handed it back through a window in the plastic shield, and said, “Okay, you’re good.” And I was. ■

I TOOK MY FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT. AND IT WAS FINE.

L’Art de Recevoir Hits a High Note

Each year the Coral Gables Community Foundation holds a themed ball to raise money for its charitable programs. With the pandemic raging, the annual ball was canceled this year – but not the event. Instead of gathering in one place, more than 30 hosts and hostesses across the city opened their homes and entertained a table of guests. The first of its kind at-home fine dining experience was co-chaired by Sissy De Maria-Koehne and Lauren Harrison-Brown, raising an extraordinary $250,000.

At each home, patrons enjoyed gourmet meals prepared by Le Basque, desserts by famed pastry chef Antonio Bachour, wine paired by Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe and florals by Belle Fleur. In many of the homes, musicians from the Frost School of Music performed. The evening’s distinguished honorees, presented in a brief video presentation, included Bill Bonn for the Legacy Award; Matthew Meehan for the Philanthropy Award; Meg Daly for the Arts & Culture Award; David Evensky for the Jerry Santeiro Community Award; Dr. Michael Zinner for the Education Award presented by Trish & Dan Bell; Jonathan Vilma for the Sports & Wellness Award presented by Doctors Hospital and Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute; and Mayda Cisneros for the inaugural Gables Beautiful Award.

“The City said oui” quipped DeMaria-Koehne, adding that “it was so inspiring to see the community come together. Despite the many challenges, we were very proud to have pulled this off and done so with flying colors.” ■

Brown

1. Co-chair Lauren Harrison -Brown and husband Blake

2. Co-Chair Sissy DeMaria-Koehne and husband

3. Dr. Michael Zinner, recipient of this year’s Education Award, and Ambassador Nancy Brinker

4. Festive place settings

5. Ed and Liz Parnes

6. Frost School of Music violinist

7. Ray Corral and Alina Meledina

8. Frost School of Music harpist

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HOLDS ITS ANNUAL BALL AT HOME

Fine Dining at its Finest

BY ANDREW GAYLE

Two years ago, when we first introduced our readers to Fiola, it had been newly transplanted to the Gables from Washington, D.C., by master chef and restaurateur Fabio Trabocchi. We were impressed not only by the quality and inventiveness of the cuisine, but also by the professionalism of the staff and the presentation of the food. We still are.

Coral Gables is a notoriously unforgiving environment for new restaurants, but Fiola has not only survived (including nine rugged pandemic months), but is thriving. And for good reasons. Fiola impresses on many levels, but its attention to detail is paramount. The seating, for example. The dining area is divided into three areas, separated by two glass wall partitions, one stocked with bottles of wine, the other decorated with blown glass vases and bottles of rare Bacardi rum (Fiola is located, after all, in the family office building of Facundo Bacardi). You can sit on one of the green banquettes that line the walls and partitions, or in a comfortable, upholstered armchair, each with a small pillow for the base of your back. The napkins are made with what feels like 400-thread Egyptian cotton, soft to the touch. The cutlery is gold, the tableware is Richard Ginori from Florence.

On the night we dined, the complimentary amuse bouche was a perfect example of the complexity of flavors – and presentations – at Fiola: Our waiter described it as a “paleta” or popsicle: A small bite of cantaloupe topped with Jamon

Iberico, resting in a pool of white garlic sauce with cashew powder and chive oil, served in a small hand-crafted bowl lined with gold leaf.

For diehard fans of Fiola, several of the signature dishes remain on the menu. These include the amazing lobster ravioli. The lobster is cooked over a low temperature rather than boiling it, to ensure juiciness. The ravioli dough is wonton, not egg pasta, so that it can be steamed rather than boiled. The dish uses ginger and rosemary to enhance the flavor.

Another signature dish is the porcini mushroom “cappucino” soup, which starts with a bowl occupied by Parmigiano foam, chanterelle mushrooms and sheep’s milk ricotta-stuffed pasta, over which the waiter pours a hot porcini mushroom broth from a porcelain coffee pot. A work of art filled with subtle shifts of flavor.

With the addition of Cuban-American Chef Brian Garcia, however, some of the newer dishes reflect a sensibility to South Florida tastes, especially in the realm of seafood.

One of these is a “gragnano” spaghetti, using whole wheat pasta that is cooked in a fish broth, tossed with a creamy blend of parsley stems, white wine, clam stock and tiny red peppers, then layered over four types of very fresh clams. A fantastic and complex explosion of flavors with a nice bite to the pasta – and no cheese in the sauce.

He reprises this depth of flavors with a grilled branzino that is served “fisherman style” with Prince Edward Island mussels, a corn and zucchini

OPPOSITE MIDDLE: GRAGNANO SPAGHETTI WITH LITTLENECK CLAMS, MIDDLENECK CLAMS AND

OPPOSITE

FIOLA RESTAURANT IN THE SOUTH GABLES IS GASTRONOMICAL HEAVEN

FIOLA 1500 SAN IGNACIO AVE. 305.912.2639 FIOLAMIAMI.COM

OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: LOBSTER RAVIOLI WITH GINGER AND ROSEMARY

OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT: FISHERMAN’S STYLE SPANISH BRANZINO WITH PEI MUSSELS, SUCCOTASH, AND PIQUILLO PEPPERS

SURF CLAMS

BOTTOM: FIOLA MEATBALLS WITH SHAVED ROYAL TRUMPET MUSHROOMS, TOMATO, AND PARMIGIANO

ABOVE : FIOLA IS LOCATED IN THE FAMILY OFFICE BUILDING OF FACUNDO BACARDI

BELOW: THE MAIN DINING ROOM IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SEATING AREAS WITH COMFORTABLE UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS AND BANQUETS

succotash, red piquillo peppers and lemon grass. The result is a highly aromatic broth and a delicious texture to accompany the flaky branzino with its seasoned, crisp skin. Another masterpiece of rich, deeply entangled tastes.

Of course, Fiola is at heart an Italian restaurant, with risotto, rigatoni, carpaccio and burrata of mozzarella on the menu. But it’s in the newer dishes that local flavors, and the inspirations of Chef Garcia, are apparent. These include some superb sides, like a savory charred sweet corn cooked with butter, chives and black pepper, and roasted heirloom baby carrots cooked with spiced almonds, grappa cherries and sumac honey. As good as it sounds.

“It’s an eclectic menu that has something for everyone,” says owner-partner Thomas Angelo. “If someone wants a hardcore Italian meal, with comfort food like meatballs or pasta, they can have that. If someone wants something clean, like fish, we have that. And then we have some great seasonal dishes, where we try to keep the menu fresh.”

Fiola has also worked with the city to create outdoor dining for patrons concerned with social distancing – including a tented area on the street and tables under veranda arches – though the high ceilings and spacing make the inside feel comfortably safe. ■

THE TOP

December 2020

OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS

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

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

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

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

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

AMERICAN

77 Sport Bar

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

Bachour

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

Burger Bob’s

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

Cheesecake Factory

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

Clutch Burger

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

Copper 29

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

Denny’s

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

Doc B’s

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

Eating House

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

Seasons 52

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

Sports Grill

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

Tap 42

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

The Globe

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

The Local

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

Titanic Restaurant and Brewery

The brewery/restaurant down the street from the University of Mi-

ami has teamed up with the university to create outdoor seating in a park-like setting adjacent to the parking lot behind the restaurant. $ - $$ 5813 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.667.2537

Yard House

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

ASIAN

Benihana

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

Canton Chinese

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

Ichimi

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

Izakaya

Across from the Colonnade hotel on Aragon, Izakaya is a must

VILLAGIO

for lunch, with lots of excellent specials and the best bento box around. Now they have a few outdoor tables, too. $ 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584

Kao Sushi & Grill

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

Lotus Garden

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

Malakor Thai Isaan

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

Miss Saigon

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

Mint Leaf

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

Moon Thai

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

Sakura

This Japanese restaurant on U.S. 1 has expanded into the great outdoors – meaning their parking lot out back. Great lunch specials like a salad, gyoza, noodles, a California roll and shrimp tempura for $12.95. $$ 440 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.665.7020

Sawa Restaurant & Lounge

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

Sushi Maki

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

Taste Buds of India

We love Taste Buds of India because of its all-you-can eat luncheon for $15, which changes daily. Its bright, pleasant space has tables out front. $$ 2624 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.483.8379

FRENCH

Brasserie Central

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

Chocolate Fashion

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

Pascal’s on Ponce

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

Stephanie’s Crepes

Small, charming house of innovative crepes for a late breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also, fresh and healthy smoothies. Three tables are set up outside under a shady tree and lit up at night. Doesn’t open until 10 am, and closed Monday and Tuesday, but stays open until midnight Tues.-Sun. $ 2423 Galiano St. 786.636.8939

ITALIAN

Amore

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

Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza

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

Caffe Abbracci

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

Caffe Italia

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

Cibo Wine Bar

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

Forno’s

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

Fiola

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

Portosole

The latest entry in the battle for Italian food lovers in downtown Gables, started by former staff of

Zucca. With glass walls opening onto Ponce, there is now plenty of seating at this elegant new North 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 cocktail, or dining on Argentine grill or healthy quinoa and salmon bowl. $$ - $$$ 180 Aragon Ave. 786.409.5121

Caja Caliente

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

Calle 23

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

Divino Ceviche

Divino takes ceviche to another level, along with lots of other authentic Peruvian foods and beer. Add to that their cluster of tables

DINING GUIDE

under umbrellas on Giralda Plaza for a winning formula. $$ 160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775

El Porteño

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

Graziano’s Market

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

Havana Harry’s

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

La Taberna Giralda

Only a few tables out front on the sidewalk, but they have a spacious courtyard out back. From tapas,

to paella to their Spanish wine collection, there isn’t a bad item on the menu. $$ 254 Giralda Ave. 786.362.5677

Punto Criollo

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

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

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

Wood Label Bistro

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

SEAFOOD

Gringo’s Oyster Bar

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.

Mesa Mar Seafood Table

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

Sea Grill

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

SPANISH

Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant

They have a Miami Spice menu and their new al fresco seating on

Frame

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

Cava

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

Tapeo Eatery & Bar

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

STEAK

Morton’s the Steakhouse

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

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fantastic aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end – and now tables wrapped around the building, 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. Lots of outdoor seating at the Shops at Merrick Park. $$$$ 4251 Salzedo St. 786.703.9094

PUBS/CAFES/MISC.

Bagel Emporium & Grille

Great bagels, as you would expect, but also a vast menu that includes

omelets, waffles, soups, sandwiches, burgers and off course brisket, blintzes and roast turkey. And now outside seating. $-$$ 1238 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.666.9519

Bazille

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

Café at Books & Books

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

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

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

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

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

Liberty Caffe

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

Mamey

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

Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market

Yes there are cool neighborhood pubs in the Gables. And they have a leafy patio out back! Happy hour sliders, bennies and crepes for brunch, and a tasty dinner selection of meat and fish. $$-$$$ 216 Palermo Ave. 786.801.1071

Sacha’s Café

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

Threefold

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

Tur Kitchen

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

How Green Is the Shire?

In building our Home & Garden story about Coral Cove, the historic home on the Gables Waterway (in the center below), we were supplied a series of aerial shots by photographer Alfio Lora. This one we thought brilliantly illustrated just how green the canopy of Coral Gables is, with the dense urban highrises of Miami in the distance.

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