Coral Gables Magazine November 2021

CORAL GABLES

The Dog Issue

plus DOG SERVICES

DOG PORTRAITS

THE CITY CLEANS UP HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

HOME & GARDEN

Shadow (top) and Whopper at the Venetian Pool

BE THE FIRST TO TOUR A NEW LUXURY COLLECTION OF TOWNHOMES AT BILTMORE SQUARE

Given the stress in recent times, there are likely many who feel and look tired. But if you aren’t actually tired but look it, it can be annoying to have others inquire about your sleep status. Maybe it’s time to consider some aesthetic improvements to get you looking closer to how you feel.

In many patients, some Botox® and filler therapy or other non-surgical procedure may already do the trick. But as the years advance, a tired facial appearance may result from a variety of factors not so easily injected away.

Excess upper eyelid skin, for one, makes the eyes appear heavy, and understandably so, as the excess skin weighs down on the eyelid. An ‘Upper Blepharoplasty’ (Eyelid Lift) removes the skin redundancy, allowing the eyes to appear more open and no longer tired. This, along with the occasional Botox®, is effective for many.

Some patients develop significant ‘bags’ under their eyes lending the appearance of not having slept or being overworked. This can be improved with a ‘Lower Blepharoplasty’ to reduce or redistribute the bulging fat below the eyes. It needs to be done conservatively as the lower lid is more sensitive than the upper. Often, skillfully utilized filler therapy in this area can produce enough improvement and avoid surgery.

Another contributor to a tired look, though considerably less common, might be your brows: they may have become droopy, especially on the sides. A ‘Lateral Browlift’ lifts the outer, droopy area of the brow while Botox® is assisting in the frown and crowfoot areas. Only rarely is a full browlift needed. In the past, before Botox®, these were common but at times created a less than desirable surgical or ‘surprised’ look.

Beyond eyes and brows, sagging cheeks with jowls, as well as a droopy neck, can certainly make you look tired and aging. The ‘Lower Face/Neck Lift’ will effectively address these concerns and restore a younger, more youthful, and re-energized look with a clean jawline - a key characteristic of youth.

Often, it is a combo of some of the above to create the desired effect. What is most beneficial for a particular patient requires an honest aesthetic assessment, along with a realistic discussion. The overall goal is to end up looking like yourself, but a better, fresher and natural-looking version of yourself, without the ‘tired’, and without signs of

Stephan Baker MD

surgery. That’s the art part. The least that gets you there, the better, and often, ‘less is more’.

As always, optimal results and happy outcomes require much expertise and experience. So, research carefully and become well informed before proceeding.

THE “RUFF” LIFE

A first person view of all it takes to keep your pooch happy in the City Beautiful. As long as there is no shortage of dog lovers in the Gables, there will be no shortage of services ensuring that your dog never has to live the rough life.

DOG PARADE OF CORAL GABLES

A photo album of dogs and their owners who live in Coral Gables. We feature six portraits of the owners and their canine friends.

HOLIDAY COCKTAILS... GABLES STYLE

The Gables mixologists behind some of the best cocktails in the country make our city a special place to indulge in holiday pleasures. Here is our selection of top bartenders, and some of the cocktails they recommend, along with their recipes so that you, too, can impress friends and loved ones with a seasonal elixir.

Life is Calling

We want your finances to be stress free. Our comprehensive Wealth Management service provides you with an evaluation of your financial life. You are part of a collaborative process created and managed by our fi rm. We work with you to achieve your strategic life goals.

For over 35 years, Evensky & Katz/Foldes Financial Wealth Management has specialized in financial planning and goals-based investment management services for professionals, retirees, entrepreneurs, and more.

The integrity of our experienced advice and our commitment to quality client experiences is what sets us apart from the crowd and enables us to help our clients reach their financial goals, regardless of what those might look like.

Man’s Best Friend

First, apologies for the expression “Man’s Best Friend” and its implicit sexism. That can’t be helped, since that was how the phrase was coined – supposedly first by King Frederick of Prussia in the 1700s, and then popularized by poet Ogden Nash in the 1940s. We all know, hopefully, that it means “A Person’s Best Friend.”

Regardless of gender, ask any dog owner and they’ll tell you it’s true. Your dog is your best friend, always loyal, always affectionate, always a good listener. The emotional bond we have with dogs is even more amazing because the connection is non-verbal. It’s a kind of energy we exchange. To paraphrase the great American writer Kurt Vonnegut, I’ll be damned if I can tell the difference between what you call love and how I feel just rolling around on the floor with my dog.

This is our fourth annual dog issue, where we showcase a random slice of the local citizenry posing with their dogs and shed some light on the experience of dog ownership in the Gables. This year our feature is a first-person sampling of dog services in the city by our editor-at-large Grace Carricarte, part of the answer to the larger question of “Is Coral Gables a good place to own a dog?”

From the perspective of available services, the answer is yes. But that is just one part of the

answer, and from a human point of view. From a dog’s point of view, you might find things wanting in one important regard: space. Places where you can walk off leash. Places where you can play with other dogs. Places where you can roam free.

In last year’s dog issue, we looked at the controversy surrounding the only place dogs can truly run off leash in the Gables – the open space of West Matheson Hammock Park off Old Cutler Road. Nearby residents are annoyed by all the cars bringing their dogs there. Some solutions are underway, but what the city clearly needs are more dog parks, something we’ll be looking at in future issues.

In the meantime, let’s all try to learn something from our dogs, especially that infectious positivity they exude, that happy-just-to-be-here attitude, that uncomplicated, child-like openness to the world that we lose as adults. Just keep it simple, Ogden Nash style.

The dog is man’s best friend. He has a tail on one end. Up in front he has teeth. And four legs underneath.

JP FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE

Cover: Shadow Nodarse (beagle mix) and Whopper Hernandez (dachshund), photo by Dayron Hernandez

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

STAFF WRITER & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Carmen Sofia Fraga

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

SENIOR WRITERS

Mike Clary

Doreen Hemlock

WRITERS

James Broida

Andrew Gayle

Parker Gimbel

Mallory Evans Jacobson

FILM AND VIDEO CRITIC

Michael Roffman

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rodolfo Benitez

Michael Campina

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

OFFICIAL FRAMER

Adam Brand / Frames USA

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

BOGART ROFFMAN, ASSISTANT PUBLISHER JACK FABER, ASSISTANT EDITOR

TOGO SCOTT, ASSISTANT EVP/PUBLISHER

RUBY DONNER, ASSISTANT ASSOC. PUBLISHER ORBIT RAUCCI, ASSISTANT OPERATIONS DIR.

Each month we print letters that we receive from our readers. We encourage all commentary, including 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. Letters are edited for brevity.

Hurray for Swedes

I must tell you the absolute pleasure and pride I felt by seeing The Swedish Chef grace the cover of your wonderful publication [October issue]. I think that besides Abba, Bjorn Borg, and Ingemar Johansson, the Swedish Chef may be the most iconic Swede out there (present company aside of course). I am still aspiring to such heights. But for now, thank you very much. By the way, I used to eat at Houston’s (Hillstone’s) a decade back being able to see the Swedish flag fly freely on the NE corner of Ponce and Miracle Mile. Where the heck did it go?

David Magnusson

Save Bob’s and the Country Club

I am writing to express my total disappointment (no, disgust) with the mayor, commissioners and especially the city manager for not renewing the contract with Liberty Management [October issue]. Their (what I believe to be) underhanded shenanigans in shutting-down the Country Club and Burger Bob’s for two years and then bringing in high-end [restaurants] to cater to the elite, along with all the noise and traffic, is a terrible idea. Why don’t the mayor and commissioners concentrate on fixing Miracle Mile?

Walter Baquero-Lima & family

Give Them Ten More Years

My family wants the City to renew Liberty Entertainment Group’s lease with the Coral Gables County Club for another ten years. The city did not work with this tenant in good faith and has not been transparent in efforts to re-do the property. We have resided in Coral Gables since 1997 and remember when the Country Club was shuttered. We also remember when the Miami Herald reported [2.21.2010] that “Granada LLC, which was hired in 2001 to run the facility … owed the city $612,000.” That whole messy situation seems to be cycling back with the city’s hostile transaction with Liberty Entertainment Group. Stop this.

Ellen, Daniel and Maya Berger

Preserve the City’s Charm

As a Coral Gables resident, I am very unhappy to learn that Burger Bob’s and Liberty Cafe’s current leases are not being extended. They are two of my favorite places which I frequent on a regular basis. It’s very important that we preserve our Coral Gables charm in its present form. We do not want the additional traffic and crowds coming to a “fancy” [restaurant] in the middle of our community. I believe that we have plenty of fancy restaurants close to Miracle Mile. Let’s not bring non-Coral Gables residents and additional traffic at night into an area that is strictly residential.

Maria Fleites

Be Fair to all Tenants

Before the city makes any decisions [about the Coral Gables County Club] it should consider the freedom of information request that will be forthcoming asking the city to identify any other tenants who were treated as badly. This is all clearly a subterfuge to allow the transfer of the club to an “unsolicited bidder.” A group of us have formed a grassroots organization known as the Coral Gables Action Committee designed to identify and eliminate corruption within the City of Coral Gables. We will win in the long run and those politicians who dole out favors to their contributors will find themselves out of office… Do not underestimate a constituency angered by the way [the city is also] destroying Burger Bob’s.

Manuel A. Fernandez

Listen to What We Want

I have been a Gables resident for the past 20 plus years. But I have never seen the Coral Gables Country Club thrive as it is doing now. The city is trying to tell us what we want and not listening. I exercise at the club and my kids do the same. We ride bikes and stop at Liberty and get ice cream. We see many families doing the same. We would like the city not to shut it down with a promise of better things to come. We want

the City of Coral Gables to do the right thing and settle the differences they have with the Liberty Group.

David Hanono

Keep History Intact

I have been a resident in Coral Gables since 2014 and graduated [2018] from Coral Gables Sr. High. I am grateful to live in the most unique, exquisite, and beautiful neighborhood in America, and I would love to see all of its history and unique villages kept intact, including the Liberty Cafe and Burger Bob’s. I do not want the residential area changed. I believe that it is perfect the way it is now.

Bruno Gavilanes Von-Arx

Don’t Confuse the Issue

We are committed to preserving the charm of the Coral Gables Country Club and being true to its long and storied history here in the City. Liberty is not the Coral Gables Country Club. It is a tenant. Moreover, the City did conduct an open and fair lease negotiation with Liberty, which was represented by a highly respected attorney. The result of that fair negotiation was a settlement agreement (drafted largely by Liberty’s own counsel) wherein Liberty voluntarily agreed to terminate the lease and vacate by April 2022. They entered into the agreement because they were in default of their lease.

Now Liberty is having buyer’s remorse. Seeing the outpouring of public sentiment in support of Burger Bob’s – a wholly unrelated situation – they have hitched their train to that bandwagon. They have engaged in a misinformation campaign to rile up residents and confuse them. But facts are stubborn things. Why would the City want to continue a relationship with an entity that doesn’t stand by its word as memorialized in an agreement only recently negotiated, and that engages in this sort of bad faith and misleading campaign?

Vice Mayor Michael Mena

Proud Members of the Coral Gables Chamber since 2019 Winner Coral Gables Chamber Diamond Award for Outstanding Law Firm

From City Hall

AT ITS LAST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER AND FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION:

INSTRUCTED CITY STAFF TO FIND SOME WAY to alleviate the massive traffic jams that occur on Sunset Drive during weekdays, when parents drop off and pick up students from Sunset Elementary School. This is considered critical for the new fire station to be built on Sunset Drive. The principal suggestion, endorsed by the Coral Gables Neighborhood Association, is for parents to queue up on school grounds, not on Sunset Drive itself.

ASKED STAFF TO FIND WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS to reduce density of new residential projects in the downtown, from 300 units per acre to 100 units per acre, for larger family-sized apartments.

LISTENED TO A MASTER PLAN FOR EXPANDING GREENSPACES and parks in Coral Gables, which envisions a 10-year program that would cost $47 million to upgrade and maintain current parks, and another $30 million to acquire new park space. The commission voted 5-0 to have staff review the plan, put together a funding strategy, and set up sunshine meetings for public discussion.

VOTED 4-0 TO SELL THE SO-CALLED GRECO PARKING LOT on South Le Jeune Road to JRFQ holdings for $3.225 million – its highest assessed value. The sale had come under fierce attack by local blogs and community organizations accusing the commission of making a sweetheart deal. The city then spent months advertising for other offers. None were made. “There was no backdoor deal,” said Commissioner Jorge Fors, who had predicted the new solicitations “would be a waste of time.” Vice Mayor Michael Mena, who works for a company owned by principals of JRFQ, abstained. The new owners will build a parking garage which must offer the same number of public parking places, plus electric charging stations.

LISTENED TO A PROPOSED DESIGN FOR THE $40 MILLION Mobility Hub Project located at 245 Andalusia Ave. (between Salzedo and Ponce). The design, by M. Arthur Gensler architects, will “meet the future that is just around the corner,” said Dylan Jones, the firm’s mobility expert. It will consist of a ground floor of retail, 8 floors of parking, and an activated rooftop that will include a park for families, a fitness area, and shade from overhead photovoltaic cells. The idea is to make it a community center with multi-modal connections and charging stations for “fleets of micro devices” – scooters and other small electric vehicles. The building will have open spaces

of green tucked into its sides, including one with a large sculpture (above right), and will glow at night. Mayor Vince Lago made it clear that this design was for discussion purposes only and that the community will have its opportunity for input at various sunshine meetings.

DECIDED ON THE PROCESS FOR REVIEWING recommendations from a blue-ribbon panel to strengthen the Mediterranean Ordinance, which was designed to give concessions for more height and density to buildings designed in the Mediterranean style, but which has failed to work in recent years. (See story pg. 22)

Other Community News

TIME TO GIVE BACK

Miami’s largest annual online charity event, Give Miami Day, is scheduled for November 18, just one week before Thanksgiving. The annual giving movement makes it easy for anyone to make a philanthropic impact by giving to worthy nonprofits, big and small. Last year, even in the throes of the pandemic, 33,380 donors donated more than $18.2 million dollars to causes that improve our quality of life. Here are some of the Gables non-profits you can help: Coral Gables Art Cinema; Coral Gables Museum; Coral Gables Preparatory Academy PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Assocation); Bike Walk Coral Gables; Coral Gables Community Foundation; Coral Gables High PTSA; Crystal Academy; Friends of Gables High; GablesStage; Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. You can connect by going to GiveMiamiDay.org. ■

ONE VISION FOR THE $40 MILLION MOBILITY HUB TO BE LOCATED AT 245 ANDALUSIA AVE. (NEXT TO CHEESECAKE FACTORY, ABOVE RIGHT).

The New City Budget

“FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET THERE ARE NO DRAMATIC CHANGES. IT’S JUST A REDUCTION [OVERALL] IN CAPITAL PROJECTS”

KEITH KLEIMAN ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR

At first glance, the new city budget (for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1) looks substantially reduced from last year. It appears that the “public safety” budget, which includes salaries for police and fire, and “general government” expenses, which includes salaries for most other city employees, are both substantially cut, while there is a big jump in transportation costs. These are both misinterpretations of what underlies

the budgetary items, explains assistant finance director Keith Kleiman.

It all comes down to what’s been allocated for capital projects. In public safety, for example, last year $12.4 million was earmarked for projects, like the new public safety building. This year it’s only $3.3 million. Staffing levels for police and fire were not reduced.

The same goes for the general government. The reduction

Making It Real

THE CITY MOVES TO REIGN IN THE ABUSED MEDITERRANEAN ORDINANCE

You can find a plaque at the Coral Gables Museum, in their history section, which describes the city’s Mediterranean Ordinance. “In the 1980s, citizens worried that the city’s business district was filling up with 13-story, flat-roofed glass office towers… In June 1986, the city passed the Coral Gables Mediterranean Ordinance that gave bonuses to builders who either built or remodeled buildings in the Mediterranean style.”

Fast forward to the last decade, when the ordinance has been consistently used to break the zoning codes for height and density for virtually any building, all claiming to be vaguely Mediterranean. The result has been oversized, and often very modern

looking, structures.

For the last two years Vice Mayor Michael Mena has brought this to the attention of the city commission, but to little avail. This year newly elected city Commissioner Rhonda Anderson has been catalytic to the process of returning the ordinance to its original intent. In July, she successfully pushed to establish a blue-ribbon committee to review the ordinance and how developers were able to skirt its purpose.

That volunteer committee, chaired by architect Felix Pardo and comprising a half dozen prominent Gables architects, has now submitted its conclusion to the city commission. As of presstime, citizens were invited to attend a public hearing, Nov. 15 at 5

of $10.5 million is almost entirely accounted for by a reduction in funds set aside for projects like the city’s new admin building, from $15 million last year to $4.67 million this year.

The same goes for projects in the “physical environment” which included sewage and drainage systems. Conversely, the jump in transportation expenses is due to funds being set aside for the new downtown Mobility Hub.

On the revenue side, meanwhile, the news is good. Emerging from the pandemic, the city expects revenue from everything – taxes, license fees, use charges, investment earnings, etc. – go up by $43.4 million this year, for a total of $240.7 million. The gap between that figure and total expenses of $268 is covered by city loans for capital projects, borrowed at just two percent, thanks to the city’s triple A bond ratings. ■

pm in the Public Safety Building, to listen to the recommendations and offer input. Check the city website for updates.

What residents can expect to hear is a proposed overhaul of the ordinance so as “to preserve the historical context and quality of life of this beautiful, planned city,”

APPROVED AS MEDITERRANEAN STYLE

Pardo told the commission when he accepted the job of heading the committee. Projects approved over the last 10 years have consistently violated the intent of the ordinance, he said, creating “incompatible uses of scale, mass, height and the loss of architectural character.” Stay tuned. ■

Living a Cleaner Life

THE CITY MAKES STRIDES IN KEEPING THINGS TIDY

BY MIKE CLARY

If it’s a Saturday, Mirentxu, 10, and her seven-year-old sister Catalin know they are likely to be out early picking up trash somewhere in Coral Gables. The mission could take them along downtown’s Miracle Mile, on the beach at Matheson Hammock, or to a city park.

On this steamy October morning, the girls hop on their scooters and head out from home, near the University of Miami. And within minutes the garbage bag carried by their father, Mayor Vince Lago, begins to fill. At a spot by the Gifford Arboretum, where they recently discovered a dead raccoon, Mirentxu spots a candy wrapper and a plastic bottle. Catalin fishes a beer can from the shrubbery. “It helps the environment,” says Mirentxu. “We like to do it.”

Whether the sisters enjoy treasure-hunting for trash as much as they say is hard to determine. On this 45-minute walk, however, there were no complaints and no flagging of energy. And their father has been relentless in his cheerleading to see that the City Beautiful lives up to its name.

“The responsibility to protect our natural environment for future generations, including my two daughters, extends far beyond the current moment,” says Lago, dressed for the outing in shorts and T-shirt. “We are a state that depends on over 100 million vacationers [annually]. Without ensuring clean air and clean water, our existence in South Florida is unviable.”

Like many people passionate about the cause, Lago can’t understand why anyone would pollute the planet, let alone the city. From a hedge by a traffic circle the mayor pulls out a Kirkland water bottle half-filled

what looked like urine. “Who would do this?” he asks as the girls signal disgust.

Back at City Hall, Lago has lately turned his attention to the downtown, with a major push to clean up debris, including weeds growing along sidewalks. “To me that is unacceptable,” Lago told the city commission in October. “We cannot continue to turn a blind eye, because the quality of downtown is slipping. It’s time to hold people accountable, especially businesses, and hold ourselves accountable.”

Miracle Mile and the adjacent commercial streets is a special zone of concern. Lago has challenged the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the downtown Business Improvement District (BID) to come up with a plan to remind business owners they are responsible for weeds and litter in front of their stores and offices.

Chamber CEO and president Mark Trowbridge credits Lago with raising the alarm. “It has to do with how pretty our streets look. We want our store fronts to be inventive and attractive… that is the very idea of good retail.” At the end of September, the city, Chamber and BID organized 45 volunteers – including Trowbridge, Mayor Lago, Commissioner Rhonda Anderson, BID Executive Director Aura Reinhardt and several city department heads – who needed barely an hour to collect 160 pounds of trash from the area.

The downtown is not the only battle front. The city sponsors frequent coastal clean ups and neighborhood litter collections. In the past year, it has been an active participant in the Keep America Beautiful Program, with its own Keep

TOP: MAYOR VINCE LAGO AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS, MIRENTXU AND CATALIN, ARE ON GARBAGE PATROL IN A CORAL GABLES NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR THEIR HOME.

ABOVE: VOLUNTEERS CLEANING UP THE COMMERCIAL STREETS OF DOWNTOWN

Photo by Emily Fakhoury

Coral Gables Beautiful Program. Headed up by Solanch Lopez, assistant to the city manager, and Matt Anderson, the city’s senior sustainability officer, the program held events like Plogging at Matheson, where participants jogged and picked up trash at the same time (a Swedish concept). The result: 33 joggers collected 165 pounds of trash from the mangroves bike trail. Another 35 participants joined the Solo Cleanup spring program, collecting 253 pounds of trash.

Few events are as productive as the semi-annual Household Hazardous Waste program. Now six years old, in April 400 cars drove up to City Hall and “diverted” 15 tons of hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, etc.), shredded paper and electronic waste from landfills. The next one is scheduled for November 6. “I get calls about this event every single day,” says Anderson. “This sets us aside from other cities.”

The initiatives go beyond those sponsored by the city, with private companies and non-profits organizing their own events. Last June, nine employees from the consulting firm Stantec

Saturday Ride

The trolleys that traverse Coral Gables have long been limited to weekdays, with a special Friday night extension. Now, thanks to a relentless push by Mayor Vince Lago – who established the original program in conjunction with trolleys from the City of Miami –the free service is rolling on Saturdays as well. On the inaugural day in October, 600 riders took advantage and hopped onboard. ■

Who is Jonathan Fisher?

collected 70 pounds of trash left by the tides in the mangroves at Matheson. On International Coastal Cleanup Day in September, more than 150 volunteers collected 992 pounds of garbage from Matheson Hammock, Cartegena Park, the Gables Waterway – even the shores of the Islands of Cocoplum.

Next on the agenda is a new city ordinance that requires residents to recycle cardboard by breaking down the boxes and putting them with their recycling debris, rather than tossing them into their trash pits with plant debris. The city will be educating residents for this ordinance, which goes into effect in December, with a campaign using the UM Hurricane Ibis mascot.

As for Lago, family and friends have told him he can be “a little bit obsessive-compulsive” in his insistence on being clean and green. “We slacked off during the pandemic,” he says. “But seeing there are no weeds in the sidewalk, that the windows and roofs are clean –that’s the only way to make sure the City Beautiful lives up to its moniker.” ■

We always knew that Coral Gables was a city filled with highly educated residents. So, there was some smug self-satisfaction last month when Gables native Jonathan Fisher dethroned Matt Amodio, the trivia maniac who had just won 38 consecutive rounds of the television quiz show Jeopardy!

After that, Fisher went on a tear. As of press time, he was up to $215,900 in winnings after a nine-day winning streak. And while the 30-year-old actor currently lives in Los Angeles,

he was recognized by announcer Johnny Gilbert as being “originally from Coral Gables Florida” – where his parents, Jonathan and Jann, still live in the house where he was raised.

As for the Final Jeopardy question that broke Amodio, it was this: “Nazi Germany annexed this nation and divided it into regions of the Alps and the Danube; the Allies later divided it into 4 sectors.” Amodio guessed Poland. Fisher got the correct answer, which was Austria. Go Gables! ■

VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL CLEANUP DAY AT MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK

Why I Give: Liana and Carlos de Mena

As the owner of a busy event planning company, Liana de Mena knows how to stay calm under pressure. But nothing would prepare her for the most challenging event of her life: the birth of her first son, Carlos Ray.

Born 14 weeks premature, Carlos spent 92 days in the Baptist Hospital NICU. Liana and her husband, Carlos Sr., were always by his side, and the outstanding care their son received from the staff extended to the family as well. “They make it a point to make you feel that they care,” she says.

Today Liana is grateful that Carlos Ray is a healthy, active boy. As a result of her experience, she wanted to give back, becoming the Foundation’s events chair and supporting the Baptist Hospital NICU and Miami Neuroscience Institute. She’s a firm believer in engaging others to benefit the organization. “The more community involvement, the better,” she says. “We’re there to spread the word and bring people to the table.”

“Baptist is so important to our community. And what they’ve done for my family is amazing.”

Photo by Lynn Parks

Living

History Seen from Two Wheels

Page 34 plus

BEST THINGS TO DO TROPICAL GIRL SCOUTS THE DRAG QUEEN SHOW

TOURING ON PONCE WITH BIKEWALK GABLES

Photo by Kenneth Garcia

Best Bets

FOR NOVEMBER

town,” beginning November 17 and running through December 12. Experience the stories of two couples and lifelong friends as they ride through the ups and downs of life together, with nationally known actors – Loretta Swit (“MASH”), Adrian Zmed (“T.J. Hooker”), Didi Conn (“Grease”) and Donny Most (“Happy Days”). Performances will be Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm. Visit www.actorsplayhouse.org for more information and ticket purchases.

BOB JAMES AT THE GARDENS

The jazz series at Pinecrest Gardens is back for its 12th season. And yes, it’s not in the Gables, but Pinecrest is right next door – and this is a worthy reason to cross the city limits. On November 13 at 8 pm, you can hear the cool sounds of Grammy-winning, smooth jazz progenitor Bob James (composer of the theme for TV show “Taxi”). In the Banyan Bowl, with no bad seats. 11000 Red Rd. Go to www. pinecrestgardens.org or call 305.350.0765 for tickets ($45– $55).

FROST MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Frost Music has an entire schedule of performances you can attend all month long such as “Winds – Frost Wind Ensemble” on November 13, “Jazz Composer Greats – Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble” on November 16 and more! Visit www.frost-music-live.miami.edu for this month’s full schedule of classical pieces and ticket purchases.

NORTH GABLES HARVEST MARKET

Coral Gables is proud to host its very first Harvest Market. Come and shop for locally grown produce, artisan foods, locally made arts & crafts and specialty products and service vendors. Enjoy live music, face painting, and seasonal crafts while you shop. The Harvest Market will take place Saturdays, November 6, 13, and 20, and December 4, 11, and 18 from 9 am to 2 pm at 140 Minorca Ave.

SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

And just like that, the Holidays are approaching. Celebrate the start of the season with the Shops at Merrick Park at their 18th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, November 18 at 6:00 pm. Bring the whole family and enjoy interactive activities, retailer pop-up stations, a visit from Santa Claus, and a live performance by Preston Howell, South Florida local and former contestant on NBC’s “The Voice”. 358 San Lorenzo Ave.

“THE PRICE” AT GABLESTAGE

For the first time since Covid-19, GableStage is back up and running, debuting the season with “The Price” running from November 12 to December 12. It’s a story about one son who abandons his dreams to support his father, and one son who does not. Find out what happens when they reunite thirty years later upon their father’s death and reexamine their decisions. Visit www.gablestage.org to purchase your tickets.

“MIDDLETOWN” AT ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE

Actors’ Playhouse kicks off the Mainstage season with “Middle-

13 ANNUAL DR. SCHIFF SENIOR ART SHOW

On Friday, November 19, come support the talents of local senior artists in photography, painting, drawing, hard and soft crafts at the 13th Annual Dr. Schiff Art Show. This complimentary showcase will take place from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Coral Gables Adult Activity Center, 2 Andalusia Ave. Awards will be announced at 7:30 pm.

DISTINCTIVE LIVING MEETS

BEST-IN-CLASS

Belmont Village Coral Gables to Redefine Senior Living

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Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida

CAMP MAHACHEE AND WORLD DOMINATION, ONE COOKIE AT A TIME…

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

It can’t be here. That was my first thought after driving past Matheson Hammock Park on Old Cutler Road. Checking my GPS again for what was supposed to be an 11 ½ acre campground, I finally found my turn. Down a long unpaved road and through the hammocks I went, through a passage of time.

My tour began at the lodge house, where pictures on the wall capture that past. The campground remains identical to how it looked seventy-three years ago when the girls took over. That sounded like girl power to me, and it was indeed an epic start funded by their iconic cookies –$3,337 in cookie sales to be exact – which allowed the Girl Scouts in 1945 to purchase Camp Mahachee from the Arthur Curtis James estate. On November 7, 1948, it would be dedicated for sole use of the Girl Scouts.

The first Girl Scout troop in Florida began in Monroe County in 1921, followed by Miami-Dade’s Tropical troop in 1923 – and the movement has been growing ever since. The mission of Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, to make the world a better place. Walking around the

best are the hikes to the sink hole and the thrill of crawling through the caves created by the sink hole on the property.”

Adventures extend beyond the campground, and a big part of that beyond is Girl Scout Cookies©, the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. Cookie sales from 12 different varieties help fund their programs, and you can now buy them online as well as in person. The result is 200 million boxes sold each year for $850 million. According to Forbes magazine, that tops the annual sales for Oreos, Chips Ahoy and Milanos combined. And to think it all started in July 1922 when American Girl magazine published a recipe for basic sugar cookies, intended for troop sales.

“WE

To meet the demand today we now have cookie pre-sales which begin this November 22 and go through December 3. Direct cookie sales go from January 8 through February 21. Fortunately, you don’t have to eat through your New Year’s resolutions to support the Girl Scouts. This November 13th Girl Scout Troop Leader and Coral Gables resident Patricia Cruz chairs their 2021 Campfires to Cocktails fundraiser at Camp Mahachee.

CHELSEA

eight cabins, multiple pathways, fire pit, and common areas I realized that wherever I stepped lay a cache of cherished memories.

Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Angelica “Kiki” Zayas is one “lifer” who began as a camper, became a counselor, then a troop leader, then a lifeguard; she still volunteers as an adult.

“I earned my first paycheck at Camp Mahachee. My last job before I went to law school was as a lifeguard there,” she says.

“Of course, I remember the campfires, the songs, the friendships, and ‘Rock City’ with great fondness. But what I remember

“We continue to be stewards of this incredible property where girls are able to get outdoors safely, connect with hardwood hammock, see stars at night, hear night noises,” Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO of the Tropical troop, recently told the City Commission. “Many of our girls in Coral Gables and across our jurisdiction don’t have opportunities to be outdoors after dark [but] they can go to a magical place like Camp Mahachee and it opens the world for them.”

“When I’m at Mahachee, I don’t feel like I’m in Miami,” says Girl Scout cadette Lucy Dwyer. “It feels special, being in the woods. Whenever I’m there, I feel like I never want to leave.”

For more information visit https://www.girlscoutsfl.org/. ■

WILKERSON, CEO OF THE TROPICAL TROOP

CONTINUE TO BE STEWARDS OF THIS INCREDIBLE PROPERTY WHERE GIRLS ARE ABLE TO GET OUTDOORS SAFELY...”

TOP: IN 1948 CAMP MAHACHEE WAS DEDICATED FOR THE SOLE USE OF THE GIRL SCOUTS.

MIDDLE: GIRL SCOUTS RAISING THE FLAG DURING THE 1970’S..

BOTTOM: TODAY THE GIRL SCOUT TRADITION CONTINUES AT CAMP MAHACHEE.

History Seen from Two Wheels

Every third Sunday it’s BYOB. That normally means bring your own bottle, but in this case it means “bring your own bike.” Starting at 10 a.m. from the Coral Gables Museum, bikers can join a group of 30-some other cyclists for a historical tour of the City Beautiful and adjacent communities. We signed up ($10 per person, $5 for museum members or city employees) for a tour directed by Christine Rupp, executive director of Dade Heritage Trust. She brought the history of Gables’ Bahamian settlers to life, taking us past architectural landmarks in the Gables and Coconut Grove.

Bike Walk Coral Gables, which sponsors the monthly event, is a non-profit organization that advocates for cyclist and pedestrian safety. “We want to create a social experience when

it comes to riding your bike and walking in Coral Gables – to create a safer, friendlier environment for cyclists and pedestrians alike while actively engaging them in history,” says Vice Chair Nicolas Cabrera. “Our bike tours create a sense of community.” We were a little nervous about biking on the street, but Bike Walk made it feel comfortable. We were surrounded by a gang of cyclists – including designated leaders with reflective jackets who stopped traffic, warned for passing cars and guided the ride in an organized formation. Each tour consists of a different theme and route, led by an expert guide. For us, the ride opened our eyes to the historic significance of places we drive by every day. Visit www.bikewalkcoralgables.org to see their tour schedule. ■

-Carmen Fraga

Strengthening our through EDUCATION COMMUNITIES

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Photo by Kenneth Garcia

THE BWCG BIKES TOURS ARE AN EYE OPENER

Drew Kern Closes a Sale EVERY 4 DAYS

Life is a Cabaret

WHEN A WEEKNIGHT IS A DRAG. SHOW, THAT IS

On a recent Tuesday night we found ourselves wondering if we weren’t in Las Vegas instead of Coral Gables. There, in the “speakeasy” backroom bar of Coyo Taco on Giralda Plaza, we watched Coyo Drag Show Night unfold. Yes, Gabelites, every Tuesday beginning at 9 pm, our local taco shop features individual performances from drag queens, a DJ and a live singer. And lest we forget, $5 and $10 drink specials.

Throughout the rotation of the drag performances and the singer’s renditions of “I Will Survive’’ by Gloria Gaynor and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, curious diners kept trickling in. Some walked in during the strip tease

performance and shortly walked out, having not mentally prepared for that. Some stuck around to liven up their weeknight watching drag queens jump and land into splits. The show concluded just before midnight with our Drag Night host Jah’Syra, strutting on the dance floor to Ashley Tisdale’s “He Said She Said,” which had the millennial Disney Channel fanatics in the audience up and dancing.

Although Jah’Syra was a fabulous host, Drag Night is typically hosted by award winning drag queen and singer Karla Croqueta. Expect to see her next time you go, along with some burlesque and pole dancing acts, so leave the kids at home. ■ -Carmen

Fraga

H O M E I S W H E R E T H E D O G I S

A h o u s e i s j u s t n o t a h o m e w i t h o u t t h e l o v e o f o u r c h e r i s h e d f a m i l y p e t s .

A s r e a l t o r s , w e o f t e n s e e t h a t o n e o f t h e t o p p r i o r i t i e s f o r b u y e r s i n c l u d e s h a v i n g p l e n t y o f s p a c e f o r f u r f a m i l y m e m b e r s , t o o .

W i t h n e a r l y 3 0 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e f i n d i n g f o r e v e r h o m e s f o r m a n y o f o u r c l i e n t s , a n d t h e i r p e t s , A s h l e y k n o w s C o r a l G a b l e s r e a l e s t a t e .

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An insider’s guide to Weekly Specials

While most restaurants have daily specials, especially during happy hour and weekday lunches, there are some exceptional specials that are offered only once a week. Here’s a quick look at some of the best bargains in town – if they fit your schedule.

Food

COYO TACO/126 GIRALDA PLAZA

Every Tuesday, all tacos are 50 percent off. Viva Mexico!

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE/2525 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. On Tuesdays, they serve a three-course dinner for two with a 35oz tomahawk. With two salads, two sides, and two desserts, it’s a deal for $125.

PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE & GRILLE/SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK

Their enormous smoked, glazed porkchop with whipped potatoes and homemade applesauce is yours for just $17 on Fridays, from 10:30 am to 5 pm.

TAP 42/301 GIRALDA AVE.

The “Prohibition Burger” is half off Monday nights ($8.25 instead of $16.50, from 4 pm) with purchase of any beverage.

SALUMARIA 104/117 MIRACLE MILE. During their Pasta Monday nights, any pasta entrée for $10 (5 pm to 10 pm); normally $20 to $24.

TALAVERA COCINA MEXICANA/2299 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. On Wednesdays after 4pm, you get five Tacos for $14 with their “Tacos Al Pastor” special.

Drink

COPPER 29/206 MIRACLE MILE

Free champagne for ladies starting at 7 pm every Wednesday.

PUBLIC SQUARE/6915 RED RD.

All whiskey drinks 50 percent off on Wednesdays; all wines 50 percent off all day Mondays.

TAP 42/301 GIRALDA AVE.

All wines 50 percent off Wednesday nights with the purchase of any entrée.

SALUMARIA 104/117 MIRACLE MILE

All bottles of wine 50 percent off on Tuesdays, all day.

BUENOS AIRES BISTRO/180 ARAGON AVE. All wine 50 percent off on Mondays.

TOP: FRIDAY’S AT PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE & GRILLE ABOVE: MONDAY NIGHT BURGERS AT TAP 22 BOTTOM: WEDNESDAY’S WHISKEY AT PUBLIC SQUARE

WE MAKE THE CONNECTIONS YOU MAKE THE MEMORIES

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

Quick Bites

Still the Real Deal

Not that we entirely trust the readers and editors of New Times, but their latest Best Of edition voted Miss Saigon the best Vietnamese restaurant in Miami. A few years earlier they voted it best restaurant in Coral Gables, period. Not sure about that, but the eatery on Giralda Plaza continues to impress with their fresh, light cuisine. Among our favorites is the spicy shrimp salad ($11.95) that combines the flavors of lemon grass, lime juice, and chili. According to our server the five Bun Xao dishes ($16.95) are the customer favorites, large bowls of noodles and vegetables topped with shrimp spring rolls and your choice of protein. We opted instead for the beef with broccoli in garlic sauce, still too much to eat ($12.95).

Saturday Fresh

Del Monte’s FRSHST concept, with its prototype café at their corporate site on Sevilla Avenue, has become a popular, healthy, quick stop for the office crowd near Ponce Circle. Now they are entering the weekend market with an all-day brunch menu. Yes, you can get their eggs & bacon wrap or their eggs benedict starting at 9 am and right up until 7 pm. Good for takeout but nothing like breakfast during sunset at one of their outdoor tables. Delicious, too; just no bottomless mimosas.

Affordable Dining

Who says you can’t get a great meal for a great price in Coral Gables? One of the things we love about La Casita, on the northern spur of the city between Ponce and Douglas, is that the menu doesn’t change for dinner. You still get all those great Cuban dishes – ropa vieja, lechon asado, bistec de pollo – along with rice, black beans and plantains for $10.95 to $12.95. Our recent dinner for two of masas de puerco (pork chunks with onions), ropa vieja (shredded beef in tomato sauce) and two large café con leches, came to $35. Plus, it’s still a comfortable, family place with booths and tablecloths that hasn’t changed in decades.

Speaking of Healthy

When the folks at Grove Bay Hospitality Group repurposed Shula’s steak house on Red Road into Public Square, they still hung on to the beef roots of the iconic Dolphin coach’s trademark restaurant. They added some nice touches, too, especially in the seafood department. They also offer superb grilled vegetables. And here is what we love: Order one of their cheeseburgers for lunch ($18) and ask for grilled veggies instead of the fries. You will thank us, and your aorta will thank you.

TOP TO BOTTOM

MISS SAIGON: BUN XAO BOWL

FRSHST: EGGS BENEDICT

LA CASITA: MASAS DE PUERCO

PUBLIC SQUARE: GRILLED VEGETABLES

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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.”

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Pancakes and Travel

BREAKFAST WITH TRAVEL AGENT EXTRAORDINAIRE OLGA RAMUDO

BY MARK TROWBRIDGE CEO, CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE GUEST: Olga Ramudo, CEO of Express Travel and Chair of the city’s Economic Development Board

THE VENUE: Breakfast at Bachour

THE FARE: Guava and Cheese Croissant (heated), Greek yogurt with raspberries & strawberries and Antonio Bachour’s beloved guava pancakes topped with cream cheese mousse

THE SCENE: A lively Wednesday morning filled with indoor and outdoor diners

Welcome to the new monthly Deep Dish. Part foodie column, part business update, the “Dish” will feature my version of the quintessential Gables power lunch (or breakfast/coffee/dinner) with a local CEO doing big things in our community. Hopefully it will also give you greater insight into places to convene and collaborate over a good meal.

“I love this place – great choice,” Olga declared upon my arrival at Bachour. We had agreed to an 8:45 am start so I could get a decent morning workout at the new LifeTime Health Club and earn my carbs. She was being good and ordered only a croissant of which she pledged to eat merely a bite or two.

The first thing you notice at Bachour are the jewel cases filled with gorgeous baked goods – from elegant desserts to more standard breakfast fare. I remarked that Bachour had found a way to thrive during COVID, increasing outdoor seating in their courtyard and perfecting the take-out menu. While we chatted, Olga nibbled ever so slightly her guava and cheese croissant, sipping her cortadito with skim milk (and one Splenda). I had an iced tea and scarfed down my yogurt and berries. We also ordered the guava pancakes, as well, to share.

Olga and I had gotten together to catch up on a number of items – most significantly, how our Chamber can best partner with the City’s Economic Development Board in the upcoming year. I also wanted an update on her industry, so important for the Gables. Olga owns the leading

travel agency in South Florida, and what has happened over the past 19 months would give anyone pause. But she was cautiously optimistic. While her business remains down 50 percent, that is a vast improvement over 2020, when business travel had ceased, the cruise industry was in drydock, and people feared getting on an airplane.

“What gives us the most revenue is not necessarily corporate travel, but international travel. It’s not business versus leisure travel, but international versus domestic,” Olgo told me. “We need to be careful with vaccinations and masks, but the world needs to open up and continue moving.” And when will things change? “That’s very difficult to predict. But I can tell you that everyone is working on the reopening… What we are hearing from our customers is that they are eager to travel and get back to normal.”  That was music to my ears, with a new 242-room Loews Hotel opening here next year, adding to the inventory at The Biltmore Hotel, The Colonnade Hotel, Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, and THesis Hotel, among others.

The take-away from our meet and greet is that we plan to host a joint meeting between our Chamber and the Economic Development Board in Q1, collaborating around travel and tourism recovery, and finding ways to better position the Gables to the global market. The other takeaway was the uneaten stack of pancakes. They ended up in a to-go box, something to savor later (or in the car on the way back to the office). ■

OLGA RAMUDO AND MARK TROWBRIDGE MIX BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE AT A MORNING BREAKFAST MEETING AT BACHOUR

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN DANN

START STYLING stop searching

Photo by Emily Fakhoury

What’s Hot

NOVEMBER: IN THE MOOD TO ENTERTAIN

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

Tis the season to open our homes (and more likely, our backyards and patios) to friends and family. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a larger fête, let this selection of items inspire you to take your role as host to the next level.

ON THE FLY (1)

While Berkel’s iconic Volano B3 flywheel slicer’s vintage artisanal design is the ultimate tool for salumi, charcuterie, and cheese, it is so beautiful that it could truly pass as a sculptural focal point in the home. Retail: $6,399. Mia Cucina, 105 Miracle Mile, 305-7929494, miacucina.com.

PERFECT POUR (2)

Upgrade your bar in a major way with Jonathan Adler’s retro-inspired porcelain decanters. Emblazoned with the name of your favorite vice, when poured from one of these vessels, even bottom-shelf booze will become a stellar choice. Retail: from $168. Violetas Home Design, 221 Miracle Mile, 305-381-0711, violetashomedesign.com.

HOT

POT (3)

Both functional and chic, Fellow’s Stagg electric kettle simplifies the process of heating water for the perfect cup of pour-over coffee or hot tea. It comes in a variety of minimalist designs, but we are partial to the matte black with walnut wood handle. Retail: $189.95. Williams Sonoma, 350 San Lorenzo Ave. #2005, 305-446-9421, williams-sonoma.com.

THAT’S AMORE (4)

Pizza night is about to get a total reboot with the help of Kalamazoo’s countertop artisan fire pizza oven. Easy to set up and control, you can prepare delicious Neapolitan-style pies in 45 minutes. Retail price available upon request. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, 4199 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-507-6221, ferguson.com.

SHAKE IT (5)

Made from matte-finished ceramic, this set of salt and pepper grinders by Zaha Hadid Design can be nested together or used as stand-alone sculptural pieces. Either way, they will add a dose of playfulness to your table. Retail: $140. Luminaire, 2331 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-448-7367, luminaire.com.

An independent jeweler for 25 years, Gables Gems in Coral Gables is home to an unsurpassed collection of fine jewelry from the world’s most exclusive and innovative jewelry designers and manufacturers.

Our extensive selection appeals to a wide range of jewelry collectors, from those searching for their first fine jewelry piece, to seasoned collectors who appreciate rare pieces they can’t find anywhere else.

A Latin Flair

P DE PALMA AT THE SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK

WORDS BY KIM RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS BY EMILY FAKHOURY

In February 2021 P de Palma opened its doors in the Shops at Merrick Park, in the storefront that formerly housed Silvia Tcherassi. That may have been a difficult time in retail to pursue one’s dream, but owners and friends Arianna Da Gama and Daniella Rodriguez did just that, and I think Gables residents are happy about it.

The friends share the same passion for the styles of their Latin culture, a proud bond to their roots, and their love of fashion. They say the namesake of the store “is a connection with the tropical vibes of Miami and, being a name written in Spanish, it embraces our Latin culture here.” Arianna was born and raised in Venezuela and came to Miami to study journalism. She worked covering entertainment news and much of her work focused on fashion writing. Daniella was born in Mexico and came to Miami to study fashion merchandising. She had a strong eye for buying and styling and wanted to use it. “I’ ve always felt proud of my Latin roots and I express this in the way I dress and live,” she says. Both are hard working moms with young kids, living their dream while teaching their kids that even in difficult times, you really can do anything you set your mind to.

The windows reflect perfectly what the customer will find inside the store: A mix of tropical, luxe, resort and beachwear, with a Latin, earthy-influenced vibe. The “girls” wanted to carry top Latin designers (some of whom are hard to find outside of their own countries) here in the Gables all under one roof. This is what makes P de Palma an experience for the shopper. Clients can try on pieces here they could otherwise not get their hands on, so it’s an intro-

duction to some of the best Latin American creators, with mini curated and exclusive collections throughout the store.

Clients will find unique brands like Johanna Ortiz, Mónica Sordo, By Efrain Mogollon, Leal Dacarett, Andres Otalora, Juan de Dios and many others. Customers can also dress their Mini Me’s, girls and boys alike, with a small collection of children’s clothes.

“WE OPENED IN THIS MALL BECAUSE WE FELT THE NEED FOR A STORE WITH LATIN AMERICAN DESIGNERS. MANY OF THE SHOPPERS ARE LOCALS AND LOVE TO SHOP UNIQUE RESORT WEAR...”

ARIANNA DA GAMA, CO-OWNER

Prices range from $200 to $600 for the adult choices. Clients will also find accessories to pair back to everything. Think resort type totes, straw and cane evening clutches, sandals, and earthy jewelry. Truly one stop shopping for that special outfit.

When asked why Coral Gables, Arianna says, “We opened in this mall because we felt the need for a store with Latin American designers. Many of the shoppers are locals and love to shop unique resort wear.” The brands and the interiors of the store speak volumes of the Latin influence in the Gables, so it’s appealing to locals as well as the Latin American consumer who travels here.

If you can’t make it to the store, they have a large selection of apparel and accessories online as well. Please visit them at www.pdepalmastore.com. ■

Kim Rodriguez is a Personal Stylist and Shopper whose clients include many Coral Gables residents. Krpersonalstyle.com

P DE PALMA THE SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK, SUITE 2140 PDEPALMASTORE.COM

OWNERS ARIANNA DA GAMA AND DANIELLA RODRIGUEZ SHARE LATIN ROOTS EXPRESSED IN THEIR CHOICE OF DESIGNER CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES.

Navigating

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1001 San Pedro Avenue

1001 San Pedro Avenue

$9,900,000 | 8 BD | 8 BA | 5,676 SF

$9,900,000 | 8 BD | 8 BA | 5,676 SF

renovation ETA 12/21

Features

• Complete renovation: all new roof, electric, plumbing, A/C, impact glass

• Complete renovation: all new roof, electric, plumbing, A/C, impact glass

• New 80’ dock 100’ direct ocean access to Biscayne Bay

• New 80’ dock 100’ direct ocean access to Biscayne Bay

• Infinity saline heated pool

• Infinity saline heated pool

• Full house generator

• Full house generator

• 2 car garage

• 2 car garage

• Thermador top line gas appliances

• Temp controlled wine display

• Thermador top line gas appliances Temp controlled wine display

• 2 fireplaces

• 2 fireplaces

• 2 laundry rooms

• 2 laundry rooms

• Guard-Gated Gables by the Sea

• Guard-Gated Gables by the Sea

• Top rated schools

• Top rated schools

Nancy@SanabriaTeam.com SanabriaTeam.com

Nancy@SanabriaTeam.com SanabriaTeam.com

Collectable Obsessions

AT TWO GABLES SHOPS IT’S ALL ABOUT TOYS, TUNES AND COMICS

BY J.P. FABER

For husband-and-wife team Waldo Rodriguez and Johanna Garcia, it used to be about the figurines, those collectable anime toys, miniature statuettes of Batman, the Flash and Supergirl, and Pez dispensers of characters from Charlie Brown, the Simpsons, or the Flintstones. “We were like a 7-11 for collectables,” says Rodriguez. “But about three or four years ago the vinyl business started to pop up. Now our main products are records and music posters” along with T-shirts of pop music icons.

There is still an army of classic toys and boxes of vintage comic books at Gables Records N’ Comics. But the shop, located on the second floor above PPole Pizza on Miracle Mile, now caters to customers who own turntables, searching for long-lost LPs of yesteryear’s rock stars.

So, what’s hot these days?

“Anything from the ’90s or early 2000s,” says Rodriguez. “It has nothing to do with who is more popular, or who is in demand. It has to do with scarcity. You can find 10,000 Pearl Jam CDs, but very little vinyl. Heavy metal is impossible to find because it’s from the ’90s and early 2000s. There was just no vinyl then. If you can find a Nine Inch Nails, I’ll take it.” And if you can find it, it can be worth hundreds of dollars. Even a copy of the Beatles’ Abbey Road, from the days when LPs were in vogue, sells for $85. “Lou Reed sells well because it’s hard to get,” says Rodriguez. “But I couldn’t sell a Carole King to my mother.”

These days the couple spends most of their time on the road in search of collectable albums. Both were local school-

teachers – he at West Miami High, she at Gables High – but Rodriguez has since retired and Garcia now teaches K-12 classes only online. “The store is doing well,” he says. “It pays for itself and gives us a little bit of profit for travel money, and that’s fine.”

At Korka Comix on the other end of town, at the small strip mall just south of Havana Harry’s on Le Jeune Road, music plays no part of the collectable strategy. Here it’s all about comic books that typically cost between $3.99 and $5.99 – titles like Doctor Strange, Shadow Man, The Avengers and Suicide Squad – and collectable figurines.

“WE WERE LIKE A 7-11 FOR COLLECTABLES, BUT ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO THE VINYL BUSINESS STARTED TO POP UP. NOW OUR MAIN PRODUCTS ARE RECORDS AND MUSIC POSTERS...”

There are glass cases filled with action figurines of Wonder Woman, Iron Man, and the Hulk, and one wall is lined with Funko Pop! collectable figurines, which storekeeper Myrelis Jordan calls “the beanie babies of today.” The Funko Pops cost $14.99 each, while most of the action figures cost around $20 –though some cost more, like $35 for a bizarre miniature action figure of Bob Ross, television’s paint-by-numbers guru.

“I’ve been a nerd as long as I can remember, so I love working here,” says Jordan. “We’ve got a pretty good mixture of collectables and comics. One lady from Panama came in and bought eight hundred dollars’ worth of comic books because she said they don’t have any there.” ■

MIDDLE: VINYL RECORDS FROM THE 90’S AND EARLIER AT RECORDS

BOTTOM: KORKA COMICS IS ALL ABOUT ACTION FIGURES AND COMICS

TOP: HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM WALDO RODRIGUEZ AND JOHANNA GARCIA AT RECORDS N’ COMICS.

N’ COMICS

Sisters Flavia and Frankie Berti are the founders of Equipaws Pet Services

Photo by Keith Spurlock

The “Ruff ” Life

A FIRST PERSON VIEW OF ALL IT TAKES TO KEEP YOUR POOCH HAPPY IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

It’s a late Monday afternoon and I’m ever so grateful to have high impact glass windows in my home. This thought recurs as my 63-pound white poodle-mix Elle presses her nose and paws against my driveway-facing window. She motions with her head that her ride is here. Behind the wheel of the van that just pulled in is her favorite rock star. It’s Ricky (not Martin but Ruque), a seemingly tough bald man with a full beard, who looks more like a successful tattoo artist than a dog groomer. With his signature goofy apron, he drops to his knees as they bring it in for a hug before both enter Wow Grooming Mobile

Ruque’s self-sufficient van has lots of groupies in the hood – older ladies like my neighbor Tinker who only allows his hands to touch her BFF Russell, a half yorkie/half dachshund mix, still rocking a natural mohawk. Fortunately for them, in addition to being an AKC S.A.F.E. Certified Groomer, Ruque also has his Geriatric Pet Grooming certificate. When asked his secret he says, “I go at their pace. The animals, they always show me.”

Among other things, the convenience of a mobile groomer means no aggravating traffic for pick-ups or drop-offs. At the height of Covid closings this was also a safe option, so their affordable pricing was extra impressive. Like most in the Gables, pandemic or not, we prefer to keep our dogs well-groomed. Ruque reminds me of a small task that most owners overlook – a daily coat-brushing for healthier skin and hair.

For those who prefer the in-store grooming experience say hello to our newest neighbors at Scenthound Coral Gables. Located under the Gables Ponce Apartments (at the Ponce extension by Le Jeune Road) this walkable option for those living nearby has been available for just four months. But clearly the demand is there; on a busy day they now service more than 40 dogs.

“Not all dogs require haircuts, but all dogs need routine care and basic grooming,” says Maria-

Photo by Grace Carricarte

“I go at their pace. The animals, they always show me.”

RICKY RUQUE OF WOW GROOMING (ABOVE WITH ELLE) BRINGS HIS SELF-SUFFICIENT VAN TO YOUR HOME

no Espinosa, franchise partner of Scenthound Miami Coastline. “It’s our objective to educate as many dog parents as possible on the importance of this.” Nearly 400 “members” have signed up for services like a tracking app (keeps you informed for health and wellness checkups) and an in-store bath members can use. “They do such a good job getting all the burrs out of his fur (Frankie the Labradoodle),” one customer told me.

While Ruque and Espinosa both left successful corporate careers to follow their fur-loving passions, for Jarbas Godoy, the owner of The Dog From Ipanema, canine care was always his first choice. The Brazilian dog groomer, who had a shop in his home country, opened his first Gables store in 1986 in the Shops at Merrick Park. After 22 years, he moved to 57th Avenue, across the street from the Gables in South Miami, where his clientele followed him. “What always attracted me to the field was just to make beautiful dogs,” Godoy says. The walls of Godoy’s shop are covered in photos of dogs he has groomed, or “babies” as he calls them. To ensure they are comfortable while they wait to be washed, they rest in a dark room with a TV on that streams videos of cats. At the end of each day, every cage is disinfected, and Godoy sprays the newly-groomed babies with Jimmy Choo, Calvin Klein, Dior, Burberry or Givenchy perfumes. All three of these groomers say that Coral Gables dog owners are a special breed, truly caring for their dogs. Veterinarian Dr. Phil Cruz of Red Bird Animal Hospital could not agree more. Leaving his architecture and aerospace engineering studies, he fell in love with the mechanics of how the body works. While he aspired to help zebras and all things wild, he settled instead 16 years ago at his location here to help our domesticated pet community. Dr. Cruz describes his work best as, “a CSI game, because the animals can’t talk. So, you are presented with a mystery. I like a challenge, and when you get an animal well again you just get so… attached.” I asked where they ordered their wooden wall-sized waiting room sign. Ordered? Turns out it was meticulously carved by Dr. Cruz himself. Nothing like being hands on.

THE LONG TERM

Loving care throughout the entirety of a pet’s life is crucial, especially during the late, more delicate years. I was blessed to have spent most of my adult life with my favorite sidekick, little Benny the terrier. End of life decisions were never a part of the plan (Curse you, Dog Years!) but I would need the help of a tender professional to guide me through quality-of-life assessments and his end-of-life options. My angel was Dr. Ivana Ayala of Bella Veterinary Services

Knowing our animals deserve as much integrity in death as we provide them in life, her specialty is at-home euthanasia. A full-service visit with her vet van covers it all so that your only concern during this difficult time is your dog. The comfort of being inside your own home with all things familiar to Benny was by far the best option for us. Another benefit I soon found is not having to get behind the wheel of a car while buckets of tears block your view.

Elle and I miss Benny but find comfort in all the support services available in the area. Elle, a rescue poodle-mix, had gone quickly from being a sick neonate to a spoiled “when will she stop growing” dog. Professional training was soon in order for me. The rescue suggested I turn to Applause Your Paws, Inc. (AYP), the largest reward-based dog training company in Miami. Out of their many training options we settled on a few group classes followed by several weeks of in-home training. Even at more than half my own body weight, I can now easily walk this strong puff ball of enthusiasm on a leash with only a few slipups of her manners (Squirrel!).

If you don’t want – or don’t have time – to walk your beast, you can use Equipaws Pet Services for their popular mid-day dog

Paws in the Pool

A BLAST WITH EVERY SPLASH

At the recent Venetian Pool’s 14th Annual Paws in the Pool event there were no citations, not even a single warning issued. And we are talking about repeat unleashed offenses here: zero mask wearing, no social distancing, no turn taking, talking to strangers, theft (tennis balls), spit swapping, topless blondes in the waterfall (Goldens that is), and diving in front of the lifeguard stand by the rather obvious No Diving sign.

When it comes to dogs, some rules are made to be broken. As for the humans, they had only three rules to follow: 1) Have a dog; 2) Buy tickets ($7 per dog, $5 per human); 3) Bring both with proof of current rabies vaccination.

Knowing the history of the Venetian Pool, going to the dogs each year is wonderfully ironic. Opened in 1924 as the Venetian Casino, the destination was considered quite the place for high society in the day. Movie stars like Johnny Weissmuller and Esther Williams were among the regulars. They were not in evidence at the canine event, however, as were 200+ dogs that showed up for each of two pool parties: The Small Dog Session (10 am-1 pm) and the Large Dog Session (1:30-4:30 pm).

So, with so much fun in the sun for pooches of all sizes, why not have more Paws in the Pool days than just the last Sunday of each October? Jose Vilar, aquatics supervisor at Venetian pool, explains, “There is a big cleanup process. We have to make sure we meet all the health codes. So, in order to have the event we need to tell the public and close for an additional day.” Having said that, what happens in the Venetian Pool stays in the Venetian Pool. Until it gets cleaned up.

Photo by Taylor Corlione

walk. Their team loves walking and running our dogs along the City Beautiful’s tree-lined streets, where there’s shade 365 days a year for sensitive paws. Sisters Flavia and Frankie Berti founded the company in 2011. Not surprising, since my childhood memories from our sleepovers always included their dog Eeko (small world!). Growing up they were the only kids I knew who actually cared for their dog, even through his senior years (RIP Eeko). It’s no wonder they now include a specialized Pet Home Health Care Division, headed by veterinary technician Lory Nelson-Brunner. Pet parents receive help giving medications to their furballs (from topicals to pills to insulin injections and more) and the team even takes them for vet visits during work hours. Equipaws provides care for aging or convalescing pets as well, as directed by their veterinarian.

We also have Miami Pet Concierge, which opened its doors four years earlier (in 2007) as a labor of love. Founder Nicole Packin had worked in shelter environments and noticed many pets being surrendered due to owners claiming a lack of time. This led to Miami Pet Concierge’s mission to keep pets happy at home. She focused on basic support services to help achieve just that, including dog walks, basic care, and guidance/education for pet parents.

Boarding is another concern for travelers. On-site boarding is available at the AYP location where simultaneous training classes can be provided; there is also the Dog Dude Ranch of Miami out in Kendall Lakes, if you want your dog to feel like they are on vaca-

continued on page 61

Photo by Grace Carricarte

“I like a challenge, and when you get an animal well again you just get so… attached”

VETERINARIAN DR. PHIL CRUZ OF RED BIRD ANIMAL HOSPITAL

(786) 529-7833

Bella Veterinary Services Dr. Ivana Ayala bella-veterinary-services.business.site

(786) 566-2199

Equipaws Pet Services equipawspetservices.com (305) 794-3733

Miami Pet Concierge miamipetconcierge.com (305) 773-3999

Nandog Pet Gear nandogflorida.com 60 Miracle Mile (786) 391-0733

Red Bird Animal Clinic Dr. Phil Cruz redbirdanimalclinic.com 5753B SW 40th St. (305) 661-6466

The Dog From Ipamena 7230 SW 57 Ave. (305) 663-1712

thedogfromipanema.com

Scenthound Coral Gables scenthound.com

4583 Ponce de Leon Blvd. (786) 527-2989

WOW Grooming Mobile Pet Grooming wowgrooming.com (305) 206-9306

VOLUNTEER!

Don’t have a dog or just can’t get enough? Here are volunteer opportunities:

Paws 4 You Rescue (Pinecrest)

Paws4You, a non-profit organization, welcomes volunteers who are interested in socializing, exercising, and transporting dogs to and from events and veterinary appointments. You can help with events, fundraising, office support, and program leadership. Their facility is by appointment only so contact them first and visit their website for more information.

Paws4you.org

info@paws4you.org • 786-242-7377

Humane Society of Greater Miami (Cutler Bay and North Miami Beach)

Since 1936 this limited admission, adoption guarantee non-profit facility has been dedicated to placing animals in loving homes and promoting proper pet ownership. They have relied on the community to help them fulfill this mission. From in-shelter tasks to event and outreach support, volunteers are needed in every part of their work. The minimum age to volunteer is 16.

Humanesocietymiami.org

volunteer@humanesocietymiami.org

305-749-1843

Miami-Dade County Animal Services

Pet Adoption and Protection Center (Doral)

The center needs volunteers for just about any task, from bathing, providing dog walks, and socializing shelter pets, to helping with mobile adoptions, photographing pets, or being a foster parent – and much more. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older (or 15 if accompanied by a parent or adult volunteer). For more information on available volunteer positions please reach out directly.

Miamidade.gov

www.miamidade.gov/global/animals/home. page (Go to Volunteer at Animal Services) 305-418-7159

Miami Veterinary Foundation

Started by vets and animal lovers in the1970s, their mission is to increase access to veterinary care, promote responsible pet ownership, strengthen the human animal bond and support the reduction of pet overpopulation in our community. This is primarily a volunteer opportunity for like-minded veterinarians to help through Project Unleashed on the third Sunday of every month, participate

at MDAS Spay-Neuter Partnership, guest lecture for the Friends Foundation Lecture Series, or participate in the Tag Along Donation Program. Or perhaps you are so awesome you can find other ways to contribute to their important work.

Miamivetfoundation.org

info@miamivetfoundation.org

305-697-3301

Have pet supplies to donate?

Petco is not only an adoption site for Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS), but they also accept donations on their behalf. Both the Adoption Center and MDAS ask for all sorts of pet supplies. These include bowls, dishes, sealed food, beds, towels, toys, and other new or gently used supplies. Drop off your items at MDAS or their Adoption Center in the back of Petco from 10 am to 6 pm, seven days a week.

6200 S. Dixie Hwy

South Miami, FL 33143

305-662-5541

continued from page 58

tion, too. Closer to home, Equipaws can arrange overnight stays and both they and Miami Pet Concierge offer in-home pet sitting where they can provide three visits per day in your home. Many residents also rely on apps like Nextdoor to see if any neighbors can assist them with pet care while they are away.

Of course, no canine life is complete without toys, beds, and other accessories. For these you can turn to Nandog Pet Gear which opened on Miracle Mile earlier this year. Focused on style and durability, Nandog has created a specialty line of supplies and knickknacks that cater to the trendy and price-conscious dog owner. While orders can be placed online, your pup may prefer the in-person experience. And walking along The Mile afterwards, your dog can cool off with their selection of popsicles. Current flavors include carrot, peanut butter, strawberry, peanut butter banana, strawberry carrot, strawberry banana, and watermelon banana.

As tempting as that sounds, you may want to reserve the treats for when you visit one of 80-plus restaurants in Coral Gables that offer outdoor seating, which means Fido can come – along with his or her 300 million olfactory receptors. If it’s an actual dog menu you want, then SAWA is the place for you. The restaurant in the courtyard of the Shops at Merrick Park offers canine selections such as jerky strips and filet mignon kebab. And in this city you can even invite visitors to stay with their pampered pooches at one of our pet-friendly hotels, such as the Colonnade or the Biltmore. As long as there is no shortage of dog lovers in the Gables, there will be no shortage of rough life. ■

Photo by Grace Carricarte

Nandog Pet Gear on Miracle Mile, for the trendy and price conscious dog owner

Moglie

Rescue dog, shepherd mix, 5 years

The Owner

Marcos Segrera, Evensky & Katz/Foldes Financial

Dog Story

“We found him [as a puppy] in a box at a gas station,” says Segrera. “It was my wife that found him, but I’ll take the credit.” The Segrera family also owns a Golden Retriever and has a running joke that Moglie will have to go because he is not equally perfect. “This upsets my son Carlos, who loves him,” says Marcos. “Moglie is endearing with his personality.” That personality includes his habit of barking from the pool until you throw him his toy. “Once he gets it, he will take it to some out-of-the-way place where he wants you to pick it up – and throw it back to him… he’s no retriever!”

The Dog Owners

Each year we present a portfolio of Coral Gables dogs and their owners, from all walks of life. What follows are six portraits.

Photos by Jonathan Dann

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, 5 years

The Owner

Lani Kahn Drody, Lowell International Realty

Dog Story

“Between my husband and two teenage sons, I live in a household of boys, so I needed some femininity in the home,” says Drody, who adopted Maggie as a puppy. “Now I have my girl. I enjoy brushing her hair and dressing her up.” As for discipline, says Drody, “We kind of let her get away with murder because she is so sweet. She sleeps between our heads at night and puts her rear end up against the headboard.” Oddest behavior: “She hops up and takes a nap on the dinner table, while we are actually eating.”

Julio Pickles

Yellow Lab, 4 years

The Owners

Heidi and Shane Battier (yes, the ex-Miami Heat star)

Dog Story

“All of our dogs have been rescue dogs,” says Heidi, but when an old friend in California said she would train a puppy for them, “We took her up on it.” Of course, Heidi admits, “We promptly undid some of his training when he got home.” As for quirks, “We refer to him as the mayor of our street. If you leave the door open, he kind of meanders out. If a neighbor’s door is open, he will walk inside,” she says. “I can’t tell you how many times on the [the neighborhood app] someone asks, ‘Does anyone know whose dog this is?’ Someone else will answer, ‘Just take him down to the Battier house.’”

Benz

Golden Doodle, 5 months

The Owner

Alirio Torrealba, MG Developer Dog Story

“Talking with a friend about how our kids were going off to college, I decided that getting Benz would be a good idea because it brings back that feeling of having a newborn,” says Torrealba, who adopted Benz at birth. A car enthusiast, he named the dog after his vintage Mercedes Benz. After their morning walks, Torrealba plays with Benz in the backyard before starting his workday. “It reminds me of the attention my kids needed when they were little.” Unlike his kids, however, Benz will bring him a ball on command. Torrealba’s friend, meanwhile, adopted the only other puppy in the litter, a girl he named Mercedes. Expect play dates.

DOWNTOWN

CORAL GABLES

Thankful for all of the four-legged friends who are a joyous part of our Downtown Coral Gables community!

Gabby & Codie

Greyhounds, 6 (Gabby); 8½ (Codie)

The Owner

Rhonda Anderson, City Commissioner, attorney

Dog Story

Anderson, who helped make it illegal to race greyhounds in Florida, had already adopted two of the abused canines. “I looked for rescue [organizations] and found one called Friends of Greyhounds, which is now closed because the racetracks are closed,” she says. An empty nester, Anderson says: “These are not dogs I would adopt for young children. They are too big. They get excited and when they wag their tails it’s like a little whip.” Between their bony elbows and body heat, Anderson says she won’t let them sleep on the bed. “They have dreams at night of racing. They are running with a whimper, chasing a ball or a rabbit.”

Your pets are considered a valuable family member, so why not plan for them

If not you, then who will provide for them when you are no longer by their side. Your pets deserve at least a similar standard of care that you so lovingly provide

While your pet is an important member of your family, Florida law considers animals to be property. Unfortunately, you are not permitted to leave assets or money directly to them

We can help you and welcome the opportunity to discuss solutions to properly plan for your pet’s care and financial well-being At Coral Gables Trust, we Stand Apart by providing our clients with peace of mind that their loved ones, even their furry ones will be safeguarded

Moxie

Labradoodle, 3 years

The Owner

Cocó D’Ascola, Cocó Interior Design

Dog Story

“Both my husband and I are dog people, but this is our first since having children,” says D’Ascola, and with a very special twist. D’Ascola’s 12-year-old son Santiago suffers from epilepsy (he attends Crystal Academy), and Moxie was trained from puppyhood to be his service dog. “We knew that labradoodles were a good breed for this kind of service,” she says, “but it was very expensive to train her.” The D’Ascola family used GoFundMe to help defray the expense, and now Moxie “has her own bank account.” Among the training: “She know how to speak when [Santiago] is down, and how to get the seizure medicine… she is awesome.”

DISCOVER

CARIBBEAN SHERRY CASK AGED RUM

Holiday Cocktails. Gables Style

FIVE COCKTAILS FOR THE SEASON, AND THE MIXOLOGISTS BEHIND THEM

WORDS BY PARKER GIMBEL PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

The approaching holiday season signals the return of a few of America’s favorite pastimes. It is time to find that perfect turkey, for one, soon to be followed by the search for that perfect Christmas tree. And while the residents of Coral Gables don’t experience the same chilly winters that Northerners do, fear not, for all weather is good weather for a strong holiday drink. And the Gables mixologists behind some of the best cocktails in the country make our city a special place to indulge in holiday pleasures. Here, then, is our selection of some of the top bartenders in the city, and some of the cocktails they recommend – along with their recipes so that you, too, can impress friends and loved ones with a seasonal elixir.

Christy’s

THE MIXOLOGIST: JULIANA ALUMA

The ambiance of Christy’s Restaurant falls somewhere between classic steakhouse and Christmas in Miami. The intimate watering hole and Gables institution is cozy without feeling cramped, and as a restaurant that prides itself on its cocktails, everything leads to the saloon-esque bar. Juliana Aluma, a six-year veteran behind Christy’s bar, says that while the restaurant draws customers from across Miami, it’s the regulars that give the forty-year-old institution its character. “We have a lot of regulars who have been coming since the

day that we opened, and it’s been amazing to actually hear the stories from all of the guests,” Aluma says. The top-selling drink at the steakhouse, the Old Fashioned is a perfect way to start or end an evening. Aluma, born in the Dominican Republic, builds the elixir in a shaker before pouring it into a chilled glass flask. Waiters pour the drink at the table, leaving half in the bottle for customers to drink at their leisure. Or you can spend the evening at the bar with Aluma, the restaurant’s FIU-educated mixologist extraordinaire.

“WE HAVE A LOT OF REGULARS WHO HAVE BEEN COMING SINCE THE DAY THAT WE OPENED, AND IT’S BEEN AMAZING TO ACTUALLY HEAR THE STORIES FROM ALL OF THE GUESTS...”

THE ALCOHOL: WOODFORD BOURBON

THE DRINK: OLD FASHIONED

INGREDIENTS

2 oz Woodford Reserve

¼ oz Agave

3 dashes of Angostura Orange Bitters

1 thin-sliced orange peel

Zucca

THE MIXOLOGIST: THOMAS THOSHINO

Zucca resident mixologist and Milan native Thomas Thoshino takes pride in what he does, and his warm smile invites customers to relax and enjoy a lineup of innovative drinks that never stray too far from the essentials. Zucca’s cocktail menu is made up of Italian classics, restaurant staples, and signature cocktails created by the bartenders. Thoshino, who has been mixing for over ten years, says the selection mirrors the culture of the city it serves. “I like bringing a unique experience to the customer, whether through presentation,

ingredients or flavor,” he says. With Smoke Signal, Thoshino has perfected all three. The house-made tomatillo-passion fruit puree bridges Italian liqueur and Mexican mezcal, bringing the flavors together in one cohesive drink. Once combined, Thoshino carefully pours his creation into a giant, skull-shaped mug that evokes images of Mexico’s Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). The taste is exotic but not overwhelming, a sensation somewhere between sipping nutmeg by the fireplace and drinking daiquiris on the beach.

THE ALCOHOL: MEZCAL CAMPANTE

THE DRINK: SMOKE SIGNAL

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz. Mezcal Campante

.5 oz Aperol Italian liqueur

.5 oz agave

3 drops spicy orange bitters

.25 oz lime juice

.5 oz passion fruit tomatillo puree (made in house by blending cooked tomatillo with passion fruit)

“I LIKE BRINGING A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO THE CUSTOMER, WHETHER THROUGH PRESENTATION, INGREDIENTS OR FLAVOR...”

Tap 42

THE MIXOLOGIST: SASHA ALVAREZ

Mixologist Sasha Alvarez might look too young to be behind a bar, but don’t let her looks deceive you. Tap 42’s resident college student might just make the best “Peachee Lychee” in Florida. Alvarez, who is studying hospitality at FIU, clearly has a passion for service that is reflected in the warmth of her smile and in the care she puts into her craft. The Peachy Lychee, made with Grey Goose and a puree of the lychee fruit, is served without ice in a martini glass cold enough to keep the drink cool on a hot day. The sweetness of the lychee juice sets

taste buds ablaze with a smooth kick, while the lemon juice is just enough to make any lucky drinker’s lips pucker. In the Gables, the cocktail is a popular choice for customers. “It definitely has the class of Coral Gables, but it also has the vibrancy of Miami,” says Alvarez, who joined Tap 42 in 2018. “When I found this place, the service was so exceptional that I applied and haven’t worked anywhere in Miami since.” After finishing her Peachy Lychee, you might ask for an application, too.

“IT DEFINITELY HAS THE CLASS OF CORAL GABLES, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE VIBRANCY OF MIAMI. WHEN I FOUND THIS PLACE, THE SERVICE WAS SO EXCEPTIONAL THAT I APPLIED AND HAVEN’T WORKED ANYWHERE IN MIAMI SINCE...”

THE ALCOHOL: GREY GOOSE VODKA

THE DRINK: PEACHY LYCHEE

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz of Grey Goose Peach Essence

1 oz lychee puree

.5 oz peach schnapps

.5 oz lemon juice

Fiola

THE MIXOLOGIST: EILEEN MORFFIZ

Walk through the tall glass doors of fine-dining mecca Fiola and you will be greeted by a bustling restaurant at the top of its game. Although leading mixologist Eileen Morffiz is not responsible for the restaurant’s award-winning pastas or its acclaimed charred Spanish octopus, her original Cafecito embodies the culture of Coral Gables and sets Fiola Miami apart from its namesake in Washington D.C. The New Jersey native starts by measuring out the drink’s fresh ingredients with her handy jigger before pouring her rum, house-made

coffee liqueur, coffee bitters and espresso into a Boston shaker. It’s a fairly simple process, but one flaw can ruin the results for an inexperienced mixologist. “For the foam, you must shake vigorously or else it’s not a Cafecito,” Morffiz says. As the daughter of Cuban immigrants, Morffiz clearly knows her stuff, and once she’s finished garnishing the cocktail with three coffee beans and an edible Fiola emblem, the end result is as beautiful as it is tasty. “You might as well take your alcohol and caffeine at the same time,” she quips.

“FOR THE FOAM, YOU MUST SHAKE VIGOROUSLY OR ELSE IT’S NOT A CAFECITO. YOU MIGHT AS WELL TAKE YOUR ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINE AT THE SAME TIME...”

THE ALCOHOL: BACARDI RUM

THE DRINK: CAFECITO

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ oz Bacardi Facundo Eximo Rum

1 oz house-made coffee liqueur

2 dashes house made coffee bitters

1 shot Illy espresso

Copper 29

THE MIXOLOGIST: GREGORY KATACHANAS

When Gregory Katachanas left his native Greece for Miami, he was starting over in an unknown city. He then spent five years climbing the ladder from grunt worker to business partner and bar manager at popular Copper 29 on Miracle Mile. His newest creation, “Temptation on the Mile,” is now on the restaurant’s holiday menu. Just a squeeze of fresh grapefruit and a hefty pour of Tempt Gin topped off with Fever Tree Tonic and you’ve got a solid drink with a kick. And Katachanas’ secret ingredient?

A small pour of Saint Germain Elderflower Liqueur for a drink that is smooth and tart in all the right ways. Katachanas attributes its flavor to the distillation and reactivity of the gin itself, which is locally produced. “It’s a unique gin in many ways, how it reacts to whatever you throw into it. If you have this gin neat, it’s a completely different flavor than over ice,” Katachanas says. We’ll take it with these five ingredients, a drink that’s a throwback to when mixologists kept it simple and sweet.

“IT’S A UNIQUE GIN IN MANY WAYS, HOW IT REACTS TO WHATEVER YOU THROW INTO IT. IF YOU HAVE THIS GIN NEAT, IT’S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FLAVOR THAN OVER ICE...”

THE ALCOHOL: TEMPT GIN

THE DRINK: TEMPTATION ON THE MILE

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz Tempt Gin

.5 oz fresh lime juice

.5 oz Saint. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

Top off with Fever-Tree tonic

Garnish with twisted peel of grapefruit squeezed and mixed in

HOME & GARDEN

A FRONT HALLWAY SCULPTURE IN AVANZATO’S VISION FOR A TRANSITIONAL MAKEOVER.

The Cutting Edge

HERE’S HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR HOME WITH SOME OF THIS YEAR’S MOST INNOVATIVE APPLIANCES

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

Here are five ultra-innovative products that will help elevate the spaces in your home and maximize the ease with which you live and entertain.

CHEF’S KISS

Amateur chefs and professionals alike will appreciate the unrivaled features of GE Profile’s recent innovations, including the premier in-oven camera, the CookCam. This revolutionary system allows you to livestream the contents of your oven to any smart device so that you don’t have to be in the kitchen to check on dinner. Other components include a no-preheat air-fry mode and a sous vide-enabled cooktop. A host of video-guided recipes are integrated with the precision cooktop sensor technology which automatically alters cooking time, temperature, and pace to yield flawless results every time. Retail: $3,999. House of Appliances, 2850 Salzedo St., 305514-0352, houseofappliancesinc.com.

KEEP YOUR COOL

With Sub-Zero’s new Designer Series Undercounter Refrigeration, you can enjoy chilled wine, other beverages, and even keep your skincare products cool. Totally customizable, from their exteriors to their functions, these product offerings allow the rooms in your home (beyond the kitchen) to reach the epitome of luxury. The line is also Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to adjust independent temperature zones, receive important door-ajar notifications, and more, all from any smart device. Retail price available upon request. House of Appliances, 2850 Salzedo St., 305-514-0352, houseofappliancesinc.com.

WATER WORKS

While filtered water dispensers are commonly seen at malls or at the airport, they haven’t been available for installation in the home until now. Elkay recently released the ezH20 Liv built-in filtered water dispenser, which incorporated sensor activated technology to provide healthy water in any area of the home. It’s an ideal product for families as it will inspire everyone to stay hydrated – and also has an optional safety lock. Retail: from $1,440. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, 4119 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-507-6221, fergusonshowrooms.com.

LOUD AND CLEAR

Singing in the shower has received a major upgrade with Kohler’s Moxie showerhead and wireless speaker. Beyond jamming out (or winding down) to some tunes, you can also enjoy your favorite podcasts using Amazon Alexa’s hands-free voice activation. The speaker is also easily removable, so you can detach it and take it along on your next vacation or even your next trip to the backyard. Retail: from $477.95. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, 4119 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-507-6221, fergusonshowrooms.com.

WAKE UP CALL

Slated to be released this month, Miele’s new CM5 Silence countertop coffee system is ideal for people who are eager for that first cup in the morning, but don’t want to wake their families with their noisy standard coffee maker. From espressos to latte macchiatos, it churns out seven specialty beverages in a snap, at a whisper-like pitch. And any time a milk-based drink is made the appliance cleans itself, ensuring excellent coffee quality and that guaranteed boost we all need. Retail: from $1,499. Miele Experience Center Coral Gables, 4218 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 786-673-0280, mieleusa.com.

Visual Makeover

A TRANSITIONAL TAKE FOR A MEDITERRANEAN HOME

BY VINCENZO AVANZATO

As with almost most of our projects, we were given a blank canvas. The interior facelift started with the large entry foyer, which read as a large hallway lacking character. The plain walls, flat ceiling, and plain floor were the first things that needed changing. By creatively adding details and creating a separate space, we were able to create a more welcoming environment. We wanted to create an optical illusion of volume, so designing a large open basket weave floor pattern was one way of achieving this. By adding high baseboard-applied molding to the walls we were able to create a sense of height, also emphasized by elongating the doors. A coffered barrel ceiling helped achieve the goal.

The theme of creating space was carried over into the Grand Room. This space originally was much smaller, but by opening an adjoining room we were able to create a much larger space for entertaining. We are

all influenced by new design trends but as they come and go, we always try to give our clients an interior that has longevity. This was achieved with contemporary artwork and eclectic furniture pieces that pepper the space of warm grey backdrops with the energy of a vivid interacting palette of teal green, blues, and warm orange.

In the dining room, we worked with French artists to create decorative panels where the warm grey is carried over with deep purples that emulate ripples in a pond of Koi. We selected a modest lighting arrangement so as not to compete with the walls, which are complemented by pearly aqua blue dining chairs and skirted host chairs. ■

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

FOYER: A JGOOD DESIGN CHANDELIER COMPLEMENTED BY ITALIAN BRONZE GOBLET SCONCES AND ARTWORK.

DINING ROOM: JAPANESE FABRIC WALL FABRICS, ANTIQUE BRONZE AND ETCHED GLASS CHANDELIER.

GRAND ROOM: CUSTOM-DESIGNED BOOKSHELVES, SCRIBBLE DESIGN RUG FROM NIBA RUGS, AND BERGER CUSTOM SOFAS AND LOUNGE CHAIRS.

Grilled Okra

While okra is a mainstay of Cajun cooking (can you say chicken gumbo?), it is not often served as a stand-alone side. Chef Niven Patel says that this recipe, from his New American restaurant Orno, will turn you into a fan.

OKRA PREP:

The okra needs to be trimmed and cut in half. Line on a pan and leave at room temperature overnight. What that does is help dry out the slime of the okra.

ROASTED TOMATO AND LEMON SAUCE PREP:

In a bowl add baby tomatoes, two garlic cloves sliced, half a shallot diced, two tablespoons of olive oil, and a pinch each of salt and cracked pepper. Toss and put on a sheet pan. Roast at 350F for 25 minutes. When it’s ready, add zest of one lemon onto tomato mixture and squeeze the juice. Add more salt and pepper to taste; keep mixture warm.

METHOD:

Take okra left overnight and put in a bowl. Toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and pinch of salt and pepper. Grill both sides of okra until charred. Plate tomato mix and cover with grilled okra. Finish off with fresh torn basil. Serves four. Enjoy. ■

INGREDIENTS:

1 POUND OF OKRA

1 PINT OF BABY TOMATOES

1 PINCH OF BLACK PEPPER

1 PINCH OF SALT

4 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL

1 LEMON

2 GARLIC CLOVES SLICED

1 HALF SHALLOT DICED

FRESH BASIL

What $1.5 to 2m Will Buy in Coral Gables

The average price for a home in Coral Gables is now $2.3 million, according to Ron Shuffield, the CEO of BHHS EWM Realty. That is a 25 percent rise from year ago, when it was $1.85 million. The problem, he says, is that demand is outstripping supply. In October, there were 124 single family Gables homes

for sale. A year earlier there were 306. Does that mean you should hold off buying? “The prices probably won’t drop,” says Shuffield. “We have landed on a higher plateau.” To see what $1.5 to $2 million buys today, we asked two real estate agents to submit one of their homes for sale in that price range.

Two Stories, Charleston Style

Listing Price $2.15m

1015 BAYAMO AVE.

4 bed/4 bath. Pool. 3,317 sq. ft. This elegant, South Gables home has an antebellum feel to its backyard, with an upstairs master bedroom overlooking the large pool (with brick pavers) from a private veranda. French glass doors from the family room (with fireplace) also lead to the pool, which is framed by a wing of additional bedrooms. Listing Agent: Ashley Cusack (BHHS EWM Realty), 305.798.8685

85' Pacific Mariner "No Name"

38' Boston Whaler Realm 2020 "No Name Call: Ryan Danoff (954) 260-5507

68' Hatteras 2006 "Jolley Roger" Call:Vinny Pyle (954) 235-2832

Mark Peck + Vinny Pyle + Ryan Danoff + Helen Wozunk

Dave Hayne + Ed Breese

40 Meter Westport - "No Name" Call for market details! Mark Peck (954) 224-1351

60' Dyna 2015 "Godiva" Call: Vinny Pyle (954) 235-2832

Stock Photo

Contemporary in the Central Gables

3 bed/2.5 bath. Pool. 2,920 sq. ft. Located in “the Golden Triangle of Coral Gables” a block from the public library and University Park, this contemporary home has floors of marble and natural wood, and 12-foot ceilings in the main living area. It also has a free-form pool with a jacuzzi, a one-car garage, impact windows and a full generator. Listing Agent: Mercedes E. Hernandez (Coldwell Banker Realty), 305.609.4602

Haute Tapas

LAS TAPAS GABLES IS THE NEW CONTENDER FOR FINE SPANISH DINING

BY ANDREW GAYLE PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CAMPINA

Do not try to convince chef and manager Florian Tomas that tapas are only to be served in cafes and bistros, and only as small, inexpensive plates to share. He will tell you they are also served in fine dining establishments, where they are called appetizers. Like the shrimp in garlic and olive oil. His are on the menu for $18, not your ordinary tapas. “Mine have eight shrimp, not six,” he says, somewhat indignant. After all, he has cooked for the King of Spain. And the shrimp are large and very fresh.

Welcome to the latest entry in fine Spanish dining. Located in the former enclave of Mint on Alhambra Circle, Las Tapas Gables – despite its name – is a sophisticated, intimate dining experience, expertly overseen by Tomas, who fairly obsesses over each dish. Think the Spanish version of Pascal’s on Ponce.

“This is from the north of Spain, from Asturias,” he will explain about one dish. “This is from Catalonia,” he will say of another with a special pride, since he is from Barcelona, the Catalan capital. Some of the dishes are pure classics, like his creamy Ensalada Rusa of potato and tuna. “We used to call it Imperial Salad during the days of Franco,” says Tomas. “But now we can call it Russian Salad again.”

What we immediately liked about Ensalada Rusa was that it was served cold. You don’t often get cold dinner dishes, and we found this one not only wonderfully flavorful, but refreshing in its coolness. They also offer a chilled leek soup. Another dish we enjoyed was the Fabes con Rabo, an invention of Tomas that slow cooks (as in five hours) oxtail and then further cooks it with large, white fava beans. The result is a savory, thick stew of succulent meat and fluffy beans.

We learned from Chef Tomas that Spain is number two in the world when it comes to fish consumed per capita (number one is Japan). When put in that perspective, you realize Las Tapas is a cozier version of La Dorada, the icon of Spanish seafood that reigned on Giralda Avenue for decades before Covid ended its run.

Tomas executes fine seafood dishes, especially his deep water corvina loins grilled with garlic butter, and a seafood paella that is the ultimate Spanish comfort food, cooked so the rice becomes

TOP RIGHT: ENSALADA RUSA

MIDDLE RIGHT: FRITURA DE DORADO A LA ANDALUZA

BOTTOM RIGHT: FABES CON RABO STEW

LAS TAPAS GABLES 276 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE 305.381.0636

ABOVE: CHEF FLORIAN TOMAS

ABOVE LEFT: SEAFOOD PAELLA IN THE POT

ABOVE RIGHT: SEAFOOD PAELLA ON THE PLATE

crunchy on the bottom of the pan and served so it can be shared. And if it’s authenticity you want, then order fritura de dorado a la andaluza, a uniquely Spanish dish as simple as it is tasty: a plate of tiny, fried fish from the waters off northern Spain, served with two fried eggs that are mixed, tableside, into the nest of fries. It is crunchy, salty, fishy, and delicious.

The interior of Las Tapas is also simple, spare and authentic, with framed plates on the wall and one large image of the Cibeles fountains in Madrid. The music, mostly Spanish guitar, is perfect for the setting and also speaks to that unique Spanish way of presenting things in their essence.

Las Tapas Gables is the third Spanish restaurant in Miami-Dade for owner Antonio Hidalgo. His other two – El Rincon Asturiano and Las Tapas de Rosa – are both in Little Havana. But for the small chain, coming to the Gables was the gold standard. “Coral Gables is the center of fine dining in Miami,” says Tomas. “Of course, we had to come here.” Part of Tomas’ hands-on presence in both cooking and serving diners is his appreciation of wine, and the collection Las Tapas offers (with pride) is dominated by excellent vintages from Spain and Portugal.

Las Tapas Gables is not inexpensive. The lamb chops with aioli and small potatoes are $45, as is the deep water corvina, while the oxtail with white beans is $32. Then again, his cold, creamy leek soup is $12, and that plate of fried dorado fish a mere $18. And you can always come for the $23.95 three-course luncheon specials. In the end, what you pay for is beautifully prepared Spanish cuisine at its finest, served with care in a small, gourmet establishment. Tapas indeed. ■

Bringing Natural Smiles To Coral Gables

There are very few dental practices with a hyper-focus on cosmetic and implant technology. Drs. Laura Davila and Cristina Osorio have an emphasis and specialization in Prosthodontics - i.e. Full Smile Restorative Dentistry (veneers & implants) with timely dental treatment.

There are very few dental practices with a hyper-focus on cosmetic and implant technology. In addition to Prosthodontics, we perform all General and Family Dentistry. Coral Gables Dentistry believes in making their patients’ comfortable and o er complimentary nitrous gas sedation as an adjunct to treatment and hygiene visits. Their philosophy is to provide comprehensive dental care along with treatment options that cater to one’s specific needs. Identifying and addressing your unique desires is often the best way for patients and dentists to share a fulfilling relationship and meaningful outcomes.

COME TO EAT, STAY TO SHOP

Coral Gables is home to a star-studded group of award-winning, chef-run restaurants. After experiencing the culinary scene, explore our unique boutiques and beautiful home-goods stores.

The Pride of the Hunter

Michi, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is seen here retrieving a tennis ball from the Venetian Pool during the recent Paws in the Pool event. The four-year-old pooch is the pride and joy of the Godoy family of Camilo Avenue. Photo by Grace Carricarte.