Coral Gables Magazine September 2021

CORAL GABLES

Three principals of the Biltmore Corporation during the 1926 construction of the historic hotel.

T HE NATION’S

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CARVED IN CORAL

How strong is Coral Gables’ commitment to historic preservation? Mayor Vince Lago says, “We are moving forward, but the past has served us well. We need to make sure that historic preservation is one of our priorities.” Yet there have been significant losses in recent years.... read more in our main feature story.

FALL FASHION

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THE CORAL GABLES SCHOOL GUIDE

While the current school year has already commenced, parents concerned with getting their children into the best (and most appropriate) schools next year are already mapping out their plans. Here are the top private schools in and near Coral Gables from pre-school through high school.

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?

By the time the City Commission’s first summertime meeting was over, it was past 1:15 a.m. The commissioners were so exhausted – they had started at 4 p.m., following a three-hour budget meeting – that they could hardly form words to cast their final vote. And it was unanimous: To start the next meeting at 9 a.m. “We are not on our game at one in the morning.” Commissioner Michael Mena wearily joked.

The Coral Gables City Commission has been starting its monthly and bi-monthly meetings at 9 a.m. for decades. And it would probably have continued if not for Commissioner Rhonda Anderson, who charged into her first commission meeting this spring with a manifesto on how city government should change. Her message: more citizen input, more citizen engagement.

Her effort was laudatory and followed the general sentiment of voters in the last election -- that city officials were approving too many large developments, that citizens had no say in such matters.  But what Anderson proposed stunned veteran commissioners: to let residents have a say in virtually every project city wide, and to participate in every decision along the way. Open the door to this level of citizen participation, remarked Commissioner Jorge Fors, and government will grind to a halt.

The summer’s first meeting in July was a taste of his prediction. By starting the meeting at 4 p.m., it allowed more working folks the chance to participate. And Mayor Vince Lago, himself a proponent of letting everyone have

their say, did just that. His predecessor Raul Valdez-Fauli limited public comments to two or three minutes. Mayor Lago let speakers go on for 10 or 15 minutes at a time, which pushed the meeting past 1a.m.

When the second summer session in August started at 8:30 a.m. everyone thought it would end sooner. But it went on for 13 hours! This was partly due to a very ambitious agenda – including crucial discussions on how to limit the influence of lobbyists in city hall and how to curtail the Mediterranean bonus that lets developers exceed zoning limits. But there was literally no filter, with one caller allowed to speak in the 12th hour about an item already deferred until the next meeting.

For the record, the citizens who addressed the commission were, by and large, both polite and intelligent in their commentary. But, as even the mayor admitted at one point, “We can’t bog the city down with one or two small issues.” Case in point: More than two hours spent discussing whether the parking department should lease 20 parking spaces to a new business going into the David William Condominium, based on one citizen complaining that it would take away too many spaces from residents who rarely use even half the available spaces on that block. The devil really is in the details.

Historic Preservation

The Fight to Save Our Heritage

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

Mallory Evans Jacobson

Kim Rodriguez

FILM AND VIDEO CRITIC

Michael Roffman

PHOTOGRAPHERS

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. BPA International Membership applied for March 2019.

Cover: John McEntee Bowman, owner of the Bowman-Biltmore hotel chain, Charles Flynn, VP of the Biltmore Corporation, and M. Roy Jackson, managing director of the Biltmore.

THE CITY COMMISSION’S MEETINGS BECOME ENDURANCE CONTESTS

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Generosity strenGthens the front Lines as We ContinUe the BattLe.

It’s a situation few saw coming: just as the light emerged at the end of the tunnel, a new COVID-19 variant began sweeping through South Florida, and hospitalizations rose dramatically. Baptist Health’s dedicated, compassionate healthcare heroes are once again tirelessly caring for hundreds of critically ill patients.

Through the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, our generous donors are helping Baptist Health Foundation continue to respond to urgent needs in patient care, medical supplies, technology, innovation and staff support.

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

Short Circuit

I was dismayed at your choice of words in the “Time to Go Underground?” article [July/August summer issue]. You said, “It [underground powerlines] MUST [emphasis added] be paid for by homeowners.” At least some Coral Gables residents will get the chance to vote. I do not have that privilege. I am not a homeowner in Coral Gables, but I reside in my mother’s house. I am here to help her stay in her home now that she is retired. There is no comparison of our income to Florida Power & Light’s profits (as reported by Next Era Energy’s 1/26/21 press release on financials). They made “reported fourth-quarter 2020 net income of $502 million.” That’s in a quarter of a year, so how can they claim they cannot afford it?!

It is unethical for a for-profit company to pass infrastructure costs along to consumers in this manner. It should be planned out so they CAN afford it, or just don’t do it. I cannot say how much I resent this proposal. It’s wrong and unfair.

Helen Gynell

¡Viva España!

Thank you for your article highlighting Sergio Bellmónt’s great eatery on the Mile. Viva España, indeed, but third place behind France and Italy? I would beg to differ and would place Spanish cuisine somewhat higher on the podium. Gastronomically speaking, it’s no longer the 20th century. Spanish cuisine is at the forefront of innovation and it’s winning the race. Three of the world’s 10 best restaurants are in Spain. France, in comparison, has two and Italy, zero. This may not be the measure of a country’s culinary greatness, but it is always important to dispel anachronistic perceptions of yesteryear. Go ahead and try the suckling pig at Bellmónt and you will understand.

David Lecón

Save Burger Bob’s

Located on the historic and iconic Granada Golf Course, for over 27 years Burger Bob’s has been an unchanging Coral Gables institution, loved by locals for its affordable, reliable and traditional food and service –not to mention the ‘Best Chili in Town’. Bob McGuire and Rita have been serving locals with the same unique blend of old-fashioned Southern hospitality and (very) old fashioned music for generations. When my kids come home on a visit, the very first thing they and their kids demand is breakfast at Burger Bob’s.

The City has now terminated its contract with Burger Bob’s 56-seater café, which caters to residents and golfers, many of whom arrive on foot. It will be replaced by a large modern restaurant designed to seat 135 visitors, most of whom will arrive by car. The city-owned building is certainly in need of repair but replacing a small family operation which caters to locals with a large glitzy affair is absolutely wrong in the residential heart of the Gables. Parking is already at a premium for golf patrons and adjacent Country Club visitors; the extra 75 customers the new restaurant will attract will have to park their cars on the golf course itself, or on residents’ front lawns. This outrageous deal must be opposed.

Patrick Alexander

The Heart of Coral Gables

The living, loving heart of Coral Gables is located at Burger Bob’s Granada Snack Shop. This place is not just a 1950s Diner – it is a diverse home of community at the center of gravity in Coral Gables. Yes, the place has gravitas. It has tradition. It has warmth. It is open and welcoming to everyone.

The Granada Snack Shop is a friendly place, a modest restaurant with excellent food, outstanding service, and reasonable prices. A spot where you can grab a quick breakfast or lunch, connect with an old friend, or meet somebody new. It’s a simple

place, where residents, church members, and sometimes city commissioners meet for live chats over coffee, tea, eggs, or blue-plate specials. It’s a place where people come together, treat each other kindly, accept and appreciate each other. It is a home of civility in the middle of a world that desperately lacks civility.

In some ways, it is one of the last bastions of the old Coral Gables. Plans to rebuild the Granada Snack Shop into a modern developer’s dream disrespect a more simple, honest way of life. The time has come to understand that the highest and best use of some properties has to do with intangibles, like the preservation of community, instead of cold profits. Shame on the mayor and the city commissioners if they let this happen!

Dabney Park

If the Shoe Fits

I have been a resident of Coral Gables for over 35 years, and I want to thank you for publishing a magazine I enjoy reading every month. In the July/August 2021 issue I found “The Best of the Gables” feature to be extremely useful [but] I want to respectfully suggest that some of the very small shops that also provide service to our residents be included if the quality of the service they provide merits inclusion.

I recently visited a Shoe Repair Shop that has been around for quite some time [since 1962], providing outstanding quality shoe and leather repair. They used to be located at an extremely visible site on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, but like many shops that suffered during the Pandemic, found themselves forced to move to a humbler location without the same visibility. Gables Shoe Repair is now at 2910 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, and they can use a helping hand. I write to you because small and humble businesses usually lack the means to champion their cause.

Luis Palacio

ComingSoon

SAVE THE CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB

SAVE THE CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB

Athletic Club, Tennis Courts and Liberty Caffe

Town Hall Meeting

Thursday, September 23rd, 2021, 7 PM-8 PM

Coral Gables Country Club 997 N. Greenway Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33134

During the height of the Covid pandemic the City of Coral Gables abruptly terminated long term leases with the Coral Gables Country Club and Burger Bob's. Many citizens have voiced their outrage wanting answers as to why this was done and have shared their sincere concern of the lack of communication and transparency with the city.

As the longtime tenant/operator of the country club, we have asked to meet with the city, who will not hold discussions or negotiations, opting instead to negotiate with a single entity to take over the facilities. The city’s intransigence could cost taxpayers dearly affecting our quality of life, community charm as well as city revenue--affecting Coral Gables taxpayers.

The Coral Gables Country Club is inviting you to a n important Town Hall Meeting where you'll have the opportunity to learn all the facts, share your thoughts, explain how you feel about these decisions and learn how these actions could affect the very fabric of this great community.

Please save this date. Mark it on your calendars. Please attend.

Much is riding on our community input to do the right thing for Coral Gables. It’s Your Voice, Your Community, Your Choice, Your Club.

For further information email Info@coralgablescountryclub.com or call 305. 392. 0819

Anthony Di Donato Director of Operations CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB

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Streetwise

BURGER BOB’S DINER ON THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE IS AT THE CENTER OF A TAKE-OVER BID BY A LOCAL RESTAURANT GROUP. SEE PAGE 22

From City Hall

IN THEIR TWO SUMMER MEETINGS, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION:

VOTED 5-0 TO ADOPT A NEW CITY CIVILITY CODE for city staff. “We all need as a group to bring civility back to our discussions. We need to set an example,” said Mayor Vince Lago, who sponsored the resolution.

VOTED 5-0 TO RE-OPEN THE ISSUE OF PUTTING IN A BIKEWAY along Alhambra Circle, at the suggestion of the Transportation Advisory Board, which conducted a survey of residents in the area who were in favor of re-visiting the discussion.

VOTED 5-0 TO ASK STAFF TO COME UP WITH A PLAN and a timeline to install missing sidewalks sections of Riviera Drive, Granada, and Hardee south of U.S. 1, utilizing $2 million in available federal funding.

VOTED 5-0 TO PROHIBIT GOLF CARTS – and any other motorized vehicles – from using “shared pathways” for bicycles and pedestrians, such as Old Cutler pathways. Requested by Sue Kawalerski, president of the Coral Gables Neighborhood Association and head of the Transportation Advisory Board.

VOTED 5-0 TO PROHIBIT ANY POLITICAL CONSULTANTS working for elected city officials to do business with the city or act as lobbyists for 24 months after being hired by the elected official. The commission also voted to require that all lobbyists be listed in the commission agenda next to the items they are lobbying for.

VOTED 4-1 TO PERMIT A PILOT PROGRAM TO ALLOW amplified music performances on private property in the Central Business District, limited to Fridays and Saturdays until 11 p.m. and Sundays until 9 p.m. Only Commissioner Rhonda Anderson objected. (Sponsored by Commissioner Michael Mena).

VOTED 5-0 TO CREATE A BLUE-RIBBON COMMITTEE to examine the effect of the so-called Mediterranean Bonus that allows developers to exceed zoning limitations, thereby increasing height and density of commercial buildings. (Sponsored by Commissioner Anderson).

VOTED 5-0 TO EXTEND THE LEASE AT BURGER BOB’S diner on the Granada Golf Course until December 31, after numerous citizens said the city should not alter the local icon. “The community has spoken,” said Commissioner Kirk Menendez, who sponsored the resolution. (see story pg. 22)

VOTED 5-0 TO CHANGE THE LAND (SHOWN ABOVE) use map so that Fire House 4 can be built on Sunset Drive in a former parking lot of the Riviera Presbyterian Church, from religious to commercial use. The commissioners also asked the architects to “soften” the design from modern to Mediterranean.

VOTED 5-0 TO FUND ILLUMINATE $300,000 to repeat last year’s light show, but only for 18 of the proposed 20 artists, pending further information regarding concerns about potential Communist sympathies of the remaining two artists (see story pg. 24)

VOTED 5-0 TO APPOINT A SEVEN-PERSON BOARD to facilitate the organizing and publishing of the Mayor’s Strategic Priorities Plan, based on his 100 Days of Listening campaign to gather citizen input on the city’s strategic direction.

VOTED 5-0 TO OPPOSE THE EXPANSION of the county’s Rapid Transit Zones, which gives the county zoning control on major roads that cut through Coral Gables. The current Rapid Transit Zone regulations already led to approval of a 22-story building at the Douglas Station near Ponce de Leon Boulevard at U.S. 1.

VOTED 5-0 TO ALLOW WEISS CONSTRUCTION to begin initial construction management for the $40 million Mobility Hub that will replace the city parking garage behind the Miracle Theatre.

VOTED 5-0 TO STRENGTHEN THE CITY’S BUY IN AMERICA PROGRAM. “I will not hand someone a key to the city that is made in China,” said Mayor Lago, who is waiting for new keys to be manufactured in the U.S.A.

THE COMMISSION ALSO LISTENED TO VARIOUS PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING:

HOW THE CITY WILL EDUCATE CITIZENS about the new December 1st restrictions on disposing of cardboard in trash pits (Martha Pantin, Director of Communications & Public Affairs)

HOW THE CITY SHOULD SET UP SPECIAL “YOUTH ZONES” similar to school zones, but in residential areas where kids play (Commissioner Fors)

HOW CGPD DETECTIVE RAIZA MARDIS tracked down the culprit who spay-painted anti-Jewish graffiti in the city, simultaneously solving more than a dozen other such incidents in Miami-Dade (Police Chief Ed Hudak).

HOW 1,370 SIGNATURES WERE COLLECTED advocating saving Burger Bob’s (citizen Chase Howard) ■

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The Battle for Burger Bob’s

LOCAL FAVORITE RITA TENNYSON MAKES A BID TO KEEP THE ICON INTACT

BY MIKE CLARY

Few issues have created as much of a community backlash as the possible replacement of Burger Bob’s, the old-fashioned diner on the Granada Golf Course that has served low-cost American food – cheeseburgers, chili, BLTs – for nearly three decades. While proprietor Bob Maguire’s lease was up for renewal on August 31, few were prepared for an unsolicited bid from the Barreto Hospitality Group, the same company that upgraded the Red Fish Grill in Matheson Hammock Park – making it among the most expensive restaurants in the city. Their plans for Bob’s included upgrades for $800,000.

The community uproar was so great that city commissioners voted to extend Bob’s lease through Dec. 31, to create enough time to better decide the diner’s fate. Riding that wave of community support, chef Rita Tennyson has now submitted a bid to run Burger Bob’s – where she has worked for more than 26 years – vowing to maintain the 56-seat diner as a hub “for coffee, sometimes food and mostly for the neighborhood camaraderie.”

Tennyson’s 83-page proposal to lease the city-owned property puts her in competition with the Barreto Group, a diversified food and entertainment company run by businessman Rodney Barreto. Earlier this year Barreto’s unsolicited bid detailed a make-over of the soda-and-hamburger joint that included a major expansion of seating capacity with an outdoor patio. Barreto’s bid would also have ousted Maguire, as well as Tennyson, who refused Barreto’s offer to stay on in the kitchen.

In her proposal, put together with a pro bono assist from customers, including architects, financial advisors and lawyers, Tennyson says the restaurant “will complement the past and the neighborhood. We will continue as a small eatery, and I will be on-site running the business with my family.”

While pledging to stay small, Tennyson acknowledges that the cash-only diner needs an upgrade, including an expanded menu, longer opening hours, credit card capability, new kitchen equipment and a bathroom that meets federal disability standards. Currently, customers must use a bathroom in the adjacent pro shop.

Working with the city as the pro shop is also remodeled, Tennyson said initial renovations could be done for $60,000.

Maguire, 85, has run Burger Bob’s for 28 years. Closed for months during the pandemic, Maguire fell behind in the rent, and the city did not automatically renew his lease. A local crowd-funding effort raised some $15,000 to help the beleaguered Bob.

As word spread that the Barreto Group (which also operates Forte on Miracle Mile) wanted to up-scale Burger Bob’s, loyal fans expressed outrage. “We have many elegant restaurants in the city, but there is only one Burger Bob’s,” said former city mayor Dorothy Thomson. “It’s not all about money. Burger Bob’s is a last bastion, the last hope to keep a small-town identity in a historic spot.”

A petition posted on Change.org that has garnered more than 1,300 signatures

“WE WILL COMPLEMENT THE PAST AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WILL CONTINUE AS A SMALL EATERY, AND I WILL BE ON-SITE RUNNING THE BUSINESS WITH MY FAMILY”

asserts that the diner “occupies a sweet spot where it supports the community rather than disrupting it, which would not be the case for a larger establishment.”

Reacting to the community backlash, Barreto said he reviewed his proposal and “tweaked it some.” He says he is committed to “preserving the old diner look and perspective. We heard the public on pricing.” A burger at Burger Bob’s now costs $6. Under a proposed menu submitted by the Barreto Group, a single patty burger would be $5, a double $9.

Since the restaurant and pro shop are in a residential neighborhood, the limited available parking is another concern that prompted the City Commission to extend Bob’s lease in the hope of saving the diner. While

commissioners were admonished by Mayor Vince Lago to be careful about giving huge rent concessions to tenants “because they are nice” (the city owns the property), Commissioner Jorge Fors commented that “I think this is one of the times that I will not make a decision based on very strict commercial reasonable analysis. I do believe Burger Bob’s is an institution.”

Barreto says he can deal with the need for more parking if the city accepts his bid to also take over Liberty Caffé at the adjacent Coral Gables Country Club. “The parking will be considerably less nightmarish if there were one operator with control… with valet service (on the Club side),” he said in an email. Valet parking for Burger Bob’s? Stay tuned. ■

CHEF RITA TENNYSON, ABOVE RIGHT, WITH BOB MAGUIRE

Illuminate Goes Dim

MISINFORMATION AND OVERREACTION PUTS OUT THE LIGHTS

BY J.P. FABER

Illuminate Coral Gables, which launched earlier this year, was supposed to be an annual downtown light show, with artists from around the world beaming unique projections on buildings. The first iteration drew thousands of people to the central business district in February.

The return of Illuminate was scheduled for early 2022 but will now have to wait until at least early 2023, thanks to a tempest at City Hall which quickly spun out of control.

At issue were two of the 20 artists slated for Illuminate 2022. While the city generously offered to triple funding for the event from this year’s $100,000 to $300,000, Mayor Vince Lago brought up concerns over the Communist sympathies of artists Sandra Ramos and Cai Guo-Qiang. “I have been a big proponent of the arts, and I will continue to support the arts, but not at the expense of democracy and liberty,” the mayor declared.

Mayor Lago’s contention was that Cuban artist Ramos was endorsing the Castro regime by maintaining a studio there. His concern with Cai Guo-Qiang derived from a quote where the artist said the Chinese Communist regime had been successful in convincing the Chinese peasants that Communism was a good thing. Consequently, the commission voted to fund only the first 18 artists, and to look further into the two in question.

The reaction from Illuminate was immediate. Within 24 hours, the organization’s Chief Curator, Lance Fung, resigned in protest. He also took with him all of the artists, since their connection to the event was

based on their relationship with Fung. So, no Illuminate in early 2022, period, says Illuminate co-founder Venny Torre.

The tragedy here is twofold. On the one hand, Fung’s reaction was excessive. The commission did not actually prohibit the exhibition of the two artists in question. It only voted to withhold funding pending further research into their political sympathies. When Coral Gables Magazine asked Mayor Lago if he would ban the show if it was entirely paid for from private sources, the answer was unequivocal: absolutely not. But, he said, the city has a right to fund artists of their choice. And that is not the same thing as censorship, despite virulent attacks on the mayor by the Miami Herald and the New Times for “practicing Cuban style censorship.”

On the other hand, while an argument can be made that Ramos should not be keeping a studio in Communist Cuba, the accusations against Cai GuoQiang were simply unfounded. His quote was posted by the Gables Insider blog after falsely stating “Illuminate Coral Gables used art exhibits from two artists who are sympathizers of totalitarian regimes who have imprisoned, repressed and murdered opponents…” The quote was the same cited by the Mayor: “Communism was successful in making people feel as though they had been transformed from being slaves [and that] Communism promoted a kind of utopian universalism…”

That is not the same as saying you endorse Communism, any more than saying that Republicans were successful in

“I HAVE BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF THE ARTS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ARTS, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF DEMOCRACY AND LIBERTY”

MAYOR VINCE LAGO, REACTING TO A QUOTE

BY ARTIST CAI GUO-QIANG

“I TRY TO USE MY PERSONAL VOICE AND EFFORT TO ENABLE SOME CHINESE PEOPLE TO SEE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ANOTHER KIND OF CHINA.

A MORE OPEN CHINA”

ARTIST CAI GUO-QIANG

getting people to vote for Gov. Ron DeSantis makes you a Republican sympathizer. It’s just stating a historical fact. It was also taken out of context, part of a long interview which also included critical comments about the Chinese government.

What makes the accusation even more absurd is that Cai Guo-Qiang’s artwork – the pedicab Fireflies that were the most fun of any of the exhibits –was previously used to celebrate the inauguration of the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadel-

phia, paid for by the conservative Pew Charitable Trust, the same folks who funded the John Birch Society and the conservative American Enterprise Institute. It is doubtful they would promote a “Communist sympathizer.”

As of press time, negotiations were afoot to keep the Fire Flies in the Gables for an alternate art show over the holiday season. But the combination of misinformation and overreaction has killed, for now, one of the brighter events to emerge during the dark days of the pandemic. ■

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Living

JOSÉ FRANCISCO BARROS, TROPICAL AUDUBON SOCIETY PRESIDENT

PHOTO: FEDERICO ACEVEDO PAGE 28

The Return of Our Feathered Friends

September may still feel like summer in the Gables, but “snowbirds” flying south for the winter are already arriving. Many of the very same neotropical migrants we encountered in spring are now returning from their northern nesting grounds, making Fall Migration pit stops in our exceptional “Tree City USA.” A great many will simply rest and refuel in our expansive tree canopy as they navigate further south to the Caribbean, Central or South America, but for some notable exceptions, subtropical South Florida is their final destination.

Atlantic Flyway’s busiest hub, with birds of nearly every feather (among them hummingbirds, raptors, flycatchers, vireos and warblers) touching down and taking off from August through November. Among those who stay for the winter are the conspicuous Turkey Vultures (nature’s janitors), riding our thermals, dining well and enjoying our mild temperatures.

BY JOSÉ FRANCISCO BARROS

Because of our prime location at the southern tip of the North American leg of the Atlantic Flyway, millions of birds following southerly flight paths –through the Shenandoah or Tennessee valleys, over Appalachian Mountain ridges, or hugging the Atlantic coast – funnel down the Florida peninsula and converge here. Just as Miami serves human travelers as the nation’s “Gateway to the Americas,” it is also the

Along with the weather, it’s the hospitable vegetation native to our region that makes our yards (and Coral Gables’ 63 parks) so attractive to the songbirds who winter here.

The somewhat elusive Painted Bunting is practically a sure thing in a thoughtfully considered native landscape (a millet-filled feeder helps, too). And who doesn’t love hummers? You’ll soon be welcoming the Ruby-throated Hummingbird when you plant the enticing

OUR REGION’S NATIVE FIREBUSH IS A MAGNET FOR THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

PHOTO: GARY ROBINETTE

FALL AND WINTER ARE PERFECT TIMES FOR BIRDWATCHING IN THE GABLES

PHOTO: FEDERICO ACEVEDO

Firebush. Landscaping with it and a mix of other native fruit-bearing shrubs (consider Wild Coffee and stoppers), along with a water source as simple as a clean birdbath, will transform your yard into a paradise that proves irresistible to these avian jewels of winter.

If your yard lacks shade, establishing a high tree canopy will provide birds with a habitat for foraging, roosting and sheltering (consider the indigenous Gumbo Limbo, Live Oak or Short-leaf Fig). As exotic plantings and monoculture lawns are increasingly replaced by bird-friendly landscaping, area birders are spotting flycatchers, vireos and warblers wintering in our parks and natural environs who were otherwise rarely documented here.

My birding buddies and I are now regularly counting 20+ warbler species on any given winter day. Sometimes we even spot a rare western species such as a Black-throated Gray Warbler or a Vermilion Flycatcher who found their way to a sundrenched meadow and decided it was a good place to hang until

spring. And the more we look, the more birds we find. This is a sure-fire technique for novice birders, too.

We can all enjoy an active Fall Migration by simply getting outside in the early mornings or late afternoons with our field binoculars, listening for the source of birds calling out and scanning the canopy to watch them flitting among the branches. But the fun doesn’t stop in November. Providing an abundance of native “food and lodging” amenities can convince more of our feathered friends to spend the winter with us.

Because of our long season of temperate to cool days and the concentration and variety of birds who already congregate here, South Florida is also a winter mecca for international birders. For us locals, though, we only need to step outside with our morning coffee, listen, look and be rewarded. ■

Coral Gables resident José Francisco Barros is an endodontist and president of Tropical Audubon Society.

RESOURCES:

BIRDING:

TROPICAL AUDUBON SOCIETY OFFERS FREE AND FEE-BASED BIRDING FIELD TRIPS

AUGUST THROUGH MAY. WRITE TO FIELDTRIPS@TROPICALAUDUBON.ORG TO REQUEST E-MAIL NOTIFICATIONS.

BINOCULARS: LEICA STORE MIAMI, 372 MIRACLE MILE (305) 921-4433

NATIVE PLANTS: TROPICALAUDUBON.ORG/PLANTS-FOR-BIRDS

TOP: OUR MILD WINTERS EVEN ATTRACT THE OCCASIONAL VERMILION FLYCATCHER, A WESTERN MIGRANT. PHOTO: MICK THOMPSON.

CENTER: THE OFTEN-ELUSIVE PAINTED BUNTING FORAGES AMONG BLANKETFLOWER. PHOTO: SIMON TAN

ABOVE: BIRDWATCHING IN THE GABLES CAN BE REWARDING — “JUST LOOK UP” ADVISES THE AUTHOR JOSÉ FRANCISCO BARROS. PHOTO: FEDERICO ACEVEDO

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

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

305.439.8311

Burger, Beer & Bingo Art Movement

There’s good reason that Venezuela-born art connoisseur Ninoska Huerta named her new gallery on Miracle Mile “Art in Motion.” That phrase defines her.

Since her childhood days roller-skating instead of walking, Huerta has been on the move, coming up with creative ideas, executing quickly and changing course as circumstances vary. Her new gallery is a pop-up, opened last October in an empty storefront and now leased in short increments from the city. The accord builds on deep ties with Coral Gables that included her bringing Venezuela’s renowned Carlos Cruz-Diez to transform street crossings with bright patterns in 2017.

A Gables resident for nearly 20 years, Huerta graduated in interior design in Venezuela and studied art in Paris. She returned to Caracas to run a private gallery and later, a state

company-linked art space. But a change in Venezuela’s government closed that space, prompting her to move to Florida. She’d been mostly promoting Venezuelan artists at fairs when an opportunity arose to lease a space on Aragon Avenue. She debuted her first pop-up gallery there in 2018 – for nine months, often showing kinetic, geometric and abstract work that appeared in motion.

After Covid shuttered fairs last year, Huerta saw the chance to rent a vacant storefront on Miracle Mile. “My friends say I move fast,” says Huerta, who uses Facebook, Instagram, email and other media to promote projects. “I’m always looking for new alternatives.” – Doreen

Hemlock

If you’ve never been to Clutch Burger’s Gringo Bingo, it’s time you showed up for a lively Tuesday night. Gringo Bingo takes place every month, as it has for two and half years.

The moment we walked in, the crowd was fully energized, getting started on their first round of drinks. There are lots of regulars at Gringo Bingo, but a fair share of newcomers showed up, including our party of three. We were all asked to raise our hands and were welcomed with a round of applause.

Clutch Burger owner Steve Bradley is the host of the Bingo night, and caller of the numbers, with a voice and persona like a sports caster. He keeps the crowd engaged, while the DJ complements the energy in the room. He started with hits from the 70s and 80s, like YMCA by the Village People and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

You can purchase 12 Bingo cards for $25, or 13 for $30. Once the games begin, the competition gets intense. Gringo Bingo is no ordinary Bingo. If

you want your prize, you have to shout, “Show me the dough, Gringo!” when you get four in a row. Otherwise, when you get five in a row your “Gringo Bingo!” winning shout won’t count. But the incentives are worth shouting for. Prizes included a free drink at Clutch Burger and a Free Burger VIP Card (one free burger every month for a year!) But the best prize of the night was auctioned off: a ReefQuest boating excursion around Islamorada – drinks, captain and snorkeling gear included. Bidding began at $250 and went to $400.

The best part of Gringo Bingo (besides being able to order a burger) is that all profits go to charity – donated to the Coral Gables Woman’s Club Dental Clinic and other good causes, such as SmartRide, a massive bicycle ride from Miami to Key West in support of AIDS service organizations. And kudos to the staff – cooks and servers – who all worked sans pay in support of the causes. Bingo! – Carmen Fraga

NINOSKA HUERTA, OWNER OF ART IN MOTION

Drew Kern Closes a Sale EVERY 4 DAYS

The Miami real estate market remains fast paced and competitive. Now, more than ever, it's important for sellers to hire a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent to negotiate the best possible deal for their home.

You may have wondered when the massive white building on U.S. 1 at Ponce de Leon Boulevard would open, and what its purpose would be. Wonder no more. Last month the ribbon was cut for Life Time Coral Gables, a $500 million, 14-story, 1.2 million square foot complex comprising a luxury athletic resort (80,000 sq. ft.), a shared Life Time Work space

Working, Playing & Living Large Twilight Zone

(25,000 sq. ft.) and 495 rental units ranging from studio apartments to 2,252 sq. ft. penthouses. And coming soon will be a Trader Joe’s and a Graziano’s Argentine restaurant.

While Life Time has been running gyms and spas (athletic resorts) for 30 years (they own the Miami Marathon), this is the first time the company has combined work, living, retail and

athletic concepts in one space.

“Never has a development been designed with such a comprehensive healthy way of life in mind, body and soul,” says Gino Santia, director of Life Time Coral Gables.

We’re not sure soul, but for body, the facility offers everything from free weights,

There was a time, before the pandemic, when the First Friday of each month was celebrated with open art galleries and musical events. Some of that magic has returned at the Coral Gables Museum, with their monthly Twilight Fridays. Each month the museum opens from 6 pm to 10 pm on that first Friday, free to the public, with live music and a full cash bar.

We attended the First Friday in August to listen to the sounds of rock band Purpleberry Jam, (shown left) which played Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Santana covers, along with other psychedelic hits from yesteryear

treadmills and Jacuzzis to saunas, locker rooms and cycling sessions. All is pristine and high-tech, with personal trainers, classes, and podcasts on healthy living available. Membership is not cheap – around $200 a month – but early joiners report that it’s well worth it. –

James Broida

in the courtyard. Pretty darn good, actually. On other Fridays the Florida Guitar Foundation has Open Mic Night for guitarists of all stripes, including classical and folk. They perform in the Community Meeting Room.

During the night we went, more than 900 other museum goers attended, though it never seemed crowded. “I came up with the name and the idea one night going home,” says museum director John Allen. “We’ve had a great turnout. People want to get out.” All of the exhibits are open during Twilight (see Best Bets); in our case enhanced by an $8 rum and coke. – J.P. Faber

THE LIFE TIME CORAL GABLES DEVELOPMENT OPENED ON U.S. 1 AT PONCE DE LEON BLVD, WITH 495 RENTAL UNITS, 25,000 SQ. FT OF SHARED WORKSPACE, AND AN ATHLETIC “RESORT.” AND COMING SOON WILL BE A TRADER JOE’S AND A GRAZIANO’S ARGENTINE RESTAURANT.

Mommy Makeover

What the years have taught me

What’s a MM?

In a nutshell, it’s about personal innovation and reclaiming your pre-baby body.

This should start with a return to regular exercise and sound nutrition. But there are challenges that are beyond these important self-help measures. Breastfeeding often causes breasts to look deflated or saggy. Replacing lost fill with an implant often can lift and re-energize breast appearance, although at times a breast lift or reduction might be indicated. That’s Part 1 of the MM.

Part 2 is the tummy. The last trimester of pregnancy is especially hard on the tummy since the muscle wall needs to stretch so much. Often the tummy doesn’t retighten enough, especially after more than one baby. Exercise is important to re-tone your muscles, but it won’t tighten the stretched-out areas between the muscles (so called ‘diastasis’). It also won’t remove loose skin. The job of the tummy tuck is to re-tighten the stretched ‘muscle’ tissues as well as loose skin, along with some optional liposuction on the sides.

Things the years have taught me:

1. Safety must be always come first, especially for moms. Thus, time in surgery should not exceed four hours and be performed in the safest environment possible and with safe anesthesia. For me, that means an ambulatory surgery center, next to and operated by a major hospital.

2. Doing good work takes time. An aesthetically pleasing tummy’s tuck takes about three hours. A breast augmentation adds about one hour, so both together are a safe combo in a healthy patient. But if an implant alone is not enough and a breast lift or reduction is indicated, it’s safer to divide the MM into two separate surgeries.

3. There are 3 keys to a good TT result: low, out-of-sight placement of the smiley-shaped tummy scar, thorough ‘muscle’ tightening, and a small, inconspicuous belly button. Surgical markings are critical for final scar shape and placement and are best done, without rush, the day before surgery.

4. To use or not to use a drain is NOT a critical issue. The point is to minimize the main complication of TT surgery which is the accumulation of fluid under the skin (called ‘seroma’). What is critical is that you end up with the best possible aesthetic result, independent of surgeon technique or drain preference.

Stephan Baker MD

5. Best TT results happen when patient and an experienced surgeon work together as a team. The TT addresses anatomic issues beyond the reach of the patient and patients can do things that go beyond the surgery. So patients who embrace good exercise and nutrition habits enjoy the best results.

6. Patients who have been well prepared and have realistic expectations do well.

As always, research carefully both the procedure and your plastic surgeon before proceeding, so you end up safe and happy.

Best Bets

FOR SEPTEMBER

¡FUÁCATA! OR A LATINA’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE UNIVERSE

Reopening the Actors’ Playhouse mainstage and running until Sept. 12 is ¡FUÁCATA! or A Latina’s Guide to Surviving the Universe, a hilarious one-woman show shedding light on what it’s like being a Latina woman in American society. Award winning Cuban-American actress Elena María García portrays over 20 different Latin-American women, their journeys, and their emotional experiences, all with a comedic twist. 280 Miracle Mile. Visit www.actorsplayhouse.org for tickets.

THIRD FORWARD MOTION DANCE AT MIAMI DADE COUNTY AUDITORIUM

The Third Annual Forward Motion Physically Integrated Dance Festival & Conference, produced by Karen Peterson and Dancers (KPD), will take place Sept. 28, showcasing some of the best dancers and companies inclusive to those with (and without) disabilities. These moving performances include Dancing Wheels’ Company’s Pallas Athena, Odyssey, The Miami premiere of Perky, Quirky, Smirky from REVolutions Dance, Remember When, a solo featuring Jesus Vidal de Leon, and a new restaging of KPD’s Lost and Found. Visit www.karenpetersondancers.org for more information.

FROST GOES LIVE!

UM’s Frost School of Music returns to live performances this month. On Sept. 15, the Frost Concert Jazz Band performs with award-winning guest bassist Christian McBride. On Sept. 20 renowned tuba virtuoso Aaron Tindall performs selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella. On Sept. 24 the Frost Studio Jazz band celebrates the late sax great Melton Mustafa, with guest saxophonists Jesse Jones Jr. and Melton Mustafa Jr. And on Oct. 2, Grammy winning Latin Jazz trumpet player John Daversa performs with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. All are at Gusman Concert Hall, starting at 7:30 p.m. For tickets visit www. frostmusiclive.com or call 305.284.3500

EXHIBITIONS AT THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

Now through November, the Coral Gables Museum is hosting three exhibitions. Watercolors and Bronzes is a series of more than 40 paintings and 20 sculptures by architect and graphic designer Richard Saul Wurman. Beauty and Value is a show of recent paintings and sculptures by artist Carlos Alberto Fernández, encompassing transparency, color, and light. Juan Henriquez: Versión del Codo is a series of works from local artists aimed at keeping the cultural elements of our beloved city alive. 285 Aragon Ave. Visit www. coralgablesmuseum.org for more information.

DOG DATE STROLL AT FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN

Why settle for one Fairchild Dog Date Stroll when you can have up to four in one month? Grab your furry date and join fellow dog lovers at Fairchild Sept. 5, 12, 19, and 26. From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. you and your pup can enjoy the 83 acres of gardens. Open at 9 a.m., Glasshouse Cafe will serve treats for humans and dogs alike. Adult tickets are $16.95, child tickets (ages 6-17) are $7.95. Members enter free. Visit www.fairchildgarden.org for more information.

ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES

On Sept. 25 at 10 am, Dr. Jaeson Clayborn presents “Butterfly Gardening and Imagination: It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become!” The presentation is one of a four-part series and includes children planting plants in the city’s new “pollinator plant patch” displaying native plants that residents can use in their yards to maintain healthy ecosystems. Handouts will be provided. Coral Gables Youth Center, 405 University Dr. 305.460.5600.

Bites

THE GABLES SPICE RESTAURANTS 2021 TUR RESTAURANT’S COLD VICHYSSOISE SOUP. PAGE 40

Gables Spice

Every year the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau puts on Miami Spice. This is a two-month period when about 200 hundred Miami-Dade restaurants offer discounted, three-course “spice” menus (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) for lunch and dinner. Two dozen of these restaurants are in Coral Gables; this year the price is $28 for lunch and $42 for dinner.

The idea of Miami Spice is to induce you to visit someplace you’re not familiar with, or if familiar, not within your normal budget. For us, that’s the best bet – going to an upscale Gables restaurant that is normally a little too posh for you, now affordable.

In other words, why go to a modestly priced place like Tap 42? If you order the crispy calamari tower, the grilled salmon bowl and the strawberry shortcake tres leche off the regular menu, it costs $50. Drop the shortcake (their only spice dessert, and who would ever order it?) and the price is $39, less than Spice.

On the other hand, if you go to expensive, gourmet Italian Fiola, and you order the yellowfin tuna puttanesca, wagyu short ribs and Valrhona chocolate terrine from the regular menu, it will cost $77. So, Spice’s dinner tab is a bargain. Likewise, at someplace like Bellmont Spanish Restaurant, where the seafood paella costs $25 on the regular menu. You can have it as part of a three-course lunch that cost $28.

For a full look at all the Coral Gables Spice menus, go to www. miamiandbeaches.com/offers/temptations, then scroll down to Participating Restaurants by Neighborhood. What follows are a sampling of eight Spice restaurants we visited from the list.

FIOLA MIAMI – LUNCH MENU

When Fiola landed from Washington DC a couple of years ago, it reset the bar for fine dining in the Gables. Their Spice menu also sets the bar high, with an amazing five choices for each category of appetizer, entrée and dessert. We tried the summer colors of the garden salad and their polenta fries, both good. But it was their heirloom tomato gazpacho, with pickled watermelon and avocado pieces in the puree, that hit it out of the park. Stunning. For entrees it’s hard to go wrong. The wood oven roasted flap steak is exceptional, but so is their grilled Spanish branzino – or roasted wild mushrooms for the vegans among us. And don’t miss the Valrohna chocolate terrine for dessert.

FONTANA – DINNER MENU

Fontana is arguably the most romantic restaurant in the city. Its open courtyard with Venetian fountain and classic columns transports you to another world. We sampled all three appetizers and found the lightly dressed shrimp on arugula to be tasty and refreshing. But it was the burratina ripiena – burratina cheese stuffed with avocado, heirloom baby tomatoes, scallions and basil – that blew us away. Amazingly creamy and flavorful. Hats off to chef Beppe Gala-

THE GABLES SPICE RESTAURANTS

*RESTAURANTS WE VISITED

LUNCH ONLY

TUR KITCHEN*

DINNER ONLY

CAFFE VIALETTO*

DOC B’S FRESH KITCHEN

ECLECTICO RESTAURANT & BAR

FONTANA*

MAIA HOUSE (PLUS BRUNCH)

PASCAL’S ON PONCE

PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE*

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

BRASSERIE CENTRAL

LUNCH OR DINNER

AMORE RESTAURANT & BAR

AROMAS DEL PERÚ

BELLMÓNT SPANISH RESTAURANT

BUGATTI BISTRO

BULLA GASTROBAR (PLUS BRUNCH)

FIOLA MIAMI*

GUSTAVE RESTAURANT*

KAE SUSHI RESTAURANT

KAO SUSHI & GRILL

PUBLIC SQUARE

SAWA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE*

SEASONS 52

TALAVERA

TAP 42 CRAFT KITCHEN AND BAR

ZUCCA RESTAURANT*

TOP: FIOLA MIAMI ABOVE: FONTANA

134 Rosales Court, Coral Gables, FL 33134 - Islands of Cocoplum

Turn-key Alison Spear/Hollub Construction gut-remodel on quiet cul de sac, kitty-corner to clubhouse. Hardwood and soapstone floors. All impact / generator. 5 bed / 5 bath / 1 half bath | 17,000 sf. lot | $3,995,000

4831 SW 82 Street, Miami, FL 33143 - Ponce Davis

a must see!! 5 bed / 6 bath / 1 half bath | 6,928 adj. sf. | 9,195 total sf. | 42,253 sf. lot |

location in Ponce-Davis! Elegant Contemporary home on gated lot. Guest house and summer kitchen.

Tere Shelton Bernace Broker-Owner 305.607.7212

Consuelo T. Stewart Broker-Owner 305.216.7348

Elba Fernandez Realtor-Associate 305.799.7972

Great

Turn-key,

$7,800,000

zzi. And continuing with the stuffing theme, we thought that while the hand-twisted strigoli pasta and the 10 oz. rib eye were both good entrees, the sea bream stuffed with crab and spinach in lemon butter sauce was sublime. Even the roasted vegetables that came with it were superb.

GUSTAVE – LUNCH MENU

Because of the bright, upscale Parisian cafeteria décor, it doesn’t’ register that this up-and-coming French restaurant serves some seriously sophisticated food. Now with its Spice menu you can sample why Gustave Restaurant is a worthy addition to the panoply of Gables eateries. For appetizers, you can go with a soup of the day or onion soup, but we went with the homemade pâté de campagne, a robust slice that came with rustic bread, and the salmon charlotte with tomato and basil coulis. Both excellent. But neither compared to the delicate pan sauteed cod fish with lemon sauce or the roasted chicken breast, sliced and bathed in a dark, wild berry sauce (right). End with the mousse chocolat and you’re somewhere in Paris.

PERRY’S – DINNER MENU

Perry’s is a steakhouse, so naturally steaks are on the Spice menu – though you have to pay an extra $7 to $11 for one of the three they offer, which sort of defeats the spirit of Spice. We say choose from the other five entrees, which include grilled salmon or brick chicken with truffle merlot demiglace. Not bad. Our recommendation, however, is the amazing Perry’s Famous Pork Chop, cured, roasted, slow-smoked and caramelized. It’s huge and delicious. On the appetizer side their Caesar salad has a nice novel bite with pumpkin seeds, and the wedge salad won’t disappoint – though we asked for blue cheese dressing rather than buttermilk vinaigrette (yes, we’re cowards). For dessert, the chocolate crunch rocks.

SAWA – LUNCH MENU

SAWA is always a pleasant place to visit in the courtyard of the Shops at Merrick Park. Even in the heat, their outdoor space works, thanks to wide umbrellas and multiple fans. Their Spice menu mirrors their overall menu, with its parallel tracks of Lebanese and Japanese dishes. For appetizers, we tried their pita-dipping platter of hummus, baba ganoush and muhammara – made daily; fresh and delicious. We also tried their duck breast yakitori, tasty duck on a stick with a teriyaki dip. For the entrée there was only one way to go for us: the salmon poke bowl with salmon sushi, rice, avocado, sesame seeds, edamame, cucumber, sweet corn, shitake mushrooms, fried onion, scallion and more. The best poke bowl we’ve tasted.

TUR – LUNCH MENU

When the air is cool, TUR’s loggia on Giralda Avenue is a lovely place to dine. Inside it’s also pleasant, with an open kitchen, high ceilings and two screens showing travel images from the Mediterranean. For their Spice menu we love that they included a cold vichyssoise soup. A deft, sophisticated choice. The beets & asparagus salad is also good, pairing soft, cooked beets with grapefruit slices and al dente asparagus heads. For entrees the baby pork ribs have a great rub and are served with a Spanish moruno sauce. But the gnocchi dish (right) is where chef Christian Chirino shines. The gnocchi

TOP: GUSTAVE’S CHICKEN BREAST IN WILD BERRY SAUCE

ABOVE: TUR: ROASTED GNOCCHI WITH ARTICHOKES AND SUN DRIED TOMATOES

themselves are braised for color and texture, and mixed perfectly with artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, basil and goat cheese. Brilliant.

CAFFE

VIALETTO – DINNER MENU

For appetizers, sweet and savory are beautifully intertwined in their ravioli, stuffed with fig or pear and draped with creamy manchego and gorgonzola sauce. Mouthwatering. The croquetas are stuffed with artichoke, ricotta and mozzarella, and complemented with sweet chili gorgonzola sauce. They melt in your mouth. For entrées we chose the meatball polenta and the Risotto Vialetto. The buffalo meatballs were topped with a sweet tomato and basil ragu and rested on a bed of creamy cheese polenta. Scrumptious. And then there is house favorite Risotto Vialetto, with peas, mushrooms, and shrimp. Deliciousness. For dessert, if you have never tried Italian panacotta, it is the creamy “love child” of flan. Theirs has a hazelnut flavor, coated with sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce. Need we say “Yum”?

ZUCCA – LUNCH MENU

How can such a lovely menu can be offered for the price of Spice? This elegant restaurant has become a bastion of fine dining, and the Spice menu reflects it. We bypassed the soup of the day for the other two appetizers, both as attractive in presentation as in taste: thin sliced white fish marinated in lemon oil and vinaigrette (a kind of carpaccio dressed with bits of radish, parsley and avocado puree); and a salad of Farro grain topped with marinated slices of salmon. For entrees their corvina fillet with yellow tomato sauce, clams, potatoes and leeks was superb, as was their medallions of filet mignon with green peas, pea puree and bits of crispy prosciutto. For dessert: a chocolate and hazelnut tart. Buon Appetito! ■

ABOVE: ZUCCA’S WHITE FISH APPETIZER MARINATED IN LEMON OIL AND VINAIGRETTE

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WHATS’ HOT: A RETRO TAKE ON THE CLASSIC SHIRTDRESS, SEE PAGE 48

What’s Hot

SEPTEMBER 2021: STRIPES ALL OVER

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

As we round the corner and catch sight of the fall season up ahead, it’s time to start embracing a new time of year. So, add a dose of playfulness to your wardrobe and décor with these striped pieces, all available in the Gables.

IT’S LIT (1)

Made from sturdy marble that features two brass stripes, this elegant lamp by Made Goods would elevate any sitting area. Shown here in dark gray, it is also available in a more neutral white hue. Retail: $850. Fine-Line Furniture & Accessories, 4217 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-661-4414, finelinefurnitureandaccessories.com.

PERFECT PILLOW (2)

This blue and orange striped pillow would lend a fun element to your indoor seating. It’s made from soft material, so comfort won’t be an issue. Retail: $25. Target, 1906 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 786437-3207, target.com.

BUTTONED UP (3)

A retro take on the classic shirtdress, this bright blue and white-striped number has a structured yet stylish silhouette. It’s perfect for running around town as the temperture drops ever so slightly. Retail: $138. J.Crew, 350 San Lorenzo Ave. #2205, 305-444-3162, jcrew.com.

DREAM TEAM (4)

Known for their innate sense of style and ability to create interiors that are both glamorous and comfortable, Emily Ward and Louisa Pierce are basically the epitome of chic. In this gorgeous coffee table book, which features plenty of striped wallpaper, you’ll get a peek at some of the most stunning homes that the duo has designed. Retail: $60. Barnes & Noble, 152 Miracle Mile, 305-446-4152, barnesandnoble.com.

SITTING PRETTY (5)

Designed by the esteemed architect Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia, the Borea sofa offers outdoor seating that is just as beautiful as it is comfortable. Set atop an aluminum frame, the cushions are available in an array of patterns and colors, but we’re partial to the nautical-inspired stripe motif. Retail: from $7,477. Luminaire, 2331 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-448-7367, luminaire.com.

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DANIELLA

Convenience 2.0 Urban Oasis

With the pandemic loss of the Navarro Pharmacy on Galiano and Miracle Mile, downtown Coral Gables no longer has a traditional convenience store – the place you pop into for things like cigarettes, cough drops, potato chips, diapers, and beer. About the closest equivalent is the Chevron station on Bird Road at 37th Avenue.

Now comes Gopuff, a new kind of convenience store on Ponce de Leon boulevard next to Pascal’s, where Rey’s Cleaners used to sit. The idea, says landlord Bill Kerdyk, Jr., is to offer a hybrid retail experience, where you can buy in-store or order online for quick delivery. “It is, in my vision, the way to reinvent retail,” says Kerdyk, Jr. “To have a retail aspect and then to deliver out the back door.” Home dropoffs cost a $1.95 delivery fee,

and supplies come from a series of mini-warehouses – including one in the back of the 5,000 square foot store on Ponce.

So far, investors love the idea, which is quickly going national. The company, which launched in 2013, raised $1.15 billion earlier this year and the firm is now valued at $15 billion. Kerdyk, Jr. says he is not an investor in Gopuff, but liked the concept so much he sent an agent to convince them to come to the Gables. “I invested my money in fixing up the store,” he says. And who wouldn’t like to have a sixpack delivered for two bucks while watching a Dolphins’ game? ■

By now we’ve all gotten used to the idea that if you want quality drinking water, you buy it at a supermarket. But picking up bottles of spring water at Publix is one thing. Having an entire store devoted to selling just water is another.

That is the proposition at Miami Alkaline Water on Miracle Mile. There you can buy it by the can, the multi-liter bottle or the cooler-sized jug. This is no ordinary water, however, which is the value proposition. Their water is ionized to pump up its alkaline content.

Why is this important? From your high school science class you may recall something called PH balance. It measures how acidic or alkaline any liquid is. Vinegar is highly acidic, for example, whereas milk of magnesia is highly alkaline (which is why it calms your acidic stomach). According to some health researchers, the best thing for our bodies is a balanced PH. But

alas, we are generally too acidic, thanks in part to unhealthy acidic foods like bacon and sodas (fruits and veggies, contrariwise, are alkaline).

Which brings us back to the store. For a few dollars you can buy yourself a 2-liter bottle of cold alkaline water. If it gets to be your thing, you can bring in a 5-gallon water cooler and have it filled for between $1 and $3 a gallon, depending on how alkaline you want it (they also infuse minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium). Their premier brand is called Power of Youth.

“After about a month you will feel better, with more energy and better hydration,” says Paula Silveira, a senior consultant at the store. “You will also really taste the difference.” Drink up!. ■

GOPUFF 2619 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 855.400.7833 GOPUFF.COM/SHOP

MIAMI ALKALINE WATER 68 MIRACLE MILE 305.677.9897 MIAMIALKALINEWATER.COM

BILL KERDYK, JR BROUGHT GOPUFF TO CORAL GABLES

The Ultimate Trading Post

Back in frontier days, the local trading post sold everything you might need, from hard candy to galvanized nails to gingham overalls. For decades, the Gables version was Coulter Discount on the corner of Ponce and Madeira. Here you could buy anything from stamps and a shot of coffee to a hammer, canned goods, or an umbrella.

Coulter closed early in the pandemic, never to reopen. But right down the street, in a 22,800 square foot space left vacant by OfficeMax, mega-retailer Target moved in with the equivalent of a 21st century trading post. It sells literally everything necessary to sustain life as we know it. Want food? They have a grocery section. Want

fresh brewed coffee? There is a Starbucks. Want a prescription filled? There is a CVS pharmacy. And on the shelves, you can find everything from vitamins, shampoo, and school supplies, to dresses, garden tools, and computer flash drives.

Part of what makes Target special for the Gables is that you don’t have to drive to a shopping mall in some depressing part of Miami-Dade County for a big-box retailer. And while it is smaller than your usual mega Target outlet, the goods are tailored to the affluent Gables crowd. Want to buy a tube of hard-to-find Moon Charcoal toothpaste and a rare chaser of all-natural clear Listerine? This is the place. ■

Carved in Coral Rock

BY MIKE CLARY

WE NEED TO SHOW OUR CHILDREN. IT’S ABOUT OUR LEGACY.”

In April 2019, an orange-colored Doosan excavator rumbled into the heart of Coral Gables and ripped open the side of a building that had stood on the corner of Le Jeune Road and Aragon Avenue for nearly 100 years.

The two-story structure had long been the home of LaSalle Cleaners, but before that housed the construction offices of city founder George Merrick. Yet in a 5-4 decision, the Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board decided the building was not worth saving, and within a few hours it was gone.

“The LaSalle property was a turning point,” says ardent preservationist Karelia Martinez Carbonell, president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables. “That was one of the most important buildings in Coral Gables, and it could not be saved.

That’s when the community opened its eyes that patrimony could be lost, and officials and the board were clueless to the consequences of their decisions.”

Whether the city’s vaunted commitment to historic preservation is at an inflection point – underscored by the LaSalle decision, among others – is now open for debate. Attorney and arts patron Mike Eidson also wanted to save that building and offered to buy it, starting with a $4 million offer. The owners turned him down. “That was a big loss, especially because of its location across from city hall,” he says. Restored, the LaSalle building could have been a candidate for the National Register of Historic Places, Eidson says. “We need to know where we came from,” he says. “We need to show our children. It’s about our legacy.”

A HISTORIC MISTAKE? THE CITY DECIDED NOT TO PRESERVE THE LASALLE PROPERTY ON LE JEUNE ROAD AND ARAGON AVENUE, THE ORIGINAL OFFICES OF CITY FOUNDER GEORGE MERRICK.

MIKE EIDSON, FOUNDER OF SANCTUARY OF THE ARTS, TALKING ABOUT THE LASALLE PROPERTY WHICH HE TRIED TO BUY TO SAVE IT FROM DEMOLITION.

“THAT WAS A BIG LOSS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION ACROSS FROM CITY HALL. WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE CAME FROM...

The Repurposing of Historic Churches

MIKE EIDSON’S PRESERVATION QUEST

As a college student in the 1960s, Mike Eidson was a record-setting middle distance runner and a history major specializing in the Italian Renaissance. From those disciplines came a perseverance that has served him well as a trial lawyer with an appreciation for the arts that fuels his Coral Gables activism. Through his non-profit Sanctuary of the Arts, Inc., Eidson is restoring three historic city churches and turning them into centers for the arts with spaces for performances, galleries and classrooms. Those churches include two sanctuaries on the campus of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, on the corner of Le Jeune Road and Andalusia Avenue, and St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church, at 136 Frow Ave., in the MacFarlane Homestead historic district.

“I feel like we are carrying on the legacy of George Merrick, doing a little to preserve the history of one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” says Eidson, president of the law firm Colson Hicks Eidson – and the man who saved the building where Books & Books is now located adjacent to the Coral Gables Museum. He also tried to purchase and restore the now levelled LaSalle building but was turned down by the owners.

Both church buildings across from City Hall were designed by architect Phineas Paist, who also designed Douglas Entrance, the Colonnade Building, and City Hall itself. The first sanctuary building was opened in 1933; a second, larger building followed in 1942. The smaller of the two buildings is already being converted into a professional dance studio. Meanwhile, St. Mary’s – built in 1924 as the first Black church in Coral Gables – has been protected with a new roof and air conditioning system since Eidson purchased the ailing structure last year. Further renovations are pending. Eidson says he has an agreement with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to use the church as space for nearby Frances S. Tucker Elementary School, which is launching a science, art and technology magnet program by the fall of 2022.—Mike Clary

The legacy of Coral Gables is more than just architecture. The City Beautiful is regularly cited as among the nation’s most attractive and best places to live. Admirers point to its Mediterranean style, its coral rock flourishes, the city’s neighborhoods and schools, and the leafy charm of its lush tree canopy. Residents and visitors alike embrace the vision of Coral Gables that Merrick expressed when he planned the city in the 1920s: “Not a thing of the moment, of the year or even of the passing period, but a wonderful monument to the achievement of worthwhile perseverance in the creation of beauty and the bringing true of dreams that will solidly endure as beautifully and bountifully age as does the everlasting coral upon which the master development is founded.”

As a measure of just how adamant many of the Gables’ 51,000 residents are about preserving the founder’s vision, look no further than the contentious debate earlier this year over revisions to the zoning code, and the municipal elections in which every candidate for office pledged to hold the line against over-development. In his successful campaign for mayor, Vince Lago emphasized his opposition to any code changes that could open the flood gates to a high-rise take over, and waxed nostalgic over the Miracle Mile he remembered walking as a boy with his grandfather. “I was always fascinated with the beauty of Coral Gables, and that is something

“WE ARE LOSING OUR HISTORIC INTEGRITY, ONE BUILDING AT A TIME”

KARELIA

MARTINEZ CARBONELL, PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES.

EIDSON AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH

PHOTO BY EMILY FAKHOURY

PHOTO BY EMILY FAKHOURY

CARBONELL IN AN ENDANGERED GRANADA GOLF COURSE RAIN SHELTER

that has stuck with me, and will play a role in my decision-making,” says Lago. “We are moving forward, but the past has served us well. We need to make sure that historic preservation is one of our priorities.”

Rhonda Anderson, elected to the commission in April, agrees that historic buildings account for “some of the uniqueness of our city and gives extra value.” Yet that does not mean every building can be saved. Anderson advocates repurposing some historic properties and cites as an example the plan by Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables to remake as a showroom the 1970s Brutalist-style former police and fire station at 2801 Salzedo Street. “This serves two purposes. It preserves the architecture and the environment by reusing the building,” she says.

Former Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli, Lago’s predecessor, sparred often with preservationists. He called the LaSalle building “ugly” and urged it be torn down. Nonetheless, he bristles at any suggestion that during his most recent tenure of four years (he also served as mayor from 1993 to 2001) the city’s commitment to preservation waned. “There are two or three hysterical people who have propagated this theme, that we have lost interest [in historic preservation],” said Valdés-Fauli. “We have spent millions of dollars in historic preservation,” including funds earmarked for renovations of the

1927 city hall and the purchase of the studio of architect H. George Fink, built on Ponce de Leon Boulevard in 1925.

From 2009-2019, for example, 86 requests for designation were brought to the historic preservation board; 80 were approved and six were denied, according to the city. Yet there have been significant losses in recent years, says Carbonell, including the 1926 Mission Revival apartment building at 333 Catalonia Avenue, built to house artisans for the Gables crafts district. Scores of single-family homes have also been demolished in recent years, including many which might have qualified for designation, according to association research. “We are losing our historic integrity, one building at a time,” says Carbonell.

A CITY TRADITION

The movement to preserve the heritage of Coral Gables began as far back as 1951, when the city – just 26 years old – bought the outdated Alhambra Water Tower to save it from demolition. In 1966 several local architects, along with a civic group known as The Villagers, teamed up to save the three-story Douglas Entrance, a privately-owned Spanish-style complex that was about to be knocked down and replaced by a Food Fair supermarket and parking lot. The site is

“WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, BUT THE PAST HAS SERVED US WELL. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES”

VINCE LAGO, MAYOR OF CORAL GABLES.

THE BILTMORE HOTEL CAME UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF CITY OFFICIALS WHO DISCUSSED IT’S DEMOLITION IN THE 1940’S

now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1973, in response to growing concerns that more of the city’s iconic patrimony was imperiled, the commission adopted its first historic preservation ordinance. It was revised and expanded by the city commission in 1984 and made a part of the zoning code. This revised ordinance added further protections and established the Historic Preservation Board, a nine-member panel that votes up or down on designating properties as historic. To qualify as historic, a property “must be at least 50 years old, and possess architectural, aesthetic or historical value,” according to the city’s guide. The unpaid board members serve two-year terms, are appointed by the commissioners and the city manager, and include architects, historians and developers.

Tensions between those who want to tear down and those who want to save are not new. Even the iconic 1926 Biltmore Hotel, vacant for years after its service as a hospital in World War II and an early site of the University of Miami’s medical campus, was nearly lost when a city manager proposed it be knocked down to make way for tennis and volleyball courts.

“Florida is a place that likes to wipe the slate clean,” says Joanna Lombard, a professor of architecture at the University of Miami. “New people arrive, and each group tends to think they’re the first

“THE EXISTING BUILDING IS NOT A GREAT WORK OF ARCHITECTURE NOR IS IT A HISTORIC LANDMARK THAT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED FOR POSTERITY AT OUR SOLE COST”

NICK AND DESIREE VALLS LEBESS, OWNERS 1208 ASTURIA AVENUE (LEFT)

TOP: BUILT IN 1937, 1208 ASTURIA AVENUE IS AT THE CENTER OF A LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE OWNERS WHO DISPUTE THAT ITS WORTH SAVING AND THE PRESERVATIONISTS WHO DEEM IT HISTORICAL.

ABOVE & LEFT: 649 PALMARITO COURT, BUILT IN 1940, WAS DECLARED A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD AFTER THE OWNERS SUBMITTED PLANS TO TEAR IT DOWN.

who got here. The tendency is to think that new is better. I fear that things are evaporating before our eyes.”

It is not only the explosion of mega projects – the massive $600 million Plaza Coral Gables on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, for example, or the huge mid-rise apartment/retail/hotel complexes that line stretches of U.S. 1 – that have sparked controversy. Older houses are being bulldozed to make way for modernist sugar cube-style residences, usually painted white.

“Most Gables residents are still committed to historic preservation, but there is a lot of pressure to take [out] these smaller houses and fill the lot with a big white box,” says Dolly MacIntyre, whose own history as a preservationist dates back to The Villagers’ founding more than 50 years ago. “It is so egregious, so foreign to what is here, so out of context. This is not good.”

LOOKING FOR BALANCE

The balance between preserving history and the rights of homeowners to do what they want with their own property can be delicate. Carbonell says she has heard people argue that both the LaSalle building and 333 Catalonia were not big losses because they were not attractive looking. “But that’s not what preservation is about,”

Saved... or Gone

IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, SCORES OF CORAL GABLES PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SOME HAVE BEEN SAVED BY DESIGNATION, WHILE OTHERS WERE NOT DEEMED HISTORIC AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY TORN DOWN. HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES:

SAVED:

649 PALMARITO COURT: This 1940 residence is one of the earliest Neoclassical-style homes designed by the Coral Gables team of architect William Shanklin, Jr. and owner/builder George E. Batcheller.

PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING: The 1970s Brutalist-style former police and fire station at 2801 Salzedo Street is now owned by Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables and will be repurposed as a showroom and storage facility.

1224 COUNTRY CLUB PRADO: A 1926 home designed by architects Keihnel and Elliot, the same team that designed the Coral Gables Elementary School and the Coral Gables Congregational Church.

2214 SEGOVIA CIRCLE: This two-bedroom 1937 home was designed by noted architects Phineas Paist and Harold Steward and is regarded as an example of the blend between Art Moderne and Mediterranean Revival.

GONE:

LASALLE BUILDING: Built in the 1920s at the corner of Le Jeune Road and Aragon Avenue, the commercial structure originally housed the construction offices of city founder George Merrick before becoming the home of LaSalle Cleaners. The building was bulldozed in 2019.

333 CATALONIA AVE.: The two-story, 1926 Mission Revival-style apartment building, which featured a tile roof and four units, failed to win designation from the city’s Historic Preservation Board and was knocked down in 2020.

1000 PONCE DE LEON BLVD.: Known as the North Gables Executive Center, this 1965 commercial property was designed by the firm of Watson, Deutschman, and Kruse and known as a prime example of the New Formalist style. It was demolished in 2020.

1220 S. ALHAMBRA CIRCLE: Designed in the ranch style and built primarily of a distinctive building material called Crab Orchard stone, this residence made reference to Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic modernism. It was taken down in 2019.

SAVED: PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING

GONE: 333 CATALONIA AVENUE

she says. “It is not about what I or you think is pretty. You have to read the history.”

Yet, for some, history can be a burden. Take, for instance, the current battle over the modest-looking ranch house at 1208 Asturia Avenue. Built in 1937, the four-bedroom house was designed by noted architect Russell Pancoast and is an early example of a custom designed ranch house that served as a prototype for many homes to follow. Soon after it was purchased in 2018 by the prominent Valls family (owners of Versailles and La Carreta restaurants) for $875,000, the new owners moved to tear it down, later arguing in court filings that “the house is unremarkable and unworthy of historic designation.”

Since it was more than 50 years old, the city’s Historical Resources department reviewed the demolition request. The house “absolutely qualified” for designation, says Dona Spain, the department’s former director. A staff report found the ranch house marked a seminal modernist turn away from the predominate Mediterranean style of the Gables’ early years.

But the Preservation Board, after hearing from the Historical Research department and from an architect who spoke on behalf of the Valls family, narrowly voted to deny designation. Following that vote, a neighbor, Vicki Cerda, appealed the decision to the city commission, which twice failed to overturn it. Cerda then sued to stop the demolition, arguing in part that Valdés-Fauli influenced the board’s vote with emails and a letter in which he “advocated against preservation overkill,” according to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal. (Valdés-Fauli recused himself from the commission votes.) In June 2020 a Miami-Dade County court issued a stay on destroying the house, which is where the case currently rests.

“This is not personal,” says Cerda, a Gables resident for 33 years. “I am not happy to be the face [of opposing demolition]. But I feel totally it is the right thing to do, because [preservation] is what Coral Gables has always stood for.”

The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables filed an amicus brief in support of Cerda’s lawsuit, appending several letters of support from prominent architects and preservationists.

Adaptive Transformation

KUDOS FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

The iconic Coral Gables Museum, a coral rock landmark that opened its doors in 1939 as a police and fire station, has been named by the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects as this year’s winner of the People’s Choice Competition for adaptive reuse.

Calling the museum “a perfect example of the themes of adaptive reuse and transformation,” AIA Florida President Ignacio J. Reyes, said “the reimagining of this great space pays homage to its past and looks forward to a long life of serving the people of Coral Gables.” Each of the 10 Florida buildings considered for this year’s honor was built for one use and then redesigned to fit another.

Completed as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, the complex was designed by Phineas Paist, and is noted for its sculptured “Keystone Firemen” on the west exterior wall. The structure served as the Municipal Building until 1974 and reopened as the Coral Gables Museum in 2010.

“Among so many outstanding choices, it is truly a great honor to [be] recognized from such a commendable selection of unique buildings,” said museum executive director John Allen. Among current exhibitions is “Creating the Dream: George E. Merrick and his vision for Coral Gables,” an exploration of the life of the city founder and of Florida pioneer history.

A LANDMARK BUILDING: THE CITY PURCHASED 2506 PONCE DE LEON BLVD, WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1925, TO PRESERVE THE STUDIO OF ARCHITECT H. GEORGE FINK.

The house is “an excellent example of an early Traditional Custom Ranch House,” said Melissa Wyllie, CEO & President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, and “is part of the historic fabric that makes the City of Coral Gables unique.”

Nick and Desiree Valls Lebess, owners of the Asturia Avenue house, could not disagree more. “The existing building is not a great work of architecture nor is it a historic landmark that needs to be preserved for posterity at our sole cost,” the couple told Coral Gables Magazine in a statement, adding that they were “shocked” when the Historical Resources department said that it should be saved.

Also ensnared by history – or at least by the city’s interpretation of history – are Edmund Zaharewicz and his wife, Cecilia M. Danger. After the couple decided to tear down their 1940 house at 649 Palmarito Ct. to build bigger for their growing family, the Historic Preservation Board voted 8-0 to designate their home a “local historic landmark.” According to city staff, which recommended designation to the Board, the two-story house’s “Neoclassical style was amongst the homes that ushered the new architectural era into the city and set the trend for the post-war home-building boom.”

After the home was designated historic, Zaharewicz appealed the decision to the city commission, which unanimously backed the preservation board. Zaharewicz, an attorney, has asked the 11th District Appeals Court to quash the commission vote and reverse the board’s decision. He says he feels “ambushed” by the designation. “The process is very unfair to homeowners. Totally arbitrary,” Zaharewicz says.

Peggy Rolando, a member of the Historic Preservation Board who favored preserving both homes, thinks the board and the city need to educate residents about tax incentives and other benefits of designation. “What are the factors that make any historic property valuable?” asks Rolando. Citizens must understand “what needs to be preserved and how can you effectively modify a property to bring it into the 21st century,” she says.

The owners of the houses on Palmarito Court and Asturia Avenue explored making changes and additions to meet the needs of their growing families. In each case, however, those modifications proved to be unfeasible and impractical. Those personal concerns, however, are not factors to be considered when designation is on the table. As Assistant City Attorney Gustavo Ceballos reminded the Preservation Board in March 2020 during a hearing on the Asturia Avenue house: “The fact that it is not financially feasible or that they’re not going to get an economic return or the fact that the property can be expanded or not, none of those are criteria…”

WHAT NOW?

So, how will preservation fare under a new city administration? One person to ask is Warren Adams, the city’s recently named director of Historical Resources and Cultural Arts. He grew up outside of Glasgow, Scotland, where houses built in the 12th century are still standing. By comparison, even the oldest structure in Coral Gables went up an eye-blink ago.

Still, Adams says, “It’s all about context. If you protect these things now, perhaps they’ll be here in 400, 500 years. Preservation gives Coral Gables that very special atmosphere that you don’t get in other places. People come here to see that.”

Like his predecessor Dona Spain, Adams believes the path to success in leading the historic preservation department is picking the right battles. “I am not here to save absolutely everything, or to recommend everything get demolished,” he says. “What I seek is balance.” The key to achieving that balance is identifying what is

“PRESERVATION GIVES CORAL GABLES THAT VERY SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE THAT YOU DON’T GET IN OTHER PLACES. PEOPLE COME HERE TO SEE THAT”

WARREN ADAMS, DIRECTOR OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES AND CULTURAL ARTS, SHOWN IN FRONT OF THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

historic and significant while weighing the rights and concerns of property owners to get what they want, Adams says. He also wants to speed up the historic application process. “One thing we don’t want to do, by designating in some cases, is make a property unusable, unworkable, unsaleable,” Adams says. Nonetheless, he adds, “We will be sure to follow our ordinances.”

In her 2015 biography of the Gables’ founder, George Merrick, Son of the South Wind, Arva Moore Parks applauded the founding of citizens groups such as the Historic Preservation Association and The Villagers, writing, “After forty years of effort by an enlightened public and the support of political leaders, Coral Gables’ past had become a vital part of its future.”

The question now before Gables residents: Is that future secure? ■

FALL FASHION

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE SEASON?

FALL FASHION IS UPON US. Coats, sweaters, boots, and warmer color palettes fill the stores. We love the look – the layers, the textures of the fabrics, the feelings that are conjured up of childhood or that long family getaway to see and feel the seasonal change. Yes, we love fall clothing, but do we need it here in September? September is one of our hottest months! So what about us? We decided to focus on two global brands and one local brand that truly understand our climate and lifestyle, all year round. Vacation style dressing is the backbone of their brands. And they bring us quality fashion that we can wear here and now.

BY KIM RODRIGUEZ

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

ISLAND STYLIN’

TOMMY BAHAMA was founded in 1993, based on the simple but oh so relevant and clever idea: Men’s clothing that allowed you to never really leave the beach, psychologically anyway, and to live on island time, sort of. The concept took off as it offered what no one else did at the time, an escape from reality, even if just for a weekend lunch in your friend’s backyard. The silky, tropical print shirts and shorts quickly elevated “that guy” who dressed in vacation garb, to be able to wear his pieces anywhere and feel happy while doing it.

Fun fact: My husband is friends with one of the three founders of Tommy Bahama, and none of them is named Tommy. Tommy is fictional. Sorry, but he’s still a lot of fun. The official take: “The Tommy Bahama man is confident, fun-loving, adventurous, active, family oriented and the life of the party.”

The brand evolved into a lifestyle for their guy, offering a full men’s – and women’s – collection that ultimately included shoes, houseware, furniture, cologne, etc. If you haven’t walked into their store in Merrick Park, do so. The store’s visual aesthetic and scents speak tropical getaway.

I interviewed Bradley O’Brien, EVP of Design, Product

Development and Creative Services at Tommy Bahama to talk about what their clients will find in the store this fall that will complement the “island vibe style” while easing back into getting dressed after a pandemic. O’Brien says that “the macro trend of tech fabrics and performance features are still important to our guests.” Fabrics can still look polished, but performance features add an extra dose of comfort by using stretch. They are quick dry and easy to care for. That ease and comfort is especially in demand right now. Even the top design studios are showing drawstring pants and elasticized waists for both men and women. “As we start to emerge from the pandemic, comfort and versatility are still important as well as color,” says O’Brien. Since it is fall, the days of silk prints and shorts are now paired back to a full collection of soft knits, sweaters, French terry and corduroy. “Tommy Bahama looked to the rugged and spectacular coastline of Northern California for design inspiration,” says O’Brien. “Deep mineral and indigo blues, rich merlot, warm sandy grays, and unexpected pops of tangerine and heather purples are drawn from the wintery ocean, calming marine layer and brilliant and awe-inspiring sunsets.”

TOMMY BAHAMA 320 SAN LORENZO AVE. #1240 305.445.8896

FABRIC FASCINATION

120% LINO is our next global brand. They are truly the “Natural Luxury Linen” people; it says so on their website. And in case you wondered about the brand’s signature name, 120% refers to the expression that “more than 100 percent” goes into every collection.

Lino was founded in 1983 by Italian stylist Alberto Peretto. While browsing in London’s Camden market he found an old men’s linen jacket. Peretto realized that this quality no longer existed, so he set out to create a brand to make it attainable again – and even more so. He wanted to satisfy “A yearning for a more authentic past, when timeless, well-tailored garments were stitched from sustainable, naturally luxurious fabrics.” Indeed, linen in the past was worn more by aristocrats than the “average” person.

The brand’s European roots still exist today; high quality linen comes from the flax plant grown in France and is then produced in Bologna, Italy. Today, 120% Lino can be found in high-end stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks, and in specialty boutiques worldwide. Our outpost here in the Gables is home to the brand’s first U.S. retail store. I spoke with Director

of Retail Stores, Marisa Pepper-Lang, about the brand’s identity. “The applications the brand uses are unique and were rarely done to linen when Peretto started the company. Garment dying, pin tuck details, embroidery, printed linen and embellishments, set them apart from others, as does the high quality of the linen.” Linen, if it comes from the right flax plant, is a very strong sustainable fiber. As the brand evolved, the classic linen pieces in the stores were paired with feather weight cashmere sweaters and silk and cashmere scarves and wraps. This August, Lino introduced their first Pre-Fall Capsule collection, with gorgeous hues of blue and green, prints with some slightly heavier linens, and pieces blended with silk blocking.

Clients will find that the brand now has everything you need for your wardrobes, including outfits that work in a warm weather place. Lino offers cashmere wraps, and colorful bold jewelry that pairs perfectly with their neutral and soft color palettes. They have also introduced a collection of everyday leather handbags and beachside essentials (hats and totes). But it is the feel and breathability of the fabric, the causal, effortless, but chic style of linen, that clients appreciate.

120% LINO 342 SAN LORENZO AVE. #1025 305.774.1212

THE COLORS OF FALL

FILOMENA FERNANDEZ, our final brand, is purely local, or at least locally based. Nine years ago, having spent two decades promoting the Kyoko Higa brand in the U.S., Venezuela native Maritza Fernandez decided to launch her own atelier and design shop in Coral Gables. Today the Filomena Fernandez line (named after her grandmother Filomena) has become a favorite of city fashionistas.

What makes Fernandez’s clothing innovative is that, despite the quality of her world-class designs for blouses, dresses, skirts and jackets, she is on a quest to make high fashion affordable. Three years ago, she decided to forgo the mass market, and to instead produce only “prêt-à-porter” or ready-to-wear clothing for her own shop.

“We do a fall line,” says Fernandez. “It’s called fall-winter, because in fashion you have to do the seasons. But the truth is it’s fall colors, with a little bit of more earthy tones, like the leaves. But the material almost remains the same. We still use the cotton, the silks, and the techno-fabrics – the ones that are made of natural fabric with some synthetic fabrics so you can have stretch and make it easier to take care of. So, it’s more

comfortable and doesn’t wrinkle as much.”

Fernandez also says that while the fabrics remain the same, she uses them in slightly heavier variations. “We like to use those in the winter. We try to change them a little bit because you need a richer look, and when you have a fabric that has a thicker texture, then it looks a little richer than a thin fabric,” she says, though she is quick to add: “That doesn’t mean you go into wools. Even the best quality is not for Miami.” Her collection includes one or two sweaters, and a couple of coats, mostly for people who travel.

As for what to expect from the fall lineup, “I try to stay within the colors I like,” she says. “Whatever is going to be more popular, we try to follow a little bit of that. But it has to be a color that talks to me. Turquoise or royal blue don’t talk to me, so I never use them.” Instead think mustard yellow and terra cotta, earth tones mixed with a little bit of brighter colors.

“I also love to use animal prints in the fall,” she says. “And I like a print with stamps. Since we’re not travelling that much, we need to communicate the old way.” ■

FILOMENA FERNANDEZ 4217 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. 305.661.4448

THE CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE GUIDE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS

THE TOP PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN AND NEAR CORAL GABLES FROM PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL

When it comes to your child’s education, long term planning is essential. While the current school year has already commenced, parents concerned with getting their children into the best (and most appropriate) schools are already mapping out next year. With teachers and staff now trying to make the classroom experience as normal and safe as possible for students, 2022 should see a new refresh with the nation bringing the pandemic under control. With that in mind, we have gathered information on the leading private schools in and near Coral Gables from all grade levels to help you guide your child’s educational path based on academics, extracurricular activities, and athletics – those elements which qualify these institutions to be the leading schools in the area.

PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY

COCONUT GROVE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

TODDLER – GRADE 5

2850 SW 27th Ave. (Preschool & Elementary Campus)

3280 Bird Ave. (Toddler Campus) 305.444.4484 montessorischoolsmiami.com

CURRICULUM: Art, science, geography, history, language, mathematics, research, world languages (Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese)

SPORTS: Soccer, basketball, tennis, track & field

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS: Little Chefs, piano and violin, knitting, art, chess, French Club

TUITION: $10,500 -$15,570

BRIGHT HORIZONS AT UM CANTERBURY SCHOOL

INFANT-PRESCHOOL

Daycare and preschool for children of UM faculty and staff

1150 Stanford Dr. 305.284.5437

child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com

CURRICULUM: Listening and speaking, literacy, reading and writing, science, visual and performing art, music, mathematics, nu-

trition and safety, environmental awareness, diversity awareness

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Spanish, art, gardening, dance (taught during school hours)

TUITION: $885-$965 MONTHLY

BANYAN DAY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – KINDERGARTEN 340 Palermo Ave. 305.447.1233

banyandayschool.org

CURRICULUM: Writing, art, science, library, reading, blocks, hand-eye coordination, puzzles, Spanish, math, social sciences, music,

computer instruction

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $860 - $970 MONTHLY

ALEXANDER MONTESSORI SCHOOL

TODDLER – GRADE 5 alexandermontessori.com

PRESCHOOL/TODDLER AGES 1.5 – 6: 17800 Old Cutler Rd. 305.969.1814

PRESCHOOL/TODDLER AGES 2 – 6: 14400 Old Cutler Rd. 305.223.4540

PRESCHOOL AGES 3 – 6: 6050 SW 57th Ave. 305.665.6274

ELEMENTARY GRADES 1 – 5: 14850 SW 67th Ave. 305.235.3995

CURRICULUM: Science, language arts (grammar and writing), language enrichment, social studies, geography, mathematics, Spanish, computers, fine arts, physical education

SPORTS: Flag football, soccer, cheerleading, basketball, stretch & conditioning, swimming, tennis

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Art, French, Spanish, ballet, contemporary dance, hip hop, drama, piano, rock band, singing/choir, chess, Mah Jongg, critical thinking/science/ robotics labs, yoga

TUITION: $14,820- $25,990

“For over 55 years, Alexander Montessori School has served children, ages 18 months to 12 years, by providing an unrivaled educational experience. Our four campuses in Miami offer nurturing atmospheres, coupled with the Montessori Method, where children ‘Learn to Love to Learn.’ We invite you to request a private tour.” Gaby Martinez-Fonts, Director of Marketing and Communications

THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MIAMI

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 5

7701 SW 76th Ave. (South Miami Campus)

650-651 NE 88th Terrace (Miami Shores Campus)

786.268.1914

frenchschoolmiami.org

CURRICULUM: Literature, social studies, history, geography mathematics, physical education, music, art, gardening, creative movement, language arts, research and

CORAL GABLES SCHOOL GUIDE

writing, physical education (Classes taught in English and French)

SPORTS: Ballet, soccer (suspended until further notice due to COVID)

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Spanish, drawing, music, board games, EcoSTEAM (environmental steam club), attention & relaxation, arts & crafts, building and construction games, multicultural club, yoga, study hall

TUITION: $12,520 - $14,260

CORAL GABLES PRESCHOOL

PRESCHOOL

320 Giralda Ave. 786.332.3610 preschoolingables.com

CURRICULUM: Reading/writing, math, science, language, social studies, art and music, dramatic play

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

AFTERCARE: Available during the school year until 6:00 p.m.

TUITION: $225-$300 WEEKLY

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: THE GROWING PLACE

TODDLER-GRADE 1

536 Coral Way 305.446.0846 welovecoralgables.org

CURRICULUM: Using the “HighScope” curriculum, students have hands-on experiences with people, objects, events and ideas: approaches to learning, social and emotional development, physical development and health, language, literacy, communication, mathematics, creative arts, science and technology, social studies, reading and writing, engineering

SPORTS: Soccer, gymnastics, Kiddo Kinetics (all-sports encompassing program)

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Weekly chapel worship, Christian music education, art, Spanish, yoga, ballet, hip-hip, chess, STEM labs

AFTERCARE: Monday-Friday 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

TUITION: $6,550 - $9,000

“The Growing Place & Lamar Louise Curry Elementary Education Program warmly welcome children ages one through third grade for the 2022-2023 school year! Our 21st century Christian education inspires children to think critically, creatively, and compassionately. Visit us during Open House October 20, November 17, or January 19!”

Corina Dekker, Director, The Growing Place

THE GORDON SCHOOL OF BETH DAVID CONGREGATION

AGE 1 – GRADE 5 2625 SW 3rd Ave. 305.854.3282

gordonschoolmiami.org

CURRICULUM: Hebrew/Judaic studies, performing/fine arts, media & technology,

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: THE GROWING PLACE

music, physical education, science, cooking, library, Spanish

(Tivkah Center for Children on the Autism Spectrum: art, music, computers, physical education, Judaic Studies, social skills, media and technology)

SPORTS: Soccer, Jr. Olympics, dance, tennis

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: The After School Enrichment program aims to enhance children’s education through critical thinking, listening, memory, singing, science experiments, physical education, word puzzles, and art projects. Includes cooking Spanish, science, engineering, robotics, and chess

AFTERCARE: 2:00-6:00 p.m.

EARLY MORNING CARE: 7-8:15 a.m.

TUITION: $10,700-$19,800 (TIKVAH CENTER $19,975-$34,413)

GRANADA DAY SCHOOL

INFANT – KINDERGARTEN

900 University Dr. 305.444.2028 granadadayschool.com

CURRICULUM: Language arts, science, math, social studies, Bible, music, computers, art,

SPORTS: Softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis [Temporarily suspended until further notice]

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Include Books & Cooks, Shooting Stars Athletic Department, Afterschool Art Program, Tennis Academy, Chiquilandia Children’s Language Club (Spanish, English, French) library time, computer center, art, music & movement, gardening, cooking, outdoor play, in-house field trips, seasonal parties [All afterschool programs and enrichment activities temporarily suspended until further notice]

TUITION: $465 - $1,025

KLA ACADEMY

INFANT-GRADE 5 375 15th Rd 305.377.0391

www.klaacademy.org

CURRICULUM: Language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, technology, music, world language

SPORTS: Gymnastics, basketball, aerial acrobatics, martial arts, tennis, soccer

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Ballet, flamenco, hip-hop, band, choir, DJ and music production, musical theater, piano, violin, math

CORAL GABLES SCHOOL GUIDE

enrichment, 3D printing, coding, cooking, knitting & stitching, photography, STEM

AFTERCARE: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

EARLY MORNING CARE: 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. (for preschool only)

TUITION: $19,217-$20,614

“Fueled by each child’s innate creativity and capacity for wonder, KLA Academy employs a comprehensive strategy for learning and child development that is grounded in decades of research, science and design.”

Sam Chaltain, This Is 180 Studio

ICS CORAL GABLES PRESCHOOL

3930 S. Le Jeune Rd. 305.770.6195 icscoralgables.com

CURRICULUM: Language (English, Spanish German), gardening, cooking, arts & crafts, music, singing, physical education, creative movement, social studies

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Ballet, Karate, Spanish

TUITION: $8,000-$10,500

ST. PHILIP’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 5 1121 Andalusia Ave. 305.444.6366

www.saintphilips.net

CURRICULUM: Foreign languages (Spanish, French, Latin), music, violin, visual art, sacred studies, science, social studies, technology, engineering, math, research, internet safety, physical education

SPORTS: Soccer, basketball, karate, tennis, flag football [only during school hours until further notice]

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Art, drama, music, chess, [temporarily suspended]

AFTERCARE: 3:15-6:00 p.m. E

EARLY CARE: Starting at 7:30 a.m.

TUITION $22,820 - $26,010

“Since 1953, St. Philip’s Episcopal School has been committed to educating children intellectually, physically and spiritually in an atmosphere of acceptance and inquiry. St. Philip’s academic program builds a foundation for continuing education in a community that prizes learning for learning’s sake. Equipped with high expectations and leadership skills, graduates emerge as well-rounded scholars welcomed into the finest middle schools.”

Gabriela

Olsen, Director of Admission & Enrollment Management

RAMBAM DAY SCHOOL TEMPLE BETH AM

15 MONTHS – GRADE 5

5950 SW 88th Street

305.667.6667

www.tbam.org

CURRICULUM: Language arts, mathematics, science, Judaic studies, art, music, physical

education, social studies, science, Hebrew language, Spanish, computers, library/media, technology

SPORTS: Basketball, flag football, karate, tennis, cheerleading, soccer, gymnastics, yoga, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: ASU (After School University) which includes HipHop, musical theater, Slime Club, Fun with Animals, Ballet, Nature Club, Yoga, & Extended Day Program which includes Spanish, chess, coding, robotics, sewing/ fashion design, pottery

AFTERCARE: Until 6:00 p.m.

TUITION: $7,855 - $26,095

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARISH SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 5

5692 N. Kendall Dr. 305.665.4851

www.stepsmia.org

CURRICULUM: Language arts, math, science, creative representation, social studies, Spanish

SPORTS: Basketball, flag football, golf, taekwondo, tennis, soccer, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Art thyme ceramics, art thyme painting, ballet, flamenco, Irish dance, tap dance, choir, chess, cooking, French, piano, robotics, SSAT/ISEE test preparation, Spanish, yoga

TUITION: $21,240 - $23,390

“For nearly 70 years, families have entrusted

their children to St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School. Our differentiating ‘whole child’ approach ensures that students are challenged with high-level academics, enriched with religious formation, and supported through a social-emotional-learning curriculum that prepares them for future success and allows them to reach their potential.”

Debby Lichtner, Director of Admission & Enrollment Management

ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL– GRADE 5

3439 Main Hwy. 305.445.2606 www.sseds.org

CURRICULUM: Art, music, innovation, library, physical education, sacred studies, science, social skills, Spanish, social studies, mathematics

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Student council, Reading Buddies program, 5th grade acolytes/safety patrols, [Suspended until further notice]

AFTERCARE: 2:30-5:00 p.m. [Suspended until further notice]

TUITION: $23,500-$25,850

K-8 SCHOOLS

THE CUSHMAN SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL- GRADE 12 www.cushmanschool.org

592 NE 60th St. 3 305.757.1966

CURRICULUM: Society & Me Challenge

Seminar, design, art & technology, English, social studies, science, mathematics, world languages (Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Latin, Sign Language), fine arts, physical education, and various electives including photography, knitting and more

SPORTS: Soccer, cross country, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, tennis, track & field, baseball, softball, swimming, golf, flag football

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Visual and performing arts, STEAM, robotics, chess, painting, ballet, karate, foreign languages, and more

TUITION: $22,606-$34,176

CONCHITA ESPINOSA ACADEMY

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 8 12975 SW 6th St. 305.699.4993

www.conchitaespinosa.com

CURRICULUM: Includes art, science, dance, language, reading, music, physical education, theater

SPORTS: Soccer, track, basketball, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Performing arts, French, Amor en Accion Club, student council, honor societies

TUITION: $9,350 - $9,900

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARISH SCHOOL

THE BILTMORE SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 8 1600 Red Rd. 305.266.4666

www.biltmoreschool.com

CURRICULUM: IB Primary Program: curriculum focused on international education; Spanish

SPORTS: Flag football, baseball, soccer, teeball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Arts program, modern dance, music, drama

TUITION: $9,800 - $15,800

ROIG ACADEMY

KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 8 8000 SW 112st St. 305.235.1313 www.roigacademy.com

CURRICULUM: Centers around best practices and most current teaching methods geared towards children with dyslexia. Students are given opportunities to collaborate, share ideas, problem-solve, and think critically, while integrating technology and developing research, reporting, and documenting skills. IB Program implemented in curriculum.

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $750-$850 PER MONTH (IB PRESCHOOL); $35,525 ANNUALLY (IB DAY SCHOOL K-8)

“As the only IB school in Florida serving students with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia, The Roig academy’s mission is to challenge the status quo ideals of ‘traditional’ education and immerse our students in learning opportunities that are internationally-minded, meaningful, and supported by current evidence and pedagogy.”

Jennifer C. Roig, Head of School

FISHER ISLAND DAY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 8

2 Fisher Island Dr. 305.531.2350

www.fids.org

CURRICULUM: English, mathematics, history, world languages, science, technology, engineering, physical education

SPORTS: Volleyball, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, sailing, golf, tennis

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Robotics, choir, instruments, Art Club, chess, Hip-Hop, ballet, jewelry making, chess, odyssey of the mind (creative arts and sciences)

TUITION: $30,000-$34,000

KEY POINT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

AGE 2- GRADE 8

609 Brickell Ave. 305.755.9258

www.keypointacademybrickell.com

CURRICULUM: Mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, foreign language, physical education, art, music, Christian education, mindfulness

SPORTS: Soccer, basketball, tennis (part of an afterschool program)

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Foreign languages, art, music, physical education program (health, nutrition, safety), technology, Christian education, STEAM

AFTERCARE: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

TUITION: $18,000-$24,000

MCGLANNAN SCHOOL

GRADES 1 – 8

10770 SW 84th St. 305.274.2208

www.mcglannanschool.net

CURRICULUM: Evaluates academic criteria of mainstream schools and individualize teaching curriculum for each student based on professional testing and diagnosis. Classes tailored to students of average to superior intellect, challenged by dyslexia.

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: An additional enrichment program for grades 1 – 5 with arts and crafts, dance, broadcasting, study hall

TUITION: CALL (305) 274-2208

There’s only one Gulliver Prep in the whole world. That’s by design.

JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE EVENTS

Primary and Lower School

PK-Grade 4

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Middle School

Grades 5-8

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Upper School

Grades 9-12

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

From age three to graduation, Gulliver Prep inspires students to discover their talents and explore what’s possible. Our students create apps for the color blind, start their own companies, and learn how to identify their strengths to rocket towards success. No matter what path they choose, learning at Gulliver Prep is unparalleled.

PK-8 Admissions: 305.665.3593

9-12 Admissions: 305.666.7937

gulliverprep.org

ST. THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 8

2701 Indian Mound Trail

305.446.1738

www.stscg.org

CURRICULUM: English, reading & literature, handwriting, mathematics, science, social studies, Spanish, music, technology, art, physical education, religion

SPORTS: Soccer, basketball, cross country, track & field, baseball, volleyball, flag football, softball, golf

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Including but not limited to student council, robotics, STEM, chess

AFTERCARE: Includes homework help, snack, recreation, music, games, arts & crafts and more.

TUITION: $8,950

K – 12 SCHOOLS

BRITO MIAMI PRIVATE SCHOOL

KINDERGARTEN – GRADE 12

2732 SW 32 Ave.

305.448.1463

www.britomiamiprivate.com

CURRICULUM: English, mathematics, health/ physical education, science, social studies, world languages, social science, psychology

SPORTS: Baseball, basketball, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Dance, National Honor Society, student council, yearbook, Interact Club, journalism

TUITION: $630 PER MO. (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL)

$660 PER MO. (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

$685 PER MO. (HIGH SCHOOL)

CARROLLTON SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 12 (ALL GIRLS) 3747 Main Hwy. 305.446.5673 www.carrollton.org

CURRICULUM: Religious studies, writing, science, mathematics, world language, art, history,

SPORTS: Basketball, crew, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Includes Key Club, student council, student ambassador group and Yearbook Club

TUITION: $25,740 - $38,556

GULLIVER SCHOOLS

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 12

12595 Red Rd. (Marian C. Krutulis PK-8 Campus) 305.665.3593

6575 N. Kendall Dr. (Upper School Campus) 305.666.7937

8000 SW 56th St. (Upper School Miller Campus) 305.274.9535

www.gulliverprep.org

CURRICULUM: Signature academic programs include architecture, biomedical sciences, engineering, international business and entrepreneurship, and law and litigation, music, art, technology, world languages, physical education

SPORTS: Bowling, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, swimming, sailing, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, softball, track, water polo, tennis, weightlifting

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Gulliver Performing Arts Program, dance, music, theater, visual arts, chess, science, robotics, French, hip hop, ballet, acting, video creation, tap dance, jazz dance, Spanish, honor societies

TUITION: $19,460 - $39,830

RIVIERA SCHOOLS

PRESCHOOL – GRADE 12

6800 Nervia St. (Day School PreK-5)

305.666.1856

9775 SW 87th Ave. (Preparatory School Grades 6-12) 786.300.0300

www.rivieraschools.com

CURRICULUM: Literature, world languages, fine arts, performing arts, social science, the humanities, mathematics, and science, physical education

SPORTS: Basketball, soccer, swimming, cross country, golf, volleyball, cheerleading, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, beach volleyball, water polo

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Arts, games & culture, engineering & robotics, music & voice lessons, dance (ballet, flamenco, hip hop) yoga, karate, Zumba, science & strategy (chess, game design)

TUITION: $11,350 - $29,400

“Founded in 1950, Riviera is a fully accredited, non-sectarian, co-educational, independent day school for preschool through grade twelve. With a low student/teacher ratio, a highly qualified faculty, an advanced curriculum, a competitive athletic program, innovative STEM programs, and much more, Riviera offers students the opportunity to realize their full potential.”

Peter Cohen, School Director

RIVIERA SCHOOLS

KILLIAN OAKS ACADEMY

PREK – GRADE 12

10545 SW 97th Ave. 305.274.2221

www.killianoaksacademy.com

CURRICULUM: Traditional curriculum based on the latest educational concepts with a traditional structure of teaching

SPORTS: (All are club) volleyball, soccer, basketball, fitness club

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Homework club, tutorial sessions, instrumental club, interactive games club, science club

TUITION: $27,000 - $32,000

MIAMI COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL– GRADE 12

601 NE 107th St. 305.779.7200

www.miamicountryday.org

CURRICULUM: World history, world literature, mathematics, biology, world language (Chinese, French, Spanish), English, economics, sciences, humanities, physical education, so-

cial studies, performing and studio art, music

SPORTS: Baseball, football, water polo, lacrosse, golf, cross country, swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, tennis

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Includes drama, dance, musical, visual arts, community service, entrepreneurship, auxiliary programs, Breakthrough Miami

TUITION: $30,500 - $40,700

WESTMINSTER

PRESCHOOL – 12

6855 SW 152nd St. 305.233.2030

www.wcsmiami.org

CURRICULUM: Bible, English, fine arts, math, physical education, reading, social studies, science, art, music, history, debate

SPORTS: Cross country, golf, soccer, volleyball, football, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, baseball, softball, track & field, sailing, swimming, lacrosse, beach volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Include art club, theater, robotics, outdoors and environment club, performing arts, visual arts, high school

that inspires

peer counseling program, honor societies

AFTERCARE: 2:40-5:30 p.m. (preschool/elementary); 3:00-5:00 p.m. (middle school)

EARLY MORNING CARE: 7:30-7:55 a.m. (preschool/elementary)

TUITION: $13,000 - $25,200

MIDDLE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOLS

BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL

GRADES 6 – 12 (ALL BOYS)

500 SW 127th Ave.

305.223.8600

www.belenjesuit.org

CURRICULUM: Theology, humanities, English, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, world languages (Spanish, French, Chinese), social studies, health/physical education

SPORTS: Bowling, crew, golf, swimming & diving, cross country, football, basketball, soccer, wrestling, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Clubs including

Our award-winning program is expanding to elementary school! Now accepting applications through 3rd grade. Call to schedule a tour or visit an Open House on October 20, November 17 or January 19.

but not limited to chess, fencing, thespians, astronomy, robotics, Key Club, politics, American Sign Language, Model U.N. and Boy Scouts

TUITION: $19,400

XCEED PREPARATORY ACADEMY GRADES 6 – 12

9350 S. Dixie Hwy. Suite 160 305.901.2115

www.xceedprep.org

CURRICULUM: Xceed students have a personalized learning plan designed to meet individual goals, which includes what courses are taken, when they are taken, how many courses are taken at a time and when the student will be on campus; students move on to the next course in their plan when they are ready.

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $21,500

PALMER TRINITY

PALMER TRINITY

GRADES 6 – 12

8001 SW 184th St.

305.251.2230

www.palmertrinity.org

CURRICULUM: English, mathematics, science, history and humanities, world languages, musical arts, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, computer studies, religious studies, computer science, IB Program

SPORTS: Cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, softball, sailing, tennis, track and field

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Around 50 clubs including but not limited to chess, gaming, service clubs, student government associations, environmental club, student diversity, Model United Nations

TUITION: $38,500

“Founded in 1972, Palmer Trinity School has built its academic program on the pillars of its Episcopal identity, preparing graduates for success as they matriculate to selective colleges and universities both nationally and internationally.

Palmer Trinity offers close to 60 acres of tranquil open space that fosters the curiosity, initiative, and critical thinking of its students and provides an ideal backdrop for independent learning.”

Patrick Roberts, Head of School

FUSION ACADEMY

GRADES 6- 12

9130 S. Dadeland Blvd. Suite 102 305.831.0041

www.fusionacademy.com

CURRICULUM: Over 250 class options tailored to each student’s interests and strengths based on an interpretation of their previous transcript; taught one-on-one by qualified teachers with a customized educational plan for each individual student; courses include history, English, mathematics, wellness, lifeskills, science, engineering, art, yoga, music, and technology

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Clubs including but not limited to, student leadership, STEM, music, art, debate, Harry Potter Club, Pet Lovers, Girls’ Empowerment

TUITION: $3,660 - $4,155 PER COURSE

RANSOM EVERGLADES

GRADES 6 - 12

2045 South Bayshore Dr. (Middle School)

305.250.6850

3575 Main Hwy. (Upper School)

305.460.8800

www.ransomeverglades.org

CURRICULUM: English, history and social sciences, mathematics, computer science, science, theater & dance, instrumental music, digital art, design and publication, studio art and photography, physical education, science, world languages (Chinese, French, Portuguese, Spanish)

SPORTS: Crew, cross country, football, golf, sailing, swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track & field, water polo

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Clubs including but not limited to debate, environmental sustainability, student government, drama, poetry, Miami Venturing Entrepreneurs of RE, water patrol

TUITION: $43,420

Come tour the world of a child. See it. Believe it. Be amazed by Montessori at Alexander Montessori School. Once you understand our philosophy, learning anywhere else is unthinkable. Call 305.665.6274 to schedule your VIRTUAL TOUR at Alexander Montessori School.

Toddler (18 months) -

Elementary (5th Grade)

4 Convenient Locations

Preschool 6050 SW 57th Avenue

Toddler and Preschool 17800 Old Cutler Road

Toddler and Preschool 14400 Old Cutler Road

Elementary 14850 SW 67th Avenue

305.665.6274

school@alexandermontessori.com

www.alexandermontessori.com

When students LEAD THEIR LEARNING they become leaders in life.

HIGH SCHOOLS

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL

GRADES 9 – 12 (ALL BOYS)

3000 SW 87th Ave.

305.223.5650

www.columbushs.com

CURRICULUM: English, mathematics, theology, social studies, science, foreign language, physical education, fine arts, computer apps

SPORTS: Bowling, cross country, football, golf, swimming & diving, basketball, soccer, wrestling, baseball, lacrosse, track & field, water polo, tennis, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Over 45 clubs including Art History Club, Pre-Law Club, Yearbook Club and Investment Club

TUITION: $12,300

We work with Swiss Water® to create decaf coffee that’s 99 9% caffeine free and full of flavor Swiss Water's chemical-free decaffeination process uses nature’s elements of water, temperature, and time leaving our beans as pure as they started–organic, shade-grown arabica coffee grown by independent farmer cooperatives in Chiapas, Mexico.

Available for home delivery nationwide at RutaMayaCoffee.com.

CORAL GABLES SCHOOL GUIDE

305.667.1623

olla.org

CURRICULUM: Theology, English, mathematics, social studies, science, world language, physical education, health/life management skills, fine arts, computer science, architecture, business, digital media, engineering, SPORTS: Basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Include dance, honor societies, campus ministry, student news

TUITION: $13,225 - $13,575

IMMACULATA – LA SALLE

GRADES 9 – 12

3601 S. Miami Ave.

305.854.2334

www.ilsroyals.com

CURRICULUM: Religious education, English, mathematics, science, languages, World/US History, economics, American government, physical education, health/life management

SPORTS: Strength & conditioning, football, golf, swimming, volleyball, cheerleading, cross country, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, sailing, tennis, track, dance

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: 25 clubs including Drama Club, Improv Troupe, Speech/ Debate Team and Fishing Club

TUITION: $15,230 - $15,580

ST. BRENDAN HIGH SCHOOL

GRADES 9 – 12

2950 SW 87th Ave.

305.223.5181

www.stbrendanhigh.org

CURRICULUM: Theology, English, mathematics, science, history, foreign language, art, computer science

SPORTS: Soccer, football, cross country, swimming, basketball, cheerleading, dance, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track & field

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Clubs including Key Club, Pre-Med, coding, robotics, drama, book club and honor societies

St. Thomas!

Educating young women of courage and confidence since 1961

Showcase Dates

Montessori (Ages 3, 4, and 5) – Wednesday, October 6 at 9:00 am

Intermediate (Grades 4th - 6th) – Friday, October 15 at 9:00 am

Primary (Grades 1st - 3rd) – Monday, October 25 at 9:00 am

Junior High and Upper School (Grades 7th - 11th) – Thursday, November 11 at 9:00 am

Virtual Tour Dates For All Grades

Wednesday, November 17 at 9:00 am

Thursday, December 9 at 9:00 am

Virtual Financial Aid Information Session For All Grades

Wednesday, November 17 at 7:00 pm www.carrollton.org

HOME & GARDEN

A HIDEABLE BAR AND VERTICAL WINE RACK DESIGNED BY STUDIOBECKER

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE (A SMART ) HOME

As we continue to embrace the outside world and spend more time in public places, we’re still incredibly grateful for our private sanctuaries. Home was always synonymous with respite from the outdoors and our hectic day-to-day lives, but the word clearly took on new meaning in the last 18 months. To counteract the monotony of quarantine, many Coral Gables home-

owners tackled the projects they’d been meaning to take on for months, or even years. The result? Living spaces that evoke peace and tranquility while employing ultra-innovative technology. So, how can you employ such newfangled elements in your own home? To help you get started, here are several ideas from companies local to the Gables that are guaranteed to inspire.

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

ARTEFACTO

Brazilian home furnishings powerhouse Artefacto is always at the forefront of the latest introductions in the Miami real estate market (they just finished designing units for the oceanfront building Arte Surfside and for Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum overlooking Biscayne Bay), so it’s no surprise that the company has teamed up with some of South Florida’s preeminent names to create a property unlike any other. Artefacto’s Paulo Bacchi, along with architect Kobi Karp and builder Todd Michael Glaser will soon complete Casa Hibiscus. A sprawling 8,000-square-foot spec home that will be operated from a singular smart control system, this modern gem will also be located on one of the most prestigious streets in Miami Beach. Expect even more from their new showrooms in Coral Gables on U.S. 1 near their current digs on Ponce. Artefacto, 4440 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-774-0004, www.artefacto.com.

STUDIOBECKER

The bespoke cabinetry and architectural millwork designers at the German-born company StudioBecker are wholly adept at integrating technology into the home. “We are always trying to push boundaries, rather than following a formula,” says Frank Rosell, President of StudioBecker Florida. According to Rosell, clients are currently asking for designs that hide personal belongings and valuables, and even televisions, to make for a less cluttered and overall, more streamlined setting. In the residence shown, for example, the extra-long island is home to an “appliance garage,” which allows easy access to an array of items that would otherwise be taking up prized real estate on the countertop. With the tap of an app or the push of a hidden button, the appliances are lowered into the countertop in a space that is normally completely underutilized. Another variation is on the cover of this section, showing a liquor bar emerging from a cabinet in front of wine racks; it returns to its hidden space on command. StudioBecker, 4216 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 305-514-0400, www.studiobecker.com.

SNAIDERO USA

With a flagship showroom in the heart of Coral Gables, Snaidero USA offers ultra-modern luxury cabinetry that is proudly made in Italy. While any of the California-based company’s designs would immediately up the ante in any home, the H01 Elegante Bespoke kitchen is one of our favorites. It’s made from Heartwood, which is exceedingly durable, and the ceramic material Laminam, creating an evolution in kitchen cabinetry. The combination offers supreme resistance to everyday stains and bacteria growth, which is more important than ever. Beyond the cleanliness that this kitchen offers, it’s compatible with the latest appliances and accessories, and is equipped with LED lights, soft closure doors, and Legrabox glass drawers. Snaidero, 4110 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 786662-3850, www.snaidero-usa.com.

THE H01 ELEGANTE BESPOKE KITCHEN DESIGNED BY SNAIDERO USA

Green Gables

IN THE GARDEN OF SALLYE JUDE, THE GABLES’ PATRON SAINT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION

BY GINA LEE GUILFORD

The first thing you notice upon entering Sallye Jude’s Coral Gables’ garden are the bricks. They are well-worn, creviced, in varying hues of terra cotta. “These bricks were from the first high school in Miami –Miami Senior High,” says Jude. “They were just going to throw them away.”

True to her historic preservation roots, Jude (who was instrumental in saving Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s house in Coconut Grove, restored and ran the 1910 Miami River Inn, and served on the Gables’ Historic Preservation Board) couldn’t bear to see such historic treasure relegated to trash.

When Jude first moved to Coral Gables from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1964, she arrived with her husband, Dr. James Jude and their seven children. They purchased the stunning, Indonesian-inspired Java Head house, formerly owned by a jet-setting culinary author and his heiress wife. The sprawling Java Head grounds on the Coral Gables Waterway had three acres to landscape. Having inherited

a love of gardening from her mother, Jude planted species she was familiar with, like zinnias and snapdragons and English roses, only to watch them die.

To educate herself on the correct flora for our climate, Jude visited Fairchild Tropical Garden. This led her to join the Tropical Fern and Exotic Plant Society, the Palm Society and the Tropical Flowering Tree Society. She traveled with these groups on field trips to places like Jamaica and Australia, studying the greenery of the islands.

In 1983, Jude joined the Coral Gables Garden Club and has held every position but President. “I started as Vice President,” she says. “But I didn’t take the Presidency because I still had children in different sports and activities at the time.”

Jude first became interested in the environment by observing the effect landscaping had on her Java Head home. “If you plant trees on the west side, you avert

TOP LEFT: SALLYE JUDE, A PRESERVATIONSIST WITH A HISTORY OF SAVING HISTORIC HOMES.

ABOVE: TRELLIS COVERED PATIO WITH BRICK PAVING. SAYS SALLYE JUDE, “THESE BRICKS WERE FROM THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL IN MIAMI – MIAMI SENIOR HIGH. THEY WERE JUST GOING TO THROW THEM AWAY.”

the sun and keep the house cooler,” she explains. “Grass doesn’t give many benefits to the environment, but trees do. Today we would need to plant one trillion trees to avert Global Warming. That seems like a lot,” she admits, “but if everyone planted one tree, we could make a difference.”

Never one to back down from impossible challenges, Jude put her money where her mouth was by donating $1,500 to the American Forests organization last year, in honor of her beloved Coral Gables Garden Club. In reciprocation for this donation, an acre of trees will be planted.

In 2013, after 49 years at Java Head, Jude downsized to her present home in the charming Normandy Village (off Le Jeune Road between Alesio and Viscaya avenues). In keeping with her concern for the environment, her home has sustainable bamboo flooring and is equipped with solar panels

The house is the only one in the village with a yard, but it was largely bare when she moved in. She transported dozens of

plants from her collection at Java Head, mostly those in containers. “I have a fern I brought with me that’s 25 years old,” Jude says. Some plants were put in the ground (she brought in soil), others left in pots, and some hung in containers around the pool, forming a shower of greenery. All are watered by a sprinkler system Jude installed.

Jude’s especially fond of variegated plants, with their contrasting hues creating whimsical eye candy for visitors. Look up and you’ll see a spectacular Jade Vine dripping over the trellis overhead. The almost luminescent, pale turquoise claw-like flowers hang down in a cluster. Considered an endangered species, it’s native to the Philippines.

A black pebbled path leads further into the garden, revealing an abundance of unusual philodendrons, palms, crotons, ferns, bromeliads, heliconia, gingers, orchids and flowering trees and bushes. “It’s not a garden that has a row of this and a row of that,” explains Jude. “It’s all individual.” Much like Sallye Jude herself. ■

TOP: PLANTS HUNG IN CONTAINERS AND PLANTED IN THE GROUND DECORATE THE PERIMETER OF THE POOL AREA.

ABOVE: THE JADE VINE, A TROPICAL PLANT THAT ENJOYS THE WARM HUMID CONDITIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA, BLOOMS IN SUMMER AND PRODUCES VIVID TURQUOISE FLOWERS.

Selections of Cuban Modern and Contemporary Protest Art

A group show of fteen artworks which comes at a time of historic mass demonstrations on the island. Including paintings and sculpture by:

Antonia Eiriz (1929–1995)

Tania Bruguera (b. 1968)

Pedro Pablo Oliva (b. 1949)

Tomás Esson (b. 1963)

Juan Roberto Diago (b. 1971) and Dayron González (b. 1982)

Now open to the public. Photos of the exhibit and information on the works can also be found at our website.

Concurrently on exhibition, Vicente Hernández (b. 1971): Art as Protest, Protest as Art

TANIA BRUGUERA

Displacement (Destierro), 1998-2003

sculptural suit, Cuban mud and nails 78 x 32 x 24 inches

Buying a Luxury Condo in Coral Gables

In Coral Gables, where home prices are spiking, condominiums are the flavor of season. For homes under $2 million, there are now almost four times as many condos for sale in the Gables as houses. While that ratio reverses when it comes to homes for more than $2 million, the trend is the same. “With fewer single-family homes available, it gives [homeowners] an opportuni-

ty to cash out on a house they have been in for 20 or 30 years,” says Eduardo Pruna, ONE Sotheby’s regional sales director for Coral Gables. “So, they are looking at condos.” Pruna says that condo sales in the city have doubled from the first quarter this year. We asked three realtors to submit one of their luxury condos (townhouses included) for sale in the Gables.

At the Biltmore

1228 ANASTASIA AVE.

Listing Price $2.65m

4 bed/4 bath. 2,720 sq. ft.

This penthouse unit offers direct views of the Biltmore golf course, with a private elevator, three balconies, and a covered terrace with an outdoor kitchen. There are three covered parking spaces in the garage. The classic architecture is complemented by contemporary interiors and an Italian Veneta Cucina kitchen with Wolf/Sub Zero appliances. Listing Agent: Terre Shelton Berance (Shelton and Stewart Realtors) 305.607.7212

Listing Price

Near the Venetian Pool

733

ALMERIA AVE.

4 bed/4 bath/1 half bath. 4,258 sq. ft. Located on a quiet, tree-lined street near the Venetian Pool, the townhomes of Althea Row are architectural masterworks. With open floor plans, private gardens, an interior courtyard and multiple balconies, they provide 7,000 square feet of total space. The elegance is enhanced by high ceilings, French glass doors, and skylights. Listing Agent: Anniella Tabraue (BHHS/EWM Realty) 305.302.2441

$4.1m

Listing Price

$4.3m

On the Urban Edge

515 VALENCIA AVE.

#1102

4 bed/4 bath/1 half bath. 3,553 sq. ft. Villa Valencia is one block from the edge of the urban core of Coral Gables, perfectly situated for a walkable lifestyle. The building has 13 stories and is the latest condominium tower in the Gables. It is replete with the latest technologies, including filtered air, filtered water, circadian lighting cycles and high-end appliances. Listing Agent: Dennis Carvajal (ONE Sotheby’s International Realty), 786.255.3334

Althea Row & ‘Best Of’ Celebration

In a combined event, the staff of Coral Gables Magazine, the staff of MG Developer and more than 200 guests celebrated the completion of the Althea Row townhouses on Almeria Avenue – and the magazine’s annual “Best of Coral Gables” issue. Among those who attended were Mayor Vince Lago, City Commissioners Rhonda Anderson and Jorge Fors, MG Developer CEO Alirio Torrealba, Coral Gables Chamber CEO and president Mark Trowbridge, Coral Gables Community Foundation CEO and president Mary Snow, Director of Economic Development Julian Perez, Ron Shuffield and Patrick O’Connell of BHHS/EWM Realty, former mayor Don Slesnick, builder Venny Torre, architect Maria de la Guardia, MG COO Jenny Ducret, Publisher Richard Roffman, and Editor J.P. Faber. One special guest was artist Carlos Garcia-Barbon, who had been commissioned to paint the image of city founder George Merrick for the cover of the “Best Of” issue. At the late July event, he signed covers of the magazine for guests. Althea Row was named after George Merrick’s mother.

(1) JENNY DUCRET, MARIA DE LA GUARDIA, JORGE FORS, RHONDA ANDERSON, ALIRIO TORREALBA, VINCE LAGO, RICHARD ROFFMAN.

(2) RHONDA ANDERSON, J.P. FABER, PATRICK O’CONNELL, DON SLESNICK, VINCE LAGO, ALIRIO TORREALBA, VENNY TORRE, MARIA DE LA GUARDIA, RICHARD ROFFMAN, JULIAN PEREZ, MARY SNOW, MARK TROWBRIDGE, RON SHUFFIELD

(3) PATRICK O’CONNELL AND MARK TROWBRIDGE

(4) COMMISSIONER RHONDA ANDERSON, MG DEVELOPER CEO ALIRIO TORREALBA AND MAYOR VINCE LAGO

(5) ARTIST CARLOS GARCIA-BARBON

Mamma Mia!

BY ANDREW GAYLE

With so many top Italian restaurants already in the Gables –think Zucca, PortoSole, Fiola, Abbracci, and Fontana – you would imagine there’s nothing new to put on the table of the Italian palate. But Chef Adrianne Calvo has managed to do just that with her latest triumph, Forte by Chef Adrianne. It is a shrine to her concept of bold flavors, and she achieves that with classic dishes that are pumped up.

Her mortadella wagyu meatballs in red sauce have a dramatic punch to their flavor, partly because of the quality of the beef but also because the tomato sauce is enhanced by stracciatella and truffle oil. Her egg pasta spaghetti carbonara is a stunning, muscular dish that forgoes creaminess for a robust flavor of al dente hand-made pasta with a cooked egg yoke waiting to burst and mingle the flavors of guanciale (cured pig cheek from central Italy), cheese, etc.

Our waiter recommended the braised shot rib pappardelle, which was on the same par as the carbonara – amazingly flavorful, with a tangy grittiness from garlic bread crumbs that gave each bite a texture to balance the soft rib meat, which had been cooked for 24 hours. Further evidence of Chef Adrianne’s culinary spin on classic Italian dishes is her Tuscan white bean soup with crispy kale and parmesan. It’s the only soup on the menu and it is sublime. It may be the best Italian white bean soup we have ever tasted, a perfect blend of deep flavors and textures, robust yet smooth, with just the right amounts of beans, onions, garlic, carrots and all the other ingredients of Tuscan soup.

Forte’s menu also includes a nice raw bar selection, no doubt enhanced by Chef Adrianne’s dalliance with seafood at her Red Fish Grill, which includes a fantastic salmon carpaccio prepared with cucumber relish and orange zest olive oil. There is also a traditional array of antipasto meats and cheeses, but we like the fact that she includes a burrata bar and a choice of three pizzas, two of which are drizzled with hot honey. Forte’s “But Wait, There’s More” selection includes their meat, fish and game selections. They rave about their pork chop scallopini; we tried instead the braised lamb shank with polenta, spinach and sweet cipollini onions. Delightfully tender, unlike most shanks one encounters.

We also like the fact that Chef Adrianne is the first female chef

ABOVE: CHEF ADRIANNE CALVO TASTE TESTS THE FLAVORS OF HER NEW ITALIAN EATERY

TOP LEFT: TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP

OPPOSITE TOP: MORTADELLA WAGYU MEATBALLS

OPPOSITE BOTTOM: BRAISED LAMB SHANK WITH POLENTA AND CIPOLLINI ONIONS

OPPOSITE RIGHT: BRAISED SHORT RIB PAPPARDELLE PASTA

FORTE BY CHEF ADRIANNE 45 MIRACLE MILE 305.571.6181 FORTEMIAMI.COM

CHEF ADRIANNE KEEPS HER EDGE WITH THE NEW FORTE RESTAURANT

in the Gables at a top Italian restaurant. She is conscious of that herself, titling the restaurant after her mother’s maiden name.

The interior of Forte’s, which reputedly cost the Barreto Hospitality Group some $1 million to refurbish, is done with great style and taste. There is a main room with an enormous ceiling and a large wraparound bar, with walls of brick and a glassed-in wine cellar. We love a good restaurant with a bar where you can order food and eat while you drink; theirs is a large rectangle done in white marble and wood. There is also a long section with a lower ceiling and a row of brick alcoves on each side, with arches like the gun emplacements of old brick forts in Key West. These create a series of intimate spaces that feed onto the warmth of an open kitchen.

Above the bar is a quadrangle of large TV screens, which show a continuous loop of the television show, “Searching for Maximum Flavor

Live” with Chef Adrianne, featuring her touring the globe ala Anthony Bourdain, tasting foreign cuisines. At first it seems a little presumptuous, but as you dine you come to appreciate her bag of bold tastes.

All of this toothsome food does not come cheaply, however. Like Red Fish, which is among the most expensive restaurants in the Gables, Forte pushes the price points. Their Bolognese pasta, for example, is priced at $32. The Bolognese dinner pasta at Café Abbracci is priced at $22.50, at Zucca at $19, at PortoSole at $16. Entrees that are in their $30s elsewhere are in their $40s here. And don’t get me started on their $72 Veal Chop Florentine, or the insanely priced 48-oz. Niman Ranch Tomahawk ($185).

Nonetheless, would we go back for the $10 Tuscan soup, the $20 meatballs, or the $32 Spaghetti alla Chitarra Carbonara? Yes. How could we help ourselves? They are really that good. ■

THE TOP 50

2021

OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS

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

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

$$ .......... $25-$40 $$$ ........ $35-$75 $$$$ ...... $70-$100+

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

AMERICAN

Bachour

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

Cheesecake Factory

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

Doc B’s

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

Public Square

This popular re-configuration of the former Shula’s steakhouse still serves great steaks, but with lots of other options (seafood,

pasta, sushi, salads) and plentiful outdoor seating on Red Road and San Ignacio Ave. $$$ 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661

Seasons 52

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

The Globe

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

Titanic Restaurant and Brewery

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

Yard House

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

ASIAN

Canton Chinese

The only sit-down Chinese

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

Izakaya

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

Kao Sushi & Grill

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

Khaosan Road

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

Malakor Thai Isaan

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

Miss Saigon

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

FONTANA

BACHOUR

Talk about a change of scenery.

Between the calm, clear water, warm sunshine, laid-back attitude and countless activities including world-class fishing, diving, boating, dolphin encounters, art galleries and waterfront dining, The Florida Keys & Key West will take you to a place you’ve never been before –in more ways than one.

fla-keys.com 1.800.fla.keys

Moon Thai

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

FRENCH

Brasserie Central

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

Chocolate Fashion

This tiny but delightful French bakery café on Valencia now has a handful of tables outside, spreading into the parking spaces street-side. Great for breakfast and lunch; excellent baked goods. $$ 248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200.

Gustave

Still relatively new to the Gables dining scene, this part bakery/ part Parisian café serves wonderful classic French food (along with the best baguette you can buy in the city) for reasonable prices. The new brunch hotspot, under tents on the Mile. $$ 366 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5675

Stephanie’s Crepes

Adorable eatery with a couple of street side tables under a shade tree, Stephanie’s serves inventive and delicious crepes, from scrambled organic eggs & bacon crêpes, to vegetarian crêpes like brie-apple-walnut. $-$$ 2423 Galiano St. 786.636.8939

ITALIAN

Bugatti

Known for its pasta (it started as a pasta factory before it became a restaurant), Bugatti now has outdoor seating, including next door at the historic Fink house courtyard. $$$ 2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.2545

Caffe Abbracci

Nino Pernetti’s superb Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and

an evening gathering place for families and couples. Now it has a dozen tables on Aragon for outdoor dining. $$$ 318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

Fiola

This upscale Italian restaurant offers intimate al fresco dining with tables tucked away on the side of the building facing San Ignacio Avenue or street-side under a tent. Expensive but brilliant cuisine. $$$$ 1500 San Ignacio Avenue 305.912.2639

Fontana

The setting is as elegant as it comes: The Biltmore’s famed fountain courtyard. You can sit under the stars in a covered archway to enjoy classic Italian dishes. $$$. 1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200

Portosole

Wonderfully friendly, with open walls and sidewalk tables, this latest entry in the battle for Italian food lovers in downtown Gables serves superb northern Italian food. Great branzino, excellent pasta. 2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd. $$$ 786.359.4275

Salumeria 104

You can sit underneath the alcove overhang or right on the street to enjoy the best shaved Italian meats in town. And don’t miss pasta Monday! $-$$ 117 Miracle Mile 305.640.5547

Terre del Sapore

We love eating here (seriously, they have the best pizza in the downtown), and their small outdoor seating on Giralda west of Ponce has expanded – as has their menu. $$ 246 Giralda Ave. 786.870.5955

Villagio

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

LATIN & SOUTH AMERICAN

Aromas Del Peru

There is more to Peruvian cuisine

than ceviche, and Aromas Del Peru is the place to discover that. Lots of grilled fish, various stews with white beans, beef, or shredded chicken, creamy shrimp chowder or bouillabaisse Peruvian style. $$ 1930 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.476.5885

Buenos Aires Bistro

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

Caja Caliente

Prior to COVID, Caja didn’t have any tables outside. Now they have tons of tables (all six feet apart, of course) on the sidewalk on Ponce. Great place to enjoy the lechon tacos, voted the best in the state of Florida. $ 808 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.431.1947

Divino Ceviche

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

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

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

MEDITERRANEAN

Sawa Restaurant & Lounge

Sawa has some of the prettiest outdoor seating at the Shops at Merrick Park, with a reflecting pool, greenery and umbrellas – along with Sawa’s parallel Lebanese-Japanese menu. Daily

VILLAGIO

BUENOS AIRES BISTRO

fresh hummus and inventive rolls. $$-$$$ 360 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.6555

Tur Kitchen

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

SEAFOOD

Gringo’s Oyster Bar

A shrine for fresh seafood with the tastiest oysters you will find anywhere (as they should be at $3 each). Also, great lobster rolls. Seating in an alleyway on the side of the restaurant with overhead fans, plus out front. $$ - $$$ 1549 Sunset Dr. 305.284.9989.

Mesa Mar Seafood Table

Is this the best seafood place in the Gables? Their customers think so, with super fresh local fish that is heightened by a delicious,

inventive overlay of oriental and Latin flavors. Tables are under umbrellas along Giralda. $$$ 264 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448.

Redfish by Chef Adrianne

The only waterfront restaurant in the Gables, Redfish was reborn last year after being closed for years from hurricane damage. With the addition of Chef Adrianne, the menu presents a stellar display of gourmet seafood. $$$$ 9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788

Sea Grill

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

SPANISH

Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant

Their new al fresco seating on Miracle Mile is the perfect way to enjoy their very authentic Spanish food (including the world’s best

cured ham). $$$ 339 Miracle Mile 786.502.4684

Bulla Gastrobar

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

La Taberna Giralda

Only a few tables out front on the sidewalk, but a spacious, lovely courtyard out back. From tapas to paella, great Spanish food and wine, and amazing lunch specials. $$ 254 Giralda Ave. 786.362.5677

Tapeo Eatery & Bar

The former home to the only Basque cuisine in the Gables, Tapeo has morphed into a popular tapas bar with tastes from

GRINGO’S OYSTER BAR

Is LIVE Again in Coral Gables!

SEPTEMBER 2021 CONCERTS

CLASSICAL

Saturday, September 11, 7:30 p.m.

Frost School of Music & Chopin Foundation of the U.S. Presents

Avery Gagliano

All Chopin Recital

The 20 year-old winner of the 2020 National Chopin Competition Grand Prize will amaze you with her sensitivity, depth and expression.

Sunday, September 12, 4:00 p.m.

Enigma

Frost Wind Ensemble

Robert Carnochan, conductor

Featuring the music of Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Fanfare: Reminiscence and Celebration; and the world premiere of Frost composition professor Charles Norman Mason’s Tear in 2020

Wednesday, September 15, 7:30 p.m.

Christian McBride

Seven-time GRAMMY®-winning guest bassist

Frost Concert Jazz Band

& Frost Studio Jazz Band

Monday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.

At the Ballet

Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella

Aaron Tindall, director

Tubist Aaron Tindall lights up the stage performing the music from two ballet masterpieces: Suite No.1 from Romeo and Juliet and selections from Cinderella – by composer Sergei Prokofiev.

Saturday, September 25, 2021, 7:30 p.m.

Brahms’ Symphony No. 3

Frost Symphony Orchestra

Maestro Gerard Schwarz, conductor Featuring Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, Stravinsky’s The Song of the Nightingale, and Brahms’ romantic masterpiece, Symphony No. 3, closes the evening.

JAZZ

Friday, September 24, 7:30 p.m.

Pre-concert talk, 6:30 p.m. The Musical Legacy of Melton Mustafa with Frost Studio Jazz Band

John Daversa, multi-GRAMMY®winner, director Etienne Charles, Guggenheim Fellow, director

Featuring brilliant compositions and arrangements by winning bass virtuoso, producer and historian, Christian McBride, who has been called a force of nature.

Melton Mustafa Jr., GRAMMY®-nominee, guest saxophonist Jesse Jones Jr., South Florida

Jazz Hall of Famer guest saxophonist

Etienne Charles, Guggenheim Fellow, director

Melton Mustafa was a pillar of our musical community. Join us as we celebrate his legacy. Featuring the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Woody Herman.

All concerts take place at Gusman Hall on the University of Miami Campus (50% theatre capacity - following CDC Covid Guidelines. Masks Required Indoors.)

Pre-Registration & Purchase Required. For a complete listing of all upcoming concerts www.FrostMusicLive.com | 305.284.2400

Melton Mustafa Jr. Jesse Jones Jr.

Photo by Anna Webber

across Spain. Lots of seating outside. $-$$ 112 Giralda Ave. 786.452.9902

STEAK

Morton’s the Steakhouse

Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnade gives it a unique elegance with outdoor seating under the arches. Prime aged beef, excellent salads. $$$ 2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.442.1662

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

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

Perry’s Steakhouse

In the battle for the hearts of steak lovers, Perry’s also brings it with the world’s biggest pork chop and surprisingly good salad entrees. Lots of outdoor seating at the

Shops at Merrick Park. $$$$ 4251 Salzedo St. 786.703.9094

MISCELLANEOUS

Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen

Yes, it’s largely Australian pub food – salmon Rangoon, chicken skewers, meat pies, fish & chips –but the setting is spectacular and the beer unbeatable at this newest hot spot. $$ 65 Alhambra Plaza. 786.452.0935

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

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

Mamey

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

Hotel, 1350 S. Dixie Highway. 305.266.2639

Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market

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

Sasha’s

One of the best places to eat outside is the pleasant and hidden courtyard of Sasha’s Café, located down a walkway behind Fleming’s on Ponce. Here you will find luncheon sandwiches and plates that are decidedly gourmet yet reasonably priced at $9-$11. $ 2525 Ponce de Leon. 305.569.1300

FRITZ AND FRANZ BIERHAUS

Wonder Woman

This photo was taken on the Granada Golf Course by resident Federico Carpio of his daughter, Taylor Grace. It was originally submitted earlier this year for the Coral Gables Garden Club “As I See It” photo contest. We were taken by the charm of the photo, especially its full title: “Wonder Woman: She has no idea of the world we are currently in, but she saves me.”