Coral Gables Magazine September 2020

Coral Gables | 6875 Sunrise Drive

$12,300,000 | 5 BR, 5.5 BA | Web# A10810202

Pietro Belmonte M 305.335.1981

Coral Gables | 12891 Deva Street

$5,000,000 | 5 BR, 4.5 BA | Web# A10682839

Roberto Tercero M 305.343.4383, Anthony Martinez M 786.863.4011

Coconut Grove | 4100 Kiaora Street

$9,950,000 | 6 BR, 7.5 BA | Web# A10903595

Michael Light M 786.566.1700, Jaimee Light M 786.512.9130

Coral Gables | 4730 University Drive

$2,950,000 | 6 BR, 6.5 BA | Web# A10896839

Miltiadis Kastanis M 305.298.8511, James Hait M 845.464.3069

elliman.com

FALL FASHION

Fashion powerhouses Silvia Tcherassi and Filomena Fernandez are turning to ready to wear during COVID-19. Both Tcherassi and Fernandez have adapted their businesses in response to the pandemic, which not only evaporated demand for custom couture, but initially ended walk-in business.

SCHOOL GUIDE

If 2020 was the year that education and the school systems were disrupted, 2021 is the year when everything promises to stabilize. We look at the leading private schools in the Miami area, not in terms of their COVID preparations, but in terms of the academic merit that made them leading schools in the first place.

HOME & GARDEN

José Valdés-Fauli began collecting art when he was 19-yearsold, he says, “because my parents were collectors and I sort of inherited that from them.” Today his collection occupies nearly every square inch of his 1927 home on Alhambra Circle. PLUS:

MOSAIC POOLS

TOUCHLESS APPLIANCES

VERTICAL HERB GARDEN

WOOD FLOORING

Honors Our Everyday Heroes. Serving our Seniors Through the Toughest of Times.

The Palace

We thank the wonderful doctors & nurses who work tirelessly to fight COVID-19 in the hospitals and clinics nationwide. But right here at home, we want to honor the selfless PALACE HEROES who are working 24/7 to fight an invisible enemy and keep our residents safe, secure and engaged.

When extraordinary events come along — like pandemics and hurricanes — that would overwhelm any family, you have the relief of knowing The Palace and our extraordinary team of Heroes are built to handle it. Our facilities are state-of-theart, and our Heroes are certified and trained to provide everything our residents need, strictly adhering to all COVID-19 safety and mitigation protocols, so you have peace of mind, knowing your loved one is in the best of hands. For everyone thinking about Senior Living in times like these, we sincerely suggest you consider The Palace. Call us at 305-445-7444 or visit us online at www.PalaceCoralGables.com.

Silvia Tcherassi at her Coral Gables store in the Shops at Merrick Park

Photograph by Jon Braeley

CEO & PUBLISHER

Think Local, Shop Local

For anyone who thinks fondly of main street – that place in the American imagination where the shops and restaurants of a town cluster together to form the core of a community – the elimination of independent retailers across this country by the pandemic is heartbreaking. It is also happening here in Florida, where thousands upon thousands of small businesses have already closed forever, and it is happening here in Coral Gables.

In our downtown the damage is visible, with places like Ortanique, Miller’s Ale House, Navarro Pharmacy, Patagonia, Red Koi, John Martin’s Irish Pub, Conde Contemporary, California Pizza Kitchen and the Open Stage Club all closed forever, though some of these places were already on their way out before the virus.

It’s no mystery that small, independent retailers have been under attack for years. First it was the mega box retailers like Walmart, which became the world’s largest corporation by underselling small town vendors and laying waste to main streets everywhere. Then came Amazon, which is now the world’s largest corporation, outselling not only the small businesses, but even the big box retailers who displaced them.

What is to be done?

The answer is simple. You have to go out and vote for small town Coral Gables with

your wallet. If you want the community of our downtown to survive, and to provide us with a charming, diverse landscape of individually owned enterprises – small, unique retailers who bring a quirky diversity that can’t be duplicated by the sameness of national brands – then you have to shop locally. Yes, we all know how easy it is to order online. Fine. Then order online from a local retailer. Most have that capacity. You don’t have to give everything to Jeff Bezos. But once in a while, just every so often, don that mask and visit your local retailers in person. Maybe do what people used to do: Walk the streets, come across places by random, explore – and get some fresh air and exercise at the same time. It won’t be the worst way to spend part of your day, and it will make a huge difference toward preserving what Coral Gables has always been – a world class city with a small-town feel. And the merchants, with assistance from the Business Improvement District, are making sure everything is sanitized and safe, with extra masks for those with naked faces. Now, go out and buy something. It’s the civic minded thing to do.

J.P.FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P.Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Toni Kirkland

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lizzie Wilcox

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Grace Carricarte

SENIOR WRITER

Mike Clary

WRITERS

James Broida

Katrina Daniels

Andrew Gayle

Mallory Evans Jacobson

Kylie Wang

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Campina

Jonathan Dann

Emily Fakhoury

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

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

IT’S TIME TO HELP SAVE YOUR CITY

READERS LETTERS

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

LOCAL WARRIORS

When I moved to Florida 13 years ago, I became intricately involved with Coral Gables. I worked here, I shopped here, I dined here and I supported the terrific cultural institutions the city has to offer. I knew that I was lucky to have all that Coral Gables had to offer right there at my fingertips.

Fast forward to 2020. I still feel lucky. Coral Gables is still offering its residents and visitors the amenities that attracted us here in the first place. But, and this is the BIG but, we all need to step-up and step-out and support our local businesses NOW. The present environment is extremely difficult, and every effort we make to shop at local stores will make our community and our city stronger.

I know you are aware that our local business owners will go the extra mile for you. They are carefully following all COVID-19 safety requirements, regularly sanitizing the workspaces, the counters and the door handles. And once you are in the store, they will recommend the right book, make you that special oneof-a kind dress, offer a tasting of their freshly made specialty, guide you through your fitness program, cater your family event and select the perfect toy for the birthday child.

So, rather than “going” to retail websites

or big box stores, make the choice to shop at locally-owned stores and tell your friends about them. You can also help to promote their business by sharing and liking their social media account; or you can post on your own account. And if that’s not for you, then consider purchasing a gift or gift card at a store, for a friend, family member or coworker. You will be introducing the vendor to someone new and allow for the “shop local” mantra to spread. So, support the programs from our Coral Gables arts and cultural institutions, and check out our local businesses. They have been here for us, now we need to be here for them.

Aura Reinhardt Executive Director, Business Improvement District of Coral Gables

THANKS FOR THE CONNECTIVITY

Kudos for keeping the Coral Gables Magazine so relevant to our community, especially in the time of COVID-19. It allows us to feel a sense of connection to the people in our beautiful city even though social and business life has changed so much. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness and may all your readers stay safe and well.

Virginia Miller

ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries

KNOW THE LEADERS OF YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM

Among the least understood public officials are the members of the Miami-Dade School Board. These are individuals who offer themselves for leadership roles in our public school district, but whose background and philosophies are known to so few.

Much is at stake for the future of the 345,000 students that comprise the MiamiDade school system, and the 40,000 employees who make up the heart and soul of our elementary and secondary educational programs. Our nation is caught up in a critical moment of moral introspection, racial conflict, the coronavirus pandemic challenge and policy debate.

We recently were given the opportunity as voters to choose new members of the school board. What was heartening was that a contingent of well-qualified candidates offered to serve in this public office, the importance of which is often lost among higher-profile political battles.

It may be considered trite that every informed opinion makes a huge difference, but nothing could be truer. You should get to know who your board members are, and to let them know what is important to you, and to our children.

Jeannett Slesnick Broker, Slesnick and Jochem, LLP

Streetwise

FROM CITY HALL

COMINGS & GOINGS

THE SAVING OF MACFARLANE? THE ORCHID THIEF

MASKING OUR SUPERHEROES THE WAY WE WERE THE GREAT TRASH DEBACLE NEWS & NOTES

THE GREAT TRASH DEBACLE: CAN CORAL GABLES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PREMIUM RESIDENTIAL TRASH COLLECTION? PAGE 22

From City Hall

Over the summer, the city commission met only once per month instead of twice monthly. During those sultry months, it approved the following:

SELLING THE HOME it purchased for the head of the Southern Command at 3501 Granada Blvd., since he no longer lives here. Proceeds will be used to finish the restoration of the historic Fink house.

$300,000 TO TEST THE WATER quality of the Coral Gables Waterway over the next two to three years. “Our aquatic environment contributes to our way of life and our economy,” noted city sustainability officer Matt Anderson.

A COMMITMENT OF $7 MILLION for completing the Coral Gables section of the Underline, from fees levied on adjacent developments, in legislation sponsored by Vice Mayor Vince Lago.

A $250,000 GRANT FOR THE installation of “Constellations” by artist Kiki Smith overhead on Giralda Plaza, to be installed in January as part of Art Basel and Miami Art Week.

TO ACCEPT $250,000 FROM the City of Miami to restore the Gables section of Commodore Trail, which starts at the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami and runs along the Coral Gables Waterway to the Cocoplum Circle.

APPROVAL OF A MASSIVE, bronze $698,000 bench by renowned artist Michele Oka Donner in the courtyard of the new Gables Plaza project on Ponce de Leon, to be paid for by the Agave developers as their contribution to art in public places. ■

Comings & Goings

When COVID-19 forced the shutdown of retail and offices in Coral Gables, there were dire predictions of the havoc it would wreak. Some pundits forecast the loss of between 25 and 50 percent of all restaurants and stores. Office space would likewise shrivel as employees worked from home. Not all of that destruction has taken place, though much damage has been done. And the good news is that numerous businesses are planning to start up or expand, especially as the pandemic wanes. “There is some bad news, and that is sad, because we feel a personal connection to our businesses,” says Francesca Valdes, the city’s retail strategist. “But I have to say there is a healthy interest in the Gables, even in the Open Stage space and the Ortanique space.”

Valdes is referring to the closing of Ortanique on the Mile, the famed shrine to Caribbean cuisine adjacent to the Miracle Theatre, which chef/ owner Cindy Hutson closed after a 20-year run. Likewise,

Open Stage Club, one of the city’s few venues for music, never reopened after the city lockdown in March. Also closing forever are Shula’s 347 Grill, Miller’s Ale House, Patagonia, California Pizza Kitchen, Navarro Pharmacy, Pier 1 and John Martin’s Irish Pub, though the latter was going to close anyway with the retirement of its owners. On the bright side, a number of new places opened during the pandemic, with others slated to arrive in coming months. Among eateries opening in the past few months are Portosole, Redfish, Merrick Pizza, La Glace and Mamey (which was written up in the New York Times); at least 10 more restaurants are slated to open this fall. And among new businesses, the THēsis Hotel opened on U.S. 1 and the Forum flex workspace opened on Alhambra; six new storefront businesses are also in line to open, and several firms – including Bank United and insurance broker McGriff –announced plans to move to the downtown. ■

AS THE PANDEMIC RAGES, THE FACE OF THE GABLES IS CHANGING

THE GLASS HALF FULL: CHEF NIVEN PATEL OF MAMEY, WHO REFUSED TO LET THE PANDEMIC STOP HIS OPENING

The Saving of MacFarlane?

A GABLES HISTORIC BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD IS RECOGNIZED

BY J.P. FABER

PHOTO BY VICKI M. CERDA

It was 1925, and Flora MacFarlane – the area’s first female homesteader – sold 19.61 acres to Coral Gables founder George Merrick’s development firm. The area was later annexed to the city as the MacFarlane Homestead Subdivision.

Today there are fewer than 32 homes left in the district, many of them being lost to neglect and developers. So, Gables historic activist Karelia Carbonell brought the area to the attention of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, which included it in its 2020 “Florida’s 11 to Save,” a list of the most threatened historic properties in the state.

The MacFarlane subdivision had received attention previously. The city designated it a historic area in 1989, and in 1994 it received national historic designation. Earlier this year, Sanctuary of the Arts – a Gables-based nonprofit co-founded by preservationist and arts patron Mike Eidson – bought the district’s St. Mary First Missionary Baptist Church to convert

The Orchid Thief

IN A STORY THAT MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES, A GABLES ORCHID THIEF IS NABBED

BY MIKE CLARY

into a performing arts space.

The current focus on the area, bounded by U.S. 1, Oak Avenue, Brooker Street and Grand Avenue, is important for several reasons, say local preservationists. “This is where the Bahamian laborers first moved to when they came here to work,” says Carbonell, president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables. “Merrick credits them with helping him build Coral Gables because they were artisans who knew how to work with the local materials, like the coral rock.” Many years later, Merrick would honor these black Bahamians in a series of stories he entitled “Men of the Magical Isles.”

The area has survived as a neighborhood of black families, some still living in the original homes built by parents or relatives who settled in the area in the late 1800s, says Carbonell. “Now developers are buying them and replacing them with white boxes or ignoring them until they get demolished.” ■

After Ray Corral and Alina Meledina moved into a historic home on Country Club Prado more than two years ago, the couple began affixing orchids to the trees in their yard and encouraged neighbors to do the same. “We thought, if this catches on, we could make Country Club Prado the Street of Orchids,” said Corral, a mosaicist (see story pg. 74). That would be fine with Coral Gables, home to the headquarters of the American Orchid Society. But just as the neighborhood beautification project seemed to be taking off, the coronavirus pandemic hit. And then the orchid thief struck.

According to surveillance video, during at least two midnight missions this summer, a woman got out of a car to swipe orchids from trees in front of the homes of Corral and other residents of Prado north of Coral Way. The purloined plants were valued at $4,000, said Coral Gables police. “When everyone else was sleeping, she was stealing,” said Corral.

But the orchid thief did not

get away. Acting on a tip from a former friend of the alleged culprit who saw a surveillance video posted to social media, police arrested Katrina Marie Brady, 34, who lives a few blocks west of the crime scene (outside the Gables). Once in custody, Brady confessed and was charged with third-degree grand theft. She was freed on a $5,000 bond.

Reminiscent of the bestselling Susan Orlean book “The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession,” and the movie it inspired, “Adaptation,” the story of the Gables orchid thief got picked up around the globe. Stories appeared in the New York Post, the Daily News, and as far away as the Daily Mail in London. And now? Corral has invested $3,000 more in street orchids since the thief was busted, with more contributed by neighbors. “When we moved in, there was not one orchid on the block,” says Corral. “Now there are more than ever. People keep reading about it, and that made the neighborhood want to be a part of it. This has caught on.” ■

WASTING AWAY: A HOME ON FLORIDA AVENUE, THE VICTIM OF 17 YEARS OF NEGLECT

GENEROSITY SAVES LIVES.

The Gintel Family Foundation gave generously to establish an endowment fund for the Tele-ICU program at Baptist Health. Hundreds followed in their footsteps to make the program a reality. The around-the-clock availability of e-physicians ensures close communication between the bedside and clinical operations, improving the care of critically ill patients in our Intensive Care Units, step-down units and emergency departments.

Generosity Heals.

Learn how your generosity can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

BaptistHealth.net/GenerosityHeals or 786-467-5400.

The Way We Were

THE LAGO FAMILY DONATES A RARE MAP OF THE CITY

BY J.P. FABER

Call it an opportunity that could not be missed. Vice Mayor Vince Lago received a phone call from a friend who noticed that an old map of Coral Gables was being sold by an antique map company in California. “Who knows how they got it, but I had to have it for the city,” says Lago. After the map company received several inquiries, they decided to auction it off, and Lago won the four-figure bid. He and his wife Olga then proceeded to donate it to the Coral Gables Museum.

Museum Director John Allen says the map, stamped by the cartographers in January 1924

for the Coral Gables Corporation, “is incredibly rare.” In multi colors, the map delineates the city block by block, “so it’s an accurate blueprint of Coral Gables,” says Allen. “The roads are all there, and the lots, and the Venetian Pool – and the site where the Biltmore is going to go up.”

“I would have loved to keep it in my engineering and construction office, but the higher calling was to give it to the city in the name of Arva Moore Parks,” says Lago. “This way future generations can understand how our city became the first planned community in Florida.” ■

Masking Our Superheroes

HOW A LOCAL VOLUNTEER TEEN GROUP HAS CONTRIBUTED

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

While not all superheroes wear capes, most do wear masks – especially during the coronavirus. The Coral Gables-based organization For Teens By Teens has distributed over 5,000 N95 masks out of the Sepehri family’s garage to first responders. These deliveries were especially key during the initial mask shortage and remain essential today. In partnership with Third Wave Volunteers, a global nonprofit that provides disaster relief worldwide, their dining room table is now the processing center for a national database for mask requests and deliveries.

Behind the dining room table’s computer screens is Sami Arya Sepehri, the 18-year-old co-founder of For Teens By Teens. Under the oversight of Sami’s mother Hedieh Sepehri, its young co-founders also

include Brian Behnejad, who acts as delivery driver, and Sami’s sister Sophie. “We decided to make our efforts official by establishing For Teens By Teens in 2016,” says Sami about the organization, which started by helping causes like the Syrian youth refugee program. “We were sitting at home and just discussing how to help. Everyone was in need.” Since the pandemic, Sami has been overseeing requests for masks, using donated funds.

Locally, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and University of Miami Hospitals have received masks along with over 150 nationwide shipments. They also delivered masks to nursing homes. “We identified the most in need with COVID cases, which included four large local

nursing homes – each got about 400,” says Sami. Adds proud mom Hedieh, “This is our way of life. Commitment to making a difference is all that matters.”

To get involved or learn more about For Teens By Teens, visit forteensbyteens.com or contact them at 4tbteens@gmail.com. ■

PACKAGED WITH LOVE: FOR TEENS BY TEENS CO-FOUNDER SAMI SEPEHRI WITH BAGS OF N95 MASKS

VICE MAYOR VINCE LAGO, CORAL GABLES MUSEUM DIRECTOR JOHN ALLEN, AND MUSEUM BOARD CHAIRMAN CHRISTOPHER SPUCHES SHOW THE 1924 MAP THAT WILL GO ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM

495 Campana Avenue, Coral Gables $1,532,000

2575 S Bayshore Drive, #5B, Coconut Grove $1,100,000

1422 Tangier Street, Coral Gables $849,000

4950 SW 77 Street, Ponce-Davis $1,350,000

1534 Cecilia Avenue, Coral Gables $950,000

1500 Madrid Street, Coral Gables $530,000

2901 S Bayshore Drive, #11B, Coconut Grove $1,350,000

245 Candia Avenue, Coral Gables $880,000

600 Biltmore Way, #416, Coral Gables $385,000

11140 Snapper Creek Road, Coral Gables $3,350,000

The Great Trash Debacle

CAN CORAL GABLES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PREMIUM RESIDENTIAL TRASH COLLECTION?

BY MIKE CLARY PHOTOS BY EMILY FAKHOURY

In Coral Gables, no hot-button issue glows hotter than that of residential trash and garbage collection and how to pay for it. And with deficits rising, the heat is on.

Faced with a $2.5 million shortfall for its annual $11.9 million budget to provide residential services, the city’s sanitation department has come under increasing pressure to raise rates – or to cut costs. In July, the city commission voted to extend its current contract with Waste Management for six months, while looking for ways to hold the line on rising costs, including, at the insistence of Vice Mayor Vince Lago, looking at taking bids from other collection services. The real question is whether residents should be slapped with a fee hike.

“We’re out there to give world class service,” says Al Zamora, the assistant director of public works in charge of sanitation. “The question is, is it sustainable?”

Part of that world class service is the Gables’ vaunted and costly backyard pickup, in which collectors come to the rear or side of 11,000 single-family homes to grab the trash. And they come twice a week. In addition, Gables residents receive weekly pickups of bulk green matter from front-of-the-house swales and of recycling goods –paper, cans and bottles.

The annual fee for those visits is $898. Yet 70 percent of customers pay $132 less than that by taking advantage of a 15 percent discount the city offers for early payment. That adds up to a loss of more than $1 million.

Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli has suggested ending the

discounts, but no elected official favors ending the backyard “concierge” garbage pickups Gables residents enjoy. “That is a service that is critical and special to residents, and one of the things that sets us apart,” says Lago.

Zamora, former Miami Beach sanitation director and Waste Management manager, says that when he was hired by Coral Gables two years ago, “One of the things made clear to me was that automation [in which residents set trash bins out front for pick up by robot-armed trucks] was not going to happen in the Gables. There’s no way.”

The cost issue is also affected by collecting yard cuttings. Each year the city hauls away 31,000 tons of green matter – grass clippings, palm fronds and tree branches – placed on the swales. That represents 60 percent of all residential pickups, according to Zamora. (The city also collects annually 9,000 tons of garbage and 2,700 tons of recyclables).

One of the problems is that some of that green tonnage comes from outside the Gables, thanks to illegal dumping from landscapers, many who use the open pits along Red Road (SW 57th Avenue), the city’s western boundary. The practice is to end their day at a Gables property, and dump all they also collected from earlier jobs. “It’s gotten to where we’re the butt of everybody’s joke,” says Lago.

Enforcement is a challenge. In the last year, three landscapers caught in the act of illegal dumping were cited by sanitation department inspectors, Zamora says. They could face fines of $500 each.

Both Lago and Commissioner Michael Mena have done away with the trash pits in front of their homes, requiring their landscapers to haul away grass and trimmings. Mena suggests offering financial rewards to those who close trash pits, “through some sort of tax credit or other incentive program. The city will come out and sod the area for you if you want to eliminate your pit. They are unsightly.”

What is beautiful in the City Beautiful, says Zamora, is the cleanliness of recyclables residents put out in bins. “We have an 8 percent contamination rate,” says Zamora. “That is fabulous. Miami-Dade County is

at almost 38 percent. And some cities are as high as 50 percent.” The result is that the Gables is not charged for its recyclables, whereas other municipalities in the county pay between $80 and $100 per ton.

Proposals for changes to trash, recycling and garbage pickup were due to be submitted to the city’s procurement office by Aug. 25. From there City Manager Peter Iglesias will make a recommendation to the commission. “The city is going to have to take drastic measures,” says Lago. “The key here is having a discussion, finding solutions. What I am not advocating is just to raise rates.” ■

Drew Kern Closes a Sale EVERY 4 DAYS

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

News of Note

MIRACLE THEATRE SUES

Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre is filing a class-action lawsuit against the French insurance company SCOR SE (and its subsidiary in Arizona), stating it wrongfully denied their claims for losses while being closed due to the coronavirus. According to law firm Beasley Allen, the theater’s policy includes coverage for lost income specifically caused by shutdowns ordered by civil authorities.

KUDOS TO DOCTORS HOSPITAL

One of the summer’s sweeter moments came when Doctors Hospital discharged an elderly woman who had been admitted for COVID-19 and released days after celebrating her 104th birthday. “Being 104 years old and surviving COVID is extra special,” noted hospital CEO Javier Hernandez-Lichtl.

PRAISE FOR THE PRO

Jim McLean, PGA Master Professional and CEO of the eponymous golf school at the Biltmore Hotel, has been awarded the prestigious 2020 PGA Professional Development Award. McLean was touted for his contributions to the education of PGA professionals.

UM’S HEALTH TROOPERS

In order to ensure that students observe protocol and not spread the coronavirus, the University of Miami has hired 75 Public Health Ambassadors from the student body to monitor and enforce the school’s COVID-19 guidelines. ■

BRILLIANT.

Like the minds that come together here.

Introducing the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial.

For decades, we have supported scientists and specialists working to advance rehabilitative medicine—to reach the next level. That ongoing effort has led to this: a new, nine-story facility dedicated to helping patients get their lives back. Lynn Rehabilitation Center features cutting-edge technologies and world-class doctors, nurses, and therapists on every floor. It is the pinnacle of rehab care.

Visit JacksonRehabCare.org or call 305-585-9600 for an appointment.

Living

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COVID

UM REOPENS... CAUTIOUSLY

YOUR OWN PRIVATE MOVIE HOUSE

BEST BETS FOR SEPTEMBER

A STUDENT MOVING INTO THE LAKESIDE VILLAGE STUDENT LIVING FACILITIES

The Psychology of COVID

DEALING WITH THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF LOCKDOWN

BY KATRINA DANIEL

With all eyes on the economic impact of the pandemic, a bigger issue may turn out to be the emotional stress. After months of staying at home and disengaging from the world, say local experts, damage is definitely being done.

“To get people back out is going to come down to psychology. Mental health will be the determining factor,” says Dr. Ilsa Kaufman, a Gables psychologist who specializes in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Kaufman says she is seeing more patients than ever. “I don’t think people realized it would cause such a great deal of [psychological] trouble.”

Coral Gables Marriage and Family Therapist Gabriela Reyes says her business is also booming. “I am seeing a lot of heightened anxiety, fear and depression, and issues within [my patients’] relationships. We need human connection. It’s really essential for our mental health. Especially in Coral Gables, where there is a big Latin community.”

“I’m watching a lot of the world go OCD,” says Dr. Kaufman. “The way it works is you are obsessed with something and you do a compulsion to protect yourself from it… As the world opens you are supposed to go to Target with a mask, but some are still wiping down groceries and refusing to leave their homes. Every time you do the compulsion you make the obsession worse.”

For therapist Reyes, it comes down to fear. “The fear of the unknown is a big factor for my patients,” she says. “A lack of control such as this [pandemic] can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety.”

That’s what happened to Teri Seier Moore, a professional dancer, choreographer and local Pilates instructor. “On my birthday, March 19, 2020, I found myself in prison, in a life

that was looking bleak,” she says. “What was I going to do with myself? We were trapped.”

Gables resident Shannon Ashwood agrees. “During this pandemic, the influx of emotions has been at times quite paralyzing,” says Ashwood, who went into lockdown with her husband. When he decided to travel a short distance, including an overnight stay, Ashwood refused to join him. “My partner became a ‘potential virus.’ Scared, I went on lockdown in another part of the house for two weeks,” she says.

During those two weeks, Ashwood decided to act. “I chose to focus on what I could get done around the house. I began organizing every drawer, closet, donating anything and everything, selling items on re-sale apps. I did yoga in early mornings, I streamed shows.”

Moore also started taking steps to increase the size of her “prison” cell. “I participated in a 21-day meditation, I started growing tomatoes and a basil plant that’s now a bush, along with other garden plants. I would walk four to five miles daily. I started to knit.”

Reyes says these women did exactly what she recommends: instead of succumbing to anxiety, they’ve taken control. “Plan your days the way you would if things were back to normal. If you’re working from home, set up a ‘work area’ away from your bed,” she says. “Change out of your PJs. Take walks! I can’t stress that one enough.”

“I recommend for people to go out, to get their nails done, get their hair done. You have to figure out a way to live,” says Kaufman, whose new slew of patients include many who are terrified to return to work. “You may need to take gradual steps, but you need to keep up with the world,” she says. ■

DR. ILSA KAUFMAN, A GABLES PSYCHOLOGIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDERS (OCD).

SAYS KAUFMAN, “I RECOMMEND FOR PEOPLE TO GO OUT, TO GET THEIR NAILS DONE, GET THEIR HAIR DONE. YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LIVE.”

UM Reopens... Cautiously

STUDENTS RETURN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, BUT WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF SAFETY MEASURES

BY KYLIE WANG

While some American universities chose to close their doors to students this fall semester, the University of Miami decided to allow students to return to its Coral Gables campus for in-person instruction. The controversial decision was made by UM President Dr. Julio Frenk, who imposed a strict set of rules for returning students.

“Based on my 36 years of experience as a public health professional, the situation we face with respect to COVID-19 is serious,” Frenk told students in a video message. He went on to explain how the UHealth system was in excellent shape to handle the pandemic. “On the academic side of our mission, providing an exceptional educational experience is the ‘why’ of our decision,” he said.

A physician who served as Mexico’s Minster of Health and later as dean of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Frenk said he thought UM could offer “an adaptive and responsive strategy” to keeping students safe, while allowing those who felt unsafe to continue studying remotely. Approximately one third of the undergraduate student body took the option to remain home and study online. For the majority of those who returned, just how safe they will be depends on how well campus precautions work.

For starters, all returning students had to report negative for COVID-19 before they were allowed to attend classes. A curfew has also been put in place, as well as strict restrictions on

continued on page 32

TOP: UM PRESIDENT DR. JULIO FRENK GREETS STUDENTS WHO WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN THIS FALL.

PHOTO BY MIKE MONTERO/UM BOTTOM: STUDENTS ARE HAPPY TO BE BACK AT UNIVERSITY BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.

PHOTO BY KYLIE WANG

overnight guests. Returning students had to complete a We Are One U: COVID-19 Safety Principles online training module before their return. The campus itself was enhanced for the virus, from hundreds of hand-sanitizing stations to plexiglass shields in front of cashiers and faculty. Classrooms have been rearranged to allow for social distancing, and some classes will be held in large outdoor tents.

All returning students, regardless of living arrangements, were presented with a COVID-19 wellness kit full of sanitary equipment, and all faculty, staff and students are required to use masks and an online symptom checker daily. Testing will be available and random students will be picked for testing throughout the semester. Flu vaccines are free and mandatory for all students, so that no resources will be squan-

dered treating and tracking the influenza instead of coronavirus.

Some students feel encouraged by these measures. Senior Dave Downey, a meteorology major, says he thinks UM is “in a better spot than most other [schools].” He referenced the presence of the UHealth system, among the best in the country, and President Frenk’s previous experience dealing with widespread infectious diseases as a physician and health minister in Mexico.

Other students think UM should have followed the lead of some other universities and only offered online courses, at least for now. “It looks to me like the school just made sure they put out enough statements,” junior Kate Styles says. “And when the cases go up, they’ll blame everything on us students, even though they’re the ones who decided to reopen.”

In the end, over 500 pro-

Your Own Private Movie House

BY JAMES BROIDA

Any entertainment that involves groups of people tightly packed together is no longer an option, so long as the pandemic persists. This has shut down some of our favorite local venues, including the Coral Gables Art Cinema.

The cinema has responded in creative ways, mostly online, with things like their Virtual Screening Room, where you can rent movies you would otherwise have seen in person. They also launched a virtual Drive-In, with a selection of older films (in the public domain) that you can watch at no charge on the cinema’s website.

Now comes the latest gambit to satisfy our hankering for the movie house experience: The real thing. Dubbed “Private Movie Night,” patrons can actually rent the theater for up to 10 family members and friends. “Out of our 1,800 members, about 400 said they would want to rent it, so we know we have the demand,” says executive director of the Art Cinema Brenda Moe. “This will allow us to serve the community and to test our safety protocols.” Those protocols – taking viewer’s temperature at the door, setting up a one-way flow for foot traffic – will allow the cinema to open in the future for regular, socially distanced movie nights.

In the meantime, you can play movie mogul for $200 (members) or $275 (non-members) for the noon, 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. timeslots, and for $300 (members) or $375 (non-members) for the 9 p.m. timeslot. Patrons can bring their own movies (Blu-ray, DVD) or the theater will source for you. Email them at info@gablescinema.com with Private Movie Night in the subject line. ■

Canes A’Comin’

THE HURRICANES ARE SET TO PLAY THE 2020 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON

fessors and grad students signed a petition appealing for more control over their classes and explaining that they felt unsafe teaching in-person classes while South Florida remains an epicenter of the pandemic. Still, the university opened its doors in mid-August as students from all over the country and the world returned.

“It is incorrect to assume that going to campus represents full risk, while staying home is a riskfree option,” said Frenk. “In fact, for some students, campus may be the safest place they can be.” ■

With the U opening its doors to students this fall, college football is also back on in the ACC. The Miami Hurricanes will play home games against FSU, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia, and will be on the road versus Clemson, Louisville, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest. As part of the ACC’s return to play plan, all Hurricanes games will be within the conference, with the one exception being either Temple, UAB or Wagner. The team is aiming for a return to play on the week of September 7 with limited capacity at Hard Rock Stadium.

“IT IS INCORRECT TO ASSUME THAT GOING TO CAMPUS REPRESENTS FULL RISK, WHILE STAYING HOME IS A RISK-FREE OPTION.”

DR. JULIO FRENK

WANT TO SEE A MOVIE ON THE BIG SCREEN? THE CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA HAS THE ANSWER

Best Bets FOR SEPTEMBER

DOG DATES AT THE GARDEN

Bring your pup to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden every Thursday 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. for Yappy Hour at the Glasshouse Café. The canine menu includes water and treats, and the human menu includes prosciutto toast, veggie hummus wraps, and beer, wine, daiquiris and champagne. Tickets: $0 - $12.

ENGAGE@GABLESTAGE

The GableStage Board of Directors created ENGAGE@GableStage to replace the canceled live theater season. The series is made up of digital shorts that align with the theater’s mission to produce work that confronts today’s issues. A new short premieres every Friday at 7 p.m. through Sept. 25. Visit gablestage.org/engagegablestage for the full lineup.

MIAMI SPA MONTH

Treat yourself to a luxurious spa day at the Biltmore with discounted rates. Enjoy an express summer nails manicure and pedicure for $79, a 50-minute summer glow facial for $109 or a 70-minute escape to paradise with a Swedish massage for $139. Through Sept. 30.

CORAL GABLES MUSEUM’S WINE APPRECIATION CLASS

The museum’s popular wine appreciation class is now online. The six-class series will take place every Wednesday from Sept. 2 to Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Upon signing up for the program, you will receive a list of the six wines to purchase. The series costs $90. ■

A GUIDE TO COSMETIC FACIAL SURGERY

As the years go by, along with the stresses of life, we can’t help but notice the not-so-welcome signs of aging. For many, this begins with looking a little less fresh or a bit more tired than we actually feel. Early on, various non-surgical therapies such as Botox, fillers, peels, light, and mild laser treatments can help.

In time though, we simply develop slack and sagging skin, first in the upper eyelids, then in the neck and jowls. If you’ve looked at yourself in the mirror recently and pulled on different areas of your face or seen some not-so-great selfie or other photo of yourself, you know what I’m talking about. It happens to everyone, sooner or later. We age, and most of us don’t like it (“hate it”) and we want to put up a fight.

Well, beyond the simple (or not), but important things, like getting more sleep, eating smarter, avoiding/reducing ‘vices’, exercising more/again and reducing your stress (never easy, especially this year), what else can you do?

The three, and most impactful, surgical things to do are: trimming away excess upper eyelid skin, ‘getting rid’ of sagging jowls and ‘cleaning up’ the neck. This ‘opens’ the eyes, restores a refreshed appearance to the mid-face (cheeks) and re-defines the all-important youthful neck and jawline. Think of it as age-related ‘maintenance work’ - all accomplished in one outpatient procedure with a Lower Face/Neck Lift and Upper Eyelid Surgery, along with a 1 to 2-week downtime.

Not everyone needs to have lower eyelids ‘done’ or their brows lifted, only those with significant ‘bags’ under their eyes or noticeably droopy brows, especially on the sides. If the outer brows do deserve to be lifted, then this is accomplished with a ‘Lateral Brow Lift’, a much easier procedure and more natural looking than the full brow lift of the past.

Less is more in facial cosmetic surgery today, and doing too much, takes you away from your natural looking self, which, to me at least, is not desirable. You want to continue to look like yourself- but a fresher version! Trying to look 25 again, sadly, is a fantasy and only makes you look, let’s just say, ‘desperate’.

After surgery, you maintain the result with the occasional Botox treatment (always helpful around the eyes and forehead) plus targeted and conservative use of fillers for cheek volume and lines around the mouth, as well as other cosmetic treatments. Of course, dermatological skin care is important with at least a good cleanser and a daily sunblock.

Naturally, aging is highly variable, and to decide what to do for the individual patient, requires a careful discussion and physical assessment. Patients in their forties typically don’t need facial surgery except for possibly their upper eyelids. But in their fifties, and beyond, facial cosmetic surgery becomes increasingly pertinent and certainly helpful.

Thresholds for undergoing facial cosmetic surgery differ with the sexes. However, both have in common that they want to ‘look good and like themselves’ and not like they had ‘something’ done. That natural look is the ‘art’ part of cosmetic facial surgery which requires an aesthetic eye and much experience. So, as always, research and reflect carefully before proceeding.

Stephan Baker MD

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Shop

WHAT’S HOT FAMILY TRADITIONS, SPANISH STYLE

YO-YO: A SMALL STORE FOR HIGH QUALITY CHILDREN’S CLOTHES FROM SPAIN

PHOTO BY EMILY FAKHOURY

What’s Hot

SEPTEMBER 2020: THE HOMEFRONT

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

Over the course of the last few months, working from home has become the norm for many of us. Likely, you’ve perfected your office space’s aesthetic by now, but there are always upgrades to the experience. Here are a few suggestions.

LIGHT SHOW

No question, we’re all working after hours these days. Make that time a bit brighter with the Stella table lamp from Pottery Barn; it’s both beautiful and functional.

Retail: $229, Pottery Barn, 358 San Lorenzo Ave. #2115, 305-569-9022, potterybarn.com.

BEAUTIFUL VIEW

Next time you take a binge-watching break, reach for this kit of goodies. It includes a white jade facial roller, face cleansing towelettes, and two coasters in addition to several other treats. Basically, it’ll turn your TV session into a spa-like experience.

Retail: $25, Anthropologie, 330 San Lorenzo Ave., 305-4430021, anthropologie.com.

MOVE IT

The Cubii compact elliptical will revamp your day by infusing it with activity even when you’re sitting. It fits into small spaces and is whisper-quiet, even when you’re on an important conference call.

Retail: $249, Relax the Back, 212 Miracle Mile, 305-445-0445, relaxtheback.com.

SUPER SCREEN

Beyond offering major protection from the sun, the antioxidant-rich formula in Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen protects the skin from the harmful blue light that’s emitted from our phones and computers.

Retail: $34, Sephora, 358 San Lorenzo Ave. #2100, sephora.com.

BEE FOCUSED!

Known for its clean remedies, Beekeeper’s Naturals offers a host of products that are especially clutch during these trying times. We suggest the B.LXR Brain Fuel, a caffeine-free supplement that’s made with sustainably harvested honey bee products that will help maximize your productivity in a big way.

Retail: $29.99, Whole Foods, 6701 Red Rd., 305-421-9421, wholefoods.com.

Family Traditions, Spanish Style

YO-YO CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE SPECIALIZES IN FINE CLOTHING FOR NEWBORNS, TODDLERS AND SMALL CHILDREN

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

When mother-daughter duo Gisela Blankenhorn and Nina Argibay decided to open a small store for high quality children’s clothes from Spain, the location – on Miracle Mile – was the easy decision. “When I was a teenager this was the place to come and eat, have fun, and to shop,” says Argibay. “I was like, ‘We have to come to the Mile.’”

The name of the store was another matter. After perusing lists of ideas and deliberating for days, Blankenhorn awoke her daughter in the middle of the night saying, “I know it. It’s YoYo. The store. That’s the name.” It was a name easily pronounced (and the same) in both English and Spanish. It also referred to one of the oldest toys known to humanity. So, Yo-Yo Children’s Boutique was born in 2016.

Besides being a classic toy representing the innocence of childhood, the yoyo was a toy that all generations could recall. And that, they thought, reflected that their clothing was meant to be around for generations to come. “Though I was born in Venezuela, we kept our family traditions very seriously,” says Argibay. “When we moved to Miami, we realized the lack of Spanish traditional clothing, so one day we decided to jump into it.” Argibay’s dad Nino was born in Galicia, Spain, and her grandmother would send clothing from there until Argibay was 10-years-old.

washer on the delicate mode. “It is cotton not wool,” says Argibay. “We have worked really hard so that our knit adapts to weather; it can be really hot, yet the baby stays fresh, and it keeps the baby warm if it is cold.” These newborn outfits range between $40-$200.

The importance of helping others find high quality clothing is a personal matter for many families, including her own, says Argibay. “My christening gown has been in my family for over 80 years. My sister also used it and my future kids will use it as well,” she says. “We’ve had people bring in gowns for us to match that have been in their family for over 150 years.”

Newborn, christening and first communion outfits are the biggest sellers. Bonnets, booties, and dresses for christening range for ages 3 months to 24 months. Christening gowns range from $300 to $1,500. Communion dresses vary as they are exclusively designed by Blankenhorn and Argibay. Flower girl dresses and ring boy outfits are priced between $120 and $250, depending on the fabric and style.

YO-YO’S FALL AND WINTER LINES ARE AVAILABLE NOW, AS THEY PREPARE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WHEN FIRST COMMUNION OUTFITS ARE IN HIGHEST DEMAND. ACCESSORIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE, INCLUDING RIBBONS, HAIR BOWS, BONNETS AND BABY BOOTIES.

Today, Argibay travels across Spain twice a year to hand select clothing for their boutique because, “Material-wise, I need to touch it.” The cotton used by the Spanish manufacturers is imported from Morocco and treated so as to be completely hypoallergenic. For overwhelmed new parents, that means even the knit outfits can be put in the infoyoyoboutique@gmail.com

Yo-Yo’s fall and winter lines are available now, as they prepare for January and February when first communion outfits are in highest demand. Newborn outfits are purchased year-round and Argibay knows how to save the day. “Sometimes I have that dad rush in here saying ‘My wife just gave birth. She is in the hospital. I need outfits right now.’”

Accessories are also available, including ribbons, hair bows, bonnets, baby booties and 18-karat gold earrings for a baby girl. And there is a small magic show area should siblings or other company hope for entertainment. ■

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Bites

SPICE UP QUARANTINE TAKING IT TO THE STREET

MIAMI SPICE AT SAWA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

Spice Up Quarantine

NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE? DINE AT THESE MIAMI SPICE RESTAURANTS

BY LIZZIE WILCOX AND J.P. FABER

Miami Spice looks different this year. Usually a two-month promotion starting in June, it turned into four, giving the restaurant industry a much needed boost post-shutdown. However, restaurants without outdoor dining had to switch to “Spice To Go” in early July when indoor dining rooms were forced to close again. Compared to last year, the number of Coral Gables restaurants participating in Miami Spice were cut in half. But we are still left with a dozen establishments with stellar three-course brunch/lunch menus for $25 and dinner menus for $39. We visited seven of the 12 restaurants, which are bolded below.

Amore Restaurant & Bar, Bachour, Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant, Brasserie Central, Bulla Gastrobar, K.A.O. Sushi & Grill, Pascal’s on Ponce, Sawa Restaurant & Lounge, Seasons 52, Talavera Cocina Mexicana, Tap 42, Tur Kitchen

TUR KITCHEN - DINNER

STARTER: The seared eggplant may have been the best dish of the night. Atop a layer of San Marzano tomato, the eggplant is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and complimented by its feta and sourdough toppings.

ENTRÉE: The wagyu steak caught our eye and it did not disappoint. The chef recommends cooking it medium rare for a truly flavorful cut of beef. And the polenta fries on the side are some of the best we’ve had.

DESSERT: With raspberry sorbet on the side, the lemon tart is sour and sweet all at the same time. But if you’re a decadent dessert lover, definitely order the chocolate nemesis tart. Though not included in the prix-fixe, we highly recommend their signature cocktails, especially the “El Faraon” if you’re into spicy drinks or “Thyme is of the Essence” for something fruity.

KAO SUSHI & GRILL - LUNCH

STARTER: We could not resist the Roca Chicken, which are like deep fried rock shrimp – crunchy balls of chicken cooked in tempura batter and then served with spicy mayo and kettle style potato chips. Very tasty, well coupled with the chips.

ENTRÉE: The portions here are stunningly large. We ordered the shrimp chaufa, a Peruvian style fried rice with veggies, egg, red onion and cilantro. Rich, hearty flavors, with fluffy saffron rice and juicy shrimp. We also tried the ribs. Cooked in a bourbon barbecue sauce, the

half dozen large ribs we got were fall-off-thebone flavorful.

DESSERT: A traditional Argentine flan or a tres leche? You can’t go wrong with either one.

BULLA GASTROBAR - DINNER

STARTER: The dinner menu comes with any of their three sangrias or a Moscow Mule, so technically we started with a cocktail. If you haven’t had their sangria de cerveza or renowned Moscow Mule, you’re missing out. Bulla’s tartar de atún, or tuna tartar, is top notch. Made with ahi tuna, mango, avocado, soy sesame vinaigrette and Sriracha aioli on the side, it reminds us of a deconstructed sushi roll.

ENTRÉE: The arroz caldosa is similar to paella, but more brothy; like if paella and soup had a baby. A very hearty dish with rice, seafood, chicken, red sofrito and saffron.

DESSERT: With sides of rich chocolate and warm dulce de leche for dipping, the churros con chocolate win us over every time.

AMORE RESTAURANT & BAR - LUNCH

STARTER: Amore’s Spice menu also comes with a drink – either beer or house wine. Yes, even for lunch. Anyone who frowns upon day drinking is not your friend. Our appetizer of choice was the Caprese salad, a classic Italian dish of fresh mozzarella and tomatoes topped with extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic vinegar reduction.

ENTRÉE: We were blown away by the fagottini pasta stuffed with pear and mas-

SAWA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

KAO SUSHI & GRILL

carpone cheese tossed in a gorgonzola sauce. It’s savory and cheesy and we would go back again and again for this dish alone. Chef’s kiss

DESSERT: In the battle of two traditional Italian desserts – cannoli and tiramisu – the cacao-heavy tiramisu took home the trophy.

TAP 42 - DINNER

STARTER: Japanese and Latin American cuisines come together in the form of the spicy salmon tostones. Stacked atop tostones is a tower of salmon, guacamole, eel sauce, Sriracha aioli and cilantro. We’ve dined at a lot of restaurants in this city and we haven’t had anything like this anywhere else.

ENTRÉE: The baby back ribs take barbeque to a whole new level. They’re slow cooked, tender and messy, drenched in sweet and smoky BBQ sauce. A generous portion of crispy fries is the cherry on top.

DESSERT: There’s only one dessert option on the menu: The ice cream cookie sundae. It’s not the towering sundae you’re used to, but a more modest ice cream cookie sandwich with a scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce. Even with the reduced portions, we still left in a food coma.

SAWA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE LUNCH

STARTER: We do miss last year’s chilled mango gazpacho, but this year’s Bang Bang Shrimp goes a long way to make us forget. And while the hummus duo was oddly bright green and pink (cilantro and red beet variations), it delivered one of Sawa’s homemade mainstays. Can’t find better or fresher.

ENTRÉE: Sawa is known for its inventive rolls that push the edge of the sushi envelope, and their “Two Timing Tuna” roll does nothing less, combining spicy and seared tuna with shiitake mushroom for a taste and texture sensation.

DESSERT: The perfect split for the Middle Eastern/Japanese restaurant: Either Japanese mochi ice cream or homemade baklava, a Mediterranean pastry with nuts and honey. Both were delectable.

BELLMÓNT SPANISH RESTAURANT DINNER

STARTER: Ascend into cheese heaven with Manchego croquetas. Once you bite through the crunchy outer layer, warm Manchego oozes out. The portion size is two, but we could have eaten 10.

ENTRÉE: We love ordering a steak entrée for Miami Spice because it’s usually the most bang for your buck, and the churrasco a la parrilla did not disappoint. The grilled skirt steak comes with roasted vegetables that are covered in a brilliantly flavorful seasoning. The meat itself is so tasty that no steak sauce is needed.

DESSERT: Torrija is a very popular dessert in Spain around Easter. It’s somewhat of a crossover between French toast and bread pudding. For $2 extra, you can add nougat ice cream on the side, which we definitely recommend, as it complements the flavors of the torrija perfectly. ■

TUR KITCHEN

AMORE RESTAURANT & BAR

BELLMÓNT RESTAURANT (ABOVE) BULLA GASTROBAR (LEFT)

Taking It to The Street

SINCE COVID SHUT DOWN INDOOR DINING, CORAL GABLES HAS SEEN AN EXPLOSION OF AL FRESCO OPTIONS

BY JAMES BROIDA

On July 6, Miami-Dade

Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered all county restaurants closed, less than two months after they had reopened in May. The fear was that diners were spreading the coronavirus.

Local restaurant owners (and their myriad clients) were furious, and complained that it would put many establishments permanently out of business. The compromise was that restaurants could continue serving at outside seating, where the open air could disperse the virus.

When we first began keeping a list of restaurants with outdoor seating – right after the county order to shut down inside dining rooms – there were 38 Coral Gables restaurants with tables and chairs on sidewalks, in courtyards or in patios.

Since then that number has exploded to nearly 90. Thanks to an emergency ordinance passed by the city commission, restaurants that wanted to serve al fresco were given permits on an expedited basis – and for spaces in parking spots on the street or down adjacent alleyways

By pure luck, some restaurants were already in good shape for eating outside. Places like Sawa and Brasserie Central in the vast courtyard of the Shops at Merrick Park already had more seating outdoors than in. Other eateries, like the Café at Books & Books and Bachour, had generous courtyards that could accommodate diners. Still others had the advantage of large, private parking lots, like Havana Harry’s, which now has some 20 tables under a massive tent and umbrellas. And, of course, there were the

fortunate denizens of Giralda Plaza, who had suffered through the transformation of their street into a pedestrian plaza and are now sitting pretty.

In some cases, adjacent spaces made a big difference. Bugatti on Ponce, for example, has been able to use the courtyard of the adjacent historic Fink building. Caffe Abbracci has a tented area in the recessed space of an adjacent jet leasing center, which they use for dinner clientele. “You have to be creative with what you have,” says Nino Pernetti, owner of Caffe Abbracci. “I created a nice gazebo outside with candles and plants. Now people call and request to sit there.”

One of the biggest boons has been for restaurants with open walls – where glass doors can be slid aside. Here, the city allows for tables on the inside that are on the cusp of the outside. “The idea is that the pressure from the inside air conditioning pushes the air out,” says Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli, an advocate for reopening Gables restaurants. Restaurants that can add extra tables just inside these openings include places like Gringo’s Oyster Bar, The Globe, Hillstone and Bulla Gastrobar

Even with these options, most restaurants still say they are operating at 25 to 30 percent capacity, for reasons that have more to do with the client base than available space. “Before, I had regular business customers,” says Alessandra Grappone, the manager of Salumeria 104 on Miracle Mile. “But without the people working in offices, I have many fewer clients. We are really just surviving from week to week.” ■

TOP: CAFFE ABBRACCI HAS A TENTED AREA IN THE RECESSED SPACE OF AN ADJACENT JET LEASING SHOP. “YOU HAVE TO BE CREATIVE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE,” SAYS OWNER NINO PERNETTI. “ I CREATED A NICE GAZEBO OUTSIDE WITH CANDLES AND PLANTS. NOW PEOPLE CALL AND REQUEST TO SIT THERE.”

BOTTOM: ALESSANDRA GRAPPONE, THE MANAGER OF SALUMERIA 104 ON MIRACLE MILE SAYS, “BEFORE, I HAD REGULAR BUSINESS CUSTOMERS, BUT WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WORKING IN OFFICES, I HAVE MANY FEWER CLIENTS. ”

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF RESTAURANTS WITH OUTDOOR DINING, SEE OUR RESTAURANT LISTINGS (PG. 92) OR GO TO CORALGABLESMAGAZINE.COM.

Photo by Emily Fakhoury

3,216

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UPDATED AND MOVE-IN READY NEAR PARKS AND SCHOOLS

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FALL FASHION

READY-TO-WEAR FASHION IS IN FOCUS

BY JAMES BROIDA

“ THE MOST IMPORTANT TREND COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC IS AN APPRECIATION FOR COMFORT.”

SILVIA TCHERASSI

PHOTO BY JON BRAELEY

FILOMENA FERNANDEZ SILVIA TCHERASSI

Fall is typically the time of the great charity events that bring together the city’s philanthropic glitterati – the Beaux Arts Ball, the Coral Gables Community Foundation Gala, the Red Cross Ball and so forth. It is a time for all who celebrate these events to dress to kill, in the highest fashion possible.

This fall things are different. “I have worked in the industry for 30 years now and nothing could have prepared me for this,” says Silvia Tcherassi, whose global brand is headquartered in Coral Gables. “The demand will definitely decrease because of all the cancelled or postponed events, such as red carpets, premieres, galas and weddings. Events during this season will either be virtual, or outdoors and reduced in size.”

“Haute couture is not in demand, and I believe it won’t be for the near future,” agrees Maritza Fernandez, another leading designer who keeps her shop in Coral Gables. “The restrictions and regulations on social gatherings has affected people’s willingness to congregate.”

Both Tcherassi and Fernandez have adapted their businesses in response to the pandemic, which not only evaporated demand for custom couture, but initially ended walk-in business. “For brands like mine that have recently ventured into wholesale and digital e-commerce, the in-store experience is especially important,” says Tcherassi. “But we have successfully created a marketing plan with a strong emphasis on our product and legacy—this has helped compensate our closed stores.”

For Fernandez, the epiphany of change came while she was overseas. “I was in Milan working on the Fall/ Winter 2020 collection at the end of February,” she says. “From one day to the next, Italy and specifically Milan became the epicenter of COVID. The shortage of masks made me think they would be in high demand.” Fernandez immediately reorganized her operation to produce safe, fashionable masks. Initially she produced 500 for the local charity “Hermanos de la Calle,” but then sold more than 2,500 to her online client base. Now, with demand – and clients – beginning to return, both designers have turned toward the zeitgeist of comfort. “I am a firm believer that fashion, no matter the occasion, has to be always comfortable,” says Fernandez. “The trend now is to look relaxed and casual.”

“The most important trends coming out of the pandemic are an appreciation for comfort, the importance of tops – given that they are the most visible clothing item during Zoom calls – and utilitarian details such as pockets where you can keep the new essentials like face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer,” says Tcherassi.

Both designers are coming out with a fall lineup, but with much less emphasis on individually tailored clothing. “The lack of being able to anticipate or book events ahead of time is going to cause more people to buy ‘off the rack,’” says Fernandez. “To make something custommade takes time, and because of all the uncertainty, customers prefer ready-made pieces right now.”

SILVIA TCHERASSI

“I DESIGN FOR A WOMAN THAT ENJOYS FASHION AND VALUES SMALL

AOSTA TOP 01 (PAGE 49)

This crisp cotton poplin blouse is a classic staple. Featuring an off-the-shoulder silhouette that can also be worn as a squared neckline, this striped piece has a bow at the front and voluminous puff sleeves that hit just below the elbow. Lace trimmings in dark blue further elevate the silhouette. Paired here with a Biella skirt. (Blouse $480; Skirt $720)

LIRIO DRESS 02

This multicolored botanical leaf print with hints of blue, red and green is cut with the softest silk, and features voluminous puff sleeves and a plunging neckline that meets a bow in the middle. A frontal center slit is the finishing touch in this summer frock that is lovely, feminine and comfortable. ($1,500)

CAMPARI BLOUSE WITH TIBERIO PANTS 03

Long, balloon sleeves, a deep v-shaped neckline and an abstract flower print come together in this blouse that works for women of all ages and body types. Featuring a wrap-effect at the front, the Campari blouse is paired here with the high-waisted Tiberio pants in a pearl shade. (Blouse $650; Pants $620)

GEVA BLOUSE 04

“Fashion is a reflection of the times we are living in, and the needs and overall mood of the present definitely influence the creative process,” says Silvia Tcherassi, whose retail outlet in the Shops at Merrick Park is just blocks from her atelier (design studio) on San Lorenzo Avenue. “When we started to reopen our stores, we introduced our Pre-Fall collection which, coincidentally, is casual, relaxed and with a warm color palette that is perfect for the current times…. I design for a woman that enjoys fashion and values small details, regardless of her age or her nationality. With the passing of time, you identify different patterns in fashion: Europeans tend to take more of a risk with their sartorial choices, Americans have a pragmatic approach while Latinas always want to be the center of attention.”

SILVIA TCHERASSI

350 SAN LORENZO AVE. #2140 305.461.0009

This polished piece features a keyhole neckline, long flowing sleeves and delicate slits at the shoulders, with a bold hibiscus print over a warm taupe shade. Make this top the focal point of your ensemble, by pairing it with solid-toned trousers. For an unforgettable look, style this over the Biella skirt. (Blouse $650; Skirt $720)

ALLERONA DRESS 05

The Allerona is a frock that features a layered tiered skirt and a built-in wrap around the bodice that can be tied as a bow in the front or in the back. This effortless cotton dress is available in two options, in cerulean stripes or in a black floral print, paired here with a Carol Basket handbag. (Dress $920; Bag $680)

DETAILS, REGARDLESS OF HER AGE OR HER NATIONALITY.”

FILOMENA FERNANDEZ

MASK 01 (PAGE 49)

“Just because the pandemic requires masks, that is no reason not to look your stylish best. All our masks are all reversable and made from non-irritating silk.” (Mask $30)

TROPICAL BREEZE 02

“This Island chic print is based on a place like Miami or Hawaii. The print is of palms because of their strong and sophisticated look, and because they are swaying in the wind. The neon trimmings add some fun to the basic color of beige and black.” (Jacket $379; Pants $359)

JEANS AND CAMOUFLAGE 03

“We are trying to be more practical and camouflaged at the same time, with this ensemble that combines what we love about jeans –the comfort, the coolness, the versatility of adapting to the different occasions – and the camouflage that is done in a very girly way, with embroidery, to soften it.” (Jeans $299; Jacket $226)

PRETTY IN PINK 04

“My latest designs are more focused on a ready to wear collection, more than a couture collection,” says Maritza Fernandez, the proprietor and designer for the Filomena Fernandez brand based in Coral Gables. “Fall 2020 will be a strong, comfortable, classy and timeless one. My inspiration for this season comes from looking to the past. We are still wearing the same items but pairing them with new accessories, like masks and mask chords. The handmade, one of a kind mask chords are something that I never could have imagined would be so popular. They are all designed and produced at our Ponce de Leon location…. I think what people really love about them is that the masks help them stand out and express themselves in a new world where everyone is wearing the same exact thing.”

“This is part of our Pre-Fall 2020 collection, inspired by the super fun and chic days of Studio 54. It comes in the electric pink seen here or in silver gray. It is a very feminine and powerful look at the same time.” (Dress $498)

MILITARY

BRAT 05

“Also from the Pre-Fall 2020 collection, this is a reinvention of a military man’s outfit, transforming that inspiration in a feminine dressy but casual way that can be mixed with a T-shirt or a silk blouse. A masculine look in a very girly approach.” (Jacket $380; Pants $296; T-shirt $98)

“FALL 2020 WILL BE A STRONG, COMFORTABLE, CLASSY AND TIMELESS ONE. MY INSPIRATION FOR THIS SEASON COMES FROM LOOKING TO THE PAST.”

FALL FASHION: KEEPING IT LOCAL

For months now, fashion has been on the wane, relegated to the color of the sweatpants we wear while staying at home. And the impact on our local fashion retailers has been painful. “People are buying less clothes now, because they do not have anywhere to go right now,” says Kim Rodriguez, a Gables-based fashion consultant, private shopper and columnist.

“Maybe if they are home working, they have invested in tops –that is a real thing – and I think the accessories business now is big, with things like necklaces and earrings,” she says. “But for my clients? These are people who don’t really have anywhere to go… fashion is really hurting right now.”

The discomfort of wearing a mask is a big factor inhibiting instore sales, says Rodriguez. So much so that she assembles “digital style boards” for clients, with items featured from local stores that can be ordered online. Nonetheless, the urge to shop is beginning to draw customers back, and what they are choosing is comfort.

“People just want to get out of the house,” Rodriguez says. And when they do, “Women and men just want something that’s comfortable. We have been in comfortable clothes for five months now. So, the idea of a structured dress, a structured suit, something really tailored — it’s not what they want.” What they want, she says, is “summer dresses, flowy, easy, casual, and pretty, but nothing overtly tight or sexy. Nobody wants anything too restrictive. A mask already does that.”

While fashion is wounded, it is far from dead. “Even if we are working from home, or helping our kids with online schooling, dressing up or dressing down allows people to physically and mentally transition from one part of their day to the next,” says designer Maritza Fernandez. “Fashion now is more about keeping your spirit up, being productive and feeling good about yourself in the age of COVID.” ■

BACK AND FORTH

226 Almeria Ave. 786.359.4054 backandforthmiami.com

EARTHY CHIC

320 San Lorenzo Ave., #1235 305.496.0057 earthychic.com

EBERJEY

360 San Lorenzo Ave. #1530 305.763.8455 eberjey.com

ESSENCE BOUTIQUE

78 Miracle Mile 305.448.6777 Instagram.com/essencemiami

FILOMENA FERNANDEZ

4217 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.661.4448 www.filomenafernandez.com

OAK APPAREL + HOME

116 Valencia Ave. 305.384.1337

shopoakonline.com

OHM 1561 Sunset Dr. 305.284.8455 ohmboutique.com

SILVIA TCHERASSI

350 San Lorenzo Ave #2140 305.461.0009

www.silviatcherassi.com

TREND BOUTIQUE

2606 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.942.2626 trendmiami.com

ZOEY REVA

147 Alhambra Cir. #205 305.389.7525

zoeyreva.com

WHILE FASHION HAS TAKEN A HIT DURING THE SEQUESTERED DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, IT IS BEGINNING TO RE-EMERGE. TIME TO VISIT ONE OF YOUR LOCAL, HOMEGROWN FAVORITES.

A QUICK GUIDE TO LOCALLY BASED FASHION RETAILERS

WHERE TO SHOP IN CORAL GABLES

FILOMENA FERNANDEZ SHOWROOM ON PONCE DE LEON

EN YJO

the great outdoors

NO ONE DOES OUTDOOR DINING QUITE LIKE DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES. WITH OUR CHARMING AMBIANCE AND AMPLE SIDEWALKS, WE WELCOME YOU BACK TO ENJOY ALL OF YOUR FAVORITES AL FRESCO!

THE CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE GUIDE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS

THE LEADING PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE MIAMI AREA, FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL

If 2020 was the year that education and the school systems were disrupted, 2021 is the year when everything promises to stabilize. Even the worst case scenario predicts that the nation will be vaccinated by the spring, allowing enough time to get ready for the fall se-

mester. With that in mind, we look at the leading private schools in the Miami area, from preschool through high school, not in terms of their COVID preparations, but in terms of the academic merit that made them leading schools in the first place.

PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY

ALEXANDER MONTESSORI SCHOOL

TODDLER – ELEMENTARY

www.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, language

enrichment, social studies, mathematics, Spanish, computers, fine arts, physical education

SPORTS: Flag football, soccer, cheerleading, golf, stretch & conditioning, swimming, tennis, tee-ball, yoga

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Varying activities in fine and performing arts, foreign language and recreational games

TUITION: $6,600 - $24,990

BANYAN DAY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – KINDERGARTEN

340 Palermo Ave. 305.447.1233

www.banyandayschool.org

CURRICULUM: Writing, art, science, library, reading corner, blocks, hand-eye coordination, puzzles, Spanish

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $805 - $915

BRIGHT HORIZONS AT UM CANTERBURY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL DAYCARE AND PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN OF UM FACULTY AND STAFF 1150 Stanford Dr. 305.284.5437

www.child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com

CURRICULUM: Listening and speaking, literacy, reading and writing, science, art, mathematics,

nutrition and safety, environmental awareness, diversity awareness

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $965 PER MONTH

COCONUT GROVE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

TODDLER – 5TH GRADE

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

3280 Bird Ave. (Toddler Campus) 305.444.4484

www.montessorischoolsmiami.com

CURRICULUM: Art, science, geography, history, language, mathematics

SPORTS: Soccer, basketball, karate, tennis, track & field

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

TUITION: $9,750 - $14,500

CORAL GABLES PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL

320 Giralda Ave.

786.332.3610

www.preschoolingables.com

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

SPORTS: N/A

AFTER SCHOOL CARE: Available during the school year

TUITION: $720 - $1,100

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: THE GROWING PLACE PRESCHOOL – KINDERGARTEN

536 Coral Way 305.446.0846

www.welovecoralgables.org

CURRICULUM: Using the “HighScope” curriculum, students have hands-on experiences with people, objects, events and ideas

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $6,550 - $8,100

“The Growing Place Early Childhood Center and the Lamar Louise Curry Elementary program look forward to providing your child in 2021 with innovative and high quality pro-

gramming, together with a meaningful focus on faith. Established in 1963, TGP continues to be a distinguished center of early childhood education. TGP is now open for registration of children ages 1 – 5, kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grade for the 2021 – 2022 school year.”

THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MIAMI

PREK – ELEMENTARY

7701 SW 76th Ave. (South Miami Campus)

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

786.268.1914

www.frenchschoolmiami.org

CURRICULUM: Literature, social studies, history, geography mathematics, physical education, music, English (classes taught in both French and English)

SPORTS: Ballet, soccer

AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS: Includes arts and crafts, board games, choir, theater, Spanish and music

TUITION: $11,975 - $13,500

THE GORDON SCHOOL OF BETH DAVID CONGREGATION

TODDLER – GRADE 5

2625 SW 3rd Ave. 305.854.3282

www.gordonschoolmiami.org

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

SPORTS: N/A

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS: The After School Enrichment program aims to enhance children’s education through singing, science experiments, games, puzzles, art projects and more

TUITION: N/A

GRANADA DAY SCHOOL

INFANT DAYCARE – KINDERGARTEN 900 University Dr. 305.444.2028

www.granadadayschool.com

CURRICULUM: language arts, science, math, social studies, Bible

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS: ballet, football, tennis, soccer, Spanish, French ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES: library time, computer center, art, music & movement, gardening, cooking, outdoor play, in-house field trips

TUITION: $695 - $1,025

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S SCHOOL PRESCHOOL

3930 S. Le Jeune Rd.

305.445.8918

www.icscoralgables.com

CURRICULUM: science, social studies, physical education, creative movement, ballet, soccer, German

SPORTS: N/A

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS: N/A

TUITION: $9,800

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: THE GROWING PLACE

ST. PHILIP’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

PREK – 5TH GRADE

1121 Andalusia Ave.

305.444.6366

www.saintphilips.net

CURRICULUM: Arts, foreign languages (Spanish, French, Latin), music, sacred studies, science & technology, physical education, mindfulness

SPORTS: Soccer, basketball, karate, tennis, flag football

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Spanish, clay, cooking, science, piano lessons

TUITION $22,155 - $25,250

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

Gabriela Olsen, Director of Admission & Enrollment Management

ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL

PREK – 5TH GRADE

3439 Main Hwy.

305.445.2606

www.sseds.org

CURRICULUM: Art, drama & speech, music, physical education, Godly Play & Sacred Studies, Spanish

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Student council, Reading Buddies program, 5th grade acolytes

TUITION: $22,500 - $24,750

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARISH SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – 5TH GRADE

5692 N. Kendall Dr.

305.665.4851

www.stepsmia.org

CURRICULUM: Utilizes STREAM method of teaching (science, technology, reading, engineering, the arts, math)

SPORTS: Ballet, basketball, flag football, golf, Irish dance, lacrosse, tae kwon do, tap dance, tennis, soccer, volleyball, zumba

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Art time ceramics, art time painting, choir, chess, code

explorers, cooking, French, journalism, piano, robotics, SSAT/ISEE test preparation

TUITION: $20,520 - $23,780

“For nearly 70 years, families have entrusted their children to St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School. As the largest PK – 5 Episcopal school in Miami, we specialize in these years that have the greatest impact on children’s future success. Beginning at age three, students are guided by experienced educators who apply decades of research to the classroom, maximizing each child’s potential during the years most critical to their development.”

Debby Lichtner, Director of Admission and Enrollment Management

PRE-NURSERY – 5TH GRADE

5950 N. Kendall Dr. 305.665.6228

www.tbam.org

CURRICULUM: Art, Hebrew and Judaic studies, language arts, mathematics, middot (values), music, physical education, science/STEM, social studies, Spanish, study skills, technology

SPORTS: Basketball, flag football, karate, tennis, cheerleading, hip hop, t-ball, ballet, soccer, gymnastics, yoga

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Broadway Bound Tots, musical theater, Spanish, science, computer programming

TUITION: $7,350 - $24,610

TEMPLE BETH AM DAY SCHOOL

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARISH SCHOOL

ST. PHILIP’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – MIDDLE SCHOOL

CONCHITA ESPINOSA ACADEMY

PRESCHOOL – 8TH GRADE

12975 SW 6th St.

305.227.1149

www.conchitaespinosa.com

CURRICULUM: Art, science, dance, language, reading, social studies

SPORTS: Baseball, basketball, cross country, flag football, martial arts, soccer, t-ball, track and field, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Conservatory of the Arts, French, student council, honor societies

TUITION: $9,350 - $9,900

K – 8 SCHOOLS

THE BILTMORE SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – 8TH GRADE

1600 South Red Rd. 305.266.4666

www.biltmoreschool.com

CURRICULUM: As the first IB school in South Florida, The Biltmore School focuses on an international education

SPORTS: Modern dance, flag football, soccer, tee-ball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Tutoring/homework help, arts program

TUITION: $9,800 - $15,800

CENTNER ACADEMY

PRESCHOOL – 8TH GRADE

4136 N. Miami Ave. (Preschool) 786.378.8646

1 NE 19th St. (Elementary and Middle School) 786.673.5154

www.centneracademy.com

CURRICULUM: The first “happiness school” in the U.S., which prioritizes emotional intelligence through meditation and group activities alongside traditional academics

SPORTS: Soccer, football, tennis

AFTER SCHOOL CARE: Both early care and after care are available for preschool through middle school students

TUITION: $21,975 - $29,850

FISHER ISLAND DAY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – 8TH GRADE

2 Fisher Island Dr. 305.531.2350

www.fids.org

CURRICULUM: English, mathematics, history, world languages, STEM, physical education

SPORTS: Soccer, running, tennis, baseball, golf, basketball, dance

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Art club, Chess club, Girl Power, Clay World

TUITION: $18,000 - $35,000

MCGLANNAN SCHOOL

GRADES 1 – 8

10770 SW 84th St. 305.274.2208

www.mcglannanschool.net

CURRICULUM: Classes tailored to students of average to superior intellect, challenged by dyslexia: Reading with 1:1 Reading Clinic, language arts, math, science, social studies, computer application, journalism, study skills, physical education, disovery of self and citizenship. Admission applications accepted year-round.

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: An additional enrichment program for grades 1 – 5 includes arts and crafts, dance, yoga, study hall and theater

TUITION: CALL 305.274.2208

ST. THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – 8TH GRADE

2701 Indian Mound Trail

305.446.1738

www.stscg.org

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

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

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Includes student council, Robotics, STEM, chess

TUITION: $9,500

K – 12 SCHOOLS

305.448.1463

www.britomiamiprivate.com

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

SPORTS: Baseball, basketball, volleyball, dance

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, NASC, Interact Club, Journalism

TUITION: N/A

CARROLLTON SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART

PRESCHOOL – 12 (ALL GIRLS)

3747 Main Hwy.

305.446.5673

www.carrollton.org

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

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 – 12

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

7500 SW 120th St. (Middle School Montgomery Campus) 305.238.3424

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

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

www.gulliverschools.org

CURRICULUM: Signature academic programs include architecture, biomedical sciences, engineering, international business and entrepreneurship, and law and litigation

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

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Over 70 clubs, organizations and honor societies

TUITION: $18,360 - $38,220

BRITO MIAMI PRIVATE SCHOOL

K – 12

2732 SW 32 Ave.

KILLIAN OAKS ACADEMY

PRESCHOOL – 12

10545 SW 97th Ave. 305.274.2221

www.killianoaksacademy.com

CURRICULUM: Traditional curriculum based on the latest educational concepts

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

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS: Morning care, homework club, tutorial sessions, instrumental club, interactive games club, science club

TUITION: $27,000 - $32,000

MIAMI COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

PRESCHOOL – 12TH GRADE

601 NE 107th St. 305.779.7200

www.miamicountryday.org

CURRICULUM: English, reading, humanities, technology, math, science, world languages, performing and studio arts, communication arts, humanities, physical education, outdoor education program

SPORTS: Volleyball, cross country, swimming,

golf, football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, tennis, water polo, softball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Includes drama, dance, musical theater, Breakthrough Miami, entrepreneurship

TUITION: $24,300 - $38,265

RIVIERA SCHOOLS

PRESCHOOL – 12TH GRADE

6800 Nervia St. (Day School) 305.666.1856 9775 SW 87th Ave. (Preparatory School) 786.300.0300

www.rivieraschools.com

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

SPORTS: Cross country, golf, swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, baseball, beach volleyball, lacrosse, tennis, track & field, water polo

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Arts, Games & Culture, Engineering & Robotics, Music & Voice Lessons, Science & Strategy

TUITION: $10,850 - $28,000

RIVIERA SCHOOLS

“The pursuit of academic excellence, the desire to succeed and the drive to effect positive change in the world define us. students and faculty work cohesively to set and achieve goals in a setting filled with energy and compassion. At Riviera, we live, play and work with purpose.”

WESTMINSTER

PRESCHOOL – 12

6855 SW 152nd St.

305.233.2030

www.wcsmiami.org

CURRICULUM: Bible, math, reading, handwriting, language arts, social studies, science, art, music

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

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Include, but are not limited to, art club, theater, outdoors and environment club

TUITION: $12,600 - $24,200

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, English, science, mathematics, Spanish, 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: Over 40 clubs including fencing, American Sign Language, Model U.N. and Boy Scouts

TUITION: $17,900

FUSION ACADEMY

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

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; taught one-on-one by qualified teachers

SPORTS: N/A

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $4,080 - $3,590 PER COURSE

PALMER TRINITY

GRADES 6 – 12

8001 SW 184th St.

305.251.2230

www.palmertrinity.org

CURRICULUM: English, mathematics, science, history and humanities, world languages, religious studies, fine arts, physical education, computer science

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

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Over 50 clubs including book club, Best Buddies, Gay Straight Alliance and Young Republicans, Coral Lab

TUITION: $36,900 - $38,000

Palmer Trinity continued from pg.64

“Teachers and staff at Palmer Trinity School are equipped and trained to teach online and in a hybrid model to ensure that regardless of what scenario takes place, the educational experience is engaging, challenging and of the highest quality. Our campus has also been reorganized with new protocols to safeguard the health and wellness of our students, faculty and staff. Despite the new circumstances we find ourselves in, our commitment remains the same – to ensure that students receive a well-rounded and comprehensive learning experience in a supportive and inclusive environment.”

Patrick Roberts, Head of School

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, performing arts, physical education, science, visual arts, world languages

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

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Over 50 clubs including Black Students Association, Drama Team, Yearbook, Students Against Gun Violence and Poetry Club

TUITION: $41,750

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

SPORTS: N/A

PALMER TRINITY

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: N/A

TUITION: $21,500

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 applications

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

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Over 45 clubs including Comic Book Club, Pre-Med Club, Paintball Club and Scuba Dive Club

TUITION: $11,800

IMMACULATA – LA SALLE

GRADES 9 – 12

3601 S. Miami Ave. 305.854.2334

www.ilsroyals.com

CURRICULUM: Religious education, English, mathematics, science, world language, social studies, physical education, health/life management skills, performing/fine arts

SPORTS: Dance, soccer, football, softball, tennis, swimming, track, basketball, baseball, volleyball, cheerleading, cross country, lacrosse, golf

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

TUITION: $15,170 - $15,520

OUR LADY OF LOURDES ACADEMY

GRADES 9 – 12

5525 SW 84th St. 305.667.1623

www.olla.org

CURRICULUM: business, computer science, English, Fine Arts, mathematics, health and exercise science, science, social studies, theology

and world languages

SPORTS: basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Includes student newspaper and campus ministry

TUITION: $12,775 - $13,125

ST. BRENDAN HIGH SCHOOL

GRADES 9 – 12

2950 SW 87th Ave.

305.223.5181

www.stbrendanhigh.org

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

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

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Includes PreMed Club, Student Athletic Trainer’s Association, robotics, environmental club, Model UN, drama club

TUITION: $10,750 - $14,600

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7801 Los Pinos Blvd. - Cocoplum, Coral Gables Reduced! Spanish Colonial estate with beautiful arch. details and materials hand-selected in Spain.

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HOME & GARDEN

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS MOSAIC POOLS

TOUCHLESS APPLIANCES

HERB GARDENING

ELEMENTS: WOOD FLOORING

CORAL GABLES RESIDENT

RAY CORRAL IS USING HIS PASSION FOR MOSAICS TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL POOLS

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS

AN ART COLLECTION FROM BAUHAUS TO CUBA AND BEYOND

BY JP FABER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JON BRAELEY

The living room at the home of José Valdés-Fauli is filled with objects of art that he has spent a lifetime collecting. The two large paintings on the wall, hanging above a Baker sofa, are both by renowned Cuban artists, Victor Manuel (left) and Mariano Rodríguez (right). The large sculpture on the left is one of a pair from the Ambete tribe in the Congo, called “The Protectors of Children.” The back wall inset-display areas hold mostly Chinese art, with the notable exception of a vertical metal sculpture (right, center) by Italian-born American sculptor Harry Bertoia. When stroked, it produces harmonic chimes.

“I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST PIECES I HAVE,” SAYS VALDÉS-FAULI OF A STILL LIFE PAINTED BY CHILEAN ARTIST GUILLERMO MUÑOZ VERA.

HE ACQUIRED THE PAINTING IN 1993 FROM LATIN AMERICAN ART DEALER GARY NADER. “I JUST THINK IT’S A MASTERPIECE.” VERA, BORN IN 1956, IS RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE AS A HYPERREALIST.

José Valdés-Fauli began collecting art when he was 19-years-old, he says, “because my parents were collectors and I sort of inherited that from them.” Today his collection occupies nearly every square inch of the 1927 home on Alhambra Circle that he shares with his partner, Dr. Shed Boren, an assistant professor at FIU. Valdés-Fauli retired 10 years ago after a career in banking, and since then has “become a more avid collector, getting involved with museums.” He is currently on the board of the Coral Gables Museum, where he helps curate art exhibits.

The collection in Valdés-Fauli’s home contains the works of many well-known Cuban artists, including Roberto Fabelo, Gina Pellón, Emilio Falero, and Manuel Mendive, as well as Chilean painters such as Guillermo Muñoz Vera and Enrique Campuzan. He also collects painters and sculptors from Central America, Mexico and the U.S., as well as antique objects from China and Africa. “His collection has been put together with a great eye for quality,” says Ramon Cernuda, who runs Cernuda Arte on Ponce de Leon Blvd.

Among his prized objects is a small stainless-steel work by the American sculptor Ernest Trova, a Chinese Tang dynasty ceramic horse, and a museum quality Bertoia sculpture that can be “played” by stroking it. “I have always had a theory in life that you own your possessions, your possessions don’t own you. So, things are meant to be used. If it breaks, it breaks, if it stains, it stains.”

The one thing that remains understated is the furniture, which is contemporary (Artefacto) and classic (Biedermeier). “This house is almost 100-years-old,” he says, “so you’ve got all the architecture going on, and then you have all the artwork going on. So, you can’t have furniture going on. It has to be the classics, so that it’s very subtle and doesn’t fight with anything.”

Valdés-Fauli documents many of his pieces, going so far as to have Oxford labs certify his Chinese vases and tiles. Much of his collection comes with a story – a silver bowl that he coveted for 30 years before being able to buy it, offers he made for pieces that were too exorbitant to be refused. And many of his stories end with “I saw it and fell in love with it and had to have it.” ■

ENTRANCE (TOP LEFT)

The tile-floor entrance hallway to the house, with beamed ceiling, contains two Cherner chairs, a statue (“Mujer Levitando” – Levitating Woman) by Venezuelan Abigail Varela, and a wood sculpture by Cuban artist Armando Guiller. The glass table is by Artefacto.

LIVING ROOM (TOP RIGHT)

In a corner of the living room sit a Biedermeier chair and table. The dark painting (“Three Women”) hanging above is by Cuban artist Roberto Fabelo; to its right are two Kcho’s, and to its left are works by Moises Finale (top) and Carlos Quintana (bottom). All are Cuban.

BREAKFAST AREA (BOTTOM LEFT)

A comfortable breakfast nook off of the kitchen is occupied by a “theater” sofa from Design Within Reach, ergonomically designed for maximum comfort (also enjoyed by Eli the dog). The large painting above is by Brazilian Antonio Amaral; the red painting is by Sandor Gonzalez, the yellow by Flora Fong, both Cuban.

DINING ROOM (BOTTOM RIGHT)

The formal dining room is dominated by a large traditional dining table, with “architectural” leather-covered chairs by Bottega. The long painting of a child is by Venezuelan Alirio Palacios. The candelabras on the server are Mexican silver.

THE FLORIDA ROOM

The Florida Room in the Valdés-Fauli home is dominated by two large paintings created by contemporary Mexican artist Hugo Lugo, entitled “Paper” and “Pencil,” which Valdés-Fauli purchased 15 years ago at an art auction here in Miami. The red metal sculpture in front of the arched windows is by Venezuelan artist Felix George.

“I TRY TO BE IMPARTIAL, BUT I THINK THIS ROOM IS BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND COMFORTABLE, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT,” SAYS VALDÉS-FAULI. “YOU WANT ART YOU CAN ENJOY LIVING WITH…”

CUBA LANDSCAPE

This painting is by Victor Manuel, the founder of Modernism in Cuba, who lived in Paris in the 1920s. “His work was about everyday life and brought back to Cuba the idea of social justice through the arts,” says Cuban art expert Ramon Cernuda.

BOOKSHELF OF EMPTINESS

This painting by contemporary Cuban artist Joel Besmar contains a bookshelf of titles about nothingness (“Non-Existent Objects,” “Negation and Non-Being.”) “The details and draftsmanship are exquisite,” says Cernuda. “This is no longer common in today’s world.”

FROM CHURCH WALLS TO POOL MURALS

THE WORK OF GABLES MOSAICIST RAY CORRAL HAS GONE FROM THE SACRED TO THE SLIPPERY

BY JAMES BROIDA

When Ray Corral incorporated his Coral Gables business in 2000, he had already been dabbling in the art of creating mosaics. This ancient craft, which first gained renown in the Roman world, consists of creating patterns and images using small pieces of stone, glass or ceramics. It enjoyed a comeback in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, mostly on the walls of churches.

Corral was a percussionist and music writer at the time, but was fascinated by medieval and Renaissance art. He started doing mosaics as a passion project, installing a wall mural for a church, or a floor mural (called a medallion) for a friend. “Then I did a big medallion for a house in California,” says Corral. “I said this was going to cost them 50,000 and they wrote me a $5,000 [deposit] check on the spot.”

Soon after that he was hired by the owner of the (now closed) Century Hotel in South Beach, to create a mural for his home. After that he never looked back.

“People think I went to Italy and studied there, but actually I learned the art from an old Italian master who lived in Mexico,” says Corral. “And I read everything I could find on what they did in the 14th century. At the time they referred to a mosaic artist as a mosaicist” – the name he gave to his company. “A mosaicist was a person who would design, manufacture and install.” Today he does all three.

Over the years, Corral’s work has migrated from creating

medallions in the grand entranceways of homes to the backyard swimming pools, for the simple mathematics of it. “Not everybody has a foyer to put a medallion in, but everyone has a swimming pool,” he says. “I’ve become pretty much known as the guy to go to nationwide for mosaics in pools.” Over the last 20 years he has installed mosaics in 350 pools nationwide, about two dozen of them in his hometown of Coral Gables.

“If you have a historic home, you can get reliefs from the front of the house, or from some element inside,” he says. “Then I design it as an inlay into your pool. It rolls with the city’s old Spanish architecture. It’s not a Versace type design. That would never work in an old, historically designated home.” Among the local pools he has transformed are Louis Wolfson’s in Journey’s End, and that of Matthew Meehan and Rod Hildebrant on the Granada Golf Course.

Corral himself lives on Country Club Prado, next door to Frank Farian of the former pop group Milli Vanilli. “I am on the edgy side, because I come from music, and I’m an artist,” he says. He is also a community activist, donating $4,000 to place wild orchids on Prado. “I’ve done a lot of beautiful pools in new homes in Coral Gables. But I have been able to do, and what I want to do, are pools in historic Gables homes.” ■

OPPOSITE: THE POOL IN CORRAL’S HOME

ABOVE & BELOW: THE POOL IN THE HOME OF MATTHEW MEEHAN AND ROD HILDEBRANT, WITH DETAILING OF THE STEPS.

RIGHT: CORAL GABLES LOCAL RAY CORRAL WAS A MUSICIAN UNTIL HE STARTED DOING MOSAICS AS A HOBBY. HIS PASSION LED TO HIM DESIGNING AND CREATING BEAUTIFUL POOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

“NOT EVERYBODY HAS A FOYER TO PUT A MEDALLION IN, BUT EVERYONE HAS A SWIMMING POOL. I’VE BECOME PRETTY MUCH KNOWN AS THE GUY TO GO TO NATIONWIDE FOR MOSAICS IN POOLS ” RAY CORRAL

OPEN THE POD BAY DOORS, HAL*

THREE TOUCHLESS FIXTURES TO ADD TO YOUR HOME RIGHT NOW

BY MALLORY EVANS JACOBSON

All of this time spent at home is evoking a constant dialogue about how we can improve our homes and the areas that we frequent most. Here are three appliances, all available at Coral Gables’ Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, that we think would take your kitchen and bathroom to the next level.

CHEF’S CHOICE

A pioneer of at-home steam cooking, Gaggenau is known for its luxury appliances that make (almost) anyone feel like a master chef. The company recently introduced its Next Generation Combi-steam Oven with Home Connect technology. It features a dynamic app-driven mechanism that allows for a variety of functions including pre-heating the oven from outside of the home and selecting recipes. Retail: from $9,699.

CHIC SINK

Marrying sophisticated design with resource-saving technolo-

gy, Kohler’s Artifacts faucet presents a novel take on the kitchen tap. Controlled by a sensor that is triggered by motion, the faucet employs several settings including BerrySoft, which keeps bruiseprone fruits and vegetables safe from otherwise mighty water sprays. Retail: from $700.

SYNCHRONIZED SHOWER

The U by Moen Smart Shower offers a degree of innovation that you didn’t know you needed (until now). With mobile connectivity and total personalization, the shower can be controlled via voice activation or a smartphone app. Compatible with Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa, consumers can create specific presets such as “My Morning Shower,” with exact temperatures and accompanying ambient lighting. Retail: from $1,276. ■

*This is the famous line from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” where the computer refuses to follow commands. Not that your appliance would.

MOEN SMART SHOWER

GAGGENAU COMBISTEAM OVEN

KOHLER’S ARTIFACTS FAUCET

Photo Credit: Aubrie Andrea

GOING VERTICAL

HERB GARDENING IN A SMALL GABLES BACKYARD

BY GRACE CARRICARTE

For 11 years I lived vertical – as on the 22nd floor of a Brickell condominium. The direct sun and salty winds that reached my balcony barely allowed me to keep a few weathered succulents alive. My dog Benny and I had bolder dreams to go horizontal. He wanted to chase squirrels within his own enclosed yard. I desired a garden to help me cultivate any well-hidden horticulture skills I might possess.

We purchased our 1936 Coral Gables home in 2014. The small shaded yard was perfect for Benny’s outings, but not for my dream of an herb garden, which would require about 6 hours of sunlight per day. “The minimum sized lot in Coral Gables is 5,000 square feet,” Ana Collongette told me. She is a Gables resident, member of the Coral Gables Garden Club, and realtor at BHHS Florida Realty. “Not everyone has acres of land. You can have a wonderful vibrant garden by creatively utilizing all the space around your house.” Collongette, who has seen houses of all shapes and sizes over her 35 years as a realtor, assured me that my rather narrow, bricked side yard had just the right amount of sunlight for growing herbs.

The potential pallet became motivation enough. In South Florida we can grow a great variety of herbs for any feast, including basil, cilantro, oregano, rosemary, dill, sage, lemon balm, mint, parsley, tarragon and thyme. Basil makes for an amazingly easy Caprese salad. Rosemary works wonders on lamb chops. Mint is essential for a fine mojito. Herb-filled omelets or scrambled eggs are taken to the next level. Thyme and oregano serve us well on chicken (and for a perfectly herb-marinated turkey for Thanksgiving Day!). And the month of September just also happens to be a great time of year to start any garden.

Due to my limited space, however, I would have to go vertical. Cedar wood is naturally rot and insect resistant, so I purchased two vertical planters from Amazon that came with three tiered and adjustable levels on each. Mine had wheels so I could easily turn them for sunlight preferences or roll them to my garage should a hurricane approach.

Going vertical not only saves space, it improves drainage to avoid rotting plant roots; it even saves water, which trickles from one level to the next. Plants requiring more sunlight can take the top row and those requiring less can go down a tier or two. Your back will thank you as you remain mostly vertical when picking what you’d like to add to your next meal.

My green thumbs are now 6-years-old and I am happy to report that Collongette was correct. My herb garden still thrives in its small side nook. Benny, a rather senior dog now, still joins me outside, though less concerned with chasing squirrels than sunbathing with his new friend Elle. I have since joined the Coral Gables Garden Club alongside many experienced women. What has remained true is that nature is always eager to provide therapeutic opportunities. When I share a homemade meal with loved ones, I think to myself, “These herbs were grown and handpicked for us to share. Made with love.” Above all else, this has always been the best ingredient of all. ■

THIS HERB GARDEN, TUCKED AWAY BY THE SIDE OF THIS 1936 GABLES HOME, IS THRIVING, PRODUCING ROSEMARY, BASIL, OREGANO, CILANTRO… AND MINT FOR THE ESSENTIAL SUMMER MOJITO.

ELLE (NOT BENNY) STANDS NEXT TO THE CEDAR WOOD VERTICAL PLANTERS. THESE FEATURE THREE TIERED AND ADJUSTABLE LEVELS ON WHEELS FOR EASY REPOSITIONING FOR THE SUN – OR AWAY FROM HURRICANES.

WOOD FLOORS

BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, A WOODEN FLOOR CAN ADD PROFOUND BEAUTY TO A ROOM

BY VINCENZO AVANZATO

Having just designed a tabletop inspired by wood flooring with brass inlays, I thought I would share some of these ideas with you – in particular how the innovators and designers of this noble material have stretched their imagination.

This classic material we take so for granted is anything but boring. Even if wood flooring is an archetypal choice, there has been an enormous influx of good alternatives such as laminates, vinyl and even wood-looking porcelain tile. These have become effective alternatives, especially for those high traffic areas in one’s home.

In the past, however, wood has set the trend, and other flooring manufacturers have followed suit. Nonetheless, some designers are pushing the envelope by integrating materials such as a metal inlay or a resin that looks like mother of pearl. Or imagine a mélange of wood and stone and even the use of bright Alodine (metallic) stains for those more glamorous interiors.

However, if some of these innovative ideas are not quite your cup of tea, there’s no reason to feel left out. Many companies offer a more conservative wood plank that comes in varying widths and colors. Fumed or “smoked” oak, for example, turns the color of the wood to a warm taupe. In addition, you can finish the wood with a lovely whitewash, like icing on a cake, which enhances the grain. This type of finish can create the impression of driftwood and works wonderfully with a French country look; it can dress your interior up or down, depending on your goal. It also makes a fabulous backdrop for contemporary furnishings. A traditional Versailles pattern creates a similar backdrop, which if enlarged, can give the impression of a much bigger space.

You may also ask, should I use a solid plank versus an engineered one? Well, without getting too complicated, you can’t go wrong either way. It all depends on the capacity of the company installing it. Should you select an engineered floor, just make sure it has a nice thick top layer, what they call the “lamella.” This will allow you to refinish the surface should you decide to change the décor when the trends start to change again. ■

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

ABOVE: SOME DESIGNERS ARE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE BY INTEGRATING MATERIALS SUCH AS A METAL INLAY OR A RESIN THAT LOOKS LIKE MOTHER OF PEARL.

What Less than $1 Million Will Buy in Coral Gables

Residential real estate in Coral Gables continues to be among the most valuable in South Florida, though it is currently something of a buyer’s market. According to Redfin, homes are currently selling for about six percent below list price, and according to Zillow, Gables home values have declined 1.6 percent over the past year. Having said that, the median home

value in Coral Gables, at $753,400, is still twice the median home value for Miami-Dade County as a whole. But what can you actually buy for that amount? To see what less than $1 million would buy today, we asked three real estate agents to submit one of their homes for sale in that price range. Here is what they came up with, in different Gables locations.

On the Edge of the Grove

321 MANOR PLACE

Listing Price

$980,000

3 bed/3 bath/pool/3,067 sq. ft. This vintage (1946) home, with French glass doors leading onto the pool, is heavy with charm: Wooden and tile floors, a working fireplace, and a brick driveway. With a generator and new roof, the house is on a large lot (10,000 square feet) a block from Ingraham Park on the Coral Gables Waterway. Listing Agents: Isabelle Andrews 305.546.5421; Alba Biondi 305.323.2595 (Both BHHS EWM Realty) {Photos courtesy of BHHS EWM Realty}

Near the UM Campus

1445 ALEGRIANO AVE.

Listing Price

$899,000

3 bed/2 bath/2,629 sq. ft.

Walking distance to UM (and its Gifford Arboretum), this modern home (built 2005) has plenty of space, including a two-car garage. Set amidst a canopy of trees, it has a warm feeling, with wood-beamed ceilings and an eat-in kitchen with oak cabinets. It is also hurricane ready, boasting impact windows and generator. Listing Agent: Carole Smith (Compass) 305.710.1010. {Photos courtesy of AlexTphoto}

Listing Price

$975,000

In Central Gables

3315 MONEGRO ST.

4 bed/3.5 bath/3,067 sq. ft. This 2-story, corner-lot home is light-filled, with full impact windows and doors. A spacious floor plan with open kitchen leads to living, dining and family rooms. The first floor has a master suite overlooking the garden and en-suite guest quarters. The second floor has two bedrooms plus an open loft area. Listing Agent: Pam Williams (Coldwell Banker Realty) 305.342.3663  {Photos courtesy of Coldwell Banker}

SOPHISTICATED LIVING at THesis Residences

LIFESTYLE THesis Hotel

20,000 sq ft

INDOOR OUTDOOR EVENT SPACES

Two Chef-Driven DINING EXPERIENCES Elevated POOL DECKS

“As we re-open our communities and launch brand new properties, we are unwavering in our commitment to the safety and health of our clients, the general public and our staff.

We are committed to a process of continuous improvement and hence to assuring the safest environment possible while preserving the memorable experiences that have always been the hallmark of our projects and communities.”

— DR. PRENDERGAST, Member of NRI Board of Advisors

The newest place to do it all in Coral Gables

Paseo de la Riviera offers a multidimensional experience for locals, residents, and visitors of beautiful Coral Gables. Contemporary lifestyle living at THesis Residences, landmark THesis Hotel, elevated pool decks, chef-driven restaurants, inspiring community events, and focus-friendly working spaces all under the comfort of one roof.

NRI is dedicated to improving the communities in which it serves by being an environmental leader and committing to sustainability. NRI has achieved LEED certification at PASEO.

Nip & Tuck

IS IT TIME FOR A TUMMY TUCK?

KATHY BUCCIO THOUGHT SO

BY JAMES BROIDA

As the current host of the South Florida PBS Health Channel and a former producer at Access Hollywood (who still works for Extra, E! News and Telemundo), Kathy Buccio could have her pick of plastic surgeons. And she needed one. After giving birth to her second child, she was suffering from a distended belly that led to more than one person asking her if she was expecting again.

What Buccio decided to do was undergo what is known as a “tummy tuck,” and she chose Coral Gables plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Careaga.

As it turns out, Coral Gables is a thriving center for both plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology. If you consult the prestigious Castle Connolly Top Doctors guide, and put in the zip codes for Coral Gables, what comes up are almost exclusively beauty doctors. Buccio says she picked Careaga because she had interviewed him for the Health Channel, and “I felt in my gut that this was the guy for me.”

Gut would be the appropriate word, because Buccio was suffering from diastasis, a weakness of the abdominal muscles that frequently follows pregnancy. The result is a bulging stomach that is sometimes minor, but if extensive, can be difficult if not impossible to correct with diet and exercise. What is required, says Dr. Careaga, is surgery during which the muscles are tied together “and tightened, like a corset.”

The resulting tummy tuck operation is a specialty for Dr. Careaga, who has performed between 4,000 and 5,000 such procedures. For Buccio, it was something whose time had come. “In Miami we keep procedures on the downlow, but I found that friends had gone to him,” she recalls. “I said, ‘I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. I’m doing it and getting this corrected.’”

The surgery took about an hour and a half, says Buccio, and that was the easy part. Recovery was no fun. “You are uncomfortable, and it’s painful. Your skin is stretched and you are bent over like the Hunchback of Notre Dame,” she says. “You can’t be moving at first. Maybe five minutes of walking a day.”

“The pain is there the first three days. And the drains are there, in you, by your pelvic bones,” she says. “But once they take the drains out [after about a week], it’s a game changer. You feel so much better.” Buccio says that it wasn’t until the 10th day that she was able to drive; before then it is nothing but rest – and no rich foods that might cause cramps. “By two weeks I was feeling great,” she says.

At that point she was fitted with a full body girdle, to wear for six weeks. After a month she started with light exercise, and after three months she got the go-ahead to do abdominal exercise (though most people take longer).

“He did an amazing job. You get some really ugly belly buttons if they don’t know what they are doing,” she says. “He did lipo on each side, not a lot, but enough so you can see an hourglass. Today I feel great, I look great, and no one is asking me anymore if I am pregnant, which is awesome.” ■

TOP:

KATHY BUCCIO, HOST OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA PBS HEALTH CHANNEL, LOOKS AND FEELS GREAT AFTER UNDERGOING A ‘TUMMY TUCK’ WITH CORAL GABLES PLASTIC SURGEON DR. DANIEL CAREAGA.

BOTTOM: BEFORE AND AFTER IMAGES REVEAL THE DRAMATIC CHANGE

A World of Its Own

STAYING AT THE BILTMORE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO LEAVE

BY JAMES BROIDA

It is arguably the most iconic symbol of the city, a building which Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli calls “the Eiffel Tower of Coral Gables.” It is also one of the finest hotels in the world. For both reasons, it may be the perfect staycation for anyone living here.

With the pandemic raging and travel to foreign locales either worrisome or outright prohibited, a stay at the Biltmore is an enticing alternative for anyone looking for a quick getaway from the daily grind and the endless home sequestering.

Yes, the Biltmore is familiar territory. There is hardly a resident who has not interacted at some point with the grand dame of the Gables’ Spanish revival architecture. Maybe it’s been via a wedding, or a round of golf, or a dinner at Fontana, or a business conference held there – regardless of why, most residents have at least visited the Biltmore. Vacationing here, however, is something else altogether.

Staying at the Biltmore is like seeing the world from the other side of the mirror. Now you are inside the great architectural

marvel, looking out on the rest of the Gables. Now its grand, columned lobby belongs to you, and its vast pool – the largest in the state of Florida – is your aquatic playground. Some of its suites are extraordinary, with their own living rooms, balconies and lofty ceilings, but even the humblest standard rooms are elegant and comfortable, having all been redone as part of a $25 million facelift completed just last year.

We had only enough time to stay for the weekend (if you can stretch it out longer, the hotel will throw in a third night for free). But that was enough time to unwind.

There are several directions you can go with a stay at the Biltmore. Of course, there is the exquisite 18-hole golf course, originally designed in 1925 and then revamped in 2018 to the tune of $2.5 million. You can play the full 18 or just 9, plus avail yourself of instruction at the highly rated Jim McLean Golf School – or just practice on the putting green, driving range or bunker & chipping area. You can also use one of 10 lighted courts at the Biltmore Tennis Center,

ABOVE: THE LEGENDARY BILTMORE HOTEL FROM THE OCEAN-SIZE POOL, THE LARGEST IN FLORIDA.

THE CONCIERGE, ERNESTO ARAGON WAS WAITING FOR US AND READY TO MAKE OUR WEEKEND STAY A MEMORABLE ONE.

OPPOSITE: EVENING SETTING FOR CASUAL DINING AT THE POOLSIDE CASCADE RESTAURANT, NAMED FOR THE OVERHEAD 23-FOOT WATERFALL.

RELAX IN LUXURIOUS COMFORT IN A PRIVATE CABANA BY THE POOL. SUNBATHE ON TEAKWOOD CHAISES AND LOVESEATS HIDDEN AMONG THE PALMS.

THE SUPERIOR KING ROOM IN LUSH TONES OF PLUM AND GOLD ACCENTS IN A EUROPEAN STYLE LUXURY INTERIOR.

if that is your sporting preference.

Another way to go is a body weekend. The seventh floor spa, with its relaxing oriental vibe, reopened in June, as has the 10,000 square foot fitness center on the ground floor – albeit with the use of a mask and without the use (by county order) of the locker rooms, sauna, steam room or showers. Fortunately, since you are staying at the hotel, you can change and shower in your room. The important thing is you can still get a royal coconut milk and honey scrub, or enjoy a Moroccan purification ritual, or workout on state-of-the-art exercise gear with or without the guidance of a wellness program.

But we chose the path of pure laziness. The core of this indolence was the rental of a cabana by the pool. Depending on the size of the cabana and the day of the week, one of these nine enclaves on the south side of the pool can be yours for $179 to $279 for the day. Hidden inside clusters of palms, hibiscus and bougainvillea, each has teakwood lounge chaises, banana leaf ceiling fans, and outdoor showers – along with a mini-fridge and TV screen inside.

We planted ourselves on the lounge chairs and basically did nothing except dip into the pool, visit the restroom or saunter to the poolside Cascade restaurant. The solicitous staff will bring drinks (we were seduced by the mango daiquiri) as well as lunch. We thought we should get the exercise of walking 10 yards to Cascade, but outside of that we simply read that long-delayed novel in between cat naps.

For those who insist on leaving the grounds, there are bicycles for use by guests. But we found the building and grounds to be captivating. What other hotel has gargoyles and antique bird cages in a great hall with 40-foot ceilings? The three dining options were also hugely satisfying. In addition to poolside at Cascade (great lobster roll), you can watch golfers from the informal 19th Hole (great chicken wings), or enjoy fine Italian cuisine in the Fontana courtyard (great homemade pasta) with its enormous Venetian fountain and strings of light.

In the end, we left the Biltmore with a profound sense of having spent time in a place far away. We also left feeling safe, in an environment where everyone wears a mask and the staff is obsessed with keeping things sterilized. “I can tell you this much,” says Tom Prescott, who is part of the ownership team that runs the Biltmore. “We are investing significant resources into keeping the hotel safe, with surface cleanings every other hour for tables and elevators. The Biltmore has never been cleaner.” ■

Redfish is Reborn

A SEAFOOD LOVER’S DREAM, WITH A VIEW

BY ANDREW GAYLE

Consider it a lucky stroke that Redfish by Chef Adrianne (formerly Red Fish Grill) was always an outdoor venue. The main building itself – a coral stone heirloom from the federal work programs of the Depression – can house maybe six or eight tables. But outside, under a canopy of square umbrellas, there is seating for more than 80 people on the expansive new patio. And on any given night, with indoor dining officially banned in Miami-Dade County, the tables are entirely full.

What draws the diners are several magnets. First, Redfish is literally the only waterfront restaurant in Coral Gables. It sits on the edge of the lagoon in Matheson Hammock Park, with a view of that oval swimming basin, a line of palm trees beyond it, and Biscayne Bay in the distance. You can’t find a more romantic panorama this side of Tahiti. Second is the food. The full name of the restaurant refers to local culinary gem Adrianne Calvo, whose Vineyard Restaurant & Wine Bar brought civilized cuisine to West Kendall 13 years ago (it just reopened in a vastly larger space in the Town and Country Mall).

It was at the Vineyard that

entrepreneur Rodney Barreto approached her with a proposition: Would she like to take the helm of a seafood-driven restaurant in a reborn Red Fish Grill? Barreto was already betting heavily that he could bring back the old favorite, refurbishing a historic landmark that had lain wrecked since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Calvo said yes, so long as she had a free hand to deliver a truly ocean-based menu, something oddly rare in South Florida. The result is a stunning tour de force of seafood fare.

Among the starters are several old school crowd pleasers, like a rich New England Clam Chowder and a fried calamari with lemon zest aioli. We tried the jumbo crab cakes with chipotle aioli, garlic cilantro, and roasted pineapple relish, which were simply perfect. But we also left our comfort zone for Chef Adrianne’s grilled sardines, flown in from the Pacific Northwest, and served with a fried hazelnut salsa verde. A salty, toothsome taste of the ocean.

Among the entrees there is her killer brown sugar-crusted salmon, that comes with sweet and spicy potatoes and garlic sautéed spinach. An explosion of flavors, with deep-sea Pacific

ABOVE: THE

OUTSIDE

REDFISH BY CHEF ADRIANNE 9610 OLD CUTLER ROAD MIAMI. FL 33156 305.668.8788

OPPOSITE:

TOP: REDFISH IS THE ONLY WATERFRONT RESTAURANT IN CORAL GABLES.

MIDDLE: SIUNA AHI TUNA TARTARE SERVED WITH OSETRA CAVIAR AND CRISPY WONTON.

BOTTOM: THE CIOPPINO SEAFOOD STEW WITH FISH, SCALLOPS, CLAMS, LOBSTER AND MUSSELS IN A RICH TOMATO BROTH.

TOP: CHEF ADRIANNE CALVO IS AT THE HELM OF REDFISH WITH INNOVATIVE SEAFOOD-DRIVEN COOKING.

EXPANSIVE

PATIO CAN SEAT OVER 80 PEOPLE, INCLUDING A COVERED BAR.

salmon at its core, already a house favorite. Another colorful burst of savory seafood flavor is the amazing cioppino seafood stew with fish, scallops, clams, lobster and mussels in a tomato broth. But the showstopper is the whole crispy snapper, presented in all its roasted glory with grilled lemons and a bell pepper vinaigrette. A large, lovely fresh fish (and local, too!), enhanced by a citrus infusion.

Redfish also serves some land lubber food, but the sea is so much the star there that even their amazing honey fried chicken (one of only three “not seafood” entrees) is first brined. Their raw bar is also exceptional, except that for the moment you cannot sit at the bar thanks to the county’s virus restrictions. But you can order oysters from the menu, and they are spectacular, coming from two dedicated oyster beds – one in Maine, the other in Washington – that are exclusive sources for Redfish.

A pleasant surprise is Chef Adrianne’s take on vegetables, something that has spilled over from the Vineyard. Her roasted broccolini with shallots are positively addictive, and her fire-roasted quartered sweet potatoes, with French onion butter, are ridiculously delicious.

Among the desserts is Rodney’s Key Lime Pie, which proprietor Barreto brought to the restaurant with a recipe retrieved from a shop in the Keys. It’s the second recipe that Barreto brought to Redfish; the first is for the fried chicken, a family recipe which is easily among the best we have ever encountered.

Redfish is not inexpensive, so be forewarned. But the level of cuisine and the extraordinary setting make for a delightful experience. This is sophisticated, al fresco dining at its finest, with the sunset and moonrise thrown in for good measure – and a real treat for fans of fresh seafood. The long drive through the mangroves of Matheson Hammock from Old Cutler Road to reach Redfish just adds to the adventure. ■

Sept 2020

THE TOP OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS

Usually our dining guide is a listing of the finest restaurants Coral Gables has to offer, sorted by types of cuisine. Once the coronavirus forced dining rooms to shut down, we switched to listing restaurants that were still offering takeout and delivery options. Now, with restaurants allowed to reopen but only serve outdoor, we list those establishments that have al fresco dining in some form or another, from a couple of tables on the sidewalk to a full-blown outdoor patio.

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

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

AMERICAN

77 Sport Bar

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

Bachour

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

Burger Bob’s

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

Cheesecake Factory

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

Clutch Burger

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

Copper 29

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

Denny’s

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

Doc B’s

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

Eating House

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

Hillstone

A Coral Gables fan favorite, Hillstone has created additional seating outside and has tables inside, along the open glass walls. Yes, they’re considered American cuisine, but they also have an amazing sushi bar. 201 Miracle Mile $$$ 305.529.0141

Seasons 52

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

Sports Grill

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

Tap 42

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

The Globe

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

The Local

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

Titanic Restaurant and Brewery

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

Yard House

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

ASIAN

Benihana

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

Canton Chinese

The only sit-down Chinese restaurant in the Gables now has outdoor seating on Ponce. Their fried rice, lo mein and sweet and sour chicken is just the comfort food

VILLAGIO

we need right now. $$ 2614 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.448.3736

Ichimi

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

Izakaya

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

Kao Sushi & Grill

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

Kae Sushi

The food is good, but the service is slow. But with dishes like $7 for shrimp shumai and $12 for specialty rolls, and lots of outdoor seating, this is the place when you’re short on cash, but long on time. $ 143 Giralda Ave. 305.814.5872

Lotus Garden

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

Malakor Thai Isaan

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

Miss Saigon

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

Mint Leaf

Their al fresco eating in the alcove

could only accommodate six people with three two-person tables. Now they have added more for their south Indian cuisine. $$ 276 Alhambra Circle 305.443.3739

Moon Thai

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

Sakura

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

Sawa Restaurant & Lounge

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

Sushi Maki

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

FRENCH

Brasserie Central

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

Chocolate Fashion

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

Pascal’s on Ponce

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

ITALIAN

Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza

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

Bugatti

Known for its pasta (it started as a pasta factory before it became a restaurant), Bugatti’s 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 Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and an evening gathering place for families and couples. Now it has a dozen tables on Aragon for outdoor dining. $$$ 318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700

Caffe Italia

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

Cibo Wine Bar

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

Fiola

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

Forno

Maybe the best pizza in the Gables – super flavorful, with a thin,

crisp crust. Last time we checked they were only making personal pizzas, but we’ll take them, with a couple of tables outside. $-$$ 1403 Sunset Dr. 305.661.3964

Portosole

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

Salumeria 104

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

Terre del Sapore

We love eating here (seriously, they have some of the best pizza in the city), and their small outdoor presence has expanded. Still, come in the evening when its cooler. $$ 246 Giralda Ave. 786.870.5955

Villagio

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

LATIN & SOUTH AMERICAN

Buenos Aires Bistro

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

Caja Caliente

Prior to COVID, Caja didn’t have any tables outside. Now they have tons of tables (all six feet apart, of course) on the sidewalk on Ponce. Can’t beat their $4 lechon tacos on Tuesdays. $ 808 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.431.1947

Calle 23

We’re excited to have another

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

Divino Ceviche

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

El Porteño

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

Graziano’s

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

Havana Harry’s

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

La Taberna Giralda

Only a few tables out front on the sidewalk, but they have a spacious courtyard out back. From tapas, to paella to their Spanish wine collection, there isn’t a bad item on the menu. $$ 254 Giralda Ave. 786.362.5677

Punto Criollo

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

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

The only Mexican restaurant in Coral Gables also happens to be its best with plenty of seating on

Giralda Plaza. All your Mexican favorites plus some off-beat authentic dishes, like iguana soup. $-$$ 2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2955

Wood Label Bistro

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

SEAFOOD

Gringo’s Oyster Bar

A shrine for fresh seafood with the freshest and tastiest oysters you will find anywhere (as they should be at $3 each). Also great lobster rolls. A long alleyway on the side of the restaurant, with overhead fans, lets you enjoy outdoors. $$ - $$$ 1549 Sunset Dr. 305.284.9989.

La Dorada

Long considered the ultimate in high-end Spanish seafood (flown in daily from Spain’s coastal Atlantic and Mediterranean waters), you can enjoy the cuisine of La Dorada at one of their outdoor tables on Giralda Plaza. $$$$ 177 Giralda Ave. 305.446.2002

MesaMar Seafood Table

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

Sea Grill

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

SPANISH

Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant

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

Bulla Gastrobar

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

Cava

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

Tapeo Eatery & Bar

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

STEAK

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

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

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

Perry’s Steakhouse

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

PUBS/CAFES/MISC.

Bagel Emporium & Grille

Great bagels, as you would expect, but also a vast menu that includes omelets, waffles, soups, sandwiches, burgers and of course brisket, blintzes and roast turkey. And now outside seating. $-$$ 1238 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.666.9519

Bazille

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

Café at Books & Books

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

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

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

THREEFOLD

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

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

Liberty Caffe

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

Mamey

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

Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market

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

Sacha’s Café

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

Threefold

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

Tur Kitchen

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

FAST CASUAL/TAKEOUT

Carrot Express

Following the trend, they added a few more high top tables out on the expanded Miracle Mile sidewalk. A nice place to sit for a quick, healthy lunch. $ 259 Miracle Mile 786.471.4985

Coyo Taco

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

Green Gables Café

This small but popular café is a mainstay of vegetarian and vegan cuisine, with super healthy breakfasts and daily lunch specials (and carnivore food, too, though no dinner). Now it has tables on Alhambra for its loyal followers. 327 Alhambra Circle. 305.445.7015.

GreenLife

Yes, they have salmon toast, açai bowls and oatmeal. But most people come here for the smooth-

ies, cold pressed juice or the $5 ginger shots. $ 104 Giralda Ave. 786.409.5592

La Sandwicherie

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

P.Pole Pizza

Outdoor seating is nothing new here for flatbread-style pizza to-go, with a huge selection of toppings for their conveyor belt operation. $ 279 Miracle Mile 786.618.5287

Rice Mediterranean Kitchen Kabobs, bowls, wraps – this is your one-stop emporium for Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food, with lots of healthy food for very modest prices. Plus lots of seating on Giralda Plaza. 164 Giralda Ave. $ 305.200.5382

How We Go to School Today

Seen here is Lila Dann, wearing her pandemic mask, which she pulled down for this photo. First-grader Lila was taking a class at the PLAY (Peace Love Art Yoga) Studio on Salzedo Street, where students dressed up for Frida Kahlo week, painting in the style of the famed Mexican artist (and connecting their eyebrows, Kahlo-style). Photo by Jonathan Dann.

The best places are people.

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