City of Coral Gables News!

Jazz In The Gables Begins Today At Lunchtime!

Back by popular demand for the third year in a row is Jazz in the Gables, a free lunchtime jazz concert series held on the Plaza of the Coral Gables Museum located on Salzedo Street, two blocks north of Miracle Mile. The concerts begin today January 16 at 12:15 p.m. and continue every Wednesday until March 27th. Grammy-winning saxo­phon­ist, composer and arranger Felipe Lamoglia is today’s act, bringing the rhythms of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian jazz fusion. Take a break from your work routine and come enjoy some music and purchase a box lunch from Catering by Lovables which will be available for sale on-site every week. Performing on Wednesday, January 23 will be Sabado Gigante’s guitarist Lindsey Blair. This event is a collaboration of the City of Coral Gables, the Coral Gables Museum, the Business Improvement District, the Miami Jazz Coop, and civic sponsors HBO Latin America and Vizcaino, Gitlin & Zomerfeld, LLP. For more information, click here.

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Brazilian Culture Comes To Coral Gables

Have you ever wanted to learn Portuguese? Participate in exciting Brazilian cultural festivals? Or eat pão de queijo? Now you can in downtown Coral Gables. In its newly opened location at 300 Aragon Avenue, Suite 250, the Brazil-USA Cultural Center of Florida (CCBU) is bringing the heartbeat of Brazil to Coral Gables by offering a unique mix of cultural and community outreach programs. “The Brazil-USA Cultural Center of Florida is a welcome addition to the City of Coral Gables and an important point of contact for the Brazilian community in South Florida,” said Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason. The CCBU is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and preserve Brazilian culture and strengthen ties between Brazil and South Florida. Located in the same suite as the Italian cultural center, Società Dante Alighieri, the CCBU adds to the variety of international programming already available in Coral Gables. “For 15 years, we have focused on forging strong community partnerships and enriching cultural experiences,” said Adriana Sabino, President of the CCBU. “We are delighted to be in Coral Gables to continue building both cultural and economic relationships between Brazil and the City Beautiful.” Brazil is Florida’s largest trading partner, and it has a strong economic influence in the region. According to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Miami welcomed approximately 362,050 Brazilian visitors in the first half of 2012, the largest group from any single Latin American country.  For more information, click here.

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Passports & Farmers Market Open
Every Saturday Through March 23

Want to enjoy your Saturday mornings but also want to get some errands done? If you’re looking to apply for or renew a passport, you don’t have to go too far from the Coral Gables Farmers Market, now being held every Saturday morning, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. in front of City Hall. The Coral Gables Passport Acceptance Facility in the Office of the City Clerk, located on the first floor of City Hall will also open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. until March 23, 2013. The Farmers Market features live music, just-picked produce, baked goods and a variety of plants for sale. Tai Chi classes begin at 8 a.m., followed by gardening workshops at 9 a.m., cooking demonstrations at 10 a.m. and children activities beginning at 11 a.m. To view the weekly Farmers Market schedule, click here. The Passport Acceptance Facility at City Hall offers a convenient no-appointment service, including passport photos. For additional information, call the City Clerk’s Office at 305-460-5351.

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New Art For The New Year Exhibit
At The Coral Gables Museum Opens January 30

For the first time ever, the best works from 11 different Coral Gables galleries will be featured under one roof at the Coral Gables Museum’s new exhibit “New Art for the New Year,” January 30 through February 7, 2013. This exhibit, which begins with an opening night reception on Wednesday, January 30 at 7 p.m., is curated by Denise Gerson, former Associate Director of the Lowe Art Museum. For more than 30 years, Coral Gables art galleries have defined Latin American, European and Contemporary art in South Florida. The Gables art scene, home of the original “Gallery Night,” is not simply a tradition, but part of the City’s character. Participating galleries featuring a variety of select Latin American, Cuban, European and American paintings, mixed-media and sculptural works include ArtSight Gallery, ArtSpace Virginia Miller, The Americas Collection, Casa Turquesa, Ca’ D’Oro Gallery, Cernuda Fine Art Gallery, Collage Gallery - Fundación Artistas Unidos, H. Benitez Fine Art Gallery, Jorge M. Sori Fine Art, JSK Architectural Group, and Klara Chavarria Contemporary Art. The Coral Gables Museum is located at 285 Aragon Avenue in Downtown Coral Gables.

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Coral Gables Residents Invited To Free Lecture

As part of the 20-year Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami, Coral Gables residents are invited to attend the lecture by Temple Grandin, professor of Animal Science of Colorado State University and one of the world’s most accomplished and well known adults with autism. The lecture takes place on Thursday, January 31 at 7 p.m. at the Bank United Center, 1245 Dauer Drive in Coral Gables. In 2010, Grandin was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential People of the Year. The 2010 HBO movie based on her life, starring Claire Danes, received seven Emmy Awards. Tickets are now being distributed in person on a first-come, first-served basis at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive.  Residents must show proof of residential address. Tickets are limited to four per household. For additional information, contact the Parks and Recreation Division at 305-460-5600.

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Enjoy An Evening On Aragon

As the milder winter season approaches and the outdoors are even more en­joyable, why not join us for a leisurely stroll – this time, with a purpose. The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce once again celebrates the diverse arts and culture community in Coral Gables with the annual Evening On Aragon to be held on Wednesday, January 23 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Gibraltar Private Bank Trust. Known as the arts epicenter of The City Beautiful, Aragon Avenue boasts such important cultural icons as the Coral Gables Art Cinema, BooksBooks, Societa Dante Alighieri and the Coral Gables Museum. The stroll begins at the Coral Gables Art Cinema, then continues to Societa Dante Alighieri and to the Coral Gables Museum where participants can view the latest exhibits. Light refreshments and wine will be served. Cost is $20 for Chamber members; $30 for non-members and guests. For more information, click here.

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Realtors Can Learn All About Coral Gables
At Showcase Brunch & Learn

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce will host its Realtor Showcase Brunch & Learn on Friday, January 25 at 10 a.m. at the Miami Association of Realtors Office, 245 Alcazar Avenue. The Chamber invites all realtors and guests to come out and hear from our public and private schools, our City leaders and department heads in the Office of Development Services (Jane Tompkins) & Economic Sustainability (Cynthia Birdsill). Realtors will also learn information on the amenities that make Coral Gables the one-and-only City Beautiful. Cost is $25 for Chamber and Miami Association Realtor members; $30 for non-members. The fee includes mimosas and brunch. This event is presented in partnership with the City of Coral Gables and is sponsored by Home Financing Center, with US Century Bank, Miami Association of Realtors, Strock & Tanner Mortgage Corp. and Second Chance Credit as supporting sponsors.  For more information, call 305-446-1657.

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Tour Of Kitchens To Raise Funds
For Community Foundation

On Saturday, January 26, the Coral Gables Community Foundation will host its Fourth Annual Tour of Kitchens to raise funds for the Coral Gables Senior High School Culinary Arts Program and the foundation. Eight of Coral Gables' finest private home kitchens will be open to the public and will offer food tastings, table setting displays, and home-related merchandise. The Tour begins any time from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and features breakfast bites, coffee, and mimosas at Snaidero kitchens + design showroom, 4110 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. At check in, participants will be given a program booklet containing a self-guided tour map. The tour finishes at Books & Books outdoor courtyard, 265 Aragon Avenue, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. featuring champagne, a wide array of desserts, a display on kitchen trends, and cookbook authors who will be on hand to mingle and to sign books. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, call 305-446-9670.

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Whitefly Continues To Affect Plants In The City

Please be on the lookout for a pesky insect that may be affecting the plants in your neighborhood. The Rugose Spiraling Whitefly continues to affect plants such as gumbo limbo, black olive, Brazilian pepper, live oak and mangos. This insect is a different whitefly than the one causing defoliation and branch dieback of ficus in South Florida. The actual effect of an infestation on the health of a plant is unknown; however, whiteflies in general can cause plant decline, defoliation and branch dieback. The most noticeable symptoms of an infestation of this whitefly are the abundance of the white, waxy material covering the leaves and also excessive sooty mold. Please monitor your plants for early signs of an infestation because it will be easier to manage the pest before it causes major damage. If you have an infestation on a tree, be sure ;to search nearbytrees as well because this whitefly feeds on many types of trees. Washing plants off with water can be an effective tool to help manage whiteflies for small infestations or small plants. Should you notice an infestation on a City tree, contact the Community Services Department, Public Service Division at 305-460-5135 for an evaluation and possible treatment. To read more about this new infestation of whitefly and what to do to protect your plants, click here.