City of Coral Gables News!

LeJeune Road Median Beautification Project Starts

Work began recently on the LeJeune Road Median Beautification Project, which will transform this major north/south corridor with 12 new medians installed with trees, groundcover, flowering annuals and irrigation without reducing travel lanes for motorists.    “LeJeune Road is one of the main entrances into and through the city, and it is befitting that its appearance is in keeping with the City Beautiful,” said Mayor Jim Cason.  The City is operating differently from years past after addressing problems that have been strangling the City’s budget.  Pension plans have been significantly reformed, taxes have been cut, and the City is operating more efficiently and effectively.  According to City Manager Pat Salerno, “these fiscal and operational changes allow the City to get more out of your tax dollar and have more funds to make investments in your neighborhoods such as these improvements to LeJeune Road.”

Rendering of one of the 12 new LeJeune Road medians

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Epicure Market To Open In Coral Gables

Good news for gourmet food lovers: a new Epicure Gourmet Market will open this fall in Coral Gables. The Epicure Gourmet Market & Café will unveil its 24,000 square-foot store in October on the ground floor of Gables Ponce, a mixed-use project under construction at the corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and LeJeune Road. “We’ve been searching for the perfect location within Coral Gables for quite some time,” said Jason Starkman, owner of Epicure. “Gables Ponce was the ideal fit with its stunning architecture and prime visibility. The increasing demand for gourmet and specialty foods in the area was also a deciding factor.” In addition to its typical mix of groceries, meats, fine wines, teas, specialty foods and more, the Coral Gables location will include a European style restaurant and café offering full service beer, wine and coffee bar. The closest Epicure Market location is in Miami Beach.

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Don’t Miss Jazz In The Gables Today At Lunchtime

Jazz in the Gables, the free lunchtime jazz concert series, continues today, January 30th at 12:15 p.m. on the Plaza of the Coral Gables Museum located on Salzedo Street, two blocks north of Miracle Mile. Playing today is the FIU Jazz Ensemble featuring some of the top students from its music jazz program.  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. Offering a special evening concert on Friday, February 1 at 8 p.m. is the Daniel Strange Quartet. The series returns to its regular lunchtime hour on Wednesday, February 6 with the performance of the Tito Cruz Quartet. 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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New Art For The New Year Exhibit Opens Tonight

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.” The exhibit opens tonight at 7 p.m. and runs through February 7, 2013. This exhibit 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 Galleries, 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 2013 New Art for the New Year exhibition is brought to you by the City of Coral Gables, the Coral Gables Museum, VSBROOKS Advertising, and Tarpon Bend. The Coral Gables Museum is located at 285 Aragon Avenue in Downtown Coral Gables.

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Coral Gables Soccer Team Ranked #1 In Florida & Region

A very special group of 17 young athletes, ages 12 to 13, who train regularly at the War Memorial Youth Center, has represented Coral Gables very well in the Florida Youth Soccer Association competitions. In November, the Coral Gables Soccer Toros 99/00 participated in the Disney’s Junior Soccer Boys U13 Showcase placing first in their division. With an impressive 15 wins during regular season play, the Coral Gables Toros are currently ranked #1 in the state of Florida as well as #1 in the region that includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The team is under the instructional guidance and expertise of head coaches Eric Vasquez and Alfred Perez and Team Manager Mary Castro. The team is currently seeking sponsorship from local businesses. If interested, contact jcasanov@bellsouth.net.

The Toros being congratulated by Mayor Jim Cason

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Free Admission For Seniors
& Youth For Play "In The Heights"

Beginning on Friday, February 15, seniors and youth living in Coral Gables can reserve free tickets, on a first-come, first-served basis, for the musical play “In The Heights.” The free admission is for the March 6 and March 7, 2013, 8 p.m. performances at the Miracle Theatre, located at 280 Miracle Mile. The free ticket offer is part of the new lease agreement between the City of Coral Gables and its tenant, Actors' Playhouse, an idea proposed by City Manager Pat Salerno. Residents (ages 60 and over and under 18 years of age accompanied by one parent) have to come in person to the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive, to be placed on a reservation list after showing proof of residency and age. Tickets will then be available at the Playhouse's will-call window prior to each performance. There is a limit of 50 free admissions for each performance, based on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are limited to two per household. Free admission for additional upcoming plays will be announced at later dates. For additional information, contact the City of Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Division at 305-460-5600.

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Farmers Market Offers Fresh Produce,
Baked Goods & So Much More!

While the rest of the nation stays indoors to avoid the freezing temperatures, Coral Gables residents and visitors can head outdoors to enjoy the sun, the warm weather, and the Coral Gables Farmers Market. Held every Saturday morning, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. in front of City Hall until March 23, 2013, our own 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. The Coral Gables Passport Acceptance Facility, located on the first floor of City Hall will also open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To view the weekly Farmers Market schedule, click here.

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Coral Gables Residents Invited To Free Lectures

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 following lectures:

• Friday, February 1, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: “Keeping Women & Children Safe From Domestic Violence: A Community Working Together.” The presentation and panel discussion will be led by Dr. Phyllis Sharps, Professor and Associate Dean for Community and Global Programs, and Director of the Center for Global Nursing at  John Hopkins University. The event takes place at the M. Christine Schwartz Center for Nursing Education, Room 107, 5030 Brunson Drive in the UM campus. For more information, click here.
• Monday, February 4, 3:30-4:30 p.m.: “Intersection of Networks, Games and Economics.” Lecture by Professor Tamer Basar, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. The event takes place at the McArthur Engineering Annex, Room MEA202, 1251 Memorial Drive in the UM campus. For more information, call 305-284-3291.