Greetings {name},

Thursday, November 25 is Thanksgiving Day, a time for people in the US to give thanks for what they have. It's an American tradition for families to gather for a celebratory meal centered around a roast turkey. Enjoy the long holiday weekend.

Friday, November 26 is known as Black Friday, a traditional time to take trips and visit with family, friends and neighbors, but in the past few decades, it's become a day of heavily discounted shopping and the beginning of holiday season sales events.

It's also American Indian Heritage Day, or Native American Heritage Day, celebrated with activities, programs, and ceremonies that promote the historical and present day status of Native Americans and the Native American tribal governments.

On Sunday, November 28, Christians observe the First Sunday of Advent with special prayers and contributing to ideas on enhancing peace, and the first day of the traditional advent calendar.

As always, make plans to enjoy the great outdoors in our little city. Walk down Miracle Mile, experience the live theatre and the best movies, browse the book stores, look into the art galleries and meet up with friends at the restaurants. Visit the parks and public spaces to appreciate the bounties of nature. 

Enjoy the best of Coral Gables in the coming days.

Robert and Robin Burr

Sunday, November 14 from 2 to 6pm

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival

Enjoy a fine rum tasting event as the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival returns to the Coral Gables Woman's Club at 1001 East Ponce, with a world of cane spirits to sample. General admission begins at 2pm, while VIP and trade starts earlier at 12:30pm. Be the first to try newly released rums, share old favorites, and sample a few rare, luxury and vintage limited editions. Tickets are $39 in advance before Friday, November 12. Call 305-350-0764. https://www.rumrenaissance.com

Now On View At Cernuda Arte

Wifredo Lam (1902 - 1982) The Mature Period

Cernuda Arte presents an impressive exhibition of works by international 20th Century Master, Wifredo Lam: Paintings, Sculptures and Ceramics, 1955 to 1970s. The show focuses on Lam’s mature period with twenty-one works rendered between the mid nineteen-fifties and the seventies. The refined selection featured: eight canvases, three works on paper, six sculptures and three one-of-a-kind ceramics, are a window into the artist’s intense life force and energy during this period. Looking at this presentation, one is reminded of the qualities of this great modernist artist, and the genius he was. Currently on view at Cernuda Arte, 3155 Ponce. Call 305-461-1050. https://secure.cernudaarte.com/exhibitions/wifredo-lam-exhibition/

please enjoy this image that reminds us of the beauty and serenity of our majestic city

The artful entrance to Coral Gables at Country Club Prado

Coral Gables scenic photo illustrations © Robin and Robert Burr.

The Season Is Here

Everglades Swamp Tours

Reserve space with Everglades Swamp Tours for an amazing adventure in the wild Everglades -- with your own custom tour of these vast open spaces. Experience the natural wildlife up close and appreciate the serene nature of this pristine environment. https://www.evergladesswamptours.com

Starts Friday

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy

An unexpected love triangle, a failed seduction, and a chance encounter with the past. Propelled by coincidence and imagination, and guided by love’s gentle current, acclaimed director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi (Happy Hour, Asako I & II, Drive My Car) returns with an enchanting triptych that spins mundane encounters into a world of infinite possibilities. In Episode 1: Magic (or Something Less Assuring), a young woman is startled when she realizes that her best friend’s new flame might just be her ex; in Episode 2: Door Wide Open, a disgruntled student plots to trick his college professor, using his friend-with-benefits as bait; and in Episode 3: Once Again, a girl’s college reunion leads to an unanticipated run-in with an old friend, and awakens feelings long since forgotten. Winner, Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the 2021 Berlin Film Festival and Official Selection of the New York Film Festival. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/wheel-of-fortune-and-fantasy/

Last Weekend

Alice The Musical at Miracle Theatre

Take a wild, thrilling ride into a world of imagination and wonder in Paul Boyd’s musical version of the classic Lewis Carroll books. Curious Alice, the heroine of our story, tumbles down a magic rabbit hole and into an enchanted world full of whimsical and wacky characters including the always late White Rabbit, the absent-minded Mad Hatter, the mysterious Cheshire Cat, the hilarious duo of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and of course the menacing Queen of Hearts. Follow Alice through this mysterious land as she tries to make her way back home. Now playing in the Balcony Theatre through Saturday, November 13. Get tickets online.

Season Ticket Subscriptions

Actors' Playhouse Season Tickets

One of the best ways to support culture in the community is to become a valued Actors' Playhouse subscriber. Season subscriptions for the 2021-22 mainstage season are on sale now, with packages starting as low as $225. Benefits include premium seats at the best prices; discounts and incentives to incredible restaurants and establishments; discounts on conservatory classes and workshops; ticket exchange privileges; lost ticket insurance; 10% off additional tickets; and advance notice of special events. https://www.actorsplayhouse.org/become-a-subscriber/

Held Over

Wes Anderson - The French Dispatch

On the occasion of the death of its beloved Kansas-born editor Arthur Howitzer, Jr. (Bill Murray), the staff of The French Dispatch, a widely circulated American magazine based in the French city of Ennui-sur-Blasé, convenes to write his obituary. Memories of Howitzer flow into the creation of four stories: a travelogue of the seediest sections of the city itself; a tale of an imprisoned artist, his muse and his ravenous dealers; a chronicle of love and death at the height of a student revolt; and a suspenseful tale of drugs, kidnapping and fine dining. Director Wes Anderson's latest features a star-studded cast that includes Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Owen Wilson, Saoirse Ronan, Christoph Waltz, Edward Norton, and many more. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-french-dispatch/

Starting November 12

Experience NightGarden at Fairchild

NightGarden 2021 returns to Fairchild Garden from November 12 to January 2. Walk through Miami’s most gorgeous Garden at night and find it brought to life with stunning illumination, spectacular special effects, and unbelievable surprises for the whole family. Suspend reality for a few hours and enjoy enchanted activities, such as talking to the wise tree, interacting with our light and sound experiences, and the FairyScope augmented reality app. Plus, dine with some of Miami’s most popular food trucks featuring first-rate food and drink options. https://www.thenightgarden.com

Friday, November 12 at 6pm

3rd Annual Wine Auction

Get tickets for the third annual wine auction benefitting the Coral Gables Community Foundation, presented by Coral Gables' own Evensky & Katz/Foldes Financial. Guests will be treated to views of Biscayne Bay, live music by Guerra Grooves, a curated wine auction and live dinner stations on the new Rooftop at CocoWalk. Get Tickets.

Starting November 12

GabeStage - Arthur Miller's The Price

The legacy theatre program at GableStage begins their new season with a classic American drama -- Arthur Miller's The Price, a two-act play exploring family dynamics, the price of furniture, and the price of one's own decisions. After the Great Depression, Victor Franz gave up going to college to support his father. His brother did not. After 30 years, they return to sell their parents’ estate. GableStage is located at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Wednesdays at 2 and 7pm. Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm. Saturdays at 2 and 8pm. Sundays at 2pm. Call 305-445-1119. http://www.gablestage.org

Friday, November 12 at 7pm

November Moonlight Concert at the Barnacle

DeBlois Milledge is the musical guest at the Barnacle Moonlight Concert, starting at 7pm. Spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy live music under the moonlight at The Barnacle Historic State Park with Miami hometown girl DeBlois Milledge, bringing her unique acoustic, folk and pop mix. Purchase tickets online.

Friday, November 12 at 7:30pm

Around the World - Mancini Orchestra

Enjoy this exciting program at UM Gusman Concert Hall, as rich and diverse as only the Frost School’s Henry Mancini Orchestra can present. From cutting-edge techno and jazz standards to music by today’s greatest classical composers, HMI takes us around the globe for a whirlwind sonic experience, with Scott Flavin conducting. Get tickets online.

Saturday, November 13 at 10am

Attracting Birds To South Florida Gardens

The Gables Conservation Event Series presents a conservation journey with writer, photographer, and Tropical Audubon Society Plants for Birds co-coordinator Kirsten Hines as she shares tips from her gardening book, Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens. The event at Coral Gables Youth Center will feature a talk as well as an opportunity to purchase her autographed book. For our little guests, the event will feature a birdhouse craft activity to take home, outdoor games, and face painting. The cost is $5 per family ticket of up to four people. https://www.coralgables.com/KeepCoralGablesBeautiful

Saturday, November 13, at 7:30pm

Holidays on Broadway - Musical Theater Ensemble

Celebrate the holidays through musicals. The Musical Theater Ensemble performs songs from some of the greats including, White Christmas, Elf: The Musical, Holiday Inn, Best Little Whore House in Texas, and Meet Me in St. Louis, directed by Frank Ragsdale. Get Tickets Online.

Sunday, November 14 at 3pm

Orchestra Miami Family Concert - Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery

Orchestra Miami presents Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery, a theatrical concert about the life and music of Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi. Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery is a compelling mystery about an orphan girl in the early 1700s who is in search of her roots. A central clue to the mystery is a missing Stradivarius violin that the Duke of Cremona has brought to Vivaldi’s school of the Pietá in the hopes of finding his long-lost grandchild. The music is magically woven into the drama as two actors solve a mystery built around the historic context of the composer’s real life and his school of the Pietá. Juice and cookies served after the performance. Tickets start at just $8 for kids, $12 for seniors (65 & up); $15 for Adults. This concert is the first of four in Orchestra Miami's Family Fun Series at Pinecrest Gardens. Call 305-274-2103. https://www.orchestramiami.org/

Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm

Bob Dylan - Don't Look Back

Bob Dylan is captured on-screen as he never would be again in this groundbreaking film from D. A. Pennebaker. The legendary documentarian finds Dylan in England during his 1965 tour, which would be his last as an acoustic artist. In this wildly entertaining vision of one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists, Dylan is surrounded by teen fans, gets into heated philosophical jousts with journalists, and kicks back with fellow musicians Joan Baez, Donovan, and Alan Price. In anticipation of the opening of Retrospectrum: Bob Dylan at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, Coral Gables Art Cinema presents a post-screening conversation with Richard Thomas, Harvard professor and author of Why Bob Dylan Matters. Thomas' book will be signed by the author and available for purchase following the conversation. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/dont-look-back/

Tuesday, November 16 at 7:30pm

Jazz Composer Greats - Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble

Kate Reid directs an evening celebrating great composers and performers in the jazz canon at UM Gusman Concert Hall. Using the magic of their voices, Frost Jazz Vocal students add to the texture of classic instrumental pieces by an assortment of composers. Complex harmonies and beautiful melodies are explored in tunes including, Horace Silver’s Nutville and Peace; Thelonious Monk's ‘Round Midnight and Monk's Dream; Pat Metheny’s Phase Dance; and Esperanza Spalding’s I Adore You. Get Tickets Online.

Wednesday, November 17 at noon

Impact of Sea Level Rise on Historic Places

Sea level rise and its impact on historic places will be the next free monthly "Preserving Our Community" webinar sponsored by The Villagers. The one-hour Zoom program will be presented by Dr. Harold Wanless, professor and chair of the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Miami. Preservation topics are being showcased during a series of free monthly, lunch and learn preservation webinars, hosted by The Villagers, featuring experts on a variety of issues significant to Miami-Dade County. Mark your calendar for the December 15 program on "Historic Windows" with guest speaker John Medina, president, John Richard Medina Architects and Associates. https://thevillagersinc.org/villagers-lunch-and-learn/

Wednesday, November 17 at 4pm

Historic Preservation Board

The Historic Preservation Board will be holding its November meeting at 4pm in City Hall Chambers. Any individual wishing to provide sworn testimony shall be present physically in the Commission Chambers. View the agenda online. Members of the public may join the meeting via Zoom online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88413827534 

Starts November 17 

Middletown at Miracle Theatre

Actors’ Playhouse, together with GFour Productions presents Middletown from November 17 to December 12, 2021 at the Miracle Theatre featuing a star-studded lineup of great talent. An exhilarating and universal depiction of love and friendship, Middletown follows the story of two couples who endure the roller coaster of life together, including the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Staged without a set or props, the stars read directly from scripts, as if reading from the book of their own lives -- and ours. Tickets start at $55 and may be purchased at the theatre or in advance online. Call 305-444-9293 x1. https://www.actorsplayhouse.org

Thursday, November 18 at 6pm

Shops Of Merrick Park Tree Lighting Ceremony

Attend one of the largest tree lighting ceremonies and holiday celebrations in South Florida as the Shops of Merrick Park light the 50-foot tree with a live performance by South Florida’s own Preston Howell, a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. Attendees will also enjoy a variety of interactive activities, entertainment, and retailer pop-up stations. A highly anticipated appearance by Santa Claus will kick-off the festive season. Details online.

Friday, November 19 at 6:30pm

Barkyard Theatre - The Nightmare Before Christmas

Enjoy a night out with your well-behaved pups at The Barnacle Historic State Park to enjoy Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Gates open at 6:30pm for pre-movie activities including a Halloween costume contest for prizes, before the movie starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 for children under 10, and each person may bring a maximum of two dogs with them. https://thebarnacle.org/events/

Many of our favorite eateries in the Gables are offering curbside takeout, as well as delivery services. Here's a handy list of choices for Gables residents and friends.

http://www.greatgables.com/CoralGables/ToGo.html