Greetings {name},

Friday, March 18 is Holi, a Hindu festival that has been celebrated since ancient times as a way to welcome in spring, and also is seen as a new beginning where people can release all their inhibitions and start fresh.

Sunday, March 20 is the start of the Spring season -- the March Equinox -- marking the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north. On this first of Spring, all regions on Earth receive about the same number of hours of sunlight.

Tuesday, March 29 is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, with commemorative events like wreath-laying ceremonies, speeches, and luncheons held to mark the occasion.

Friday, April 1 is April Fool’s Day, dating back to 1582, when it is traditional to play hoaxes or practical jokes on others in a humorous manner. When the Gregorian calendar moved the first day of the year from April 1 to January 1, those that neglected to observe the change were labeled as April Fools. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with "hunting the gowk," in which people were sent on phony errands.

Saturday, April 2 is the beginning of Ramadan, a month of fasting for many Muslims in the United States.

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

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

Coral Gables Waterway between Granada and Riviera

Coral Gables scenic photo illustrations © Robin and Robert Burr.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Spring Fling Sale at R. F. Orchids

The annual Spring Fling Sale is on at R. F. Orchids during the weekend of March 18, 19 and 20 with a 20% discount on everything in the nursery, including sale items. Welcome spring into your garden with a incredible variety of stunning tropical delights during this three-day sale at R. F. Orchids nursery, 28100 SW 182 Avenue. Call 305-245-4570 or visit the web site for details. https://www.rforchids.com

Fun For The Whole Family

Royd’s on Krome

Bring the family out to the countryside to enjoy the delightful ambience of Royd's, reminiscent of an old Southwestern town, featuring a mix of Latin and Southern comfort food, with fresh fruit milkshakes and home-made desserts. On the weekends, enjoy the mechanical bull rides, pony rides and a farm animal exhibit for the kids, with live music and a festive atmosphere. From the architecture to the agriculture, it's a beautiful family-friendly place --  a charming reflection of the Redland Region where you'll want to return again and again. Royd's is located at 20800 SW 177 Avenue. They're open Wednesday and Thursday from 8am to 5pm; Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 7pm. Call 305-235-1441. https://roydssfl.com

Starting Thursday, March 17

Saint Patrick's Day Weekend Party at the Bierhaus

Meet up with friends at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus plaza for a celebration of all things Irish with live music and Irish Food Festival and of course -- plenty of beer. Admission is free. Fritz and Franz Bierhaus is located at 60 Merrick Way. Call 305-774-1883. http://www.bierhaus.cc/

Through March 24

Oscar Week 2022 at Gables Cinema

Visit the Coral Gables Art Cinema through March 24 for the annual showcase of the best films released last year. Watch the nominees on the big screen before the 94th Academy Awards ceremony that will take place on Sunday, March 27. https://www.gablescinema.com/programs/oscar-week/

Drawing Held April 1

Actors' Playhouse - Azamara Voyage

Purchase your tax-deductible tickets for the Actors' Playhouse Raffle - featuring a luxurious Azamara voyage for two in a Veranda stateroom between April 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023. The drawing will be held April 1, 2022. No limit to the length of your voyage. Voyage certificate is valued at approximately $8,000. Contest is open to anyone who purchases a ticket. Participants do not have to be present to win. https://one.bidpal.net/apraffle/search/azamara

Through March 27

The White Card at GableStage

The Florida premiere of Award-winning poet/playwright Claudia Rankine's first published play, The White Card comes to GableStage, posing the essential question: Can American society progress if whiteness remains invisible? https://www.gablestage.org/production/

Register Now

Summer Camp in Coral Gables

Parents: Summer camp registration is open for residents and members now. Non-resident registration opens on Monday, March 28. Register online or in-person at the War Memorial Youth Center Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm and on Saturdays from 8am to noon; or email: parks@coralgables.com. https://www.coralgables.com/summercamps

Thursday, March 17 from 7 to 9pm

Moon Viewing at the Deering Estate

Bring a picnic and chairs and enjoy a relaxing evening with family and friends as you view the Full Moon in the Miami sky at the Deering Estate. Bring your own telescopes and binoculars. Bugs and mosquitos are not uncommon at dusk. Cost is $10 for ages 4 and up; free for Deering Estate Foundation Members. https://deeringestate.org/event/moon-viewing/2022-03-17/

Friday, March 18 at 8pm

Starlight Movie Classics - A Man For All Seasons

Support historic preservation and get free admission to an exclusive outdoor screening of A Man for All Seasons (1966) at The Barnacle. This Oscar-winning film stars Paul Scofield as Sir Thomas More, the sixteenth century English Chancellor who stood up to King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw). The story follows the moral struggle between More and Henry VIII when the King rejects the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry. The movie starts at 8pm. Register online in advance. https://bit.ly/3BQTEdM

Saturdays from 8am to 2pm

Farmers' Market At City Hall

Enjoy Coral Gables' iconic farmers market from 8am to 2pm every Saturday through March 26 featuring fresh fruits, vegetables, prepared foods, baked goods, flowers and plants, free tai chi classes, gardening workshops, cooking demos, and activities for children. https://www.coralgables.com/farmers-market-at-merrick-park

Saturday, March 19 at 9am

Gems on Wings - South Florida Butterflies

Enjoy this free seminar at the farmers market, as Dennis Olle, President of the Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, talks about the many beautiful butterflies that make South Florida home. Dennis saw 27 different species of butterflies walking across a lot the city purchased for a future park, and asked them not to mow a rectangle in the lot for the butterflies. This was the city's first pollinator patch. For details, email: parksandrecreation@coralgables.com

Saturday, March 19 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm

David Raymond - The Mermaid of Arch Creek

Join Amazon best-selling local Author David Raymond as he presents The Mermaid of Arch Creek, a humorous adult fairy tale, set in a mystical area rich in history and folklore, right in our backyard. What really caused the Arch Creek Natural Bridge to collapse in 1973? Do you believe in Mermaids? Space is limited for this online event. Registration is required. Zoom link will be emailed to registrants within 24 hours of the event start time. Ages 19 yrs.+ https://mdpls.org/event/6005958

Sunday, March 20 from 9am to 4pm

Bike and BBQ

Join the City of Coral Gables and Bike Walk Coral Gables for the return of the annual Bike and BBQ, the most popular bike tour of the year. This 11-mile tour commences at the War Memorial Youth Center and ends with a BBQ-style picnic at Matheson Hammock Park. Following some live music, lawn games and refreshments, participants will have the opportunity to part ways on their own or join the police escorted group to safely ride back to the Youth Center. This ride is recommended for riders ages 10-years and older and for riders that can maintain a minimum speed of 10 mph. This ride is in partnership with Dade Heritage Trust and No Boundaries Sport. Advanced registration is recommended. A goodie bag will be provided to all participants with advanced ticket purchases. 

Sunday, March 20 at 4pm

Escape! - Robert P. Watson

Meet author Robert P. Watson, Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University in Boca Raton at this event featuring Escape!: The Story of the Confederacy’s Infamous Libby Prison and the Civil War’s Largest Jail Break. Libby Prison housed Union officers, high-profile foes of the Confederacy, and political prisoners. Watson captures the wretched conditions, cruel guards, and the story of the daring prison break, called “the most remarkable in American history." Get details online. 

March 21 - 25

Spring Break Camps

The Coral Gables Community Recreation Department offers a variety of spring break camp options the week of March 21 to 25, from Club P.L.A.Y. and Bricks 4 Kidz including tennis, gymnastics, soccer and more. Register online or in person at the War Memorial Youth Center. Email for more details: parks@coralgables.com

Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30pm

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

Stay after the screening for a special conversation with notable women in STEM. What do the most ravishingly beautiful actress of the 1930s and 40s and the inventor whose concepts were the basis of cell phone and bluetooth technology have in common? They are both Hedy Lamarr, the glamour icon whose ravishing visage was the inspiration for Snow White and Cat Woman and a technological trailblazer who perfected a secure radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes during WWII. Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story brings to light the story of an unusual and accomplished woman, spurned as too beautiful to be smart, but a role model to this day. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/bombshell-the-hedy-lamarr-story/

Wednesday, March 23 at 9pm

Ridley Scott - House of Gucci

Inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire. When Patrizia Reggiani, (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately... murder. At its heart is the doomed romance between Patrizia and Maurizio Gucci, the latter played behind stylishly studious glasses by cinema’s sexy nerd de nos jours, Adam Driver. https://cosfordcinema.com/event/house-of-gucci/2022-03-23/

Friday, March 25 at 7pm

Barkyard Theatre - Disney's Encanto

We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no! But we will be watching Encanto with doggie friends at The Barnacle Historic State Park with Barkyard Theatre returns. The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift -- every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger. The gates open at 7pm, one hour before showtime, so arrive early and bring your dogs, bring your kids, bring your lawn chairs, blankets and goodies, and make sure you come dressed up for the Encanto costume contest to win awesome prizes. Tickets are $10-$20. Each person can bring two dogs.The Barnacle Historic State Park is located at 3485 Main Highway. Call 305-442-6866. http://www.thebarnacle.org

Friday, March 25 at 7:30pm

Biebl: Ave Maria - Music for Men's Chorus

Associate Conductor James K. Bass leads the men of Seraphic Fire in a rousing concert of sea shanties, German partsongs, and the centerpiece of Franz Biebl’s iconic Ave Maria. Biebl wrote Ave Maria for an all-male Bavarian Firemen’s Chorus in the summer of 1959. Seraphic Fire now performs the Biebl and explores the tradition of music for men’s choirs that inspired this singular work. This stirring concert at St. Philip's Church showcases the men of Seraphic Fire in a presentation of favorites as well as new compositions from Ileana Perez Velazquez and Seraphic Fire University of Miami Student Composers-in-Residence, Melissa D’Albora and Sydney Doemel. Get details and tickets online.

Saturday, March 26 at 7pm

Plan B Conservation Concert

Ever-popular Plan B returns to the Doc Thomas House Keystone Stage this month, performing a repertoire of classic and contemporary Rock 'n' Roll with a dash of the unexpected. Attendees can perch under the Audubon oaks to enjoy the Plan B's depth of Classic Rock hits paired with Bird Bar wine and brew selections courtesy of Republic National Distributing Company. Also on the playbill: Featured Food Trucks. A pair of Birding Binoculars will be raffled by Dade Heritage Trust to mark triple milestones: the Doc Thomas House 90th Anniversary, the Tropical Audubon Society 75th Anniversary and Dade Heritage Trust's 50th Anniversary. Gates open at 7pm; music begins at 7:30pm. $10 donation; children 12 and under free. Get details and tickets in advance online. https://support.tropicalaudubon.org/a/plan-b-conservation-concert

Sunday, March 27, from 2 to 5pm

A Proper Garden Tea at Merrick House

As part of its Sundays on the Porch with George event series, the Coral Gables Merrick House is hosting A Proper Garden Tea event. On exhibit will be the House linen collection, antique quilts and a unique display of sewing and needlework items. The afternoon will also feature tea and treats, lectures, demonstrations, purveyors of vintage and vintage-inspired collectibles, lawn games and more. It's all part of a celebration of Victorian textiles, treasures, tools and trades. Completed in 1910, the Merrick House is home to many fine examples of furniture and fabrics of the Victorian era (1837 to 1901). Get tickets in advance online.

Sunday, March 27 at 7:30pm

Alhambra Orchestra - Unheard Melodies

In the historic sanctuary of Coral Gables Congregational Church, members of the Alhambra Orchestra will explore enchanting works for 3-5 players created by often-overlooked composers including Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn. Bring friends and family to this free event and enjoy this sampler of intimate music for strings, winds and piano from the Romantic era and beyond. Pieces by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Amy Beach, Rebecca Clarke, and Darius Milhaud complete the repertoire. Coral Gables Congregational Church is located at 3010 DeSoto. Call 305-668-9260. Get details and tickets online.

Wednesday, March 30 at 9pm

Last Night in Soho

In acclaimed director Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker. Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith. https://cosfordcinema.com/event/last-night-in-soho/2022-03-30/

Saturday, April 2 from 6 to 9pm

Commodore's Birthday - A Roaring Affair

Make plans to attend the Commodore’s Birthday Party Annual Fundraising Event presented by The Barnacle Society, featuring dinner, live music and a silent auction. The speakeasy opens at 5pm at The Barnacle. For details, contact Jessica Cabral at 305-442-6866 or email jessica.cabral@floridadep.gov

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

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