Greetings {name},

July is National Blueberry Month and people all over the world are busy enjoying blueberry-inspired fruit salads, smoothies, and other refreshing foods. In addition to this month-long celebration, blueberry fans have another reason to get excited – the 100th anniversary of commercial blueberries.

Sunday, July 10 is National Pina Colada Day. Imagine yourself lying on a lounge chair under the palm trees on a tropical, sun-baked beach or deserted island as you contemplate the nearly perfect combination of creamy coconut, tropical pineapple and delicious rum.

Thursday, July 14 is Bastille Day, a traditional holiday in French territories marking the anniversary of the fall on July 14, 1789, of the Bastille, in Paris. 

Sunday, July 24 is Parent's Day, on the fourth Sunday of July each year, a chance to recognize, uplift and support the role of parents in bringing up their children.

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

A Century Of Fine Art

Twenty Visionary Women From Cuba

Cernuda Arte is proud to present a historic exhibition of artworks by twenty visionary women from Cuba. This show is the first-of-its-kind, recognizing a century of contributions by four generations of female masters who have often been overlooked by the arts community. This special exhibition is currently on view at the Gallery, 3155 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables. For details, email: cernudaarte@msn.com or call 305-461-1050. https://secure.cernudaarte.com/

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

Matheson Hammock Park Lagoon

click on the image to see enlargement.

Coral Gables scenic photo illustrations © Robin and Robert Burr.

Thursday, July 7 at 7pm

Melissa Albert - Our Crooked Hearts

Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood. Meet the author at Books & Books, 265 Aragon at 7pm. Call 305-442-4408. Get details online.

Thursday, July 7 at 8pm

CAP Summer Concerts - Brazilian Guitarist Chico Pinheiro

A leading figure in and out of the Brazilian music scene, jazz guitar master Chico Pinheiro -- who has distinguished himself as a guitarist, composer, and arranger -- dazzles when joined with Helio Alves (piano), Sam Minaie (bass), and Alex Kautz (drums) at Coral Gables Congregational. Get details and tickets online.

Opening Night Event Friday, July 8 at 7pm

Neptune Frost

In celebration of the film's premiere, experience a spectacular, visually captivating show featuring futuristic LED dancers performing to the film's original soundtrack, Unanimous Goldmine. Tickets are $20.75 ($17 for members) and include the pre-show dance performance, a specialty cocktail, and film screening. Multi-hyphenate and multidisciplinary artist Saul Williams brings his unique dynamism to this Afrofuturist sci-fi punk musical, a visually wondrous amalgamation of the themes, ideas, and songs that Williams has previously explored in his work, notably his 2016 album MartyrLoserKing. Get details online. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/neptune-frost/

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Beauty and the Beast Jr at Area Stage

Disney's Beauty and the Beast features performances at the Area Stage Black Box Theatre in Sunset Place. Based on the Tony Award nominated Broadway production and the Academy Award-winning motion picture, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. tells the story of an unkind prince magically transformed into a horrific creature as punishment for his selfish and cruel ways. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must learn to love. A wonderful experience for the entire family. Get details and tickets online.

Saturday, July 9 from 10am to 4pm

Mango Festival at Fairchild Garden

Fairchild has been hosting the Mango Festival for nearly 30 years. It’s time to celebrate the King of Fruit once again in the garden with cooking demos and mango tastings; specialty mango smoothies and cocktails; signature mango brunch; wide variety of mangos for purchase; food vendors with mango inspired menus; mango lectures; mango tree sales; lawn games; live music and fun for the entire family. Get details and purchase tickets online.

Saturday and Sunday at 11am

Kubo and the Two Strings

It's Family Day On Aragon weekend, so bring the kids for an epic stop motion adventure set in a fantastical Japan. Kubo and the Two Strings tells the story of clever and kindhearted young Kubo, whose relatively quiet existence is upended when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past that storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of newfound allies, Monkey and Beetle, and his trusty magic shamisen, Kubo battles gods and monsters across epic landscapes to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/kubo-and-the-two-strings/

Saturday, July 9 at 11am or 1pm

Pollinator Plant Propagation

Register for Fairchild's Pollinator Plant Propagation Workshop with the Miami Seed Share with a morning or afternoon session. More flowers equals more fruit. Learn about propagating native plants and flowers from stem-cuttings and seeds. Everything will be provided, and you can bring home your new plants and grow them in your ecosystem. Delight the pollinators and be rewarded with more fruit for your family and friends. Get details and purchase tickets online.

Saturday, July 9 at 2pm

Tony Pernas - The American Flamingo

The Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade historical Society presents a lecture by Tony Pernas on the History Of The American Flamingo at the Pinecrest Library on Saturday, July 9 at 2pm. American Flamingos are a cultural icon of Florida, yet their status in Florida has been controversial for nearly a century. This presentation by Tony Pernas, founding member of the Florida Flamingo Working Group (FFWG) will shed light on the history of Florida Flamingos and efforts by FFWG to promote conservation and awareness. Tony Pernas is a council person for the city of Everglades City and serves as the President of the Friends of Everglades CISMA (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas). https://www.mpnod.org/events/mpnod-july-9-tony-pernas-flamingos/

Saturdays and Sundays - July 9 to 30 at 2pm

Children's Stage - Young King Arthur

A kid who gets to be a king by pulling sword from a stone... how cool is that? However, Arthur soon discovers that being in charge is more than getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants and brings with it responsibilities and a whole bunch of trouble. Will the help of Merlin the Magician and an outspoken peasant girl named Brynith be enough to help Young King Arthur discover that real power comes not from swashbuckling and sorcery -- though there’s plenty of that -- but from the heart? Tickets are $25 for advanced purchases, $30 at the door. The Miracle Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile. Call 305-444-9293. https://www.actorsplayhouse.org/childrens-theatre/

Saturday, July 9 from 2 to 6pm

Family Day at the Museum

Every second Saturday of the month, the Coral Gables Museum offers engaging fun family activities: arts & crafts, live performances, and more. At 3pm, enjoy the South Florida Chamber Ensemble Interactive Performance "The Golden Slipper." Get details online.

Saturday, July 9 at 9pm

The First Wives Club

This delightfully devilish comedy, based on Olivia Goldsmith's best-selling novel of the same name, deftly balances three Hollywood legends giving some of the best comedic performances of their careers. Since its original release in 1996, it has become a cult classic that spawned stage musical and TV series adaptations almost two decades after its original release. This July at After Hours, Flaming Classics invites you to dive into the aesthetics of camp with a program of favorite films inspired by a nostalgia for the 1990s. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-first-wives-club/

Sunday, July 10 at 4pm

Pamela Wasabi - The Wild Woman

Meet the author, discussing her new book The Wild Woman: Nourishing the Feminine Soul -- a woman’s Divine Feminine as the source of perpetual freedom, unconditional love, and transformative healing. The book proposes liberating the mind from the various doctrines and limiting belief systems that have been instilled in the feminine body through time. This book addresses food issues and eating disorders but also embraces themes of self-love and urges a radical sense of self-responsibility. Books & Books is located at 265 Aragon. Call 305-442-4408. Get details online.

Sunday July 10 at 5:45pm

Mocktails and Music - Sanctuary Of The Arts

Join New Canon Chamber Collective for their First Annual Concert Fundraiser at Sanctuary of the Arts, 410 Andalusia Ave. This event begins with a pre-concert mixer, hor'dourves and conversation at 5:45pm, followed by a dynamic concert featuring compositions by William Grant Still, Margaret Bonds, and Florence Price performed by the New Canon Chamber String Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble at 7pm. Get details and tickets online.

Starts Monday, July 11

Summer Intensive Choreographic Program

The Summer Intensive Choreographic at Sanctuary Of The Arts is aimed at semi-professional and professional students between 15 to 30 years old. The choreographic allows for the exchange between the USA and Latin America and gives the opportunity to experience an intensive week of technical and choreographic studies where the main goal is to promote and exchange knowledge. The intensive will also give participants and teachers alike the opportunity to explore future collaborations. Classes run from 9 am - 7:30 pm and include Ballet Technique, Pointe Technique, Musical Jazz, Contemporary, Repertory, Pas de deux and Choreographic Composition. Sanctuary Of The Arts is located at 410 Andalusia Ave. Call 305-859-4010. https://www.sanctuaryofthearts.org/programs/

Monday, July 11 at 8pm

Monday Jazz - David Fernandez Quintet

Every Monday, the Miami Jazz Coop presents great musicians representing a wide range of jazz with cabaret style seating to ensure an intimate jazz experience at the UU Congregation of Miami. Enjoy a performance by the David Fernandez Quintet at 8pm. The MJC offers a menu of small plates and desserts, serving wine and beer for donations. Get details and tickets online.

Wednesday, July 13 at 7pm

Summer and Smoke

From the towering genius of Tennessee Williams comes a story of passions lost and found. Academy Award-winner Geraldine Page stars as the spinster, Alma. Laurence Harvey is Doctor John Buchanan, the handsome young man Alma has loved since childhood; but when a sultry vamp appears (Rita Moreno), the doctor falls hard, descending into a seamy nightlife and leaving Alma's dreams behind like forgotten embers. Set against a steamy southern backdrop and the sweeping grandeur of Elmer Bernstein's Academy Award-nominated score, Summer and Smoke crackles with first-rate performances and the stirring power of Tennessee Williams' words. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/summer-and-smoke/

Playing July 13 to July 31

Hank Williams: Lost Highway

Mark Harelik and Randal Myler's Hank Williams: Lost Highway is the spectacular musical biography of the legendary singer-songwriter as one of the great innovators of American popular music. The play follows Williams’ rise from his beginnings on the Louisiana Hayride to his triumphs on the Grand Ole Opry to his eventual self-destruction at only twenty-nine and includes unforgettable songs like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Move It on Over” and “Hey, Good Lookin’.” The Miracle Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile. Actors' Playhouse presents performances on Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm, plus Sunday at 3pm. For complete details, call 305-444-9293. http://www.actorsplayhouse.org

July 14 – 31

Rubenology, The Making of an American Legend

GableStage and Abre Camino Collective present the World Premiere of Rubenology, The Making of an American Legend, a heart-warming comedy starring Cuban-American actor Ruben Rabasa.  Ticket prices range from $40-$45. Because Ruben has a robust following of young people, all patrons under the age of 35 are able to access tickets starting at $20. https://www.gablestage.org/rubenology/

Friday, July 15 at 6pm

Pablo Cartaya - The Last Beekeeper

In a future shaken by climate disasters, Yolanda Cicerón knows that nature is something to be feared. While life in the Valley is brutal and harsh, she dreams of leaving her farm to live in Silo -- the most advanced town for miles around. But first, Yoly will need to prove she belongs in a place where only the smartest and most useful are welcomed. The Last Beekeeper by award-winning author Pablo Cartaya is a gripping adventure story about fighting to right the wrongs of past generations while finding hope in the present. Meet the author at Books & Books, 265 Aragon at 6pm. Call 305-442-4408. Get details online.

Friday, July 15 at 6:30pm

Long Live The New Flesh: The Films Of David Cronenberg

In honor of his most recent film "Crimes of the Future," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the Cosford Cinema is holding a mini-retrospective of some of director David Cronenberg's most iconic movies. The Canadian filmmaker is considered to be the cinema's greatest purveyor of body horror, which is defined as horror that is derived from the destruction or deterioration of the human body. Cosford Cinema is located on the second floor of the Memorial Classroom building on UM campus. Cash only. Call 305-284-4861. Get details online.

Saturday, July 16 at 10:30am

Art Class: Orchids In Watercolor And Color Pencil

Add a little bit of color to your weekend with this collection of orchid varieties. Take a stroll throughout the garden, snap a few great pictures of the blooms, and capture their beauty through art. Bring your favorite reference and under the guidance of Carlos Gallostra, you will be able to develop a dynamic illustrative work in watercolor, color pencils, or mixtures of both. All levels are welcomed. Get details and purchase tickets online.

Saturday, July 16 at 7:30pm

The Fly (1986)

David Cronenberg’s biggest box-office hit stars Jeff Goldblum as a scientist tinkering with teleportation and Geena Davis as the reporter who falls in love with him. Winner of the Oscar for Best Makeup, the movie remains an astonishingly visceral experience, with Goldblum’s gradual deterioration into a man-insect hybrid as gruesome and heartbreaking today as it was 16 years ago. Cosford Cinema is located on the second floor of the Memorial Classroom building on UM campus. Cash only. Call 305-284-4861. https://cosfordcinema.com/event/the-fly-1986/

Saturday, July 16 at 8pm

Jazz Duo Davis And Dow

The Deering Estate Summer Cabaret Concert series presents multi award winning jazz duo Davis and Dow -- two strong halves of one big sound; a culmination of performing and touring together for 25 years. They tackle jazz and pop standards with a daring sense of abandon. While their style is deeply rooted in the classic jazz tradition, they enjoy weaving different genres of music into their repertoire. A Bossa Nova sung in French or a jazz standard with a Bach Interlude. Tickets are $120. Get details and tickets online.

Thursday, July 21 at 8pm

Brass Institutes of America Quintet

Highly-accomplished jazz, classical, orchestral, and chamber musicians bring virtuosic performances to create an artistic palette of colorfully epic proportions – from classical to Broadway, and beyond, at the Congregational Church's Community Arts Program Summer Concert Series. Patron level tickets include reserved, general seating within rows 1 through 9. Get details and purchase tickets online.

Supporting Our Environment

Tropical Audubon Ambassador Program

Registration is now open for the Tropical Audubon Ambassador Program 2022 Season. Sign up today to learn how to be a more engaged, educated and effective environmental advocate. This award-winning education series is free and virtual. Tropical Audubon Ambassadors receive comprehensive advocacy training from environmental experts, and will come away with an in-depth knowledge of our region's cornerstone ecosystems. https://tropicalaudubon.org/ambassador

Fritz And Franz Bierhaus

The Iconic Bierhaus Of Coral Gables

This is where friends meet to enjoy a good time. Fritz And Franz Bierhaus offers authentic German and Bavarian cuisine, a fantastic selection of imported beer on tap (order Das Boot size if you dare). There's a fine selection of wine and a full liquor bar with cocktails. Customers rave about the wiener schnitzel and oven roasted pork shank weekly specials, the gourmet burgers, the brats, Swabian käsespätzle pasta, the Rib-Eye Steak Au Poivre, and the best German potato salad in South Florida. After the meal, try a shot of schnapps or honey liqueur. The outdoor plaza -- home to many of Coral Gables' best holiday special events -- is an ideal setting for gatherings. Call 305-774-1883. https://bierhaus.cc

A Wild Adventure

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