Greetings {name},

Sunday, December 25 is Christmas Day, the pinnacle of the holiday season for many Americans and a traditional time for festive gatherings and the exchange of gifts within families.

Saturday, December 31 is New Year's Eve, a popular occasion for celebrations marking the end of the year, with elaborate gatherings, festivities and fireworks.

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

The old bridge across the Gables Waterway at Cocoplum Circle is scheduled to be replaced.

click on the image to see enlargement.

Coral Gables scenic photo illustrations © Robin and Robert Burr.

Now Playing

Million Dollar Quartet Christmas

Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents the Ultimate Holiday Party with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. Sun Records, now festively decorated with a Christmas tree, garland, and mistletoe, rings with sounds of the season and the chart toppers that made the "Million Dollar Quartet" famous. Get details and purchase tickets online.

Now Across From City Hall

Holiday Park with Santa

Across from City Hall, Holiday Park is open seven days a week featuring pictures with Santa for $8 each, in full color, and framed in a postcard.

Now Available

Seraphic Fire Digital Library: Handel's Messiah

Experience this performance of Handel: Messiah, now available in the digital library, performing Handel’s complete work. From the excitement of “For Unto Us a Child is Born” to the magnificence of the Hallelujah Chorus, Messiah is one of the quintessential masterpieces of the Baroque canon. https://seraphicfire.vhx.tv/videos/handel-messiah

Playing through December 24

Christmas Carol, the Musical at Miracle Theatre

On Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm, bring the family to the Miracle Theatre for Actors’ Playhouse Musical Theatre for Young Audiences rendition of Christmas Carol, the Musical. To encourage the spirit of giving Actors' Playhouse will give every child who donates a new, unwrapped toy, one free Flexible Anytime Ticket. Get details and purchase tickets online.

Now through January 8

Night Garden at Fairchild

Bring the family out to Fairchild Garden for a spectacular music and light presentation that turns the garden absolutely magical. The beautiful 23-acre gardens have been transformed into an illuminated supernatural fairyland with technicolor flowers and unique sculptures. Visit rainbow-colored pathways, interact with the talking wise old tree, join a Fairy Quest, and so much more. Plus, there will be plenty of delicious food and drinks from some of Miami’s most popular food trucks. https://thenightgarden.com/miami/

Starts Friday

The Fabelmans - Steven Spielberg

A deeply personal portrait of 20th century American childhood, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans is a coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery of a shattering family secret and an exploration of the power of movies to help us see the truth about each other and ourselves. Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) is devoted to filmmaking, an interest that is celebrated and championed by his artistic mother, Mitzi (four-time Academy Award® nominee Michelle Williams). By 16, Sammy is both the primary observer and archivist of his family story, but when his family moves west, Sammy discovers a heartbreaking truth about his mother that will redefine their relationship and alter the future for himself and his entire family. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-fabelmans/

Saturday, December 24 at 11:30am

Little Miss Sunshine

Father Richard (Greg Kinnear) is desperately trying to sell his motivational success program... with no success. Meanwhile, "pro-honesty" mom Sheryl (Toni Collette) lends support to her eccentric family, including her depressed brother (Steve Carell), fresh out of the hospital after being jilted by his lover. Then there are the younger Hoovers -- the seven-year-old, would-be beauty queen Olive (Abigail Breslin) and Dwayne (Paul Dano's breakout role), a Nietzsche-reading teen who has taken a vow of silence. Topping off the family is the foul-mouthed grandfather (Alan Arkin), whose outrageous behavior recently got him evicted from his retirement home. When Olive is invited to compete in the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant in far-off California, the family piles into their rusted-out VW bus to rally behind her -- with riotously funny results. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/little-miss-sunshine/

Sunday, December 25 at 11am

The Station Agent

Fin McBride (Peter Dinklage, in his first starring role), a loner with a passion for trains, inherits an abandoned train station in the middle of nowhere -- a place that suits him just fine because all he wants is to be alone... but that is not to be. Soon after moving in, he discovers his isolated depot is more like Grand Central Station. There's Olivia, a distracted and troubled artist, and Joe, a friendly Cuban with an insatiable hunger for conversation. With absolutely nothing in common, they find their isolated lives coming together in a friendship none of them could foresee. The Station Agent is the directorial debut of actor and writer Tom McCarthy (Spotlight, Up) and also stars Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans), Patricia Clarkson, and Bobby Cannavale.

https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-station-agent/

Sunday, December 25 at 4:15pm

The Thin Man - William Powell and Myrna Loy

Between cocktails and the first course of a society dinner, urbane, dry-witted detectives and sophisticates Nick and Nora Charles will show the police the holes in their investigation, unmask a brutal murderer and solve the mystery behind the disappearance of The Thin Man. When New York City private Nick Charles (William Powell) married wealthy Nora (Myrna Loy), he thought he was going to trade his gum-soled shoes for a life of luxury and leisure, but he soon discovers that Nora finds sleuthing both exciting and seductive. Now, this couple -- with a marriage as electric as an illicit affair and a banter as crisp as a glass of champagne -- live, love and solve crimes with an unmatched sense of style. Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. This classic film launched one of the most successful film, television and radio franchises ever. Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (William Powell), Best Writing Adaptation. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-thin-man/

Tuesday, December 27 from 9am to 3pm

Coral Gables Museum Winter Camp

Let the kids ages 6 to 11 have a fun and educational day at Coral Gables Museum's Winter camp, where students are encouraged to explore creativity, learn, and reflect on the architecture and artwork around them. Call 305-603-8067 for details. https://coralgablesmuseum.org/events/

Tuesday, December 27 at 1:15pm

The Sugarland Express

A gripping drama co-written and directed by a 26-year-old Steven Spielberg, The Sugarland Express was the director’s theatrical film debut. Based on a true story, a desperate mother (Goldie Hawn) attempts to stop her son's adoption by any means necessary -- including helping her husband escape prison, kidnapping a Texas state trooper, and leading the police on a wild chase across the state -- and wins the hearts of many fans following her story on the news. This film tells the tale of a girl who took on all of Texas to reunite her family... and almost won. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-sugarland-express/

Wednesday, December 28 at 1:30pm

The Greatest Showman

Step right up... into the spellbinding imagination of a man who set out to reveal that life itself can be the most thrilling show of all. Inspired by the legend and ambitions of America’s original pop-culture impresario, P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman), comes an inspirational rags-to-riches tale of a brash dreamer who rose from nothing to prove that anything you can envision is possible and that everyone, no matter how invisible, has a stupendous story worthy of a world-class spectacle. Hugh Jackman leads an all-star cast in this bold and original musical filled with infectious showstopping performances that will bring you to your feet time and time again. Also starring Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-greatest-showman/

Thursday, December 29 at noon

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Enjoy this free screening with introduction by Les Standiford and Mitchell Kaplan. The magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), Tiny Tim and all the classic characters from A Christmas Carol, receives an elegantly appointed update courtesy of executive producer Mitchell Kaplan. Directed by Bharat Nalluri, The Man Who Invented Christmas shows how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) mixed real-life inspirations with his vivid imagination to conjure a timeless tale, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration we know today. The Man Who Invented Christmas is based on the New York Times best-selling book of the same name written by Miami author Les Standiford. Mitchell Kaplan, owner of Books & Books, co-founder of the Miami Book Fair, and board member of Coral Gables Art Cinema, produced the film. Presented in partnership with Books & Books. https://www.gablescinema.com/events/the-man-who-invented-christmas/

Saturday, December 31 at 8:30pm

Celebrate The New Year In Style

Ring in 2023 with the Biltmore Hotel's extravagant celebration. Enjoy an array of savory food stations, assorted desserts and bubbly at midnight accompanied with a premium open bar. Party favors included. Fireworks will illuminate the sky above the golf course as you count down at midnight. Get details and RSVP online.

Saturday, January 21 at 10am

Redland Riot Road Rally

Every third Saturday in January, since 1994, this fruity, tropical history tour through the Redland agricultural region has delighted hundreds of families, history buffs, foodies and nature lovers with a whimsical adventure through the countryside. Dozens of car teams go searching for clues and enjoying the bounty of the Redland, stopping at wonderful places along the way. Meet at Cauley Square between 10 and 11am to get started. The big finale is at Schnebly Redland's Winery in the Miami Brewing Company Tap Room at 5pm. Get details and register your car team on the Redland Riot web site. https://www.redlandriot.com/Rallye.html

Saturdays at Noon

Kids' Classes at Fred Astaire Dance Studios

Introduce your kids (ages 8-12) and teens (ages 13-17) to the joys of dancing at Fred Astaire Studios with special age-appropriate classes, focusing on art and culture, dreams and goals, music and movement, coordination and poise, teamwork and friendship, building confidence and self-esteem. Call 305-443-0085 for details. https://www.fredastaire.com/coral-gables/calendar/

Dependable Friendly Service

Two Computer Guys

Since 1998, the team at Two Computer Guys has been available for safe, reliable, efficient and friendly service -- for small businesses, families, students and anyone that needs computer help. They solve problems and get computers up and running at top speed quickly. Serving more than a thousand clients in South Florida over the past three decades. Just call when you need a little help. 305-444-1984. https://www.twocomputerguys.com