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Greetings {name},
We hope you'll appreciate our curated list of community events and cultural opportunities in the coming days. |
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the magnificent Christmas Tree at Coral Gables City Hall beacons residents to visit the Merrick "Holiday" Park with delightful activities for families |
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click on the image to see enlargement.
Coral Gables scenic photo illustrations © Robin and Robert Burr. |
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Friday, December 26 is Kwanzaa, a holiday honoring the culture and traditions of people of African origin.
Saturday, December 27 is National Fruit Cake Day, celebrating a rich heritage bread filled with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices -- sometimes soaked in spirits like rum or brandy.
Sunday, December 28 is Pledge of Allegiance Day, commemorating the date Congress adopted the The Pledge into the United States Flag Code.
Tuesday, December 30 is Bacon Day, which reminds us that bacon is an American favorite, for breakfast certainly, but also as an ingredient in Bloody Mary cocktails, salad dressings and many flavorful recipes.
Wednesday, December 31 is New Year's Eve, a popular occasion for celebrations marking the end of the year, with elaborate gatherings, festivities and fireworks.
Thursday, January 1 is New Years Day, a time of hopeful, optimistic and positive thoughts about the future, making New Year's resolutions, parades and parties. |
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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 -- including restaurant row in the 100 block of Giralda. 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 |
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Now Through December 31
Holiday Plant Sale at Fairchild Gardens
Bring Home Something Beautiful for the Holidays: 25% OFF All Plants with Code GREEN25. A gift that lasts beyond the season. Handled start to finish. Beautiful, thoughtfully prepared plants—ready to give. Get details online. |
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Thursday, December 25 at 3pm
Marty Supreme
Timothy Chalamet plays a young man with a dream that no one respects. In the 1950s, young Marty Mauser goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness -- pursuing his dream to become a champion table-tennis player. Get details online. |
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Thursday, December 25 at 6:15pm
The Secret Agent
Amid the raucous revelry of Carnival week, a widower named Marcelo arrives in 1977 in Recife, Brazil, a city as vibrant as it is violent. A technology researcher who suddenly finds himself an unwitting target in the heart of the dictatorship’s political maelstrom, Marcelo is a man on the run from mercenary killers, from ghosts of the past and from the ruthless, mischievously militant spirit of Brazil during this time. Master filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho teams up with renowned actor Wagner Moura -- giving a career-defining performance -- to craft a thrillingly unpredictable, playfully shape-shifting epic steeped in history, even as it feels remarkably contemporary. Get details online. |
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Thursday, December 25 at 7pm
Anaconda
Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd) have been best friends since they were kids, and have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie: the cinematic "classic" Anaconda. When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they head deep into the Amazon to start filming. But things get real when an actual giant anaconda appears, turning their comically chaotic movie set into a deadly situation. The movie they’re dying to make? It might just get them killed... Get details online. |
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Thursday, December 25 at 7pm
The Housemaid
A wildly entertaining thriller starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, based on the best-selling book. From director Paul Feig, The Housemaid plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems. Trying to escape her past, Millie (Sweeney) accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina (Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous -- a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power. Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end. Get details online. |
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Friday, December 26 through January 4
Very Merry Garden at Fairchild
Celebrate the holidays at Fairchild’s Very Merry Garden with festive activities, Santa visits, and fun for the whole family. Get details online. |
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Friday, December 26 from 7 to 10pm
Fontana’s White Truffle Experience
The White Truffle Experience at Fontana celebrates the fleeting indulgence of this culinary rarity through a four-course dinner menu designed to showcase its elegance in every form. Each dish invites you to savor the essence of northern Italy, where time, terroir, and tradition converge in one of gastronomy’s most extraordinary pleasures. Get details online. |
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Saturday, December 26 at 1pm
You Got Gold: A Celebration Of John Prine
A star-studded tribute to the legendary songwriter, filmed in October 2022 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The event brought together acclaimed artists, friends, and family to share behind-the-scenes stories and perform classic songs, honoring John Prine’s enduring legacy. Prine, widely celebrated as one of history’s greatest songwriters, captivated millions of fans and earned the admiration of icons such as Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, and Bob Weir, amongst many others, are featured in the film performing on the Ryman stage for this special celebration of his life and music. Get details online. |
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Saturday, December 27 at 3pm
Saturday Movie Matinee - A Minecraft Movie
Enjoy an afternoon movie with family and friends at the Coconut Grove Library. Four misfits are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a quest with an unexpected, expert crafter. Snacks will be provided. Call 305-442-8695 or email: Hernandezje@mdpls.org. All ages are welcome. Get details online. |
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Saturday, December 27 at 6:30pm
Nights of Lights - HO Scale Train Display
Bring the family to enjoy Pinecrest Gardens: Nights Of Lights, featuring the East Coast HO Exhibitors Society Train Display, plus Jolly Craft Corner and Story Time, followed by The Polar Express Movie Night in the Meadow. Get details online. |
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Saturday, December 27 at 9pm
Glass Blocs Band at Titanic
A passion project for the band members, Glass Blocs Band is steeped in a love for the genre and a recognition of its ongoing popularity. New wave appeals broadly. It’s a melding of pop, industrial, punk, rock, electronic and disco resulting in broad audience appeal, across generations. Many of the popular bands of the era are still making great music and touring, I.e. Tears For Fears, The Fixx, Psychedelic Furs, Depeche Mode, The Cure. New bands are keeping the sound fresh, bands like White Lies, ACTORS, Billy Howerdel, MCC, Anders Manga and Bob Moses, to name a few -- and nostalgia-fueled media is making the charts look more like it is 1985 than 2023. Get details online. |
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Saturday, December 27 at 10pm
Strange Days - 30th Anniversary
It’s the eve of the millennium in Los Angeles. December 31, 1999. Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) is an ex-cop turned street hustler who preys on human nature by dealing the drug of the future. It’s an environment that will lead him deep into the danger zone when he falls into a maze filled with intrigue and betrayal, murder and conspiracy. Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis co-star in this provocative, action-packed thriller directed by Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow and written by Academy Award winner James Cameron. Get details online. |
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Sunday, December 28 at 2:30pm
Lumière & Company
Celebrating 130 years of cinema — on a day like today, December 28, 1895. From The Great Pyramids in Egypt to The Great Wall of China, from Los Angeles to Hiroshima, directors throughout the world took part in a unique celebration of cinema. To commemorate the 130th anniversary of the Lumière Brothers' first "motion picture," David Lynch, Spike Lee, Wim Wenders, Zhang Yimou, John Boorman and a host of leading international filmmakers created their own one minute Lumière Film. Using the restored original camera, each director offered his own signature style to the film. These exciting eclectic shorts are combined with intriguing interviews with the filmmakers. A must for all movie fans, Lumière and Company speaks for the loving tribute, passion, beauty, and visionary dream of this 130-year-old art form. Get details online. |
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Sunday, December 28 from 6 to 9pm
Nights Of Lights - Live Music in the Meadow with Vic Kingsley
Experience an enchanting winter wonderland at Pinecrest Gardens, featuring new light shows and displays -- a magical world of twinkling lights, festive treats, Santa sightings, a Holiday Bazaar, storytime - plus live performance in the historic Banyan Bowl by Vic Kingsley -- offering a sound reminiscent of Snow Patrol, Travis, Mute Math and Coldplay. Get details online. |
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Tuesday, December 30 at 11am
Schnitzel Tuesday at Fritz And Franz Bierhaus
Meet up with friends at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus for the Tuesday Schnitzel Special all day long; and Wednesday to Friday during lunch from 11am to 3pm. 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. Try the 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 is an ideal setting for gatherings. Call 305-774-1883. Get details online. |
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Tuesday, December 30 at 8pm
Comedy at the Hub: Elon Gold
Elon Gold is a comedian, actor, and writer, who's one hour Netflix stand-up special, "Elon Gold: Chosen & Taken" received wide acclaim from audiences and peers alike and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He has made ten appearances on the "Tonight Show" and recently performed on "The Late Late Show with James Corden." His routines have gone viral and are shared by millions around the globe. Get details online. |
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Tuesday, December 30 at 9pm
Trivia Night at Books & Books
Flex your mental muscles and embark on an exhilarating journey of knowledge and friendly competition on Tuesday evening with Trivia Night at Books & Books. Get details online. |
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Wednesday, December 31 at 7pm
New Years Eve at Beauty And The Butcher
Beauty & the Butcher, the restaurant from Miami’s award-winning local restaurant group, Grove Bay Hospitality Group, showcases culinary excellence in a warm, inviting space. Enjoy the U-10 Scallops with beet puree, citrus, herb salad; or the Prime Rib with duck fat potatoes, horseradish creme, au jus, and herbs. Enjoy complimentary bubbles when booking for New Year's Eve. Get details online. |
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Wednesday, December 31 at 7:30pm
Hurricanes Vs Buckeyes in Cotton Bowl
The University of Miami Hurricanes challenge the Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA Division I), members of the Big Ten Conference, in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. The teams last met in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State won in double overtime for the national title. The game will be televised on ESPN. Get details online. |
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Wednesday, December 31 at 7:30pm
When Harry Met Sally... Rob Reiner In Memoriam
Can a man and a woman be friends, or does sex always get in the way? Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal star as two best friends of the opposite sex in the blockbuster, heartwarming romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally. Harry Burns and Sally Albright meet when they share a car on a trip from Chicago to New York right after both graduate from college. As the two build their lives and careers in Manhattan, they find love and heartache -- with other people -- but their paths continue to cross and their friendship continues to grow over the years, until they confront the decision whether to let their friendship develop into romance. Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Get details online. |
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Wednesday, December 31 starting at 8pm
New Year's Even with Orchestra Miami
Orchestra Miami presents the ultimate New Year’s Eve Celebration -- an unforgettable, free, family-friendly, beachfront concert performed by Miami’s premiere professional orchestra, Orchestra Miami, led by Miami native and Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi. Ring in the New Year with Maestro Rinaldi, the 42-piece symphony orchestra, and special guests, Miami based, Grammy and Latin-Grammy nominated Afro-Cuban Funk Band PALO. Get details online. |
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Wednesday, December 31 at 8pm
New Year's Eve at JohnMartin's
Enjoy a celebration of traditional New Year's Eve fun and good cheer at JohnMartin's on Miracle Mile with drinks, a count-down and live music. Get details online. |
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Wednesday, December 31 at 9pm
THesis - Countdown Celebration on Ivy Rooftop
Enjoy an evening of glamour, music, and elevated cocktails. Celebrate New Year’s Eve above the city lights at Ivy Rooftop, where stunning views, vibrant energy, and unforgettable moments come together. Dance the night away to a live DJ, indulge in our premium dessert buffet, toast the New Year with a complimentary glass of champagne, and elevate your night with exclusive bottle service. Get details online. |
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Tuesday, December 31 from 10pm to 1am
The Biltmore’s New Year’s Eve Dessert Soiree & Fireworks
Ring in 2026 at the Biltmore -- an incredible evening highlighted by a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Don your finest cocktail party attire and usher in the New Year at the historic Biltmore Hotel. Dance the night away, indulge in a sumptuous array of desserts, and savor the delights of a premium open bar. Then as the clock approaches midnight, raise a glass of bubbly and witness the sky above as the golf course comes alive with a breathtaking fireworks display. Get details online. |
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Thursday, January 1 at 4pm
The Plague
In the summer of 2003, at an all-boys water polo camp, a socially anxious twelve-year-old is pulled into a cruel tradition targeting an outcast with an illness they call The Plague. But as the lines between game and reality blur, he fears the joke might be hiding something real. Get details online. |
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Thursday, January 1 at 7:30pm
Stranger Things 5: The Finale
The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished -- his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming -- and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone -- the full party -- standing together, one last time. Get details online. |
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Thursday, January 1 at 8pm
We Bury The Dead
After a catastrophic American military experiment results in mass casualties across Tasmania, Ava (Ridley) joins a body retrieval unit to help identify the dead and search for her husband on the southern part of the island. As Ava makes her way south across the ravaged landscape, she soon learns that some victims of the disaster are brought back to life and are dangerous for anyone in their path. Get details online. |
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Saturday, January 3 from 5 to 10pm
Supermoon and Meteor Shower - Neurodiverse families
1000 Hours Outside is a global movement to match screen time with green time. Neurodiverse families across the lifespan are invited to explore accessibility in nature. Cook dinner on a stick as the first supermoon of 2026 rises over a magical rainbow campfire. Play with glowing bubbles, crafts, and games. Watch a movie under the stars that will conclude just as the Quadrantid Meteor Shower is peaking over Coral Gables at Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park, 3940 Granada Blvd. Get details online. |
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Sunday, January 4 at 2pm
Million Dollar Mermaid
In 1925 George Merrick hired the most recognized person on the planet to help market his new city of Coral Gables -- and it worked. Attend a special screening of Million Dollar Mermaid, a 1952 film about the amazing back story of Annette Kellerman (our Coral Gables mermaid), featuring water ballets choreographed by Busby Berkeley. This screening will be introduced by Australian Honorary Consul Don Slesnick. Esther Williams stars in this dramatic true musical romance of turn-of-the century swimming champion Annette Kellerman, better known as the Million Dollar Mermaid. As a child in Australia, Kellerman learns to swim to overcome a potentially crippling physical handicap and develops into a champion. As a young woman, she travels with her father to London and dreams of a career as a dancer. But when her father falls on hard times, Kellerman resorts to her aquatic talents: swimming 30 miles of the Thames in a famous publicity stunt, then shocking Boston by appearing in a one-piece suit. Get details online. |
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Monday, January 5 at 7:30pm
JAZZMIA Nights - Marcelo Camacho
Marcelo Camacho is a Cuban & Miami-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer. Original music includes modern jazz, with influence from modern jazz legends such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross and more. His sound is characterized for a merging of the New York modern jazz sound with his Cuban roots and a strong influence from his work as a Hip Hop & experimental music producer. This new project is the first time his original compositions will be presented in Miami after performing in Cuba for the past 2 years. This Jazz MIA event takes place at Westchester Cultural Arts Center, 7930 Southwest 40th Street (Tropical Park). Get details online. |
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Thursday, January 8 at 5:30pm
Gables Chamber New Year's Networker
Join the members and associates of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for a New Year's Networking gathering at UM's Lennar Foundation Medical Center, 5555 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Get details online. |
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Saturday, January 10 at 2pm
Miami Pioneers - Photographer and 3D specialist Mark Diamond
The Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade historical society is pleased to welcome a well-known local photographer and 3D hologram specialist for a presentation on images of South Florida. Mark Diamond grew up in South Florida, engaged in photography at a very young age, which evolved into three dimensional imaging. His massive collection of images spans from aerials and architectural studies to everyday scenes of life in South Florida — and optical peculiarities. Mark’s work is collected and on display publicly in over 15 countries with subjects ranging from vintage rock and roll icons to 3- Dimensional botanical studies. Get details online. |
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Saturday, January 10 at 2pm
Merrick House - Weekend Guided Tours
Step back in time to the Roaring 20s to take a guided tour of this landmark house museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. View original paintings and furnishings in 14 rooms of the family home of George Edgar Merrick, who was founder of the City Beautiful of Coral Gables. Merrick House docent-guided tours occur at 1, 2 and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The fee is $5. Free parking is located behind the house, at 907 Coral Way. Call 305-774-0155. Get details online. |
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Sunday, January 11 at 3pm
Music & Dance from the Spanish Americas - Orchestra Miami
Travel back to life in the Spanish America of the 1700s as Orchestra Miami presents Music & Dance from the Spanish Americas at Pinecrest Gardens, created by Hispanic Culture Arts out of NYC. This engaging and colorful performance features dancers in period costume, live music, narration, songs and audience participation activities. Members of the audience will be invited to try their hand at a castanet activity, an 18th century Peruvian bird dance, and an invitation to try steps of an 17th century Mexican shoe dance. The performance also showcases the 19th century "habanera" from Cuba, and baroque dance from both Spain and Mexico. Get details online. |
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Thursday, January 22 at 11am
Splendor In The Garden
Attend an afternoon of fashion, philanthropy, and elegance at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, featuring a glamorous runway presentation, honorees who inspire, and a shared commitment to supporting the future of science and education through Fairchild’s programs. Get details online. |
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Friday, January 23 at 7:30pm
Sotto Voce at GableStage
Written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics), Sotto Voce is a lyrical meditation on memory, longing, and the legacy of the Holocaust. When a young Jewish-Cuban researcher’s obsession with the MS St. Louis leads him to an 80-year-old novelist who is still haunted by the love she lost aboard the doomed voyage, the line between memory and desire blurs. This is a haunting story of love, loss, and the voices that refuse to be forgotten. Get details online. |
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Sat/Sun, January 24–25 from 10am to 5pm
A Festival of Chocolate at Fairchild Gardens
Indulge in the sweetest weekend of the year at Fairchild’s annual Chocolate Festival. This beloved Miami event is a paradise for chocolate lovers, featuring an abundance of artisanal treats, live cooking demonstrations, and interactive experiences the whole family will enjoy. Get details online. |
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Sunday, February 22 at 4pm
February Fantasy - Greater Miami Symphonic Band
Join the Greater Miami Symphonic Band for an exciting afternoon of music featuring a dynamic selection of classic and contemporary wind band repertoire. This performance promises powerful brass, rich woodwinds, and engaging rhythms that will delight audiences of all ages. Enjoy free parking and free admission into the Gardens one hour prior to concert time. Get details online. |
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Dependable Friendly Computer 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, seniors and anyone who needs a little help with their computer. TCG solves problems to get computers up and running quickly. Be safe -- call when you need help with virus issues. Serving more than a thousand clients in South Florida over the past three decades. Call 305-444-1984 when you need a little help. Get details and schedule an appointment online. |
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Online Safety Recommendation
Surfshark VPN for Online Security
Check out Surfshark, a cybersecurity bundle for all-over protection. This award-winning VPN service creates a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet. It's a necessary protection in the modern world. Get up to three months of free service when you get details online. |
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Quantum Leap Network
PO Box 144353, Coral Gables, FL 33114-4353
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