Wednesday, May 16, 2007
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CONTENTS:Biltmore Golf Course Is Closed Until October
Two Cities Sharing One Same Beauty
Name Change For Kings Bay Streets
Ruth Bryan Owen Park Is Now Open
Looking For Most Beautiful Commercial Properties
Summer Is Here And The Fun Starts
Do Tell About The Telly Awards
Use Water Wisely
Traffic
Event Street Closing
Events Roundup
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Biltmore Golf Course Is Closed Until October >>> The $5 million restoration of the Biltmore Golf Course is underway which means that golfers looking to play in the 18-hole course will have to wait until October of this year for the enriched greens. All greens, tees and bunkers will be rebuilt and grassed to contemporary standards. The Biltmore has retained renowned golf architect and Donald Ross design expert Brian Silva for the project. Silva has a particular expertise in working with historical courses and will closely control all aspects of the restoration program, which also includes new free-span bridges, plus restaurant, pro shop and club house enhancements. During this time period, the hotel will provide alternative golf arrangements for guests and members. Golfers will have privileges at the waterfront Crandon Golf Key Biscayne course, located just minutes from the hotel. Complimentary transportation will be provided for hotel guest. For more information, contact the Biltmore Hotel at 305-913-3116.
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Two Cities Sharing One Same Beauty >>> What does the land of Mickey Mouse and the home of George Merrick have in common? They are both officially referred as “The City Beautiful,” according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. An amicable resolution between the City of Coral Gables and the City of Orlando was reached in a joint venture agreement for the ownership and registration of “The City Beautiful” mark. Both cities will have equal control over the use of the slogan as they have historically. The joint venture will also police the use of the slogan by others wishing to use the same or similar title. Coral Gables began to refer itself as the “The City Beautiful” in 1933 and continues to use this slogan today in many of its promotional materials to describe the stunning surroundings, picturesque architecture and exceptional quality of life.
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Name Change For Kings Bay Streets >>> Living or driving through the Kings Bay subdivision in Coral Gables will soon have a different flair. The City Commission approved last week to change the existing numeric streets to the original street names used in this subdivision in the 1950s. Southwest 66th Avenue will become Bonito Drive, S.W. 65th Avenue will change to Pompano Drive, S.W. 64th Court to Tarpon Drive, S.W. 64th Avenue to Snapper Drive, S.W. 63rd Court to Sandfish Drive, S.W. 62th Avenue to Permit Drive, S.W. 145th Street to Marlin Drive, S.W. 147th Street to Mahi Drive, and S.W. 147th Terrace to Dolphin Drive. City crews will install the signature white markers along with the street signs now in place, which will remain for a period of approximately one year to aid in the name change transition.
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Ruth Bryan Owen Park Is Now Open >>> Construction is finally completed at the new Ruth Bryan Owen Park, located at 3940 Granada, and originally called the Granada Waterway Park. The park was renamed to honor the first woman elected to Congress from the South, daughter of three-time Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan. The improvements included the relocation of overhead utility lines to a series of underground conduits embedded in concrete in a 12-foot wide utility easement which runs the length of the park. It also has a new 146-foot wooden boardwalk at the edge of the waterway, ideal for enjoying nature and watching manatees, birds, and turtles. The roof of the park’s Girl Scout House was redone and this and two other existing structures were painted. This project was made possible through a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the U.S. Department of Interior, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the City’s Capital Improvement Program. A grand opening ceremony is scheduled for the public in the upcoming weeks.
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Looking For Most Beautiful Commercial Properties >>> Do you know of an outstanding commercial property that has incredible architectural beauty both inside and out? Does it have amazing interiors and exteriors worthy of a spread in Architectural Digest magazine? Does this property pay tribute to the historic nature of Coral Gables? If you think you’ve seen one commercial building that fits all the above, then nominate these properties for the City Beautiful Award, sponsored by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the City of Coral Gables. Applications are now available on-line and are due June 1st. Winners in all three categories: outstanding interiors, exteriors and historic preservation, will be announced on July 19th at the Good Morning Coral Gables breakfast of the Chamber of Commerce. For more information and to download an application, click here.
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Summer Is Here And The Fun Starts >>> With just a few weeks before the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer break, parents are busy searching for good summer camp programs. The War Memorial Youth Center offers a diverse choice of activities for children to enjoy during this summer fun: Club Play, My First Camp, Teen Outside Camp, Art Camp, Creative Camp, Dance Camp, Basketball Camp, Baseball Camp, T-Ball Camp, Soccer Camp, General Fitness and Sports Development Camp, Fitness Conditioning Camp, High School Football Camp, Junior Lifeguard Day Camp, Tennis Summer Camp and Gymnastics Camp. Summer sessions begin on June 4 and registration is now open at the Youth Center, 405 University Drive, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. For additional information, contact the Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5601.
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Do Tell About The Telly Awards >>> For 28 years, the Telly Awards have recognized the finest in creative work among the most prestigious agencies, production companies, in-house creative departments and TV stations around the world. Telly-Award winning validates the superior work of any organization that’s why each year the competition received 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 30 countries around the world. Each Telly statuette is hand-made by the craftsman at RS Owens, the same firm that produces the Oscar and the Emmy Awards. Coral Gables Television received this year two more Telly Awards to its growing collection of statuettes, this time for the production of “Visions from the Past: The McFarlane District,” a documentary about the preservation efforts of this historic area and for “Weathering The Storm” the City’s educational program of what citizens can expect in Coral Gables before, during and after a storm. Congratulations to the Coral Gables Television team for this well-deserved honor and for showcasing their value to the organization.
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Use Water Wisely >>> According to the South Florida Water Management District, South Florida is experiencing one of the driest times in history. Lake Okeechobee water level is 9.46 feet, approximately 4 feet below its historical average for this time of the year. Coral Gables residents and commercial owners are encouraged to use water wisely, as conservation starts in our own backyards. Mandatory water restrictions are in effect for all City residents: Residents with odd-numbered home addresses will be allowed to water between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Residents with even-numbered home addresses will be allowed to water between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Thursdays and Sundays. Hand-watering, using a hose with a shut-off valve, is also allowed on your designated days, from 5-7 p.m. Residentsmay also wash cars or boats on your designated days, during any of these hours. No domestic water use for outdoor irrigation will be allowed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. The City of Coral Gables is enforcing these rules and will issue tickets to those residents ignoring these water restrictions. For current water use restrictions and water conservation tips, call the Water Shortage Hotline at 1-800-662-8876 or click here.
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Traffic >>> Le Jeune Road between Southwest 16th Street and South Dixie Highway: Expect delays on Le Jeune Road with lanes closing between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. as crews complete road improvements. Furthermore, expect delays in the overnight hours Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Crews will be paving the streets during this time, the final step in the Le Jeune Road improvement project. At least one lane will remain open in each direction. Access to residents and businesses will be maintained along with left turn lanes at major intersections.
> Le Jeune Road between Palermo and Sevilla Avenues: Throughout the month of May construction crews will be connecting new water lines to the water main in the area. The work will require two lanes to close from Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The work, which started this week, is taking place on the southbound lanes of Le Jeune Road first, shifting southbound traffic to the northbound lanes with one lane in each direction.
> Le Jeune Road at Altara
Avenue: The north entrance and exit to Coral Gables Senior High
School on Altara Avenue is now closed for traffic signal installation
work. All motorists have access to the parking lot through the south
entrance and exit which is located across from the Village of Merrick
Park. Pedestrians wishing to cross Altara Avenue will be directed to Le
Jeune Road and Bird Road. Police officers and flagmen will be present to
direct traffic. This work is expected to be complete by next week. There
may be intermittent single lane closures on southbound Le Jeune Road
between Bird Road and Altara Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.
Please contact Construction Public Information Specialist Carlos Sarmiento
at 305-499-2410 or via email at carlos.sarmiento@dot.state.fl.us.
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Event
Street Closing >>>
May 18: As a result of thousands of people pouring into
downtown Coral Gables for the Cuba Libre Party, the 300 block of Alhambra
Circle will be closed. This is the portion of the street that houses the
Globe Café. Alhambra Circle from Le Jeune Road to Salzedo Street will
close for several hours before and after the event to allow for setup and
cleanup. For more information contact the Globe Café at 305-445-3555.
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Events Roundup >>> Here is a partial list of
upcoming cultural events in Coral Gables. Please call ahead to confirm, as
dates and times may change. For a complete list of events in Coral Gables,
click here.
Ongoing: The historic Merrick House, the family home of Coral Gables founder George Merrick, is open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays for tours at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. The tour of this charming home built of coral rock, still home to the artwork and early possessions of the Merrick family, lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are $5 for adults; $3 for senior citizens (ages 65+) and students with ID; $1 for children ages 6-12, and free for children ages 5 and under. The Merrick House, a remarkable example of South Florida architecture, is located at 907 Coral Way. For more information, call 305-460-5095.
First Friday of The Month: Art lovers flock to Coral Gables the first Friday of every month for Gallery Night. Boasting dozens of galleries, Coral Gables is the premier destination for art and cultural events. The City offers free trolley service to most of the galleries locations from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Some galleries may feature musicians for your entertainment. For a list of art galleries in Coral Gables, click here.
Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays: Promote relaxation after a hard days work with the gentle postures and breathing techniques of Yoga. Basic Yoga is offered at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Mondays and Thursdays from 6 – 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 – 12:30 p.m. Create harmony in your body, mind and spirit. Members pay $11 for a single class or $41 for four classes, residents pay $15 per class or $55 for four classes, and non-residents pay $19 per class or $69 for four classes. The Youth Center is located at 405 University Drive. For more information, call 305-460-5600.
May 16: Entrepreneur Donahue Peebles wants to share the secrets on how to amass a fortune tonight at Books & Books. Peebles’ motivational message of life lessons are described in his new book The Peebles Principles: Insights from An Entrepreneur’s Life of Business Success, Making Deals, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch. Peebles describes how he was able to succeed. The event starts at 8 p.m. Books & Books is located at 265 Aragon Avenue. For more information, call 305-442-4408.
May 17: Small Businesses that specialize in importing goods into the United States will receive valuable information at the next Small Business Seminar hosted by the City of Coral Gables and presented by Florida’s Atlantic University. The Importing to the United States Small Business Seminar will be held tomorrow at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Instructor Cristina Torrens will discuss the process, the necessary documents and tariffs schedules. The cost of the three hour long seminar is $30. For more information or to register, call 786-388-9040.
May 18: A cutting-edge concert blends tropical sounds with classical music for a celebration of South Florida’s musical roots. Seraphic Fire, a professional chamber choir, presents Sawy!, a musical representation of Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Peru and Haiti. The performance takes place at First United Methodist Church located at 536 Coral Way on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 - $30. Free tickets are available 10 minutes before the performance for people under 30 years of age. For more information, call 305-476-0260.
May 18: In celebration of International Museum Day, the Lowe Art Museum is inviting residents and visitors of Coral Gables to free admission to the Lowe Art Museum. This year’s theme is Museums and Universal Heritage. There is also a 10 percent discount for those who want to become members. The museum is located at the University of Miami campus at 1301 Stanford Drive. For more information, call 305-284-3535 or click here.
May 18: Take part in the best block party Coral Gables has to offer. The 4th Annual Globe Café's Cuba Libre Block Party will draw thousands of people this Friday to the 300 block of Alhambra Circle. This year live musical performances include two-time Grammy winner singer Albita live in concert, Chaonda, Anabel and Ke o Ke, Havana Soul and many more. The open air concert and festival starts at 4 p.m. and wraps up about 2:30 a.m. with a performance at the Globe Café by the Cuban Timba All Stars. Don't miss this free opportunity to experience true Cuban culture. For more information, call the Globe Café at 305-445-3555.
May 18 & 19: Watch one of the biggest off Broadway and Broadway successes of all time. The international hit, Godspell, is based on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew and brings parables of Jesus to life. Performances are held this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. with tickets going for $12 for general admission and $10 for children. Tickets are sold at the door at an increased price. The performance will be held at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Theater located at 405 University Drive. For more information, call 305-274-3595.
May 20: Sunday Afternoons of Music presents a 23 year-old pianist that has made a name for herself in China and the United States. Pianist Chu-Fang Huang will be performing at Maurice Gusman Concert Hall at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, 1314 Miller Drive, on Sunday at 4 p.m. Admission costs $40 for adults, $32 for seniors and $10 for young adults age 22 or younger. For more information, call 305-271-7150.
May 21, 24 & 31, June 4 & 7: Empower children to make the right decision if confronted by a bully or aggressive stranger by enrolling in the R.A.D. Kids program. Children, ages 8 through 12, will learn safety skills and defensive techniques to use if confronted with danger. The classes are held at the City of Coral Gables Police Department, 2801 Salzedo Street, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The classes cost $50 per child and parents are encouraged to participate in the program. For more information, call 305-460-5401.
May 22: Seniors are invited to spend the afternoon watching the newly released movie “Dreamgirls” at the War Memorial Youth Center Theater, 405 University Drive. Based on the 1981 Broadway musical, “Dreamgirls” shows the journey of three young women in a quest of becoming pop stars. Refreshments will be served. The event starts 1 p.m. and is free to the public.
Through June 3: The Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents the world premier of The Boy from Russia, written by Miami playwright Susan Westfall. The play is a heartwarming story about how a couple’s dream to expand their family takes them on a journey to Russia. The Miracle Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile. Performance dates and ticket prices vary. For more information, call 305-444-9293.
Through June 13: Shakra Relaxation Oasis and the City of Coral Gables help start your day off right with Sunrise Yoga at Venetian Pool. Every Wednesday, at 6:45 a.m. come practice breathing exercises, and classic Yoga postures while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Venetian Pool, 2701 De Soto Boulevard. The one-hour class will be given by professionals from Shakra. Single class price is $15 and pre-registration is required. For more information, call 305-774-1355.BACK TO TOP
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