Greetings,
Cool weather lingers on this busy weekend as football season begins it’s crescendo into a super-saturated fanatic finale with both the Pro Bowl and Superbowl coming to town on consecutive Sundays.
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Biltmore Super Bowl Package
Get a super deal on super football weekend at Coral Gables’ own super resort. Treat yourself and your team to a uniquely pampered weekend at the spa, by the pool and on the links of the famous Biltmore golf course. Indulge in the finest restaurants in South Florida, enjoy world-class cocktails, fine wines and the best champagne for your super-special weekend in paradise. Call 305-445-1926 or 800-727-1926 for details. http://www.biltmorehotel.com/?chebs=superbowl
Super Art In The Park
The Kiwanis Club brings a pumped-up version of the monthly Art In The Park event at Ponce Circle Park this Friday in conjunction with the coming Pro Bowl and Super Bowl events in Miami over the next 10 days. Super Art in the Park features the reggae music of Fourth Dimension at 7pm, followed by the smooth rock sounds of Jacob Jeffries Band at 8pm. The fusion of music continues with the soul music of Ketchy Shuby at 9pm and culminates with Latin funk by DJ Le Spam And The Spam Allstars. It is TGIF all night long surrounded by local artist exhibits. Enjoy special appearances throughout the evening by sports stars, see valuable memorabilia, enjoy activities for kids of all ages, as well as other exciting surprises as we welcome the world to Coral Gables for the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl season. Admission is free. The big event begins at 6:30pm on Friday, January 29. www.artintheparkconcerts.com
The Miami International Map Fair
The “Superbowl Of Mapdom” returns to Miami January 30-31 at the Historical Museum of South Florida. According to map maven Joe Fitzgerald, there will be lectures, expert opinions and maps for sale by top dealers from 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy a weekend of browsing and buying antique maps of every size, shape and color, alongside map dealers, collectors and aficionados from the four corners of the world. If you are curious about the origin and historical value of your own maps, why not bring them to the fair to receive an expert opinion from a professional map dealer. The Historical Museum is located at 101 West Flagler. General admission is $10. Proceeds from Map Fair go toward maintaining and improving the Historical Museum’s exhibitions, educational programming and community outreach. Free parking is available to all fairgoers at the Miami-Dade Cultural Plaza Garage, 50 NW 2nd Avenue. Call 305-375-1492. http://www.hmsf.org/programs-mapfair.htm
Corporate Catering Services At Gusto Fino
Make a note: when the occasion calls for great food and reliable service at your next corporate catered event, contact Tony Vecchio at Gusto Fino Deli. Tony has the experience, the authentic Italian delicacies, the delightful gift baskets and the reputation for first-class service you can count on. Drop in for lunch anytime at 2103 LeJeune Road. Call 305-444-0504. New catering customers receive a 15% discount by mentioning Great Gables. See the catering menu online at http://www.gustofinodeli.com/Catering.html
New Theatre World Premiere Benefits Haiti
Coral Gables’ New Theatre will raise funds throughout the run of its upcoming world premiere play, The Hour of the Tiger, to aid Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Audience contributions will be requested by the actors following each performance. Call 305-443-5373. http://www.new-theatre.org
Dinner In Paradise: Lovin’ In The Garden
Make plans for the most romantic day of the year by spending an enchanted Valentine’s evening in paradise and Gabriele Marewski’s Paradise Farms, 19801 SW 320 Street. Lovin’ In The Garden will tempt you and your lover’s senses throughout the evening as you stroll in the beautiful tropical gardens; recline together under the stars with a glass of delicious wine; indulge in our aphrodisiac-inspired menu kissed with organic herbs; paired with equally sensual wines selected by Sommelier Shari Gherman. Private chefs and brother/sister team Christopher Siragusa and Mary Siragusa will delight you with their farm fresh tropical cuisine with a specialty in edible flowers. Love songs fill the air to inspire passion and excitement. It will stir your senses, encourage you and your lover’s desire to be close… you’ll be dancing in the moonlight. Lovin’ In The Garden is the sure way to make this Valentine’s Day the one you will always remember. For more information and to make reservations, visit the web site: http://www.paradisefarms.net
The Grapes-Wine Education Series
Wine Educator-Barry Alberts has announced a series of wine education seminars, each featuring a single variety of grape to show how it compares and contrasts. Sample the same grape from regions all over the world. Imagine Chardonnay from California, France, Australia and South America. Held every other Wednesday starting February 3 with limited seating and sold as a package including all six classes for $240 per person. The events take place at the Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72 Avenue from 7 to 8:30pm. Class schedule includes February 3: Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc; February 17: Chardonnay; March 3: Pinot Noir; March 17: Merlot; March 31: Syrah; April 14: Cabernet Sauvignon. To sign up please call 305-235-1668 x233. http://www.deeringestate.org
Power Lunch At Por Fin
Check out the new Power Lunch menu for $19.95 at Por Fin, 2500 Ponce. Call 305-441-0107. http://www.porfinrestaurant.com
Friday, January 29
Realtor Showcase At Gables’ Youth Center
The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce presents a Realtor Showcase at the COral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive at 8:30am. Hear directly from public and private schools, city officials and department heads and realty experts on why Coral Gables is the premiere location in Miami-Dade county. Call 305-446-1657. http://coralgableschamber.org
Vive Magazine Women’s Conference
Join Vive Magazine at the Colonnade Hotel, 180 Aragon starting at 8:30am for the Women’s “Renew Refresh Regroup” conference, a day for networking, sharing and learning about topics important to women. Begin with breakfast and keynote speaker Dr. Arthur Agatston, creator of the South Beach Diet. Sit in on round-table discussions with speakers expert in a wealth of subjects and browse the Vive Shopping Village offering an array of products and services. Beauty Icon Adrien Arpel is the luncheon keynote speaker, sharing her strategies for running a multimillion dollar company and staying ahead of the curve in any industry. Registration opens at 7am and the conference gets underway at 8:30am. Ticket prices for the all-day conference and a Vive gift bag are one for $125 or two for $195 so bring a friend and share the savings. Proceeds benefit The Vive Foundation and its mission to promote education for women. Call 561-615-8483. http://vivemagazine.com
Fleming’s 5 For 6 ’til 7
Come in to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar at 2525 Ponce before 7pm to enjoy a variety of 5 great wines, 5 popular cocktails and 5 delicious appetizers all for $6. The large delicate crab cakes, the big plate of fried calamari, the seared ahi tuna with wasabi sauce, the filet mignon carpaccio toped with fresh parmesan cheese and the grilled shrimp in spicy chili sauce are fantastic, and quite a bargain at $6 each. Their Prime Sirloin Burger with cheese and bacon is also $6. The selection of fine wines and lovely cocktails at $6 are equally sublime. Call 305-569-7995. http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com
Bar Bites At Morton’s Until 6:30
Stop into the Morton’s Steakhouse bar Monday through Friday from 5 to 6:30pm or later from 9:30 to 11pm for some great deals on their popular Bar Bites appetizers for only $5 or $6. Can’t believe it? Choose the Miniature Prime Cheeseburger Trio with more than half a pound of USDA prime-aged beef with cheddar cheese, tomato slices, lettuce and onion. Or, choose the Four Petite Filet Mignon Sandwiches served with mustard mayonnaise sauce. Or the triplet of delicious crab cakes. How about the Chicken Goujonettes crispy strips served with mustard mayonnaise sauce or the blue cheese fries — or the crab, artichoke and spinach dip? You can also order Morton’s Prime Burger and French Fries in the Bar for only $15. Call 305-442-1662. http://www.mortons.com
Happy Hour On The Bierhaus Plaza
It’s Happy Hour on the Plaza at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus at 60 Merrick Way with two for one drinks from 5 to 7pm on Friday. Order the famous Bierhaus Burger, one of the best Burgers in Town, or Louisiana Fish fry with Harald’s legendary potato salad or fries. The nightly special is Forelle Mullerin (fresh Rainbow Trout, sauteed in lemon butter with parsley potatoes and mixed greens) served from 5 to 10pm for $19.95. Enjoy live entertainment outdoors from 6 to 10pm. Call 305-774-1883. http://www.bierhaus.cc
Happy Hour At Sports Exchange
Enjoy happy hour at Sports Exchange, 45 Miracle Mile, from 5 to 8pm. Buy one drink, get one free — all brands, house wine and beers. $5 pizzas. Late night happy hour from 11pm to close: $5 for all well drinks, $3 domestic beers and house wine, plus $5 pizzas. Call 305-774-1222. http://www.thesportsexchangemiami.com
Super Art In The Park
The Kiwanis Club brings a pumped-up version of the monthly Art In The Park event at Ponce Circle Park this Friday in conjunction with the coming Pro Bowl and Super Bowl events in Miami over the next 10 days. Super Art in the Park features the reggae music of Fourth Dimension in concert at 7pm with, followed by the smooth rock sounds of Jacob Jeffries Band at 8pm. The fusion of music continues with the soul music of Ketchy Shuby at 9pm and culminates with Latin funk by DJ Le Spam And The Spam Allstars. It is TGIF all night long surrounded by local artist exhibits. Enjoy special appearances throughout the evening by sports stars, see valuable memorabilia, enjoy activities for kids of all ages, as well as other exciting surprises as we welcome the world to Coral Gables for the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl season. Admission is free. The big event begins at 6:30pm. www.artintheparkconcerts.com
Seraphic Fire: The Music Of Ecstasy
Who says the sacred and the sensual don’t mix? Seraphic Fire choral group presents a provocative program of music on Old Testament texts, starting at 7:30pm at First United Methodist Church, 536 Coral Way. “Kisses of His Mouth” is a musical exploration of the sensual side of spirituality. Alvaro Bermudez’s latest work, Kisses of His Mouth, is written for the treble voices of Seraphic Fire, with a featured solo created with his wife in mind — mezzo-soprano, Misty Bermudez. Similar to his previous pieces, Kisses is strongly influenced by both Baroque forms and Jazz harmonies — dominant areas of interest and intensive study in the composer’s career. This concert will be the first time that Seraphic Fire presents a program entirely for treble voices. With other ensembles, this might mean that only women would sing. Not so with Seraphic Fire. As longtime fans of the group will know, there will be one notable masculine presence on this program — that of Reginald Mobley, countertenor. Come be ravished by the sublime sound of angels on earth. Tickets are $35 and available now by phone 888-544-FIRE or online: http://www.seraphicfire.org
Fine Wines At Fairchild
Enjoy fine wine, gourmet cuisine and a live performance by internationally renowned jazz vocalist Nicole Henry at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road at 7:30pm. Hosted by Fairchild Palms, the wine tasting is paired with delectable cuisine from a top local chef. The indoor/outdoor event also features a silent auction, moonlight tram rides through Fairchild’s beautiful gardens and a unique opportunity to purchase the featured wines directly from the presenting wine sponsors at discounted prices. The event is limited to the first 250 guests. Tickets are $65, and all proceeds benefit the Fairchild Challenge, an environmental education outreach program. Fairchild Palms members are eligible for 10% off ticket prices, and Royal Palms members are free. Tickets may be purchased online. Call 305-667-1651 or send email to: thefairchildpalms@gmail.com. The web site is: http://www.fairchildpalms.org
Falling Awake At Cosford Cinema
This film tells the powerful story of Jay (Andrew Cisneros), a young Latino musician in the Bronx who struggles to find his identity in a home crowded with family members and a neighborhood of loyal friends and dangerous enemies. After he meets the beautiful Manhattanite Alessandra (Jenna Dewan), his determination to reach toward a wider world and realize his musical dreams becomes even stronger. But he is tied by loyalty to his friends and to his ex Marine brother, and by the expectations of his frustrated, angry father. As jay fights to break free of the cycles of anger and violence that grip his life and his neighborhood, he learns that only love can help him grasp his elusive chance at happiness, and comes to a new understanding that helps him take the long, uncertain leap into his future. The film begins at 9:15pm at Cosford Cinema on the second floor of the Memorial Classroom building on UM campus. $8, ($6 seniors) cash only. Call 305-284-4861. http://www.cosfordcinema.com
Saturday, January 30
Farmers’ Market At City Hall
The Gardening Workshop begins at 9am, then enjoy the 10am Cooking Demonstration at the Gables’ Farmers’ Market at City Hall. At 11am, the kids will enjoy special activities. Call 305-460-5311.
Bring On The Boys!
No previous singing experience is required for boys to participate in a singing workshop for boys with unchanged voices from 9am to noon at University of Miami’s Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall. Registration begins at 8:30am, the workshop at 9am with a free performance by the public at 11:30am. $20 includes at t-shirt, refreshments and the performance. Call 305-662-7494. http://www.miamichildrenschorus.org
The Miami International Map Fair
The “Superbowl Of Mapdom” returns to Miami January 30-31 at the Historical Museum of South Florida. According to map maven Joe Fitzgerald, there will be lectures, expert opinions and maps for sale by top dealers from 10am to 5pm. Enjoy a weekend of browsing and buying antique maps of every size, shape and color, alongside map dealers, collectors and aficionados from the four corners of the world. If you are curious about the origin and historical value of your own maps, why not bring them to the fair to receive an expert opinion from a professional map dealer. The Historical Museum is located at 101 West Flagler. General admission is $10. Proceeds from Map Fair go toward maintaining and improving the Historical Museum’s exhibitions, educational programming and community outreach. Call 305-375-1492. http://www.hmsf.org/programs-mapfair.htm
Kids: Jack And The Beanstalk
Kicking off the New Year at Actors’ Playhouse Musical Theatre for Young Audiences is the Prince Street Player’s award winning version of the classic story Jack and the Beanstalk. Based on the fairy tale by Joseph Jacobs, this wacky adventure takes the climb with Jack as he goes up the magical beanstalk into the world of a Giant Inventor, a tap dancing Golden Goose, and a Golden Harp that can really “get down”! With book and lyrics by Jim Eiler, and music by Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy, this fanciful musical is full of surprises that are sure to entertain each Saturday afternoon at the Miracle Theatre. For show times and ticket availability, call 305-444-9293 x604. http://www.actorsplayhouse.org
Kampong Kids: Fun With Music
The Miami Conservatory of Music will premier a new program created especially for The Kampong, starting at 1:30pm at 4013 Douglas Road. Fun with Music is created exclusively for the Kampong Classical Music Concert Series for Children. The program showcases star students and faculty from the Conservatory and features performances on piano, violin and guitar. Children in the audience will be able to try out instruments for themselves. Tickets and seating are limited and available by reservation only. The Kampong Kids Music Series, co-sponsored by the Miami Conservatory of Music, Orchestra Miami, and Steinway & Sons, provides a unique opportunity for entire families to enjoy classical music with concerts tailored for young audiences. There are two additional concerts scheduled in the series through May 2010. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children over 3 years old, including snack after the performance. Proceeds will be used to support The Kampong living collections and educational programs. Call 305-442-7169. http://www.ntbg.org/gardens/kampong-event.php
Florida Virtual School At Barnes And Noble
The innovative Florida Virtual School will be hosting an Open House Book Fair from 2 to 4pm at Barnes & Noble at 152 Miracle Mile. Everyone is cordially invited to come by during this time to meet the FLVS teachers. You may also support FLVS by letting the cashier know at the time of your purchase that you are a “friend of FLVS.” FLVS will receive a percentage of all sales. Call 305-446-4152. The FLorida Virtual School is a program for students to work online to learn and advance at their own pace. A nationally recognized e-Learning model and recipient of numerous awards, FLVS was founded in 1997 and was the country’s first, state-wide Internet-based public high school. Today, FLVS serves students in grades K-12 and provides a variety of custom solutions for schools and districts to meet student needs. http://www.flvs.net
Moonlight Concert At The Kampong
The extraordinary pianists Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel are known not only for the seamless ensemble of their playing, but also for their superlative musicianship. They have devoted themselves to transferring the individuality and spontaneity of a solo performance to the piano duo. Registration starts at 6:30pm and the concert begins at 7:30pm at the Kampong, 4013 Douglas Road. The pair will be performing the music of Gershwin and Piazzolla. The evening also features a dance performance by professional tango dancers, Oscar Caballero and Roxana Garber. The cost is $75 per person. Call 305-442-7169 or 305-447-1040. http://www.ntbg.org/gardens/kampong-event.php
Toby Talbot: New York Theater
The nation didn’t know it, but 1960 would change American film forever, and the revolution would occur nowhere near a Hollywood set. With the opening of the New Yorker Theater, a cinema located at the heart of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, cutting-edge films from around the world were screened for an eager audience, including the city’s most influential producers, directors, critics, and writers. Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Susan Sontag, Andrew Sarris, and Pauline Kael, among many others, would make the New Yorker their home, trusting in the owners’ impeccable taste and incorporating much of what they viewed into their work. In this irresistible memoir, Toby Talbot, co-owner and proud “matron” of the New Yorker Theater, reveals the story behind Manhattan’s wild and wonderful affair with art-house film. With her husband Dan, Talbot showcased a range of eclectic films, introducing French New Wave and New German cinema, along with other groundbreaking genres and styles. As Vietnam protests and the struggle for civil rights raged outside, the Talbots also took the lead in distributing political films, such as Bernard Bertolucci’s Before the Revolution, and documentaries, such as Shoah and Point of Order. Talbot enhances her stories with selections from the New Yorker’s essential archives, including program notes by Jack Kerouac, Jules Feiffer, Peter Bogdanovich, Jonas Mekas, Jack Gelber, and Harold Humes. These artifacts testify to the deeply engaged and collaborative spirit behind each showing, and they illuminate the myriad — and often entertaining — aspects of theater operation. All in all, Talbot’s tales capture the highs and lows of a thrilling era in filmmaking. (Colombia University Press, $24.95) Meet the author at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at 7pm. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com
The Hour Of The Tiger At New Theatre
Now through February 14, enjoy The Hour Of The Tiger by Sandra Riley at New Theatre, 4120 Laguna Street. An American woman immersed in Japan’s post Vietnam terrain is tangled between rescuing a geisha from her money hungry master and conquering her own fears. Performances are at 8pm Thursday through Saturday, plus Sundays at 1pm. Call 305-443-5909. http://www.new-theatre.org
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Something different is coming to Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, in a riotous fashion this January. Called a mix between South Park and Desperate Housewives, this campy, sexy, bawdy, R-Rated musical fable is seasoned with murderous ex-boyfriends, Costco, the Ice Capades, and a stripper on the run who comes between a Dr. Phil-loving agoraphobic housewife and her toll-booth collector husband. With a chorus of trailer park divas residing in Armadillo Acres, an exclusive Florida mobile home community, this escapist, fun musical ranges across the American Radio dial from country to blues to rock to disco to bump n’ grind to rhythm and blues. Preview performances will be held Wednesday and Thursday, January 13th and 14th at 8pm. The show will open Friday, January 15th at 8pm and play through February 7th. Performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm with an additional matinee Wednesday, January 20th at 2pm. The musical contains adult content and language and is recommended for mature audiences only. Call 305-444-9392. http://www.actorsplayhouse.org
Liz Welch: The Kids are Alright
Told in the alternating voices of the four siblings, Liz Welch’s The Kids are Alright (Harmony, $24.99) is a poignant, harrowing story of un-breakable bonds that unfolds with ferocious emotion. Between their handsome father’s mysterious death, their glamorous soap-opera-star mother’s cancer diagnosis, and a phalanx of lawyers intent on bankruptcy proceedings, the four Welch siblings managed to handle each new heartbreaking misfortune in the same way they dealt with the unexpected arrival of the forgotten-about Chilean exchange student — together. Despite the Welch children’s wrenching loss and subsequent separation, they retained the resilience and humor that both their mother and father endowed them with — growing up as lost souls, taking disastrous turns along the way, but eventually coming out right side up. The kids are not only all right; they’re back together. Meet the author at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at 8pm. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com
Killing Kasztner at Cosford Cinema
Rezso Kasztner was a Hungarian Jew who tried to rescue the last million Jews of Europe by negotiating face to face with Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann. After Kasztner moved to Israel, many people accused him of collaborating with the enemy. He fought a vicious libel battle and was ultimately assassinated in Tel Aviv. The film follows Kasztner’s family and survivors; plagued by a legacy they are determined to change. And after 50 years the assassin Ze’ev Eckstein breaks his silence. Part real time investigation, part historical journey, the filmmaker unearths the Kasztner story and its ramifications for the survivors, his family and his country, exploring the very nature of history itself; who writes it, how it is remembered, and what is at stake for the present, and future. The film begins at 8pm at Cosford Cinema on the second floor of the Memorial Classroom building on UM campus. $8, ($6 seniors) cash only. Call 305-284-4861. http://www.cosfordcinema.com
Sunday, January 31
The Miami International Map Fair
The “Superbowl Of Mapdom” returns to Miami January 30-31 at the Historical Museum of South Florida. According to map maven Joe Fitzgerald, there will be lectures, expert opinions and maps for sale by top dealers from 10am to 5pm. Enjoy a weekend of browsing and buying antique maps of every size, shape and color, alongside map dealers, collectors and aficionados from the four corners of the world. If you are curious about the origin and historical value of your own maps, why not bring them to the fair to receive an expert opinion from a professional map dealer. The Historical Museum is located at 101 West Flagler. General admission is $10. Proceeds from Map Fair go toward maintaining and improving the Historical Museum’s exhibitions, educational programming and community outreach. Call 305-375-1492. http://www.hmsf.org/programs-mapfair.htm
Sunday Brunch At The Biltmore
Enjoy a stunning display of fine foods at the Biltmore’s Fountain Restaurant from 10am to 2pm as you’re literally surrounded by the most elaborate spread of gourmet items in South Florida. This bountiful buffet features seafood and caviar, carved meats, made-to-order omelets, sushi, pastas, salads, tapas, quiches, artisanal cheeses, specialty dishes, a chocolate fountain and endless desserts. Enjoy live music by Juan Areco and his trio. The French champagne is flowing, the service is remarkable and the setting is perfect for entertaining guests and family members for special occasions. Biltmore Brunch is now offering a choice of additional specialty drinks including: Mango Bellini, Peach Bellini, Bloody Mary & Bloody Caesar, naturally we still have Champagne of the month & Mimosas. Reserve early; it usually sells out in advance. Call 305-913-3202. http://www.biltmorehotel.com/restaurants.asp
Sunday Tours Of Merrick House
Every Sunday at 1, 2 and 3pm, enjoy a tour of this unique treasure at 907 Coral Way by docents and historical experts. The majestic house, on the National Register of Historic Places, is the boyhood home of George Merrick, founder and developer of the City Beautiful. Cost is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students with ID; $1 for children; free for kids five and under.
La Cena Di Mario At La Fontana
Enjoy a pre-fixe Family Style Dinner for four or more persons at the Biltmore’s Fontana Restaurant every Sunday for $35 beginning with an Antipasto Platter. The First Course includes a choice of two: Lightly Breaded Calamari, Mozzarella Caprese, Caesar Salad, Insalata Mista. The main course includes a choice of two: Penne, Rigatoni, Fettuccini or Square Spaghetti Pasta with choice of Pomodoro, Bolognese, Boscaiola or Aglio e Olio, Chicken Cacciatora, Chicken Marsala, Basa Livornese or Sea Bream and Lemon Butter. http://www.biltmorehotel.com/dining/fontana.php
District 9 At Cosford Cinema
In 1982, a massive star ship bearing a bedraggled alien population, nicknamed “The Prawns,” appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa. Twenty-eight years later, the refugee camp where the aliens were located has deteriorated into a militarized ghetto called District 9. In 2010, a munitions corporation is contracted to forcibly evict the population. Featuring English, Nyanja and Afrikaans with English subtitles, the film begins at 8pm at Cosford Cinema on the second floor of the Memorial Classroom building on UM campus. $8, ($6 seniors) cash only. Call 305-284-4861. http://www.cosfordcinema.com
Monday, February 1
Ponce Business Association Lunch
Join fellow citizens of Coral Gables for the weekly lunch at JohnMartin’s, 253 Miracle Mile at noon. The guest speaker will be Rudy Rodriguez, Adjudication Manager of the U.S. Department of State’s Miami Passport Agency. He will be speaking about the role of the Department for approving citizenship, customer service, passport fraud prevention and the State Department’s outreach/public affairs initiatives for the State of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also recently returned from Haiti, assisting U.S. citizens in their evacuating from the country. He will give us a firsthand update on the damages and ongoing efforts by the U.S. and other countries in the search and rescue of people, as well as the plans in restoring the country’s government and infrastructure. The cost of lunch is $22. RSVP to rsvp@ponceassociation.org
Assessment: America’s Latin America Policy
The University Of Miami’s Center For Hemispheric Policy presents a special panel discussion The Obama Administration’s Latin America Policy: First-Year Assessment. The event begins at the Hyatt Regency, 50 Alhambra Plaza at 4:45pm, featuring Patricio Navia Adjunct Assistant Professor, Center for Latin American Studies, New York University; Professor, Political Science, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Diego Portales, Chile; Robert Pastor Professor, International Relations, School of International Service, American University, Washington, D.C.; Susan Kaufman Purcell Director, Center for Hemispheric Policy, University of Miami; and moderator Kevin Casas-Zamora Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Latin America Initiative, The Brookings Institution; Former Vice-President of Costa Rica. Call Patricia Salinas at 305-284-3707. http://www.miami.edu/chp
An Evening With UM Football Greats
The University of Miami Athletics Department and the Hurricane Club will host “An Evening with UM Football Greats” at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Avenue, from 7 to 10pm. Open to 500 guests, the event will feature Head Coach Randy Shannon, former UM football players including some current NFL players and former UM head coach Jimmy Johnson. Some UM football greats scheduled to appear are Russell Maryland, Ted Hendricks, Michael Irvin and Darrin Smith. This year, eight former Hurricanes — which is the most of any college program — have been selected to the Pro Bowl including wide receiver Andre Johnson (Houston Texans), wide receiver Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts), defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (New England Patriots), linebacker Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens), safety Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens), safety Brandon Meriweather (New England Patriots), offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (Minnesota Vikings) and linebacker Jonathan Vilma (New Orleans Saints). The reception will begin from 7 to 8pm followed by a program set to begin at 8:15 featuring commentary from former UM and NFL greats moderated by Johnson. The evening’s festivities also include a silent and live auction featuring UM and NFL memorabilia. Tickets are $200 per person. There will be a full open bar, hors d’oeuvres, buffet stations, coffee and dessert service. The event is cocktail attire. Proceeds will benefit the Hurricane Club Student-Athlete Scholarship Fund. Fans are asked to RSVP to the Hurricane Club by calling 305-284-6699.
Miami Saxophone Quartet Performs
The incomparable Miami Saxophone Quartet (Ed Calle, Gary Lindsay, Gary Keller and Mike Brignola) will be joined by Chuck Burgeron on bass and John Yarling on drums, with special guest percussionist Svet Stoyanov performing Gary Lindsay’s Prelude-Invention-Suspension for sax quartet, bass, drums and percussion. The MSQ concert takes place at the University Of Miami Gusman Hall, 1314 Miller Drive starting at 8pm. Tickets are $12. Call 305-284-5813 or 305-284-2438. http://www.miamisaxquartet.com
Malcolm Jones: Little Boy Blues
From one of our most astute cultural observers, a piercing memoir about a family’s breakup and the need simultaneously to embrace and distance ourselves from the people and events that shape us. North Carolina in the 1950s and 1960s: A child surrounded mostly by grandparents, aunts, and uncles born in the previous century, Malcolm Jones finds himself underfoot in a disintegrating marriage. His father is charming but careless about steady work, often gone from home and often drunk. His mother, a schoolteacher and faded Southern belle, clings to the past while hungering for respectability and stability. Jones vividly describes their faltering marriage as it plays out against larger cracks in society: the convulsions of desegregation and a popular culture that threatens the church-centered life of his family. He also recalls idyllic times and the ordinary, easy moments of an otherwise fraught childhood: discovering an old Victrola, attending a marionette show — experiences that offer a portal to other worlds. Richly evoking a time and place with rare depth of feeling and a penetrating, often bittersweet candor, Malcolm Jones gives us the fundamental stories of a life — where he comes from, who he was, who he has become. (Pantheon, $24.95) Meet the author at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at 8pm. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com
Tuesday, February 2
Bierhaus Tuesday Lunch Specials
Enjoy the lunch special, featuring an appetizer, entree, and dessert for a flat price of $12.95, featuring grilled chicken breast with roasted potatoes and string beans with toasted almonds or stuffed cabbage with mashed potatoes at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus, 60 Merrick Way. Call 305-774-1883. http://www.bierhaus.cc
Tarpon Bend Happy Hour
Meet up with friends at Tarpon Bend, 65 Miracle Mile from 3 to 9pm for happy hour specials along with the fresh catch of the day and an amazing array of seasonal raw bar items. Call 305-444-3210. http://www.tarponbend.com
Novecento Presents Wine Tuesdays
Every Tuesday at Novecento, 121 Alhambra Plaza, enjoy 50% off the entire wine list with dinner. Some allocated wines are excluded. Call 305-557-0900. http://www.novecento.com
Happy Hour At Sports Exchange
Enjoy happy hour at Sports Exchange, 45 Miracle Mile, from 5 to 8pm. Buy one drink, get one free — all brands, house wine and beers. $5 pizzas, plus half price on all appetizers. Late night happy hour from 11pm to close: $5 for all well drinks, $3 domestic beers and house wine, plus $5 pizzas. Karaoke Night 9:30pm to 1:30am. Enjoy the show and step up to the microphone. Call 305-774-1222. http://www.thesportsexchangemiami.com
Silver Night Special At Crepemaker
Seniors: enjoy a 10% discount for everyone 65 and older each Tuesday evening at Crepemaker, 76 Miracle Mile. Call 305-807-3522.
Petanque Tournament At The Biltmore
Enjoy a Petanque Tournament where beginners and experts can play this fun and exciting game every Tuesday from 6 to 8pm. It’s happy hour with half price specialty cocktails from Veuve Clicquot and Belvedere Vodka. Meet up with friends for an evening of lighthearted competition. The weekly winner receives Sunday Brunch for two. Overall monthly winner receives a two-night stay. The Cascade Poolside Bar and Grill is perched on the edge of the resort’s famous 700,000-gallon swimming pool; the continent’s largest resort pool. Call 305-445-1926. http://www.biltmorehotel.com
Bierhaus Schnitzel Night
Schnitzel lovers unite on Tuesdays at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus for a special two for one deal on authentic chicken and pork Bavarian schnitzel with Harald’s legendary potato salad from 5 to 10pm. Harald also has beer specials before 7pm at 60 Merrick Way. Call 305-774-1883. http://www.bierhaus.cc
Alma De Tango Featuring World Tango Champion Monica Llobet
Learn to Tango every Tuesday from 8pm to midnight at the Biltmore Hotel in the intimate atmosphere of a Buenos Aires Milonga transported to the Danielson Gallery. Enjoy an evening like no other; Dance the night away until 1am with classic music by the top Tango orchestras and Nuevo Tango music by innovative new groups. Group classes for Beginners from 9 to 10pm and Advanced 8 to 9pm. Price: Class and milonga is $15 per person. Wine cash bar available. Call 305-913-3102 or monicallobet@yahoo.com
Wednesday, February 3
What’s Hip Wednesday At The Biltmore
Atlantico Rum presents What’s Hip Wednesday at the Biltmore Bar from 5 to 9pm, featuring half price drinks, wines and champagne for $5 to $9, a cheap and chic bar menu, fresh live jazz, fashionable models from Neiman Marcus and a series of free raffles, hosted by Trend Tracker Tara Gilani. From 7 to 9pm, enjoy complimentary samples of Atlantico Rum. Call 305-445-1926. http://www.biltmorehotel.com
Wind Down Wednesday At Montica Jewelry
Join members and friends of the chamber’s 20/30 Group at Montica Jewelry, 75 Miracle Mile from 5:30 to 7:30pm for networking and refreshments. The cost is $25. Call 305-446-1657. http://coralgableschamber.org
James W. Hall: Silencer
Earl Hammond, the wealthy patriarch of a family of ranchers, lies dead, shot just as he was to donate his Coquina Ranch to the state to preserve it from developers. Spearheading the plan to save this environmental treasure was Thorn, a reluctant heir to a secret family fortune, who now finds himself in terrible danger as well. A pair of deviant brothers, both contract killers, kidnaps him and drags him to a game preserve, surrounded by herds of exotic and very dangerous animals. He is entrapped in a sinkhole, a geological dungeon from which there is no escape. But Frisco Hammond, the dark sheep of the family, is drawn into the investigation of his father’s murder and Thorn’s disappearance. He suspects the crimes are related. Helping him is his brother’s beautiful, troubled wife, Clare. They uncover a trail that leads back to the 1930s, to a cabal of powerful and rich men with a sinister plan. (Minotaur Books, $24.99) Meet the author at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at 8pm. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com
Thursday, February 4
Angelique’s Bubbly Thursdays with Live Music
Meet up at Angelique Euro Cafe, 117 Miracle Mile from 4 to 8pm each Thursday for $4 glasses of Codorníu Brut Cava and $10 glasses of Champagne Piper-Heidsieck with the purchase of bar snacks. Enjoy the live jazz starting at 6:30pm. Call 305-529-9922. http://www.angeliqueeurocafe.com
Valentine’s Gala Dinner Features Champagne Veuve Clicquot
The Biltmore’s Resort’s Cellar Club presents one of the most outstanding Black Tie dinners of the season prepared by master chef Philippe Ruiz, featuring guest of Honor Cyril Brun, enologist at Veuve Clicquot Champagne, showcasing vintages of La Grande Dame. The event begins at 7pm in the Granada Ballroom. The cost is $225, or $150 for Cellar Club members. Only a few tickets remain. Call 305-913-3203. http://www.thecellarclub.com
Pregame Party at the Lowe Art Museum
Start your weekend of tailgating at the LoweDown’s pregame party. Enjoy tasty nibbles courtesy of Cabot cheese and beverages by PAMA, and Barefoot Wine and Bubbly. Admission is $10 or free for Lowe members. Lowe Art Museum on the UM Campus is located at 1301 Stanford Drive. Call 305-284-5422. http://www.lowemuseum.org
John Perkins: Hoodwinked
John Perkins has seen the signs of today’s economic meltdown before. The subprime mortgage fiascos, the banking industry collapse, the rising tide of unemployment, the shuttering of small businesses across the landscape are all too familiar symptoms of a far greater disease. In his former life as an economic hit man, he was on the front lines both as an observer and a perpetrator of events, once confined only to the third world, that have now sent the United States — and in fact the entire planet — spiraling toward disaster. Here, Perkins pulls back the curtain on the real cause of the current global financial meltdown. He shows how we’ve been hoodwinked by the CEOs who run the corporatocracy — those few corporations that control the vast amounts of capital, land, and resources around the globe — and the politicians they manipulate. Their arrogance, gluttony, and mismanagement have brought us to this perilous edge. But there is a way out. As Perkins makes clear, we can create a healthy economy that will encourage businesses to act responsibly, not only in the interests of their shareholders and corporate partners (and the lobbyists they have in their pockets), but in the interests of their employees, their customers, the environment, and society at large. Meet the author at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at 8pm. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com
Enjoy your quality time in Coral Gables and stay tuned to this channel for more Great Gables Events.
-Rob