We had a chance to visit this beautiful church for the Candlelight concert. This place holds the…read moremagical feeling and with thousands of candles, it makes it more mysterious and beautiful. The music was great and we enjoyed the whole experience. Oh, this place had an excellent AC. I highly recommend to take your jacket with you.

It is a historic Masonic building built in the 1920's. Beautifully located in downtown Miami by…read morethe river. It has ample parking. The building has 2 lodge rooms, one large theater and 1 large and 1 small banquet hall. Attended an event here the other night. Beautify building inside and outside! The staff was very professional and courteous. A beautiful building, very well maintained and with a lot of history.

Well how many times have I been on this roundabout and NEVER noticed this in the centre of it? says…read moreit all really imo! This is a gorgeous area - don't get me wrong - as it is located right on the canal, Near a park, and has huge dripping Banyan trees and is most definitely in a POSH area. But these shoes are hard to see, and get to! The sculpture is set right in the centre of this HUGE roundabout. Anyway I sauntered across dodging traffic to get a closer look. They call this area Cocoplum, but it is actually called the "Cartagena Plaza." Supposedly named after the city of Cartagena in Colombia and this is where the original shoe statue is found. Luis Carlos Lopez, a Columbian poet wrote a poem honouring the city where he was born and comparing his emotions to that love that one feels towards an old pair of shoes. Go figure!! This replica was given to the City of Coral Gables in the mid 1980's and is to signify the bond between our "City Beautiful" and that of Cartagena. Cartagena was the first "sister city" of Coral Gables, a program developed back in 1956 to link the US with citizens of other countries, promoting cultural and commercial ties. Anyway back to the shoes, mmmmm

This is a traffic circle at the edge of the Coral Gables Waterway. It is sometimes called Cocoplum…read moreCircle because it is at the entrance of the exclusive Cocoplum neighborhood where the average house sells for 3 million dollars. The circle connects LeJeune Road, Sunset Drive, Old Culter Road, Cocoplum Road and Ingraham Highway. In the center of the circle is a replica of a sculpture titled My Old Shoes by Colombian-born Luis Carlos López. López wrote a poem that compared his love of Cartagena to his love of an old pair of shoes. The sculpture was presented to Coral Gables by it's first sister city Cartagena, Colombia in the mid 1980's. The original sculpture is in Cartagena, Colombia. Matching US cities to cities in other countries in order to promote business ties was a program that was started in 1956. I love the art in public spaces in Coral Gables. This is just one of the many works of art you can find in the roundabouts in the city. The art is just one of the reasons Coral Gables is called the city beautiful.

The Venetian Causeway was built in 1925 in place of Collins Bridge, a wooden 2.5 mile bridge built…read morein 1913 by John S. Collins and Carl G. Fisher for the purpose of opening the barrier island to development. The Venetian Causeway is a continuation of 15th Street in Miami over Biscayne Bay to Miami Beach.. The Venetian Causeway crosses over the man made Venetian Islands that were created by materials which came from the dredging of Biscayne Bay. Everyday area residents use the causeway for travel but also for exercise, by walking, jogging, and bicycling over it. The Venetian Causeway has one toll plaza administered by the Miami-Dade County Public Works department on Biscayne Island, the westernmost Venetian Island. The toll for an automobile is $3.00. The Causeway also has 12 bridges, 10 fixed span bridges, and 2 bascule leaf span bridges that have been designated as historic landmarks by the City of Miami and City of Miami Beach. I love the lamp posts and beautiful \view of Biscayne Bay and downtown Mami as you cross. The Venetian Causeway was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It was re-dedicated in 1999 after the completion of a $29 million restoration and replacement project.

MUST TRY!! Venetian…read moreCauseway is hands down one of the best spots for jogging, cycling, or just taking a relaxing walk after work. The views of Downtown Miami and Edgewater are absolutely stunning, especially during golden hour--it's the perfect backdrop for any workout. You'll see plenty of locals using the path for the same reason, whether they're running, biking, or just soaking in the scenery. If you're cycling, it takes about 15 minutes from Edgewater to South Beach, and walking is roughly 50 minutes one way. Plus, there are Citi Bike stations at both ends, making it super convenient. If you're looking for a spot to get your cardio in while enjoying some of the best views Miami has to offer, this is it. Highly recommended!

Alhambra Entrance - Suggesting twin towers and a bridge, the stone archway entrance to Coral…read moreGables at Alhambra Circle is located where Madeira Avenue meets Douglas Road. The address is SW 37th Avenue (Douglas Road), Majorca Avenue and Alhambra Circle. The Alhambra entry arch is also known as the commercial entry to Coral Gables, as Alhambra Circle leads to the central business district of the City of Coral Gables and Miracle Mile. A worthy photo op.

When George Merrick designed Coral Gables he wanted a series of gates to enter the city. They are…read morereminiscent of the medieval gates in Europe and were meant to show that Coral Gables is separate from the surrounding city. This is the one at the Alhambra entrance. They are made out of native stone and have benches to sit on. All of the Mediterranean style gates to the city were designed by Denman Fink, George Merrick's uncle. Denman Fink was an artist and magazine illustrator. In addition to the gates he designed the Venetian Pool and the Alhambra Water Tower. He served as the artistic adviser for the City of Coral Gables. I looked closely at the gate and after I cleared away some weeds as I able to find his seal with a D and G entwined. It was such a cool find to see his mark left on the gate. Since he was not a licensed architect he had architects Phineas Paist and Walter De Garmo do the final sign off. The gate is so beautiful. I loved looking at all of the intricate details in it. Parts of it are covered in bougainvillea. It's easy to imagine a medieval princess sitting on the bench waiting for her prince. The lovely gates are just one of the reasons Coral Gables has the well earned nickname city beautiful.

I love Coral Gables. One of the things that makes it so charming are the fountains and plazas like…read morethis one. Balboa Plaza is just a tenth of an acre in the median of Coral Way, South Greenway Drive, De Soto Boulevard, and Anderson Road. This plaza is named for Spanish conquistador, Vasco Nunez de Balboa (1475-1519) who is famous for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean which made him the first European to lead an expedition to the Pacific Ocean from the New World. Balboa Plaza was designed by Denman Fink, the uncle of George Merrick who founded Coral Gables. He was not a licensed architect so he worked with landscape architect Frank Button. The plaza includes a wall fountain that spouts water into a half circle basin. In 2018 the public art piece A Midsummer's Night Dream by artists Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt was added to the plaza. The art piece is a giant sofa made of oolitic stone. It is 30 feet long and four feet high. On either side are two lamps standing 14 feet high. About their art piece the artists said "the oversized piece is sudden and wondrous, at once real and fantastic, familiar and unprecedented, bringing a slice of domesticity in a public park. The artwork invites us to converse, experience a moment of repose or wait for a friend. Together with the two lamps we are reminded of home." A Midsummer's Night Dream is estimated to have cost $120,000 and it was donated by MG Developer Miami LLC, the first contribution to the Art in Public Places, Public Art in Private Development program. In addition to the stone couch the park has giant banyan trees. Like all of the plazas in Coral Gables, this is the perfect place to stage a photo shoot. If you want some great shots bring your model and head on over to this historic treasure.

This is what I found on the internet…read more Balboa Plaza is a grassy street median at the intersection of Coral Way, South Greenway Drive, De Soto Boulevard and Anderson Road. Designed by George Merrick's uncle, Denman Fink, and landscape architect, Frank Button, the site includes a wall fountain that spouts water into a semicircular basin. The decorative limestone structure has end-piers with lanterns. This plaza is named for the Spanish conquistador Vasco Nuñez de Balboa. _______________ A really beautiful area of Coral Gables, gorgeous walls, fountains and there is a HUGE seating area. v v pretty, would make for awesome instagram photo ops. Unfortunately for me I came on a very raining day. If you like historical sights, then come and see this gem!

It was a beautiful day but Miracle Mile is a sad area these days. I remember every time we were…read moreout I will tell my husband to drive me by Miracle Mile to see all the stores to me it was heaven . More than half the stores are closed, I guess rents and taxes are super high. I remember when there were boutiques, women's clothing stores, restaurants, and shoe stores in every corner. Now most of it is closed even restaurants. The Miracle Theater is still there and the Barnes and Noble. We were dumbfounded. We walked from 37 Ave to LeJeune and back in half an hour. The only street that still has good open restaurants is on Ponce de Leon. The City should help this area to bring it back.

Coral Gables was built during Florida's land boom years in the 1920's. After two major hurricanes…read moreand the Great Depression, money dried up. After WWII veterans started flocking to Florida to recuperate in its warm weather and a new renaissance began. The 1940's saw new developers and businesses flock to the city. The "Father of Miracle Mile," is George K. Zain. Zain along with his wife, City Commissioner Rebyl Zain came up with the idea of Miracle Mile and they got it built. Miracle Mile refers to a four block section of road between Douglas Road and Le Jeune Road. By resolution of the Coral Gables City Commission, the section of road was named Miracle Mile in 1955. In 1949, Albert H. Friedman of Ro'al Apparel Shop, "Jimmy" Baldi of J. Baldi Salon, and Carroll Seghers of Carroll's Jewelers established the Miracle Mile Merchants Association. The first meetings were held in the rear of Ro'al at 348 Miracle Mile where the City of Coral Gables erected a historic marker. The Association honored Mr. Friedman in 1980 by declaring him "Mr. Miracle Mile." In 2005, the Coral Gables City Commission named the Downtown District in honor of George and Rebyl Zain and Albert H. Friedman. Today Miracle Mile is home to shops and restaurants.

The Parker Vertical Lift Bridge is the historic bridge in Miami Springs that crosses the Miami…read moreRiver Canal and connects Hook Square and Okeechobee Road. It is easily recognizable by its twin spires. The bridge was designed and built in 1927 by the Champion Bridge Company, located in Wilmington, Ohio. The bridge is 74.5 feet high, 158.2 feet long, and has a span of 132 feet. The roadbed was once covered with wooden decking but it was replaced by asphalt. The twin towers on each bank provide support to a vertical lift structure that can be raised to allow larger boats to travel down the canal This bridge has a truss span that lifts the bridge up with sheaves, a system of cables, pulleys, and counter weights. This is the only bridge in Florida with a Parker truss design. It is the oldest of the remaining four vertical lift bridges still in Florida. . The bridge was originally located at 36th street but in 1954 it was placed on a barge that floated it down to this location to serve the larger amount of outgoing traffic. In the 1940's the Miami Canal was dammed and the bridges vertical lift truss span was no longer needed to allow the larger boats down the canal. In 1983 the 125,000 pound counterweights that were used to lift the truss span were removed since they were no longer needed. Today you can still drive over this beautiful and historic bridge as you leave the city of Miami Springs. If you like historic bridges, the Miami River Canal Warren Pony Swing Span Bridge is located nearby and it takes traffic from Hialeah into Miami Springs. Both bridges have been declared historic sites by the cities of Hialeah and Miami Springs. Happy

I was in the area a few weeks ago again for the first time since the very end of 2019. I lived most…read moreof my life in Miami Dade County, most of it in Hialeah and a few years of it in Homestead. I have years of memories crossing this bridge on my way back from FIU, on my way back from work, and so many different adventures and daily activities. May not look like much of a bridge, but for most of my life, seeing this bridge meant I was almost home. I definitely felt nostalgic crossing it to visit Hialeah and seeing some of the places I used to frequent growing up. It made me reflect on how so much had changed in my life. This bridge has been around since 1927, hope it lasts another hundred years.

The Colonnade building was designed by famed architect Phineas Paist who often worked with Coral…read moreGables developer and founder George Merrick and his uncle, Coral Gables artistic director Denman Fink. Phineas Paist was known to Merrick because of his work with the local estate of Vizcaya. The building was completed in November of 1926 at 169 Miracle Mile, the historic four blocks of retail and restaurants at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Boulevard. The building was designed to be George Merrick's sales center for Coral Gables and his land office was located here. It was centerpiece of the shopping area. Like the many buildings in Coral Gables it was designed in a Spanish Colonial and Baroque style. In the 1920's different businesses in the Colonnade included a bank, pilot training facility, movie studio, and parachute factory. One of the signature features of the building is the oval-shaped grand rotunda ballroom in the main foyer which is three stories tall. It contains the original Spanish fountain. Clouds and blue skies are painted on the ceiling. Today the Colonnade building is the Hotel Colonnade. The building has been restored and it is part of the Westin Colonnade Hotel and office complex. The original building has been added on with a newer addition designed by Spillis & Candela. You can see the hotel rooms behind the historic building. The two story entry hallway to the hotel is at the rear of the atrium. The complex includes an Italian restaurant, a panini lunch cafe, and an antique dealer on the street level.

The Colonnade Building, 133-169 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. It was built in1926, Original…read moreArchitects: Phineas Paist, Walter De Garmo and Paul Chafin. It is located right in the centre of Miracle Mile. The downtown commercial district, including Miracle Mile, was designed by George Merrick, who could boast that every business in Coral Gables was less than a two-block walk. The Colonnade Building at 133-169 Miracle Mile was designed in 1926 by Phineas Paist in collaboration with Walter De Garmo and Paul Chalfin in a mixture of Spanish Colonial and Baroque. The main purpose, in Merrick's planning, was to house his growing sales operation. Since the 1920s, the Colonnade has had many tenants including the Colonnade Movie Studios and a World War II parachute factory. The architecture is beautiful and very noticeable as you walk past. No 169 houses the Bac bank.