Great outdoor festivals set the stage for the first few months of the new year.
Coming up is the 66th annual Beaux Arts Festival to take place January 14-15 on the University of Miami’s Gables campus. This free festival will feature more than 220 fine art exhibitors, and attendees will enjoy live music and family entertainment in the Main-stage tent, a Family Fun Zone, children’s art experiences, lots of dining options and even free admission to the Lowe Art Museum all weekend.
Of course, the second annual Coral Gables Rotary Chili Cook Off on Sunday, Feb. 26, takes place at Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park in Coral Gables just south of Miracle Mile (Coral Way) on Ponce de Leon Boulevard. There will be live music by The Stiltsville and Funk Pedal with great food and drink for sale, and more.
This is a family fun day you will not want to miss. Admission is free but chili tasters will need to buy a wrist band for tastings. For more information or to register to compete, visit www.chilichillin.com.
Profit Inc., one of Miami-Dade’s oldest business networking organizations, held its holiday party on Dec. 15 at 94th Aero Squadron with a lovely luncheon. A record crowd attended this last luncheon of the year bringing unwrapped gifts for children in need.
Among the many faces in the crowd were group president Enrique Yunis, Jose and Stacey Alonso, Daneza Socarras, Dr. Gayle Carson, Rosemary Guilfoyle, Kemp Mobley, Pete Riley, Dr. Joe Briggle, Jerry and Kathy Lance, Hernando and Elizabeth Valenzuela, Carmen Siman, and Robert Chryst.
The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) also celebrated a lovely breakfast holiday party and toy drive in December at Albion Staffing, orchestrated by Yesenia Moreno. Catered compliments of Mia Anzola Manrique of Cuisine and Events, the event collected lots of unwrapped gifts for children at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Among those in the crowd at the event were Carolina Rendeiro, Diane Superville, Nicole Waters, Diane Vento, and Ada Stevens.
Katherin Garcia Swimwear in the The Shops at Sunset Place, like many others, shared the Christmas spirit donating baby items to A Safe
Haven for Newborns as well as holding a Ladies Shopping night before the holidays and collecting additional baby items from guests.
Katherin is a talented designer who offers a lot more than just swimwear in her store, including dresses and baby clothes.
Finally, congratulations to the Junior Orange Bowl Committee that concluded the 2016 festival with a basketball tournament at Palmetto
High School in Pinecrest, International Tennis Tournament in Coral Gables and the annual Golf Invitational at The Biltmore Golf Course.
All of these events and so many others on the calendar of events make a massive economic impact on our community as does the Orange Bowl Committee. These two committees alone make the holiday season so much brighter for us all and deserve credit for showcasing youngsters and giving back to our community.
Happy New Year to all our readers. May it a great one.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
If you want to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to gloria@communitynewspapers.com/.
