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Coming in March are several events you won’t want to miss.
Opera lovers will be treated to the chance to see the world premiere of The Leopard, based on one of the most famous literary works of the 20th Century, the Italian novel Il Gattopardo. That novel was later adapted into heralded feature film that won the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, and Alain Delon.
The Leopard will be performed by Frost Opera Theater with the Frost Symphony Orchestra, conducted by renowned maestro Gerard Schwartz, at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center with two matinees at 3 p.m. on Mar. 5 and 6. Alan Johnson, music and program director of the Frost Opera Theater, was a recent guest on my Monday morning Gloria’s Gab LIVE show to promote the opera and its amazing cast including MET Opera Baritone Kim Josephson with star colleagues Robynne Redman, Frank Ragsdale, Kevin Short, along with rising UM students of the Frost Opera Theater.
To view this show, visit https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=491240102411119 or www.youtube.com/watch?v=T360WNcZCIg.
In other news, The Villagers’ Garden Tour 2022 is set for Saturday, Mar. 12. Titled “Redland Retreat,” the tour has two venues: Patch of Heaven (21900 SW 157 Ave.) and Plant Creations (28301 SW 172 Ave.). The tours always are an educational and recreational experience like few others.
The first site mentioned, Patch of Heaven Sanctuary,is a not-for- profit 20-acre nature preserve dedicated to conservation, reforestation, and education. Members of The Villagers will be on hand throughout Patch of Heaven with insider details about the flora, fauna, and history of the area.
The other site, Plant Creations, will open all three of its nurseries, two of which normally are not open to the public. Visitors will learn about the area’s significant nursery business and will be able to purchase plants.
Loyda Lewis, The Villagers president, credits the 2022 Villagers’ Garden Tour Committee chaired by Sweet Pea Ellman, Joan Bounds, and Lilian Walby with Fran Blake, Alice Goldhagen, Debbie Kavanaugh and Sheila Revell.
By the way, back by popular demand will be The Villagers’ “Attic Treasures” vintage shop, along with a variety of vendors with unique items for sale.
Be sure to buy raffle tickets for an amazing handmade quilt “Pandemic Pandemonium in the Garden,” designed as a tribute to the past 28 Villagers Garden Tours and a refocus of their outdoor surroundings during the past two years. The quilt was a joint effort by members Joan Bounds, Jeannie Bunten, Barbara Burdette, Cathy Prentice, Susan Schmitt, Cookie Thelen, and Lilian Walby, while Martha Stockhausen made a beautiful label. For raffle tickets or for event tickets at $50, contact a member of The Villagers or go online to Garden Tour 2022 (thevillagersinc.org). The day of the event, tickets also will be available at Patch of Heaven or Plant Creations.
By the way, among the many historic preservation efforts The Villagers have supported include sizable donation to purchase lighting fixtures for the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club clubhouse that is undergoing a very expensive 40-year inspection. To support The Villagers, the club will be sharing with them half of the proceeds from their Mar. 1 Gringo Bingo event hosted monthly by Clutch Burger, on Giralda Avenue in Coral Gables.
Kudos to DJ Germain who provides his music free every month as well as our ongoing sponsors, EZ Title Services and 1st Empire Elite Financial. This always is a great party with lots of prizes and good fun. Tickets are $30 and include 12 games plus a big prize coverall.
To RSVP, email gloria@cnews.net.
Speaking of the woman’s club, those wanting to serve the community, make new friends and have fun, Coral Gables Woman’s Club (CGWC) is the place for you. CGWC is not just for Gables residents and, in fact, has members who live all over Miami-Dade and even a few in Broward.
At the club’s Feb. 16 meeting, coordinated by the club’s Arts chair Kim Davison, everything from original art, photography and handmade crafts to handmade clothes and quilt, was judged and ribbons awarded. First place items moved onto a General Federation of Women’s Club Florida (GFWC FL) District 11 Arts Luncheon also held at the CGWC clubhouse with the first place winners moving onto the state competition.
While the judging took place, Chiho Cotton (teacher or “Sensei” in Japanese) with her daughter Skyler, taught the women the paper folding art of origami. Among those enjoying this entertaining and educational night were Denise Valluerca, Ruth Martinez, Claire Sieber, Margarette Beauchamp, Nancy Desmangles, Linda Hartwell, Iris Torres-Rivera, Carol Horkowitz, Marilyn Smit, Carmen Suarez, Barbara Lapsley, Jackie Dylewski, Kayla Blake and Theresa Gilmore.
In other news, enjoy our beautiful weather this time of year and check out Coral Gables Farmers’ Market every Saturday through March on Biltmore Way in front of City Hall. You will find great produce, plants, information stations, activities for children, free Tai Chi classes, garden workshops and more. The market runs every Saturday through March, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Until next time, keep making each day count, share an act of kindness every day and stay safe.
