The first weekend of September began with a bang with a doubleheader for this writer beginning with Gables Gallery Night and a visit to Virginia Miller Gallery on Madeira Avenue.
Virginia was the key person in creating this longtime tradition promoting Coral Gables art galleries using trolleys to take art lovers from one gallery to another to see the current exhibits while typically enjoying complimentary beverages. In fact, the Coral Gables Community Foundation, on whose board she served, was involved in helping fund the initial trolley rides. If you have never participated in this free event, plan to do so. It is a great cultural experience and so much fun.
Speaking of great experiences, UM’s Frost School of Music provides ample. On Sept. 7, music lovers, students and supporters of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and its Henry Mancini Institute enjoyed a magical musical experience at UM’s Gusman Hall, witnessing five-time Emmy winner composer Jeff Beal conduct the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. This was the Opening Night Red Carpet Celebration for the season and the house was packed. A two-part program began with Beal’s conducting his scores from movies and concluding with a thrilling stage-to-screen world premiere performance of Beal’s score to Battleground from Stephen Kings’ short stories “Nightmares and Dreamscapes.”
The movie, starring William Hurt, had no dialogue, so the score, beautifully played by the HMI orchestra that had very little time for rehearsal, was the other star. Beal’s musical genius was captured that evening as the audience experienced a captivating show demonstrating how music plays such a critical role in movie production.
Frost Music Live continues through April with more than 100 concerts featuring the Signature Series with some very special guest artists from the pop, jazz, Latin, country and classical worlds. For more information visit www.frostmusiclive.com.
In other activities, the Rotary Club of Coral Gables Fifth Friday celebration served as the “official” grand opening of member Nico Eterovic’s new Coral Gables office (Edward Jones) at 150 Alhambra Plaza. Seems two Rotarians were getting settled that day as past president Steven Spann was changing offices in the building and helped out providing ice for the part organized by past president Sally Baumgartner Goodman. Among the many enjoying the event were Hank Langston, Carlos Bolado, George Reeves, Yoli Woodbridge, Don and Jeannett Slesnick, Bill Quesenberry, and Hadley Williams.
This club meets every Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, noon. Visiting Rotarians always are welcomed to attend and enjoy a great variety of impressive speakers coordinated by past president Felix Pardo.
Most recently the club enjoyed presentations by local attorney Mark Pathman, who is active with the Sea Level Rise committees throughout South Florida. Pathman addressed the underfunded National Flood Insurance Program that doesn’t benefit Florida fairly as well as solutions that need to be implemented to make the area habitable in spite of the coming “tides.”
Leading up to the Junior Orange Bowl’s 70th anniversary kickoff celebration on Sept. 20 at University of Miami’s Newman Alumni Center, the organization had a busy August with a volunteer appreciation networker on Aug. 16, a 70th Birthday Bash at Kendra Scott on Aug. 18, and then a Back-to-School fundraiser at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza on Aug. 21.
For those interested in becoming involved in volunteering, the Junior Orange Bowl events offer many opportunities to serve. Specific events that are held over several days can use more volunteers such as Sports Ability Games, Basketball and Tennis. For more information, call 305-662-1210 or visit jrorangebowl.org.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
