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If you are like me, the calendar of festive events is packed with amazing ways to celebrate the season.
The first week in December, the Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s Gringo Bingo on Dec. 2 helped raise funds for The Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bells Run. The run on Dec. 6 was a smashing — and hilarious — success. Held at Tropical Park, there were costumed holiday characters everywhere you turned.
The morning run drew a great crowd including a strong team from HCA Mercy Hospital, whose orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gilbert Beauperthuy-Rojas was the event honoree. On hand to cheer on participants were Mercy CEO Allyssa Tobitt; Mercy COO Jessica Miller (in a standout costume); Mercy director of Communications Annabel Beyra, and Arely Ruiz, president of the Coral Gables Woman’s Club — among the hundreds who took part in the lively morning run.
As for Gringo Bingo, kudos go to the club’s longtime volunteers, Steven Bradley, the much-loved “Gringo,” who calls the numbers each month, and Corey Tennyson, who provided deejay services that day. What began in 2019 as a one-time bingo fundraiser for veterans — created by Steven and this writer — quickly grew into a monthly tradition that has since raised well over $100,000 for dozens of nonprofits.
The club continues this success thanks in large part to Steven, who donates his time despite a demanding schedule as managing partner of Vivo Sports and Social at Dolphin Mall, and the support of Miami’s Community Newspapers to promote the events.
From the run, we move on that Dec. 6 to The Villagers Holiday House Tour, presented this year as a festive Stroll in the Grove. Before the event, Villagers president Gina Guilford and past president Kelly Schild (Gina’s sister) joined Gloria’s Gab LIVE to highlight the event and the extraordinary impact The Villagers has made in historic preservation. Kelly, who co-chaired this year’s tour with Merlin Ebbert, shared that the group has awarded $2 million in grants to 200 organizations, an astonishing achievement for an all-volunteer nonprofit.
With record attendance this year (1,000 tickets sold), 2026 promises to be even more impactful for preservation projects.
The historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club, itself a past Villagers grantee, recently showcased both history and artistry by hosting Her Art Basel on Dec. 3. Curated by Arts and Culture chair Alex Guillen, the exhibition featured works by women artists, including Alex’s mother, Celia Guillen. While one ballroom became an elegant gallery, the other hosted the club’s annual Holiday Dinner Party catered by celebrity chef Chris Valdes.
Guests enjoyed cocktails, admired the art, then returned for dinner and beautiful performances by Margarita Parsamyan, an operatic soprano and the founder of MP Miami Music School, with one of her students, Elizabeth Rojas.
Sime Realty’s annual holiday party is like few others as Scott and Belinda Sime open their impressive home to hundreds of friends and family to collect toys for children at Lighthouse for the Blind and other charities. The Ugly Sweater theme created lots of fun as guests enjoyed vising with old friends, enjoying festive music, food and drinks.
Best of all, this party with a purpose collected more than 500 toys and $1,300 in checks for the Lighthouse for the Blind from generous donors that night.
Coral Gables Community Foundation also held its annual holiday party on Dec. 9 for donors and board members, hosted once again by Bill Bonn and Ruben Ceballos at their beautiful home on Alhambra. During the evening, CGCF’s new CEO Mauricio Vivero presented CGCF 2024-25 chair Michael Walsh with a gift and thanks for his leadership and service.
Among the many enjoying the evening were Ron and Anita Shuffield, Bill and Lynn Kerdyk, David and Cristina Lama Evensky, Jeff Flanagan, John O’Rourke, Matthew Meehan, Roy Gonas, Don Slesnick, III and Cecilia Slesnick,
Coral Gables Bar Association also celebrated the season with a party hosted by Banesco in Coral Gables. Among the many guests enjoying the affair were Banesco’s community relations director Erbi Blanco-True, Coral Gables Bar president Danny Fors, president-elect Elina Magaly Santana, immediate past president Alberto Manrara, Bruce Bounds, Jerry Kavulich, Brian Barakat, and Vanessa Michaud.
The Merrick Festival Caroling Competition wrapped up with short programs by the winning choirs on Dec. 9, a rainy evening that forced the final performances inside. This year’s annual competition provided our community with a week of great choral performances by 30 choirs from all over the county vying for more than $17,000 in cash prizes.
Festival executive director Sally Baumgartner Goodman has been producing this event that showcases talented children from across the county for decades and appreciated the generous sponsors including Miami Dade County, City of Coral Gables, Holtz Children’s Hospital, Coral Gables Community Foundation, the Rotary Club of Coral Gables, and so many others. St. Theresa in Coral Gables came home with grand prize for the Middle School Full Choir, a choir that also won the Rotary Club of Coral Gables Award and performed at the Dec. 18, Rotary meeting at the Hyatt.
For a complete list of the prize winner, go to carolingcompetition.org.
Upcoming events for your calendar!
Now through March, 2026 – South Florida PBS Pharaoh Immersive Experience, at the Boynton Beach offices. For tickets, go to www.southfloridapbs.org pharaohs (Look for a new Titanic Experience coming in January)
Now through Dec. 31 – Festival of Trees at Miami International Mall Doral, free admission
Now through Dec. 30 – Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Tournament
Jan. 3-6, 2026 – Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Tournament, Biltmore Golf Course, 8 a.m. daily
Jan. 4 – Annual King Mango Strut Parade, Coconut Grove
Jan. 10 – Voices for Children Gala- Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne
Feb. 7, 2026 – Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s Annual Children’s Festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1001-9 E. Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables. Admission is free.
In closing, remember to count your blessings, share a kind word and a smile, and make a difference. Happy New Year!
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