Commissioner Kirk Menendez
The Coral Gables Way
Volume VIII
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"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
-1 Corinthians 13:13
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Historic Preservation Funding
Sponsored legislation authorizing the transfer and allocation of the city's restricted historic preservation funds, for the restoration of the Coral Gables Museum building ($2,675,240), the Merrick House ($150,000), the Venetian Pool ($989,740) and the Alhambra Water Tower ($1,035,500).
Approved: 5-0
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Sponsored legislation to update and clarify the rules and procedures in our City Code established to protect employees of the city who expose malfeasance within our city government.
Approved: 5-0
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Assistance for People with Disabilities at the Miracle Theatre |
Sponsored a resolution authorizing funding for the construction of an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp for patrons with disabilities of the Miracle Theatre; a historic city-owned landmark constructed in 1948. The ramp will help people in wheelchairs access the 2nd floor theatre for events and shows.
Approved: 3-2
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Enhanced Security Measures at Cocoplum |
Sponsored legislation to enhance and broaden the security measures and technology available to the residents of Cocoplum.
Approved: 5-0
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Agreement Reached with FOP | The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) recently ratified the 2023-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the City of Coral Gables. On Tuesday, June 11, the City Commission voted unanimously to approve the agreement which takes important strides to attract and retain the high-quality police officers our City Beautiful has historically been blessed to have serve our community. | |
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I was joined by Coral Gables residents during a recent walk-through of Burger Bob's, currently undergoing renovations. In addition to a new, full and professional kitchen with a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, it will have a larger dining area with limited outdoor seating and its own new restroom. The interior design was a collaboration between residents, city staff, and architects. Construction is scheduled to be completed by September 2024. The city is engaged in negotiations with the operator so that they can commence operations as soon as construction is completed. | |
Fairways at the historic Biltmore Hotel recently opened to great reviews. Fairways is set to redefine the golf dining experience with its contemporary American cuisine and breathtaking views of the iconic banyan tree on the first tee of the Biltmore's Donald Ross championship golf course. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Fairways features large, panoramic windows and expansive patio/terrace seating, allowing diners to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Coral Gables. For those seeking an extraordinary dining experience with breathtaking views, Fairways is ideal for you, and your family.
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Unveiling of the Blue Missions “The Water Below Us” artwork on Giralda Plaza. | |
Pickleball Exhibition at City Hall. Thank you to the city's Community Recreation team, as always, for putting together another wonderful community event. | |
Youth Center parents meeting to discuss soccer tryouts and the upcoming 2024-2025 season. There’s no place like the Youth Center! | |
Our team of local history enthusiasts finished 2nd in the Villagers 2024 Historic Hunt Trivia! It was truly a fun afternoon. We learned, we laughed, we shared stories, and we ate…Shorty’s BBQ! | |
George Merrick Founders Day celebration at the historic Coral Gables Merrick House, commemorating the birth date anniversary of George Edgar Merrick, the Founder of the City of Coral Gables. | |
Congratulations to the 2023 Coral Gables Employee of the Year, Supervisor of Greenspace Management Stanley Oliver! Thank you for your decades of service, dedication, and love for our city and community! | |
Open house Sunday at the Coral Gables Country Club with plenty of residents re-discovering one of our wonderful community jewels located right in our own backyard. | |
Beautiful and somber ceremony followed by the inauguration of artwork remembering our fallen Coral Gables police officers spanning 100 years. | |
Miami-Dade League of Cities '70th Annual Gala.' Wonderful to see a great many friends and reconnect with elected officials from other local governments such as South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez, along with his wife Dr. Ana Maria Patiño-Fernandez, PhD, and my guest the Honorable Mayor Dorothy Thomson.
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Blessed to speak before a special group of high school students with the BLUE Mission: Building Young Leaders Program about 'Career Impact Pathway for Policy
Advocacy' and life lessons for
their journey ahead.
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Friends of Gables High 'Garden Cocktail Party' and fundraiser at the home of June and Allen Morris. It was a lovely afternoon with friends and fellow Cavaliers, supporting Gables High! | |
UM concluded its spring football training with the annual Spring Football Game. The game was played on campus at Cobb Stadium for the first time in several years, showcasing the UM campus and our City Beautiful. | |
Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month at City Hall with an autism flag-raising ceremony, with the help, love, and support of the children, teachers, and faculty of Crystal Academy. | |
4th Annual Coral Gables Literary Festival. Thank you to the Literary Laureates young and old, and to Sam Joseph, the Coral Gables Community Recreation Department, the city's School and Community Relations Committee, and all of the amazing volunteers! | |
Honoring all of our nation's fallen heroes and their sacrifice for our freedom as part of the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center. | |
Spectacular Evening at the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s '2024 Scholarship Awards'. Congratulations to Gables High senior and soccer player Gabriel Fernandini on receiving the '1980 Cavaliers Boys Soccer State Championship Scholarship in honor of Team Captain Bruce Hayes,' sponsored by the Kirk & Lydia Menendez Family Endowment. | |
CodeMania II, an elite high school computer coding competition founded by Commissioner Menendez, with the support of the Coral Gables Commission and Administration, was made possible by a partnership between the City of Coral Gables, the University of Miami, and Salesforce. This year’s participants were Gables High, Ransom Everglades, Carrollton, Lourdes, Gulliver, and Palmer Trinity. Congratulations to Carrollton on winning the top award. The future is bright with these students, who are not only brilliant but also have hearts of gold. Thank you to Commissioner Ariel Fernandez, Commissioner Melissa Castro, Coral Gables Director of Innovation & Technology Raimundo Rodulfo, and the other dedicated volunteers for serving on the judges' panel. Watch the recap video here!
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Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart: Top Prize-Winning Team - High School Award and
Trailblazer Award
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Our Lady of Lourdes Academy:
Innovative Idea Award
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Coral Gables Senior High School:
Commissioners Choice Award
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The Great Movie Ride Film Series | |
𝗧he Great Movie Ride Film Series, hosted by Commissioner Kirk Menendez and Sponsored by the Kirk & Lydia Menendez Family Endowment. The movie series is free for all Coral Gables residents.
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
“Iron Man” starring Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey, Jr. was a hit with moviegoers as they enjoyed the thrilling movie that started the multi-billion dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tony Stark: The truth is....I am Iron Man.
Watch the movie clip here!
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People young and old streamed into the Miracle Theatre to watch Steven Spielberg's beloved movie classic 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'.
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*Tickets are FREE for Coral Gables residents. For tickets contact Actors’ Playhouse or click the link below. | |
Sunday, July 21, 2024 at 5 p.m.
Sheriff Brody: "You're gonna need a bigger boat."
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Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 5 p.m.
Peter Clemenza: "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
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Coral Gables Seniors Free Movie Series
Hosted & Sponsored by Commissioner Menendez
Co-sponsored by the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation
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Great time and a great movie! 'From Russia with Love,' the 2nd installment in the James Bond movie series, propelled actor Sean Connery into international stardom.
James Bond: "Hope is like a good breakfast. Eat plenty of it."
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The comedic genius of the Marx Brothers was on full display with their classic movie 'Duck Soup', nominated for six Academy Awards.
Rufus T. Firefly: "Gentleman, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you: he really is an idiot.
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The next free movie in the series at the Coral Gables Art Cinema for Coral Gables residents 30+ is a special showing of 'Animal House'! Join us on Saturday, June 29th, at 11 a.m. for an afternoon of guaranteed laughter! Please visit www.playgables.com for more information.
Dean Wormer: "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
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1925 Coral Gables - Alhambra Circle curving east with North Greenway Drive to the far right of the image. Photo taken from atop of the Alhambra Water Tower. If you zoom in on the distant horizon you can see high-rise buildings in Downtown Miami. Photo courtesy: Jeff Davies. Source: MDPLS. | |
1926, the Progress Week Parade traveling south on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, turning west onto Coral Way (Miracle Mile). Fast-forward 22 years to 1948, and the first Junior Orange Bowl Parade journeyed down the same route, bringing joy to a new generation of children and parents alike. | |
In the mid-1920s, fox hunts on horseback were held at the Biltmore Hotel. The foxes, imported from northern Virginia, were released at the golf course. Some of the foxes that survived over the years are believed to be ancestors of those that now roam our Coral Gables neighborhoods. Fox hunting was discontinued at the Biltmore Hotel in the early 1930s, much to the joy and relief of the foxes. | |
In 1924, the Coral Gables Riding Academy opened on the southwest corner of Salzedo Street and Giralda Avenue. The Academy obtained a permit allowing horse riding along a 35-mile trail through Coral Gables. The Academy relocated its operations outside of the city in 1952. | |
The Hurricane of 1926 not only wiped-out construction of buildings on the University of Miami campus but it also led to the collapse of the local economy. In October of 1926, UM moved its campus to the Anastasia Hotel situated between what is today the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center and the Coral Gables Library. | |
The Hurricane of 1926 thwarted plans to construct a large football stadium on the UM campus. Consequently, the UM vs University of Havana football game in Coral Gables was rescheduled and played on Thanksgiving Day 1926 at a smaller stadium quickly built to host the game. It was after this devastating hurricane that the name 'Hurricanes' was coined. | |
Looking south along Ponce de Leon Boulevard, one can see a banner over the roadway, indicated by the arrow, revealing a community message: 'Build the Stadium.' This banner references the on campus University of Miami Football Stadium proposed and planned for in the 1920s. | | | | |
