New Year, New You: Broadening Your Horizons
Every year, the most common New Year’s resolution is to get fit, which is why we’ve dedicated each of our January issues to local gyms and their fitness programs. This year we thought we’d take a break and explore more nontraditional methods of becoming “the new you.” Whether your resolution is to learn a new language, pick up a hobby, or give back to the community, we’ve got you covered. This year, you could…
LEARN TO DANCE
Dancing does wonders for your body and mind, providing fun physical activity that also enhances your mental acuity and helps you connect with yourself — or your partner! In the Gables, there are several options for different kinds of dance. Whether it’s ballroom, ballet, or merengue, there’s a studio for you.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios teaches ballroom dancing in both group and private lessons in-person or over Zoom. 2320 Galiano St.
Miami Royal Ballet teaches ballet to adults on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30 am or from 8 to 9 pm. They also have an extensive curriculum for children. Tell them you come from Coral Gables Magazine and your first class will be free! 300 Altara Ave., #1415.
Arthur Murray Dance Studio has the most varied offerings, ranging from the cha cha to the foxtrot to country western and everything in between. The international school has a century’s worth of experience teaching, beginning with a basic introductory course that emphasizes foot position, rhythm, and timing. 2916 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
For those over 50 who want to learn to dance, the Coral Gables Adult Activity Center offers basic ballet classes on Tuesdays at 5:15 pm and line dancing on Mondays at 11:15 am. 2 Andalusia Ave. aacinfo@coralgables.com
Open classes at Sanctuary of the Arts are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 pm, featuring instruction in jazz dance for intermediate and advanced students. The first two classes are complimentary, but spots must be reserved. The performance hall regularly hosts other classes and performances, so stay tuned! 410 Andalusia Ave.
RELATED: Learn how the “Lord of the Dance” has taken the Sanctuary of the Arts to new heights.
LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
Societa Dante Alighieri has been teaching its students Italian for over 130 years. Founded in 1889, the organization opened its Miami chapter in 1996 in Coral Gables. It now teaches Italian, French, and German, with classes for beginners to advanced students. The longer courses are designed to prepare students for exams, some of which are needed for naturalization. 401 Coral Way, Suite #105.
The University of Miami’s Intensive Language Institute is mostly geared toward international graduates looking to learn English, but there is also an intensive Spanish course for all levels of proficiency that costs $1,150. Custom programs are also available if you’re looking for a more individualized experience. On-campus, one-on-one instruction costs $115 per hour; off-campus classes are $125 per hour. 5050 Brunson Dr.
Also at UM is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), which offers classes in French, Italian, and Spanish for individuals over 50 at all levels. Registration for the Spring 2024 sessions runs through Jan. 11 and OLLI is holding an open house on Jan. 9 for those looking for more information. Classes are held both in-person and online and typically cost about $80. Go to olli.dcie.miami.edu to see the full list of courses and register for classes. 1550 Brescia Ave.
The Coral Gables Adult Activity Center also offers basic instruction in Spanish for non-native speakers over 50 that already have basic comprehension. Students will review basic grammar, discuss Latin American current events, read short stories, and interpret song lyrics. The free classes are held on Mondays from 2:30 to 4 pm. Registration is required. 2 Andalusia Ave.
PICK UP A NEW HOBBY
There are countless hobbies in the world and you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home to pick up a new one. But if you’re looking for social interaction, the Coral Gables Adult Activity Center has a long list to choose from for those over 50. For example: book clubs in Spanish and English; a current events discussion group; game days; and classes in drawing and painting, arts and crafts, knitting and scrapbooking, and watercolor painting. 2 Andalusia Ave.
At Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, classes center around the arts and the outdoors. In January alone, there are classes in macramé, growing orchids, painting, and tropical fruits. Other classes teach things like crafting perfumes and learning to attract butterflies to your garden. Guided early morning bird walks for the budding (or experienced) birdwatcher are held on select Saturday mornings, beginning February 3. 10901 Old Cutler Rd.
The Coral Gables Museum frequently hosts one-off classes that teach new skills. On January 3 at 1 pm, for example, the museum will host a mosaics workshop to teach students how to create intricate works of art from paper and ceramic. In the past, hobbies like printmaking, pottery, and photography have been explored. 285 Aragon Ave.
If you’re interested in learning how to paint, sketch, make jewelry, or take photos, and you’re over 50, check out the University of Miami’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The full course catalog is available online and you can still register for Spring 2024 classes until Jan 11. 1550 Brescia Ave.
LEARN TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT
Plato once said music “gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” While your stumbling fingers might not quite be at that level yet, you never know…
The Community Arts Program (CAP) offers free master classes and jam sessions at the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ during the summer. Just bring your instruments (piano and drums provided) and get jammin’ under the instruction of CAP’s Summer Concert Series artists. Saturday music classes are also available for children under 18. 3010 De Soto Blvd.
For private at-home lessons, there are a wide range of companies serving the Gables, including the Barrett School of Music, which specializes in voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and string instruments for ages four to 94. Seniors with little experience may enjoy the Coral Gables Adult Activity Center’s Mind and Melody Music class where professional musicians lead you on a sing-along journey featuring simple instruments and the opportunity to socialize. 2 Andalusia Ave.
JOIN A CLUB
Want to meet people who share your interests? Look no further. The Gables is home to many organizations that bring like-minded people together, including:
The Coral Gables Garden Club is dedicated to educating its members and the public at large in gardening, horticulture, environ- mental issues, community beautification, and the art of floral design. Projects include planting trees in local schools, restoring the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida’s Camp Mahachee, tending the Coral Gables Library’s butterfly garden, and restoring coastal mangroves. The club meets monthly at the Biltmore Hotel with membership dues starting at $100 annually.
Representing the women of Coral Gables for 100 years, the Coral Gables Woman’s Club is a service-oriented organization dedicated to bettering the city. The club maintains the on-site Coral Gables Children’s Dental Clinic, which provides free dental care for children from low-income families. It also supports other worthy causes, promoting health, civic welfare, education, the environment, and the arts and sciences. The club meets twice a month with membership dues at $60 annually. 1001 & 1009 East Ponce de Leon Blvd.
An international organization, the Rotary Club maintains a Coral Gables chapter, which unites professional community leaders in providing humanitarian service across the globe. Currently, the club runs a scholarship program for students at Coral Gables High School and is working on literacy projects in Latin America. Previous projects include funding a new rehab facility at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, constructing freshwater wells in Haiti, providing water filtration in the Dominican Republic, and raising money for the Special Olympics, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the VA Hospital. The club meets weekly at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. Yearly membership dues are $375. 50 Alhambra Plaza.
GET ACTIVE
While exercising is usually the go-to New Year’s resolution, most people end up bored with gym memberships and drop out by February. But making exercise fun is not impossible. This year, try picking up a new sport instead of the monotony of lifting heavy things up and putting them back down.
With three golf courses (Biltmore, Granada, and Riviera Country Club) and the No. 1 golf school in America within the city limits, Coral Gables is a haven for golf. At the Biltmore’s Jim McLean Golf School, lessons start at $145 per hour, following the curriculum McLean himself invented as one of the top professional coaches in the world. The school uses the latest technology to keep you on track and McLean himself is available for private lessons (though you’ll have to empty your wallet for these). Multi-day group classes are also available. 1200 Anastasia Ave.
Pickleball has become all the rage lately. The sport — like tennis but played in a smaller space — only requires a couple of rackets, a ball, and a court, and is less physically strenuous than tennis. In Coral Gables, outdoor courts are available for free weekdays at the War Memorial Youth Center (405 University Dr.) and daily at Salvadore Park Tennis Center (1120 Andalusia Ave.). To register for either venue, visit playgables.com.
Adults 50 and over can register for indoor courts at the Coral Gables Adult Activity Center (2 Andalusia Ave.) on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons via emailing aacinfo@coralgables.com or calling 305.461.6765.
For something a bit more strenuous, go for the traditional racket sport option: tennis. The city offers programs for adults ranging from beginner to advanced at Salvadore Park Tennis Center starting at $276. There are also clinics for children under seven, under 10, and for students aspiring to play for their high school teams. Both venues, as well as the Biltmore Tennis Center (1200 Anastasia Ave.), have courts that can be reserved for players not looking for instruction. For one-on-one or private group lessons, the CGAC Tennis Center (1007 S Greenway Dr.) is another option, even offering “mobile” lessons at the court of your choosing.
The Coral Gables Adult Activity Center has several different options for those over 50 looking to get active, including Tai Chi, Zumba, yoga, stretching, Pilates, aqua Zumba, and the Young Viejos Softball League, a slow-pitch softball league for those over 64. 2 Andalusia Ave. aacinfo@coralgables.com
PRIORITIZE YOUR WELLNESS
If the holiday season brought you as much stress as happiness, you’re probably in need of some peaceful meditation to start the new year. At Kadampa Meditation Center on Miracle Mile, you can take part in hour-long guided meditations in both English and Spanish led by a trained Buddhist monk.The classes reduce stress and promote inner calm and a positive outlook. You can attend individual classes for $15 — or buy a $40 monthly membership. 316 Miracle Mile.
Need to let go stress? Try Let Go Stress.The certified bioenergetic experts here focus on stress reduction, mental clarity, sleep and fatigue management, emotional balance, and more, using quantum well- ness treatments. You can design a custom plan to achieve your goals, which could include anything from acupuncture to rasha sessions, which use a plasma energy device to transmit calming frequencies to you. Sound interesting? Start your new year by trying something new. 3309 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
TAKE A CLASS
It’s no secret that the Gables is one of the most educated cities in the country, with 70 percent of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. If you’re over 50 and still looking to expand your mind, look no further than UM’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. In-person and online classes range from lectures on 19th century art to tutorials on using Apple products. Lessons cost $40 to $125 and usually meet weekly. The Institute’s January Open House will be held on Jan. 9 at 10 am. Registration for Spring 2024 sessions runs through Jan. 11. To register, visit olli.dcie.miami.edu. 1550 Brescia Ave.
Interested in architecture? The Coral Gables Museum has a monthly Link + Learn lecture series on Mediterranean architecture. The Jan. 18 session at 5:30 pm features several architects working in the City Beautiful and includes a cocktail reception afterward. Tickets are $25 or $15 for museum members. 285 Aragon Ave.
If you’re serious about continuing your education in business, there are higher education institutions that offer MBA programs in the Gables, including Aden University (2850 S Douglas Rd), the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management (95 Merrick Way), and the University of Miami (1320 S Dixie Hwy). Aden has programs exclusively in Spanish.
GET CULTURED
Coral Gables has long prided itself on its many cultural institutions and the involvement of its community in the cultural arts. There are three live theaters, two movie theaters, two museums, and two performance halls featuring world-class artists. Most of these institutions have membership options so you can expand your horizons all year long.
The Coral Gables Museum has both history and art exhibitions that often feature topics relevant to Gableites. The museum also hosts lectures, tours, and members-only events. Memberships start at $40 for students, seniors, and educators, and $60 for everyone else. 285 Aragon Ave.
The Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami, meanwhile, focuses entirely on art through the last 5,000 years, with a vast permanent collection and rotating exhibitions of contemporary art. The museum is free to visit, although it’s recommended you reserve your tickets ahead of time online. 1301 Stanford Dr.
The Coral Gables Art Cinema is a nonprofit movie theater and art house that presents first-run and regional premieres of American independent and international features, in addition to classic films, special programs, and film festival events. Memberships range from $50 to $500 and all tiers include discounted tickets. 260 Aragon Ave.
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, which just celebrated 75 years of operation, making it one of the city’s oldest institutions. Two theaters here showcase professional-level plays and musicals for both children and adults. The season has only just begun and subscriptions for the season range from $225 to $2,500 (individual performance tickets range $65 to $85). 280 Miracle Mile.
GableStage is the second live theater in Coral Gables, with a focus on the dramatic. The plays here, in a more intimate setting than Actors’ Playhouse, are generally more nuanced and designed for a mature audience. In its 25th anniversary season, season subscrip- tions range from $180 to $360 — or $75 for a streaming subscription (individual performance tickets range $40 to $65). 1200 Anastasia Ave., Suite 230.
Sanctuary of the Arts is a collaborative, artist-led institution that presents world-class national and international talent in many different art forms, especially in dance and classical music. Numerous programs for both children and adults frequently feature Grammy Award winners, symphonies, and a host of renowned dance companies. 410 Andalusia Ave.
The University of Miami is home to Frost Music Live!, a music program that showcases the prodigious students and celebrated conductors of the Frost School of Music. Performances are wide-ranging, featuring individual recitals, symphonies, jazz bands, and more. Individual tickets usually run around $20 with some free performances, and ticket packages are also available. 1314 Miller Dr.
Also at UM is the city’s third live theater, the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, which features an iconic in-the-round layout. The next season begins in March, featuring “The Wolves,” “Urinetown,” and other thought-provoking performances. Tickets run from $15 to $30. 1312 Miller Dr.