Thursday, June 19

Chamber Goals Conference
The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce hosts "Your Formula for Success: 2008 Goals Conference", June 19 to 21 at The Biltmore Hotel. The three-day conference begins as members gather for cocktails to socialize and create powerful connections. It is a chance to meet the leadership of the Coral Gables Chamber in a business networking environment that can prove useful in establishing long-term relationships. Call 305-446-1657. http://www.coralgableschamber.org

Shakra Thursday Specials:
Are you stressed to the max and have little time? Try the Deep tissue Massage for 35 minutes for $75 that caters to your most affected areas, including neck, shoulders, or back, etc. Have more time? Shakra does all types of massages up to 4 hours for the Ultra Stressed People. Visit their beautiful and serene Yoga Studio for Yoga for Lunch al all levels from 12:15 to 1pm, for Body Sculpting at all levels from 5:15 to 6:15pm, and for Pilates at all levels from 6:15 to 7:15pm to stretch and tone your lower back and abdominal area. Enjoy their Zen and fully equipped locker rooms as well as class props for free. The first class for new students (Florida Residents) is always free at Shakra Relaxation Oasis, 271 Alhambra Circle. Call 305-774-1355. http://www.shakramiami.com

Food For Thought Book Club Luncheons
Hungry for a good book and a good meal? Take a literary lunch break during your workday with the Thursday Book Club Luncheons at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at noon. Your paid reservation ($50 all inclusive) gets you the paperback selection for the current week, along with a delicious three course meal created by renowned chef Bernie Matz, and a professional book club facilitator to guide the discussion in the secluded Antiquarian Room. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com

Miracle Mile Toastmasters Thursday Lunch
With a shared interest in public speaking, members of the Miracle Mile Toastmasters meet every Thursday at 12:15pm at JohnMartin's Irish Restaurant, 253 Miracle Mile. Enjoy the opportunity to network, gain confidence and become an effective public speaker. The cost of lunch is $19. Call 786-399-9609. http://miraclemile.freetoasthost.us

Mobile Autism Family Clinic Community Unveiling
The University of Miami Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD), a South Florida non-profit organization committed to providing free family support, outreach, and educational support services to children and adults of all levels of intellectual functioning who have autism and autistic-like disabilities, will unveil the first of its kind Mobile Autism Family Clinic to the community at the University of Miami BankUnited Center at 5:30pm. The Mobile Autism Family Clinic will travel throughout South Florida in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties providing screenings, resources, and autism awareness to our community. The UM-NSU CARD Mobile Autism Family Clinic will allow families who may not be able to travel to a CARD center the ability to meet with CARD staff in their local communities. For more information on sponsorship or to schedule the UM-NSU CARD Mobile Autism Family Clinic to visit your school, health fair or awareness event, please contact Natalee George, Special Projects Coordinator UM-NSU CARD at 305-284-5901 or visit http://www.umcard.org

Free Drinks At Uva Happy Hour
UVA Restaurant and Lounge at 2626 Ponce presents free well drinks and half price premium drinks from 5 to 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Call 305-476-8111.

Live Music At The Grape
Stop in to your favorite wine bar at the Village Of Merrick Park for a great assortment of wines by the glass or the bottle, plus great food and live music to round out the experience. Now, from 5 to 7pm Monday through Friday, enjoy 2 for 1 glasses of wines in the 1 to 6 category. Meet up with friends at The Grape for a great time every time. Call 305-444-WINE. http://www.yourgrape.com

German American Business Chamber Stammtisch
Join friends from the German American Business Chamber at Fritz And Franz Bierhaus, 60 Merrick Way, at 6pm for a traditional stammtisch dinner. Call 305-774-1883. http://www.gabc.us

Food and Wine Tasting To Benefit Sumando Manos Foundation
La Estancia Argentina invites you to enjoy premier South America wines, indulge in savory treats and make a difference in a child's life. Join us from 6:30 to 8:30pm, at La Estancia Argentina, 4425 Ponce. 100% of the proceeds from the evening's sales and raffle prizes will go to help underprivileged children in rural Latin America get needed food, education, clothing and medical attention. Cost is $20 per person, (Cost of event covers feeding 4 children breakfast for a month). RSVP to 305-938-0553. http://www.sumandomanos.com

A Conversation With The Artists At miArte Gallery
miArte Gallery invites you to join featured artists, Augusto Sanchez, Aurora Molina, Daniel Garcia, George Rodez, Mariana Altamirano, Tony Mendoza and Yovani Baute for a unique evening of wine and discussion with seven of the exhibiting artists in miArte Gallery's newest exhibition Virgins & Altars: Things We Hold Sacred. The artists will talk about their work for this exhibition and answer questions in an intimate gallery setting at 85 Merrick Way from 7 to 9:30pm. Call 305-445-2783. http://www.miartegallery.com

Poolside At The Biltmore Unplugged
The Biltmore Unplugged Thursday features light jazz performances by Raiko Torres and Son Tres at 7 and 8pm. In addition, guests will enjoy half off Don Julio Tequila cocktails. Cascade Poolside Bar & Grill is perched on the edge of the resort's famous 700,000-gallon swimming pool, the continent's largest resort pool. Call 305-445-1926. http://www.biltmorehotel.com

Thursday Bierhaus Specials
It's home-made Goulash Night at the Bierhaus, with choice of two side dishes at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus, 60 Merrick Way. Call 305-774-1883. http://www.bierhaus.cc

Thirsty Thursday Wine Tastings
Join your hosts, Lalo Durazo, owner of Jaguar, and wine educator Barry Alberts of Berries to Wine for a weekly sampling of fine wines and great food at Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & Latam Grill, 3067 Grand Avenue from 7 to 9pm each Thursday. The cost is $15 per person for food and wine. RSVP is not required.

International Guitar Festival: Rene Gonzalez and Isaac Bustos
The Miami International Guitar Festival presents Rene Gonzalez and Isaac Bustos in concert at 8pm at the Clarke Recital Hall at the Frost School of Music at University of Miami. For a complete list of master classes, lectures, showcase concerts, featured artists' information, ticket information and registration form, please visit http://www.miamiguitarfestival.com

Andre Dubus III: The Garden of Last Days
One early September night in Florida, a stripper brings her daughter to work. April's usual babysitter is in the hospital, so she decides it's best to have her three-year-old daughter close by, watching children's videos in the office, while she works. Except that April works at the Puma Club for Men. And tonight she has an unusual client, a foreigner both remote and too personal, and free with his money. Lots of it, all cash. His name is Bassam. Meanwhile, another man, AJ, has been thrown out of the club for holding hands with his favorite stripper, and he's drunk and angry and lonely. From these explosive elements comes a relentless, raw, searing, passionate, page-turning narrative, The Garden of Last Days (Norton, $24.95) a big-hearted and painful novel about sex and parenthood and honor and masculinity. It seizes the reader by the throat with the same psychological tension, depth, and realism that characterized Andre Dubus III's number 1 bestseller, House of Sand and Fog -- and an even greater sense of the dark and anguished places in the human heart. Meet the author at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at 8pm. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com

Comedy Night At JohnMartin's
Enjoy Laughs On The Mile at JohnMartin's (253 Miracle Mile), every Thursday starting at 9pm as local comedian Freddie Stebbins and friends host a night of fun and frivolity at JohnMartin's Irish Pub. Call 305-445-3777. http://www.johnmartins.com

DJ Boe Spins At The Bar
Coral Gables' legacy pub presents the music of DJ Boe each Thursday evening, with drink specials: It's Super Size It Night for an extra ounce of liquor for free. Enjoy the selection of 48 bottled beers, 10 great brews on tap and the best comfort food every Thursday at The Bar, 172 Giralda. Call 305-442-2730. http://www.gablesthebar.com