The Gables stretch of The Underline got a big financial boost. Miami-Dade County was awarded a $22.3 million grant to help pay for the three-mile stretch of the 10-mile linear park project that will go through Coral Gables. Next up, the County Commission will have to formally accept the grant and approve design plans (Miami Herald)

Art Basel’s less than a month away and Wynwood’s prepping. The neighborhood has emerged as a hub for the annual art fest in the past few years and that means plenty of people and cars swarming on the area. So the city is planning to close off vehicle traffic on the main drag of Northwest Second Avenue, from Northwest 29th Street to 20th Street, during Basel weekend. (Miami Today)

SoFla’s hoping to curtail human trafficking as the Super Bowl approaches. Miami Gardens will host the big game next February, and they’re hoping to raise public awareness about the uptick in human trafficking that happens around big sporting events like the Super Bowl. Signs and ads are going up around town and folks are being encouraged to spread the word if they see any suspicious activity going down. (Miami Herald)

One Florida city has a clear message ahead of the 2020 legislative session: Next year’s budget has to protect the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Clearwater officials are stressing that the fund is meant to support Florida’s increasingly dire affordable housing situation, but for more than a decade the money has been diverted to offset other budget needs. (Tampa Bay Times)

We’ve got a weekend longread/listen for ya… Reporters from WLRN and WNYC in New York teamed up for a podcast called “The Stakes” and a series of stories that focus on climate gentrification and the multifaceted impacts of climate change on communities like Little Haiti. (WNYC)

Hialeah’s probably the last neighborhood where you’d expect to find excellent French cuisine, but about five years ago, La Fresa Francesa popped up — and it’s très bon.  It’s owned by a young couple, Benoit Rablat and Sandy Sanchez, who met while working at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Los Angeles.

He’s a French chef, and she’s Cuban by way of Hialeah. They may not speak each other’s native languages, but they have put their heads together over the years to come up with some crossover dishes that are magnifique: like their foie gras guava pastelito.

QUOTABLE: “A Croque Monsieur is essentially a ham-and-cheese sandwich. What I’ve learned is that we all essentially eat the same things, they’re just presented a little differently.” — Sandy Sanchez

FUN FACT: Sandy and Ben are getting married next year!

Get to know this couple in our video profile.

Sponsored by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, who did not provide editorial input

Just a 10-minute walk from a stop along the 35 bus route, the Robert Is Here is South Florida’s go-to spot for exotic fruits and local veggies. 👆 These are some of our favorite items to snag there.

Produced for Miami-Dade’s Dept. of Transportation & Public Works

Veterans Day is coming up this Monday and we want to take a quick moment to salute all of the vets out there and thank them for their service. We’ll still be in your inbox that morning but just in case, we wanted to give you a heads up on what spots will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday.

And if you’re an active military member or a vet, or know someone who has served, then check out this list of places offering discounts for current service members and veterans.

Have a great weekend, Miami!

— The New Tropic