Last week at Villa Vecchia, the estate of Norma Quintero, designer Shay Todd showcased her 2012 Resort and Swimwear collection to editors, socials and celeb gal pals, Maria Menounos and Adrienne Bailon during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2012.

 Cosmopolitan en Español hosted their 5th Annual ‘Summer Splash’ at the Setai hotel.  Those who stepped out in style were notable VIPS and celebrities including Rock of Ages star Diego Garcia, supermodel and one of People magazine’s most beautiful people Omyra Mota, singer Jon Secada, actor Alejandro Chaban, NFL greats, Chip Vaughn of the Indiana Colts and Ahmed Bradshaw from the New York Giants and fashion designers:  Lisa Pliner, Inca Swimwear founder Stacy Josloff, Nani and Kaki Lopez of N&K Designs, and Maya Swimwear designer Carolina Dinardi.  Also seen in the packed-house was Haven owner, Michael Bowles.

This past weekend, Alicia Keys was red-carpet ready for her performance at the Zo’s Summer Groove Benefit Dinner Gala. Keys took the stage wearing a Louis Vuitton Tiger Tweed Lurex Jacket and Silk Lurex Pants.  Guests at Zo,s Summer Groove included Cee-Lo Green, Dave Chappelle and Carlos Mencia.

Jennifer Lopez, with manager, Benny Medina; her stylist and a

group of six girls dined at The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar at 10:30 p.m. Friday night to celebrate part one of Lopez’s birthday weekend.  Towards the end of dinner, Lopez was surprised with a birthday chocolate soufflé for dessert.  Lopez celebrated round two of her birthday on Tuesday at Scarpetta in the Fontainebleau.

On Saturday night, tennis pro, Gabriela Sabatini, dined with three friends at db Bistro Moderne in the JW Marriott Marquis.

Several cast members of Rock of Ages reportedly partied at Lucky Strike on Saturday night, including Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, Malin Akerman, Julianne Hough and boyfriend, Ryan Seacrest.

Seacrest and Derek Hough, Dancing with the Stars dancer and Julianne’s brother, were spotted at WALL lounge at the W Hotel in South Beach.  

Avoiding Miami’s sweltering heat wave, The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Alexis Bellino, who was in town to both launch her new clothing line Alexis Bellino and celebrate her husband’s birthday, spent her time cooling off at National Hotel Miami Beach and other Miami hot spots. The couple dined at The Forge Restaurant | Winebar, where she became so enamored with the s’more soufflé and he with the enomatic wine machine, that they were overheard saying that despite having dined in a variety of Miami restaurants, the culinary landmark was by far their favorite experience and in a league of its own. Afterwards, Bellino and husband stopped by WALL for some celebratory cocktails.

 Local favorite, Chef Michelle Bernstein made a special appearance on Good Morning America.  The seasoned James Beard award-winning chef tackled filleting a Florida lionfish and preparing it to perfection.

Love was in the air Thursday night for Shakira, who was spotted at WALL Miami lounge alongside her steamy Team Barcelona soccer star boyfriend Gerard Pique. The Latin sensation was unafraid of public displays of affection and was seen dancing closely with Pique, stealing kisses and holding hands all throughout the night.

Ocean Drive magazine and BankUnited celebrated Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2012 at W South Beach on Thursday night. Cover star Chrissy Teigen arrived to the party of over 500 guests with friends, fellow IMG models and boyfriend John Legend. Partygoers enjoyed Grey Goose vodka “Summer Soiree” cocktails and “spiked” popsicles while SmartWater provided a much needed boost of hydration from the Miami heat.

On Saturday, Maria Menounos was a guest at the iRenew Bracelet Beauty Bungalow outfitted in a flowing Shay Todd bikini. The Access Hollywood host was signing her new book for guests and feeling “energized” by iRenew’s bracelets. Later that evening, Menounos, was seen dining with friends at the new Italian restaurant Dolce Vino in South Beach.

  John Legend, who has joined Sade’s “Once in a Lifetime” North American Tour attended the Miami show’s after-party at sexy restaurant and nightclub, Aizia, in Ft. Lauderdale. Legend interacted and surprised VIP patrons by serenading them with an impromptu performance of his hit song “Ordinary People.”

Recently single Whitney Port seemed to be making the most of her new bachelorette status at Saturday night’s celebration for Skintimate Limited Edition Designed Cans by Mara Hoffman at the W.  Though she arrived with just one girlfriend, the MTV star snuck into the W South Beach for a quick pizza dinner before returning to the Wet Lounge with a small entourage.  The group multiplied from there with nearly twenty friends packing into Whitney’s private cabana as they enjoyed UV vodka cocktails and a front row seat for the synchronized swimming performance.

90210‘s Shenae Grimes also walked the pink carpet for the celebration. The TV starlet showed up to the event with her new boyfriend, DJ Brendan Fallis, on one arm and an over-sized Polaroid camera in the other.  After snapping a shot of herself with reality star Whitney Port, Shenae turned her Polaroid on the eager flashbulbs of nearly two dozen photographers before kicking back in a private poolside cabana to check out her photography skills. The event featured live performances by celebrity DJs, the up-and-coming blonde Australian combo, Nervo, Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe.  

WALL celebrated its second birthday late on Saturday night. In attendance were Nicky Hilton, Ice T and his wife Coco, Marc Jacobs’ ex-beau Lorenzo Martone and rapper Maxwell. International mix-master DJ Sharam took the turn tables first and electrified the crowd, followed by Nervo. At one point they were joined in the DJ booth by Ice T, who got on the microphone to give a shout out to WALL on its 2 year anniversary

 The 15th Annual American Black Film Festival Honors awards ceremony at the Fillmore Miami Beach was a big celebrity draw over the weekend.  NFL star and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens laughed it up with actor and ABFF Honors Awards Host Anthony Anderson in the VIP Grey Goose lounge before the ceremony began. Also spotted in the Grey Goose lounge were Regina King (the evening’s other ABFF Honors Award host) and actress, Naturi Naughton, who received the 2011 Grey Goose Rising Icons Award.  Damon and Marlon Wayans, arrived together to support brother Keenan Ivory Wayans, who received the night’s Entertainment Icon Award for his success in the entertainment industry.  Eric Benet stopped for interviews on the red carpet and Don King brought with him the usual fanfare. 

On Friday night at The Forge, the recently named Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis – dined with owner Shareef Malnik and his girlfriend/actress Gabrielle Anwar, as well as Chicago Bulls player Carlos Boozer who enjoyed a bone-in filet main course and company with a Dolphins Cheerleader calendar cover girl for dessert (insert meat joke here). 

This weekend Acqualina Spa by ESPA hosted NCIS star Cote de Pablo, Lynn Collins of X Men Wolverine and Steve Strait who is currently shooting the Starz show,  Magic City.

On Sunday night, Lenny Kravitz dined with 13 friends at Zuma Miami.

Prior to their Miami performance of their 360° Worldwide Tour, Bono, The Edge, and entourage headed to Wynwood Kitchen & Bar on Tuesday night.  The band-mates were spotted taking pictures with staff and signed a menu for restaurant co-owner Jessica Goldman Srebnick. U2’s drummer Larry Mullen Jr. dined with family and friends at Miami Beach’s hip Quattro Gastronomia Italiana located in the heart of Lincoln Road, where they enjoyed the restaurant’s Northern Italian cuisine and wines well into the night.

On Thursday night, Bono was spotted at WALL Miami lounge capping off his concert week with a champagne-infused party session that lasted until 4 a.m. The lounge’s owner, South Beach nightlife impresario Nicola Siervo stopped by the table to congratulate Bono on the sold out U2 concert performance Wednesday night, where the group debuted a new song titled “North Star” for over 75,000 screaming fans. Always the gracious host, Siervo got behind the bar at one point to make Bono a margarita. Also in attendance was Real Madrid soccer star Mesut Ozil.  Florence and the Machine, and actress Malin Ackerman were spotted at WALL earlier in the week.

 

Katie Holmes held a surprise 49^th birthday dinner for Tom Cruise at the Soho Beach House on Saturday night.  The couple checked into the House early on Saturday, taking over the spa area.  Cruise’s son, Connor Cruise, sporting a Chicago Bulls jersey,  and freshly inked fake tattoos, sat poolside, talking to hotel guests about his work on the remake of Red Dawn, due out later this year.

Also spotted beachside at Soho Beach House on Saturday was rock/pop star Rod Stewart.

Christian Slater and Brittany Lopez attended Ryan Trecartin’s Any Ever (2009-2010) opening reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art  MOCA) which features the artist’s seven movie video collaboration, produced in Miami with Lizzie Fitch and other contributors. The presentation of Any Ever at MOCA is the first time that the work has been shown in its entirety in Miami, which was not only the setting for the movies and inspiration for some of their content, but is also a character within the works. MOCA continued the celebration at the Standard Miami Beach for the Ryan Trecartin: Any Ever after party. Guests at the reception and party enjoyed signature drinks by Grey Goose vodka and a performance by artists Raul de Nieves and Colin Self. 

Photography editor Beth Hancock of Art and Commerce spent last week in town from Manhattan with Vogue Italia’s it-boy Greg Lotus curating tens of thousands of his famed fashion, beauty and art images that will be included in the magazine’s archives.  Lotus’s work spans twenty years and he joins the ranks of  Steven Meisel, Ellen von Unwerth, David LaChapelle, Robert Mapplethorpe among others represented by A+C after being introduced to Hancock earlier this year by Michael Leondas Kirkland in New York City.  Lotus hosted a poolside cocktail at his Miami home for Hancock and he and his entourage were seen about town nightly, usually ending each evening at Soho Beach House, where Hancock held intimate corner-table conversation with Max Lugavere, and mingled with the likes of Marcos Balladares, Ruth and Alan Zelcer, Edison Lozada, Alex Mijares and yours truly.  Hancock topped off the weekend with an intimate dinner in Lotus’ honor at Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink which included his wonderful studio manager Tiziana Nenezic, her husband Mick, Fredrick Valentin, and Kirkland. IMG is the parent company of Art and Commerce, which manages superstars from Roger Federer to Gisele Bundchen.

Virgin Atlantic CEO, Sir Richard Branson, dined at Meat Market Saturday night with 6 friends.  

Queen Latifah enjoyed Northern Italian faves at Quattro Thursday night.   Also checking out the best Italian food on Lincoln Road were hairstylist Oscar Blandi; Rosario Dawson and friends who also dined at Quattro this weekend.

Brazilian Soccer player Kaká (no we are NOT making this up, his real name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite) was seen at Cleber Lopes Beauty & Life Institute in Coral Gables this past week where he patiently waited for his wife, Caroline, to finish her blow-dry and mani/pedi.  Salon reps claim he was quite friendly and social and is returning soon for a haircut.  (He plays for Real Madrid and the Brazilian National team.)

Dancer, Singer, American Idol and X-Factor Judge and fellow Gemini, Paula Abdul made a surprise appearance at last Sunday’s performance of Dance Town’s Live to Dance at the Miramar Cultural Center.  Celebrating her birthday and supporting her friends Manny and Lory Castro, Artistic Directors and owners of Dance Town, Abdul attended the entire performance and joined the owners on-stage prior to the second half, praising the performers and the work being done by the company.  The audience responded by giving her a standing ovation and singing Happy Birthday.  Dance Town will be part of the Miramar Cultural Center’s upcoming season, so sign up to receive information about performances at www.MiramarCulturalCenter.org or call (954) 602-4500.   

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes dined at Lario’s Miami Beach over the weekend, with a few members of the Rock of Ages cast including Julianne Hough and Malin Akerman. Holmes was also spotted with daughter, Suri on the beach during the day as well.

 

Selena Gomez was at Macy’s at Miami International Mall promoting her new movie.

Celebrated fathers at the Pampers’ sponsored cook-out at the Newport Beachside Resort last Wednesday included Mario Manuel Cristobal, head coach of the Florida International University football team; Michael Grieco, president of BNI Premier; Russ Koonin, founder of Ferraro Law Firm and co-founder of Playgroup Connect; Dan Sweeney, editor of City Link magazine; Matt Pack, celebrity fitness trainer and founder of Primal Fit Miami; David Bernard, co-founder and president of Miami International Wine Fair and founding partner and president of Vinamericas, Inc.; and Eduardo Hapke, founder and publisher of Hispanic Target, Target Style and Target Autos and Tourism.   

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Bacon was spotted with a guest sipping Botran Rum mojitos at Brasserie Beaumarchais in New York at the launch party for Moves magazine’s summer issue with Jessica Chastain on Tuesday, June 14.  The Miami-based brand showcased its recent national strides treating more than 150 attendees to two of signature cocktails:  the Botran Rum Mojito and The Tulula.  Stay tuned for more exciting national initiatives by the brand Miamians know and love, including a Botran Tiki Lounge at Tales of the Cocktails July 20-24 in New Orleans, LA. 

In honor of the 15th anniversary of Zo’s Summer Groove, Alonzo Mourning Charities proudly announces 14 time Grammy® award winner Alicia Keys as the headlining performance for the Benefit Dinner and Gala. For the first time ever, the concert will open to the public benefiting Overtown Youth Center and Honey Shine Mentoring Program. For General Admission tickets visit: http://www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com/events.php.   Stay tuned for more details about the weekend.