Get ready to embrace your inner child and “Color Your Imagination!”  Considered by many to be the most unique and playful event of the South Florida social season, Miami Children’s Museum’s Be A Kid Again Gala brings together all the chic fashionable color in your life.  The gala features exceptional entertainment, luxurious auctions and a culinary experience unlike any other. This year’s gala, chaired by Heide & Jose Dans with Auction Chair Melissa Netkin, will be held on Saturday, March 16^th at 6:30 PM at Soho Studios located at 2136 NW 1st Ave in the arts district of Wynwood. All funds raised for the event will directly support the Museum’s educational programs.

            Sponsors for the event are Dr. Brigitt Rok Potamkin & Mr. Alan Potamkin; Yolanda & Jeff Berkowitz; Heide & Jose Dans; Susan & Richard Lampen/ Jackie & Adam Malamed/Ladenburg Thalmann; Allied Universal Security Services; CPM Visit Ready; Greenberg Traurig, P.A.; Northern Trust; The Fairholme Foundation; Plaza Construction; 1220 Exhibits, Academica; Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation; Felicia & Andrew Berkowitz/Jolie & Michael Berkowitz; Bilzin Sumberg; Capital Contractor Services; Carnival Foundation; City National Bank; Vanessa & Lee Krelstein/ Louis N. Cassette Foundation; Median Family Foundation; Motorola Solutions, Inc.; Rycon Construction, Stark Weber PLLC; Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.; US Trust and Century Risk Advisors/Tom Gallagher Insurance. Partners include: Miami Magazine, Miami Herald, Soho Studios, Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits and Chef David Schwadron Cuisine and Event Design.

Guests will feel like a kid again from the moment they enter Soho Studios. Everyone is encouraged to dress in colorfully chic attire.  The night kicks off with a not to be missed cocktail reception filled with an extensive silent auction with unique pieces. 

Adding the spice to the colorful, imagination themed extravaganza is a taste tempting array of treats provided by Chef David Schwadron Catering and Event Design with a color infused twist that brings to life all the iconic visions of fantasy and fun.

Tickets for the 2019 Be A Kid Again Gala are $750 per person and ticket packages are available online. All funds raised benefit the Museum’s educational programming. For sponsorship and ticket information for the 2019 Be a Kid Again Gala “Color Your Imagination” contact:Daniella Cabezas at 305-373-5437 x142 or visit BeAKidAgain.MiChiMu.net.

The gala committee chaired by Heide & Jose Dans includes: Denise Alfonso, Loretta Anaya, Judy Añez, Rachel Bailine, Ryan Bailine, Marianne Devine, Taylor Donahue, Todd Gomberg, Claudia Gomberg, Kelly Ruane Melchiondo, Melissa Netkin, Albert Price, Jacklyn Taplin Schiffrin, David Schwadron, Chris Smith, Yoly Solano, Natalie Vilar, Alexis Wagner, Scott N. Wagner and Steven Weber.

Miami Children’s Museum offers bilingual and interactive exhibits, programs, classes and learning materials related to arts, culture, community and communication.  The Museum has 17 interactive galleries as well as housing many exciting and fun traveling exhibits.  Miami Children’s Museum is dedicated to enriching the lives of all children by fostering a love of learning through play and enabling children to realize their highest potential. Through arts and educational programs, the Museum seeks to include and target all audiences in Miami’s changing and diverse community by becoming the “town center” for Miami-Dade County’s children and families.

PAMM’s Art of the Party

The most eclectic and creative art party of the season takes place on Saturday, March 9, as   Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) hosts its fifth annual Art of the Party, the museum’s largest fundraiser event of the year. Three parties in one, this is one blowout you don’t want to miss! The hosts are a mix of Miami’s Who’s Who: influencers from the worlds of art, design, culinary arts, business, medicine, education and just about every philanthropist and socialite in town.

The event, presented by Valentino, will feature three exclusive guest experiences conceptualized by Lee Brian Schrager, as well as culinary collaborations by Chef Norman Van Aken and Constellation Culinary Group. Bringing together cultural philanthropists, artists, civic leaders, and arts supporters, the evening will showcase the world-class museum’s unique architecture and celebrate Miami’s flagship art museum. Funds from Art of the Party directly support the museum’s robust arts education program, the largest program of its kind outside the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system.

Art of the Party’s three unique experiences include:

CHEF’S TABLE SEATED DINNER | 6:30pm

Chef Norman Van Aken and Constellation Culinary Group will craft an unforgettable dining experience in the Promenade. Dinner guests will enjoy a cocktail reception featuring the evening’s program in celebration of honoree Dorothy and Aaron Podhurst and artist Christo. Chef’s Table guests are also invited to the Supper Club dinner lounge and Remix after party. Wine and cocktails for Chef’s Table are generously provided by Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits and Bacardi.  Read the rest here »

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….well for wine and food lovers it is! The 18^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF^®) returns to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. February 20 – 24, 2019.  Widely known as one of America’s favorite gourmet gatherings on the beach, the Festival has once again added an all-star line-up of musical acts to join its fan-favorite roster of renowned chefs, culinary and lifestyle personalities, winemakers, and spirits producers.

On Saturday, February 23, GRAMMY^® Award-nominated artist Cassadee Pope and popular band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real will take center stage at the Festival’s signature Beachside BBQ presented by The National Pork Board hosted by Guy Fieri.  In addition to sipping on libations and savoring carnivorous creations from more than 30 of the nation’s top grill maestros and pitmasters, Pope, the first female winner of NBC’s The Voice, and Nelson, co-producer of the music for the film A Star is Born, will treat attendees to a live performance of their pop and country-rock hits. 

Wildly popular musician and mogul DJ IRIE, who is recognized for his continuous support of a variety of local and national non-profit organizations, will provide the high-energy beats at two Festival events.  These include:

• Taste Jamaica presented by the Jamaica Tourist Board and TEF hosted by Cindy Hutson & Delius Shirley (Friday, February 22)
• Goldbelly presents Sweets & Beats hosted by Cake Boss Buddy Valastro and Joe Ariel(Saturday, February 23)

GRAMMY^® Award-winner and 90’s icon Rev Run will bring the beats to a returning Festival favoriteMidnight Eats: An Española Way Block Party hosted by Bar Lab, Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos.  Taking place on Saturday, February 23, this late-night soiree will take over the charming, pedestrian-friendly corridor known as Española Way in the historic Art Deco part of South Beach.  Featuring midnight bites from the restaurants that call the coveted respite home and specially crafted cocktails from the masterminds at Bar Lab, this party has all of the ingredients to create a great night out on the town. 

On Sunday, February 24, the Festival signature daytime tasting on the beach will include two featured musical experiences throughout the event.  The Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village featuring Mastercard Grand Tasting Tents & Publix Culinary Demonstrations sponsored by Sub-Zero Group Southeast will delight attendees by adding music from Nu Deco Ensemble, an eclectic chamber orchestra designed for the 21^st Century based out of Coral Gables, FL, to the event.  As attendees sip on wines and libations from more than 80 suppliers from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio and nosh on tastings from more than 55 restaurants, they will also enjoy the return of the featured David Grutman Experience throughout the day.  Curated by the nightlife and hospitality leader himself, this 360-experience will include interactive activations and high-energy beats.  The David Grutman Experience will be hosted by Ludacris with top DJ’s on-site, including a set by wildly popular artist and producer Cedric Gervais as part of the experience.

While at the tents guests should plan to visit the “Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, the Original” booth, which aims to promote the added value of the product, in terms of authenticity, safety, traceability, and labelling. The goal is to teach how to identify the Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, by recognizing the PGI logo.  Earlier in the week, this wonderful produce will be featured at Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis where it will be reinterpreted by local chefs.  It will also be highlighted at the Wine Spectator Trade Day on Friday, February 24.

 

EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE.  All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.  Tickets to these events and more are available online at sobewff.org or by calling 877.762.3933 (Phone sales are open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST).  To date, SOBEWFF^® has raised more than $28 million to support the education of the future leaders of the hospitality industry.     

 

illy Returns to South Beach Wine and Food Festival!

illy at Best of the Best

At Best of the Best, illy has partnered with Miami based restaurant, LA ESTANCIA ARGENTINA to serve their delectable cookies with Dulce De Leche paired with illy espresso. This small dessert paired with illy espresso is the perfect finale to end the Best of the Best,  the last bite and sip of the evening to balance out a night filled with heavy wine and rich, savory foods.

illy at the SOBEWFF Grand Tasting Village

Immersive music experience at the Grand Tasting Village. illy is bringing relaxation to busy festival-goers with a SUNFONY sound seat experience that carries the user like a wave, offering an innovative sensory listening experience throughout the body.

 

Come As You Art

On Saturday, December 15, as the skies opened to a beautiful evening, more than 250 art patrons, artists, cultural influencers and philanthropists gathered for the Bass Ball. The annual fundraising gala is among the most anticipated events of the season and supports the museum’s education and exhibition programs. Guests enjoyed a fashionable evening, hosted by CHANEL, including a special performance by Amber Mark and tunes by DJ Frank Delour. After a dusk-lit cocktail hour in Collins Park, creatively dressed patrons were seated for an elegant meal where they enjoyed remarks by George Lindemann, President of the Board of Directors of The Bass, Silvia Karman Cubiñá, Executive Director of The Bass, Tom Murphy, Member of the Board of Directors of The Bass, and Alberto Ibargüen, President and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Read the rest here »

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

There’s something special about birthdays: they epitomize tradition–not a year goes by that we don’t celebrate. The Globe holds a similar kind of nostalgic tradition, in fact, I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t around. And that special, Miami-iconic quality just adds a layer of connectivity to celebrations at this magical place, in which we remember the last time we stood within those walls and knew we would never forget being there again, together. This special magic was prevalent at this writer’s birthday celebration this summer, when the Globe truly lived up to its name, as jet setters from all over the world- New Zealand, Europe, the Americas (all 3 of them), Israel, South Africa and beyond gathered for an epic dance party. Influencers from the worlds of fashion, media, art, design, medicine, design, business and civic leaders enjoyed top shelf cocktails, signature bites and an international playlist by Rafael Rodriguez of Uplight Miami in the exclusive and sexy Black Room of The Globe. Guests danced for nearly 5 hours straight- stopping briefly to snap a photo or take a sip before being re-summoned to the dance floor.
Read the rest here »

Written by Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Iris Apfel, the 96-year-old businesswoman and former interior and textile designer-turned-fashion and style icon is living her life to the fullest and simply refers to herself as an “accidental icon.” Apfel credits her iconic status to her creative approach to personal style. This caught the attention of Harold Koda, former curator of the Costume Institute at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Koda, who describes Ms. Apfel’s eveningwear as having a “Fellini-esque theatricality,” curated and exhibited pieces from her extensive wardrobe and jewelry collections at THE MET in autumn of 2005, a few years following her retirement. The exhibition, Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection, traveled to several other institutions, including the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, and launched Apfel into immediate stardom as well as laid the path for a staid second career. Since then, Apfel’s star has continued to rise. She has designed an accessories line for Swarovski, collaborated with MAC Cosmetics, starred alongside supermodels Karley Kloss and Toni Garrn in respective campaigns for Kate Spade and Etienne Aigner, starred in a documentary, aptly titled “Iris” and penned a new book, Iris Apfel, Accidental Icon, Musings of a Geriatric Starlet (Harper Collins). Read the rest here »