Florida International magazine hosted its annual Power Players event at the Epic Hotel on
Thursday to honor this year’s most influential Floridians in various distinct categories including:  Dealmakers, Communicators, Innovators, Headliners, Design Minds, Warriors and New Guard.  Every year, this party attracts like minded individuals who are making noise in their respective fields, for all the right reasons, and can be counted amongst those select few who are responsible for taking our young city to new heights. This year’s Power Players include Nick D’Annunzio, Tara Solomon, and Michael Capponi, who were honored in the Communicators category, but would be named in every category if we had any say.  The list of Power Players runs the gamut from top chef, Jeff McInnis, and philanthropist, Constance Collins, to savvy business women like Renata Black (Lingerie Miami), gallery owner, David Castillo, famous collector, Dorothy Blau, Miami native and future daughter-in-law to Diane Von Furstenberg, Ali Kay, hair guru, ORIBE, (who donated free conditioning treatments and blowouts for the gift bags) and Alissa Christine, photographer.
London-based Tony Lutwyche, crossed the Pond to attend the party.  Lutwyche is partially responsible for the sudden influx of Bondesque, exceptionally well-dressed men parading around our fair state. Lutwyche has brought his signature tailoring concept to the States, starting right here in South Florida. The team responsible for the Power Players issue and event include:  Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Esther Jackson, Publisher/Creative Director, Phyllis Pesaturo, Managing Editor, Luis Rigual, Fashion and Beauty Editor, Jilian Sanz, writer, Caroline Flitter and National Account Executive, Josh Fein.

Roberto Cavalli celebrated the grand re-opening of the Roberto Cavalli Boutique in Bal Harbour.  The largest and most lavish Roberto Cavalli boutique to date, the boutique spans a total 3,000 square feet, and holds men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, lingerie, pets, jewelry, time and eyewear collections. The boutique offers plenty of dramatic touches such as a special lingerie area hidden behind curtains of Swarovski crystals, and a private area where the décor changes depending on the theme of the current season’s runway presentation. With velvet covered couches and unique pieces, the VIP area evokes a luxurious environment offering the ultimate shopping experience.

The evening featured a preview of the Pre-Collection and Fall/Winter 2009-2010 Runway Collection along with the new Cavalli Pet line by Eva Cavalli, Roberto’s wife.

In addition to Roberto Cavalli Vodka, a tasting of the Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei, the newest red from the Cavalli winery started by Roberto and his son Tommaso was served. Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei is a product of the land in the Panzano region of Chianti which Roberto’s son Tommaso transformed into a wine region in 2000.

Al and Nancy Malnik, lifetime benefactors of the Intercontinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, hosted an intimate garden party at their palatial, Art Deco estate on Sunday, for two hundred of the foundation’s top supporters. During his emotional address, Malnik set the bar for this year’s Intercontinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball at a record $2,000,000.00, eliciting a collective gasp from the select crowd. The billionaire with the huge heart motivated and moved his guests with a personal account, “Nancy and I have recently been touched with our own personal tragedy with one of our little ones, so the foundation has come to mean even more than ever before.” Al Malnik’s son, Shareef, returning Gala Chair, beamed with pride as his father spoke, making it obvious that the two have a close relationship and that Shareef admires his father’s zeal and stamina, (after all, Al, who is in his mid-seventies, has given Shareef six siblings ages of ten and under!) Now that’s chutzpa!

The jazz band and choir from King’s Academy entertained the crowd, who mingled in the estate’s gardens, just steps from the ocean, enjoying passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails on a perfect Sunday afternoon. At last year’s garden party, a team of synchronized swimmers delighted guests by performing various numbers in the pool, with the precision and prowess of the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas.

Distinguished guests included Norman Wedderburn, President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, who assured supporters that he “would not stop, would not sleep, until every wish was granted;” Jack Miller, General Manager of Hotel InterContinental Miami and Gala Host of the IMAW Ball; L. Robert Elias, Chairman of the Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and James Ferraro, of The Ferraro Law Firm and Wish Benefactor of the IMAW Ball. Other notable guests in attendance: champion boxer, Bernard Hopkins, burgeoning singer/songwriter, Jamie Jo Harris, designer, Richie Rich, Baby Chic, Nick D’ Annunzio, Tara Solomon, Fabian Basabe, Antonio Misuraca and Michael Valdes. The palpable excitement prevailed throughout the afternoon, in anticipation of this year’s ball to be held on November 7 at the Hotel Intercontinental. Over 900 guests are expected to attend. This year’s host remains a secret, but several attendees requested Sharon Stone return as host this year. Shareef promised he would try. Kim Kardashian did a good job last year, but Sharon Stone left some pretty tall stilettos to fill after the 2007 gala!

Roy and Lea Black upped the hip factor once again at their annual Power of Hope charity gala benefitting the Consequences Program and Bay Point Schools, held at the newly revamped Eden Roc Hotel, (which is sure to bring some stiff competition to it’s next door neighbor), as evidenced by the crush of people gathered around the red carpet to catch a glimpse of the many celebs promised to make an appearance.As usual, the Blacks delivered, hosting a perfect evening replete with stellar performances and a guest list to include: Lance Bass, Dennis Rodman, Joe Francis, Craig David, Mario Barth, Jeffrey Donovan, Moon Bloodgood,. Vicki Gunvalson, Elaine Lancaster, Richie Rich, and Bernard Hopkins (and those were just the VVIPs who DIDN’T perform)!

The night started off with a lavish reception in the Eden Roc’s swank lobby, and resembled a “Taste of the Beach,” with mini food stations set up from some of the area’s favorite restaurants including, the Setai, Bova Prime, and 8 oz Burger Bar to name a few.Grey Goose lounges were conveniently stationed throughout the lobby surrounding the extensive silent auction, because the evening’s liquour sponsor knows there’s nothing like a buzz to get people bidding!People were having such a great time during the reception that event staff struggled to coax the crowd into the ballroom when it was time for the dinner to begin.

During the four course meal, Roy Black got on-stage and said, “Thank you for your money and thank you for your time.That’s my line,” but then gave an inspiring speech, in which he encouraged guests to be generous by saying, “Better to be smart on crime than tough on crime, before introducing a Bay Point School’s graduate who is now attending Barry University and working in a law firm.Next, Lea Black took over for the live auction, and was relentless on the mic, working hard to get the attention of the noisy, talkative crowd.The Texas-native would be a welcomed addition to the Bay Point School’s award-winning staff- if she can wrangle over 1, 000 rowdy socialites on a Saturday night, imagine what she can do with a bunch of teenagers!To be cliché:“Don’t Mess with Texas!”At one point, Roy got back on the stage and quipped, “The only way to keep her (Lea) contained is to get her off the mic. “ Lea managed to raise top dollar amounts for auction items including the Jeffrey Rackover diamond earrings worn by Maria Conchita Alonso during her performance, a spot on the waiting list for the first 2010 Rolls-Royce EX200 from Braman Rolls Royce in Miami, a speaking part on Burn Notice, VIP tickets to the Indianapolis 500 and VIP tickets to the Heavy Weight Championship in Las Vegas among other terrific items.Lea also boasted about the Power of Hope Gala, which was put on for a mere $35, 000 and raised $1.4 million.Not bad for a night’s work.

Several superstars performed throughout the evening, including:Elvis Crespo, Craig David, Jencarlos Canela, Alto Reed, Maria Conchita Alonso, and comedienne, Heather McDonald.The crowd did not seem to mind that there wasn’t a dance floor, especially when Patti LaBelle (back by popular demand for a second year) took to the stage and belted out “Hey Sister Soul Sister…” which got everyone on their feet and dancing between the tables.LaBelle followed her performance of Lady Marmalade with a touching rendition of Over the Rainbow.The crowd showed no intention of leaving well after midnight, when Lil Wayne, took over to sing a few songs.DJ Irie capped off the exciting night, spinning his usual, addictive music.

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OK, so it may have seemed as though Miami was in the doghouse with regard to celebrities last weekend thanks to the Super Bowl mayhem a few miles west, but the doghouse was just the place to be on Friday night, for Pawpurrazzi, the annual fundraiser for the Humane Society that was held at Jungle Island, showing that socialites and VIPs love few things more than their dogs. Designer Rene Ruiz and pooch Dexter Rosenblatt wore matching red and black outfits. Dexter’s was emblazoned with the label “Rene” in rhinestones. Dogs walked the catwalk in the “Great Pets Who Walk in Front of Great People” show. I mean, have you ever?!?! Strutting their stuff on the runway behind their pups were Read the rest of this entry »

Whether at the racy Raleigh, sophisticated Mondrian, celeb-packed Shore Club or any of our fair city’s other amazing nightclubs, New Year’s revelers were afforded plenty of opportunities for “star gazing” (sans telescope) and rang in 2009 with much fanfare and flare, South Beach Style.

The Raleigh’s Burlesque New Year’s Eve, hosted by famed New York City “Queen of the Night” Susanne Bartsch, was an outrageously raunchy affair that would have had Dita Von Teese blushing: from the gargantuan, inflatable open pair of women’s legs floating in the hotel’s iconic pool, to theatrical performances, unforgettable peep shows, strip teases, flamboyant gender-benders and freak shows including well-endowed men wearing zebra and horse heads and female strippers sizing up their (ahem) man hoods, literally, ruler in hand. Bartsch rung in the new year accompanied by designer Read the rest of this entry »