By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
maryjoshore@aol.com
Eighth annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Miami Gala
The Eighth annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Miami Gala takes place at the Intercontinental Hotel (100 Chopin Plaza) on Saturday, May 15 from 7 p.m. until midnight. The gala will definitely boast some Latin flavor, with hosts, Daisy Fuentes, Lili Estefan and Javier Romero, and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Juanes, who will receive the 2010 Al Rashid Hope Award. A multitude of other Latin celebrities from the television and music industries will also be in attendance.
This year’s Masquerade- themed party is sponsored by Grey Goose and will include a silent auction and performances by some of today’s hottest Latin chart-topping artists. Proceeds will support groundbreaking research and lifesaving care provided by St. Jude for children across the country and around the world. Individual tickets cost $350 and tables run from $3,500 to $25,000. For more information, email Paola Cassana at paola.cassana@stjude.org or call 305.265.1371. To make a donation, visit: www.stjude.org/miamigala.
Have a “FAB” time at Fashion Art Ball!
The 12th Annual Fashion Art Ball, will be held on Saturday, May 15, at 8 p.m. at the recently renovated Gansevoort Hotel in Miami Beach (2377 Collins Avenue). This wonderful, eclectic event will include a top-notch fashion show, a silent auction highlighting the works of local artists, and special entertainment. Guests will also be treated to an open bar, and food from local restaurants including B.E.D., Casale Pizzeria, David’s Café, Grill on the Alley, Meat Market, RA Sushi, Segafredo and Yogurbella. All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Willard Shepard from NBC6 and Buster from A3 TV will serve as emcees.
The most fun and unique part of the gala is the fashion show, in which popular local guys (not necessarily models) strut their stuff on the runway. This year’s “Local Legends on the Runway” include: Cecil Barker, Jonathan Babicka, Nicolas Coeur De Roy, Sir. Michael Dreiling, Tony Gallo, Aric Gasper, Kamal Hotchandani, DJ Irie, Raul Leal, Keith Menin, Richard Millard, Eric Milon, Mark Tamis and several other South Beach luminaries. F.A.B.’s host committee is pretty “fab” also: Nick D’Annunzio, Todd Goldenfarb, Lina Hargrett, Daymond John, Jeffrey Lubin, Erin Newberg, and Bobby Radical. Read about and view photos of last year’s FAB, visit https://miamisocialholic.com/2009/05/beach-balls.
General admission tickets cost $100 per person in advance, $150 at the door. Tables of 10 with premier runway seating are available for $2,500. For more information contact: Jennifer Tate at 954.739.5006, email jtate@cff.org.
Kampong Moonlight Concert
On Saturday, May 15th, starting at 8 pm, Grey Goose vodka will host the last of four highly acclaimed concerts at The Kampong featuring South Florida Jazz legend Joe Donato. Billing itself as Miami’s newest upscale venue for fine jazz and live music, The Kampong transforms itself into the tropical ultra-chic K Lounge for the evening. The recently added covered pavilion with stage, designed by noted Miami architect Max Strang, provides near-perfect acoustics and is the ideal small setting for the live-music aficionado. “Sitting in the K Lounge, surrounded by lush, fragrant gardens and listening to crickets chirping to the tempo of the amazing music is a sublime experience,” said Vivianne Swietelsky, Kampong Fellow and Chair of the Moonlight Concert committee. “Proceeds from Moonlight Concerts @ The Kampong are used to support The Kampong living collections and educational programs. Tickets are available by calling The Kampong at 305.442.7169 or online at http://kampongevents.ntbg.org. The Kampong, located on Biscayne Bay in the heart of Coconut Grove, is one of five tropical gardens and three preserves of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Vinyl & Kai- Your new Digs for Fun and Grub
Vinyl & Kai, situated on Washington Avenue, presents a refreshing new alternative and social mix to the South Beach scene — good food combined with live music at affordable prices. The space is intimate and inviting and will give the creative of South Florida a reason to make Washington Avenue their new destination for breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails. The unique atmosphere at Vinyl & Kai imparts a casual ambiance with comfort dining and friendly service that has guests returning regularly on a weekly basis. Vinyl & Kai introduces two weekly happy hours every Monday through Friday from 4pm – 7pm and offers half off drinks and appetizers. Those “in the biz” can enjoy happy hour late night from 2am – 4am with a pay stub or business card.
Tuesday is Karaoke and Ladies’ night 10pm – 2am. Ladies receive complimentary premium well drinks from 9pm – midnight. Karaoke and DJ are provided by Kara-O-King. Poker night is Wednesday, with “No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em” tournaments from 8:30 pm – 5am. Players can win bar tabs, mystery box prizes, bounty rounds and earn points towards a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker Bracelet event. Weekly drink specials and munchies are available until 5am. Located at 1131 Washington Avenue, Vinyl & Kai offers an array of dishes in a quintessential indoor and outdoor space and is sure to become a local’s favorite in the South Beach neighborhood. www.vinylkai.com. Vinyl & Kai is open daily from 11am – 5am and now offers delivery in Miami Beach up to 81st.
Rap, Hip Hop and R&B at Play
Play Nightclub has joined forces with one of the top Urban promotional marketing groups in the country. This is the group that created the popular Forge Sundays and Karu & Y Thursdays, and who are the current promoters for LIV on Sunday nights, arguably the hottest party in South Beach. Now the group will be presenting a brand new party on Friday Nights at Play Nightclub bringing in the spectacular acts and celebrities. Play has hosted a bevy of athletes, entertainers and celebrities including Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Venus and Serena Williams, Drake, Nikki Minaj, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat, Lil Wayne and many more.
Tired of paying beaucoup bucks to hear the best R&B artists in concert? Then head for Play Nightclub in South Beach on Thursday nights starting at 10pm. Top R&B names will be performing every week with Jodi and the TKO band. Past entertainers have included Bobby V; Lloyd, and RL from Group Next. Admission is $20 on Thursday nights. Play Nightclub is located at 1045 5th Street (Lenox and fifth) with a convenient attached parking lot. For table reservations please call 305-532-4340.
