Nick D'Annunzio and Tara Solomon
One event to which we look forward every summer is TARA, Ink. Principal, Nick D’Annunzio’s birthday party. Some locals even plan their summer travels around the celebration, which promises a fabulous theme- and even better crowd, year after year. This year’s party, which took place last Saturday night, was no exception, with a “vintage tease/burlesque” theme at Miami’s first and only exclusive tease burlesque absinthe club, La Fee Verte.
Miami’s who’s who, dressed in their haute-est couture, enjoyed V Georgio Vodka cocktails, hors d’oeuvres courtesy of French Bistro Lemon Twist and delectable treats courtesy of Sweet Street and Ana Paz Cakes, who created a cake in the shape of a corset, in keeping with the theme. The burlesque numbers were unmatched, including contortionist acts and a ballet performance-leading to comments by partygoers such as, “If I could do that, I’d be a very wealthy woman,” and “Who needs college, when you can do THAT!?” (from one of the younger attendees). Guests delighted in a surprise performance by temptress Nicole Soden of the club’s tantalizing Madames du Mischief and danced the night away to the beats of South Florida’s latest stylish DJ duo Ess & Emm (Sasha Lauzon and Michelle Leshem). But the highlight of the evening was the seductive birthday surprise, in which a dancer, clad in black feathers, serenaded Nick with Marilyn Monroe’s infamous, “Happy Birthday Mr. President.”
Nick’s partner, in business and in life, Tara Solomon, remarked, “Nick has had some fun birthday themes in the past, but I think this one was my favorite yet. Love La Fee Verte — the space is so clandestine, so Miss Havisham — and the burlesque performances were amazing; sexy yet tasteful. As a pole dancing school dropout, I’m awed by their talent! The birthday boy had the time of his life, and, at the end of the night, that’s what counts.”
In lieu of gifts, Nick requested that party goers consider making a donation to his charity of choice, Susan G. Komen Foundation in honor of his late mother Gail Paglia. Nick shared the following, “Wow, I had such a good time. I wanted to have some sense of theatrics and La Fee Verte was the perfect solution. The tease burlesque was amazing. The past six weeks have been so hellish with the passing of my mother, it was wonderful be back in Miami with my friends and honor her. I thought a party in her honor was much better than a Mass. She was the consummate hostess and I am my mother’s son.”
Close friends sharing Gail, Nick and Tara’s joie de vivre: Belkys Nerey, Carlos Betancourt, Michael Capponi, Laura Buccellati, Red Carter, Merle and Danny Weiss and their granddaughter, Blair Telepman; Frank Amadeo, Gingi Beltran, Mario Vergel, Lydia Martin, Elizabeth Schwartz, Jamie Jo Harris, Hello Campos, Pierluigi Gazzolo, Jose Ortiz, Mario Cader-Frech, Robert Wennett, Dana and Gary Shear, Keith Paciello, Raphael and Alyssa Reboh, Paul Wilmot, James Brown (from Original Penguin), Leonardo Davalos, Pedro Maal, Michael Valdes, Rob Brown, Malinka Max, Michael Kirkland, Marnie Howard, Tara Gilani, James Cubby, Brigitte Grosjean, Yannick and Hadley Henriette, to name a few.
Sidebar: Tara looked ravishing in a 1960s leopard maillot swimsuit embellished with black cord fringe, black fishnets, a top hat and opera- length black gloves, and carried a riding crop as an accessory. Her ensemble was actually pulled from her closet, and dated back to her “circus years” in Miami Beach, circa early 1990s, when she hosted a Karaoke night and other club gigs. Talk about the quintessential “Queen of the Night!”
Iced, Iced Bubbly
Earlier on Saturday evening, a group of local socialites, including: Susanne Birbragher, Laura Buccellati, Lizzy Dascal, Jilian Sanz, Dana Shear and Aaron Resnick got together to host the launch of Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial at Nikki Beach. And while the stuff is quite heavenly straight up, Ice Imperial is blended to be served on ice – perfectly refreshing for the late afternoon heat. Adam and Vivianne Kurzweil, Faye Bochner, Jennifer Sybers, Anne Owen, Suzy Buckley, John Wu, Jillian Jacobson Altit, Lizzy Dascal, Laura Buccellati, Matt Heien, Chad Frabikant, Ana Maria Bauer and several other tastemakers enjoyed the sunset and this official un-corking while dancing to the sounds of DJ Irie. Imperial was an apt description for both the drink and the setting: Moet ice buckets, matching white acrylic stemware and monogrammed towels were set throughout the space (some guests were overheard complaining about their lack of success at sneaking out with the towels and the cups). As the sun went down, a seemingly endless parade of Moet girls-clad in white maillots, with bottles topped with sparklers hoisted over their heads, spanned the beach club, taking an already festive evening to a whole new level.
According to Jilian Sanz, Haute Living’s newly appointed National Fashion Director, “When you marry the powers that lie between Moet & Chandon, and Haute Living magazine there’s really very little margin for error. Take that and couple it with the fact that I was in the great company of a host committee that few can rival and you have a great idea of what the day was like. Not to mention, the fantastic people who planned this fete had the good sense to go with Haute Living’s official DJ, Irie—so the perfect day was carried by the perfect set of sounds.”
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