By:  Maryanne Salvat

 Arts & Crafts Series at Buck15: Round 2

South Beach’s favorite hidden bar continues its local art contest this September with sneakers sponsored by Puma.  Locals are encouraged to pick up a white Puma sneaker and decorate it any way they wish. Artists have until the 13th of September to hand in their sneakers that will be displayed on the walls of Buck15 along with voting cards throughout the month.  Buck15 patrons will have up until the 28th of September to vote for their favorite piece.  The winners will be announced that Tuesday evening at 11:30 p.m.  First place winner will be awarded a $75 gift certificate to La Epoca Department Store located at 200 East Flagler Street in Downtown; second place winner will receive a $75 bar comp at Buck15 to be used by October 28; third place winner will receive a $25 Miss Yip gift certificate. To participate, contact Cesar@Buck15.net or www.buck15.net.

On Saturday, September 11 from 7  to 10 p.m., coinciding with Wynwood’s monthly art walk, Calix Gustav Gallery will debut its darkest exhibit to-date, Mörker, a look into the gloomy obscurity of children’s dreams. Together, featured artists Johan Björkegren and Ingrid Eliasson along with Jennifer Basile, create an intriguing juxtaposition of fear and serenity through their charcoal drawings and crocheted fiver tapestries. Gallery owner and curator Amanda Fernandez-Leon will also unveil CG Boutique, a smaller gallery within Calix Gustav’s walls intended for the younger art collector.
 

 September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

The Melanie Finley Ovarian Cancer Foundation (MFOCF) is hosting an inaugural awareness week September 13 – 17th,  sponsored by 123 Lumpsum,  featuring a variety of social events to celebrate survivors while raising awareness and donations to fight the disease.  On Monday, September 13th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. enjoy complimentary martinis and makeovers in addition to a 10% discount on all beauty products with a portion of proceeds benefitting MFOCF.  The event is free and open to the public at  GBS, The Beauty Store 31 N. Federal Highway in Ft. Lauderdale.  On Tuesday, September 14th, from 6 to 8 p.m., wine and dine at a private east Fort Lauderdale residence with live entertainment for $20 per person with proceeds benefitting MFOCF.  There will be a presentation by Dr. Steven Poliakoff M.D., M.B.A., Finley’s doctor and the founder and CEO of South Florida Gynecologic Oncology Associates, Inc. and Executive Medical Director of The Women’s Cancer Research Foundation.  For additional information, contact: info@mfocf.com or jen@wasie.org.  On Wednesday, September 15th, from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. celebrate National Yoga Month and Ovarian Cancer Month at Ayama Yoga in Aventura with a 90-minute Vinyasa class.  A $10 donation will be made to the MFOCF for every student in attendance.  Students of all levels are encouraged to participate and experience the many benefits of yoga including improved health, posture, strength, balance and flexibility. The cost of the class is $18.  Complimentary refreshments provided by Honest Tea will be available after class.  Ayama Yoga Center is located at2624 N.E. 188th St., North Miami Beach.  Free parking is available.  On Thursday, September 16th, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., enjoy  a fashion fundraising soiree at Lilac And Lilies new boutique across from the Galleria Mall.  Twenty percent of proceeds from sales will benefit MFOCF.  Shop star-studded styles including Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 jewelry collection, Trina Turk, J Brand denim, Black Halo, Alex & Ani accessories and MM Couture.  The event is free and open to the public.  Lilac & Lilies, 2541 East Sunrise Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale.  On Friday, September 17th, head to SHO Nightclub from 8:00 to 10 p.m., make a $30 donation to the MFOCF, and enjoy 2 complimentary cocktails and appetizers and then dance the night away at Ft. Lauderdale’s premier, upscale nightclub.  SHO Nightclub  is located at 15 West Las Olas Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale.

Mercadito Midtown 

In honor of the 200 years of Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule, and 100 years of its revolution that began in 1910, Mercadito Midtown celebrates “El Grito de La Independencia” with authentic Mexican cuisine by Chef Patricio Sandoval in a lively, festive ambiance. In addition to the restaurant’s a la carte menu, holiday offerings will include succulent cochinita tacos ($16), made with achiote marinated pork belly, sour orange, pickled onions, and chiles en nogada ($22); a traditional Mexican specialty dish featuring stuffed poblano, pork, beef, dried fruit, spices, walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds, that will be available on the menu during the entire month of September. Mexican Independence Day festivities get underway at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15.  A live Mariachi band will perform from 9 to 11 p.m.  Guests will be able to order their favorite Mercadito cocktails, created by the Tippling Bros., at the bar indoors or at a special outdoor bar.  Mercadito Midtown is located at 3252 NE 1^st Avenue, in Miami’s Midtown Neighborhood. Valet and municipal parking is available. Reservations are suggested at (786) 369-0430; www.mercaditorestaurants.com.

By: Maryanne Salvat and Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Bal Harbour

Emmy Award winning journalist Maria Celeste Arraras, actress and model Paola Turbay and Miami philanthropist and socialite Kelly Gold will host Chloe’s in-store shopping and fundraising event  benefitting Rally for Kids, a non-profit organization providing critical funds for care, treatment and research for children suffering with cancer.  Guests will enjoy live beats, champagne by Louis Roederer and hors d’oeuvres while perusing Chloe’s Autumn/Winter 2010 ready-to-wear collection. RSVP: chloe@taraink.com or 305.864.3434 x 300.

Allison Weiss Brady and Jill Viner along with De Beers will be hosting an exclusive preview of the new De Beers Talisman Collection.  Guests are invited to an evening of shopping, diamonds, and champagne, benefiting Gene Spotlight.   To RSVP go to FNOBalHarbourShops@debeers.com or 305.867.7100

Miami socialites Dana Shear and Vivianne Kurzweil along with VH1’s NBA Housewives Evelyn Lozado and lifestyle editor Jacquelynn Powers will host Trina Turk’s fashion celebration.  Customers are invited to enjoy cupcakes and champagne, and enter for the chance to win exclusive raffle prizes and to purchase the official Fashion’s Night Out t-shirt and tank – to benefit the NYC AIDS Fund. RSVP: TrinaTurk@taraink.com.

Village of Merrick Park

 Village of Merrick Park will host an official Fashion’s Night Out event that will take place throughout the center as well as in participating retailers. Event components will include a Fashion’s Night Out Lounge which will feature cool music, light bites provided by SAWA Restaurant & Lounge, informal modeling and a sneak peak of Fall 2010 trends as well as many other exciting initiatives. Guests will enjoy complimentary cocktails provided by Belvedere Vodka & Atlantico Rum, as well as a coffee station provided by Café Bustelo. Patrons will be able to capture their Fashion’s Night Out experience by receiving a complimentary professional picture with any purchase of $25 or more from any retailer throughout  the center. Fashion’s Night Out participants will include Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Diane von Furstenberg, Jimmy Choo and Etro.  For more information visit www.villageofmerrickpark.com/events/fashions-night-out

Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland

Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland has invited four charities (American Red Cross, Baptist Hospital Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Humane Society of Greater Miami) to participate in a night of shopping that will benefit these charities and give back to the community. As part of the promotion to celebrate fashion, Saks Dadeland is giving a Monique Lhuillier evening gown informal modeling presentation to showcase this fall season’s beautiful dresses.  The evening will begin on the ground floor with a Rock Out and Make Up event, which will feature tips and tricks to looking like a rock star.  Enjoy a sampling of fall must-haves that promise to be cult favorites.  The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami will be offering five-minute neck massages and raffling off a gift certificate to The Spa. The event will be accompanied by a champagne reception provided by Moet & Chandon and   Morton’s The Steakhouse will be serving light hors d’oeuvres throughout the informal fashion presentation on the second floor. The event will also have dueling Dj’s and a book signing by Margarita Zingg, author of Glamour para Llevar.  Miami Magazine is Saks Dadeland’s media partner for this event.  Shop with your MasterCard® card the evening of September 10^th and receive an exclusive Fashion’s Night Out rock ‘n’ roll playlist.  For further information, visit  the the Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland Facebook page for an updated event schedule.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

maryjoshore@aol.com

Tastemaker–noun

A person that establishes or strongly influences what is considered to be stylish, acceptable, or worthwhile in a given sphere of interest…

We’ve asked a few of our favorite tastemakers, whose “fabulocity” makes Miami such a “fabulous city” to weigh-in on some of their favorite nightlife venues, hotels, restaurants and pursuits.

In this two-part series, you’ll find a short list of places and delights you don’t want to miss. Be sure to check back next week for Season’s Bests 2010- Part II. Read the rest of this entry »

Laura Izibor

On Thursday, Grey Goose Entertainment Rising Icon Laura Izibor performed at a private gathering at the Bacardi headquarters in Coral Gables to celebrate the second season of the highly acclaimed BET Grey Goose Rising Icons series.  Fellow  Rising Icon, Melanie Fiona, performed at LIV on Sunday, where she gave a breathtaking concert.  Other guests included DJ Irie, Mike Epps and Louis Oliver.

Melanie_Fiona

 On Friday night,  Lebron James threw a surprise birthday dinner party for his girlfriend and mother of his two sons, Savannah Brinson at Red, The Steakhouse restaurant where he brought in a mixlogist to make Atlantico Rum cocktails for his guests which included:  Chris Paul, Udonis Haslem, and  Brian Hartline of the Miami Dolphins, among others. The specialty cocktail served was named the Atlantico Heat.   Apl.de.ap & Will.I.Am hosted the 944 Nightlife Issue release party at LIV.  Travis McCoy also performed at the event.  Guests spotted included: Alice Panikian (Miss Universe Canada 2006), Cedric Gervais, and Sofia Chapman. Chris Bosh and Adrienne Williams made and appearance, celebrating their engagement which took place just hours before.

Loren Ridinger, Kim Kardashian, and J.R. Ridinger

 Miami’s own Market America founders/owners, J.R. and Loren Ridinger recently presented their annual International Convention in Greensboro, N.C. at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex to a sold out crowd of over 25,000.  The Ridingers once again enlightened attendees by detailing ways the company is using technology to change the way people shop and unveiling a host of new products and services. Celebrity guest appearances included close friends of the Ridingers, Kim Kardashian and Scottie Pippen.