Mystery Dates and a Silver Anniversary

Posted by Maryanne Salvat On October - 21 - 2010

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Valerie Graves, Erin Newberg, Carolyn Travis, and Ivonne Ronderos

 

 

Valerie Graves, Erin Newberg, Carolyn Travis, and Ivonne Ronderos

MOCA Mystery Dates

On Saturday night, the coolest museum in town, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) held its annual Mystery Dates fundraiser, during which over 300 patrons enjoyed elegant dinner parties held concurrently in private homes from La Gorce to Morningside to Snapper Creek.  The evening started at the museum, with a cocktail reception sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka and hors d’oeuvres from Charlotte Bistro.  During the reception guests enthusiastically bid on the silent auction, toured MOCA’s exhibitions, enjoyed sounds by DJ Nekktar and learned of their surprise dining destination.   

The dinners were as diverse as the hosts themselves. Destinations included Joe Berg’s Aventura apartment;  Manita Brug-Chmielenska’s Cricket Club home; Nory Contractor and Harvey Oxenberg’s house in Coconut Grove; Olympia de Castro and Gustavo Hernandez’s industrial loft in Wynwood; Dawn Adels Fine’s Snapper Creek home;  Felipe Grimberg and Eduardo Ojeda’s Bay Point house; and Gloria and Sergio Leyva’s post-modern house on Old Cutler Road, where the Leyvas served an elaborate meal for their guests, which included artists who created works in their collection.  Other dinners took place at Kathryn and Dan Mikesell’s restored home in Morningside; Edward Nieto’s feast served atop his Plexiglas covered swimming pool (which was later converted to a dance floor) and Billy Weisman’s Portofino townhouse. After the unique dinners, many MOCA supporters capped off the evening at the The Raleigh Hotel. Mystery Dates was organized by dynamic chairs: Ivonne Ronderos, Carolyn Travis, Valerie Graves and Erin Newberg.

 Newberg shared the following about the evening. “I was sent to the home of reputable interior decorator, the very talented Edward Nieto. Highlights included a photo booth, where Mystery Daters had a blast before we were seated for dinner, an amazing array of delicacies prepared by Le Basque, and an installation created by artist Karelle Levy, who was commissioned by Nieto, to create a spider web of ripped panty-hose in multi colors! It was by far, the best MOCA Mystery Dates event I have ever attended.”  This sold-out fabulous event, presented by Audi with additional support from Elie Tahari and The Brickellian/Stella Holmes benefited MOCA exhibitions of experimental and emerging artists.  

 

Wedderburn,_Hill,_Malnik,_&_Feher Hotel InterContinental Turns 25

On Wednesday night, the Hotel InterContinental’s Chopin Ballroom was transformed into a casual lounge for 300 VIPs in celebration of the hotel’s 25th anniversary.  The event hosted a diverse group of over 300 guests including artist Stephen Gamson; Latin Grammy nominated artist Roberto Perera; proprietor of The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar Shareef Malnik; the City of Miami’s James Tevas; event designer Israel Sands; Sling Couture’s Robyn Tauber; the Florida Marlins’ Juan Martinez; Assistant City Attorney of Miami Veronica Xiques; Miami Dophins’ Rick Lassiter; and TARA, Ink. Principals:  Nick D’Annunzio and Tara Solomon. The buzz surrounding the festivities and the electro- acoutisic harp music kept guests entertained for nearly two hours after the event’s “official” ending time.  Chef Feher served up dishes such as seared scallops, braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, grilled corn salad, a carving station for duck breast and a slew of desserts. We wish the hotel another 25 great years.

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