By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Halloween weekend brought revelers out of the woodwork in just about every inch of the city.  The parties ranged from a 56, 000+ square foot tent in Midtown, where Swedish House Mafia performed, to a hangar at the airport, to more than a few house parties on the islands to themed parties on South Beach. And that barely scrapes the surface. Unfortunately, most of these parties took place on the same night, so we bring you highlights from a few of the great ones and promise to continue funding cloning research. Read the rest of this entry »

The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar made its debut at the venerable James Beard House in New York City on Saturday night.  The highly anticipated “Fall in the North and South” dinner for 80, hosted by Shareef Malnik and Executive Chef Dewey LoSasso attracted quite a bit of fanfare.  Attendees included: Burn Notice star Gabrielle Anwar; fashion designer Nicole Miller and husband Kim Taipale; Chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Charles Koppelman accompanied by fiancé Gerri Kyhill; film director Brett Ratner; Starwood Hotels global PR director, Gigi Ganatra; CEO of Haute Living magazine, Kamal Hotchandani; actor Gianni Russo, TARA, Ink. co-principal, Tara Solomon, and Russell Simmons, for whom LoSasso prepared a special vegan menu. To cap off the evening, Malnik, Anwar and Hotchandani joined friends and Forge fans, Market America’s JR and Loren Ridinger and Eva Longoria Parker at the Ridinger’s New York apartment to celebrate the Forge’s landmark success

Miami celebrated the Heat win alongside Lebron James and 2000 of his closest friends and fans partied at Mansion on Friday night. The Heat’s own DJ Irie spun the sound track as James was toasted with a life-sized basketball cake.  James’ fiancé,   Savannah Brinson joined in on the excitement.

Gabrielle Union celebrated her birthday at The Florida Room at the Delano this weekend with her beau Dwyane Wade and close friends Tracee Ellis Ross, Cedric the Entertainer, Chris Bosh and Adrienne Williams.  Al B. Sure performed for the birthday girl’s celebration alongside the platinum recording artists Silk. 

Hip Hop star Ciara also celebrated her birthday this Halloween weekend at LIV at the Fontainebleau with an “Alice in Wonderland” inspired celebration. 

On Monday, Nicki Minaj, Cash Money Record’s first lady, hosted an “All Pink Everything” party at Mansion complete with dancers donning pink Barbie wigs and Harajuku attire. Minaj partied well into the night, hanging out with Opium Group honcho Roman Jones.

Basketball wife, Evelyn Lozada joined upcoming Miami reality-show housewives, Marysol Patton and Cristy Rice at Mercadito on Tuesday for a benefit for the Trevor Project.

The Adrienne Arsht Center celebrated its 5^th Anniversary with a fabulous black and white gala in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House. The evening was divided into five “acts,” one for every year the gala has been open, starting with a posh cocktail and the unveiling of the grand donor wall, honoring the Center’s greatest supporters and visionaries (Acts I and II). A fabulous Barton G. dinner experience on the stage (Act III) was followed by a show-stopping performance by Miami’s own, four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza (Act IV) at the end of which the secret setting for Act V was revealed: an elaborate Latin dance club at the rear of the stage.

In keeping with the 5^th Anniversary Season theme, “Every great performance begins with you,” the gala celebrated the dedication of several “grand honorees” including: Adrienne Arsht, Lin Arison/Arison Arts Foundation, Alberto and Susana Ibargüen/Knight Foundation, Parker and Vann Thomson, Woody and Judy Weiser, and Sanford and Dolores Ziff. Other notable guests included gala chairs Mike and Margaret Eidson, Marvin Ross Friedman, Adrienne bon Haes, Adrienne Arsht Center President and CEO John Richard and co-chairs:  Ana and Rob Barlick, Trish and Dan Bell, Nancy Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Loria, and Penny and Roe Stamps.

 PHOTO CREDIT: Manny Hernandez and Seth Browarnik

Funkshion, a.k.a. Fashion Week Miami held its 15th season of runway shows this past week, drawing the usual stellar crowd of designers, VIPs, politicians, and fashion forward, who convened at, around and between the Bass Museum, Setai Hotel and Set nightclub for 5 days of shopping, runway shows and parties fueled by Wodka Vodka.  Noteworthy shows included The Red Dress show, The Richie Rich PopLuxe, Sarahi House of Fashion and Krell Wear.  Organizers and designers have already begun preparations for the March 2011 season!

One of the many highlights of Funkshion is undoubtedly Vanidades’ ‘Magia de la Moda’ fashion event, now its fifth season.  The event, which took place at the Bass Museum, was emceed by Satcha Pretto, co-host of Univision’s Primer Impacto, and showcased the season’s chicest eveningwear and accessories with a surprise finale and appearance by Luca Luca’s Creative Director Raul Melgoza.

Pretto kicked off the runway show by saying, “It is an honor to be here this evening to present the fifth anniversary of ‘Magia de la Moda.  Most importantly, we are thrilled to bring everyone together again to celebrate established and emerging designers alike, with a collaborative evening of incredible vision and talent that will certainly not disappoint.”

Trina Turk kicked-off the 70 looks, followed by Elie Tahari Bal Harbour, Ina Soltani, Jacqueline Quinn and Laundry by Shelly Segal.  Elegant handbags by Laura Buccellati and Beautiful People along with footwear by Sergio Rossi Bal Harbour and bold jewelry by Daniella Kronfle and Diane Marie Designs which completed each look.  Showcasing the looks on the runway were television personalities including Telemundo’s Azucena Cierco, Jorge Bernal and Quique Usales; Univision’s Alejandra Espinoza; Mega TV’s Angie Perez; actresses Ivelyn Giro, Jessica Fox and Martiza Rodriquez; actor and singer Melvin Cabrera; and international model Ines Rivero, who cascaded down the runway in a Luca Luca gown for the finale.

Nat Moore and Dwight Stephenson

All-time NFL/Dolphin great, Nat Moore, (known for his “Helicopter Catch” while making a reception against the New York Jets in 1984) hosted the kick off for his Foundation’s fund raising season for the 2011 Canon Florida Golf Classic on Wednesday at the Miami International Links Golf and Country Club.  Joining Moore at the reception, was his wife, Pat, along with Dwight Stephenson, NFL Hall of Famer and Former Miami Dolphin Starting Center; Nat Moore Foundation Board Members: Jim Rosetta, Sergio Pereira and his daughter Lauren Pereira; Bob and Jenny Pechon, Wendell and Carolyn Beard, Joanie Connors and Derrick Milhous, Richard and Louise Gathright, Frank Jantzen, Lance Joseph, Maury Joseph,Jim Kiely and Susan Goldstein.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing educational, cultural and recreational activities to South Florida’s disadvantaged youth, ages 5 to 18, and has raised and dispersed nearly $2 million to various youth and social service organizations, helping more than 40 students attain their higher education through scholarships and providing support services to hundreds of children and youth through academic, fitness and life-skills programs.  For more information on the Nat Moore Foundation and the 2011 Canon Florida Golf Classic to be held in March, call 305.770.0995 or e-mail info@natmoorefoundation.net.