The ubiquitous Isabella Rossellini was spotted about town Baseling amongst locals and rubbing elbows with elite art enthusiasts.  Rossellini was feted at a private dinner at the Wolfsonian museum on Wednesday night, made an appearance at the museum on Friday evening and also  received a key to the City of Miami Beach from local favorite Vice Mayor Michael Gongora at a brunch on Saturday.  The former model/actress and award-winning Green Porno producer, left Art Basel’s beaten path to visit the animal portraiture during Arts For A Better World at Soho Studios in Wynwood. 

Nicole Miller  hosted an exclusive evening to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida at her Collins Avenue boutique on Thursday. Miller, along with Ines Rivero and Tracy Mourning, shopped at the Vogue Lounge at the Raleigh Hotel. 

R.E.M’s Michael Stipe hit the Rooftop Lounge at the Townhouse Hotel this weekend for the Broken Hearts Club events.

On Wednesday, a couple of hundred lucky guests attended Steve Martin’s book reading at the W South Beach Hotel & Residences followed by dinner at Mr. Chow.

After dining at the new Blue Door Fish at Delano with friends, world renowned photographer Sante D’Orazio celebrated the opening of his “Priests” exhibition in the hotel’s iconic lobby. Friends, including Perry Ferrell and wife Etty Ferrell, Natalie Kill, Heidi Klum’s ex Ric Pipino and Milk Studios creator Mazdack Razzi enjoyed cocktails in the orchard.  Afterward many of the guests moved on to Parisian club transplant, Le Baron in The Florida Room.

On Friday night, Pringle of Scotland and London’s Serpentine Gallery celebrated their joint project, 195 Collaborations at the Webster with an event hosted by Tilda Swinton (a.k.a. the “White Witch” from Narnia). Susan Sarandon was also at the dinner.  Sarandon, owner of NYC and LA's SPiN Ping Pong Club, was on-hand at the Delano on Saturday night for MOCA and SPiN Galactic’s The Art of Ping Pong.

A Magic Gala in the Magic City

Head to the Miami Magic Gala sponsored by the Junior League of Miami (JLM) next Friday, December 10 at the Four Seasons (1435 Brickell Avenue). Enjoy dinner and dancing under the stars, and have the opportunity to bid on 15 raffle packages, along with a special diamond raffle. Tickets cost $150 a person, with all proceeds benefitting the JLM projects which help empower Miami’s women, children and families. Contact Bibi Cruz-Ledon Sears/Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos, 305.443.0160 or email:  cruzie@aol.com / marleneafernandez@yahoo.com.

Be an Amigo!

 There’s still time to donate a toy for the 19^th Annual Amigos For Kids® Holiday Toy Drive Caravan which will take place on Sunday, December 12 at various locations throughout Miami, embarking on a joy-filled journey of delivering gifts with Santa Claus, celebrities and hundreds of volunteers.   You may request to become a volunteer for the caravan by contacting the telephone number below but all are encouraged to log on and donate toys!

The Toy Drive fulfills the specific wishes of each individual child, as indicated on their wish list.  You may deliver toys for the caravan to Ford Lincoln Mercury locations, select TotalBank locations, Gulliver Schools, Miami Dade College, Republica Agency, Todo Frio and any El Dorado location in South Florida throughout the entire month of December.  Visit the website for exact locations.

To donate your time or resources to children in need, or to volunteer to help with the Amigos Toy Drive, please call 305.279.1155 or visit http://www.amigosforkids.org/amigos.php#toydrive-10.

Santa Paws at Daddy O

On December 16, Daddy O Hotel (9660 East Bay Harbor Drive), the Palm restaurant, and Salon Poochini present a special holiday party from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to benefit PetNet, the young professional group of the Humane Society of Greater Miami.   A $25 donation entitles guests to complimentary beer and wine throughout the event and delicious bites, courtesy of the legendary Palm restaurant.  Gluhwein, a German holiday drink of hot spiced red wine will also be served. Santa-Paws will be there for photographs of guests and their dogs for the holidays with a portion of the photo proceeds going toward the cause.

There will also be a silent auction.  Daddy O is a dog-friendly hotel and all well-behaved dogs are welcome.  Tours of the newly renovated hotel will be given. The Humane Society of Greater Miami will have a few of Miami’s most eligible dogs there for adoption. 

RSVP to Ricki Diamond at ricki@humanesocietymiami.org or 305-749-1814

Wild for the Holidays at Zoo Miami

Zoo Miami, formerly Miami Metro Zoo (12400 SW 152 Street) is hosting a few special events this season. The zoo’s glorious grounds come to light for 12 brilliant nights during Zoo Lights, December 17 – 30 (excluding December 24 and 25) from 7 – 10 p.m. (ticket booths close at 9:30 p.m.).  Guests can enjoy dozens of bright animal-shaped lights, while sipping hot chocolate, munching on delicious cookies, and listening to wonderful holiday music.  Included with admission is a pair of 3D glasses, which will make the Zoo Lights experience even more engaging and amusing.  General admission is $8.95 plus tax per adult and $6.95 plus tax per child.  Zoo members are $7.95 plus tax per adult and $5.95 plus tax per child.

 Dinner with Santa will take place on December 23, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.  Families will be treated to a delicious dinner and photo op with Santa at Wings of Asia.  Children will receive a holiday plush gift and will get to make their own holiday ornaments!  Admission includes parking, entry to Zoo Lights with unlimited carousel rides from 7 – 10 p.m. and a classic holiday menu of fresh roasted turkey with homemade gravy, baked ham, candied sweet potatoes with melting marshmallows, herbed buttery carrots, homemade cranberry sauce, dinner rolls with butter, homemade seasonal pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing, strawberry-infused lemonade, and cranberry mint-infused water.  General admission is $42.95 per adult and $39.95 per child ages 3-12.  Zoo members are $38.95 per adult and $36.95 per child ages 3-12. Children ages 2 and under are free. 

 Dinner with Diego will be held December 28, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., at the Wings of Asia building.  Diego will be available to take his picture with guests between 8:30 – 8:50 p.m.  Dinner with Diego’s admission includes parking, entry to Zoo Lights with unlimited carousel rides from 7 –10 p.m. and a wonderful dinner including a fresh garden salad with dressing, pan seared chicken breast with herbed shallot cream sauce, chicken tenders with dipping sauce, honey glazed carrots, macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls with butter, chocolate fudge brownies, chocolate blondies, fresh tropical fruit salad, cucumber and lemon infused water, lemonade, and iced tea.  This event is ideal for families with children under eight years of age.  Every paying child also receives a Diego beanie baby plush gift and a meet and greet and photo with Diego!  General admission is $39.95 per adult and $43.95 per child ages 3-12.  Zoo members are $35.95 per adult and $38.95 per child ages 3-12.  Children ages 2 and under are free.   For tickets and more information, visit: www.zoomiami.org

Celebrity Sightings:

International music and entertainment sensation, Timati, hit the Tuesdays at Delano party and Florida Room last Tuesday where he partied with Alan Roth, Tommy and Michelle Pooch and a bevy of Russian beauties. Diddy is scheduled to shoot a new music video with Timati, this week in Miami.

Celebrity DJ Tracy Young wrapped up the grand opening weekend for the brand new Lord’s Hotel poolside by laying down beats for the “Punch Brunch” preview party on Sunday.  Fueled by Punch Bowl signature cocktails, guests danced from early morning until sunset.

Calvin Klein was spotted at Caviar Kaspia at the Webster boutique on Tuesday.

Pharell was seen having a great time at the exclusive and fabulous Veuve Cliqout barbecue at Soho Beach House on Monday.

Reality star and pop singer, Brooke Hogan, previewed the new Miss Yip Chinese Cafe locale at 900 Biscayne in Downtown on Saturday night with a handsome gentleman.  Brooke, no longer a Miami Beach resident, had been patiently waiting the opening of the new location. The Miami Heat’s Jamaal Magloire, #21, enjoyed some drinks and snacks with friends at Miss Yip’s Downtown on Tuesday night.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

maryjoshore@aol.com

Art Basel, the art world’s “Carnaval” disguised as an international art show (or vice versa) has arrived, with hundreds of events vying for space on our social calendar.  And while the actual showcase technically runs from December 2-5 (what we like to call the “100 hour day”) the requisite art celebrations and inebriation have been going strong since last weekend.   It seems there’s no end in sight- testing our endurance, social scheduling, and livers more and more each year (please let us know if any progress has been made with human cloning, oh, and add us to the transplant list.)

The world’s largest and most important art show gets bigger every year, especially since in addition to Art Basel itself, Vanguard, Scope, Verge, Pulse, Art Miami, Aqua, Design Miami and over 70 other satellite fairs have set up camp all over town.  Then there are pop-up shops and spas, such as Citrine by the Stones at Soho Beach House and the indulgent La Mer spa South of Fifth and new not-to-be missed restaurants, such as the Royal at the Raleigh, from John DeLucie, who owns NYC hotspots, The Lion and Waverly Inn, (we hear a reservation is harder to come by than snow on South Beach, but give it a shot!)  Also “popping up” for this week only is Paris nightclub transplant, Le Baron, which once again takes over the Florida Room.  Keeping the parties going late into the night are celebrity DJs such as Paul Oakenfold and Behrouz and Danny Tenaglia who will be spinning at WALL throughout the weekend and Kaskade at Arkadia. Read the rest of this entry »

Base Paint Tents

During the week of Art Basel Miami Beach 2010, November 30 through December 5,   join Fundación Manos del Sur and Step by Step Foundation, under the artistic direction of Antuan, as they unveil their latest collaboration, Base Paint Tents. The project will showcase an exhibition and cocktail event hosted by EPIC Residences on their Green. The project was conceived as a collaboration of international artists and nonprofit organizations to support the reconstruction of education in Haiti through art. The distinctive elements include creation and exhibition of the tents at a series of locations and then finally setting-up the finished tents in Haiti.  Artists participating include: Antuan and Elba Luis Lugo, Pedro Barbeito, Jose Bedia, Edouard Duval-Carrie, Jose Garcia Cordero, Nicolas Leiva, Leonel Matheu, Ruben Millares and Antonia Wright, Gean Moreno, and Damian Sarno,.  

On Sunday, December 5, FIU’s Frost Art Museum will host the Base Paint Models at FIU’s 8^th Annual Breakfast in the Park.  The event celebrates Art Basel Miami Beach 2010 with a complimentary breakfast that is open to the public.  Festivities begin a 9:30 in the morning and will run until noon.  For more information visit www.basepaint.org.

Eurocinema

Eurocinema, Miami’s newly launched and only foreign film channel available on-demand, will host an Art Basel-inspired cocktail party and viewing of its latest release, Avenue Montaigne on Wednesday, December 1  at 8 PM at The Rooftop at Gansevoort Miami Beach. Guests will experience the journey of a young woman as she arrives in Paris and embarks on a voyage into her dream world of glamour, luxury and the arts; as the story is projected onto the poolside bar’s main wall and streamed throughout its VIP cabanas. Complimentary Absolut cocktails & Perrier–Jouët champagne till 9 p.m., with reduced Absolut cocktails through 11 p.m.  Special guest DJ Joe Dert will spin an open format mix of house and euro-inspired beats. RSVP to Eurocinema@taraink.com. For more information please visit www.eurocinema.com. Gansevoort Miami Beach is located at 2377 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

The Miguel Paredes National Gallery

On Wednesday, December 1, join Miguel Paredes as he unveils his latest creation at the National Hotel.  The South Beach destination has   been  transformed in to the Miguel Paredes National Gallery and will celebrate with an opening reception featuring complimentary cocktails by Bombay Sapphire, beats by Buddha Bar DJ Sam Popat and select works by Hernan Miranda.  The event will run from 8 to 11 p.m.    The following evening,   Paredes along with famed rock photographer Danny Clinch will unveil several collaborative works featuring subjects such as Jack Johnson and the Beastie Boys. The event will feature complimentary cocktails by Dewars and beats by DJ Sam Popat.  This event will also run from 8 to 11 p.m. and both will take place at the National Hotel.  For more information visit  www.miguelparedes.com.

Through William Chewning’s Eyes

On Thursday, December 2, explore and experience the elements of nature through the eyes of William Chewning as he displays his newest collection, “William Chewning’s Big Ideas.”  Back to Art Basel Miami Beach 2010, for the second year,  Chewning will captivate his audience at his 1,800 square foot showroom filled with various abstract pieces, each of which were created using reoccurring imagery, realism, environmental elements and allegorical references. 

Join Chewning for an Art Basel cocktail reception from 7 to 9 p.m. as he reveals a compelling and original “vocabulary” of ideas through the translation of his own life experiences.  Miami Design District 126^th NE 40^th Street or for more information contact Erica@ThePattonGroupInc.com.

Original Penguin Miami’s 5^th  Anniversary

E!’s Michael Yo will host the Original Penguin Miami’s 5th Anniversary on Thursday, December 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. Complimentary cocktails and champagne will be served courtesy of 42Below Vodka and Korbel.  Enjoy 30% off the entire store as you snack on Pirate’s Booty treats while local favorite DJ Dank spins great tunes.  To RSVP visit OPGMIAMI@TARAINK.com or call 305.864.3434 x257.

Art Basel and Angelique Euro Café

Angelique Euro Café is excited to bring a little piece of Art Basel to Coral Gables on Thursday, December 2, as they proudly showcase the original and uplifting art work by local Venezuelan artist, Valentina Ramos; which will remain in display through the 5th of December.  Angelique invites its patrons to celebrate their one-year anniversary and enjoy an evening filled with art, wine and live music beginning at 6:30pm with the sultry notes of RK Duo.  At 7pm, the Battle of the Grapes wine tasting will begin as Angelique highlights California’s other grapes.  For more information visit www.AngeliqueEuroCafe.com.

 Cafeina Presents: Three Stooges We Love

Cafeina invites you to celebrate Three Stooges We Love, a night of art, photography & the written word honoring Patrick McMullan, Brian Antoni, and Robert Chambers on Thursday, December 2,  at 11 p.m. Guests will enjoy complimentary Solerno cocktails until midnight and music by special guest DJ Jeffrey Tonnesen. For one-night only, McMullan will showcase So80s on the garden wall, a compilation of classic photos capturing icons of that decade Madonna, Andy Warhol and Liza Minnelli. Antoni will also host a VIP signing of South Beach the Novel and will donate a percentage of book proceeds to The Trevor Project.  And Robert Chambers will present a sculpture installation. To RSVP go to  cafeina@taraink.com or for more information visit www.cafeinamiami.com.

Barbara Hulanicki Presents “FLASH”

Internationally acclaimed fashion illustrator and designer, Barbara Hulanicki, will host her first-side exhibit at Calix Gustav Gallery. The show, aptly titled FLASH, will feature a series of colorfully infused images reflecting the artist’s life experiences as well as her wild and free imagination.  The opening reception will be held on Saturday,   December 4,   from 6 to 9 p.m.  The exhibition will be featured through February 4, 2011.  To RSVP go to Hulanicki@TARAINK.com. Calix Gustav Gallery, 98 N.W. 29 Street.

Stone Crab Feast at Kitchen 305

Stone crabs lovers are invited to come dip and dance at “The Show” taking place every Friday at Kitchen 305 in the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort.  The Show features weekly live entertainment to go along with an all-you-can-eat stone crab feast for $42 per person. Make sure to get your fill in before the season for stone-crabbin’ is over!  

Just a “stones” throw-away from the ocean, Kitchen 305 will serve-up claws in batches of five, accompanied by a bowl of New England Clam Chowder and a Wedge Salad with Applewood smoked bacon.  Endless refills are welcomed if there’s still room after the fresh bread and choice of two sides from another grand selection including rice pilaf, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, grilled Portobello mushrooms, charred-cheddar wrapped beefsteak tomatoes and creamed spinach. For table reservations, call 305.749.2110.
  

Roots In The City Farmers Market Re-opens  

Roots In The City Farmers Market will re-open for business on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at noon. Launched with the support of Wholesome Wave Foundation, the market debuted to national attention in April 2010 as the only wholly local farmer-operated market in Miami and the first urban farmer’s market in Florida to double the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (also known as food stamps) towards the purchase of locally-grown produce.  Roots In The City Farmers Market is located in Overtown, at the corner of Northwest Second Avenue and Tenth Street, and will be open to the public every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. through early summer 2011.