“Cosmic Island” Exhibition at the Copper Gallery 

On Friday, January 28, join Copper Gallery for a intimate and unique first look at Adrian Pelligrini‘s “Cosmic Island” Exhibition.  The Opening Reception/Launch will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at this exceptional new gallery, one of Miami’s most distinctive and promising new destinations for appreciating art and life. The event organized by gallery director, Geo Darder, will feature enticing food, drinks, and wonderful company.   To R.S.V.P. call 305.891.8293 or email GeoDarder@aol.com.  Copper Gallery is located at 13151 West Dixie Highway in North Miami.

A TREEHOUSE For Grownups

TREEHOUSE, a new Miami Beach nightclub, will celebrate its debut with a grand opening reception on Friday, January 28, 2011, 10 p.m. to midnight, featuring complimentary cocktails and music by DJ Troy Kurtz and Canadian DJ duo Ess & Emm. The warm and welcoming indoor/outdoor space will be an adult playground-of-sorts designed and owned by nightlife purveyor Jeremy Waks. Positioned at 323 23^rd Street in South Beach, TREEHOUSE is smartly located among a bevy of hotels and clubs nearby such as The W, Gansevoort Miami Beach, and the Setai Hotel. To RSVP for TREEHOUSE’s soft opening reception, please email treehouse@taraink.com.  For more information  visit www.treehousemiami.com or call 305.674.4478.

 Miami Beach Clean Up

Vice Mayor Michael Góngora will be hosting a South Beach Clean Up on Saturday,   January 29, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.   As the founder of Miami Beach’s first Green Sustainability Committee, Commissioner Góngora makes environmental issues his top priority.   “We are excited to be hosting a second beach clean-up.  I urge you to bring your family and friends and help your community by participating in this event,” states Vice Mayor Góngora.  Other organizations involved include ECOMB, Friends of South Pointe Elementary, Miami Beach Police Department, Opium Group, SofiK9,  SOFNA Parents and Surfrider Foundation. The meeting point for the volunteers is at 3:00pm at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park (2nd and Ocean Drive). The Opium Group will be hosting an afterparty for volunteers at Cameo located at 1445 Washington Ave from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. following the cleanup.   For more information and to RSVP please contact Diana Fontani at 305.673.7103 or dianafontani@miamibeachfl.gov.

New World Symphony Grand Opening Gala

What’s sure to be one of the biggest events of the year takes place this Saturday, January 29, as the New World Symphony’s Grand Opening Gala celebrates the first black tie event in the New World Symphony’s Frank Gehry-designed campus (500 17 Street, Miami Beach). The opening gala will unlock this ginormous music box for its supporters, art and music lovers, business leaders and cultural dignitaries.  The gala will begin with cocktails, then New World Symphony Co-Founder and Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas will present a multi media concert, featuring the world premiere of stunning video art complementing Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, followed by cocktails amid Gehry’s soaring shapes and then dinner under the stars on the Mary and Howard Frank Plaza and a late night after party and performance by Broadway star Audra McDonald. Gala guests will also take home custom-made Baccarat etched crystal gifts (valued at over $230).  While the ticket prices are steep:  single tickets cost $10,000 and tables go for $100,000, the gala’s net goal, which is set at $1.5 million will go towards the underwriting of NWS fellowships and community engagement programs, bringing free performances and music lessons to schools, retirement homes and hospitals. The gala committee has already raised $2 million for the community engagement programming.  For more information, contact Rebecca Mandelman at 305-428-6733.

 Late Night Breakfast Cravings at Vinyl & Kai Gastropub

Vinyl & Kai Gastropub & Rock Spot is bringing after hours back to South Beach. The Breakfast Club, taking place every Saturday from 3 a.m. to at least 9a.m.,   will offer a special breakfast menu along with a full liquor bar.  The “early bird”   feasting will be hosted by South Beach Legend — Adora and Newcomer Bird Sanchez.  Chucky Brown makes his return to Miami, and will be the resident DJ for this weekly event spinning an eclectic mix, of electro, indie rock, house classics and a little hip-hop. Vinyl and Kai is located at 1131 Washington Avenue for more information visit www.vinylkai.com.

Duane Starks , Black Dada and Founder Jean "DJ" Louis

Starfest Worldwide, Duane Starks (NFL), singers Black Dada and Qwote along with DJ T-Vice hosted a remembrance event last Wednesday, January 12th, at the Raleigh Hotel for the one year anniversary of the Haitian earthquake. A moment of silence was immediately followed by a screening of footage shot live from one year ago-as the earthquake was occuring.

On Thursday night, Lenny Kravitz and a lady friend dined at hotspot Zuma Miami where Lenny enjoyed the Wagyu Beef. He also took shots of DeLeon Tequila. 

Gabrielle Anwar was the hostess for the International Polo Club in Palm Beach.  Anwar was accompanied by Shareef Malnik, and kicked thing off by doing the coin toss.

 NFL football player, Jeremy Shockey, played mixologist with a bottle of Corzo tequila in-hand at Tommy Pooch and Alan Roth’s table at Delano during TAI Entertainment’s Tuesday night party.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Iran Issa-Khan and Greg Gorman

While the stars shone brightly in Hollywood this weekend during the Golden Globes, we had our own share of Hollywood glam at DCOTA during the VIP preview gala for its latest DesignHouse, centered around the Golden Age of Hollywood, and the 200 piece retrospective by Hollywood photographer, Greg Gorman, entitled A Distinct Vision 1970-2010.

More than 700 art and design lovers, including a multitude of artists and designers, gathered at Design Center of the Americas on Tuesday, January 18 to celebrate the debut of  DCOTA’s latest DesignHouse, wherein 20 of South Florida’s top design firms proved that film and design go together like champagne and stone crabs- or something like that.  The exhibit features 20 installations inspired by iconic films that “influenced a universal culture and transformed a way of life,” merging the creative disciplines of film and design and demonstrating the visual impact that environments have in telling a story. (Just think, what would Casablanca have been without Rick’s Café or Psycho without the shower?) Read the rest of this entry »

Your Weekly Dose of Cafeina

 On Thursday, January 20,  Cafeina presents another rendition of its weekly musical performance series Wynwood Live, featuring the soulful beats of Miami-based band Ketchy Shuby. DJ Contra will keep the party going into the early hours as guests enjoy $3 Blue Moon specials and $4 specialty cocktails all night. Contact 305.438.0792 or info@cafeinamiami.com for table reservations. Cafeina is located at 297 NW 23^rd St. in Miami.  

 On Friday, January 21, Cafeina will kick-off the New Year with a stylish edition of its Canadian-inspired party series “The Eh Team”.  Along with media partner Wasabi Fashion Kult, and guest hosts and co-founders of the L’Effrontée online fashion boutique Beatriz Martinez and Cristina Salazar,   DJs Ess & Emm (Sasha Lauzon and Michelle Leshem) will dictate the musical score for the evening, in addition to party series-staple Maxwell Blandford and “The Eh Team” newcomer Laura of Miami (Nightdrive/WVUM). Guests will enjoy complimentary Canadian-themed libations by Skyy Vodka from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., along with a Spring 2011 preview of eight cutting-edge accessory designers presented by L’Effrontée. RSVP is recommended to abbey@supermarketcreative.com.

Calling Miss Carnaval at Miss Yip Chinese Cafe

On January 22, the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana will be hosting a casting call at Miss Yip Chinese Café’s new Downtown locale for young ladies between the ages of 16 to 25 for the Miss Carnaval Miami pageant, the kick-off event to the annual Carnaval Miami series of events in March.  From 12 to 4p.m., enjoy music by DJ Ethics while savoring on some Dim Sum and other Chinese snacks. The new outpost boasts a full liquor bar and offers an array of signature cocktails including Lychee Martinis and Mojitos, Madame Ming, Big Bamboo, China Breeze, Shanghai Martinis & more.

The competition is geared towards educated, professional aspiring bilingual young women who will represent the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana during their largest fund-raiser of the year.  Education is the main objective building up to the final competition.  Miss Carnaval Miami has a twenty-nine year history of presenting vibrant, intelligent and articulate young women in the USA, and past winners have moved on to rewarding careers in many different industries. Miss Carnaval Miami now reigns over all the activities of Carnaval Miami ending with Calle Ocho.  For more information visit visit  www.carnavalmiami.com.

Escape to New York

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

With the holidays barely over and the credit card statements trickling in it seems that nightlife in Miami has settled into a lull as we gear up (read purge and fast) for South Beach Wine and Food Festival in a few weeks. Yet the 2011 social calendar is slowly starting to unfold (check out Don’t Miss!).  This leaves us reminiscing about our New York escape over the holidays and planning a prompt return- should the blizzards cease in the near future.  Yes, the lights and giant snowflakes have been taken down from Fifth Avenue, and Rockefeller Center no longer sports a giant tree, but New York City still has plenty of sparkle to offer.  Aside from the basic musts:  the major shopping streets, ice skating in the recently upgraded Wollman Rink, traipsing through Central Park, riding the elevators at the Marriott Marquis, visiting the museums and the top of the Empire State building, discovering hidden gems in Soho and the Village and eating all of the delicious street foods, here are a few spots that caught our attention on our last visit. Read the rest of this entry »

Pete Wentz

Last Sunday, January 2, Adrian Grenier and his band the Honey Brothers played on stage at the Orange Drive South Beach New Year’s Festival.  The Entourage hunk was later spotted at the Florida Room with fellow bandmates enjoying some downtime.

 LeBron James and Chris Bosh were both spotted, separately, at Zuma Miami enjoying a victory dinner after winning a home game on January 4. 

On Friday, January 7, native New Yorker, Donald J. Trump, was in town “firing” the paid-off $210 million construction loan of Dezer Properties’ luxurious Sunny Isles Beach oceanfront condominium, The Trump Royale.

“Charmed” Rose McGowan was seen enjoying the Miami Beach nightlife at Arkadia.

Pete Wentz is kicking off the Mercedes Benz Tweet Race to the Super Bowl– the first-ever Twitter-fueled race.  

Joining Wentz on this “Tweeted” adventure are  Serena Williams, Yankee Nick Swisher and Rev Run; all official coaches of the Mercedes-Benz Tweet Race to the Super Bowl, where they will be social media “cheerleaders” for their two-person teams, each embarking from different U.S. cities on February 2^nd in specially outfitted Mercedes-Benz vehicles bound for Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.