Barbara Herzberg, Bonnie Clearwater, Diane and Alan Lieberman
by: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
There are kick-offs and there are kick-off bashes, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, a.k.a. MOCA, knows a thing or two about the latter. Although the big event is less than 3 weeks away, MOCA threw a preview for its upcoming “Surf’s Up!” gala just last week at the Catalina Hotel & Beach Club for 400 guests. The party featured free flowing Grey Goose cocktails, beach grub, dance music and discounted tickets to the gala to be held on February 19th. The gala is a bargain, at only $150 per ticket. As anyone who’s been to a MOCA Bash will attest, this is one of the highlights of the social season every year, as the museum is transformed to fit the theme- a casino one year, a bohemian pad another, a Bollywood stage set another- and the artsy guests dress to fit the theme.
This year, Miami artists will transform MOCA’s galleries into a far-out celebration of surf culture with surfboards, simulated ocean waves, lifeguard stands, bonfires, classic surf films, dances, fire-eaters and beach bunnies. Guest DJs will keep the dance floor packed and top Miami restaurants China Grill, Asia de Cuba, Blue Door Delano, Adriana Restaurant, Meat Market, Sushi Samba and Shiraz Catering will have guests wishing their bikinis were a couple of sizes larger. Fortunately, Grey Goose will provide enough libations to make the unwanted bulges a little less noticeable. Be sure to save the date and buy your tickets by February 1 to take advantage of the reduced ticket price of $150. (Tickets go up to $175 after that). To purchase tickets now, call 305 893 6211 or visit www.mocanomi.org. You can also start taking advantage of the silent auction, featuring a fantastic array of unique experiences and luxury items by visiting www.mocanomi.org/cmarket.
