Over the Top and Out of This World

Posted by Maryanne Salvat On March - 31 - 2011

Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost and Trish and Dan Bell

Miami Science Museum’s Galaxy Gala at the JW Marriott Marquis redefined the term extravagant with an over-the-top party which featured elegant décor and an even more elegant crowd, in anticipation of its new $275 million waterfront museum project in downtown Miami. Unsuspecting guests barely noticed the enormous balloons flanking the four corners of the ballroom, as they sat down to delight in one of the most delicious dinners served at a gala to date- braised short-rib atop truffle mash (what else would you expect from the hotel housing db Bistro Moderne- the JW Marriott catering is just about as good). After the big announcement: Dr. Phillip Frost and wife Patricia committed $35 million for the new building at Museum Park-guests raised their glasses to toast to the future of the “museum for the people.” The toast was followed by a Cirque du Soleil style performance featuring body-pained mermaids, mermen and sea creatures who danced between guests and on the dance floor, creating an under-the-sea ambience complete with fog, ocean waves and bubbles. All of a sudden, from out of nowhere, the huge balloons (close to 5ft in diameter) seemingly exploded with a loud BANG!, dousing the guests and the entire ballroom in silver Mylar confetti and filling it with shrieks and squeals of excitement (think getting splashed by Lolita at the Miami Seaquarium). Fitting, as the new waterfront museum, the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science will include a 600,000-gallon aquarium. Sidebar: Cost of getting a museum named after you: $35 million bucks. Before, during and after dinner, the band Soul Survivors kept the crowd on their feet on the dance floor. Notables in attendance: Phillip and Patricia Frost; Trish and Dan Bell, Co-Chairs of the Board of Trustees; Galaxy Gala Co-chairs Nancy and Jonathan Batchelor and Nicole and Edgar Lozano; guests including Jack and Natasha Lowell, Sildy and Alicia Cervera, Jeff and Yolanda Berkowitz, Paul and Swanee DiMare, Phillis Oeters, Dan and Tina Carlo, Rudy and Lydia Touzet and many more.

Samantha Ronson

Hennessy’s Blue Moon Bonfire

Speaking of over-the-top, Hennessy, purveyor of world’s number one selling cognac announced its selection of DJs, Samantha Ronson (yes LiLo’s on-again, off again gal pal) and D-Nice, as the ambassadors of the Hennessy Black Done Different DJ program at its Black Moon Bonfire on Saturday night at La Cote in the Fontainebleau. Violating a few safety regulations, and in quite a spectacular fashion, D-Nice spun mid-air above the ocean, in the night skies of Miami Beach, while suspended from a helicopter in a customized DJ booth, as Ronson spun a hit music set below (Top THAT Ultra!). Down below, guests enjoyed a full-blown buffet, customized s’mores and specialty Hennessy cocktails. Similar events will occur across the country as these DJs will combine their versatile styles with the Hennessy Black lifestyle of fun and distinctive flair to bring Hennessy Black “Done Different” experiences to additional key markets.

“Hennessy Black’s mission to shake up their style by blending musical talents such as D-Nice and myself is a unique way of making their mark on the nightlife scene,” said Samantha Ronson. “I’m excited to work with the brand to bring the Hennessy Black experience to the people across the country.”

Play Date with the BlackBerry Playbook

A select group of media and local tastemakers were invited to an exclusive dining event on Wednesday at the JW Marriot Marquis’ divine db Bistro Moderne to preview BlackBerry’s newest venture in technology, the BlackBerry PlayBook. A techie’s dream come true, the PlayBook is a tablet which delivers a “professional-grade, consumer-friendly experience that redefines the possibility of mobile computing.” Our favorite feature was its ultra-portability, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing less than a pound, the perfect electronic accessory to throw into a brief case or clutch-whatever the occasion dictates. Dinner guests were so consumed with the multimedia tablet- like teenagers in an arcade that they felt “pulled-away” by the exquisite three course meal prepared by the seasoned chefs at Daniel Boloud’s newest restaurant. The BlackBerry PlayBook, in contrast to its chief competitor which shall remain nameless but whose name starts with an “i” supports Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1. It is available in three models starting at the very reasonable price of $499. For more information on the BlackBerry PlayBook visit www.blackberry.com.