Alain Ducasse, Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, Lee Schrager, and Emeril Lagasse

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore and Maryanne Salvat

More than 53, 000 guests gathered– on the sand, in hotels, in a parking garage, on a rooftop, and just about every nook and cranny of South Beach – to sip, savor and delight in delicious flavors-for the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SBWFF), which for ten years has turned eating (and drinking) into a competitive sport. And while our jeans are just a little bit tighter and our livers have seen better days, we can’t help but delight in the reverie of this year’s revelry.

The jury is still out on the weekend’s best event- but our top three would have to include: the festival’s 10th Year Anniversary Party, Let Them Eat Cake, hosted by Emeril Lagasse and Martha Stewart in the seventh floor of the 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage; Perrier-Jouët BubbleQ, hosted by Bobby Flay and the Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas party on the New World Center rooftop. Read the rest of this entry »

Romance   In A Can 5^th Anniversary Party

On Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m., Red Chemistry, Inc. presents the 5^th Anniversary Party for the “Romance In A Can” Foreign Film Festival.   The festivities will be held at the Angler’s Boutique Resort, guests will enjoy Chamarré wines, champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and screenings of international shorts.  The event cost is $15.   Romance In A Can will showcase its film program at various locations including the Colony Theater, Miami Beach Cinematheque, Miami Beach High School, Alliance Francaise, Coral Gables Art Cinema (in collaboration with the Video on Demand Channel eurocinema) and FIU South Campus. For more information call 786.594.5888.

Jazz at B Bar

The wildly popular B Bar at The Betsy Hotel weekly jazz series continues through March with the smooth vocals of artists such as Maryel Epps on March 3, Nicole Henry on March 17, and Michelle Manzo on March 31.   B Bar, the glamorous yet inviting lounge nestled inside the historic Betsy Hotel on South Beach, is the perfect intimate gathering spot.  Jazz and songwriters perform at 9 p.m. in one of South Florida’s most beautiful rooms. For more information call 305.760.8288 or visit online www.thebetsyhotel.com.  Schedule changes weekly. No cover or minimum.

PONKO Swimwear Fashion Show Hosted by Adriana de Moura

Michael Capponi and Michael Martin, along with W South Beach Hotel & Residences present a fashion-forward event with “The Real Housewives of Miami’s” Adriana de Moura, on Thursday, March 3, from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.  As the new face of NEW YOU Magazine and cover girl for the Spring edition of PONKO Swimwear, de Moura will host a private cocktail with editor-in-chief, Peter Mansfield. The evening will showcase a full-scale fashion show to unveil the first swimwear line of luxury brand PONKO, ‘Je Suis Jalouse de Toi’ (‘I am Jealous of You’). Complimentary manicures, delicious cupcakes, and sweet treats will be provided.   WET W South Beach Hotel & Residences is located on 2201 Collins Avenue.  To RSVP or for table reservations call 305.695.4410 or RSVP@capponigroup.com. 

Carnaval On The Mile

Carnaval week begins this Friday, March 5, with Art in the Park at 7p.m. on Ponce Circle with live entertainment, followed by a weekend of fun on the Mile!  The event is open to the public and includes great bands, art, food, and drinks.  For more information visit   www.carnavalmile.com.     

 Red Koi Mobile Food Truck

 Red Koi Thai & Sushi Lounge is proud to announce the debut of its gourmet mobile food truck, The Red Koi, launching on Saturday during Carnaval On The Mile from 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday,  March 6, from 10a.m. to 8p.m. and will be located on the corner of Douglas Road and Miracle Mile each day. The Red Koi menu offers a fusion of authentic Thai and Japanese flavors, with items like the signature Bangkok Shrimp Tacos, Shrimp Shumai, Pad Thai, several types of sushi boxes, and their refreshing Lychee Lemonade, all reasonably priced. Food truck aficionados can also indulge in the sweet life with delicious desserts like Red Koi’s famous Wontonameras and Thai Donuts. For more information or to follow the truck schedule go to www.redkoilounge.com.       

 JUST AS YOU WERE: Jipsy Debuts First Solo Show

Miami-based photographer, Jipsy, will celebrate the opening of her first solo show, Just As You Were, on Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Wynwood’s Butter Gallery. Guests will enjoy champagne and wine selections throughout the night. The exhibit will remain on view through April 2, free and open to the public by appointment. Just As You Were was curated from thousands of photographs taken by Jipsy herself from 2005 to the present. A prominent nightlife fixture since arriving to Miami in 1996, Jipsy’s photos tell a story with captivating colors, stories and characters. Jipsy has photographed hundreds of events and parties around the country. For more information on Jipsy, please visit www.nefariousgirl.com or find her on Facebook. Fans can also follow her nightlife exploits on Twitter at @nefariousgirl.

 Citizens Interested in Arts (CIA) 2011 Luncheon

Acknowledging her more than 40 years as South Florida’s peerless presenter of classical music and dance, Judy Drucker, internationally famed impresaria and friend to scores of the world’s most honored musical artists, will be the recipient of the Citizens Interested in Arts (CIA) 2011 Champion of the Arts Award at the organization’s annual fund-raising membership luncheon on Tuesday, March 8,  at Fontainebleau Hotel. Now in its 12 year, the 2011 CIA luncheon, chaired by Lenore Toby-Simmons with Hollis Friemark, co-chair, will mark another step forward in their ever-growing reputation as one of the key South Florida organizations that devote total efforts and funds to financially support the diverse array of performance and visual arts organizations that color our community. To date, CIA, with a membership numbering nearly 300 volunteers with no paid employees, has recorded $600,000 in grants. Reservations are $85 with Patron tickets $100. Checks may be payable to Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc., attention Madelyn Fradkin 20350 West Country Club Drive #4-119  Aventura, Fl, 33160 or by calling Lenore 305.733.0061.

Andy Cohen

Last week, staying under the radar and rarely stepping foot outside his three-story penthouse suite at the National Hotel, R&B crooner Brian McKnight celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday by simply ordering room service and enjoying his luxurious room.

Also staying at the Art Deco property was The Real Housewives of New York City’s Countess Luann de Lesseps and her daughter, who spent the majority of their time lounging by the hotel’s infinity pool. The duo occasionally went out on the town on the rented bikes from the hotel, even hitting up STK on Saturday night, where onlookers say Countess Luann looked “fresh and rested.”

Chelsea Handler’s beloved sidekick, Chuy was the host at Mansion and Steve Nash was spotted at WALL Miami enjoying Belvedere Vodka last Friday.

On Valentine’s Day, Timbaland had dinner with his wife at STK Miami.

Housewives hunk, Andy Cohen, was on-hand at the official launch party for the Real Housewives of Miami onlast Monday night at the Eden Roc Hotel and Residences, along with all of the housewives with the exception of Larsa Pippen, Days of our Lives Arianne Zucker, Galen Gering, and Sammy Sosa.

Janice Lipton, Bonnie Clearwater, Alan and Diane Lieberman

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

If Everybody had an Ocean….

Then they might be lucky enough to have a beach BLAST such as the one we had on Saturday night at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MOCA) “Surf’s Up” bash.  Perhaps it was the fact that the entire museum was transformed into a beach town or maybe it was that the 800+ artsy guests donned their favorite beach attire in lieu of restrictive, stuffy black tie wear; or perchance it was that DJ Hottpants, who towered over the dance floor in a lifeguard stand, played some of the best dance mash-ups we’ve heard in some time- (probably all of the above)…but judging from the smiles, laughter, and non-stop dancing, this was one of best parties of the social season.  The celebration coincided (to the day) with MOCA’s 15^th anniversary, kicking off a year-long string of events in honor of the museum’s cutting-edge exhibitions and innovative programs. Read the rest of this entry »