By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore and Maryanne Salvat

“Swim Week is Here!” -four words every fan of fashion, fun, and “fabulosity” long to hear every summer. Thanks to Presenting Sponsor, Mercedes-Benz, thousands now flock to Miami in July, at the time of year when temperatures can be likened to those of the center of the earth; and locals feel palpable excitement, rather than a desperate longing to flee. This year’s shows were hotter than ever- so we’ve decided to highlight our favorites in two different editions of the Fix. Be sure to check back next week for more sizzling Swim Week stories and celebrity sightings.

Diesel

Edgy jeans designer Diesel, kicked-off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2012 (MBFWS) in style on Thursday night, despite sweltering heat, with a show that represented all things South Beach- from adorable prints such as palm trees to solid styles comprised of pastels, with lots of blue on the color palate in addition to bright orange on the chiseled Hulk-like male models, who were among the most striking we have seen at any show during MFWS. The suits were practical and seemed comfortable but the biggest wow factor came from actresses Jessica Szohr and Kristin Cavallari who closed the show. Read the rest of this entry »

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force, along with your favorite Miami Socialholics, patrolled the streets of Miami Beach during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim   searching for the hottest style-setters in the Magic City.  The  “fashion police” squad checked in at the Standard Hotel during its Sunday Barbeque and the Dream Hotel Highbar Rooftop for the Norma Kamali presentation, shooting a few of the fashion-savvy guests.  Those captured by the style authorities were rewarded with a pair of limited edition Havaiana flip-flops embellished with a special charm in the form of a badge- made for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2012   and an exclusive invitation to the Fashion Force culmination event hosted by celebrity stylist, Danny Santiago in the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge at the Raleigh Hotel.

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bI’my:Mary Jo Shore

Taste of the Nation

The Fairmont Turnberry Isle resort was filled with the aromas and sounds of searing, sizzling, sautéing and grilling last Thursday as 40 of the hottest chefs from top Miami restaurants showcased popular menu samplings for the 24th annual Taste of the Nation, South Florida’s premier culinary benefit Share Our Strength, which seeks to end childhood hunger.

Over 500 supporters crowded the resort, breaking promises to personal trainers, cardiologists, nutritionists and then some, to delight in dishes such as steak and truffle mash from Gotham Steak, pork belly topped with chicharrón (hmmmm, a chicharron WITH a chicharron) from Bourbon Steak, Trio on the Bay’s delicious shrimp cake, shrimp & grits from The Forge, lobster tacos from Joe’s Stone Crab, pate from DB Bistro, Carpaccio from Steak 954, and a memorable popcorn milkshake by the Tudor House at the Dream Hotel (which will have its grand opening this Saturday). Read the rest of this entry »

 The 15th Annual American Black Film Festival Honors awards ceremony at the Fillmore Miami Beach was a big celebrity draw over the weekend.  NFL star and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens laughed it up with actor and ABFF Honors Awards Host Anthony Anderson in the VIP Grey Goose lounge before the ceremony began. Also spotted in the Grey Goose lounge were Regina King (the evening’s other ABFF Honors Award host) and actress, Naturi Naughton, who received the 2011 Grey Goose Rising Icons Award.  Damon and Marlon Wayans, arrived together to support brother Keenan Ivory Wayans, who received the night’s Entertainment Icon Award for his success in the entertainment industry.  Eric Benet stopped for interviews on the red carpet and Don King brought with him the usual fanfare. 

On Friday night at The Forge, the recently named Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis – dined with owner Shareef Malnik and his girlfriend/actress Gabrielle Anwar, as well as Chicago Bulls player Carlos Boozer who enjoyed a bone-in filet main course and company with a Dolphins Cheerleader calendar cover girl for dessert (insert meat joke here). 

This weekend Acqualina Spa by ESPA hosted NCIS star Cote de Pablo, Lynn Collins of X Men Wolverine and Steve Strait who is currently shooting the Starz show,  Magic City.

On Sunday night, Lenny Kravitz dined with 13 friends at Zuma Miami.

photo credit: Seth Browarnik

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Haiti Means Business

 On June 25, the President of the Republic of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly attended a private reception at the exclusive Soho Beach House hosted by Michael Capponi and General Consulate of Haiti in Miami, Ralph Latortue to unveil the “Haiti Means Business” campaign. The handsome and charismatic Martelly, a former pop star and club promoter, made a grand entrance into the party in a procession led by the banging of a giant drum accompanied by live Haitian music, surrounded by close friends and family.  President Martelly then stood on the edge of Soho Beach House’s private 8^th floor pool, to proclaim his vision for the future of Haiti, in a speech which echoed his inauguration speech this May. “This is a new Haiti, open for business now,” he told the cheering crowd of 300 at the party.  Martelly’s plan focuses on the urgent need for action, recovery, and renewal to improve the living conditions, well-being and prospects of the Haitian people, with new impetus given to job-creating sectors. Read the rest of this entry »

Chef Todd Erickson and Tara Solomon

Queen of the Night turned PR Maven, Tara Solomon held an “intimate” birthday cocktail party at the sleek, shiny-new Haven gastro-lounge on Saturday, July 2. The party was elegant, stylish and fabulous, (to sum it up in three words) much like the birthday girl herself, who hand-picked her exclusive A-list guest list (and their +1 or 10).  The 100 or so guests filled the high-tech South Beach hotspot to fete Solomon and enjoy bites by rising star and cutie pie, executive chef Todd Erickson, and molecular mixology (think delicious, drinkable chemistry experiment) by Haven’s friendly bar staff. Guests “oohed and ahhed” during the custom-designed photo retrospective – spanning over 30 years of Solomon’s reign– that was displayed on Haven’s digital wrap-around walls- kind of like an Imax slide show. An array of shots showcased Solomon’s past and present, alongside famed faces such as legendary Salsa singer, Celia Cruz, fashion prodigy Esteban Cortazar and many of the VIPs at the party.  Notables in attendance included TARA, Ink. co-principal, and fiancée extraordinaire, Nick D’Annunzio; owner of Haven South Beach Mike Boles; filmmaker Alfred Spellman; reality television personalities Ariel Stein and Michael Cohen; Jose Ortiz; photographer Iran Issa-Kahn; photographer Seth Browarnik and wife Melissa Katz; international Diva and personality, James Davis a.k.a. Elaine Lancaster; Read the rest of this entry »