Doug Scott and Olga Granda-Scott

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

Wolfsonian Visionaries 11:11:11

Every now and then all of the ingredients that make for a perfect evening come together in one delicious bite- resulting in magic.  Such was the case last Friday night during the Wolfsonian Visionaries’ 11:11:11 party, where hundreds of the “fabulartsy” gathered in the garage bearing the address to match the party’s unique date, the landmark 1111 Lincoln Road garage, transformed into the ideal venue, by an array of white linens, furnishings and bunches and bunches of flowers from top-to-bottom- even the bars were made to resemble bushes. The gusty, chilly winds that enhanced the panoramic views had the already stylish group, with a flair for the fabulous, donning fancy furs (sorry PETA), colorful scarves and warm, winter garb reserved for such incredible nights in New York City this time of year, just adding to the already dramatic landscape of the evening.  

The magnificent affair was held in honor of the Wolfsonian’s 16th anniversary, and featured signature dishes from Miami’s top restaurants and caterers, who served up cold weather comfort food such as Michelle Areces & Nima Vandy’s Petit Pois’ truffle polenta served in miniature pots and chocolate truffle pearls (that left green glitter dust all over the guests’ faces); Jim Mozina of Le Basque’s seared tuna on a bed of mashed potatoes;  Lyon + Lyon’s (which is now open at the Wolfsonian) grilled cheese sandwiches and watercress soup and ooohhhhhh! those piping hot Shake Shack burgers!  Guests also enjoyed top shelf Bacardi cocktails, music by DJ Mauricio Parra and the images of artist Emilio Chapela which were on display in a site-specific installation. 

The success of this stellar evening was due for the most part to the hard work of the charming Olga Granda-Scott and her husband, Douglas Scott, and the Wolfsonian Visionaries host committee. Jose Zaldivar, a member of the Visionaries shared the following:  “November 11, 2011 is a very special, transcendent moment of good will, and we’ve designed the 11:11:11 party with an emphasis on a feeling of euphoria, on celebrating a celestial moment.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. We’re celebrating the moment, the here and now, and making this party a true celebration of life.”  

Zaldivar designed the space to feel heavenly, “like a cloud of light.” The garage was awash in purple light, illuminated by images from a book on the theme of 11:11:11 by the artist Emilio Chapela, who was commissioned by Wennett for the event. 

At 11:11 p.m., guests participated in a surprise performance art piece featuring The Lucky Dragons by using CDs to reflect light and influence the music being played. In addition to the aforementioned, Dolce Vino, Lovely Daze Desserts, Meat Market, Ortanique, Rosa Mexicano, Spuntino Catering, Stella’s Sweet Shoppe and Thierry’s Catering  participated in the event; each serving a signature dish. Rex Goliath donated the wine, and the following sponsors provided support:  Shore Club, Fiction Events, JP Morgan, Alhambra Antiques, Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLC, Lluria Fine Arts, ArtNexus, The Gansevoort, Jacober & Associates, and Mako Video. 

MOCA’s Mystery Dates 

The next night, many of Miami’s art aficionados gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) for a cocktail party, courtesy of Grey Goose vodka. Guests sipped and mingled as they discovered who would be their dinner host for the evening.  Fifteen gorgeous homes from Golden Beach to Coconut Grove provided the perfect settings for the spirited dinners.  Art lovers were treated to a first class tour of the homeowners’ private art collections. After a delicious meal, guests headed to the late night after party at the Setai. 

Daniela Swaebe

Daniela Swaebe’s Gala Launch

Miami jewelry designer Daniela Swaebe recently launched her highly anticipated Gala collection at a stylish cocktail party held at her longtime beau, Michael Comras’ studio on Miami Beach.   The Gala collection:   “the next generation of style at accessible prices,” is inspired by original creations from her fine jewelry collection.  Swaebe’s fashionable friends could not get enough of the inspired pieces which feature bold, beautiful designs and bought nearly every piece on display. Combining classic simplicity with edgy glamour, the collection includes earrings from $75, necklaces from $125, bracelets from $100 and rings from $85.Somewhere between Swaebe’s couture creations and private collections, Gala naturally redefines her classic Croc, Gypsy, Lotus, Pila and Heart collections into luxe gold-plated designs and textures. Meticulously crafted for day-to-night fashions, Swaebe’s designs have been worn by stars from Jennifer Lopez to Demi Lovato at the ALMA Awards. Swaebe sweetened the collection with her “Candy Scarf,” also debuted as part of Gala.