By: Maryanne Salvat

Keiko Matsui and Al Di Meola at Miami’s New World Center 

On Friday, May 31, the first time ever performing at Miami’s New World Center, celebrated jazz artist and pianist Keiko Matsui will join special guest Al Di Meola for a never before seen concert event featuring both artists as well as Keiko’s band. Matsui is known around the world for her innovative contemporary jazz performances and Di Meola for blending world music and jazz; this performance will feature their original work, and several songs will be performed together. Tickets are available at the New World Center box office and on www.newworldcenter.com starting at $45 priced to $200, which includes a meet and greet with the artists.

MAM Lights Out Farewell BBQ 

On Saturday, June 1, after 15 years of enhancing Miami’s cultural repertoire, Miami Art Museum is closing its doors in preparation for its transformation into Pérez Art Museum Miami. To celebrate, Miami Art Museum will host a full-blown community BBQ on its grounds for the very last time from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Filled with music, food, art, and exhibitions culture-seekers will bid farewell to MAM as the lights literally GO OUT that evening. This is a great event for locals to experience a piece of Miami’s history; Pricing for the event, $10 for non-members, free for members.

Emerson Dorsch Art Gallery Presents: Algae and Espiritútara 

In conjunction with the group exhibition Object implied, Emerson Dorsch Art Gallery is pleased to share two local brands that capture and exude an effortless energy and enthusiasm unique to Miami. Join them on Saturday, June 1, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. for a viewing-party to share these two local brands while enjoying complimentary cocktails, bites from La Latina, Azucar ice cream, Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, and a playlist created by Ghostpiss from NYC. Both Algae and Espiritútara will present their current collections, with products available for purchase.

Algae is a Miami-based lifestyle brand focused on producing a limited edition artist series each season; Working closely with established and up-and-coming Miami-based artists, Algae helps to produce their vision completely; Fabric, fit, cut and sew, dying, and printing is all up to the artist; Algae guides the process and aims to produce high quality, totally original, and totally Miami products. 

Espiritútara seeks to empower with beautiful jewelry that possesses elements of protection and positivity. Inspired by travel, art, and the pursuit of magic, the pieces are made of intentional stones and handmade elements that are designed for those searching for both design and the manifestation of light.

Mancini Modern Italian Honors Local Diners

Nestled on the emerging west end of the downtown business district of Las Olas Boulevard, Mancini Modern Italian is a fresh, new concept on contemporary Italian cuisine by restaurateur Jack Mancini. Mancini Modern Italian is honoring loyal locals with half-off select pasta dishes and glasses of Prosecco or Chianti every Tuesday evening starting June 4. Featured dishes include Gnocchi ($10), chives and parmigiano-reggiano in a gorgonzola cream sauce; Tagliolini alla Carbonara ($10.50), hand-crafted pasta gently tossed with pancetta, pecorino and poached egg yolk; Lasagnette ($10), house-made lasagna combined with beef sugo, parmesan béchamel and fresh mozzarella; Linguini ($10), little neck clams, sautéed in white wine with garlic and  parsley, served with a thick slice of toasted ciabatta bread; Orecchiette ($10.50), pasta medallions gently tossed with homemade sausage, broccoli rabe, rapini pesto, garlic and pecorino; Garganelli ($11), fennel sausage and porcini mushrooms in a rich Taleggio cream sauce; Tagliatelle alla Bolognese ($10.50), fresh pasta served with premium ground beef, veal and pork in a red wine reduction topped with grated parmigiano-reggiano and Spaghetti ($7.50), vine ripened tomatoes, basil and peperoncino. Proof of residency required.  For reservations, call 754.200.8602 or visit www.mancinilasolas.com.

Communities in Schools of Miami, Inc.

Communities in Schools of Miami, Inc. (CIS) is hosting a charity cocktail party for its Young Professionals Network at Blue Martini on Brickell from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., on Tuesday, June 11, to celebrate the commencement of the 2012-2013 school year.  Guests will enjoy complimentary cocktails, an assortment of hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment for $25 per person. All the proceeds from the evening’s event will directly benefit CIS’ mentoring, tutoring, career counseling, after school and summer programs. Playing “PhilanthroPub” for the evening, Blue Martini is a chic lounge in Miami’s bustling business district offering daily happy hour specials, live entertainment and guest DJS. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

By: Maryanne Salvat 

7th Annual Alex’s Lemonade Stand National Lemonade Days 

The Alvarez family will host their 7th Annual Alex’s Lemonade Stand as part of the National Lemonade Days fundraiser on Saturday, June 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 725 N. Rainbow Dr. The Alvarez family decided to get involved with the Foundation in 2007 after the young daughter of friends died of a form of leukemia. About 2 years after she died, those very same friends welcomed a little boy.  He is almost 5 years old now, and this spring, he, too, was diagnosed with leukemia. The stand has become an annual event, but now the girls are trying to spread the word anew and afar. As in years past, the girls are hoping to garner product donations, and have special visitors to their stand. Among those who have visited in the past – the local fire department and ambulance drivers, as well as supporters of the battle against childhood cancer who have found the event through the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation website. The girls hope to raise more money this year than in years past and hope to help doctors on their way to a cure. Founded by Alex Scott (1996-2004) in 2004, Lemonade Days is a three day national event that grew out of Alex’s front yard lemonade stand, and is held every year over the same June weekend. During Lemonade Days, dedicated volunteers host thousands of Alex’s Lemonade Stands across the country, raising over $1 million for childhood cancer research in one weekend. June 2013 will mark the 10th Annual Lemonade Days with an estimated 10,000 volunteers at over 2,000 Alex’s Lemonade Stands around the nation making a difference for children with cancer. Lemonade Days 2013 is set for June 7, 8 and 9! New this year, chefs and moms Melissa d’Arabian and Alex Guarnaschelli will lend their support to the effort by providing kid-friendly recipes and tips to volunteers who sign up to host a lemonade stand during the three day fundraising initiative.You can search for stands by zip code here: www.alexslemonade.org/search/alex_search. 

Lancôme 2013 Seasonal Gift with Purchase

Visit Saks Dadeland for the latest skin treatment and beauty regimen at Lancôme and receive the latest gift with $75.00 purchase from May 30 through June 12 . Guests will receive a sample of Oleo Serum, a choice between Absolue Premium Bx or Absolue Precious Cells, a limited edition lip duo CF Gloss in Orchid Fever and Rouge in Love in Moonlight Rose, or CF Gloss in Smoldering Peach and Rouge in Love in Sweet Escape, and Definicils Mascara in Black and a cils booster sample.  

The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar Clambake is Back!

The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar has welcomed back its annual Clambake every Friday starting at 6:00 p.m. each night. The hand-crafted clambake is created using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients indigenous to South Florida. The menu features a savory selection of The Forge’s best dishes including: Steamed Clams & Mussels, Crispy Chicken Wings, Oyster Po’Boys and New England Clam Chowder to start; New England-style entrees such as Grilled Maine Lobster with candied garlic, Grilled Salmon with basil mash potatoes, hearts of palm and green salad, Grilled and Sliced Hangar Steak with tomato jam and leek chutney, and Pomegranate BBQ Chicken with cheddar grits and tomato chutney. For dessert, guests can choose from a creamy and rich Banana Bread Pudding with butter scotch sauce or a tarty Lemon Panna Cotta. The $49 includes roasted corn on the cob and boiled red bliss potatoes for the table to share, and two-for-one draft beers throughout the evening. For reservations, please call The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar at 305.538.8533 or visit www.theforge.com.

BleauLive Presents: Fun.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach continues its legacy of hosting top entertainers with a performance by two-time Grammy Award winning indie pop band Fun. on May 29, as part of the iconic hotel’s BleauLive Performance Series. BleauLive crafts a fully immersive destination experience with a number of “surprise and delight” moments including personal guest interaction with the artist.  Fontainebleau Miami Beach is offering Fun. fans two special packages that will get them into the show; for full details visit www.BleauLive.com.

Actors Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith attended the After Earth special event at the Miami Science Museum on Thursday.  After Earth opens nationwide May 31.

Wilmer Valderrama joined friend DJ Aliyo at Shore Club on Friday afternoon, jumping on the turntables to spin a few songs for pool guests.

Miami Heat super stars, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade were spotted relaxing by the SLS Hotel’s Hyde Beach pool this weekend. The pair, who were on a break before the Eastern Conference Finals, spent the day with family and friends, ordered sushi and enjoyed the sun and beach

Tracy Wilson Mourning and her Honey Bugs Shine

More than 600 stylish ladies, all in sensational hats, recently gathered for the annual Hats Off Lunch at Jungle Island which boasted the colorful retro theme:  “Peace, Love, Honeyshine.”  During the welcome reception, the ladies bid on coveted silent auction items, and posed in the red carpet photo booth before enjoying a seemingly endless buffet. The always-charming, award-winning journalist, Louis Aguirre, news anchor with WSVN TV Fox 7 and DECO Drive co-host, who looked dashing in a fedora, flattered the ladies as soon as he took the stage- drawing roaring applause from the audience.  Aguirre introduced Honey Shine’s Honey Bugs, Yolanda Jiron, 18, and Quanthavia Stalworth, 17, now college-bound, who shared their personal stories of success and served as Mistresses of Ceremonies.  Honey Shine founder, Tracy Wilson Mourning joined the ladies on-stage and gave a touching and tearful account of her personal involvement with Honey Shine, which dates back to her childhood. Read the rest of this entry »

John Lermayer, Agustina Woodgate, DJ Jessica Who, and MC Zeale

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore   

Absolut X and Bloc Party

Last Thursday night, the line around the 70, 000 square-foot Soho Studios spanned the entire perimeter of the expansive space by the early hour of 9 p.m. It seemed like the thousands of revelers waiting peacefully in line had been camping out for days in anticipation of the Miami incarnation of the ABSOLUT® X Masquerade Ball (which started in Austin, Texas and will end in Philadelphia). The  average passerby might have asked, “What are they giving away in there, cocktails, food, a free concert?” In this case, the answer was a resounding, “Yes!” to all of the above.  For the masquerade ball, Absolut vodka collaborated  with Miami contemporary artist Agustina Woodgate, who looked beautiful in a sequined butterfly tunic, British indie rock band Bloc Party and world renowned and local favorite, mixologist John Lermayer to merge the worlds of art, cocktailing and music- for thousands of partygoers, for free! Now if that doesn’t warrant waiting in line for a bit, what does?

Upon entering, guests were taken aback by the cool lighting, mirrored art installation above their heads and the sheer magnitude of the whole event. Models donning electric space suits and psychedelic make up gave those who weren’t already decked out in bizarre outfits and masks a mask to wear before venturing into the space to pose in the photo booth, imbibe in Absolut specialty cocktails and dance feverishly to the music of DJ Jessica Who, who spun from a platform atop the center bar. In the VIP area, waiters passed a bevy of hors d’oeuvres while favorite veteran mixologist, John Lermayer, formerly of the Florida Room and currently of the Regent Cocktail Club at the Gale, created his namesake cocktail. Read the rest of this entry »