Jennifer Lopez Celebrated Her Premios Juventud Award and early birthday with Casper Smart, Pitbull, Benny Medina and DJ Irie at Wall Thursday night. JLO and 40 of her closest friends took over half of WALL and Pitbull helped her blow out the candles while enjoying Belvedere and Moët rose! It was quite the kick-off to WALL’s 4 year anniversary weekend.

Actress, Perry Reeves, in town for Miami Swim Week was spotted poolside at the James Royal Palm hotel enjoying and a few minutes of “down time” reading Magnolia before heading out to the shows and designer previews.  Definitely in premiere shape for the rumored “Entourage 2” that is slated to start filming, Reeves seemed excited to hit the town and happy that the sun finally came out in South Beach! 

Last week, singer/songwriter, Jason Derulo was spotted kicking back at Hyde Beach on spending time with friends and mingling with fans. He even posed for a few photos with the now famous silver duck, by the Hyde Beach swimming pool.

Miami’s mixology maven Cricket Nelson, won the USBG and Bombay Sapphire EAST “Most Imaginative Bartender ALL-STAR Competition,” which took place on Friday, July 19 in New Orleans.  Six of the nation’s top bartenders from the, now global, “Most Imaginative Bartender Competition”– presented annually by Bombay Sapphire and GQ magazine — descended the House of Blues to demonstrate their imaginative cocktail skills, each creating an enthralling elixir showcasing the new BOMBAY SAPPHIRE East Gin.  After a challenging head-to-head competition, Miami’s expert mixologist (and the competition’s FIRST EVER female winner) Nelson took home the GOLD MEDAL with her “Sapphire East Love Game” cocktail – a creative concoction including Earl Grey tea, rosebud syrup and fresh Thai basil. 

American supermodel and John Legend’s fiancée, Chrissy Teigen was spotted at SLS Hotel South Beach this past Friday. In town for several appearances during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, Teigen enjoyed some downtime at the hotel with friends. After hanging out for a few hours at the property’s Hyde Beach, Chrissy decided to get in on the fun and jumped behind the bar to create a Watermelon Cucumber Margarita, a signature Hyde Beach cocktail, with one of the bartenders. Chrissy was in good spirits and was spotted later that day attending the Beach Bunny fashion show.

By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

Downtown Miami Security Building Launch 

Two fabulous events took over the historic Downtown Security Building, drawing more than 400 lovers of art and fashion on Thursday, June 27.  The Miami-based KIWI Arts Group inaugurated its new Project Space, expanding from Wynwood with this second location, opening with the public premiere of William John Kennedy: The Warhol Museum Edition portfolio.  The collection of five photographs reveal a young Warhol on the cusp of fame and was created to raise funds for The Andy Warhol Museum. Eric Shiner, the museum’s director, states, “With this rare body of work, Kennedy has given us some of the most joyous and insightful images of Andy Warhol ever created.”  Serving as a looking glass into pop culture, both past and present, the event also launched Perrier’s limited edition Warhol bottles, presented with the support of Herradura and Chambord vodka.   Read the rest of this entry »

Reuters

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

When our beloved Miami Heat won the NBA Championship, for the SECOND time, (by the skin of their teeth after a grueling game 6) Miami as a whole shared a cathartic joy- as we are all once again, on some level, champions. Nowhere was this more evident than at Story nightclub, just a few hours before dawn, on Friday morning, at various nightclubs throughout the weekend and on the streets during the championship parade and at the American Airlines Arena (AAA) during the championship celebration on Monday. 

“We are the Champions” blared through the speakers at Story nightclub (the sister club to LIV, where the champs celebrated last year) at around 3 a.m. on Friday morning, as the Miami HEAT players, once again World Champions, fresh from winning one of the most exciting games in NBA history, entered the massive nightclub through the secret back entrance for their official victory party, to the ecstatic chants of thrilled fans, who shouted, “Let’s go Heat!”    Read the rest of this entry »

Irie Weekend

CU-1 Gallery: Look At Me

On Thursday, June 27, CU-1 Gallery, located in downtown Miami’s iconic Security Building, will celebrate its inaugural opening exhibition, Look At Me, featuring works by renowned European photographers including Roger Weber, Christopher Thomas and Simon Emmit with Paul Solomons and will  run in tandem with the opening of Kiwi Art Group‘s Andy Warhol-dedicated exhibition, Behind the Lens of William John Kennedy. For additional information or to RSVP to attend, contact CU-1@ideason8.com.  

Magic City Package at W South Beach

In light of season two of the STARZ hit series Magic City,W South Beach Hotel & Residences is launching its newest package inspired by the sexy, Miami-based television show. Bringing to life the acclaimed television show, set in Miami Beach circa 1959, the oceanfront luxury hotel presents a unique package and sweepstakes offering for Magic City enthusiasts. As a part of a first-time partnership between W South Beach Hotel & Residences and the television series, the Magic City package is available for purchase now through August, for stays until December 2013. Guests will be invited to revel in the sexy decadence of life as a Miami Beach hotelier with rates starting at $429/night.  The Magic City package is available for booking at http://www.wsouthbeach.com/Magic-City or by calling 1.877.822.0000 and using promo code LBPKG. Pricing is exclusive of tax and gratuity and is subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.

 The Local House Summer Specials

The Local House, the intimate, chic Hamptons-style oasis known for its fresh, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, is pleased to launch two distinct Summer Specials menus. Now available Monday – Thursday from 11:30am to 3:00pm, Lunch is prix fixe at $21 per person, including an appetizer, main course and dessert, including favorites such as Goat Cheese Croquettes, Half Dozen Fresh Oysters, Chicken Paillard & Summer Salad, Grilled Salmon With Ratatouille and Local House Bread Pudding (with vanilla gelato). The Summer Specials also extend to Sunset Dinner, served Sunday through Thursday from 6:00pm to 10:00pm, prix fixe priced at $32 per person, including an appetizer, main course and dessert, including favorites such as Crispy Calamari, Local House Crab Cake, Pasta Bolognese, Tuna Sliders, and Pineapple Crème Caramel.

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

On Thursday, June 27 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) welcomes new PAMM Contemporaries members at the group’s highly-anticipated Friendraiser, the Museum’s first official event as PAMM. Set against the idyllic backdrop of Biscayne Bay in the enchanted gardens of The Standard Spa Miami Beach, the event will feature an exclusive DJ and visual performance by Los Jaichackers, a Los Angeles – and Phoenix – based multimedia art collaborative. Los Jaichackers (Spanglish for hijackers) are known for tracing ‘the global DNA of emerging musical subcultures in Latin America, the border, the United States, and abroad.’ The duo will also be capturing film and audio on-site for a major performance that will take place at PAMM’s December opening, giving attendees a glimpse into the Museum’s opening/Miami Art Week celebration, and the chance to be a part of it. Pérez Art Museum Miami’s new, state-of-the-art facility, now under construction in downtown Miami’s Museum Park alongside Biscayne Bay, is designed by world renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron, and features 200,000 square feet of programmable space. New PAMM Contemporaries members who join the group between May 1 and the time of the event can attend. Current PAMM Contemporaries must refer a new member or renew their membership to attend. For more information or to join and receive an invitation, contact mamcontemporaries@miamiartmuseum.org or 305.375.1727.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

One of the best parts about staying in town for the summer, as the social season slows down, is that we get to experience what it’s like to vacation in paradise, without leaving home.  Just last week we got the chance to “stay-cation” at the Sense Beach House which felt like our very own beach house.  Possibly Miami Beach’s closest interpretation of a “bed and breakfast,” this 18- room luxury boutique hotel offers a casually sophisticated atmosphere, just steps from the ocean, and a personalized guest experience that feels more like a private Hamptons retreat than a hotel on Ocean Drive. Furnished exactly in the manner in which we would decorate our own beach house- in shades of blue and white with natural sea glass and bleached wood, the boutique hotel utilizes natural light to create a casual, beach chic ambiance while still offering the most up-to-date, modern amenities. Read the rest of this entry »

The Flat. Catch Game 6 in style with the chicest happy hour South of Fifth. Very Happy Hour(s) at The Flat offers signature cocktails, craft beer and wine ranging from $5 to $8 available from 8 to 10 p.m. View the game on a jumbo projection screen and enjoy signature sips such as the Empire State, Peached Old Fashion and the Suite 180. For more information, call 305.531.3528,  www.theflatmiami.com.

RA Sushi in South Miami. Spice up your Game 6 watch party and order one of RA’s “Big Three” sushi platters. Ranging from $70 to $120, these three platters – the Maki Maki, Tsukiji Combo and Harajuku Combo – are large enough to share in the office or even host a block party! For more information, call 305.341.0092, www.facebook.com/RASushiSouthMiami.

South Shore and Florida Cookery Patio at The James Royal Palm. Head in to the South Shore rum bar or sit at the Florida Cookery Patio pool bar for Miami HEAT specials including two-for-one Bacardi rum-inspired cocktails from 7:00 p.m. to midnight while you cheer on “The Big Three.” A Florida Cookery small bites menu will be available as well as $10 validated valet parking. For more information, call 305.604.5700, www.jameshotels.com/miami/eat-drink.

The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar. After the game’s over, head over to The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar to enjoy table sharing bites prepared by Chef Dewey LoSasso and signature cocktails crafted by mixologist Andres Aleman, available from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Miami HEAT players Chris Bosh and Juwan Howard have been known to celebrate in style at the restaurant after major game victories. For more information, call 305.538.8533| www.theforge.com.