Lucy Morillo, Criselda Breene, Dr. Kini, Sofial Joelsson, Calora Pimentel, & Cassie Preston

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Champagne wishes, caviar dreams and the best truffle risotto delighted well-heeled (pun intended) Miami influencers and socialites at the highly-anticipated Wine, Women & Shoes Kick-off party benefiting Miami Children’s Health Foundation which took place on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

The glamorous event was hosted by renowned interior designer, Sofia Joelsson on the gorgeous rooftop of her penthouse home in South Beach to celebrate the upcoming 4th Annual Wine, Women & Shoes presented by Sergio Rossi, which is scheduled for February 4, at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami.

The event served as a backdrop for chairs Carola Pimentel and Criselda Breene to announce Sergio Rossi as this year’s High Heel Presenting Sponsor. Read the rest of this entry »

The Wonderwalls

The Wonderwalls, an avant-garde design and home décor brand, will host an event at CABLE Design on Saturday, December 13, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. during Wynwood Art Walk to celebrate its U.S. inauguration. The Wonderwalls is currently composed of 10 renowned artists from Barcelona, Spain— Alex Trochut, Ariana Perez, Josep Basora, Flavita Banana, Inocuo, Laia Munnà, Laura Meseguer, Losiento, Maria Diamantes and Philippe Fernandez—who use rich typography, minimal art and inspirational narratives to create unique, powerful wall décor perfect for the home. The event, sponsored by Estrella Damm, will showcase the artists’ designs, including famed artist Trochut’s exclusive vinyl designs for The Wonderwalls—featuring “Lipstick-Bullet,” “Cat-Girl,” “Feather-Knife” and “Razor Blade-Queen.” Complimentary beer, bites from local food trucks, and live music will keep the vibe festive throughout the day. To request an interview or RSVP to the event, e-mail Rebecca Astorga at Rebecca@taraink.com.

Serena Williams Ultimate RUN South Beach

On the heels of making history after winning the 2014 U.S. Open – her 18th Grand Slam title – Serena Williams will join thousands of avid running enthusiasts from South Florida and around the country for the first annual Serena Williams Ultimate RUN South Beach, taking place on Sunday, December 14th. The Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles), 5K Run/Walk and Ultimate KIDS Dash will bring together runners of all ages and abilities to support the Serena Williams Fund, which provides assistance to families affected by violent crimes and providing underprivileged youth around the world with the highest quality of education available to them. Registration for each event is still open at www.TheUltimateRun.com.

Breakfast with Santa at Hard Rock Café Philadelphia for Toys for Tots

The Christmas season is just around the corner! Instead of waiting in line for hours at the mall for a picture with Santa, join Hard Rock Cafe for their annual Breakfast with Santa. On December 13-14 and 20-21, 8:30am – 10am, Hard Rock will offer a delicious breakfast buffet, complete with story time with Santa, goodie bags, and digital photos with Kris Kringle himself. Tickets are $18, and children 2 and younger are free with a paid adult. In keeping with the Christmas spirit, Breakfast with Santa will benefit Toys for Tots. This is the perfect excuse to skip the holiday madness without skipping the photo op, so make your reservations today. Tickets available here: http://www.hrcphillymusic.com/event/695631-breakfast-santa-philadelphia/

Délice by Chandon

Chandon, known as California’s sparkling wine pioneers, have introduced Délice their newest addition. In keeping with the style established when the winery was founded, Délice draws on French heritage and the innovative spirit of California. Like all Chandon wines, Délice is a sophisticated and vibrant sparkling wine that enlivens all occasions; Available in Florida and Texas in 2014 and nationwide in spring 2015.With a generous creamy, luscious mouthfeel, Délice is semi-sweet and refreshing. It tantalizes the palate with nectarine, pear, golden apple and ruby grapefruit flavors. Délice is the perfect match for all kinds of spicy dishes, such as Thai curry, Cajun jambalaya and Mexican salsa. It is also delicious with creamy cheeses of all kinds and rich, decadent desserts such as lemon meringue pie or crème brûlée.

Phyllis Sudman

Plymouth Meeting resident Phyllis Sudman has been named the 2014 National Woman of Worth by L’Oréal Paris for her outstanding work with Simon’s Fund, a nonprofit she co-founded after losing her 3-month-old son, Simon, to an undetected heart condition. The Fund raises awareness about the warning signs and conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in children.

Over 3,400 were nominated for this honor. Ten were selected as honorees, and one was chosen as the National Woman of Worth. The Honorees were celebrated on December 2, at a star-studded event held at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Each of the 10 women were introduced by someone special – Eva Longoria, Mike Brzezinski, Andie MacDowell, Julianne Moore, Hoda Kotb, Blake Lively and others. Phyllis was introduced by actress and Allentown native Aimee Mullins.

As the 2014 National Woman of Worth, Phyllis will receive $35,000 for Simon’s Fund. She will also join a long list of distinguished women, including Risa Ferman, Montgomery County District Attorney, who have held this esteemed title.

“It is an incredible honor to be named the L’Oréal Paris 2014 National Woman of Worth for the work I am doing to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and death in children,” said Phyllis Sudman, co-founder of Simon’s Fund. “The money will help us check hearts and save lives, but the relationships I made will last a lifetime. Sharing the stage, laughter and tears with the nine other courageous and selfless women who are making their communities a better place was the real prize.”

“Each year, we are moved and inspired by the thousands of powerful stories we receive through the Women of Worth nomination process. These women are wielding their passion to make an incredible impact on their communities, and beyond,” said L’Oréal Paris President, Karen T. Fondu. “The 2014 Women of Worth honorees are heroic, fearless and true changemakers who deserve to be celebrated, and their stories elevated, to inspire more women to make a difference in the lives of others.”

About Simon’s Fund

Simon’s Fund raises awareness about the warning signs and conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in children. It has provided free heart screenings to over 10,000 students. Of those tested, approximately 100 students have discovered potentially fatal heart conditions. It was behind the passage of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act in Pennsylvania, the first law in the country to protect student athletes from sudden cardiac arrest. With the help of Simon’s Fund, this law has been passed in five other states as well. The organization recently launched HeartBytes, the first-of-its-kind youth cardiac registry for seemingly healthy kids in an effort to promote research.

Last night, GUCCI and Spinello Projects hosted a private cocktail preview of artist Kris Knight’s solo exhibition Smell The Magic. This pop-up in the heart of the Miami Design District at 95 NE 40th Street marked the beginning of Miami Art Week 2014 and coincided with the release of Knight’s first published catalog.

GUCCI Creative Director Frida Giannini, who referenced Knight’s paintings as inspiration for Gucci’s Fall-Winter 2014 Collection and has most recently collaborated with the artist on a reworking of the iconic Gucci floral print for the 2015 Cruise Collection, was joined by notable guests from the worlds of design, art and fashion at the exclusive reception, including: 

Christophe de Pous (President of GUCCI America), Alia Al-Senussi, Sarah Arison, Daniel Arsham, Fabian Basabe, Georgina Brandolini, Michael Chow, Edgardo Defortuna, Farhad Farman-Farmaian, Michael Govan, Rebecca Guinness, Antonio Haslauer da Costa & Russell Piccione, Laura de Gunzburg, Carlos Jereissati, Sam & Judith Keller, Alexandra & Billy Kimball, Federico Marchetti, Lilian Pacce, Michael Phillips Moskowitz, Jason Pomeranc, Craig Robins, Eric Shiner, Cameron Silver, Marchesa Katrin Theodoli, Francesco Vezzoli, Neville Wakefield, among others.

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By: Maryanne Salvat 

Art Basel, the Mecca for art collectors and enthusiasts will take over Miami this week. The most prestigious art show in the Americas will feature hundreds of leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, among the most respected in the world that will showcase works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Special exhibition sections feature young galleries, performance art, public art projects and video art and musical experiences. Art Basel will provide a vital platform for art lovers, allowing them to both discover new developments in contemporary art and experience rare museum-caliber artworks. In addition to the actual show at the Miami Beach Convention Center, art museums throughout South Florida, satellite art fairs, and events for and by curators provide the perfect forum for encountering and experiencing art and design. Every year, a greater number of art collectors, artists, dealers, curators, critics and art enthusiasts from around the world participate in Art Basel – and the requisite parties keep the locals and the visitors in an art-induced state of bliss. Without a doubt, sunny Miami is the favorite winter meeting place for the international art world. Below, we have highlighted just a few of the major events that are scheduled this year, and are sure to make Art Basel 2014 the best to date. Read the rest of this entry »