By:  Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Few places are as rich with both, history and natural beauty as Italy. From varied landscapes including rugged mountain terrain, sapphire oceans, verdant valleys, vineyards and bustling cities- Italy’s got it all.  Lest we forget the beautiful and vibrant people, and the food… Mama Mia- the food!  A lifetime of visits would hardly be enough to take in the magnificence of this spectacular country, we’ve created an itinerary of favorite experiences in ten days.

Rome

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Luxury hotels abound in Rome. When traveling on a budget, especially with a family, Trilussa Palace Hotel Congress & SPA offers clean, comfortable accommodations with plenty of rooms and the most attentive staff in all of Rome. They will help you with any and all tour and restaurant accommodations 24/7. The daily gourmet breakfast buffet is the perfect start to every long day of sightseeing. The hotel is located just a short tram ride from the heart of Rome- where you can walk to all of the major attractions and a short walk to Trastevere- where you can find numerous authentic restaurants, bars and shops, where the locals hang out.

Aperitif and Relax

Hotel de Russie is part of the Rocco Forte collection. The outdoor garden is stunning and flanked by the hotel’s very own orchard! Via del Babuino, 9

Dine

Meridionale (Trastevere)This chic yet quaint restaurant boasts 1960s decor- you will feel like you are eating in your Nonna’s kitchen. Pastas are exceptional- the best in Rome. Service is attentive and the prices unbeatable.

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By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

More than 400 stylish guests gathered at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program Galaon March 4, to celebrate 19 years of mentoring in South Florida.

The evening commenced with an elegant cocktail reception, where guests had the opportunity to mingle and bid on luxury items and experiences, followed by an extravagant dinner in the ballroom and a night of dancing to the sounds of Soul Survivors – who truly know how to pack a dance floor. The most touching moment of the evening, was the candle-lit procession of young women impacted by the work of Women of Tomorrow, who joined supporters for a special moment of gratitude. Read the rest of this entry »

Rittenhouse Row 2017 Spring Festival Preview Party

On Wednesday, May 3, join Rittenhouse Row for the 2017 Spring Festival Preview Party presented by Capital One, featuring cuisine from Rittenhouse Row’s best restaurants, cocktails from their best bartenders, informal modeling of spring trends from Rittenhouse Row member boutiques and salons, and a silent auction with Rittenhouse Row experiences and merchandise. Tickets are $75 per person for general admission, $125 for Patron tickets. Those who purchase Patron tickets will receive access to the VIP area at the Spring Festival on Saturday, May 20^st, which offers snacks and cocktails from from 12-5. Tickets can be purchased by visiting, https://rittrow.ticketleap.com/the-2017-rittenhouse-row-spring-festival-preview-party/

The Runway for CHOP

The Runway is a contemporary lunchtime fashion show curated by Philadelphia’s trendsetters and tastemakers, and it is a featured event of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Daisy Days campaign. The Runway will highlight styles from some of the city’s top boutiques and designers including Joan Shepp, Kirna Zabete, Skirt, among others. Local celebrities and Hospital supporters will be modeling the clothes in support of the organization. The event will take place on Tuesday, May 16, at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. For more information or to purchase tickets visit: http://choprunway.org/

Big Hats and Bow Ties MISO Brunch

Miami Symphony Orchestra, Music Director and Conductor Eduardo Marturet along with Suzy Buckley Woodward, Carolina Lanao, and María Celeste Arrarás, Tina Carlo, Irene Korge invite you to their annual MISO Brunch, this Saturday, April 29 at PAO Restaurant at Faena.  The host committee includes: Michelle Areces, Barbara Becker, Criselda Breene, Iran Issa-Khan, Gabriela Rachadell de Delgado, Sam Robin, Athina Klioumi, Anick Vorbe. Wear your most fashionable chapeaux as you enjoy an afternoon of delicacy with grand company. Buy your Tickets at EVENTBRITE or Call the MISO Office (305) 275-5666. *A PORTION OF TICKET SALES WILL BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

The Miami Beach K9 Knights Regatta

The Miami Beach K9 Knights announced they will sponsor a joint event Regatta with the various Police Department Marine Patrols representing the six Police Departments from South Beach to Bal Harbour this Saturday, April 29^th starting at 3:30pm in North Beach. The Regatta will commence at the North Beach Police sub-Station, where 38 Knights will board 6 Police boats to cruise the Miami waterways to experience the working perspective of the Marine Patrols. The boats will eventually reach Palm Island, where all will be greeted by our gracious hosts Knights Lindsay Smith and Marc D’Ge at a Cocktail Reception in their beautiful home.At the Reception, guests will join up and mix with two to three of the nine Police canines that were already purchased by the Knights over the past four years.Temporary Website: www.miamibeachk9knights.com.

Ariete Summer Sips

Coconut Grove’s favorite neighborhood spot, Ariete, adds the perfect summer sips to its recently launched Happy Hour menu – The Cocktail Float as well as complimentary Sunset Shots. The Cocktail Float is the ultimate throwback to the ice cream float from your childhood, all grown up. A blend of house-made ice cream, Not Your Father’s Root Bear, Fernet Branca and Luxardo, The Cocktail Float is the ultimate spiked ice cream indulgence. Also new on the Happy Hour menu is the Sunset Shot; patrons will receive a complimentary shot of the bartender’s choice each day at sunset as part of Miami’s Support Local initiative (one per person, at the bartender’s discretion). The shot will be served to all guests sitting at the bar during Happy Hour at the exact time the sun sets each day. With a Happy Hour available Tuesday – Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Ariete is the perfect spot to enjoy after work cocktails & craft beer (priced at $8 for beer and $10 for cocktails) including the French 75 (Flor de Caña, lemon juice and Proseco) and The Girl from Ipanema (Cachaca, ginger beer, lime & basil), among others. Pioneering their unique blend of farmhouse cuisine with trail-blazing Latin influences, the creative minds behind Ariete, restauranteur Jason Odio and Executive Chef Michael Beltran, have carefully curated the perfect lite bites menu to accompany the decadent cocktail offerings. Menu items are priced at $10 or under and include Fritas with chorizo and potato sticks on a potato roll, Grilled Oysters, Ariete Oxtail Nuggets, Smoked Salmon Sliders and the restaurant’s signature Chug Burger. For more information visit www.arietemiami.com or call 305-640-5862.

Spice it up with a romantic dinner and Moore’s Marinade- Various

Spice up your dinners  with the unbelievable signature sauces from Moore’s Marinade. Each sauce comes with a different flavor to accent every meal.  Choose from nine satisfying and mouth watering flavors such as: the Original Moore’s Marinade, Zesty Garden Heb Marinade, Blue Cheese Buffalo Wing Sauce, or the NEW Spicy Habanero Wing & Hot Sauce. They are also great for dipping.

WATERL’EAU

After the winter’s harsh climate, refresh your skin with the soothing and bio-degradable bath sets from WATERL’EAU. Their collection of lavatory essentials include aromatic bath essentials such as The Sea, The Green Deep, and White River falls. Choose from a variety of stress relief products containing bath milk, shower gels and bath soaps that will ensure relaxation. Every Waterl’eau product is the result of the company’s Eco-Logic commitment.  All products are created with respect for both mankind and our shared environment, whilst meeting your high expectations of clean, soothed and pampered skin.

Frownies Eye Gels

Flawless skin is always in! Frownies Eye Gels reduce unwanted expression lines from years of continual facial motions, such as smiling and squinting. It also fights dark spots, fine lines, and discoloration on the skin. Built with organic, skin-friendly ingredients such as aloe, natural vitamins, and niacin, Frownies offers the most organic routine to achieving a refreshed look. Comfortable and easy to apply, simply place the adhesive strips over unwanted wrinkled areas for 15 to 30 minutes and watch the pesky expression lines disappear. To ensure you get your money’s worth, every eye gel patch is reusable. Simply remove the patch, place back in the supplied tray to moisture and refrigerate until the next usage.

BUMP IT OFF

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? Dirty brushes can be abrasive, cause acne skin irritation and even acne. Keep your brushes clean, soft and germ-free with BUMP IT OFF. BUMP IT OFF features gentle bristles on one side and smooth bumps on the other. It fits comfortably in your hand in multiple positions, letting you focus the scrubbing power in your palm or fingertips. Get rid of dirt, grime, and bacteria on makeup brushes or use it in the shower to exfoliate, massage and refresh your skin. 

 The Grape Escape at The Betsy

Ocean Drive hotel debuts wine happy hour for the season

The Betsy-South Beach has launched an unrivaled new happy hour, The Grape Escape. For just $19, guests can enjoy unlimited (white, red or rosé) wine and prosecco from the Grape Escape menu at the lobby bar from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. Specially priced light bites from LT Steak & Seafood will also be available and include an array of sushi rolls, oysters, bao buns and ceviche, to name a few.

Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach

Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach is an AAA Four Diamond-rated oceanfront hotel that features 240 guest rooms, including 24 unforgettable suites that displays the picturesque seven-mile beaches of Fort Lauderdale. Find modern yet elegant accommodations upon your arrival and experience the ideal location of the beautiful golden beaches of Fort Lauderdale that places guests at the center of southeastern Florida with West Palm to the north and Miami to the south. Seize the opportunity to spend the day in full relaxation with an array of amenities Sonesta Fort Lauderdale has to offer, including an outdoor pool and bar, lobby bar, fitness center, business center, spa treatment suite and the Bistro, a full-service beachfront restaurant. Lounge by the pool under the Florida rays with sun decks, comfortable chairs and cabanas all at your convenience while sipping on one of the hotel’s cocktails of the month or themed Daily Delight. The new line-up of tasty treats and refreshing libations are now available for guests to enjoy poolside, at the bar or in the comfort their room. April kicks off the Kachumber Cooler cocktail that perfectly blends together the best of spring vibes including a kick of green finger chili that leaves any zest lover’s taste buds watering.

Spa Week

Spa Week continues its dedication of delivering the best in health and wellness year round by working with spas nationwide to transform their traditional treatments into one-of-a-kind wellness experiences for our daily lives. From April 17^th – 23^rd, hundreds of spas will give consumers the opportunity to explore wellness in an extraordinary and affordable way during Spa Week’s Spring 2017 Event. “A profound shift in the way people consume wellness is underway: once a luxury or “add-on”, it is now being infused into every aspect of daily life,” shares Katherine Johnston, Senior Research Fellow, GWI.

From holistic salt therapy centers to detoxify the respiratory system, to standing in a -160 degree Cryotherapy Chamber to reduce cellulite and improve circulation, these signature services – normally valued at anywhere from $100 to $500 – will be available for just $50 each. Sit back and get ready to enjoy this roller coaster ride of healthy lifestyle choices and rejuvenate with our top recommendations for Spa Week’s Spring 2017 event; visit www.spaweek.com for details.

Via Emilia 9’s Picnic Basket

In honor of National Picnic Day on Sunday, April 23rd Miami’s favorite Italian Eatery, Via Emilia 9 is kicking off the informal holiday with a charming picnic bag to go, to enjoy with your sweetheart, friends or family outdoors! With beautiful parks and beaches nearby, soak up the sun, enjoy a delicious cheese plate, a bottle of wine and more for only $80. The picnic basket promotion runs through June 2017.

Call to place an order in advance of pickup: 786-216-7150. Via Emilia 9 is located at 1120 15th St., Miami Beach, FL 33139

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