By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Maryjoshore@aol.com

The New World Symphony held its official housewarming party to celebrate its new home in the shiny new architectural marvel designed by Frank Gehry last week with much fanfare by way of nightly concerts, a picnic on the lawn and grand opening gala.  On Tuesday, January 25, guests were invited to the first official concert in the hall followed by cocktails on the lawn for the inauguration of the state of the art external video wall, SoundScape and premier of Chronograph, a NWS-commissioned video mural on the New World Center’s projection wall by artist and filmmaker Tal Rosner and artist C.E.B. Reas.  Throngs of guests and passers-by gathered to enjoy the party on the front lawn of the building -which is actually a city park.  Invited guests were given a picnic mat, boxed dinner, and free flowing cocktails and invited to partake in the celebration on the grass or the picnic tables while enjoying the video installations and later dancing to the Latin sounds of the band Tiempo Libre.   Read the rest of this entry »

Barry Manilow

Ben Silverman, former co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, was spotted at Soho Beach House during the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) at a party last Tuesday night. Silverman is known for having produced such shows as The Office, Ugly Betty, The Tudors, and The Biggest Loser. Silverman was joined by his father, famed composer Stanley Silverman. Also in the House, John Walsh, Chris Bosh, Jon Feltheimer, CEO of Lionsgate and various other TV execs.

Britney Spears stayed at the Newport Beach Hotel and Resort, along with boyfriend, Jason Trawick. The couple was for in town for a wedding over the weekend and spent some time partying at LIV on Friday night.

Barry Manilow belted out some of his greatest hits this weekend at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables. Fanilows were overwhelmed with emotion throughout the performance as they stood up and sang along to many classic hits. Even though Manilow is in his late sixties, the timeless entertainer put on quite the show.

by: Maryanne Salvat

Rally for Kids at STK  

On Thursday, February 3, join The ONE Group’s STK Miami at Gansevoort Miami Beach as they dish out some stiff competition for a poker and pool tournament in honor of Rally for Kids with Cancer Foundation, encouraging locals to help kids in Miami fight cancer.  From 7 pm to 9 pm, STK Miami will be offering guests complimentary cocktails courtesy of GREY GOOSE vodka to pair with light bites from a special “game night” menu prepared by executive chef Ralph Pagano.  Seats can be purchased at www.rallyforkids.com for a donation of $75 and all proceeds will benefit the Rally for Kids with Cancer Foundation.  The chips will begin to fall at 7 pm sharp and with enticing grand prizes at stake, at 10 pm – winners take all.  For more information call 305.604.6832 or visit www.theonegroup.com/stkmiami.  

Happy Chinese New Year! 

Miss Yip will ring in the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rabbit at both of their locations in Miami Beach and Downtown on Thursday, February 3.  At their newly opened outpost at 900 Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami, guests are invited to come early and stay late as they host a three day celebration, from Thursday through Saturday, with lion dances each evening, DJ’s, great food and drink specials. Prix fixe menus for large parties will be available. Their original Lincoln Road locale at 1661 Meridian Avenue is celebrating the New Year & introducing Shanghai Nights, an amazing evening beginning at 10:30pm full of performers, Asian costumes, lion dances & more. Patrons can indulge themselves in the spectacular atmosphere and dance to the music of DJ’s Daisy D and Jenni Foxx under the red light colors of Asia. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served. Miss Yip, Downtown location,  Thursday, February 3 through Saturday, February 5, and Miami Beach location Thursday, February 3, at 10:30pm.

Angels at Vita by Baoli

On Thursday, February 3, join Angel Squads as they launch the latest European trend on South Beach at Vita by Baoli.   Angel Squads, a new Miami Beach-based promotional agency, is the first U.S. company to utilize this European concept of incorporating massage into nightlife. Angel Squads’ team of trained Massage Angels (read: hot girls in black leggings and white corsets) can now be found at numerous nightclubs and restaurants in South Beach including: Coco de Ville, Philippe, Rok Bar, SET, Tantra and WALL. The girls offer 10 minute relaxing chill neck, shoulder and Indian head massages. The service is free to the venue and customers are only asked to tip the Angels whatever they feel the massage is worth.   Vita is graciously offering complimentary cocktails and light bites by Executive Chef Marc Debas from 8 to 10 PM, and international mix-master DJ N’DY will provide beats for the evening. Angel Squads founders will also be on-site to formally introduce the entire team of Angels (20+). RSVP for the event is recommended at angelsquads@taraink.com. For more information on Angel Squads, visit www.angelsquads.com.

Chinese New Year at Café Sambal

On Saturday, February 5,  from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., join the Mandarin Oriental for a Chinese New Year celebration.  Guests will enjoy festive delicacies, captivating lion dance performances, lively Oriental-style music and Asian artistry on the outdoor terrace of Café Sambal with fantastic views of sparkling Biscayne Bay.  The restaurant will be elegantly adorned with authentic red and gold lanterns, ornate candles and other traditional Chinese decorations.  The talented Mandarin Oriental culinary team will prepare an array of tantalizing Chinese specialties to be enjoyed in a family-style dining experience. True to tradition, rousing lion dance performances will capture the spirit of the season – it is said to bring good luck to households and the businesses they visit.  All guests will receive a ‘red packet’ filled with wishes of good health and good fortune. Guests can also find out what the Year of the Rabbit has in store for them with a complimentary fortune telling reading. For dining reservations, call 305. 913.8358.   Café Sambal is located at Mandarin Oriental, 500 Brickell Key Drive.

Super Bowl XLV at Burger & Beer Joint

Burger & Beer Joint has quickly become the neighborhood hotspot for locals at both the South Beach and Brickell locations. With adjacent “Sports Bars” at each joint, the restaurant is proud to celebrate Super Bowl XLV this upcoming Sunday, February 6.  It is the ideal spot to sit back and cheer on your favorite team on any or all of the 14, 42-inch plasma televisions or the super-sized, nine-foot projection screen. In addition, Burger & Beer Joint Brickell will be offering their guests an opportunity to win the Ultimate Super Bowl Package: Front row seats located in the Sports Bar!  Each guest who orders a bucket of five Miller Lite or Coors Light beer bottles ($15) any day this week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, will be automatically entered in the giveaway. The winner and three of his or her closest friends will have the best seat in the house as they get their own personal couch (no obstructed views here!), a $100 bar tab and catered service. The winner will be announced at noon on game day. Burger & Beer Joint South Beach fans will be able to indulge in their own great game day specials and enjoy full access to the upstairs viewing sports lounge. For $20, each guest will receive their choice of a Miller Lite, Heineken Lite or Coors Lite beer bottle and a “Halftime Buffet” area including irresistible bites such as: beer braised chicken wings in a bourbon barbecue sauce, twice baked potato salad, four cheese mac ‘n’ cheese and a “Build Your Own Burger” bar boasting all the necessary ingredients to create your perfect Super Bowl feast.

Botran Rum Bartenders Challenge

Botran Rum puts Miami’s elite bartenders to the test with its cocktail competition on Tuesday, February 8, at The Florida Room in Miami Beach’s Delano Hotel (1685 Collins Avenue).  Judged by some of Miami’s favorite and most charismatic industry experts, 10 bartenders will vie for $1,000 cash, an Apple iPad (16 GB) valued at $500 and a $250 gift certificate to CocktailKingdom.com.  The elimination rounds take place behind closed doors but opens up to the public at 9:00 p.m. for an “Iron Chef” style mix-off.  A staple on Tuesday night’s social calendar, the Delano will invite guests to “pour” into The Florida Room for live music by The Big Bounce.  Specialty cocktails such as the Botran Reserva Apple Ginger Snap and the Botran Solera Perfect Storm will be available for $10 until midnight.

Thomas Collins and Lesley Blume

By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

The Society Literary Salon

The Society Literary Salon featuring Vogue contributor/Huffington Post columnist and author Lesley Blume’s latest book Let’s Bring Back took place at the library of the Soho House last Thursday, to celebrate the book launch.  Blume’s most recent work presents “a sophisticated, stylish cultural encyclopedia of nostalgia celebrating forgotten objects, curiosities, pastimes, fashions, words, landmarks, and personae from bygone eras.”  Read the rest of this entry »

Barbara Herzberg, Bonnie Clearwater, Diane and Alan Lieberman

by: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

There are kick-offs and there are kick-off bashes, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, a.k.a. MOCA, knows a thing or two about the latter. Although the big event is less than 3 weeks away, MOCA threw a preview for its upcoming “Surf’s Up!” gala just last week at the Catalina Hotel & Beach Club for 400 guests.  The party featured free flowing Grey Goose cocktails, beach grub, dance music and discounted tickets to the gala to be held on February 19^th.   The gala is a bargain, at only $150 per ticket. As anyone who’s been to a MOCA Bash will attest, this is one of the highlights of the social season every year, as the museum is transformed to fit the theme- a casino one year, a bohemian pad another, a Bollywood stage set another- and the artsy guests dress to fit the theme. Read the rest of this entry »