Lorie Lester Studio + Boutique Grand Opening
On Thursday, November 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., contemporary sportswear designer Lorie Lester will host the grand opening of her Studio + Boutique along with Ginger Harris, Jennifer Halegua and Nathalie Pozo. Guests are invited to enjoy bites and complimentary cocktails by Solerno Liqeuer, sweet treats by 2 Girls and a Cupcake and 30 percent off select items throughout the store. The indoor/outdoor affair will feature beats by DJ Keen One so guests can mingle and peruse Lorie Lester’s collection of colorful dresses and tops. The all-in-one boutique also features a studio and cutting room, where Lorie designs and makes all alterations in-house and hard-to-find accessories, handbags and eyewear from a unique mix of up-and-coming brands including Mike Street Wear Brand, Formal Street Wear Brand, Beautiful People Handbags, Gorjana Jewelry and Ankora Jewelry. For more information or to RSVP, visit lorielester@taraink.com or call 305.864.3434 ext. 122. Lorie Lester Studio + Boutique is located at 6301 Biscayne Boulevard, suite 103.
Secondhand Serenade at Whiskey Blue
On Thursday, November 11 at 7 p.m., W Fort Lauderdale and Whiskey Blue invite guests for an exclusive live performance by recording artist Secondhand Serenade. John Vesely, the man behind Secondhand Serenade, will perform an intimate acoustic guitar set including “Fall for You” and “Your Call” in a rare, unplugged performance andt treat guests to songs from this third album, Here Me Now, released earlier this year. Admission to the performance is free, RSVP is highly recommended due to limited seating. For more information visit Wfortlauderdale.events@whotels.com.
The Wolfsonian Quinces
The Wolfsonian museum will celebrate its 15th birthday with a Miami-style quinceañera at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach (4441 Collins Avenue), on Friday November 12 at 8 p.m. The party is being hosted by The Wolfsonian Visionaries, a new group of members who are passionate about design and interested in working with the museum to develop innovative events, strengthen community ties and raise funds to support museum exhibitions and activities. The evening will include a silent auction as well as music by Miami’s own Grammy-nominated Latin jazz band, Conjunto Progreso, led by Johnny Aguiló, and DJ-about-town Jody McDonald. No word on whether anyone will be brought in on a chariot, or pop out of a giant clam shell, as in the Quinces we attended in our youth, but this sure sounds like a unique twist on the typical gala experience. Tickets for the Wolfsonian Quince cost $250 per person or $2,500 for a table for 10. For more information, call 305.535.2631 or e-mail ian@thewolf.fiu.edu.
Pianist Markus Gottschlich: Jazz | World Concert
On Friday, November 12, the Byron Carlyle Theater hosts Austrian pianist, composer, and recording artist Markus Gottschlich. Gottschlich leads a group of local and international musicians will debut the songs of his upcoming album along with guest performer, Raj Bhandari (who performs with Shakira). Tickets cost $20 ($15 for seniors and students). For more information, visit www.colonyandbryrontheaters.com or call 305.674.1040.
Urban Impressionism: Miguel Paredes
On Saturday, November 13, from 7 to 11 p.m., Paredes Fine Arts Studio will be open to the public offering guests a chance to view never-before-seen art work while enjoying live music and complimentary cocktails by Alambiqu Mixology, Grey Goose, Plymouth Gin, Beefeater Gin, Appleton Estates Rum and Ice Tropez.
Paredes will present guests with a sneak preview of several signature pieces that will be showcased during his Art Basel exhibits including pieces from his popular Los Ninos, Boroughs and Pulgha & Birds series, a sculpture version of his painting, In the Name of America, that has never been shown in Miami and a first look at his new series, Elements of an Artist.
Shop to Stop MS
The University of Miami MS Center for Excellence and the National MS Society, South Florida Chapter, in association with Miami magazine will host the second annual Shop to Stop MS on Wednesday, November 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. Local tastemakers and MS activists will be invited to enjoy 15% off purchases throughout the store while sipping fine wine, sampling cookies, confections and hors d’oeuvres by caterer Fare to Remember. Tickets to the event cost $50 in advance and $60 at the door; in addition, guests will receive a $25 Saks gift card to use anytime. 5% of the event sales will benefit the National MS Society, South Florida Chapter and the University of Miami MS Center for Excellence. Guests will also have the opportunity to buy raffle tickets at the door for a chance to win a bevy of prizes and gifts from the likes of Estee Lauder, Bulgari and even a pair of tickets to a Miami Dolphins home game. For more information and to purchase tickets call 305 243.1388.
SUGARCANE Launches Weekend Brunch
Sugarcane Raw Bar and Grill invites patrons to enjoy weekend brunch starting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. True to the tapas-style theme, the new selection brunch dishes were created with sharing in mind. Thoughtfully prepared by Executive Chef Timon Balloo, ingredients are seasonal-sourced with farm-to-table-style preparations when available. Chef Balloo will be changing the menu regularly to reflect the season’s finest ingredients. Brunch goes until 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.sugarcanerawbargrill.com.
Gloria Estefan and Roberto Cavalli Team Up
On Friday, November 19, fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli and Gloria Estefan will present an evening under the stars for Miami’s top philanthropists, socialites and celebrities. The event starts off with a cocktail party, followed by dinner and a Roberto Cavalli 2011 spring collection runway show at Villa Vecchia, (4821 Pine Tree Drive) the Miami Beach estate of Miami philanthropists Norma and Luis Quintero. Net proceeds from the event will benefit The Gloria Estefan Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Additionally, during the event, 10 Miami philanthropists will receive the prestigious Starfish Award, an annual award that recognizes exemplary women who contribute to local, national and international communities. Tickets to this stellar event are priced from $500 per individual ticket to $10, 000 for a front row VIP table for 10 that includes 10 VIP invites to Vernissage during Art Basel and inclusion in media correspondence and invitations.
For tickets and more information, contact Lori Sundermier at gefoundation@estefan.com or call 305-695-7015
By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar made its debut at the venerable James Beard House in New York City on Saturday night. The highly anticipated “Fall in the North and South” dinner for 80, hosted by Shareef Malnik and Executive Chef Dewey LoSasso attracted quite a bit of fanfare. Attendees included: 
Miami celebrated the Heat win alongside Lebron James and 2000 of his closest friends and fans partied at Mansion on Friday night. The Heat’s own DJ Irie spun the sound track as James was toasted with a life-sized basketball cake. James’ fiancé, Savannah Brinson joined in on the excitement.
with her beau Dwyane Wade and close friends Tracee Ellis Ross, Cedric the Entertainer, Chris Bosh and Adrienne Williams. Al B. Sure performed for the birthday girl’s celebration alongside the platinum recording artists Silk. 
The Adrienne Arsht Center celebrated its 5th Anniversary with a fabulous black and white gala in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House. The evening was divided into five “acts,” one for every year the gala has been open, starting with a posh cocktail and the unveiling of the grand donor wall, honoring the Center’s greatest supporters and visionaries (Acts I and II). A fabulous Barton G. dinner experience on the stage (Act III) was followed by a show-stopping performance by Miami’s own, four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza (Act IV) at the end of which the secret setting for Act V was revealed: an elaborate Latin dance club at the rear of the stage.
