In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Shake Shack is bringing back its special edition When Irish Fries Are Smiling—crinkle-cut fries topped with horseradish cream, scallions, and crispy all-natural applewood smoked bacon. The Leprechaun-approved fries ($4.50) will be available at all U.S. Shacks from Friday, March 13th through Tuesday, March 17th. Guests will also be able to celebrate the holiday with a cup or cone of rich & creamy Mast Brothers chocolate mint frozen custard (single: $3.50; double: $4.50) available from Monday, March 16th through Sunday, March 22nd. Be sure to also order the delectable Shackmeister burger – complete worth crispy onions on top. It’s no surprise this burger won SOBE Wine and Food Festival’s People’s Choice Award at Burger Bash.

By: Maryanne Salvat 

Celebrity Cruises® Teams Up with Funky Buddha Brewery and Be Well Travel 

The inaugural Funky Buddha Craft Brew Cruise, a four-day, four-night voyage, features Funky Buddha’s limited edition and latest brews sailing this Thursday, March 12 through Monday, March 16, aboard the Celebrity Constellation. The cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale and travels to Nassau, Bahamas and Key West, Florida. Funky Buddha Brewery experts will be on board to educate and inform beer-loving cruisers; for more information and to book visit: https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/funky-buddha-craft-brew-cruise.

Wicked Returns

Back by “popular” demand, WICKED returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County with performances starting Wednesday, March 11 through Sunday, March 29. Tickets start at $49.00 and can be purchased by visiting www.arshtcenter.org or calling the Box Office at 305. 949.6722. Groups of 15 or more should call 786.468.2326.

#ThursdayIsTheNewFriday at Cecconi’s

This Thursday, March 12 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Cecconi’s along with Chef Sergio will present a lovely happy hour with complimentary Estrella Damm and Truffle Arancini. Guests will also enjoy a live jazz performance.

Michael Mina “Social Hour”

Known for its hip vibe and dynamic culinary scene, Michael Mina 74 is raising the bar with the introduction of “Social Hour”. Located in the lobby of the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the small plates and craft cocktail driven restaurant is now serving up specially priced barrel-aged cocktails among other libations with complimentary bites from Chef de Cuisine Thomas Griese nightly, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The new “Social Hour” will be available seven days a week showcasing the restaurant’s stellar cocktail program; For more information, visit fontainebleau.com/socialhour.

The Little Lighthouse Foundation Hearts & Stars Gala 2015: Casablanca

The Little Lighthouse Foundation’s (LLF) Hearts & Stars Gala 2015: Casablanca, a private, invite only charity event, which will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 8:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. at a private waterfront estate in Miami Beach, is sold out for the 5th year in a row. LLF assists children and their families in South Florida who struggle with educational, financial, and medical hardships. This support is derived from LLF’s recruiting and educating passionate, caring, socially conscious volunteers, and then deploying them to support LLF programming and beneficiary charities. All proceeds from the Hearts & Stars Gala 2015: Casablanca benefit LLF. The Hearts and Stars 2015 Gala will have a Casablanca theme this year and is black tie optional. The Hearts & Stars Gala Kick Off Party is at Hyde Beach at the SLS on Friday night, March 13, 2015. For an online donation of $25, guests will enjoy a sponsored bar from Diageo from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. If available, access to the event at the door will be $50. Donations can be made at www.hydebeach.com/heartsandstars.

International Orchid Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Beautiful, fragrant, and rare orchids will cover the lush landscape of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for the three-day International Orchid Festival, held Friday, March 13 – Sunday, March 15 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. More than 10,000 orchids and plants will be on view and available for purchase throughout the Garden. Stop by the Science Village to watch interactive demonstrations of the Million Orchid Project, which aims to reintroduce one million native and endangered orchids back into South Florida. Presented by the Orchid Society of Coral Gables, the breathtaking displays of rare and exotic orchid species at the American Orchid Society juried show are a must-see. For more information, visit the International Orchid Festival webpage.

Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon

The Preservation Luncheon, known as the “Hat Luncheon” where attendees are encouraged to wear creative head wear, is taking place on March 17, 2015, and features cocktails, music and lunch on Vizcaya’s beautiful grounds. This annual fundraiser was founded in 2009 to support the preservation of Vizcaya and the organization’s educational programs. Preservation Luncheon tickets, which can bepurchased online, start at $350 per person and tables for 10 guests start at $3,500. For more information, contact Jessica Casinelli at 305-860-8404 or events@vizcaya.org

By: Maryanne Salvat

Miami International Film Festival

Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival, the only major film festival worldwide produced by a college or university, is celebrating its 32nd edition. Running March 6 – 15, the 10-day annual event takes place at the Festival’s traditional home, the historic Olympia Theater at Gusman Center in downtown, plus six additional cinemas scattered across The Magic City; and includes a plethora of screenings, stylish parties, thoughtful panel discussions, spirited film competitions, awards ceremonies and immersive cultural exchange opportunities for filmmakers attending from across the globe. This year’s Festival showcases 125 films, including 94 feature films and documentaries, 18 short films, 11 student films and 2 works-in-progress, produced and directed by both renowned and emerging talent from 40 countries. The Festival is pleased to announce numerous important premieres: 14 World, 6 International, 22 North American and 12 US premieres, debuting in Miami. General admission for each film is $13, but prices range for all events and packages. For more information, visit www.miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM(3456). To purchase tickets, visit www.miamifilmfestival.com/program/ .

World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship

Taking place March 4-8, the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship is more than a world-class event featuring the greatest golfers from across the globe – it is also a must-attend international social event that brings the worlds of fashion, music and entertainment to one of the finest resorts, Trump National Doral.  Cadillac Miami Nights is the newly-named platform for the series of nightlife events during tournament week, notably the Dolce & Gabbana fashion experience on Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Carlos Santana concert on Saturday, March 7 at 8 p.m. The Championship also introduces enhanced culinary and hospitality offerings with the Escalade Lounge, GREY GOOSE Vodka 19^th Hole Lounge, Cadillac Experience Double Decker, Burger & Beer Joint, six local food trucks, and more.Visit www.CadillacChampionship.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Honey Bug Run/Walk

Philanthropist and founder of Honey Shine Mentoring Program, Tracy Wilson Mourning will host the Program’s first Honey Bug Run/Walk in honor of Women’s History Month on Saturday March 7, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Women’s Park (10251 W Flagler St.) More than 150 “Honey Bugs” are expected to participate in the March run/walk. And with the backing of the 5K’s patrons, including Mourning Family Foundation, JCP Printing and Designs, Baptist Health South Florida, and Miami-Dade County, Wilson Mourning looks forward to it being a great success. Registration for the general public and for Honey Shine Members is $25, $35 to the general public. To register and to find more information on the event and Honey Shine Inc., visit www.honeyshine.org.

A Night at the Bass Museum

The Bass Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser A Night at the Museum will be held on Wednesday evening, March 11. This year’s theme will recall the drama and glamour of the classic Hollywood genre Film Noir. Over 500 arts patrons, philanthropists and trendsetters are expected to attend to raise funds for museum programming. The festive evening will begin with Grey Goose cocktails and Chateau D’Esclans rosé, and delicious bites provided by STK Miami followed by desserts from Oolite Restaurant and Bar. Guests, who are encouraged to dress in the theme Film Noir, will mingle among projections of clips of 1940s crime drama classics, before they head to the dance floor. Tickets to A Night at the Museum: A Film Noir Experience are $250 for two and include an upper-level museum membership. Tickets at $1,000 include two tickets, membership and special donor recognition. To purchase, visit events.bassmuseum.org or call 305 673 7530 ext. 1018.

Women of Tomorrow Annual Black-Tie Gala 

The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program will be honoring community leaders at its Annual Black-Tie Gala at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Saturday, March 7. Gala Chair Marisa Toccin Lucas along with founders Jennifer Valoppi, Don Browne and Co-Vice President, the Honorable Katherine Fernandez Rundle have put together highlights for the evening that will include a plush cocktail reception, a highly anticipated silent and live auction, an extravagant four-course dinner and a live performance by South Florida’s own Soul Survivors. For more information, call 305.371.3330 or visit www.womenoftomorrow.

Saks Fifth Avenue and Cinderella’s Glass Slipper

In celebration of Disney’s live-action film inspired by the classic fairy tale, “Cinderella,” Disney Consumer Products (DCP), in partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue, has collaborated with nine luxury designer shoe brands globally to assemble an enchanting collection of shoes that reimagine Cinderella’s iconic glass slipper. Distinguished designers include: Paul Andrew, Alexandre Birman, René Caovilla, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia, Jerome C. Rousseau, and Stuart Weitzman. Each brand has created its interpretation of the famed glass slipper Cinderella accidentally leaves behind when the clock strikes midnight.   Select styles will be available exclusively in the United States for custom order in select Saks Fifth Avenue retail stores starting in March. The shoes will be on display at Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour from March 12 through March 18.

by: Maryanne Salvat

MIR Charities and Quality Meats Miami Beach 

Mission International Rescue Charities (MIR Charities) is partnering with Quality Meats Miami Beach for an exclusive, grand opening benefit party on Thursday, February 26. The event will mark 25 years of educational services and collaborative programs provided to families in need. The event is expected to bring together local dignitaries, celebrities and other influential personalities. Tickets to the event are priced at $150 per person; guests will have an opportunity to preview the restaurant’s delicious cuisine and ambiance by way of lavish food stations, free-flowing cocktails and a performance by Miami local, DJ Gringo. They will also have a chance to bid on not-to-be-missed items during a live auction. Tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mir-charities-and-quality-meats-grand-opening-benefit-party-tickets-15577253986.

PALO! at Ball & Chain

On Friday, February 27 GRAMMY Nominated PALO! will be performing their famous afro-Cuban funky tunes on the Pineapple Stage at Little Havana’s hottest new spot Ball & Chain.  Miami Boheme Friday’s are hosted by Joe Cardona – this Friday is a special celebration however, the birthday of Ball & Chain co-owner Zack Bush.  No cover, 21 and older.

Wall Brawl Miami

On Friday, March 6 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., join Wynwood’s most recognizable street artists as they battle it out at Wall Brawl Miami and raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.  Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to watch some of the biggest names in street art go face to face and compete for the title of the Best Street Artist of Miami.  Open bar by Bombay Sapphire and Zacapa Rum with lite bites by Morgans will be available for all those attending. Guests are encouraged to vote for their favorite artist and have a chance to take one of these originals home via auction. Artists include: HecOne Love, Skott Marsi, Bruno Vago, Furious (DAM Crew), KEDS (DAM Crew), Monique Lassooij, Claudia La Bianca, TeePop, NateD, Wilson, Jorge-Miguel Rodriguez, Ill Surge, GG, Atomik, Ivan Roque, Registered Artist, Aquarela Allyson Sabol, Nicole Salgar, Rigo Leon, Kazilla and Trek 6. Admission is only $40.00 at The Annex located at 44 NE 29 ST in Wynwood; for more information visit: www.wallbrawl.com.

Les Dames d’Escoffier Miami Brunch

Les Dames d’Escoffier Miami, presents a lavish brunch at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens featuring a stellar lineup of South Florida chefs, farmers, restaurants and authors. Participants to date include Oolite, Basil Park, Smith and Wollensky, Siam Oishi, Le Provencal restaurant Francais, Front Porch, Mise en Place; La Provence; Pastry is Art, Thierry’s Catering, A Fare to Remember, Small Tea, and Cookie Pursonality, among others. Restaurant participants will offer delicious brunch menu items; San Ignacio College and Miami Culinary Institute will host quesadilla and omelet stations; Le Cordon Bleu and Les Dames Miami will host additional culinary stations.  Republic National Distributing Co. and Sangria Lola will offer luscious libations.Attendees can also sample South Florida’s beautiful spring harvest from Verde Farms and Teena’s Pride, the latter farm owned by Dame Teena Borek; enjoy tasty eye-opening cocktails at the Bloody Mary bar, hosted by Patron and Smirnoff and savor a jolt of java from the Nespresso station.  Raffle items will include a trove of spa treatments, fabulous dining certificates, gift baskets, fine wines and other prizes. New culinary techniques will be featured at Les Dames d’Escoffier cooking demonstrations and Les Dames’ members, authors Ellen Kanner and Jen Karetnick, will offer signed copies or their current books, “Feeding the Hungry Ghost”, and “ Mangoes”, respectively. The Les Dames brunch takes place Sunday, March 8, 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Tickets may be purchased atreservations@lesdamesmiami.org or via PayPal: http://lesdamesmiami.org. 

MISO’s Golden Sounds from Hollywood

The Miami Symphony Orchestra (MISO) presents the sixth annual installment of “Golden Sounds from Hollywood” on Sunday, March 8, 6:00 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Maestro Marturet compensates for the days of inferior soundtracks by conducting a program that features works written specifically for motion pictures, and combining actual projections from the film onto the stage of the Knight Concert Hall. Executive Producer Fernando Duprat adds visual elements of excitement to Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra from Stanley Kubrick’s “2001 Space Odyssey,” Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries from Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” and the soundtrack from Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.,” among many more popular and recognizable films. Tickets can be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center website, calling the MISO box office at 305.275.5666, or by e-mailing info@themiso.org.

#SOBEWFF 2015 IS HERE!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, for all foodies that is. The 14^th Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE hits South Beach this weekend and consists of more than 75 events during the four-day, star-studded gourmet extravaganza, featuring new parties and talent alongside a noticeable refresh of the Festival’s most signature tastings.  As it has since its inception, the Festival benefits the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory and Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center at Florida International University. Stay up-to-date with the excitement by following the Festival at www.Facebook.com/SOBEWFF; for more information about the Festival, visit www.sobefest.com or call 877.762.3933.
Food Talk with Geoffrey Zakarian

Head to The Thompson Hotel South Beach on Friday, February 20 for the recording of Geoffrey Zakarian’s Sirius XM radio show, “Food Talk.” Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres poolside at the resort, while rubbing elbows with the likes of  Robert Irvine, Anne Burrell, Ted Allen, Rachael Ray. Marcus Samuelsson, Marc Murphy, Al Roker, Carla Hall, Aaron Sanchez, and many more. The fun takes place from 2:30-5:00 p.m. and is presented by Sirius XM, and Key Group Worldwide.

Martha Stewart’s Clean Slate

On Saturday, February 21, at 5:00 p.m.,Macy’s Dadeland welcomes founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Emmy Award-winning television show host, entrepreneur and bestselling author, Martha Stewart, for a special signing of her new cookbook Clean Slate: A Cookbook and Guide: Reset Your Health, Detox Your Body, and Feel Your Best. The book offers great recipes and helpful tips for eating clean and restocking your pantry.  With any Martha Stewart Collection purchase of $50 or more in the Home department, customers will receive a $10 Macy’s gift card, a copy of Martha Stewart Living’s Clean Slate, and an opportunity to meet Martha and have her sign your cookbook. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are suggested as space is limited; RSVP to 305.577.1818 then press 1 when prompted;One per customer while supplies last.

Valentine’s at the St. Regis 

Dinner at J&G Grill Indulge in a dinner with the most seductive ingredients curated by J&G Grill’s new Chef Dagan Stocks, along with specialty desserts by award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Antonio Bachour. Highlights of the four-course prix-fixe menu includes shareable canapés to start, along with Kumamoto Oysters, Salad of Shaved Asparagus and Crispy Poached Egg with Black Truffle Vinaigrette, Cox Farms Chateaubriand of Beef for Two and a decadent Pistachio Cake with Chocolate Mousse and Passion Fruit Sorbet for dessert. $165 per person; advanced reservations required.

Ultimate Romance Go beyond expectation and celebrate Valentine’s Day with a private butler-served romantic dinner overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Start with a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon Champagne, followed by a four-course dinner by Chef Dagan Stocks. A luxurious Oceanfront Day Villa is yours to enjoy throughout the evening. Only one experience is available; $1,800+ tax & gratuity. 

Mixology for Two J&G Grill head mixologist David Ferre will lead couples in an interactive course in cocktail creation designed just for two. Learn how to fuse and infuse unique ingredients to create your partner’s perfect cocktail. Saturday, Feb. 14 from 5-6 p.m.; Located at J&G Grill Bar; $50 per person. For more information or to book these activities, visit http://www.stregisbalharbour.com/valentines-day.  Read the rest of this entry »