By: Maryanne Salvat

Fashionably Conscious at Village of Merrick Park

Once again, the Village of Merrick Park is putting its fashion foot forward in the name of charity. The luxury retail and dining destination brings back the highly coveted Fashionably Conscious fundraising sale from Friday September 19 through Sunday September 21.The vintage designer sale event offers heavily reduced pricing on donated items from the most coveted closets of Miami’s respected philanthropists and community leaders. Some highlights of the collected inventory from the charity hosts include men’s Gucci and Ferragamo shoes, YSL and Diane von Furstenberg dresses, Miu Miu and Prada shoes and items from Chanel, Valentino, Phillip Lim, Chloé, Lanvin and more. The event kicks off Friday, September 19 with a VIP Cocktail Preview Sale Reception for an entry donation of $25. The shopping continues on Saturday, September 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with an all- day sale for an entry donation of $10. It concludes on Sunday, September 21 with the Fashionably Conscious Clearance Sale, where everything must go! The weekend sale will take place at suite 1035 on the ground floor of Village of Merrick Park, located next to Burberry. Proceeds from the sale benefit Coconut Grove Cares’ The Barnyard Community Center, providing free vital services to the children and families of the historic West Grove community. As the organization’s primary annual fundraiser, Fashionably Conscious offers essential unrestricted funds to enable the organization’s operations.

Miami Recognition Dinner “Sparkle” Preview Party

Join the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force for the official Miami Recognition Dinner “Sparkle” Preview Party on Friday, September 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at HaVen Lounge. Guests will be treated to a complimentary open bar courtesy of GREY GOOSE Vodka and light bites by acclaimed HaVen Lounge Executive Chef Todd Erickson. There is no cost to attend. Dinner reservations can be made by calling 305.987.8885. Sip and socialize as event details are unveiled and meet committee members, table hosts and Task Force supporters. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets and tables to this year’s dinner taking place on Saturday, October 11 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The Task Force recently announced that the Miami Recognition Dinner will be co-hosted by the dynamic duo of Lea Black, star of Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Miami, and South Beach icon Elaine Lancaster, promising a night to remember for those in attendance. 

BLT Prime Unites with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry®

BLT Prime, located in the iconic Trump National Doral, has been delighting Doral residents and foodies alike with BLT’s acclaimed modern American steakhouse cuisine. In addition to pleasing diners with the finest cuts of USDA Prime Certified Angus beef, BLT unites with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign to help end childhood hunger until Sunday, September 20.  The annual Dine Out For No Kid Hungry campaign brings restaurants and diners together to raise funds and awareness. Participating restaurants have the freedom to create unique promotions that raise funds while giving their diners wonderful offerings. Created especially for this event by Chef Dustin Ward and inspired by Share Our Strength, the grilled Portuguese octopus, fennel, yuzu, pickled shallot appetizer is $18 and meant to be shared; available during lunch and dinner service with 50% of all sales of the dish benefitting the campaign.

Hollywood Eyes Hosts Fendi Trunk Show Benefitting Girl Rising

Hollywood Eyes is hosting an exclusive Fendi trunk show and cocktail soiree benefitting Girl Rising, a global campaign for girls’ education. Since the launch of the movement, the Girl Rising Campaign has raised over $5 million for girls programs, and the “Girl Rising” film has been seen by over 1.5 million viewers with more than 200 corporations such as Intel, Bobbi Brown, Charles Schwab, and Facebook supporting the cause by hosting corporate screenings. Hollywood Eyes’ evening of shopping and cocktails for a cause will feature a Fendi eye wear trunk show as well as other designer eyewear collections, perfectly timed to transition you from summer to fall. Guests will enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres from FACE restaurant, complimentary wine, and a preview of fall’s hottest frames with 20% of all proceeds benefitting Girl Rising. There will also be a luxury raffle for a chance to win two pair of Fendi designer glasses with 100% of proceeds going to the campaign. The event, which takes place Friday, September 26^th from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., is free and open to the public and serves as a prelude to the “Girl Rising” movie screening at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center on October 25. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 954.923.5367 or visit www.hollywoodeyesflorida.com.

2014 Global Party for United Cerebral Palsy Baby House

Shelborne Wyndham Grand South Beach, the iconic Miami landmark resort, is partnering with the 2014 Global Party to host a Venetian Masquerade Gala on Saturday, September 27, from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. at 1801 Collins Avenue in Miami.  Global Party is the world’s largest invite-only VIP charity event where all donations benefit  Miami’s leading nonprofit organization: United Cerebral Palsy Baby House, an organization serving children and young adults suffering from Cerebral Palsy. The Venetian Masquerade Gala will be the first event that Shelborne hosts after its $90 million renovation, and will be catered by Morimoto South Beach, Iron Chef Morimoto’s Miami flagship restaurant, located within the property. The evening will include signature cocktails, an elite VIP Lounge, and a special performance by Venezuelan musician Julien Rego, and International & Caribbean Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Kevin Lyttle. Donors may make contributions by visiting: http://www.theglobalparty.com/venues/list/.

By: Maryanne Salvat

Haute Tea Luncheon Benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute

Young Society of Love and Hope like it haute! For a third consecutive year, the group of South Florida philanthropists is hosting the Haute Tea luncheon and fashion presentation benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Friday, September 12. This year’s elegant soiree is honoring Linda Gibb – who serves alongside her husband, Barry Gibb, as International Chairman of Love and Hope and has supported the DRI’s work for more than three decades. And, since it just wouldn’t be a royal affair without big, fancy hats – event Chairs Jillian Posner and Dr. Stacy Chimento of Diane Walder MD encourage all guests to don their finest haute headwear and heels to the event, where they will be greeted by palace guards at the champagne reception, followed by a three-course lunch, and a formal tea service fit for the Queen. Prizes will be awarded for the best hats of the day – which will be selected for various categories and judged by guest judges, including Entertainment/Features Reporter and Film Critic for WSVN’s Deco Drive and Fashion Blogger Shireen Sandoval and Maria Tettamanti of the popular Miami fashion blog, The Wordy Girl. Sponsorship packages and tickets for the 3^rd Annual Haute Tea Luncheon happening September 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort located at 9703 Collins Avenue can be purchased online via www.DiabetesResearch.org/Haute-Teaor by calling 954-964-4040 / 800-321-3437.

Fit to Fight: Box & Lunch

In conjunction with the Fit to Fight Miami Challenge, co-owner/executive chef Sean Brasel of Meat Market, alongside Dena Marino of MC Kitchen and Johnny Rock of Sobekick will host Fit to Fight: Box & Lunch, a kickboxing/dining event on Sunday, September 14. Brasel and Marino are two of the 12 chefs participating in Fit to Fight, a chef weight loss challenge to raise awareness on the benefits of healthy living and to raise money for Live to Fight, a non-profit organization that supports those suffering from life-threatening illnesses.Guests will kick off the morning at 11:30 a.m. with an hour-long boxing class at Sobekick led by former Miami Dolphins tight end Jason Rader, jabbing and kicking alongside some of Miami’s hottest chefs before enjoying a refueling meal at 1:30 p.m. at Meat Market, Lincoln Road’s sizzling contemporary steakhouse. The set menu, prepared by Brasel, will feature delicious and healthy bites paired with special skinny cocktails. The regular a la carte menu will also be available.The package, priced at just $60 per person (excluding tax and gratuity), includes the class at Sobekick, Miami Beach’s premiere boutique boxing studio; a healthy two-course lunch with two specialty drinks at Meat Market; a special dish from Chef Marino, as well as a crash course on nutrition from Rachel Lee of Nutrients Lab.

3^rd Annual Fashion Gives Back Event

On Thursday, September 18 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. the 3^rd Annual Fashion Gives Back Event benefitting Miami Children’s Hospital presented by Farell & Patel presents a night of fashion, cocktails, and mingling while making a difference in the lives of so many children who are treated at Miami Children’s Hospital.  Your donation of $25 provides you a chance to win from a selection of wonderful prizes, including sports memorabilia, vacations, gift certificates and more!   RSVP by September 16.  For more information contact Alyse Cahill at alyse.cahill@mchf.org or 786.624.2857.

SIUDY Between Worlds : Entre Mundos

Back by popular demand, the award-winning Pablo Croce Productions announces its return to the Sunshine State in September with a highly anticipated double weekend showcase of SIUDY Between Worlds Entre Mundos, featuring two of today’s legendary acts from the world of Flamenco and Broadway. The Miami-based award-winning dance theater and screen production company will stage SIUDY Between Worlds – the highly acclaimed story inspired by a tribal tale of passion and love – on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21 in the ZIFF Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.   The performance will also make its debut in Central Florida on Saturday, September 27, at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando.  Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, at www.arshtcenter.org <http://www.arshtcenter.org>  <http://www.arshtcenter.org> or by calling 305.949.6722. SIUDY Between Worlds Entre Mundos will make its debut in Orlando on Saturday, September 27, at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, for which tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.

By: Maryanne Salvat

Bistro One LR Miami Spice at the Ritz Carlton South Beach

Chef Gihen Zitouni is heating things up at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach for Miami Spice.  The former Top Chef Germany Host is serving up Florida Fare including Iberian Croquetas, Florida Seared Grouper and Key Lime Brulee with a Ritz-Carlton twist.  The Miami Spice special includes a starter, entrée and dessert for $39 through the end of September; for more information visit: www.ritzcarlton.com. 

La Gazzetta Italian Café

La Gazzetta located in Mary Brickell Village serves fresh and light Italian Riviera fares incorporating touches of different International influences. The tapa style portioning of many of the menu items use top quality ingredients, while still offering incredible value to dining patrons. The warm, cozy and fun surroundings are reminiscent of a bustling Italian Cafe of the 1950’s Dolce Vita era. It showcases a spectacular sidewalk Cafe, lushly landscaped and appointed with fountains and outdoor movie theater; ideal to enjoy a weekday Happy Hour with 2 for 1 Martinis. Located right on the strip, La Gazzetta offers some of the best people watching in Miami, and with their fabulous resident DJs as well as high-energy and very friendly staff; for more information visit:www.lagazzettamiami.com.

Eden Roc Miami Beach: ‘Everlasting Summer’ Package

For those who aren’t ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, the beautiful and family-friendly, beachfront property, Eden Roc Miami Beach is offering their ‘Everlasting Summer’ package to local Florida residents which offers rates up to 30% off for travel through September 30. The perfect way to make the most of their summer with special savings and perks, this package also includes valet parking and a daily breakfast for two.  Enjoy a day by one of the hotel’s four pools or on the beach. Be sure to try out one of the signature treatments at the state-of-the-art, Elle Spa- we recommend the signature facial- which includes a reflexology massage. Don’t miss a perfect dinner at 15 steps, the Eden Roc’s restaurant, which serves one of the best ribeye steaks in town.*Offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers, discounts or  promotions; Does not apply to existing reservations. Not valid for groups; Complimentary room upgrade at time of check in. Restrictions may apply. Package inclusions have no monetary value; Must show Florida ID; For Reservations visit: www.edenrocmiami.com.

FringeArts announces the fifth annual Audi FEASTIVAL will be held on Thursday, September 18. The 2014 Audi FEASTIVAL will expose the region’s most influential business leaders and tastemakers to FringeArts by uniting dynamic and cutting edge artistic performances with world-class restaurants. This year’s event will be held at Penn’s Landing, 1 North Delaware Avenue on the Delaware River waterfront between Market and Chestnut Streets from 7:00-10:00 p.m. More than eight hundred attendees are expected for what promises to be the cultural event of the year. Tickets are now on sale at www.phillyfeastival.com and are $250 for General Admission or $350 for a VIP ticket that allows early access at 6:00 PM as well as admission to the Audi VIP Lounge. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Maryanne Salvat 

Batch Gastropub  

Batch Gastropub celebrates their new brunch with a bang sure to please foodies and brunch connoisseurs from all over. Guests can indulge with $20 Bottomless Mimosas, Sangria, Bellinis & a delectable Brunch Menu Saturday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Standing by their “Quality vs. Quantity” motto, Batch Gastropub patiently perfected selections before releasing their full brunch menu. Brunch-goers will savor the new additions, such as the Batch Hash ‘n’ Egg which features pork belly and short rib served with potato, red onion, and a sunny side up egg. Another new dish is the Belgium Waffle & Country Fried Chicken made with maple butter, powdered sugar, and sticky honey chicken served on top of a finger-liking-good Belgium waffle. Sugar fiends can turn to Homer’s Doh’nut Waffles, made with donut batter, cinnamon-sugar, and a donut glaze.

The Restaurant at the Setai Wine Dinner Series  

The Restaurant at the Setai continues its monthly Wine Dinner series on Thursday, August 28 at 7:30 pm. Guests are invited for an intimate evening to enjoy a four-course menu designed by Executive Chef, Mathias Gervais, paired with guest winery, Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate. Tickets can be purchased for $105 and can be reserved by contacting 305.520.6400 or dining@thesetaihotel.com. On Saturday, August 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Chef Mathias will be hosting an interactive cooking class where guests will have the opportunity to learn to prepare The Restaurant’s Langoustine and Hamachi. After the demonstration, guests will have a chance to taste the dishes with drink pairings. Tickets can be purchased for $50 per person and can be reserved by contacting 305.520.6400 or dining@thesetaihotel.com.

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IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that when its first Miami-Dade store opens in Sweetwater, FL on August 27, it will recognize loyal, enthusiastic customers by giving away thousands of dollars in gift cards and merchandise – including an iconic EKTORP sofa for each of the first 39 adults in line, and a POANG armchair for the next 100 visitors.  Other highlights include a free mattress for the first 39 on Thursday, August 28 and free weekly meatball meals for the year to the first 39 on Friday, August 29.   (Customers may begin lining up on 9 a.m. EDT on Monday, August 25 – 48 hours before the store’s opening at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 27.)  Also, Sweetwater Mayor Jose M. Diaz and IKEA U.S. CFO Rob Olson will join store manager Selwyn Crittendon in the official opening of the new store.

IKEA Miami is the Swedish company’s 2^nd store and restaurant destination in South Florida, 4^th in the state, 39^th in the United States, and 361^st worldwide.  (Florida’s first IKEA store opened in the Broward County city of Sunrise in 2007, followed by one store each in Orlando and Tampa.)  The 416,000-square-foot IKEA Miami was built on 14.6 acres adjacent to Dolphin Mall, near both the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) and Florida’s Turnpike, in the City of Sweetwater.  The store employs more than 350 coworkers and features 10,000 exclusively-designed items, a 600-seat IKEA Restaurant, 44 inspirational room settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area and approximately 1,500 parking spaces.  Reflecting the company’s solar presence atop 90% of its U.S. locations, IKEA installed South Florida’s largest rooftop solar array at IKEA Miami.  Read the rest of this entry »