To commemorate it’s fifth anniversary, The Vibe, an innovative event planning agency, is hosting the ultimate girl’s night out experience in the Magic City with a special screening of the much anticipated “Sex and the City 2”and a fabulous VIP after-party, two days before the film’s official release. This chic, spectacular event is designed to celebrate The Vibe’s expertise of producing unique, fun experiences as well as to encourage Miami women to indulge themselves and celebrate that they are fabulous, glamorous and VIPs in their own lives.   In addition to a special screening of the movie, attendees will be treated to a complete girls’ night out exhilarating experience that will feature: A dazzling pink carpet entry to the exclusive after party, a fabulous display of shoes and clothing worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in “Sex and the City 2”, complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, luxury swag bag from event sponsors, and the opportunity to win a vacation to Marrakesh or a “Summer in The City” spa and hotel package.  Valerie Bihet, The Vibe Agency director, will be on-hand to discuss her event planning savvy, her SATC connection and offer tips on how to create your own girls’ night out.   Miami women channeling their inner Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha will walk the pink carpet and kick-off the exclusive after party on  Wednesday, May 26^th . The pink carpet VIP pre-party begins at 7:00 P.M. on the 7th floor of the 1111 Lincoln Road building; the special movie screening begins at 8:30 P.M. at Regal Cinema, Miami Beach;    For more information and to purchase tickets go to  http://miamipinkcarpetparti.hutdogs.com/ . 

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By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Maryjoshore@aol.com

 Join the “In” Crowd

 The Young Professionals in Arts & Entertainment (Young Pros) Party takes place Friday, May 21 at Club 50 at Hotel Viceroy (485 Brickell Avenue) from 10 p.m. – 3 a.m.  In its third installment, the Young Pros welcome managers, agents, music label executives, publicists, journalists, models, advertising agency executives, talent, bookers, casting directors, stylists, photographers, and other industry guests.  Maxim model Melanie Tillbrook will host this month’s party, which is co-sponsored by Miami Socialholic™ www.miamisocialholic.com. For more information, contact Allison Seriani at newagemarketing@live.com.

 The Many Faces of Joe Dert Live at Rokbar

 On Friday, May 21, the Rokbar family invites you to a special night in honor “Mash-up Master,” DJ Joe Dert’s CD Volume 8 “Live at the 56” CD release party. Enjoy music by Joe Dert and live drum performance featuring DJ Affect!  The party starts at midnight and goes until 5 a.m. Limited space is available! Table reservations are strongly recommended.  Call 305.634.4397 or email:  RSVP@Rokbarmiami.com.

  Swap ‘til you Drop!

 “Swap Miami,” an eco-chic fashion and furniture swapping event will take place on Saturday, May 22, from 12 to 6 PM at Cafeina in Wynwood (297 Northwest 23^rd Street). Marketing and design agencies Super Market Creative and Creative Mafia, together with earth conscious brands including 944 Magazine, Yelp, Plum TV, Soul of Miami, Ecoist, Dream in Green, Portfolio Salon and METRO 1 Properties, will seek to revolutionize shopping in South Florida. Bartering, the oldest form of buying and selling, has been reinvented as the newest shopping craze, known as swapping.  Bring your fashionable, clean and gently used clothing, accessories, home décor and furniture accent pieces to trade. Designer furniture retailers and local fashion stylists will be on site to give styling tips, as well as to help appraise items according to “Swap Miami’s” set pricing standards of low, medium and high. Co-founders Sean Drake & Michelle Leshem say “the point of Swap Miami is to finally get rid of that item you have been holding onto for so long and never use. It’s not about the exact valued amount you will get for donating your items. It’s about letting go and in the process, possibly scoring a few fine items. That’s just a small bonus on top of the charity who scores all left over goods at the end of each ‘Swap Miami’ event.”

Registration starts at noon on the day of the event, with ticket prices at $10.00. Advance tickets are also available for $8.00 on www.swapmiami.com, which provides swappers the convenience of express check-in. “Swap Drop” locations for pre-event drops offs (no home décor) can be found in Miami and South Beach at participating swappers like Sweat Records, Elemental Design, Ecoist and Cafeina.  For more information on registration, swapping and to purchase tickets, visit www.swapmiami.com.

Lincoln Road turns 50 and ArtCenter honors Morris Lapidus

For Morris Lapidus, design is performance.  The talented architect who transformed a two-way traffic street named Lincoln Road into the pedestrian mall it is today will be honored at ArtCenter/South Florida with an exhibit dedicated to his life’s work.  A Question for Emotion and Motion in Architecture’s opening reception is slated for Saturday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the 800 Lincoln Road Gallery, and coincides with the walkway’s 50th anniversary and ArtCenter’s 25th birthday.  Exhibit runs through July 18, and is free and open to the public.  Visit www.artcentersf.org for more information.  

Jazz Concert at Angelique

 Angelique Euro Café, your best spot in the Gables for an eclectic blend of neo-classic European favorites from the Mediterranean Riviera with a focus on cuisine from Spain, France, Italy and Belgium ups the cultural ante by partnering with WDNA 88.9 FM Serious Jazz to bring guests another unforgettable jazz concert from some of South Florida’s top performers on Wednesday, May 26, at 7:30pm. Hal Roland and Irasema will entertain with the best in Latin Jazz while patrons have the option of enjoying a special Table D’Hote dinner experience at Angelique Euro Café’s intimate setting or ordering à la carte from their regular menu. This specialized menu includes a choice of Angelique’s signature Moules Frites, Steak Au Poivre, Coq Au Vin or Lobster Ravioli, along with soup or salad and dessert for just $29 per person, not including tax and gratuity. An à la carte menu will also be available.  Angelique is located at 117 Miracle Mile.  For reservations, call 305.529.9922. www.angeliqueeurocafe.com.

A Workout with a Treat

The Shop at Equinox  offers 50% off the best names in performance and fashion apparel, bags and accessories.   Starting today through Memorial Weekend, stock up on stylish gear from James Perse, Lululemon, and Splendid – just to name a few. 

Here’s an added bonus – save on full price apparel: 20% off when you purchase 2 items; 30% off when you purchase 3 items or more!   For more information  and locations in South Florida go to www.equinox.com.

By:   Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

maryjoshore@aol.com

 Eighth annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Miami Gala 

 The Eighth annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Miami Gala takes place at the Intercontinental Hotel (100 Chopin Plaza) on Saturday, May 15 from 7 p.m. until midnight.  The gala will definitely boast some Latin flavor, with hosts, Daisy Fuentes, Lili Estefan and Javier Romero, and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Juanes, who will receive the 2010 Al Rashid Hope Award.   A multitude of other Latin celebrities from the television and music industries will also be in attendance.

This year’s Masquerade- themed party is sponsored by Grey Goose and will include a silent auction and performances by some of today’s hottest Latin chart-topping artists.  Proceeds will support groundbreaking research and lifesaving care provided by St. Jude for children across the country and around the world. Individual tickets cost $350 and tables run from $3,500 to $25,000.  For more information, email Paola Cassana at paola.cassana@stjude.org or call 305.265.1371.  To make a donation, visit:  www.stjude.org/miamigala.

Have a “FAB” time at Fashion Art Ball!

 The 12th Annual Fashion Art Ball, will be held on Saturday, May 15, at 8 p.m. at the recently renovated Gansevoort Hotel in Miami Beach (2377 Collins Avenue). This wonderful, eclectic event will include a top-notch fashion show, a silent auction highlighting the works of local artists, and special entertainment. Guests will also be treated to an open bar, and food from local restaurants including B.E.D., Casale Pizzeria, David’s Café, Grill on the Alley, Meat Market, RA Sushi, Segafredo and Yogurbella. All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Willard Shepard from NBC6 and Buster from A3 TV will serve as emcees.

 The most fun and unique part of the gala is the fashion show, in which popular local guys (not necessarily models) strut their stuff on the runway. This year’s “Local Legends on the Runway” include: Cecil Barker, Jonathan Babicka, Nicolas Coeur De Roy, Sir. Michael Dreiling, Tony Gallo, Aric Gasper, Kamal Hotchandani, DJ Irie, Raul Leal, Keith Menin, Richard Millard, Eric Milon, Mark Tamis and several other South Beach luminaries.  F.A.B.’s host committee is pretty “fab” also: Nick D’Annunzio, Todd Goldenfarb, Lina Hargrett, Daymond John, Jeffrey Lubin, Erin Newberg, and Bobby Radical.  Read about and view photos of last year’s FAB, visit https://miamisocialholic.com/2009/05/beach-balls.

 General admission tickets cost $100 per person in advance, $150 at the door.  Tables of 10 with premier runway seating are available for $2,500.  For more information contact: Jennifer Tate at 954.739.5006, email jtate@cff.org.

 Kampong Moonlight Concert

On Saturday, May 15th, starting at 8 pm, Grey Goose vodka will host the last of four highly acclaimed concerts at The Kampong featuring South Florida Jazz legend Joe Donato.  Billing itself as Miami’s newest upscale venue for fine jazz and live music, The Kampong transforms itself into the tropical ultra-chic K Lounge for the evening. The recently added covered pavilion with stage, designed by noted Miami architect Max Strang, provides near-perfect acoustics and is the ideal small setting for the live-music aficionado. “Sitting in the K Lounge, surrounded by lush, fragrant gardens and listening to crickets chirping to the tempo of the amazing music is a sublime experience,” said Vivianne Swietelsky, Kampong Fellow and Chair of the Moonlight Concert committee. “Proceeds from Moonlight Concerts @ The Kampong are used to support The Kampong living collections and educational programs. Tickets are available by calling The Kampong at 305.442.7169 or online at http://kampongevents.ntbg.org. The Kampong, located on Biscayne Bay in the heart of Coconut Grove, is one of five tropical gardens and three preserves of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

 Vinyl & Kai- Your new Digs for Fun and Grub

Vinyl & Kai, situated on Washington Avenue, presents a refreshing new alternative and social mix to the South Beach scene — good food combined with live music at affordable prices.  The space is intimate and inviting and will give the creative of South Florida a reason to make Washington Avenue their new destination for breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails. The unique atmosphere at Vinyl & Kai imparts a casual ambiance with comfort dining and friendly service that has guests returning regularly on a weekly basis. Vinyl & Kai introduces two weekly happy hours every Monday through Friday from 4pm – 7pm and offers half off drinks and appetizers.  Those “in the biz” can enjoy happy hour late night from 2am – 4am with a pay stub or business card.
                       

Tuesday is Karaoke and Ladies’ night 10pm – 2am.  Ladies receive complimentary premium well drinks from 9pm – midnight.  Karaoke and DJ are provided by Kara-O-King.  Poker night is Wednesday, with “No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em” tournaments from 8:30 pm – 5am.  Players can win bar tabs, mystery box prizes, bounty rounds and earn points towards a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker Bracelet event.  Weekly drink specials and munchies are available until 5am.   Located at 1131 Washington Avenue, Vinyl & Kai offers an array of dishes in a quintessential indoor and outdoor space and is sure to become a local’s favorite in the South Beach neighborhood. www.vinylkai.com.  Vinyl & Kai is open daily from 11am – 5am and now offers delivery in Miami Beach up to 81st.

 Rap, Hip Hop and R&B at Play

Play Nightclub has joined forces with one of the top Urban promotional marketing groups in the country. This is the group that created the popular Forge Sundays and Karu & Y Thursdays, and who are the current promoters for LIV on Sunday nights, arguably the hottest party in South Beach. Now the group will be presenting a brand new party on Friday Nights at Play Nightclub bringing in the spectacular acts and celebrities. Play has hosted a bevy of athletes, entertainers and celebrities including Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Venus and Serena Williams, Drake, Nikki Minaj, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat, Lil Wayne and many more.

Tired of paying beaucoup bucks to hear the best R&B artists in concert? Then head for Play Nightclub in South Beach on Thursday nights starting at 10pm. Top R&B names will be performing every week with Jodi and the TKO band. Past entertainers have included Bobby V; Lloyd, and RL from Group Next. Admission is $20 on Thursday nights.  Play Nightclub is located at 1045 5^th Street (Lenox and fifth) with a convenient attached parking lot. For table reservations please call 305-532-4340.