Kaylen James and Jeffrey Donovan

Arts for Learning celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a swanky soiree at the Sagamore Hotel last Sunday afternoon.  Guests gathered poolside sipping cocktails sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka, as our favorite Burn Notice spy on TV, Jeffery Donovan and model/socialite Malinka Max, played hosts to the artsy crowd.  Attendees included: Merle and Danny Weiss, Gary Farmer, Vicky Di Santo, Miss Orlando 2010, Michael Valdes, James Cubbison of Miami Artzine and Harvey Burstein of Miami Arts Trust.

Donovan addressed the intimate crowd, emphasizing the importance of the arts in children’s   lives, and then went on to explain the effects the arts have had in his own career.   Executive Director for Arts for Learning, Sheila Womble, went on moved the crowd with a short story about acclaimed actor Robert Redford.  She recounted that when Redford was a boy he found it difficult to pay attention and instead, would draw pictures in class. Throughout the third grade, he would illustrate different ideas that came to him.  One day the teacher approached him and asked him to tell the story behind the picture.  The teacher was completely astounded by his creativity and gave Redford the opportunity to draw a picture each week and tell the story behind it.

 Womble went on to explain how important it is for each child to have this same opportunity, and how Arts for Learning grants these life changing moments for students every day.     For more information on the Arts for learning program visit www.Arts4Lmiami.org.

On Thursday night, nearly 400 people gathered at Bar 721 on Lincoln Road for a fundraiser benefiting   The Children’s Cancer Caring Center (CCCC). Jeff Berardelli, weatherman from CBS4, hosted the event alongside Lee Klein, founder of the charity.  Guests enjoyed free-flowing cocktails and scrumptious bites from Lincoln Road’s latest gourmet taco spot, Tacotento and raised about $5000 for the charity.  Klein hopes to raise awareness and support for the CCCC, which has helped to save countless lives throughout its 45 year history. On-hand for the celebration: the CBS 4 crew: Jeff Berardelli, Lissette Gonzalez, Natalia Zea and Cynthia Demos.  Plum TV’s Jenn Santiago and Megan Harris were also in attendance. For more information on the charity visit ChildrensCancerCaringCenter.com.

Daisy Casuso, Tracey Mourning, and Leslie Wolfson

 A special group of influential ladies gathered at a special luncheon at the Forge Restaurant I Wine Bar as Shareef Malnik and Sue Miller welcomed the Women’s Council for Educational Change. The organization focuses on giving children the opportunity to succeed and to make a difference for generations to come.  During the luncheon, Executive Chef Dewey LoSasso served Forge favorites including chilled red and yellow tomato gazpacho with chive oil, lobster and shrimp salad, and lemon fennel panna cotta.  VIP ladies in attendance included Alicia and Veronica Cervera, Lisa Pliner, Lydia Touzet, Tara Solomon, Tracy Mourning, Dr. Leslie Bauman, Nancy Batchelor, Norma Quintero, Norma Jean Abraham, Leslie Wolfson, Michelle Rubell, Daisy Casuso, Arlene Chaplin and Judy Weiss.

Shareef Malnik, Ken Gorin, and Robert Hill

One of our favorite events every year the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, is so huge that it has several pre-parties in its anticipation.  One such party took place last Thursday at the InterContinental Miami.  The purpose of this kick off celebration (which follows the Make A Wish Garden Party that was held last month) was to officially anounce the date of the Ball, which will be held on Saturday, November 6. Over 250 of South Florida’s leading philanthropists including the Ball’s “Three Amigos” – Norman Wedderburn, President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida; Shareef Malnik, Ball Chairman and proprietor of The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar; and Robert Hill, Gala Host and General Manager of InterContinental Miami gathered for signature cocktails and scrumptious fare, including a Kobe beef carving station and made-to-order risotto.  Celebrity DJ, Irie, provided the musical entertainment.  Wedderburn, Malnik and Hill officially announced this year’s Asian theme and hinted at the special host.  While we’ve been sworn to secrecy, we will say she is “muy caliente!” Stay tuned– we promise to blow the whistle in the very near future. Read the rest of this entry »

At the risk of dating ourselves, we’ll admit it- when it comes to the movie Grease, we had it all- the poster, the record (yes, kids, that’s what we called them in those days), the Candies, the (inappropriate-for-our-age) off-shoulder black top and tight jeans, the movie photo-book and the 18 movie stubs.  With regards to the Grease fan club, meet the president!  Talk about “Hopelessly Devoted!”  So we are delighted to report that a childhood dream was actualized last Thursday when we met “Sandy” a.k.a. Olivia Newton John at the Raleigh for the Pink and Blue For Two fundraiser, sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka. To say that our heads almost exploded when she sang “You’re the One that I Want” with Jon (Secada– not Travolta, but we’ll take what we can get- after all, he did play “Danny” on Broadway) is the understatement of the year!  “Oh yes indeed- eeed!” The otherwise sophisticated crowd went crazy, jumping, screaming and dancing on the sand.

The performance culminated a series of terrific musical acts including:  Inner Circle who played a concert, which included “Bad Boys,” the theme from Cops, Brett Goldsmith, Olivia Newton John’s nephew who flew in from Australia to sing and play the acoustic guitar and Jon Secada, who sang his hit, “Just Another Day,” before his duet with Newton John. Read the rest of this entry »

Chamber Gala- The People Show 

Every year, the Miami Beach Convention center houses a number of noteworthy exhibits, Art Basel, the Car Show, the Boat Show, the Home Show…to name a few.  On Saturday, May 8, the Convention Center was home to the “People Show”, as 900 of the most influential Miami Beach and Miami-Dade county business professionals came together for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce 88^th Annual Dinner gala honoring local luminaries for their outstanding contributions to the community. 

The cabaret-themed ball was reminiscent of Miami Beach’s heyday, with sparkly, black table cloths, white feather centerpieces, cigar rollers, gin martinis, and an 18-piece swing dance band. Michael Aller, “Mr. Miami Beach”, served as Master of Ceremonies, welcoming guests to the “Cabaret” and putting on a full blown show, starting with his glitzy rendition of “Life is a Cabaret” that would have put Liza  to shame.  This year’s Gala Service Awards recipients included William D. Talbert, III, CDME, Elsie Sterling Howard, The Steinberg Family and Boucher Brothers Management Incorporated. 

MCM – Fun for all Ages 

On Saturday, April 24, the Miami Children’s Museum (MCM) held its annual gala in honor of its 25 year anniversary.  Over six hundred guests were able to “play” in the museum’s galleries while enjoying cocktails and delicious bites before heading outside to the enormous tent for dinner catered by the Ritz Carlton South Beach’s celebrity chef, Jeff McInnis and Executive Chef Thomas Connell and a concert by the Average White Band.  The high point of the evening was the $1 million donation by philanthropist Gloria Martin for the launch of MCM’s Capital Endowment Fund Campaign. The Knight Foundation committed $100,000 to the campaign.  This added to the $750,000 that was raised by the spirited live auction for the museum’s programming.  Notable guests at the MCM gala included: Nicole Miller, Romero Britto, Lisa and Donald Pliner, Gisela and Diego Lowenstein, Tracy Mourning, Gloria Martin, Jeff and Yolanda Berkowitz, Claudia Potamkin, Lisa Schejola Akin and Jeffrey Akin, Richard and Susan Lampen, Mo Abety, Evan and Stephanie Reed, FJ and Abigail Pollak, and Richard and Sandy Berkowitz.