De Beers at Bal Harbour Shops

Prior to the New York Fashion Week fun, during Fashion’s Night Out, De Beers at Bal Harbour Shops hosted an event with philanthropists, Jill Viner and Allison Weiss Brady to benefit Gene Spotlight, which provides medical research grants for rare genetic disorders for.  Guests included Jill’s husband Cliff Viner, who is owner of the NHL Florida Panthers, Sarah Arison, George A. Weiss, Chip Brady of LSN Partners, D. Ashlee Harrison, Aaron Glickman, Tiffany Zientz Heckler, Iran Issa-Khan and Josh Fein to name a few.  De Beers store director Eric Villafane treated guests to an exclusive preview of the De Beers Talisman Collection.  At the FNO event, De Beers auctioned off a Sun Medal Pendant from the Talisman collection valued at $7,450.  Over $13,500 was raised at the event for Gene Spotlight, whose charity “Celebrity Ambassadors” include 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast Kerri Strug, NBA star Etan Thomas, and MLB star Mark DeRosa of the SF Giants.

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. [smooth=id:144;]

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 »