Nikki Adamkova, George Wallner, and Ximena Gonzalez

The first annual Hearts and Stars Gala took place Saturday evening at Casa Malinka, the waterfront estate of Russian super-model, Malinka Max and George Wallner to benefit The Little Lighthouse Foundation and Ronald McDonald Charities of South Florida. This “un-gala” seemed like a “pretty people convention” with over 600 well-heeled, great looking guests in attendance.  Instead of assigned seating, drawn out speeches, or banquet food (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) the Hearts and Stars gala featured an informal gathering, wherein guests roamed the expansive property, danced, mingled, bid on terrific auction items, enjoyed gourmet food from food stations provided by Devito South Beach, the Chop House, The  Ivy and GREY GOOSE cocktails a-go-go and were treated to a fashion show and two incredible musical performances, one by up-and-coming superstar, charismatic, NIR (who we tout as a young, Israeli Justin Timberlake, except even more gorgeous) and another  live performance by the legendary Pras Michel, founder and former member of the multi Grammy award winning group, The Fugees.  NIR showed off his terrific vocals, which are rivaled only by his dance moves, performing his debut single “Here I Come” along with dancers from the Strip.  Can we say “HOT?!”  After a brilliantly colorful fashion show by designer Rosita Hurtado, Pras Michel and his new band AXIXS wowed the crowd with a concert which included their new single “Hipstar”, along with other classics mixed in with the requisite Gaga, and the multi-platinum selling single “Ghetto Superstar,” (mashed-up with Dolly Parton’s “Islands in the Stream”- who knew both songs have the same melody?) which was even better than the original, complete with a fireworks display in the background.  Read the rest of this entry »

Jorge and Irene Korge

More than 1,200 party animals, the human kind, united at the Zoological Society of Florida’s Annual Fundraiser, Feast with the Beasts at Miami’s Metro Zoo, where diners feasted on great food from over 40 top restaurants, (Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Gotham Steak, Kitchen 305, Town Kitchen and Bar) and open bars serving premium liquors keeping guests warm during the cool evening.  Belly dancers, fire dancers, and wild animal encounters delighted partygoers at every turn throughout the night.  The Miami Heat Dancers kicked off Ron Magill’s Spectacular Dance Party that got everyone in the mood to burn off some calories and dance the night away.

 Special dignitaries at the wild fundraiser included Commissioners Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Sally Heyman, Katy Sorenson and County Manager George Burgess.  Broadcast news anchors: Dan Le Batard, Lissette Gonzalez, and Bob Mayer.

 For more information on future events visit www.miamimetrozoo.com.

Lea and Roy Black

The Blacks’ Annual Gala hosted by power-couple Lea and Roy Black took place right smack in the middle of the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, on Saturday, February 27 at the Fontainebleau.  Known for hosting one of the coolest events every year, with the most eclectic guest list and entertainment roster, the Blacks hosted over 700 guests during this year’s 15th anniversary gala. One hundred percent of the ticket sales and auction proceeds benefited The Consequences Charity, Educate Tomorrow, I have a Dream and Project Medishare for Haitian relief efforts founded by internationally renowned physician, Dr. Barth Green.  Uber Diva, Elaine Lancaster, served as Celebrity Hostess, a role she has valued dearly for eight years in a row.  After the reception and silent auction, guests enjoyed a 4-course meal and special musical performances, the first of which was a soulful saxophone rendition of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” by Alto Reed, quite fitting for a benefit for the Consequences  Charity, which is primarily devoted to helping troubled youths do just that. 

Latin Pop sensation, Paulina  Rubio took the mic next, followed by Grammy Award-winning Artist Natalie Cole, who got guests to their feet to slow dance (when was the last time you did That?), especially when she sang crowd pleaser, “Unforgettable.” Platinum Recording Artist Rick Ross performed next.  We did say “eclectic” did we not? Read the rest of this entry »

Vizcaya was a page out of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby on Saturday night for the glitzy and glamorous, Lingerie Miami, the only such showcase of lingerie in the United States. Aglow in pink lighting, the palace was reminiscent of Versailles, its beauty rivaled only by the gorgeous crowd of 500, who braved the uncharacteristically chilly weather, forking out $1,000.00 a head to support the 7Bar Foundation, a charity aimed at helping impoverished women around the globe. The event, hosted by actress Eva Longoria Parker and co-hosted by supermodel Veronica Webb, former Apprentice, Sean Yazbeck and spiritual leader and author, Deepak Chopra, (strange bedfellows indeed), was nothing short of spectacular, right down to the gold-gilded goblets, Swarovski-encrusted Moet & Chandon bottles and the raciest, sexiest lingerie this side of a Paris bordello. European lingerie designers, Fifi Chachnil, Carine Gilson and Agent Provocateur produced unique, sensual fashion shows, proving that lingerie is couture.

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The New World Symphony took over the Gusman Center on Valentine’s eve presenting Vivace: “Great Loves of the Silver Screen” better known as “catnip for romantics.”  Brilliant musical performances by the orchestra accompanied some of Hollywood’s most memorable movie scenes from love stories, starting with the Titanic anthem “My Heart Will Go On”. The handsome and charming, Academy Award-winning director, David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me) served as emcee and made snarky and funny comments before and after each performance.  For instance, Frankel proclaimed he was “King of the World” after the Titanic number and described Madame Bovary as “a film about frustrated peasant woman who slept around and then committed suicide- Perfect for Valentine’s Day.”   Other favorite music and film clips included Dr. Zhivago and A Time for Us.  Following the performances, guests many of whom channeled their inner Golden-Era film legend, crossed the street on a red carpet to the Alfred I. DuPont Building, which had been transformed into a 21^st century speakeasy. A jubilant, energetic vibe permeated the entire evening.  Attendees included Martin Rozenblum, Claudia Cisneros, Rita Cabasés, Gordon Myers, Lourdes & Timothy Collett, Lin and Sarah Arison, Neisen & Ana Kasdin, Howard & Mary Frank, Gerald & Jane Katcher, Mario & Lourdes de Armas, Woody and Judy Weiser, Matthew & Jennifer Buttrick,  Stanley & Gala Cohen, Edward Shumsky & Sue Kronick,  Adam & Chanin Carlin, Bob & Diane Moss, Jody Wolfe, Diane Sepler, Sheldon & Florence Anderson, Sari & Dr. Arthur Agatston, Beau Beasley, Anne Owen & Alan Roth, Vanessa & Gary Ressler, Lisa Schejola Kin & Jeffrey Akin and Irene & Rod Sintow, David Restainer & Sandra Hernandez, Florencia Ximenez-Marcos & Xavier Gonzalez, Orlando Gonzales, Marcia Martinez & Michael Laas, Aaron Resnick, Chad Turner and Alia Dia.

Every year, Pawpurrazzi is one of the most unique events in town. Where else can you see 500 socialites, with more than 350 dogs in tow, all dressed to the nines?  This year’s Pawpurrazzi, chaired by Pat and Milton Wallace, took place on Friday night at Jungle Island and was THE place where dog and people watching reigned supreme.  From ice cream treats, make-overs, and a Purina doggy bar for the furry guests, to a fabulous dinner and impressive auction chaired by Saks Dadeland’s Juan Lopez, Marisa Cisneros and Ann Rubino, for the humans, Pawpurrazzi was a blast for guests of any species.

One of the evening’s highlights, was the one-of-a kind fashion show:  “Great Pets Who Walk In Front of Great People,” where honored guests and their dog(s) ironically walked the “catwalk” for the runway show, the best part of which was seeing just how much people look like their dogs, or vice versa.  The 50 foot dessert bar, which included gourmet cupcakes, brownies, make-your-own sundaes and S’mores- (complete with blow torches and all), Turkish coffee and just about every other scrumptious delight imaginable was also fantastic. The event raised close to $500,000 for the Humane Society and five dogs were adopted during the evening

Special guests included: Sandy, Jon, and Nancy Batchelor, Kirk Landon and Pamela Garrison, Bunny Bastian, Marisa Cisneros-Rizzon, Dr. Fredric Brandt, Yvonne Eldredge and Emily Damiano, Barbara and F.W. Mort Guilford, Sherrill and Mary Ann Hudson, Linda and Patrick McEnany, Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami, Jeanette and Ted Fine, Christina and Robert Hudson, DJ and Steve Kerr, Sandy Zankl, Steven and Allison Zelkowitz, Melanie and Ryan Herman, Jeff and Yolanda Berkowitz, Sam Blum, Lady Beatrice Clancy, Ana May and Eugene Conese, Skip and Joyce Dickerson, Irene and Chris Korge, Helene and Marc Kovens, Juan and Carmen Lopez, the Munilla family, Jennifer and Richard Postrel, Ann and Frank Rubino, Bob and Sookey Schwartz,  Rene Ruiz, Marysol Patton, Amy Zakarin and Glenn Singer, Mayor of Golden Beach.