By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Maryjoshore@aol.com

The New World Symphony held its official housewarming party to celebrate its new home in the shiny new architectural marvel designed by Frank Gehry last week with much fanfare by way of nightly concerts, a picnic on the lawn and grand opening gala.  On Tuesday, January 25, guests were invited to the first official concert in the hall followed by cocktails on the lawn for the inauguration of the state of the art external video wall, SoundScape and premier of Chronograph, a NWS-commissioned video mural on the New World Center’s projection wall by artist and filmmaker Tal Rosner and artist C.E.B. Reas.  Throngs of guests and passers-by gathered to enjoy the party on the front lawn of the building -which is actually a city park.  Invited guests were given a picnic mat, boxed dinner, and free flowing cocktails and invited to partake in the celebration on the grass or the picnic tables while enjoying the video installations and later dancing to the Latin sounds of the band Tiempo Libre.   Read the rest of this entry »

Barbara Herzberg, Bonnie Clearwater, Diane and Alan Lieberman

by: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

There are kick-offs and there are kick-off bashes, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, a.k.a. MOCA, knows a thing or two about the latter. Although the big event is less than 3 weeks away, MOCA threw a preview for its upcoming “Surf’s Up!” gala just last week at the Catalina Hotel & Beach Club for 400 guests.  The party featured free flowing Grey Goose cocktails, beach grub, dance music and discounted tickets to the gala to be held on February 19^th.   The gala is a bargain, at only $150 per ticket. As anyone who’s been to a MOCA Bash will attest, this is one of the highlights of the social season every year, as the museum is transformed to fit the theme- a casino one year, a bohemian pad another, a Bollywood stage set another- and the artsy guests dress to fit the theme. Read the rest of this entry »

The Adrienne Arsht Center celebrated its 5^th Anniversary with a fabulous black and white gala in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House. The evening was divided into five “acts,” one for every year the gala has been open, starting with a posh cocktail and the unveiling of the grand donor wall, honoring the Center’s greatest supporters and visionaries (Acts I and II). A fabulous Barton G. dinner experience on the stage (Act III) was followed by a show-stopping performance by Miami’s own, four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza (Act IV) at the end of which the secret setting for Act V was revealed: an elaborate Latin dance club at the rear of the stage.

In keeping with the 5^th Anniversary Season theme, “Every great performance begins with you,” the gala celebrated the dedication of several “grand honorees” including: Adrienne Arsht, Lin Arison/Arison Arts Foundation, Alberto and Susana Ibargüen/Knight Foundation, Parker and Vann Thomson, Woody and Judy Weiser, and Sanford and Dolores Ziff. Other notable guests included gala chairs Mike and Margaret Eidson, Marvin Ross Friedman, Adrienne bon Haes, Adrienne Arsht Center President and CEO John Richard and co-chairs:  Ana and Rob Barlick, Trish and Dan Bell, Nancy Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Loria, and Penny and Roe Stamps.

 PHOTO CREDIT: Manny Hernandez and Seth Browarnik

Nat Moore and Dwight Stephenson

All-time NFL/Dolphin great, Nat Moore, (known for his “Helicopter Catch” while making a reception against the New York Jets in 1984) hosted the kick off for his Foundation’s fund raising season for the 2011 Canon Florida Golf Classic on Wednesday at the Miami International Links Golf and Country Club.  Joining Moore at the reception, was his wife, Pat, along with Dwight Stephenson, NFL Hall of Famer and Former Miami Dolphin Starting Center; Nat Moore Foundation Board Members: Jim Rosetta, Sergio Pereira and his daughter Lauren Pereira; Bob and Jenny Pechon, Wendell and Carolyn Beard, Joanie Connors and Derrick Milhous, Richard and Louise Gathright, Frank Jantzen, Lance Joseph, Maury Joseph,Jim Kiely and Susan Goldstein.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing educational, cultural and recreational activities to South Florida’s disadvantaged youth, ages 5 to 18, and has raised and dispersed nearly $2 million to various youth and social service organizations, helping more than 40 students attain their higher education through scholarships and providing support services to hundreds of children and youth through academic, fitness and life-skills programs.  For more information on the Nat Moore Foundation and the 2011 Canon Florida Golf Classic to be held in March, call 305.770.0995 or e-mail info@natmoorefoundation.net.

Stephen Gamson & Ivette Naranjo

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Maryjoshore@aol.com

The social season is officially upon us, as evidenced by our jam-packed social calendar. We are officially triple booked most nights this month.  Fortunately, Miami’s social-set gets more creative each year, making for interesting and exciting events to keep us busy and entertained erstwhile helping wonderful causes. Here’s a short rundown of some terrific events from the past week.  

Green Room Society

On Thursday night, the Adrienne Arsht Center’s under-40-and-fabulous set — otherwise known as the Green Room Society – held an exclusive preview party at the Center’s new cocktail hot spot, Bombay Sapphire Lounge, located in the art deco Carnival Tower on the Adrienne Arsht Center campus.  Read the rest of this entry »

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.