New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy (NWS), hosted its coveted 30^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, Feb. 10. Presented by Gala Chairs Sarah Arison and Thomas Wilhelm, the black-tie affair raised the most funds in all of NWS history, which will go directly towards supporting its fellowship program, its work in the community and innovative programming. The evening also paid tribute to composter Leonard Bernstein in the centennial of his birth with a special performance led by Founder and Artistic Director, Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT).   Read the rest of this entry »

On Saturday, December 9, 2017, Market America | SHOP.COM sponsored a truly unique event as part of Art Basel Miami Beach, which was held Dec. 7-10.  JR and Loren Ridinger have always been big believers in helping others achieve their dreams.  This year, Market America | SHOP.COM invested in the dreams of a very talented new-to-the-scene artist! The National YoungArts Foundation has started the Daniel Arsham Fellowship, which includes a $25,000 award and year-long mentorship program with Arsham, an acclaimed artist. Market America | SHOP.COM sponsored the unrestricted $25,000 grant, which for its first year went to YoungArts alum and up-and-coming artist SHENEQUA. The program is currently funded for three years. Market America | SHOP.COM will also donate an additional $75,000 to support ongoing programming for YoungArts alumni. Read the rest of this entry »

Michael Kors, Sachin & Babi, Coach 1941, Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs. Photos: Imaxtree

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

As Hurricane Irma raged through and ransacked South Florida, grounding several fashion editors, Fashion Week swept through New York City with a storm of shows and presentations that had insiders and influencers traveling from Bedford to Bushwick and beyond. From September 7-13^th 2017, designers showcased on the street and in gardens and garages this year with packed shows that proved that Fashion Week in New York remains as relevant as its counterparts abroad.  Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

It was a night of magic, music, mysticism and wish granting as the Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida and InterContinental® Miami celebrated the 23^rd Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball on Saturday, November 4, 2017. More than 900 guests attended the “Mystical Music Box” themed gala, which presented a night of enchantment, fantasy and music. The magical celebration was headlined by four time Grammy-award winning, multi-platinum-selling artist Lenny Kravitz, and presented by the Makarov Foundation and the Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation, with opening act by Alisan Porter, winner of NBC’s The Voice 2016, who returned for the second year. 

Actress and filmmaker Gabrielle Anwar, who co–stars on the ABC drama “Once Upon a Time,” returned as celebrity emcee for the seventh consecutive year, helping the event to raise in excess of $2.3 million for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida. Hosted by the InterContinental® Miami, Ball founder and in-kind donor for the past 23 years, the event was chaired by philanthropist Shareef Malnik, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, who has served as Ball Chairman for the past 13 years. The annual Ball, which is regarded as one of Miami charity season’s leading events, is the highest grossing fundraising event for the Southern Florida Chapter of Make-A-Wish® Foundation.  Read the rest of this entry »

Last night in Miami Beach Ocean Drive magazine and Ricky Martin, the glossies October issue cover star and multi award-winning actor, singer, activist and Puerto Rico native was joined by partners INFINITI and W South Beach to celebrate the new issue as well as raise crucial funds for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico.  Recognized as one of the most beloved performers and humanitarians, Ricky was joined by his fiancé Jwan Yosef, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Jared Shapiro and Publisher, Courtland Lantaff along with VIPs and leading tastemakers including the Mayor of Miami Beach Philip Levine and more than 200 philanthropists and tastemakers in giving back to the victims in Puerto Rico of Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story star opened up to Ocean Drive in a candid interview inside the October issue about what fatherhood means to him, returning to Miami to play such an important role in the life and death of Gianni Versace and the inspiration behind creating the Ricky Martin Foundation.  Funds raised at the invitation-only event were collected through the Ricky Martin Foundation. In addition to INFINITI and W South Beach several Miami-based businesses supported the event through the donation of silent auction packages including hotel stays, luxury items and epicurean dinners. Guests enjoyed the sounds of DJ Rascal, DJ Iron Lyon and DJ Liveitup while sampling savory hors d’oeuvres and specialty cocktails by 1888 Rum.

Miami Cares for Puerto Rico

Together with Haute Living, Michael Capponi, Global Empowerment Mission and Karla Dascal, wellness entrepreneur and founder of the Sacred Space Miami, are uniting the city with a “Miami Cares for Puerto Rico” fundraising event at The Sacred Space Miami on Thursday, October 5th, 2017. Celebrity guests Carlos Ponce and Jencarlos Canela will be in attendance, who have both been active proponents in helping Puerto Rico. The night will include a presentation of the efforts that have been and are currently going on in Puerto Rico.  GEM along Caribbean Resilience Systems and affiliated groups such as We Do Better and various groups have marshalled over 4 million pounds of aid.  100% of proceeds from this event will go to support logistics and shipping to Puerto Rico. Guests will also enjoy live music, entertainment, open bar where guests will sip on DON Q Puerto Rican Rum, passed bites courtesy of Grown, and a live auction at the end of the evening. Tickets are $100 each and will go straight to GEM to benefit Puerto Rico—guests are also encouraged to donate more money if they’d like, as every penny counts to help someone’s life in this time of need. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.

Miami New Times’ Iron Fork

For the last decade, Miami New Times’ blockbuster Iron Fork has drawn thousands to downtown Miami to enjoy some of the most interesting and exotic cuisine ever sampled in these parts. To celebrate our decade of decadence, Iron Fork partners with Sunshine Provisions and The Miami Rescue Mission with a special OFF THE MENU twist, experience the secret menu items that are not always available at our favorite local spots. The event, presented by The Miami New Times, was selected as one of the top 100 events in South Florida consecutively for the last Four years by Biz Bash. This year, on October 5, thousands of diners and food lovers from across Greater Miami will gather at The Hyatt Regency— the staple venue in downtown Miami — to watch our city’s finest chefs go pot-to- pot in a sizzling showdown for supremacy. Also, once again this year, one of the area’s most celebrated chefs and a member of the famed “Mango Gang,” Allen Susser, will oversee the competition.The winner will receive the prestigious Iron Fork Award, signifying the area’s top toque. Some of the past winners of Iron Fork include Chefs Todd Erickson, Giorgio Rapicavoli, Daniel Serfer, Timon Balloo, and tag team Sean Brasel and Dustin Ward in 2016.  For tickets visit: https://www.newtimesironfork.com/

Chefs 4 Neighbors

Join National Hotel’s Executive Chef Matthew McDonald and South Florida’s top chefs on Wednesday, October 11th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for Chefs 4 Neighbors, a culinary tasting event to help victims in communities affected by devastating back-to-back hurricanes.