Last night, GUCCI and Spinello Projects hosted a private cocktail preview of artist Kris Knight’s solo exhibition Smell The Magic. This pop-up in the heart of the Miami Design District at 95 NE 40th Street marked the beginning of Miami Art Week 2014 and coincided with the release of Knight’s first published catalog.

GUCCI Creative Director Frida Giannini, who referenced Knight’s paintings as inspiration for Gucci’s Fall-Winter 2014 Collection and has most recently collaborated with the artist on a reworking of the iconic Gucci floral print for the 2015 Cruise Collection, was joined by notable guests from the worlds of design, art and fashion at the exclusive reception, including: 

Christophe de Pous (President of GUCCI America), Alia Al-Senussi, Sarah Arison, Daniel Arsham, Fabian Basabe, Georgina Brandolini, Michael Chow, Edgardo Defortuna, Farhad Farman-Farmaian, Michael Govan, Rebecca Guinness, Antonio Haslauer da Costa & Russell Piccione, Laura de Gunzburg, Carlos Jereissati, Sam & Judith Keller, Alexandra & Billy Kimball, Federico Marchetti, Lilian Pacce, Michael Phillips Moskowitz, Jason Pomeranc, Craig Robins, Eric Shiner, Cameron Silver, Marchesa Katrin Theodoli, Francesco Vezzoli, Neville Wakefield, among others.

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By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Arguably the best party of the year, the 20th Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, an elegant “Oz Reimagined”-themed gala, took place on Saturday, November 1, welcoming nearly 1,000 guests, who gathered to dine, dance and donate to one of the worthiest causes: the Make-A-Wish foundation. The highlight of the glamorous celebration, was a thrilling concert by the “Queen of Motown,” Diana Ross- the most outstanding performance we’ve seen at a party since Donna Summer performed at Destination Fashion in 2007 (this writer’s first official social column for The SunPost). Ross, dazzling in a red, bejeweled halter pantsuit, wrapped in red organza, entered the stage singing “I’m Coming Out” and had guests enthralled as she performed other chart-topping hits such as,”Baby Love,” “Upside Down,” “Do You Know,” “Stop-in the Name of and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” And while Ross’ performance was the crown jewel of the Ball, there was plenty of glittery goodness leading up to the concert. From the gold carpet, to the cocktail reception filled with culinary delights created by InterContinental Miami Executive Chef Alexander Feher, including seafood served on an ice bar shaped like the trees from OZ, to the premier items at the Ball’s silent auction, and special appearances by Dorothy and her crew, the Wicked Witch and Glenda and the “Voice of Oz” that summoned revelers to the Main Ballroom for dinner- the night was filled with the enchantment we’ve come to expect from the unparalleled Make A Wish Ball. Inside the Ballroom, guests were captivated by both the splendor of the room’s white-on-white decor and the beauty and wit of Gabrielle Anwar, who returned for the fourth consecutive year as Celebrity Emcee and Auctioneer. In what has become a Ball tradition, Gabrielle and fiancé,  Ball Chair, Shareef Malnik opened the night’s festivities with a creative dramatic moment. This year’s involved Gabrielle engaged in steamy dialogue with a faceless “Oz” – actually the voice of  Shareef — who eventually revealed himself, emerging from underneath the voluminous skirt of Gabrielle’s emerald green ball gown, eliciting a roar of laughter from the room and setting the stage for the more serious task of raising money for Wishes. A touching moment came courtesy of South Florida Wish recipient Nicole Graziano, who sang a touching rendition of “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” Read the rest of this entry »

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
For over 13000 people, who traveled from all parts of the country to gather at the American Airlines Arena on October 24 and 25, Oprah Winfrey’s The Life You Want Weekend was nothing short of transformational. Amid laughter and tears and music, dancing, personal reflections, meditation, testimonials and even exercise, we embarked on a multi-sensory, emotional journey toward fulfillment. The weekend opened on Friday night, October 24, as Oprah entered the stage of a pitch black arena- with the words, “What will you do-with the energy that is you?.” At that moment, to the surprise of the crowd- the silicone wristbands which were given to each guest upon entry, lit up in bright white light- illuminating the giant space- like a sky full of stars.   Next- everything went black and Oprah said, “No matter how dark the night gets, the sun will always rise again.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Miami Symphony Orchestra’s (MISO) Grand Season Opening on Sunday, October 5, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts was a night filled with spectacular music and surprises. Venezuelan Maestro, MISO’s Music Director and Conductor, Eduardo Marturet led the orchestra throughout the two-hour concert with his usual dramatic flair. Dressed in a tuxedo with tails and his signature Donald Pliner loafers, (in royal blue) Marturet delighted audiences through a concert of pieces by Mendelssohn, Rachmaninov, and Brahms. For the second act, world-famous Russian pianist, Lola Astanova, took the stage, to show her mastery on a stunning Steinway Piano. Astanova, who literally sparkled in a bejeweled dress, is considered to be among the most watched virtuoso performers in the world. Under the leadership of Maestro Marturet, her emotional style of performing Rachmaninov’s melodies was sensational. Following the intermission, the orchestra performed Brahms’ masterful Symphony No. 1, declared “the greatest symphony since Beethoven’s Ninth.” During the concert, a representative from famed piano manufacturer, Steinway & Sons (the official piano of the MISO) presented Maestro Marturet with an award and declared him a “Steinway Artist.” Read the rest of this entry »

Gorgeous Year-Round Fashion took Center Stage

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore and Maryanne Salvat

New York City’s Lincoln Center came to life thanks to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) from September 4-11, with a line-up of over 100 designers showing their Spring/Summer 2015 Collections. Dozens of top names in fashion presented a variety of looks that, despite having been created for “spring” would be considered “year-round” fashion in South Florida. As expected, resort wear ruled the runways- floral and artsy prints, pastels and patterns prevailed, as did sleek, structured pieces. Black and white and monochromatic looks were showcased once again this season along with bold and bright colors. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Much like the scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy sets foot inside the Technicolor Land of Oz, revelers were amazed upon entering last Thursday evening’s magical 20^th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish Ball kick-off celebration at the InterContinental Miami. We were transported into a whimsical world created by Deco Productions, that transformed the Hotel’s Chopin Ballroom from top-to-bottom into an Oz-themed fantasy, complete with oversized wheel barrels, cool bars with all sorts of potions and elixers, a Fred Flintstone-esque prime rib station, a Tin Man trapped in a block of ice, and, of course, Red designer shoes – in tribute to Dorothy’s ruby slippers The outlandish décor and palpable excitement provided a glimpse of what’s to come at the highly anticipated “Oz-reimagined” 20th anniversary gala taking place on Saturday, November 1, at the InterContinental Miami. Although guests will have to wait for the gala for a special onstage performance by the legendary Diana Ross, there was no shortage of entertainment at the kick-off party. Just as we were delighting in exquisite cuisine prepared by Executive Sous Chef Jhonnatan Contreras, we spied a commotion towards the front of the ballroom, accompanied by Katie Perry’s, “Dark Horse.” Read the rest of this entry »