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 »
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.” 
Gorgeous Year-Round Fashion took Center Stage
By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
