Adriana Hubbard, Isabel Fontoura, Christiano Braga, & Priscilla Caiad

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

With all eyes on Brazil this summer – it came as no surprise that one of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim’s most exclusive events was all about Brazilian designers. On the evening of Friday, July 18, the Brazilian Association of Fashion Designers (ABEST), the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT), and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) introduced the international fashion community to the new “Brasil Beyond” campaign during an exclusive multi-course seated dinner at Cecconi’s at Soho Beach House. This new global brand aims to shatter expectations of traditional Brazilian swim fashions and a select group of the industry’s top insiders joined Miami’s social set for Caipirinha cocktails outside at Soho Beach House’s Cecconi’s restaurant. Read the rest of this entry »

Thompson Miami Beach dinner by Seagrape Chef Michelle Bernstein hosted by Lee Brian Schrager, Ricardo Restrepo, Charlie & Lauran Walk

Thompson Miami Beach, along with Republic Records executive, Charlie Walk, and wife, Lauran Walk, and South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Lee Brian Schrager, along with Ricardo Restrepo, hosted a private dinner in Water Mill, New York to preview the upcoming hotel’s Seagrape restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein on Sunday, August 17. Nearly 100 notables, including Brian Atwood, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Diane Lieberman, Ken Gorin, Lawrence Bender, Richard Bressler, and Stephanie Hirsch attended the swanky soiree in the Walks’ home.    In addition to several of Bernstein’s signature canapés, guest’s enjoyed a raw bar inspired by Thompson Miami Beach’s beachside locale inside a glamorous tent decorated to mirror the causal glamour designer Martin Brudnizki will infuse into the 380-room hotel that is scheduled to open October 31, 2014. During the party, guests got to sample Seagrape’s dishes and feasted on a dessert station.

Mayor Philip Levine poses with Lourdes Hanimian, Catherine Bennett, Red Carter, Monica Wise, Sue Dichio, Jeremy Somers, Katinka Somers, Mara Hoffman and Benny Rosset at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2015 at The Raleigh on July 17, 2014 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2015 took over the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach from July 17-21 for five fun-filled days and nights of splashy parties and sexy swimsuit shows. Mercedes-Benz celebrated the 10th anniversary of MBFW Swim and its collaboration with labels that have shown throughout the last decade by wrapping ten 2015 C-Class cars in custom prints by ten iconic designers. The stunning designer-print wrapped cars welcomed guests to the tents each night, with a rotating selection parked on Collins Avenue. Designers such as: Carmen Marc Valvo, Cia.Maritima, Luli Fama, Beach Bunny, Suboo, We Are Handsome, Mara Hoffman, L*Space by Monica Wise, Red Carter and Nanette Lepore created prints to “dress” the cars. In addition, gorgeous models posed around the pool, donning limited edition cover-ups during the Retrospective Fashion Show during the MBFW Swim kick-off bash on opening night. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

During the weekend of June 27-28, iHeartRadio and Fontainebleau Miami Beach hosted the third annual iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party presented by VISIT FLORIDA. The two-day music fest drew fans from all over the country, including more than 150 contest winners, who gathered for an incredible bash on the lawn, in the pools, and all throughout the Fontainebleau.

Hosted by Nick Cannon, the iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party kicked off Friday night with exclusive performances by Lil Jon who set the one with his hit “Turn Down for What?!” The energy boomed from there as Tiesto, Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande took to the stage. Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

Nearly 2,000 guests gathered in their tropical finest to raise $400,000 for underprivileged children at the summer’s hottest kick-off party- the 2014 Voya Miami Celebrity Domino Night presented by Bacardí USA, on Saturday, June 14, at Jungle Island.  This bash, which  benefitted Amigos For Kids, featured  hours upon hours of dancing, a full concert by legendary Grammy-award winning musician, Willy Chirino and limitless sips and bites.

Devoted to strengthening families and educating communities, Amigos For Kids once again partnered with title sponsor Voya Financial (formerly ING U.S.) and major corporate sponsors Bacardí U.S.A., Walmart and The Lincoln Motor Company for the highly anticipated event.  Read the rest of this entry »

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

During the weekend of June 19-21, Miami’s own DJ Irie hosted his 10th Annual Irie Weekend (#IWX) to benefit the Irie Foundation (www.iriefoundation.org).  The festivities spanned over three days and welcomed guests to the first ever Irie Weekend Hotel at the National in Miami Beach. On Thursday afternoon, #IWX began with a youth workshop at the Miami Beach Golf Club where 40 children participated in the FORE Life Golf Clinic.  Weekend co-host, Jamie Foxx attended the clinic to meet with kids and also learn a few pointers of his own in preparation for the next day’s anchor golf event. Read the rest of this entry »