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 »

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.