Josh Wagner, John Meadow, Bobby Rossi, and Amy Sacco

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Our new favorite South Beach hotspot, Rec Room, at the sleek and stylish, Gale Hotel recently opened its doors on Thursday, to the delight of locals, New Yorkers and the international jet set. LDV Hospitality’s owners John Meadow and Curt Huegel, officially unveiled the cozy yet chic subterranean lounge, the Miami sister of the VIP upstairs lounge at New York’s, den-for-the-fabulous, No. 8, on the evening of January 17, debuting the lounge’s weekly BeachKred party along with a celebration of LDV Managing Partner and Miami nightlife veteran Joshua Wagner’s  birthday.

It’s no surprise that the lounge was filled to the rafters before midnight, with pretty young things and brilliant/entertaining not-so-young ones; or that the exclusive underground vibe and music had guests giddy with laughter and tearing up the dance floor until the sun came up.  After all, Rec Room comes to us through the collaborative efforts of  LDV Brand Partner, Amy Sacco, lauded as “Nightlife Empress” by the New York Times, well known for NYC’s famed Bungalow 8 (THE place to be a few years ago); LDV Co-founders and Principals, Meadow and Huegel, whose impressive roster offood and beverage outlets include some of the most critically acclaimed restaurants, bars, and lounges in the United States, and nightlife impresario, Bobby Rossi, who heads up LDV’s nightlife division. Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

Stars flocked to An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala on the evening of Saturday, January 12, which began with an inspiring, interdisciplinary performance by YoungArts alumni from around the nation at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, followed by a gourmet dinner at the Alfred I. DuPont Building and “dancing in the street” on Flagler Street. Actors including: Adrian Grenier, Max Schneider, Andrew Rannells and Brian Stokes Mitchell; actresses Marisa Tomei, Debi Mazar, and Zuzanna Szadkowski, along with honoree and violinist Joshua Bell; Mikhail Baryshnikov, Chick Corea, Jacques D’Amboise, Shelly Berg, Debbie Allen, Bill T. Jones, James Rosenquist, and YoungArts alum participated in the National YoungArts Foundation’s (YoungArts) magnificent event, that raised in excess of $1 million in support of YoungArts programs in Miami, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Read the rest of this entry »

 By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

MAM Ball 

On December 8, 2012 the Miami Art Museum (MAM) Ball and after party drew more than 700 stylish supporters, all dressed in black-tie, who gathered at MAM to commemorate the museum’s 29 years at Cultural Center in anticipation of next year’s move to Museum Park. The ball was a thrilling culmination to Miami Art Week/Art Basel Miami Beach, raising an astounding $700,000 for the Museum’s public programming, and marking the 12-month countdown to MAM’s reopening as Pérez Art Museum Miami in its new, Herzog & de Meuron-designed facility alongside Biscayne Bay. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Dr. Mary Jo Shore

Melissa Molson, Mary Jo Shore, Michael Kirkland, Iran Issa-Khan, Zachary Scott, Aleks DeCarvalho, Dawidh Orlando at Issa-Khan’s NYE Party

Iran Issa-Khan’s New Year’s Eve Bash 

“…burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars” quoted from Kerouac only begins to touch one of the most astounding evenings in Miami history: world renowned artist, photographer, reluctant icon, Iran Issa-Khan’s New Year’s Eve party. 

Eighty five guests from Issa-Khan‘s magnificent and coveted ‘list’ that spans the world-over, arrived between 10 pm and the midnight explosion of grand fireworks over a magnificent Miami skyline. Ebullient guests did not stop dancing from the second they set foot in Issa-Khan’s stunning home, with views of the ocean and all of Miami, but for brief intervals to engage in spirited chatter. Dinner was served promptly at 12:15 in the early morning. This in itself was FABULOUS, as Issa-Khan herself unplugged the power cord to the DJ’s turntable to make the first toast of the night as guests listened in total silence and awe to her wise advice for the New Year: She spoke of love, harmony, light and prosperity, but most of all of being true to oneself and going forward with one’s inner secret desires for personal achievement and… Read the rest of this entry »

 By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore and Maryanne Salvat

Tosca

Revel in the spirits of Jay Gatsby during a New Year’s Eve soiree that will be true to his extravagant form. The Great Gatsby themed party at Tosca will feature a decadent menu consisting of the world’s finest imported delicacies and   the evening will encompass the essence and glamour of the 1920s. Reign in the New Year in your finest 1920s attire as you cheer to another year of fun and excitement with a champagne toast at midnight. For $245 per person, you receive a ten-course meal including the finest daily imported ingredients including: Sevruga Caviar and Todo Crudo Seasoned with Yuzu, Maine Sea Scallops still in Shell with Champagne Sauce, Seared Authentic Kobe Ribeye and Chocolate Mousse made with premium Vintage Valrhona Gran Couva Chocolate and Crunchy Pearls. With one intimate seating for the night beginning sharply at 9:00 p.m., the exclusive evening will be one not to be forgotten. For reservations, call 786.216.7230 or visit www.toscamiami.com. Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore Haute Living magazine kicked off Art Basel with an event Vogue called one of the most anticipated of the week. The dinner party hosted by Daphne Guinness, Dom Pérignon and Roger Dubuis in celebration of Guinness’ collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Roger Dubuis called The Velvet Collection, which was Haute Living’s Basel Issue Cover story. Sixty guests gathered in the courtyard of the posh Villa Azur restaurant on December 5, at a table covered with violet roses to matched Guinness’ Haute Living cover shot taken by Nick Knight. Even Martha Stewart could resist snapping a few photos of the table. The elegant party was crawling with celebrities, VIPs and A listers as guests included Martha Stewart, Karolina Kurkova, Russell Simmons, Ray Allen, Lea Black, Marysol Patton, Stephen Dorff, IWC President Gianfranco D’Attis,street artist, Alec Monopoly, DJ Irie and, of course,Ms. Guinness herself. Dom Pérignon showed off a bottle with a glowing label by fellow creative soul, David Lynch. Earlier in the day, Diane von Furstenberg’s launched her limited edition Evian bottle at a lunch at Soho Beach House alongside guests Russell Simmons, Chelsea Handler and Andre Balazs.