Rick Shadyac, Luis Fonsi, Giselle Blondet, Daisy Fuentes, and St. Jude patients Anthony, Karelys, and Stephan

by: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Angels and Stars Gala

The stars shone brightly at the 9th annual St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala at the JW Marriott Marquis on Saturday night.  The Havana-inspired bash drew more than 700 supporters and Latin celebrities and entertainers, who gathered to raise funds for the nation’s top-ranked children’s cancer hospital.

Television personality Daisy Fuentes, stunning in a hot-pink silk gown, once again served as celebrity chair.  Award presenters included actresses Angélica Maria and Angélica Vale; Univision television host Giselle Blondet; local personalities, Louis Aguirre, co-host of WSVN’s Deco Drive; Enrique Santos, host of the Univision Radio MIX 98.3 FM morning show and Alberto Sardiñas, host and producer of “Intimo” on Amor 107.5 FM.   Read the rest of this entry »

Fabrizio Cocchi,Paolo,Nadine,and Daniel Borgomanero

On Wednesday, April 27, C&C Art and Accessories, Nadine Curmi Borgomanero and Fabrizio Cocchi hosted a celebration to commemorate the unveiling of the Design Districts latest Italian showroom, MADinitaly. 
 
The private event drew support from a number of notables including famed Tod’s baron Diego Della Valle and his wife Barbara, renown Italian editor Carlo Rossella,  Venetian restaurateur Miky Grendene, La Perla heiress Martina Borgomanero and husband Fabian Basabe, fashion photographer Iran Issa-Khan, Italian Real Estate Mogul Daniela Bonetti, and international socialites Carole Seikaly, Maria Lowe, Francesca Halpern, Emmanuelle & Joane Della Valle, Paula Lieto, Giampiero Di Persia, Diane Ovadia,  and Massimo Barracca. 
 
Indulging in light bites and champagne, guests previewed the unique furniture offerings, home accents, pop-themed art and speciality linens – infused with innate Italian Flair.  The vibrant and playful lines of the furniture as well as the unexpected combinations of colors and textures reflect multiple high design influences of Italian interior designer Fabrizio Cocchi, from cutting-edge contemporary to classic.  Located at 4 Northeast 39th street, the 2,000 square-foot space boasts a perfect balance of eclectic and contemporary touches.

Heather Bailey, Tracy Wilson Mourning, Ayana Rodriguez, and Nadine Valme

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

 More than 500 of Miami’s leading ladies kept their hats on under the big top for the circus-themed Hats Off luncheon hosted by Tracy Wilson Mourning at Jungle Island on Tuesday, May 3, the Honey Shine Mentoring Program’s premier fundraising event.  Circus performers, colorful animal statues, a cotton candy vending machine, snow cones, circus fare and Grey Goose cocktails added excitement to the already whimsical afternoon, which began with a silent auction filled with so many name-brand and hand-crafted items that even Mourning delayed her entrance into the actual luncheon to bid on several terrific bargains. 

Once inside the main ballroom, guests delighted in the wall-to-wall circus décor: tabletops adorned with colorful linens, with centerpieces comprised of hand-painted hat boxes surrounded by circus treats including animal crackers, peanuts, and cracker jacks and a stuffed circus animal wearing a Honey Shine t-shirt on each chair.  Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

This weekend’s news ran the gamut- from the wedding bells heard around the globe, to the beatification of Heaven’s next saint, to the assassination of world’s worst sinner.  Without a doubt, history was made in a few short days.  One newsworthy event took place right in our own backyard, as the most thrilling and highly-anticipated charity event of the season, The Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup brought celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Christina Milian and Ivan Sergei and locals, such as power couple, Market America Founders, JR and Loren Ridinger, together for a two-day thrill ride throughout Miami, with the goal of raising much needed funds for local pediatric cancer organizations. Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

The seventh annual AMG Miami Beach Polo World Cup– the largest beach polo tournament in the world, brought a whole lot of riding, romping, kicking, rearing, and occasional biting to the sands behind the Setai hotel over the weekend- and we are not only referring to the horseplay. Thousands of polo enthusiasts, gussied in their polo finery, gathered in the VIP tent for four gorgeous days of socializing, sipping Grey Goose cocktails, dancing, and, cheering on their favorite players from around the globe. 

Mercedes-AMG performance brand returned for a second season as title sponsor of the world-class sporting event, which benefitted Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami and the National Foundation for Missing and Exploited Children.  Alongside the well-trained thoroughbred horses at the matches, Mercedes-AMG displayed its own brand of “horsepower”- high performance vehicles including the SLS AMG Supersports car and the all-new 2012 CLS63 AMG, with engines designed for peak performance- built for speed, stamina, agility and maneuverability much like that of the polo pony.  Read the rest of this entry »

Donna Karan and Maria Bello at Sustainatopia Awards

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

On Sunday, April 3, Donna Karan, Maria Bello, Selita Ebanks, and Michael Capponi were among the recipients of the Sustainatopia Honors 2011, presented by Plum TV.  These extraordinary philanthropists were honored for their charitable efforts through “impact investing, philanthropy, and sustainable business practices,” at an exclusive cocktail party and awards ceremony at Frank Gehry’s latest architectural marvel, the New World Center in Miami Beach. 

Medium star, Patricia Arquette, (more of a “small” in person but with a HUGE heart) spoke at the event, followed by special performances included Latin Jazz singer, Maria Rivas; motion and visual performance artist, Natasha Tsakos; and founder of the first “green art community” in Florida, Luis Valenzuela.  Special guests included:  Danoushka. 

About winning this prestigious humanitarian award, Michael Capponi remarked, “To be in the company of so many talented and dedicated individuals- Donna Karan, Maria Bello, Selita Ebanks, and Patricia Arquette, was such an honor. Sustainatopia brought us together, each having different projects and goals in mind (all wanting to help the Haitian people). After meeting, we are now all working together. We have become a stronger force as a team and we hope we will be more effective and ultimately reach more people.”   Read the rest of this entry »