By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Iran Issa-Khan and Greg Gorman

While the stars shone brightly in Hollywood this weekend during the Golden Globes, we had our own share of Hollywood glam at DCOTA during the VIP preview gala for its latest DesignHouse, centered around the Golden Age of Hollywood, and the 200 piece retrospective by Hollywood photographer, Greg Gorman, entitled A Distinct Vision 1970-2010.

More than 700 art and design lovers, including a multitude of artists and designers, gathered at Design Center of the Americas on Tuesday, January 18 to celebrate the debut of  DCOTA’s latest DesignHouse, wherein 20 of South Florida’s top design firms proved that film and design go together like champagne and stone crabs- or something like that.  The exhibit features 20 installations inspired by iconic films that “influenced a universal culture and transformed a way of life,” merging the creative disciplines of film and design and demonstrating the visual impact that environments have in telling a story. (Just think, what would Casablanca have been without Rick’s Café or Psycho without the shower?) Read the rest of this entry »

Escape to New York

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

With the holidays barely over and the credit card statements trickling in it seems that nightlife in Miami has settled into a lull as we gear up (read purge and fast) for South Beach Wine and Food Festival in a few weeks. Yet the 2011 social calendar is slowly starting to unfold (check out Don’t Miss!).  This leaves us reminiscing about our New York escape over the holidays and planning a prompt return- should the blizzards cease in the near future.  Yes, the lights and giant snowflakes have been taken down from Fifth Avenue, and Rockefeller Center no longer sports a giant tree, but New York City still has plenty of sparkle to offer.  Aside from the basic musts:  the major shopping streets, ice skating in the recently upgraded Wollman Rink, traipsing through Central Park, riding the elevators at the Marriott Marquis, visiting the museums and the top of the Empire State building, discovering hidden gems in Soho and the Village and eating all of the delicious street foods, here are a few spots that caught our attention on our last visit. Read the rest of this entry »

Tinsley Mortimer and Brian Mazza

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

The week leading up to New Year’s Eve was so packed with celeb-filled events and celebrations that it made going out on the big night seem almost like overkill. From a penthouse party which included Beacher’s Madhouse Oompa Loompas which packed into a party bus to LIV;to the official grand opening of Lords South Beach Hotel, which was so packed that it seemed the penthouse terrace was going to go the way of the elevator from the Tower of Terror; to LeBron James’ star-studded birthday bash, South Beach got an electric awakening from its post-Basel slumber and bid adieu to 2010 in its typical mayhem and style.

Oh Lordy

Tinsley Mortimer, Richie Rich, Tracy Young and Lady Bunny hosted the coming out bash for Lords South Beach on Wednesday night. Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

In South Beach where it’s perpetually New Year’s Eve,  you will find an onslaught of places to pop your bottles in the ice and get “snizzled and sizzled” as the clock strikes 12 and you usher in 2011, albeit at 1000% mark-up.  We trust that you have been eating your Wheaties, taking your vitamins and have stashed away some cash to blow on the big night, so we are providing you with a short list of parties that may actually be worth said cash.  After all, is two months’ salary too much to spend on the most fun night you won’t remember? Happy New Year!  Read the rest of this entry »

The Big Top by the Bay – KOOZA
The raising of the Blue-and-Yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) and the set up of the Cirque du Soleil Village at Miami’s Bicentennial Park can only mean that Cirque du Soleil’s critically acclaimed production KOOZA is in town!
KOOZA is an attempt to return to ‘the origins’ of circus performing by combining clowning and high tension acrobatics while exploring the themes of fear, identity, recognition and power through a variety of amazing acts showcasing the soul of circus tradition.

KOOZA is the story of a character called the Innocent who takes you along on his journey through the world of KOOZA while he meets characters like the Trickster, the King, the Pickpocket, the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.  A word of caution about the Pickpocket, if you happen to be the lucky audience member who is taken on stage for a “demonstration” with the pickpocket, well let’s just say….hold on to your hat Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Mary Jo Almeida -Shore

As many of us complete our 12- step Art Basel recovery program, and begin to stress about New Year’s week (which, in the spirit of “If it’s worth doing it’s worth overdoing,”- lasts about a week), we know what you’re thinking…Art Basel- isn’t that LONG over?! Well to answer, “You didn’t really think we’d be able to cover all the fabulocity Basel has to offer in just one week, did you?” After all, it is the world’s biggest art show!  So here are just a few more great events we didn’t get to last week- for sheer lack of space and strength. Read the rest of this entry »