Happy Birthday Lucky Strike!

by: Mary Jo Shore

One of the advantages of the slow summer months is that we get to enjoy local spots and events that often get overlooked during the busy social season. Take Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary last Thursday. While South Beach is not typically hailed as a bowling destination, Lucky Strike has been attracting locals and celebs for half a decade, thanks to its cool vibe, great music, delicious food and excellent service.  Last Thursday’s party was a combination of all of the above, where more than 250 guests were treated to a ’50s pinup-themed party, which featured a photo booth, temporary tattoos by Ocho Placas, and old school tunes by DJ Di Marco spun old school tunes,  and of course, bowling. Read the rest of this entry »

Nick D'Annunzio and Tara Solomon

One event to which we look forward every summer is TARA, Ink. Principal, Nick D’Annunzio’s birthday party. Some locals even plan their summer travels around the celebration, which promises a fabulous theme- and even better crowd, year after year.  This year’s party, which took place last Saturday night, was no exception, with a “vintage tease/burlesque” theme at Miami’s first and only exclusive tease burlesque absinthe club, La Fee Verte.

Miami’s who’s who, dressed in their haute-est couture, enjoyed V Georgio Vodka cocktails, hors d’oeuvres courtesy of French Bistro Lemon Twist and delectable treats courtesy of Sweet Street and Ana Paz Cakes, who created a cake in the shape of a corset, in keeping with the theme. The burlesque numbers were unmatched, including contortionist acts and a ballet performance-leading to comments by partygoers such as, “If I could do that, I’d be a very wealthy woman,” and “Who needs college, when you can do THAT!?” (from one of the younger attendees). Guests delighted in a surprise performance by temptress Nicole Soden of the club’s tantalizing Madames du Mischief and danced the night away to the beats of South Florida’s latest stylish DJ duo Ess & Emm (Sasha Lauzon and Michelle Leshem). But the highlight of the evening was the seductive birthday surprise, in which a dancer, clad in black feathers, serenaded Nick with Marilyn Monroe’s infamous, “Happy Birthday Mr. President.” Read the rest of this entry »

By:  Maryanne Salvat

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any hotter or spicier, South Florida gears up for the 9^thannual Miami Spice Restaurant Month.   Joining the delectable venture is the highly revered Fontainebleau Resort.  Gotham Steak, Scarpetta and Hakkasan, as well as its modern American café Vida,are all offering $35 three-course prix-fixe dinner menus. In addition, Hakkasanis offering an impressive family-style Dim Sum lunch menu for only $22. The iconic resort is also providing discounted valet parking to restaurant patrons. The prix-fixe prices do not include tax and gratuity and reservations are highly recommended.  Here is a quick preview of the Miami Spice menu offered at these fine dining establishments from August 1 through September 30, 2010.  Warning: Mouth-watering may occur as you read through. Read the rest of this entry »

Beach Ball Festival 2010

 Beach Ball Festival 2010

There’s no better complement to all the Swim week fun than a Beach Ball festival complete with unlimited Seven Tiki Spiced Rum cocktails, a Crunch Gym pre-game warm up and all the friendly beach ball competition you’ve come to love-from 40 teams comprised of over 600 players. The festival took place at the Gansevoort Hotel’s Beach Club once again this year, with Jerry’s Deli (team “Jerry’s Deli”) winning first place and taking home a Tiki Beach boat cruise provided by Tiki Beach: Joe’s Stone Crab (team “Joe’s Killer Claws”) coming at close second winning a year-long gym membership to Crunch for team members; and Ted’s Hideaway (team “Last Call”) taking home the bronze and a muscle milk summer gift pack. Bleau Bar dominated the mixology contest with their first place, award-winning cocktail worthy of, if not one, then all seven Tiki Gods. The secret ingredient:  Seven Tiki Spiced Rum,  of course. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Mary Jo Shore and Maryanne Salvat

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim descended upon the South Beach sands this weekend, with an action-packed schedule of 20 shows, featuring designs from top swimwear brands including: Poko Pano, True Religion, Mara Hoffman, Ed Hardy, Red Carter, Luli Fama and our favorite, this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer, Trina Turk, whose 60s Hollywood-glam-meets Acapulco inspired pieces received raving reviews.  The daily mix of sweltering heat and torrential rain, (c’mon, it’s Miami in JULY, what did you expect?) hardly dampened the excitement for the thousands of fashion insiders who packed the various venues at the Raleigh and trekked amid puddles to off-site shows, such as Red Carter’s at the Bass Museum and satellite swimsuit showcases such as Salon Allure and Melissa Odabash at the W; Funkshion at the Setai; and numerous events at the Webster boutique (more on these next week). Read the rest of this entry »

Sanford Ziff, Lucie Arnaz, and Harry (K.C.) Wayne Casey

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

It was the “GOOOOAAAAL!” heard around the world, followed by an “OLE!” that continues to resound in the ears, minds and hearts many Latin-Americans for whom Spain is considered “La Madre Patria.”  The World Cup victory marked the culmination of a month-long celebration of the ethnic diversity so prevalent in Miami.  This week in particular showcased such diversity with the presentation of Babalu at the Adrienne Arsht Center and the opening of the Drexel Irish Pub, located on Espanola Way, which, interestingly opened on Bastille Day! Talk about a “cultural kaleidoscope.”

Babalu: We’re “HOME!”

One of the highlights of the week was  Babalú – A Tribute to the Music of Desi Arnaz, at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, created by and starring Arnaz’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz; son, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Broadway heavyweights: Raúl Esparza and Valarie Pettiford. Read the rest of this entry »