Michael Shore, Ivette Naranjo and "birthday girl" Mary Jo Shore at Cafeina

 Birthdays can be stressful, especially for Geminis, who take them way too seriously- wanting to do too many (often opposing) things at once to celebrate.  So for one Gemini in particular, it seemed fitting that the perfect place to honor the annual calendar date would be one, which much like those who share the Zodiac sign, is really lots of different places-all in one.  What better space than a clubby yet “chill” lounge/restaurant/loft/outdoor terrace/garden/art gallery, serving the best food this side of anywhere?  You know the place, it’s tucked away in a little crook of  Wynwood, known only to those  in the know- those who read the 411, and 944, and the Herald and the New Times, and Black Book…well you get it. Read the rest of this entry »

On Friday night, over 700 guests joined hosts Michael Capponi and Eric Milon at SET nightclub for
the official launch party of the internationally acclaimed website, Miami Socialholic™ sponsored by Grey Goose vodka.  Miami Socialholic™ co-founders and partners, Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore, Maryanne Salvat and Joe Almeida, celebrated alongside hundreds of friends and family members in the opulent club, which was filled to capacity by midnight and remained that way into the wee hours.

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Shareef Malnik and Michael Gongora

Forge owner, Shareef Malnik held an exclusive cocktail for the unveiling of the renovated façade of the Forge Restaurant I Wine Bar, which was dramatically covered in white fabric. To the average observer driving by, the wrapped building may have resembled the work of Christo and the late Jeanne-Claude (you remember, the folks who wrapped the islands in Biscayne Bay a few decades back).

A gorgeous sunset served as the backdrop for this momentous street-side affair, during which Miami Beach commissioner Michael Gongora presented Malnik with a Proclamation and Key to the City and shared that he held his first victory party at the Forge a few years ago.  Malnik followed with a touching speech in which he told guests that he considers the $10 million renovation a “labor of love and the result of fine work.” He said that the Forge has a sense of community and that he is touched by the support of the community throughout the years.  Malnik closed with “I consider it a responsibility to serve you and feed you.” He then invited several people who were instrumental in “Forge of the future” to join him for the ribbon cutting and unveiling, including Chef Dewey Losasso and Michael Capponi, whose company, the Capponi Group  was critical to the project.

A collective, “Wow!” emanated from the crowd as Malnik pulled the enormous cover off of the façade of the building, which boasts a neoclassical design and seems to glow, illuminating 41^st Street. 

Christo and Jeanne-Claude once stated that “the purpose of their art, is simply to create works of art or joy and beauty and to create new ways of seeing familiar landscapes.”  With the renovation of the Forge I Wine Bar, Malnik has done just that.[smooth=id:137;]

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

(photo credits: Peter Wyatt Richardson, Greg Minasian, Nick McGlynn, Shayna Bataya, Justin Namon/WorldRedEye.com)

 A year to the day of what has become known as “The Great Storm of 2009,” the one that flooded every street of South Beach, turned Venetian Causeway into a “Venetian causeway,” crippled businesses for weeks and wreaked havoc on the Fontainebleau, yes, that storm- a different yet powerful storm took over as Hotel Thrillist Miami came to town.  While this storm kept structural damage to a minimum, 200 Thrillist enthusiasts including media, tastemakers, Thrillist editors and their friends, and 12 lucky contest winners, enjoyed complimentary rooms, free meals, free cocktails compliments of Corona and Bacardi, and events, such as Saturday’s pool party with live DJs, Equinox-sponsored massages, and a chi chi rooftop dinner on Saturday night. Read the rest of this entry »

Imari Pozo and Nathalie Pozo

Sex and the City 2, which can best be categorized as “Fashion Porn” added an ample dose of sparkle to Lincoln Road last Wednesday, bringing well- “stilettoed,” glammed-up girls (and a FEW good men) out of the woodwork for the sneak peek and pink carpet pre-party on the 7th floor of the 1111 building (garage).  More than 500 of this Magic City’s most gorgeous joined the Vibe Agency in celebrating its 5th anniversary at the “New York-meets-Abu Dhabi” themed soiree, complete with a live, spitting camel, belly dancers, and hookah pipe, before viewing a special screening of the highly anticipated flick at Regal South Beach Cinema.  While the movie, much like its X rated counterparts lacked in the plot department, it, like the party, was a feast for the eyes. Shoes and clothes worn by the stars of the movie and bejeweled floral centerpieces from the “gay wedding” were on display and an Arabian-style lounge with jewel-toned pillows, lamps, hookah pipes, and elaborate Moroccan rugs served as the perfect area to relax and enjoy the music being played by the DJ, Mix in Wheels, who spun from the back of a Hummer.

Even more noticeably absent than the stars of the movie, were the cocktails; in particular, the Cosmos made famous by the series.  Instead, the party featured sparkling pink lemonade served in Cosmopolitan glasses paired with Middle Eastern delights and hors d’ oeuvres provided by Aaron’s Catering, including baked dates, chicken and apricot kabobs, and Moroccan gazpacho shooters.  Read the rest of this entry »

At the risk of dating ourselves, we’ll admit it- when it comes to the movie Grease, we had it all- the poster, the record (yes, kids, that’s what we called them in those days), the Candies, the (inappropriate-for-our-age) off-shoulder black top and tight jeans, the movie photo-book and the 18 movie stubs.  With regards to the Grease fan club, meet the president!  Talk about “Hopelessly Devoted!”  So we are delighted to report that a childhood dream was actualized last Thursday when we met “Sandy” a.k.a. Olivia Newton John at the Raleigh for the Pink and Blue For Two fundraiser, sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka. To say that our heads almost exploded when she sang “You’re the One that I Want” with Jon (Secada– not Travolta, but we’ll take what we can get- after all, he did play “Danny” on Broadway) is the understatement of the year!  “Oh yes indeed- eeed!” The otherwise sophisticated crowd went crazy, jumping, screaming and dancing on the sand.

The performance culminated a series of terrific musical acts including:  Inner Circle who played a concert, which included “Bad Boys,” the theme from Cops, Brett Goldsmith, Olivia Newton John’s nephew who flew in from Australia to sing and play the acoustic guitar and Jon Secada, who sang his hit, “Just Another Day,” before his duet with Newton John. Read the rest of this entry »