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 »

India Hicks, Carlos Suarez, Sarah Harrelson, and Craig Robins

London-born, model/designer/author, India Hicks, who happens to be Prince Charles’ Goddaughter, you know…the Prince of Wales…the one who married Diana (let’s take a moment)…THAT “Prince Charles” hosted a midweek soiree at  the ultra-chic ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in celebration of Whitehaus Media Group and Bal Harbour magazine’s spring 2010 issue. No stranger to chic soirees, Hicks who is of blue blood and was a bridesmaid at Charles and Diana’s wedding, must have felt a bit at home at ONE Bal Harbour, where an A-list crowd enjoyed cocktails courtesy of Grey Goose and smooth sounds from harpist, Robert Pereira.  On-hand at the party were Bal Harbour magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Sarah Harrelson, ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa owners, Jorge and Juan Arevalo, Alejandra Torres, D. Ashlee Harrison, Belkys Nerey, Carlos Suarez, Craig Robins, George Lindemann, Hernan Arriaga, Jillian Jacobson-Altit, Leticia Grendene, Mike Batt, Oscar Seikaly and Yolanda Berkowitz.  Read the rest of this entry »

Alejandro Espinosa Rodriguez and friends

 
Pink Room celebrated its grand opening on Friday, a party eight months in the making, which on South Beach is really only like five minutes.  Heck, many clubs don’t even stay open that long!  Let’s hope that’s not the case for this 4, 300 square foot club on 7^th and Washington, which was packed to the rafters with an eclectic mix of Euro-types and the barely 21 set, who have yet to master the ebb and flow of the nightclub world, making it a challenge to move around.  The enormous DJ booth, (read stage) is surrounded by a jumbo tron which continuously projects digital images, further distracting the crowd.  Read the rest of this entry »

Sam Robin, Iran Issa-Kahn, and Barbara Becker at Cafeina

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

 Little Ditty, about Sam and Iran…

 …Two fabulous gals with a whole lot of fans…could have been the theme song at Wynwood hotspot Cafeina for the third installment of its “People We Love” party series on Thursday night, honoring longtime BFFs, acclaimed designer, Sam Robin and noted photographer, Iran Issa-Khan.  The party might as well have been named “People Who Made/Make Miami” as an old-school crowd and vibe permeated the chic, trendy space.  An incognito Sam (barely recognizable without her trademark Jackie O. glasses) and Iran were joined by an international jet-set crowd many of whom comprise their every-day entourage, including Barbara Becker, Tui Pranich, Wallid and Susie Wahab, Alvaro Cuadrado, Francesco Caracciolo de Marano, Cosima Preuss-Kuhne, Gary and Dana Shear, Daniela Swaebe and Michael Comras, Suzy Buckley, Lily Zanardi, Claudia Potamkin, Bruce and Kathryn Orosz, Criselda and Jonathan Breene, Terry and Rob Schecter, Alison Anthrobus and Adam Shepard, Heidi and Pierre Charalamdides, Eric Newill, Terry Cohen, Marnie Howard, Tara Solomon, Nick D’Annunzio and Sam’s son, (whom she calls “son of Sam”) Gregory Robin to name a few.  Burn Notice cast-mates Jeffrey Donovan and Navi Rawat, (Sam’s God daughter) added a sprinkle of TV stardust to the already fantastic group, who could barely stop dancing long enough to pose for photos, thanks to the creative sounds of DJ Joe Dert, who even threw in a little Neil Diamond to his already irresistible 80s mash-ups. Read the rest of this entry »