The AMG Miami Beach Polo World Cup tournaments took place this past weekend on the sands outside of the Setai Hotel.  AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, also supported two of the polo teams including the AMG women’s team lead by Sunny Hale, considered to the best female polo player today, and the 2nd place finishing AMG men’s team led by Michael Liss and teammates Nacho Figueras, whom we’ve nicknamed “Ultimate Nacho” and Pelon Escopite.   Read the rest of this entry »

Loren Ridinger

Thursday night, JR and Loren Ridinger opened up their North Bay Road estate, Casa De Los Suenos, for the premier of Loren Ridinger’s stunning jewelry collection.  The trunk show showcased the jewelry for the first time since its creation.  The event featured a fun yet sophisticated gathering of friends of the Ridingers, many of whom happen to be celebrities, who have been fans of the line even before the trunk show and have been wearing and promoting it. Some fans of Loren jewels (pronounced as in Sophia Loren) include:  Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, the Kardashians, Paulina Rubio, Alejandro Sanz, Marc Anthony, and Joel Madden to name a few.  According to Loren Ridinger, “The collection was made from a desire to give someone a way to wear beautiful jewels for anytime of day and includes pieces that can be worn with casual or formal clothing.  My pieces are simple yet bold designs that are gorgeous! It’s kind of exploded before I got a chance to show it!” Read the rest of this entry »

Chic youngsters, Jonah and Isabella Koopman; Audrey and India Harrelson; Kito, Bella and Sophia Brod; Max and Rocco Shore and Abie and Scarlett Dornbusch were joined by other fashionable tots, with parents in tow, for the launch of One Bal Harbour’s kid’s program.  Other special guests included Nobu’s Richie Notar, celeb chef Ingrid Hoffman, FOX 7’s Belkys Nerey, Richard David Story of Departures, Jason Binn, Alejandra Torres, ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa hoteliers, Juan and Jorge Arevalo, Jillian Jacobson-Altit and Sarah Harrelson. The fun-filled afternoon included rides, Nobu sushi rolling, custom t-shirt creations courtesy of C By Me, and fun and healthy treats. Guests made on-site donations that benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Heavenly Bodies

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

If you spent any time in Miami Beach the last few weeks you may have noticed the spring break takeover.  One dead giveaway that it was in full force was the shear number of half-naked/bikini clad bodies on the beach, not to mention shopping on Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue, where some shoppers donned nothing but a bikini (ever heard of a sarong?) a purse, heels and big sunglasses!  While most of these sightings warranted a fashion citation (or ten), several heavenly bodies graced the runway at the Setai Hotel for the closing night of Funkshion last week, where Colombian swimsuit designer, Chechy Benedetti, debuted her 2010 Pitahaya Swimwear,  collection. Read the rest of this entry »

Mya and Mary J. Blige

Winter Music Conference coinciding with spring break and Sony Ericsson redefines the concept of March Madness every year, not to downplay the college hoops, we’re just saying…College kids dressed head to toe in neon (when did that resurrect from the 80s?), Ed Hardy, and multi-colored kicks (remember Punky Brewster?) fist-pumping day and night to global beats, in all their sweaty glory jammed the streets, pools, hotels and clubs of South Beach for the better part of last week.  A few happenings stood out, some even WMC related to those with an aversion to the March Madness described above, or basically anyone over the age of 20.

It’s no secret that we’re suckers for any party in a penthouse-even if it’s at the Holiday Inn.  So it came as no surprise that one of the best parties during the WMC, with the chicest crowd, took place at the Penthouse Extreme WOW Suite at W South Beach Thursday night for the launch of W Hotels’ new Symmetry CD, created by W’s recently appointed Global Music Director (and DJ extraordinaire), Michaelangelo L’Acqua, who spun at the party.  Guests mingled on the private penthouse rooftop taking in breathtaking panoramic views of Miami Beach while sipping on Veuve Cliquot.  Later in the evening New York City based electro-popsters, The Golden Filter, performed an entire concert.  Noteworthy attendees included Gigi Ganatra, Eva Ziegler (Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide), Jillian Jacobson-Altit, Michelle Leshem, James Wall, Dana Shear, Chris Oh, Jamie Jo Harris, Jeff Morr, Laure Heriard-Dubreuil, Suzanne Birbragher, James Wall, Aaron Resnick, Michael Comras, Daniela Swaebe, Anne Owen and Alan Roth, and DJ Mia Moretti. 

On the same night, Josette Wys, Andy Katz, and friends were entertained with a private set in Stephane Pompougnac’s Setai suite prior to his performance to a standing-room only crowd on Friday night at the Setai’s reflection pool.  Pompougnac played selections from his latest Hotel Costes Volume 12 CD, along with many of his classics while Wys, along with Marnie Howard, Michael Kirkland, Marco Marquez danced on the DJ platform all night. Read the rest of this entry »

Winter Music Conference

If you are reading this right now, it appears that you have survived the first half of WMC! Congratulations!   Here’s the line-up for the rest of the week.

On Thursday, March 25, W Hotel’s Global Music Director, Michaelangelo L’Acqua, will host a private party to launch the brands’ 7^th CD compilation, Symmetry – which he curated himself. Miami’s elite will gather for a cocktail soirée in the Penthouse Extreme Wow Suite and enjoy a performance by The Golden Filter.

Our favorite Wynwood lounge, Cafeina will round up Winter Music Conference with three days of special performances. On Thursday, March 25 the lounge-meets-art gallery hosts “Electrosonic Miami” with featured artists Cristian Varela, Marco Bailey, Tim Baker, Lele Sacchi, Greg Gow, Tom Hades, and David Gonzalez. On Friday, March 26 DJ Motion Potion brings WMC’ers “Silent Disco,” along with the sounds of Panic Bomber. On Saturday, March 27, Cafeina presents “E! Glam Tour” with music by Dangerous Muse, Kill Hannah and Shiny Toy Guns.  While you are there, be  sure to check  out the best crab cakes this side  of the universe and Chef Guilly Booth’s other delectable menu additions.  Our latest craving:  coconut battered calamari.

Larry Tee

South Beach newcomer, Coco de Ville at Gansevoort South will host WMC events for the first time this year.  Thursday, March 25 there’s a listening party for Nikki & Rich with special guests LA Riot from 8 pm to 10 pm. Immediately following is “Dance or Die” with Larry Tee, Automatic Panic, Alexander Technique, Dangerous Muse, DJ Cat, Lauren Flax, Matt Devine & Greg (Kill Hannah), MK and performances by Erika Jayne and The Fire and Reason. On Friday, March 26, “Party Crash” brings out Ruckus, Cory Enemy, and DJ Shuttle. The Saturday, March 27 wrap-up event will be the Dirt.nasty. (not a typo) album release party with Devin Lucien and Jesse Marco.

Catch “Mash-up Master” DJ Joe Dert spinning at various venues throughout the weekend: Thursday, March 25 at Philippe hosted by Hassan Radouane at 9pm, Friday March 26 at Mivi, and Saturday, March 27 with dual sets at Plunge and Karu & Y.    Read the rest of this entry »