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 »

Eat your Wheaties and take your Geritol this week because the Winter Music Conference is coming to town for the 25^th year in a row, starting on Tuesday.  For those of you remember Wheaties and Geritol commercials, and, well, pretty much anyone actually legally old enough to get into these events:  YOU ARE TOO OLD TO GO! Consider yourselves warned.  But for those of us who continue to attempt to defy gravity and time, this year’s line-up promises one heck of a ride.  The event roster is massive so check back next week for updates.

The Opium Group has a winning lineup featuring Axwell, Benny Benassi, Bob Sinclar, Boys Noize, Calvin Harris, Dim Mak Records, Dirty Dutch, Dubfire, Fedde Le Grand, F*** Me I’m Famous, Joris Voorn, Kaskade, MSTRKRFT, Nic Fancuilli, Pryda, Roger Sanchez, Sasha & John Digweed, Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello, Strictly Defected and more of the best events you will find during the WMC at their venues Mansion, SET, Louis Bar-Lounge, and Cameo Theatre starting Tuesday, March 23. For more information and to buy tickets, visit: www.theopiumgroup.com/wmc2010.

Starting Monday, Club 50 at the Viceroy will host a series of pool parties, events and great talent including:  David Vendetta & Micah the Violinist, Ruben Moran (Saxo), Ron Carroll, John Shelvin, Grasshopper, Lou Flores, Tom Novy, Funkerman, Massimo Martinelli, Julian Ingrosso, resident DJ’s Nano & JP Candela from Pacha Madrid & Ibiza For more information and to buy tickets contact:  305 503 4400 ext 7138 or club50@viceroymiami.com.

The Florida Room at Delano brings an extremely strong and talented lineup as well, starting Tuesday, March 23, including the legendary Paul Oakenfold and Victor Calderone. The Florida Room will kick of the week on Tuesday with a night of true hip-hop curated by Dj Muggs featuring DJ Cash Money and Mateo Difontaine. On Wednesday guests will be entertained by the sounds of  M.O.S and live performances by Tabi Bonney and Niki Jean of the Crybabieees. On Thursday, producer and DJ Victor Calderone and Nicolas Matar will bring a night of house music to be remember. On Friday, the legendary Paul Oakenfold and special guests will be spinning in a true house Fashion.  Giant step Magazine presents Questlove, Yamen Allworld and Giles Peterson on Saturday night.  The Florida Room will end the week in style with its “Unofficial Closing” starring Ruckus, DJ Berry and other special guests that you won’t want to miss. Table reservations are strongly recommended. For reservations please call 305 674 6152.  Doors open at 10 p.m.

Skybar at the Shore Club and Aquabooty have teamed up for WMC this year. On Wednesday night, Aquabooty presents Compostblack Label and G-Stone DJ’s. On Thursday, Detroit Premiere Artist and The Loud Minority take over featuring artists such as Carl Craig, Juan Atkins, Theo Parrish, Kevin Dixon Jr. (Aka Moody Man), Kevin Saunderson, Kenny Larkin *Live, Stacy Pullen, Kyle Hall, Monty Luke. On Friday night, we party all night long for a good cause with Aquabooty Presents Beats Build Hope, a benefit for Next Aid, Soil and Green Waves. On Saturday, Aquabooty presents the Beats In Space edition featuring Dubtribe Soudsystem  Live!, Dj Harvey, Crazy P, Aeroplane,Metro Area Dj Set, Jazznova, Rich Medina, Tim Sweeney, Alex From Tokyo, Citizen Kane, Djini Brown, And Dj Kemit.   For the grand finale on Sunday, Hard Rock’s Rehab invades Miami for an all day all night Party at Shore Club’s Pool. There’s a $25 entry fee for all events.   For Table Reservations please call (786) 276-6772

America’s number one selling DJ Louis Devito will showcase his famed ‘New York City’ energy with a performance at Kitchen 305, located inside the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort, on Friday March 26th.  Before Devito takes to the turntables, Exodus, Miss Shawna and Ilgin, Turkey’s favorite DJ, will spin their most popular tracks starting at 9:00 p.m.  Admission is $20 or free with a Winter Music Conference badge.

 New York City mega club Pacha NYC returns to Miami  kicking things off on Wednesday night with DJ heavyweight Danny Tenaglia and special guest Paco Osuna at Parkwest. Thursday, March 25^th brings the renowned Nervous Records‘ top DJ’s including Austin Leeds, Starkillers, Behrouz, Chus & Ceballos, and Oscar G to the club and on Friday, March 26^th Pacha NYC and Mixmag will present the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am with Boyz Noize and D. Ramirez. Then on Saturday, house prodigies The Martinez Brothers will get things going while Jonathan Peters spins a special late night session.  For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.pachanyc.com/miami2010.

The landmark formerly known as the “Versace Mansion” has been transformed into Villa By Barton G, thanks to a million dollar restoration by famed restaurateur and event planner, Barton G. Weiss, whose attention to detail would make Vermeer jealous.  Weiss held an elegant cocktail party on Friday evening to showcase the Villa’s facelift. Guests at this exclusive event enjoyed music by harpists, a pianist and string quintet and signature bites by Barton G. Among the notables in attendance: Commissioner Michael Gongora, Stephanie Sayfie Aagard and Morton Aagard, Suzie Sayfie, , Ricky Arriola, WSVN anchor Diana Diaz, Vann and Parker Thomson, Barton Weiss’ parents Norman and Eleanor Weiss, Shore Club General Manager Tim Nardi and arts patrons Lenore Toby Simmons and Rhoda Leavitt. The evening’s open house celebrated the opening of The Dining Room at The Villa By Barton G., (already one of the hottest tickets in town), as well as the opening of the boutique all-suites hotel on the property. The Dining Room features refined continental cuisine elegantly styled by Barton G. served entirely on Versace place settings and fine china and is open seven nights a week from 7 p.m. until late. 

Getting a facelift of its own is the Thursday night party at Sky Bar at Shore Club which launched its new mixed “Oasis” Thursday party last week. The party brought out a terrific mixed crowd, which, in this town, could be interpreted to mean just about anything. Every week international DJ/Producer and local favorite Oren Nizri along with DJ Pocket Change will keep partygoers dancing by the hotel’s pool or grooving to their beats on Sky Bar’s numerous lounge beds while munching on Oasis’ gourmet brick oven pizza menu provided by the hotel’s renowned AGO restaurant and sipping $8 martini specials till midnight (talk about “old school” prices!). Oasis begins at 9 p.m. and goes through 2 a.m. There’s no guest list or cover charge so go as you are and enjoy!

Keeping styles fresh and new for several decades is shoe designer Donald J. Pliner, who celebrated the 20^th anniversary of his eponymous shoe line on Saturday, March 13, at his shop in Aventura mall with an all-day event to benefit Jewish Adoption & Foster Care Options, Inc alongside his wife and creative director, Lisa.  Pliner has been designing shoes since the 60s, paying close attention to the comfort of the shoe as well as style.  A comfortable designer shoe is not an oxymoron when it comes to Donald J. Pliner.  Lisa for Donald J Pliner, made its debut during the anniversary celebration, which was attended by the Pliners’ adorable daughter, Starr, and mascot, Baby Doll.

 Nick  D’Annunzio and Tara Solomon are tying the knot!

Help them to win their dream wedding by clicking on the  following link: www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entries/38937

Or go to the contest on the CrateandBarrel.com website and search phrase by Tara Solomon

 To appeal to your softer side, here’s Tara’s account about how their love story: 

“We met at a club on South Beach, a chance encounter with mutual friends. He liked my legs, but complimented my Gucci stilettos. He knew the instant we met that we were destined to be together. Worried that he was too young, too smooth and perhaps too into my shoes, I took a bit longer. But his boyish swagger, megawatt smile and old soul eventually won me over. Twelve years later, the club has long since closed, but we are going strong. More in love than ever, we figured it was about time to make things official. “

Model dressed in GAP

 This year The PlayGround Theatre literally rocked the Ritz-Carlton South Beach on Sunday with its annual Tea at the Ritz to raise funds for its education and outreach programs.  Barton G. known for his creative genius of “all things delicious,” produced a rockin’ roll event with Guitar Hero and Band Hero stations where fans channeled their inner rock star.  The Ritz-Carlton South Beach served up scrumptious kid friendly bites, including  sliders, bite sized pizza, and an ice cream bar with every mix in imaginable.  Also in the “scrumptious” category was WSVN/Deco Drive’s Louis Aguirre, who served as Master of Ceremonies to the annual Fashion Show featuring styles from the Gap, IOS of Coconut Grove, and Kidding Around, amping up the already excited crowd. The highlight of the Tea was when LIVE! School of Music students took the stage and played old school ballads such as the ever popular “Sweet Child of Mine” and Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll.”  The pint-sized rock stars were a hit, working the kids and their parents into frenzy.