“Luxury porn” tome, Ocean Drive magazine, celebrated its 17th anniversary at the Delano on Thursday night, with a bash hosted by Niche Media CEO, Jason Binn and Kim Kardashian, who, incidentally, was in the seventh grade when the magazine ran its first issue.  The gorgeous, Mia Moretti mixed the music while A-listers and their “+10s” wandered around the pool area hoping for a brush with celebrity, for which Ocean Drive parties are well-known. Read the rest of this entry »

Cafeina- A much-needed Jolt!
Ultra-hip, trendy hotspot, Cafeina, named for its caffeine-infused liquors and specialty cocktails, is our latest, favorite hang-out, located deep in the heart of Wynwood (you won’t find it unless you are consciously looking -we typically use landmarks such as the overturned truck and funky green and red patterned building to know we’re on the right track).  This boîte reminds us of cozy Nobu on west 57 Street in NYC, with its low lighting, oversized lamps and comfy couches.  We also love the loft and huge outdoor area and the attached art gallery, currently displaying the work of Carlos Alves.

We dragged took a group to Cafeina over the weekend to “enjoy” the arctic weather and the Wynwood Art Walk.  Despite the jokes about the crack-houses and seedy environs, the consensus was that Cafeina rivals any South Beach lounge and that the food blows the competition away!  This is due to the creativity and expertise of the charming, executive chef, Guily Booth, who “wo-mans” the tiny kitchen, creating signature international tapas, including sea bass skewers, mini-madness grilled sandwiches and crab cakes, lauded by Martha Stewart as “the best she’s ever had.” Come to think of it, they’re the best we’ve ever had too.  Booth’s cooking style is as unique as her warm and funny personality.  She will mingle with guests and offer to cook up whatever they are craving- whether or not it’s the menu.  And should you be celebrating a birthday, you may even be surprised by Booth’s original coffee cupcakes.

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The antics and events at Malinka Max’s New Year’s Eve circus bash, (which just about shut down Hibiscus Island), seem a lot like scenes out of the wildly hilarious movie, The Hangover, right down to the 850 pound Bengal tiger and the proposal just before midnight.   Thank Heaven for our handy, dandy, digital camera, because it took a photo (or twenty) to prove to those who weren’t there (and to ourselves the next morning) that the baby tigers, fire eater, miniature unicorn, acrobats, Bengal tiger, giant python and adorable, tutu-clad monkey (that pulled our hair during the photo op) and couple who got engaged, were not just champagne-induced figments of our imagination. Although, we’re pretty sure you will agree, as you peruse the photos, that certain images are reminiscent of scenes from the movie. Read the rest of this entry »

Art! It’s the first word and what it’s all about right? Well, mostly…! In addition to works by Chagall, Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Botero, Calder and Warhol, all under one roof at the Convention Center, stand outs during Art Basel week included: Calix Gustav Gallery which held several receptions celebrating the unveiling of “Grit: to endure a trying situation and continue on without complaint” and “Monitoring Art;” urban impressionist Miguel Paredes’ “The Manifestation of Crossover Art” at a pop-up gallery on Lincoln Road; Carlos Betancourt’s “Lapidus Infinitus” at Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts; David LaChapelle’s “Cars and Money;” Kenny Scharf’s “Art White Collection” and William S. Chewning’s exhibition at Miami Art Group Gallery. Read the rest of this entry »

Also on Saturday night, socialites, Nancy Malnik and Beau Beasley each celebrated birthdays with huge bashes. Anyone who’s been to a Malnik party or passed by their Palm Beach manse, knows they don’t tend to do things “small,” after all, Al Malnik had the late Michael Jackson at his 70th birthday bash and a team of synchronized swimmers and full orchestra at last year’s Make-a-Wish garden party. So it should come as no surprise that Nancy Malnik’s 80s themed party in Boca Raton was an over-the-top affair. Nicole Miller, Scottie Pippen, and Russell Simmons all showed up to jam to a performance by Tone Loc, of Wild Thing and Funky Cold Medina fame. The party boasted the requisite 80s party props: Rubik’s cubes, Ms. Pac Man, and break dancers. Even more thrilling than the seemingly endless array of food: filet, sushi, seafood… were the Thriller and Fame shows- quite the shindig indeed.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year…Art Basel, the “Carnaval” of the art world. A time when we wish those experiments with human cloning had yielded positive results. It seems that the world’s largest and most important art show gets bigger every year, especially since in addition to Art Basel itself, Vanguard, Scope, Verge, Art Miami, Art Viceroy, Design Miami and countless other satellite fairs have set up camp all over town, not to mention the requisite parties being thrown nightly and club transplants from Paris and New York. This week, the 411 brings you South Beach locals and Art Basel insiders’ top picks of not-to-be missed events during this week- in which having fun (and surviving) is its own art form. Read the rest of this entry »