By: Maryanne Salvat

Designed For A Cure Collaborates with Oscar de la Renta

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center announces their collaboration with internationally acclaimed designer Oscar de la Renta for their signature fundraising event, Designed for a Cure, scheduled for February 13 in Miami. The event will focus on bringing awareness and the importance of cancer research through community partnerships and an inspiring runway show featuring designs by de la Renta. The designer will be participating in Designed for a Cure in support of his doctor and close friend, Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., director of Sylvester. The VIP reception provides first access to the highly anticipated silent auction and tasting tables, featuring more than 30 of Miami’s finest restaurants and bars. The highlight of the evening will combine a powerful runway show featuring patient/ survivors escorted by their Sylvester physicians in de la Renta designs and models dressed in de la Renta’s spring 2014 collection. The fundraising event will conclude with a festive after-party including dessert tastings, music and dancing. During the evening, Jennifer Stearns Buttrick, former event chair for Designed for a Cure, will be honored with the first Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Philanthropist of the Year Award in recognition of her hard work and dedication to Sylvester.   Designed for a Cure will take place at the Ice Palace, located at 1400 North Miami Avenue in Miami. VIP cocktail reception tickets are $400 each and include exclusive, first access to the event at 6:00 p.m. along with seating at the fashion show. General admission tickets are $200 each, and the doors will open for general admission at 7:00 p.m. For more information, call 305.243.9088 or visit www.sylvester.org/designedforacure.

2014 Be A Voice, Empower Brilliant Futures Gala

On February 15, Voices For Children Foundation and the Mandarin Oriental Miami will host the 2014 Be A Voice, Empower Brilliant Futures Gala with presenting sponsor, The House of Harry Winston, along with Honorary Gala Co-Chairs and Voices board members Christian and Brittany Slater, and Jim Ferraro and Alena Gavrikova, to show support and raise funds for the foster care youth of Miami-Dade County. This event will welcome 500 of Miami’s most philanthropic and influential community leaders and dedicated business professionals. Individual ticket starts at $500; premier seating $1,000. To RSVP and attend the event visit:    or contact Tania Rodriguez,  TRodriguez@BeAVoice.org, 305.324.5678.    

 J NELSON Presents Mario Buatta and Geoffrey Bradfield

On February 20, at 2:00 p.m. design legends Mario Buatta and Geoffrey Bradfield will discuss their careers with Lloyd Princeton.  Buatta, aptly named “The Prince of Chintz” has designed interiors for S.I. Newhouse, Malcolm Forbes, Nelson Doubleday, Henry Ford II, Barbara Walters, Mariah Carey, among others.  Bradfield has decorated residences for Oliver Stone, the late King Hussein of Jordan, the estate of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and many “Silent Celebrities”, fervently guarding their privacy.  Both have appeared in Architectural Digest numerous times, and have had long-runs in the AD 100, the most prestigious list of designers the world over. Lloyd Princeton, who will moderate the lecture, is an author,  renowned design business consultant and motivational speaker.Mr. Buatta and Mr. Bradfield will give a lecture and a visual presentation showing their opulent flair and artfulness of interior decoration. They will also sign and remark copies of their recent publications Mario Buatta: Fifty years of Interior Designand Geoffrey Bradfield: Artistic License; RSVP to mario@mkarte.com 212.939.6431.

Photo Courtesy of Iran Issa-Khan Studios

By:  Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Photos courtesy of Iran Issa-Khan Studios.

 “The Moving Finger writes; and having writ,

Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.”

—Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Edward FitzGerald

  Read the rest here »

Jerry Seinfeld had a sold-out crowd in stitches during his back-to-back shows last Friday and Saturday nights at the Hollywood Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Hard Rock Live concert venue.  Seinfeld covered the gamut with his “show about nothing” including, marriage, fatherhood, and how life in general “sucks.” “Everybody’s life sucks. Your life sucks, my life sucks…perhaps significantly less than yours.” He even joked about the car fire just outside of the Hard Rock which caused a delay in the show. 

At Zuma, Pharrell Williams was spotted at brunch, wearing his now infamous Grammy hat (think Smoky Bear). Venus Williams was also at Zuma with friends at dinner.  

At Scarpetta on Monday night, David Beckham dined with Simon Fuller.   

On Tuesday night, Simon Fuller and David Beckham held a private event at the Arsht Center to announce information about the MLS soccer team and their official commitment to Miami under Beckham’s part ownership.  Celebrities in attendance included Tracy and Alonso Mourning, artist Carlos Betancourt and Pepe Carmona, of Tuna Productions.  Beckham gave a very informal speech to the exclusive crowd of about 75, discussing his excitement in bringing an MLS team to Miami.  

Recently St. Louis Cardinals, Jon Jay, hosted a celebrity bowling tournament for the Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade and raised more than $42,000 for the nonprofit that holds special place in his heart.

At Wall, Jamie Foxx, director Michael Bay, and House of Lies and Community actor Ben Schwartz were spotted having a good time dancing and drinking. Jamie especially made a mark as he was reported as being very friendly as he talked to the door staff and took photographs with fans and beautiful ladies.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

On a picture perfect, Miami “winter” day, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Visitor Center and Lakeside Marquee were transformed into a beautiful runway for a day of champagne, fashion and fun.  On January 23, Fairchild and Neiman Marcus Coral Gables paired up to host the third annual Splendor in the Garden fashion show and luncheon, which drew a crowd of more than 350 fashion-forward guests. The splendid day began promptly ​at10:30 a.m. with a champagne reception from Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne underneath the sunny Miami sky on the Mosaic of the Visitor Center, where guests could peruse beautiful jewelry on display from Piaget. The reception was so much fun that event organizers had a tough time getting them to move into the stunning tent at the Lakeside Marquee, where chairs and tables decorated with bright pink accoutrements were dotted around the elevated runway. Fairchild’s Director Carl Lewis made the opening remarks and spoke about how influential the chosen Philanthropy Honorees have been to the progress made in the Garden over the years and how many important contributions women have made since the Garden opened 75 years ago in 1938. He then introduced co-chairs Swanee DiMare and Frances Sevilla-Sacasa, who thanked all of the guests and sponsors for their support. Read the rest here »

By: Maryanne Salvat 

Pinkberry Comes to South Beach 

Pinkberry, the global yogurt retailer, will open its fifth store located at 1523 Alton Road in South Florida on February 7. “We are excited to arrive at Alton Road,” said Ron Graves, CEO of Pinkberry. “We are happy to serve and become a local favorite of the community in South Florida with our one of a kind experience and light and refreshing taste”. Pinkberry has partnered with Miami Beach High School for the entire month of February and when anyone mentions Miami Beach High at the register, the school will receive 20 percent of the purchase.  The proceeds at the end of February will all go toward the Miami Beach High graduation fund.  

Restaurant Michael Schwartz Live Concert Series

The Raleigh Hotel, in partnership with Steinway & Sons, announces today the Restaurant Michael Schwartz Live Concert Series, a weekly live music program featuring performances by Grammy Award-winning musicians and some of the most in-demand artists in jazz. A Steinway & Sons Crown Jewel Edition Grand Piano will reside in the restaurant’s main dining room for the 8:00 p.m. Guests who RSVP in advance to rms@sbe.com will have access to an intimate meet-and-greet with the featured musicians in the hotel’s Martini Bar at 7:00 p.m., where complimentary signature snacks from Restaurant Michael Schwartz and Atlantico Rum cocktails will be served. Additionally, at every concert, a representative from Steinway & Sons will recognize an influential individual who has made an important cultural contribution to the community with a Steinway Cultural Achievement Award. Throughout the music series, the special piano will be available for sale and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a charitable organization of the award recipients’ choosing.An official announcement regarding the remaining concerts and award recipients will be coming soon. For more information, visit www.RaleighHotel.com. 

3^rd Annual Wine, Women & Shoes

The 3^rd Annual Wine, Women & Shoes (WW&S) presented by Roger Vivier Paris benefiting the children and families at Miami Children’s Hospital will be back to celebrate great fashion, and a noble cause.  Roger Vivier, the fashion house credited with the design of the first stiletto heel, presents the 2014 WW&S event. Guests will be treated to a sophisticated day of wine tasting, red carpet, a silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind items, a delicious lunch as well as a fashion show presented by U by Kotex with fashions from Neiman Marcus Coral Gables and a creative shoe contest. The “Shoe Guys” will also be in attendance, literally showcasing the latest women’s fashions on silver platters; Thursday, February 6 at 10:30 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. at Coral Gables Country Club. Created for women who enjoy fine wine, great style, and supporting a noble cause, Wine Women & Shoes is one of the fastest-growing charity event series in the country. The popular national fundraising event platform has been a big hit in South Florida. For more information about WW&S 2014 or MCH Foundation, contact Lisbet Fernandez-Vina at 786.268.1845 or visit mchf.org/winewomenandshoes. 

zimbio

Actor Carlos Ponce and girlfriend, actress Ximena Duque dined at Seasalt & Pepper on Friday night.  They sampled Octopus Plancha and Chef Alfredo’s Special Branzino al Forno. 

John Malkovich and long-term partner Nicoletta Peyran were spotted at Restaurant Michael Schwartz at The Raleigh Hotel. The couple shared several cocktails, dinner and the bread pudding for dessert. John was happy to hello to a few fans. He and Nicoletta ended at The Martini Bar where they continued their night and were overheard saying how much they love how intimate and quaint it was. 

Original Super-Model Kim Alexis made a brief stop through Miami last week to visit friends and to be photographed by Miami based artist Carlos Betancourt for his latest project.  Betancourt called on his long-time friend Brandi Reddick not only for her artful sense of fashion and style, but for her personal wardrobe!  Reddick dressed the 80s cover girl and super star from head to toe in magnificent pieces of clothing and costume jewelry from her personal collection. Much to Reddick’s surprise, her intern Elliot Leiva informed her that she had 326 pair of shoes in her closet.  Reddick’s reply, “I never keep count!” 

After being defeated by the Miami Heat, Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw of the San Antonio Spurs headed to Bâoli to reward themselves for a game well played.  The two Spurs were personable and enjoyed chatting with other Bâoli patrons about the game.