By:  Dr.  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Wine, Women & Shoes- a Perfect Match

One of the most fun afternoons to date took place on February 7, as more than 450 ladies slipped into their stilettos and gathered for Wine, Women & Shoes, a lunch and shopping party at the Coral Gables Country Club in support of the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation (MCHF).  The wine was free flowing as guests shopped signature items throughout a bazaar that was set up in the lobby outside of the ballroom. As excited ladies showed off their fabulous shoes and purchases, hunky guys, known as “Shoe Guys” carrying silver trays showcased signature auction items.  Perhaps it was the wine, or the irresistible shoe hunks (our guess is that both factors were at play) but an astounding $450,000 was raised to support MCHF, not bad for a day’s work!  Read the rest here »

By: Maryanne Salvat

Cotton’s 24 Hour Runway Show

Cotton’s 24 Hour Runway Show will open to the public starting at 8:00 p.m., March 1 – 8 :00 p.m., March 2 on Ocean Drive between 8^th and 9^th Street and highlight 1,440 looks inspired by America’s style. Join in for an evening of music and fashion with DJ Ross One and DJ IRIE spinning beats as models walk the hottest trends down the catwalk from nighttime chic to daytime glamour. Can’t make it in person? Fashionistas everywhere will have a chance to virtually sit in the front row of this event by watching it live on http://cotton24hours.thefabricofourlives.com/runway_show.

The Kids Fit Foundation and The Spartan Kids

The Kids Fit Foundation is headed to Florida International University February 23 and 24 where 4-13 year olds will run a mini version of the Spartan race. The Spartan Kids race is the ultimate kid-friendly obstacle course consisting of 10 – 20 challenges. It features obstacles such as mud pits, tunnel crawls and balance beams with a one-mile race for Varsity Spartans and a half-mile race for Junior Spartans.

Each child will receive a T-shirt and Finisher’s Medal with 100% of the Spartan Kids race proceeds benefiting the Kids Fit Foundation. Spartan races and the Kids Fit Foundation have teamed up to encourage youth to become more active and live healthier, happier lives.

Kids Fit National Spokespeople and mother and son duo Dan and Jackie Evans are best known for their participation on season five of NBC’s hit reality show, “The Biggest Loser”. The pair lost a combined total of 225 pounds.“I love being a part of the Spartan Kids races,” said Dan. “It’s so great to see these young kids having so much fun exercising. I wish I started racing at an early age because it’s all about prevention.”The Spartan Kids Race will kick off at noon. For more information or to register for the race, visit www.spartanrace.com.

Florida Cookery at The James Royal Palm and 2013 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival 

Florida Cookery at The James Royal Palm is pleased to announce its event line-up surrounding the 2013 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. The local, fresh and unpretentious restaurant concept, helmed by Executive Chef/Partner Kris Wessel, will host and/or participate in various public and private unofficial satellite events during the four-day star-studded event that showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. The line-up of events at The James Royal Palm taking place during South Beach Wine & Food Festival are:

Friday, February 22

Let’s Get Spiked! Celebrity Chef Volleyball Tournament:

“Top Chef”-alum Spike Mendelsohn and Florida Cookery’s own Kris Wessel will host the first ever “Let’s Get Spiked!” celebrity chef volleyball tournament, located behind The James on the sands of Miami Beach. Mendelsohn, Wessel and 14 of their compatriots including Chuck Hughes, Alex Guarnaschelli, Andrew Zimmern, Tim Love, Pat LaFrieda, Marcel Vigneron, Adrianne Calvo, Jeff Mauro, Johnny Iuzzini, Stephanie Izard, Todd Erickson, Justin Warner and Alberto Cabrera, will be broken up into teams of four to battle in a series of fast-paced volleyball matches. It’s one of the only chances for the public to get up and close personal with their favorite chefs free of charge chefs during SBWFF. Tournament is from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Open to Public.

Saturday, February 23

Chef Art Smith of Washington, DC’s Art & Soul, in collaboration with New York’s own Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, will host the “Big Gay Ice Cream Social”, a public event to raise awareness for marriage equality in Florida. Guests will enjoy a mix of ice cream-themed stations set up in the Breezeway at The James Royal Palm, featuring treats for both adults and children utilizing local and seasonal flavors, plus boozy ice cream/sorbet floats.

Location: The Breezeway at The James Royal Palm From: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Open to public.

photo courtesy of JUSTJARED

Actors, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeremy Piven and Carla Gugino were in town on Friday, February 8, for Miami International Film Festival’s (MIFF), presentation of  the screening and cast reunion of Miami Rhapsody a film which debuted during the festival in 1995, directed by David Frankel, who was also in attendance. The director and the actors mingled with partygoers and graciously posed for photos with fans at the Coral Gables Country Club.

On Thursday night, Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Clippers (husband of Khloe Kardashian) casually dined at STK Miami with friends. The crew sat upstairs and ordered the restaurant’s signature dishes. After dinner Odom called it a night, opting to rest up for Friday night’s game against the Miami Heat.  Heat coach, Eric Spoelstra dined at STK the following night.

Also on Thursday night, Shareef Malnik and his girlfriend, Burn Notice actress, Gabrielle Anwar hosted a cocktail party at the Forge to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Levinson Jewelers auctioned off two limited edition watches designed specifically for the occasion. RHOM cast member, Marysol Patton was also in attendance.

British shoe designer extraordinaire, Nicholas Kirkwood previewed and signed his spring 2013 collection at Saks Bal Harbour on Wednesday, to the delight of over 100 shoe fanatics. The 32 year old is famous for the architectural quality of his designs and his innovative use of materials including devoré satin, hand-printed suede and leather, python, shaved stingray, laser-cut mirror leather, cobra and rubberized leather.

Longtime friends, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire plus fifty friends attended Favela Beach at WALL, on Tuesday night. The A-listers shut the club down at 5 a.m., surrounded by bottles and models.

By:  Dr.  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

The four-day, annual Bacchanal known as the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF), is finally upon us.  Only during this time of the year is it perfectly acceptable to ignore our New Year’s resolutions, bury our scales and avoid our personal trainer like the Bubonic Plague as we prepare to channel our inner Ms. Pac-Man while rubbing elbows with some of the biggest names in the food and restaurant industries. Read the rest here »

 By: Maryanne Salvat 

Tosca on Valentine’s Day 

This Valentine’s Day, embrace “the sweet life” at Tosca as they will be turning back the hands of time to the late 1950s, setting the mood for a romantic evening abound with sumptuous dishes, rich decor and live cabaret show inspired by Federico Fellini’s masterpiece La Dolce Vita. The prix-fixe menu, priced at $245 per couple, showcases a selection of Tosca’s signature dishes, including the Fettuccine with Mascarpone Cheese, Bone-in Prime Tenderloin and a ménage-a-trois of chocolate. Seatings are at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m., with the show times at 8:00 and 10:30 p.m.; For reservations call: 786.216.7230.

Saks Loves Your Cause

This February, Saks Fifth Avenue will give 5% of all registered purchases made with a Saks Fifth Avenue credit card back to charity with an initiative called Saks Loves Your Cause.  The donations will benefit The American Red Cross and select local organizations, keeping support within each Saks Fifth Avenue store’s immediate community.

South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2013

It’s no secret that the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SBWFF) is taking over Miami, on February 21 through February 24.  Those of you that have been looking forward to the foodie weekend will be in for a treat, with new exciting events to add to the classic line-up that encompasses the festival; gastro-fiends will invade the South Florida beaches to soak up some rays and catch chef-lebrity sightings as well as live performances. To plan your excursion into this delectable territory visit:  www.sobefest.com. Don’t forget to prep a bag with Havaianas, antacids, and digestive aids to get you through it.

Havaianas and Michelle Bernstein Come Together at Burger Bash 2013

Havaianas, the world’s most stylish flip flop, has partnered with James Beard Award winning chef and Miami native,Michelle Bernstein to bring “Instant Brazilian Joy” to the 2013 Food & Wine Burger Bash in Miami. To celebrate this partnership, Havaianas has created a limited edition collection of Food & Wine pins that will be available on-site at Burger Bash and on the Havaianas website from February 21through February 24.  These whimsical pins feature snacks and cooking items such as pasta, cracked eggs, burgers, fries, ice-cream, pickles, ketchup and more. Bernstein infused her famous Latin culinary style with the deeply rooted Brazilian heritage of Havaianas to create an eclectic menu of recipes inspired by this exclusive collection of flip flop styles and pins. The authentic delicacies such as Bolo de Maracujá (Passion Fruit Cake) with purple sandals and the ice cream pin, The Brazilian Burger with red sandals and the burger pin, or Moqueca with gold flip flops with the fish pin, and more will be available for each guest to order complimentary a la carte at the event. Bernstein will be on-site at the Havaianas booth at the Burger Bash to “serve up” her delectably named sandals and exclusive recipe cards featuring her real gourmet creations. For the foodies who cannot make it to Burger Bash this year, Michelle’s flip flop creations and her custom sandal, The Meal (gold flip flop with ketchup, burger, pickle and fries pin) will be available for sale on www.us.havaianas.com for $2.50 each pin for the duration of the SOBE Food & Wine Festival.

Smithfield Versailles Cuban Combo Food Truck 

To add to our self-inflicted eating addiction, Smithfield and Versailles have partnered to create the ultimate “Smithfield Versailles Cuban Combo.” The Smithfield food truck will be stationed outside nighttime events, handing out free Cuban sandwich samples for all, from midnight to 2:00 a.m. on February 22 at the James Hotel and February 23 at the Dream Hotel.  Stop by to have a taste!  

Hat Luncheon with the Vizcayans 

On Tuesday, February 26, The Vizcayans will host their fifth annual Preservation Luncheon, fondly referred to as the “Hat Luncheon”, at the historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The al-fresco luncheon will be blossoming with stylish hats and elegant attire galore, reminiscent of fashionable daytime soirees in the formal Italianate gardens, which were a tradition in Vizcaya’s early years as James Deering’s European-inspired home, opened in 1916. This year’s chair for the Preservation Luncheon is Lydia Touzet.The afternoon will begin with a glorious cocktail reception on the Garden Mound where guests will be welcomed by enchanting string music as they sip on champagne and enjoy decadent hors d’oeuvres. Trumpets will then cue guests to proceed to a lavish dining experience in a beautifully decorated pavilion that includes an exquisite four-course lunch catered by Thierry’s Catering, Lanson champagne and wines by Chateau D’Esclans. Gift bags will be provided courtesy of Neiman Marcus Coral Gables. The Vizcayan’s Preservation Luncheon, inspired by the Central Park Conservancy’s “Hat luncheon” held each year in New York, was founded by Norma Quintero in 2009 during her term as president of the Vizcayans in an effort to raise money to protect the estate’s viewshed. All proceeds from this and all Vizcayans events currently benefit a comprehensive restoration plan for Vizcaya’s buildings, gardens and outdoor statuary.Individual tickets are $300 and tables (for ten) are $3,000. For more information and to purchase tickets call 305.856.4866 ext. 3 or email rsvp@vizcayans.org.

RADIO Pop-Up Bar

RADIO Pop-Up Bar, the new concept bynightlife trio and longtime friends Paulo Cardoso, Tatanka Guerrero and Philippe “Flip” Falca, has launched South of Fifth,located on 814 1st St. RADIO will offer a drink list featuring handcrafted cocktails, champagne and local craft beers, as well as classic bites including grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs and old-fashioned popcorn. RADIO’s name is fitting considering it is the only bar with an actual 600-foot radio tower in South Beach and the first pop up bar to grace the South of Fifth neighborhood. The pop-up’s craft cocktails and timeless nibbles are served in a lively atmosphere with a warm and laid-back South Beach service. Every Friday night, new cocktails – such as the Thai Chile and Pineapple Caipirnha – will be available for less than $10. DJ sets, hosted by OFM Talent, will be on rotation all weekend long and will feature a selection of South Beach’s most talented MCs. RADIO is open seven days a week from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The main entrance is situated on 1st Street, but the back entryway east of the bar is recommended as a courtesy to residents for guests arriving after 11:00 p.m.

AKM Images / GSI Media

Alejandro Sanz, Grammy Award winning artist, performed at the Market America Annual World Conference held at the American Airlines Arena. Over 20,000 delighted attendees enjoyed the concert, among those:   actress and reality star La La Anthony, and Market America founders Loren and JR Ridinger.

Olivier Martinez and Halle Berry were seen dining at Martinez’s restaurant Villa Azur during the weekend.  Action-movie director, Michael Bay was also spotted at Villa Azur’s Thursday Night Dinner Party hosted by Michael Martin. Gerard Butler, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Mel Gibson along with friends were also seen dining in a private room at Villa Azur. The following day DiCaprio and Hill headed to Wynwood Walls and toured the amazing murals and art displays in the area.  Favorites included Shepard Fairey and Kenny Scharf.

Regis Philbin dined at Toro Toro.

The Temple House hosted a reception announcing the upcoming Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame event in April 2013. Honorary guests at the reception included: well-known songwriters and producers Desmond Child and Rudy Perez as well as Miami Beach’s  Vice Mayor, Michael Gongora.