Iran Issa-Khan Book Signing at the Webster 

On Thursday, April 19, join the Webster boutique for a celebratory event in honor of famed photographer and artist Iran Issa-Khan. Issa-Khan will be signing her first book entitled Photographs on the Second Floor Salon from 7 to 9 p.m. There are a limited number of books with a special print available for purchase. Grey Goose vodka is providing the cocktails and catering will be provided by the talented Michelle Areces of Petit Pois.  RSVP to iran@thewebster.com. 

Color A Cause 

The Color Queen, Joey Mugica, is proud to announce the first ever COLOR A CAUSE, on Thursday, April 19. The event will take place at Pearl, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The originally inspired images will feature and honor some of Miami’s most dynamic and renowned women, including successful philanthropists, businesswomen, journalists, socialites, reality stars, artists, designers and entertainers. COLOR A CAUSE will benefit Dress for Success Miami, which provides professional attire for economically disadvantaged men and women. There is a suggested minimum $20 entry ticket payable at the door during the night of the event. Miami’s diva extraordinaire, Ms. Elaine Lancaster, will provide the evening’s entertainment. To prepare the ladies for this momentous occasion, Tim Quinn, International Celebrity Face Designer for Giorgio Armani Cosmetics and his team will be available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour from 12 to 5 p.m., to create that special Color Look for the evening;  honorees and guests will be gifted a $25 gift card available at the counter. 10% of the day sales from the Gift Card will benefit Dress For Success Miami.  RSVP to rsvp@coloracause.com. 

Young Patrons Happy Hour – 2^nd Annual Great Energy Challenge 

On Thursday, April 19, The Young Patrons challenge you to an energy happy hour. Join the YP’s for networking and interactive challenges to see who the greenest young professionals in Miami are. Food trucks will be at the event catering to the crowd, 21 and older. A $15 entry fee will charged for admission and will include open bar and entrance to the museum. For more information, contact Adriana Oliva at 305-646-4248 or aoliva@miamisci.org. 

2012 American Cancer Society Gala

The 2012 American Cancer Society Gala will take place on Saturday, April 21, at the elegant InterContinental Miami. About 500 influential leaders of Miami’s social and corporate communities will gather for a night of elegance, exquisite food, breathtaking décor, and live entertainment. The cocktail reception and silent auction will start at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing at 8:30 p.m. Chairpersons for this year’s black-tie fundraiser are Lourdes and Felipe Valls and Co-Chairs are Madeline and Pedro Munilla. Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs. The silent auction will feature items such as airline tickets, jewelry, golf packages, sports collector’s items, spa packages, and couture fashion. During the live auction, guests will be challenged to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Reaching Out to Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K.) Programs. Every year, the gala presents a testimonial showcasing R.O.C.K. Programs. For more information contact Carmen Piles, Gala Manager, at 305-779-2861 or carmen.piles@cancer.org. 

Earth Day Activities  

Miami Science Museum 

On Saturday, April 21 beginning at 12 p.m. the Miami Science Museum is encouraging members of the community to take its “Great Energy Challenge” and celebrate Mother Earth this Earth Day weekend. At the 2^nd Annual Great Energy Challenge, members of the community will form teams to spin, dance, yo-yo, read and scavenge their way around the Museum’s Energy Tracker exhibit, as well as create a “green” structure out of the Museum’s recycled junk. The top two teams will then face off in an Environmental Jeopardy Brain Challenge, which will decide the Green Champion! Members of the first place team will take home Nokia C5-03 Smartphones.  Members of the community can gather up family and friends to form a team. Also, community teams (including teams of middle, high school & college students, community organizations and non-profits) and corporate teams can participate. Four people per team, ages 8 and up. Team registration begins at 11 a.m. on the day of the event. Event sponsorship opportunities are available at www.miamisci.org. For sponsorship opportunities, visit www.miamisci.org. For more information about the event and to see if your team qualifies, contact Adriana Oliva 305-646-4248 or aoliva@miamisci.org.

Earth Day at Fairchild 

On Monday, April 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden will be celebrating Earth Day granting free admission to the public. Enjoy 83 acres of tropical paradise right in your own backyard! This is the perfect opportunity to walk Fairchild’s grounds, have a family picnic, admire the monumental sculptures of Will Ryman and Dale Chihuly or simply sit on a bench and read your favorite book. In addition to free admission, guests can take advantage of the following special offers on April 23: walking and tram tours, 50% membership for new members only, and 10% off for membership renewals and rejoining members. 

Kickoff the Great American Bake Sale

To kickoff this year’s Great American Bake Sale and Taste of the Nation, local chefs from around Miami and Fort Lauderdale including Allen Susser, Paula Da Silva from 1500 Degrees, Andre Bienvenu of Joe’s Stone Crab, and Clay Conley of Buccan are getting together to fill boxes with food for the hungry at Feeding South Florida from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, April 23. Several food trucks will also be in attendance to serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to volunteer alongside these chefs. To RSVP, email jbalhon@strength.org.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stopped by the Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar on Thursday night to celebrate the big honor of being named CinemaCon’s “Action Star of the Year.” The former UM student has been taking Miami by storm and took some time to indulge at The Forge with a friend – taking a break from filming his new Michael Bay directed film, Pain and Gain.

Comedian Dave Chappelle was spotted in South Beach last Thursday, first at local bar Foxhole before swinging by WALL. On-lookers say he was very sociable but low key in demeanor, wearing a black tank top, jeans and holding a black motorcycle helmet. Chappelle, who was accompanied by a male friend, hung out at the owner’s VIP table for about an hour just chatting, drinking water and enjoying the DJ. Twitter reported seeing him at a Palm Beach McDonald’s the following morning.

This year’s Sony Ericsson Open set an all-time attendance record with 325,000 guests and a record 14 session sellouts. Celebs in attendance included:  Jimmy Buffet ; Marc Cohen, Grammy-Award winning artist; actress, Melissa Hurd; actor, Carlos Gomez;Boyd Tinsley, Jonathan Cheban, Dirk Nowitzki, Rashad Evans, Kelly Rowland and NFL Players: Bryant McKinnie (Baltimore Ravens), Christian Ponder (Minnesota Vikings),Abram Elam (Dallas Cowboys) and Jon Beason (Carolina Panthers).

Yolanda and Jeff Berkowitz

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood,” mused Miami Children’s Museum (MCM) Chairman, Jeff Berkowitz as he addressed an animated crowd of 600 on Saturday, March 31 at the museum’s annual Be A Kid Again Gala, which was held in a gorgeous tent on Watson Island, home to MCM.  This year’s whimsical theme, “All You Need is Love” transported guests, most of whom dressed in their best 60s chic, back in time with a 60s/Beatles theme complete with old records, Beatles glasses, moustaches, a red double-decker bus, and fields of Driscoll’s strawberries as parting gifts. 

The party started in the actual museum, where guests got to tour the exhibits while sipping cocktails- which, incidentally, adds a whole new level of fun to the museum visit.   (A few moms who visit the museum regularly with their children suggested that there should be a permanent “bar installment” just for the parents.) 

After the cocktail reception, guests were escorted into the expansive tent for the party, for which MCM pulled out all the stops (which resembled the London Underground stops) with high-top and lounge tables in lieu of regular ballroom tables and a fun-filled buffet by Chef David Schwadron which included burgers, hot dogs, coconut shrimp, and fish and chips instead of the typical banquet food.  This kept people on their feet, chatting and dancing throughout the night. Read the rest here »

By: Maryanne Salvat

21st Annual Reach for the Stars Gala

Actors’ Playhouse and Lexus of Kendall Host the 21st Annual Reach for the Stars Gala Auction at the Miracle Theatre on Saturday, April 14. Attendees will have the chance to bid on over $300,000 worth of live and silent auction items while enjoying exquisite fare provided by 30 of Coral Gables’ finest restaurants and an open bar sponsored by Bacardi U.S.A. and Premier Beverage Company. Items for bid include international business class airline tickets, worldwide hotel travel packages and cruises, exclusive celebrity wine dinners at popular South Florida restaurants, jewelry, golf packages, fine art, home decor, sports collectors items, spa visits, objets d’art, couture clothing, membership gift certificates, and more. CBS4’s Former Chief Meteorologist Bob Soper, the official celebrity auctioneer for the past 21 years, will conduct the live auction with Artistic Director David Arisco. The popular auction is the major fundraising event for Actors’ Playhouse each year with funds going to the capital improvements of the historic Miracle Theatre and the operating costs of Actors’ Playhouse’s 25th Anniversary Season in 2012-2013. Items can be viewed on line at www.actorsplayhouse.org. Cost for the event is $150 per person, which includes gourmet dining, open bar sponsored by Bacardi U.S.A. and Premier Beverage Company, entertainment, silent auction and live auction; for tickets, call 305.444.9293, or purchase online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Friends of the NWS Season Finale

On Saturday, April 14, join the Friends of the New World Symphony at 9:00 p.m. for a sizzling night under the stars featuring the 8-piece Afro-Latin World Beat Sensation, Lanzallamas Monofonica, sumptuous light bites and cocktails courtesy of GREY GOOSE Vodka. Contact Nathalie Cadet at New World Symphony to purchase tickets, Nathalie.Cadet-James@nws.edu or call 305.428.6733.

Pool Party with Mario Lopez and GARNIER FRUCTIS

On Sunday, April 15, GARNIER FRUCTIS has teamed up with Mario Lopez to host a pool party to celebrate their newest launches from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Held at the renowned Fontainebleau Miami Beach, guests will soak up the sunshine at the hotel’s Arkadia Pool while being treated to hair styling services, mini-massages and acupressure treatments. Garnier Fructis celebrity stylist, Marc Mena, will also be on site leading the styling cabanas where guests will choose between four different beach styles using Garnier Fructis products. For more information, visit www.garnier.com.

Joe’s Boutique Opens in Aventura Mall

Joe’s, premium denim and contemporary lifestyle brand, establishes a presence in Miami after opening boutiques in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta. The new retail location will launch its grand opening event for the brand’s sixth US location on Saturday, April 21, in Aventura Mall. The boutique will open to the public with the brands stylish Spring/Summer 2012 collection as well as entertainment by DJ Dutch.

A Night at the Museum

The Bass Museum of Art will host its annual fundraiser, “A Night at the Museum,” on Thursday, April 26, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The event is expected to attract more than 500 guests who will receive a private preview of “Charles LeDray: Bass Museum of Art,” curated by Bass Museum of Art Adjunct Curator, Steven Holmes. Artist Charles LeDray will be in attendance. Guests will explore the new exhibition while enjoying hors d’oeuvres by TiramesU; cocktails & refreshments from Mandarine Napoleon, Kanon Organic Vodka and Perrier; desserts by Stella’s Sweet Shoppe; and beats by Vida’s house DJ. Attendees will also be introduced to an innovative silent auction of custom art experiences, including a studio visit and catered lunch with artist Carlos Betancourt and a curator-led art day in New York City. Admission to the fundraising event is $175 for two and includes a Mummy Level Membership or renewal to the Bass Museum of Art for one year. Rubens Level Members or above receive complimentary admission for two, while those members below may upgrade. To RSVP, email rsvp@bassmuseum.org. For membership upgrades, email dwolpert@bassmuseum.org, visit www.bassmuseum.org, call 786.800.6302.

On Sunday, April 1, Miami Beach welcomed the Nautica South Beach Triathlon for the fifth year in a row. Athletes, corporate teams,  professional and amateur tri-athletes and famous faces including The Today Show’s Natalie Morales, X-Men’s James Marsden, The Office’s Paul Lieberstein and David Denman, Cougartown’s Josh Hopkins, Pirates of the Caribbean’s Greg Ellis, and The Finder’s Geoff Stults and Mercedes Masohn, Burn Notice’s Jeffrey Donovan, ABC Family’s Make It or Break ItJosie Loren, the star of the Emmy winning, Wizards of Waverly Place and the upcoming Huckleberry Finn Jake T. Austin, Carolina Panther’s running back DeAngelo Williams and WWE six-time world champion Dave Bautista were some of the celebrities who participated in this year’s event. Pop singer and songwriter JoJo, kicked-off the day’s events by performing the national anthem. Over 3,000 participants came out to challenge the currents of the Atlantic Ocean and take to the streets of South Beach to raise money for pediatric cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Comedian and actor, Bob Saget, wrapped up the day with an award ceremony as well as a $401,422.00 check presentation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Mark Wahlberg was seen dining with Entourage producer Eric Weinstein on Friday at night at Scott Conant’s Scarpetta at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. On Sunday night, Tyra Banks, of America’s Top Model was also spotted at Scarpetta, with a handsome Latin heartthrob, “cozying up to each other over dessert.” According to our source.

Real Housewives of Miami, Karent Sierra, Lea Black, and Joanna Krupa

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

If there’s ever a good time to be on the “Black list” it’s for the highly anticipated, annual bash known as The Black Gala, hosted by power-couple Lea and Roy Black.  And if you are “blacklisted” because you are, in fact, “under suspicion, disfavor, censure…” as per the dictionary definition – famed attorney, Roy Black is definitely ONE person with whom you should spend an evening.  In our book, being on the Blacks’ list means that you are one of the lucky few (hundred) invited to participate in an unforgettable night of performances, dancing, gourmet food and bidding on one-of-a-kind auction items.

In its 18^th year, the Black Gala, which was held at the Fontainebleau Hotel took place right smack in the middle of the Winter Music Conference and rivaled many of the musical performances and Madonna’s surprise appearance at Ultra-which occurred simultaneously. After all, the Blacks had a QUEEN! attend and perform at their gala. So what if it was Queen Latifah, rather than an actual queen? Can you think of any queen with such fabulous style, matched only by her incredible pipes?  The Blacks’ guests were also treated to an unforgettable concert by Tony Bennett– whose legendary voice was accompanied by a full-piece orchestra- the presence of which caused a last-minute rearrangement of the tables and dance floor.  No one seemed to mind- as the crowd was blown away by Bennett’s moving performance, which ended with a live rendition of “Who Can I Turn To?” a duet by Bennett and Latifah, which had only been performed live once before. Read the rest here »