Unplugged and Uncorked Thursdays

Essenisa’s newest happy hour, Unplugged & Uncorked Thursdays, offers 50% off wines (BTG or bottle).The wines are selected for being organically grown or farmed, sustainably farmed, or biodynamic. What does this mean? The wines are not only amazing; they are produced by environmentally responsible wineries. Essensia’s new Signature Chef, Julie Frans, designed a fantastic selection of $9 bar bites lounge menu for the happy hour including Duck Confit Flatbread Pizza, Mini Lamb Sliders, Thai Rock Shrimp Fritters, Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken on Bamboo Skewers and a Cheese & Charcuterie Sampler. Finally, local musicians will set the tone for Unplugged & Uncorked Thursdays. Expect different musical genres and musicians on a weekly basis. The happy hour will be held every Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Essensia Lounge. Valet parking is $9.00 for Unplugged & Uncorked guests. For more information visit www.thepalmshotel.com  or call 305.908.5458.

PADDYTHON at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant will roll out the barrels, pump up the pipe and amplify the pub culture in South Florida for its second-annual, weeklong St. Patrick’s Day training schedule in preparation for its PADDYTHON event. The brave are invited to take part in the series of events leading up to the PADDYTHON that combines drinking, competition, intellect and charity into a week surely to bring on camaraderie and debauchery amongst all guests.The five-room pub recently celebrated its one year anniversary, and has plans to take that successful celebration to new heights. From March 10 through March 17, Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant has organized multiple events for patrons to learn more about the Irish culture and meaning of St. Patrick’s Day through food, friends, festivities and fun! For a complete calendar of events visit www.fadoirishpub.com.

Gold-Diggers for a Great Cause 

The Gold-Diggers are back for a great cause! On Sunday, March 18, don’t miss out on a chance to receive a new hairstyle, nail polish change or massage from one of Miami’s talented stylists for a small donation. This festive event provides an enthusiastic environment in which all proceeds benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Southern Florida Chapter, and Food For Life Network. Alongside The Gold-Diggers, a woman’s organization dedicated to helping these charities, you will be able to make a contribution and look gorgeous doing it. To make an appointment call Stacy at 786.239.1317 or fire911sir@yahoo.com. Appointments and Walk-Ins Welcomed! Hair Cut $25 * Blow Dry $20 * Nail Polish Change $5 Chair Massage $1 per minute.

Nat Moore Florida Golf Classic Celebrity Weekend

Hall of Famers Bobby Bell, Richard Dent, Artis Gilmore and Moses Malone are just a few of the more than 70 current and legendary sports personalities, actors and entertainers who will attend the 2012 Nat Moore Florida Golf Classic Celebrity Weekend benefiting the Nat Moore Foundation.  The three-day golf and party extravaganza will take place Saturday through Monday, March 17 through 19.  This year, the Celebrity Party will be held at the exciting and entertaining Seminole Hotel & Casino and the golf tournament will once again be held at the world renowned Doral Golf Resort & Spa.  The fun-filled festivities include the Wii sports-themed Celebrity Party and Auction on Saturday, Corporate Skins Game on Sunday, and the golf tournament on Monday. Proceeds from the event will enable the Nat Moore Foundation to continue to provide educational scholarships for high school graduates and support for disadvantaged children and youth in South Florida. To learn more and to become a sponsor, contact the Nat Moore Foundation by phone at (305) 770-0995 or by e-mail at info@natmoorefoundation.net.

27th annual Winter Music Conference at WALL Miami

WALL Miami, in conjunction with partners Belvedere Vodka and Atrium boutique, is proud to announce its lineup of international DJs for the 27th annual Winter Music Conference beginning on Friday, March 16. A multidimensional cast of renowned talent, including Bobby Burns, Pete Tong, Sidney Sampson, Quintino, Seth Troxler, Michael Brun, LA Riots, Jessica Who and many more will descend on the impenetrable nightspot inside W South Beach for a weeklong celebration of electronic and alternative music. Additionally, fashion brand Real Eyes Realize has partnered with Atrium boutique to design two limited-edition “Music Saved My Life”-inspired T-shirts that will be available for purchase throughout the week; for a complete listing of scheduled special performances visit www.wallmiami.com. Tickets can be purchased at www.wanttickets.com or via the WALL iPhone application at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wall-miami-beach/id439021888; Guest list and table reservations only; to reserve a table email rsvp@wallmiami.com.

Alicia John-Powell aka Miss Basia Comes to South Florida

On Friday, March 23, gracing more than 5 million television sets in 14 islands across the Caribbean, CEO of Basia TV, Alicia John-Powell aka Miss Basia, wraps up her successful sixth season of “The Basia Show” at her new, permanent location at Kikor Studio in Miami, Florida. This open-to-the-public show can hold 70 audience members. Guests will be treated to giveaways including a two night stay at Cocodimama beachfront hotel in the Bahamas. The show has successfully been in production for two-and-half-years and is part of the Basia Group of Companies, established and currently headquartered in Miami, Florida. The company is run by John-Powell and her husband, former West Indian Cricketer, Ricardo Powell. The day-time talk show offers an open-format, conversational tone where Miss Basia interviews international and Caribbean celebrities, while keeping her mission of promoting breast cancer awareness at the forefront; taping times: 11:30 a.m./1:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. To be a part of the studio audience contact: shaun@basiatv.com / 305.316.2985 or events@rockawaypr.com / 305.751.9641.

Deering Seafood Festival

Steel drums, Junkanoo musicians and Florida’s freshest fish and seafood are all a part of the 8^th Deering Seafood Festival on Sunday, March 25. Restaurants and caterers line Seafood Alley and local celebrity chefs Giorgio Rapicavoli Miami’s first winner of TV Food Network’s Chopped (Eating House), Kareem Anguin (Oceanaire Seafood Room) and Simon Stowjanovic (Altamare) prepare their specialties in the cooking demo tent. On the main stage, Pan Paradise Steel Band and Caribbean Crew each perform their reggae/calypso sound, followed by Mr. Nice Guy. In the Lil’Shrimp Kids Zone the Discovery Cove offers hands-on adventures, and unlimited fun on the inflatables. The activities offer something for every age with pontoon boat rides, an Artists’ Village, and nature hikes and tours of the historic homes. Admission: Adults $15 in advance online/ $25 at the gate, Child $5 ages 4-14, and Foundation Members Free, includes park entrance and all activities, excluding food, drink, pontoon rides and rock wall. For more information call 305.235.1668 ext. 263 or log on to: www.deeringseafoodfestival.org.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Deering Estate Foundation.

Reid & Fiorentino

Various well-known athletes and sports legends gathered over the weekend for the sixth annual Reid & Fiorentino Call Of The Game Dinner & Celebrity Golf Classic including: Dan Marino, Pierre Garcon, AJ Duhe, Benny Blades, Brandon Fields, Bob Brudzinski, Bryant Salter, Dan Carpenter, Darrell Fullington, Darrell Malone, Darryl Talley, Darryl Williams, Derrick Rogers, Dick Anderson, Don Nottingham, Eddie Hill, Freddie Banks, George Mira, Higgy, James Pruitt, Jason Jackson, Jed Weaver, Jeff Cross, Joey Cornblit, John Congemi, John Crotty, John Denney, John Harris, John L. Williams, Jose Paneda, Keith Askins, Keith Sims, Ki-Jana Carter, Larry Ball, Larry Little, Lorenzo Hampton, Mark Duper, Mike Inglis, Mike Miller, Mike Williams, Nat Moore, Nicko McBrain, OJ Anderson, OJ McDuffie, Patti Rizzo, Oronde Gadsen, Q Hill, Randall Hill, Reggie Givens, Rich Romano, Shane Battier, Shawn Wooden, Steve Whitaker, Terry Kirby, Tony Nathan, Troy Drayton, Valeria Ochoa, Walter Briggs, Lamar Thomas, Eddie Brown, Bernard Ford and Woody Bennett. During the dinner gala, a number of prestigious awards were presented for excellence and leadership in the community. Former Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback and NFL/College Football Analyst for almost three decades, Bob Griese, was presented with the Don Shula Sports Legend Award. Broadcaster, Joe Rose, received the Sonny Hirsch Excellence in Sports Broadcasting Award, and  Bill Fauerbach and Publix were presented with the Community Service Award.  The inaugural Jim Mandich Courage and Commitment Award was presented to Nick Buoniconti and Marc Buoniconti by Jim Mandich’s three sons – Michael, Mark, and Nick, for their outstanding work with The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. Father and son both took to the stage to give moving thank you speeches in front of an admiring audience that included Miami HEAT icon, Alonzo Mourning and coach, Eric Spoelstra.

Mr. Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris, spent Sunday at the Rx Pool Party series at the Rooftop of the Perry Hotel. The musician was spotted in a VIP cabana with a body guard, his cousin, and his girlfriend having lunch and watching college basketball poolside.

 Gretchen Rossi from Real Housewives of Orange County dined at Sugarcane raw bar grill on Wednesday night with her boyfriend Slade. They arrived with a few friends around 10 p.m. She tweeted “@sugarcanerawbar having an amazing diner with amazing friends!”

Lisa Hochstein, Alexia Echevarria, Karent Sierra, & Friend

By:  Mary Jo Almeida Shore

Tis the season:  to get dolled up in the name of charity.   Amid the club and restaurant openings, snowbirds and spring breakers, Miami socials are triple booked with galas.  Here’s a short list of some of our favorites so far.

Hearts and Stars Gala

On Saturday night, more than 1,000 guests gathered at George Wallner and Malinka Max’s gorgeous waterfront estate, Shangri La on Hibiscus Island for the Little Lighthouse Foundation’s Third Annual Hearts and Stars Gala– which was more of a swank South Beach bash than a traditional gala.  Co-founders Robert Sena, Aaron Resnick, Charlie Venturi and Aracibo Quintana and 20 co-hosts created a club-like atmosphere that included mini-lounges with white leather couches and cocktail tables, multiple bars and terrific dance music by DJ Louis Dee. Read the rest here »

Just in time for spring break things are clearly getting interesting: The world’s leading producer of Fine Champagne Cognac announces the South Florida expansion of its innovative new spirit Rémy Martin V– the brand’s first clear expression.  Following exclusive previews in Miami including New Year’s Eve with Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Rémy Martin V – pronounced Vee, the French word “Vie” for life – has made its official debut in South Florida. The arrival of this innovative new spirit signals a new era in nightlife and mixology for the region. With its bold flavors and aromatic richness, Rémy Martin V can be combined with many different essences creating smooth and refreshing contemporary cocktails.

 To celebrate the spirit’s official Miami launch, Rémy Martin V hosted a private dinner and an intimate Rémy V tasting experience at Baoli-Vita, led by mixologist, David Soto. Guests, including Jilian Sanz, Sarah Mirmelli, Dirk DeSouza, and Bill Kearney, enjoyed tableside Rémy V cocktails, such as the “V-Sidecar” and “Ginger V-Sour”, while Entourage’s Adrian Grenier and a friend, surrounded by a crowd of female onlookers, enjoyed their own bottle of Rémy Martin V at a nearby table. Socials Akbar Hamid and Patricia Marci took over the chairs and table tops later on in the evening as more Rémy Martin V arrived, while David Saada, Vita’s most legendary persona, danced across the bar.

For a different twist try the Rémy Martin V cocktails created by Baoli-Vita’s mixologist, David Soto:

V-SIDECAR:

• ·         Rémy Martin V
• ·         Cointreau Orange Liquor,
• ·         Dash of fresh Lemon juice,
• ·         Dash simple syrup

GINGER V-SOUR:

• ·         Rémy Martin V
• ·         Pasteurized Egg White
• ·         Fresh lime
• ·         Fresh Ginger
• ·         Dash of Simple Syrup

 For more information and other drink recipies visit: www.remymartin.com.

 Satisfying many a sweet craving during SOBEWFF was South Carolina native, Kim Adams Nelson, owner of Daisy Cakes, who presented her sweet creations based on old family recipes. Celebrity chefs, including: Al Roker, Emeril Lagasse, Alexandra Guarnaschelli, Anne Burrell, Spike Mendelsohn, Geoffrey Zakarian, Sunny Anderson and Real Housewives of New York City star Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, lined up at the Daisy Cakes pop-up bakery to sample the “24 Karat” cake, Chocolate Frosted yellow cake, and the Red Velvet.

 Check out Daisy Cakes at: http://www.daisycakecompany.com/. 

 Oscar Night America

Miami Beach Film Society raised over $50,000 in donations at the Oscar Night America viewing party, Sunday, February 26 at the Dezer Collection Museum & Pavilion in North Miami. Notable guests included MBFS founder Dana Keith, collector/entrepreneur Michael Dezer, former “Bond Girl” Naima, artist Bunny Yeager, Miss Latina International Esther Dollar, Helmut Schuster and Miss Latina International Stephanie Fedak, and Miami nightlife maven Tara Solomon. Guests at the red carpet soiree enjoyed a seated dinner, wine by Francis Ford Coppola Presents, cocktails by Absolut Miami, water by Perrier, and viewing of the 84th annual Academy Awards amongst 10 cars from Oscar-winning Hollywood films, which included the original Batmobile, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Volkswagen, a James Bond Aston Martin DB5 and more, in addition to fashion by designer Ema Savahl. The event, which was the only viewing party officially sanctioned by the Academy of Arts and Sciences, also served as the closing reception of the Bunny Yeager Retrospective, full of provocative images of muse Bettie Page.

Last Wednesday, Paula Abdul dined at Asia de Cuba, “cuddling up with a handsome male companion” according to our source. 

21 Jump Street co-stars, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum were seen having a blast and sharing bottles of Dom at SET on Thursday night. 

At the Miami International Film Festival premiere of Magic City, the highly anticipated Starz series (premiering Friday, April 6 at 10pm) at the Colony Theater on Sunday, March 4, the show’s creator/executive producer, Mitch Glazer, along with the show’s cast and crew received a proclamation from Miami Beach city commissioner, Jorge Exposito.

Cathy Blank, Tracy Wilson Mourning, and Honey Bug Rebecca Francisque

On Tuesday March 6, Tracy Wilson Mourning, wife of NBA Champion Alonzo Mourning, and Founder of the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, encouraged more than 150 women to become members of the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, through a series of “The Art of Entertaining” tips and tricks useful for any social occasion, at the residence of longtime member and philanthropist Cathy Blank.

Held in part to creatively build upon the network of members in support of the program’s mission, recruitment events like “The Art of Entertaining” help fund nurturing experiences that enlighten the path and empower the future of young girls enrolled in the Honey Shine Mentoring Program. “We are truly thankful. It is through the collective power of the women who gathered that we are able to make profound changes in the life of our Honey Shine girls”, said Tracy.

Professionally lead do-it-yourself tutorials included floral arranging by Kitanim, a floral design company founded on the philosophy that flowers have the magical ability to transform a space and mood through the senses with flowers provided by Berkely Florist Supply. Fare to Remember, Miami’s premier caterer, served-up creative culinary bites made easy by Chef Sarah Davidoff. Berry and strawberry mojitos, prepared by popular mixologists, soon followed. Meanwhile, helping any “entertaining” hostess look her best for her guests was Cream Beauty who had the Beauty Bar booked in between demos and Salsa dance classes lead by Morgan Munoz. Topping-off the mid-day soiree were the many sweets and entertainment gifting treats courtesy of Gift Chixx, Aroma Espresso and 3 Men & A Lil Lady Sweat Treats who provided the best cake pops ever!

After a few moving words and testimonial from Rebecca Francisque, high school freshman and Honey Bug, an impressive group of 40 women, present at the mixer, became members, totaling $20,000 in donations awarded to the program, with more expected to pledge Honey Shine in the coming weeks. Membership, by both individuals and corporations, continues to be one of the primary funding sources by which more than 180 girls enrolled in the Honey Shine Mentoring Program continue to receive much-needed mentorship. In addition to the fun perks, such as tickets to the highly anticipated 10^th Annual Hats Off Luncheon on May 8^th, 2012, and member-only functions that make up the membership program, each commitment by a new or returning member helps support year-round program activities that include bi-weekly workshops and a six-week summer camp developed to encourage young girls to shine as women. For additional programming and membership package details, visit HONEYSHINE.org.

photo courtesy: Mitchell Zachs