Chef Michael Shikany

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

SHIKANY, a new 5-star nomadic culinary series, held a one-of-a-kind kick-off dinner for thirty VIPs at Chef Michael Shikany’s fabulous Miami Beach home. The seven-course meal was exquisite – Jerk Rubbed Foie Gras on Cinnamon Brioche French Toast, Butter Poached Lobster “Mac & Cheese” on Marscapone Truffled Orzo, and Vanilla Scented Seared Scallop with Candied Meyer Lemon were but three. Each course was paired with white wine, red wine, sake, plum wine, prosecco or a SHIKANY martini. 

Immediately following dinner, after DJ Vidal provided mood-setting music, guests boarded a limousine bus to a $9 million, 80’ Ferretti yacht for a sunset cruise, where they enjoyed Moet Imperial Ice and Cloud Nine cupcakes. The night was the perfect preview of what is sure to become among the most sought after experiences in Miami. Read the rest here »

Let the Sun Shine On: HAIR at the Adrienne Arsht Center

If Big hair, psychedelic grooves and shocking scenes are your thing…or if you were a “flower child” or possess an inner Hippie, then you are sure to find the Public Theater’s new production of HAIR to be one of the most electric celebrations on Broadway! This exuberant musical about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a turbulent time has struck a resonant chord with audiences young and old. Featuring an extraordinary cast and dozens of unforgettable songs including “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” “Good Morning, Starshine” and “Easy To Be Hard.” Its relevance is undeniable. Its energy is unbridled. Its truth is unwavering. It’s HAIR, and it’s time. For tickets and shows visit www.arshtcenter.org.

Summer Is Here!  Endless Fried Chicken on Wednesday Nights       

Michy’s fried chicken feast returns on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Available every Wednesday during dinner service, this unbeatable weekly special – priced at $38 per person, (excluding tax/gratuity/beverage) features endless helpings of Bernstein’s signature recipe fried chicken (American or Korean style topped with chilies, garlic and soy) served with a bottomless parade of sides which will change weekly: cornbread, pickled cucumber slaw, and watermelon Greek salad.  The dinner also includes a luscious red velvet cupcake for dessert.  Reservations are highly recommended. For more information, call 305.759.2001 or visit www.chefmichellebernstein.com.

Summer Splash Fundraiser at Soho Beach House

Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services, Inc. invites guests to attend its Summer Splash Fundraiser at the ultra exclusive Soho Beach House on Miami Beach, Saturday, June 4, at 7:00 pm. Enjoy an evening of music, the warm beach breeze and delightful company in celebration of the major sponsors that have allowed Miami Bridge to continue to be the city’s only emergency shelter for children and teens. Guests will indulge in delectable passed hors-d’oeuvres, unlimited top-shelf cocktails and irresistible paella from the club’s Penthouse, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. To make a single reservation ($150) or to make a donation, please contact Monique Bain at 305.636.3520.

Tobacco Road Presents: Save the Ta-Ta’s Foundation

On Saturday, June 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., in celebration of the 92nd Anniversary of  the passing of the 19th Amendment, Miami’s oldest bar, Tobacco Road, is celebrating all women with a down home country “Hoedown”!  The event, will include a mechanical bull riding contest, specialty Ultimat vodka cocktails, Miller Lite buckets, and 15 of Miami’s favorite slow food trucks!   The Road will be tickled pink to show love for the ladies, women’s suffrage and the importance of breast cancer research. For more information, visit www.Tobacco-Road.com.

Summer Sessions at Electric Pickle

This Saturday, June 4, Wynwood’s Electric Pickle is hosting a 12-hour party (5 p.m. to 5 a.m.) featuring live acts such as electronic pop duo Benoit & Sergio, DJ Robert James and late night fun in the “Bolero Room” with the Spam Allstars, DJ Induce and Brad Strickland. Guests will enjoy complimentary beer from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Zignum Mezcal signature cocktail specials all night. In addition, the club’s outdoor “playground” will boast an oversized Zignum Mezcal cabana complete with a photo booth, giveaways, plush couches and gratis mezcal shots throughout the evening. $10 advanced tickets are available through Saturday (noon) at Wantickets.com (http://www.wantickets.com/Events/ShowEvent.aspx?eventId=90939).For more information, visit www.electricpicklemiami.com and www.zignummezcal.com. 

Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce 89^th Annual Dinner Gala 

On Saturday, June 4, more than 1,200 of Miami Beach’s most influential business professionals and community members will join the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce for the 89^th Annual Dinner Gala honoring local icons for their outstanding contributions to the community. The event will take place the Miami Beach Convention Center beginning at 7:00 p.m. The extravaganza will be a flash back to the black and white television era of Miami Beach in the 50s and 60s. Individual tickets start at $300 and sponsorship opportunities begin at $3,000, which includes a table for 10 guests.  For tickets, sponsorships or more information, call 305.674.1300 or email, valerie@miamibeachchamber.com. Additional information is also available at www.miamibeachchamber.com. 

RA Sushi in South Miami hosts the 7^th Annual Nicky’s Week

RA Sushi in South Miami is hosting its seventh annual “Nicky’s Week” fundraiser through Saturday, June 4 to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®, the nation’s top children’s cancer research center. The Scottsdale-based restaurant and bar will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of a variety of menu items and beverages to St. Jude to help support the hospital’s lifesaving mission. The special Nicky’s Week menu includes: Edamame, Tootsy Maki, Shrimp Nigiri, Pork Gyoza, Tuna Tataki, Chicken Yakitori and select beverages. Saturday’s Nicky’s Week Closing Party is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will feature a live DJ, food and drink specials. In addition, guests who make a monetary donation to St. Jude on their check will receive a ticket to enter into RA Sushi in South Miami’s week-long raffle. Prizes include gift certificates to SEE Eyewear, bottle service at WALL South Beach, an overnight stay at legendary Hotel Breakwater on Ocean Drive, spa experience at mySpa at InterContinental Miami, three-month gym membership at Equinox, luxury accessory from Capretto Shoes and much more.  Winning tickets will be drawn during Nicky’s Week closing party on Saturday, June 4. For information on “Nicky’s Week” call 305.341.0092.

Sushi Classes with Chef Jorge Montes

Chef Jorge Montes will give a hands-on sushi cooking class on Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m., at the Shane Center Miami Beach. The class, limited to 15 guests, will take place in the large kitchen of this waterfront catering facility.  Price is $65 per person. Guests will learn to prepare sticky rice, knife and rolling techniques and traditional sauces and will have the opportunity to roll two to three sushi rolls with their desired ingredients and creativity. The menu for the evening includes Saketinis, Miso Glazed Tuna with Sesame Rice Cake and Chili Sauce, assorted Sushi rolls; make your own signature roll and sake and honey marinate strawberries with green tea ice-dream. After the cooking class guests will sit down and eat the meal they helped to prepare. To rsvp for the class, call 305.861.8837 or visit .

Lindsay Lohan was in town to shoot the cover of Plum Miami magazine’s July 2011 issue, just two days before turning herself in to authorities to serve her 120 day jail sentence.  The “concept cover” was developed by Plum Network CEO, Jerry Powers, who also interviewed the starlet for the in-book exclusive. 

Custo,BikramChoudhury,NachoCano

On Saturday night, baseball Hall-of-Famer, Sammy Sosa had drinks at Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne.  Sosa pulled up in style in a white Rolls Royce Phantom, with his wife, brother, brother’s girlfriend and bodyguard in tow.
 
Bikram Choudhury, Paulina Rubio, Mayor Regalado, Nacho Cano, from Mecano (top-selling Spanish band of all time), Custo Dalmau from Custo Barcelona, and DJ A-ROG were on-hand for the opening of Bikram Brickell Hot Yoga Miami on Saturday evening. In honor of the grand opening, Guru Bikram held a private auction of his favorite classic Rolls Royce, which once belonged to famous American entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. Proceeds from the auction will benefit victims of the earthquake in Japan.

Basketball legend and sports commentator Charles Barkley squeezed in a
60-minute work out last week with professional trainer Matt Pack at the new
Primal Fit Miami.  When Barkley headed outside for Pack’s signature SUV pulls and pushes, “Sir Charles drew lots of attention amid the hustle and bustle of 2nd avenue.  Before long, police cars started pulling up and people came off the streets, to say hello, shake his hand and chat with the star.  “I wished I would have trained like this when I was playing professional basketball,” Barkley admitted to Pack regarding his signature “primal” workout.

Famed photographer, Greg Lotus had dinner with Eva Longoria aboard a private yacht last week, somewhere on Biscayne Bay.

Jenny Wilensky, Josh Fein, and Jillian Sanz

The Design Center for the Americas (DCOTA) was aglow in purple light on Thursday, May 19, for the highly anticipated, inaugural, Flare for Design, (intentional spelling) which merged the elements of high fashion and design to benefit the Southeast Florida Chapter of The Lupus Foundation of America.  A chic crowd gathered at the center to bid on one-of-a kind auction items, sip cocktails and Veuve Clicquot champagne, nibble on gourmet food by Lyon & Lyon and Blade Sushi and enjoy an animated fashion show narrated by Haute Living’s National Fashion Director, Jilian Sanz, who looked “pretty in peach” in a floor-length, Luca Luca gown.  The fashions, modeled by people living with Lupus, included designs donated by 100% Capri, Alice & Olivia, Elie Tahari, Luca Luca, Malo, Max Mara, Noble Experiment, Trina Turk and Valentino that were sold at a silent auctioned following the event. Guests were also treated to a musical performance by Rees Bridges from the Grammy Award winning band Dirty Vegas. Jenny Wilensky of Creative Fashion Agency Istylie, who lost her mother to Lupus last year, founded A Flare for Design in an effort to educate our community about the disease. Read the rest here »

By: Maryanne Salvat

 John Frieda Tours Miami

John Frieda is embarking on their annual salon tour again this summer (the 18-wheeler that’s turned into a salon on wheels traveling across the country) and they’re coming to Miami’s own Aventura Mall this weekend, May 26 and 27. The tour kicked off in New York with special guests, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, and will be hitting the road until the end of July stopping in markets like Dallas, Seattle, Minneapolis, LA and Chicago to give women access to the top stylists in the country—for FREE. As always, consumers can pop in to the “Destination: Style” salon for free hair consultations and styles (no cuts or colors!) from the top stylists and colorists from the John Frieda salons in New York and LA as led by celebrity stylist Harry Josh (clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele Bundchen, Ellen Pompeo, Amanda Seyfried,  etc). In addition to the style makeovers, consumers will receive advice on hair COLORING since John Frieda is now offering an at-home hair color (Precision Foam Colour). We’ll have tons of technological devices throughout the salon (iPads, virtual tables, etc) that feature “shade advisors” to help them select the best shade for them. For more information on the tour, visit www.johnfrieda.com.

The Fox Hole at Cafeina

Join Cafeina on Saturday, May 28, for Fox Hole, a special Memorial Day Weekend celebration benefiting The Armed Forces Foundation. The Wynwood Art District hotspot invites guests to honor our nation’s fallen soldiers through a spectacle of sight and sound. Patrons will enjoy music by Winter Music Conference DJ Bill Kelly, along with beats by Stingray and DJ A-Train. Indie-rock band Addax will take the stage in the garden. Sword-wielding fire dancers and a sexy burlesque troupe in military fatigues, whose performance will be capped off by a fireworks display, will provide additional firepower. Admission to the event is $5.00 at the door or free with military identification. All guests will enjoy complimentary “American Flag” shooters from 8 to 9 p.m., along with food and drink specials throughout the evening. Active U.S. military personnel receive complimentary Cherry Bomb shots until 10 p.m. Cafeina will also raffle off a $50.00 bar tab to one lucky guest, with proceeds benefiting The Armed Forces Foundation.  For table reservations, contact info@cafeinamiami.com or call 305.438.0792.

Cooking Class with Chef Jonathan Eismann

On   June   4, 11, and 18, get to know the secrets behind nationally recognized Spartico at Mayfair Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove with a personal cooking class with Chef Jonathan Eismann. Dubbed by Miami New Times as creator of Miami’s best pizza, Chef Eismann welcomes guests into his world and reminds each that “The secret ingredient to pizza is the hand that makes it.” For $50,(adults) and $35(children), guests will be greeted with their own Spartico apron, four course meal and learn the tricks of the trade at the new phenomenal Italian trattoria. Adults will enjoy four glasses of wine along with experience, along with use of an Ambrogi wood-burning oven, seasonally harvested grains and an award-winning chef’s personal instruction. Guests will then enjoy their own-made pizza for lunch!  Classes start at 12:30p.m., reservations required. For more information, call 305.779.5100.

SEE Boutique: Hip Without the Rip

SEE, the largest optical boutique retailer in the U.S., is bringing its innovative, one-of-a-kind collection to Sunset Drive in South Miami. SEE and its founders, Richard and Shelley Golden, will host a grand opening at the new boutique on Tuesday, June 7, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy specialty cocktails by ZIGNUM Mezcal and Japanese-fusion tapas by RA Sushi in South Miami. SEE will donate 10 percent of the evening’s sales (as well as all sales through Saturday, June 11) to Cedars-Sinai Women’s Cancer Research Institute. Offering fashionable, original eyewear is not SEE’s only focus, Richard Golden has also created a “gouge-free environment” for people who appreciate trendy, luxury eyewear without an absurd price, sourcing directly from the world’s most forward-thinking designers enables SEE to bring true value to the consumer. For more information, visit www.seeeyewear.com.

Lunch with Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee

On Thursday, June 16, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at The Four Seasons Hotel, former Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee, founder and CEO of Students First, a movement dedicated to transforming public education throughout the United States, will have a bipartisan discussion to elevate the need to work collaboratively on improving the nation’s public education system. Guests will enjoy a beautiful luncheon while listening to key speakers discuss important issues in today’s education. All proceeds will go to benefit education reform. General admission tickets are $150 per person; Benefactor tickets are $750 per couple, which includes  priority seating and private champagne reception with the speakers from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information visit:  www.marcoislandacademy.com or call 239.404.3622.

Alonzo Mourning, Katrina Campins,Shannon SLam Lawrence and Tracy Wilson Mourning

Celebrity photographer Greg Lotus, who just returned to Miami from a successful exhibition of his high art fashion and figurative photographs at 1stdibs Gallery in New York City, was spotted at an undisclosed Miami location last Saturday shooting Eva Longoria and polo superstar Nic Roldan for Haute Living magazine’s June cover. Penelope Cruz’s brother Eduardo, who is dating Longoria was present at the shoot as well. 

Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Nene Leakes, Kandi Burruss and Cynthia Bailey put on a show (literally) on Saturday, May 14 at National Hotel’s beach. While filming for the next season, the ladies paraded around in their stylish gear — Nene sporting a sexy gold number — attracting the attention of two young men who invited them to play Frisbee. 

Grammy Award winner, Bruno Mars was spotted at WALL Miami lounge enjoying the South Beach nightlife with his band, bodyguard and several unidentified models on the heels of his sold-out performance at the Fillmore Miami Beach arena on May 11. Mars and his entourage enjoyed a VIP table stocked with Grey Goose, Patron and champagne. The seven-time Grammy winner donned his signature fedora and danced on the couch at his VIP table with the bevy of beauties past 3 a.m.  Earlier in the week, Mars was partied at Mansion. 

This past week, patrons of LIV Nightclub at the Fontainebleau got their fair share of celebrity sightings.  Celebrity Apprentice runner up, Lil’ Jon, rocked the house and hosted  on  Wednesday night and LeBron James was also spotted celebrating the Miami Heat win over the Boston Celtics. Reality-star Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Kris Humphries, of the New Jersey Nets, “LIVed it up” on Friday night.  

Before heading to LIV, Kardashian and Humphries dined at Zuma with 6 friends. The couple was seen chatting and kissing during the meal and taking lots of photos together. 

On Friday, Brett Ratner was honored by Miami World Cinema Center as Miami’s most accomplished filmmaker. To celebrate this great honor, Ratner hosted a grand dinner at The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar with his close Miami friends including owner Shareef Malnik and girlfriend Gabrielle Anwar, Serena Williams, Patrick De Bokay, Anthony and Alina Shriver, Bruce and Nan Weber, Michael Gongora and many more.

The following night, Katrina Campins followed suit by inviting friends to The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar to celebrate a new accomplishment in her career – the launch of her new company and also to celebrate her dear friend, DJ Irie’s birthday.  Guests in attendance included Alonzo and Tracy Mourning, Venus and Serena Williams, DJ Irie and Gabrielle Union.