By:  Mary Jo Almeida -Shore

As many of us complete our 12- step Art Basel recovery program, and begin to stress about New Year’s week (which, in the spirit of “If it’s worth doing it’s worth overdoing,”- lasts about a week), we know what you’re thinking…Art Basel- isn’t that LONG over?! Well to answer, “You didn’t really think we’d be able to cover all the fabulocity Basel has to offer in just one week, did you?” After all, it is the world’s biggest art show!  So here are just a few more great events we didn’t get to last week- for sheer lack of space and strength. Read the rest here »

Last Tuesday, after months of anticipation, Gloria and Emilio Estefan and cb5 Restaurant group officially opened the doors to Bongos Cuban Cafe at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with a star-studded grand opening celebration. Guests included Jody Pennette (President of cb5 Restaurant Group), Jon Secada, Lili Estefan, Raul de Molina, Candela Ferro, Mauricio Zeilic, Actor Jonathan Silverman, Actress Jennifer Finnegan, James Allen (CEO Seminole Gaming), Recording Artist Christian Acosta, Marysol Patton, Frank Amadeo and Enrique Santos among many others.

JR and Loren Ridinger celebrated their anniversary in style at Prime 112 on Saturday night, alongside close friends Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, Larsa Pippen and Kamal Hotchandani.

 Hunky, Latin pop-star, Ricky Martin hung out at Cafeina on Thursday night.

Ricky Martin at Cafeina Lounge in Miami's Wynwood art district.

 Low-key in demeanor, the heartthrob traveled with a minimal entourage and was overheard chatting about his children and upcoming holiday plans. Just before catching a plane home, Martin posed for photos and complimented the lounge to the Ivette Naranjo, proud owner of Cafeina.

During Art Basel,  Chris Bosh joined Kelly Rowland and Serena Williams (fresh from surgery in a bejeweled leg cast) for dinner at new favorite restaurant, Eden South Beach.  The group snuck into one of the cabanas outside in the “Garden of Eden” where they noshed on a few chef favorites. Serena was having so much fun, she was dancing on one leg in the garden and jumped behind the bar and began to serve shots to diners at the restaurant.  The group stayed for over three hours.  Bosh was so impressed he made a reservation for the following week.

During  N*E*R*D’s performance, Pharrell Williams was surprised when a stage crasher made it past the security and ended up right next to him on stage in the middle of one of the songs.  Security removed the camouflage-dressed man from the stage, but after finishing his song, Pharrell told the security that he was so impressed that the guy made it to the stage that he brought him back on to perform his next two songs with him!

 By: Maryanne Salvat and Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

 Pucci’s Pizza: Back By Popular Demand

After an eight year hiatus, Pucci’s Pizza, known to many club goers from back-in-the-day as “Hangover Helper” is back- to feed those late-night/early morning cravings and give you the best Brooklyn style pizza all day long. Tommy Pooch and long time business partner Alan Roth along with, Miami Favorite, DJ Irie have re-opened Pucci’s Pizza in the heart of Washington Avenue and 15^th Street in Miami Beach.   Serving patrons into the wee, post-club hours of the night, diners can expect traditional pasta dishes, hero sandwiches, salads, and good old fashioned slices. Just remember,   “A slice and a Coke, you’ll never go broke!”  Pucci’s Pizza is located at 1535 Washington Avenue.

Titanic Brewery Presents Hoosha

Join local favorite Hoosha as they take Coral Gables by storm hitting the stage on Friday, December 17, at 10 p.m. at Titanic Restaurant & Brewery.  The band is thrilled to welcome a new addition to their family, Alessandro Martino, on guitar, followed by Dizzy Bird at midnight.  Come out and support some great local music along with a free shot with every drink purchase.  Titanic Brewery is located at 5813 Ponce De Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables.

Justin Bua’s Legends of Hip Hop Tour

 On Saturday, December 18, 944 Magazine along with Original MOONSHINE hosts an evening of groundbreaking art, throwback music, and cocktails.  Justin Bua, internationally known for his best-selling collection of fine art posters,  will be unveiling one of his most important pieces to date, a 12-foot original oil painting of the Notorious B.I.G.    Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a viewing at 7:30 p.m.  The Pick Nation Building is located at 7521 Biscayne Boulevard.  To RSVP to this event, visit info@taient.com.

Zoo Lights and Dinner with Santa

Zoo lights kicks off this weekend at Zoo Miami, formerly Miami Metro Zoo (12400 SW 152 Street) and runs from December 17-30.  Guests can enjoy beautiful animal-shaped lights as they stroll zoo walkways during the 12 nights of Zoo Lights (excluding December 24 and 25) from 7 – 10 p.m. (ticket booths close at 9:30 p.m.).  Guests can enjoy dozens of bright animal-shaped lights, while sipping hot chocolate, munching on delicious cookies, and listening to wonderful holiday music.  Included with admission is a pair of 3D glasses, which will make the Zoo Lights experience even more engaging and amusing.  General admission is $8.95 plus tax per adult and $6.95 plus tax per child.  Zoo members are $7.95 plus tax per adult and $5.95 plus tax per child. 

 Dinner with Santa will take place on December 23, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.  Families will be treated to a delicious dinner and photo op with Santa at Wings of Asia.  Children will receive a holiday plush gift and will get to make their own holiday ornaments!  Admission includes parking, entry to Zoo Lights with unlimited carousel rides from 7 – 10 p.m. and a classic holiday menu of fresh roasted turkey with homemade gravy, baked ham, candied sweet potatoes with melting marshmallows, herbed buttery carrots, homemade cranberry sauce, dinner rolls with butter, homemade seasonal pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing, strawberry-infused lemonade, and cranberry mint-infused water.  General admission is $42.95 per adult and $39.95 per child ages 3-12.  Zoo members are $38.95 per adult and $36.95 per child ages 3-12. Children ages 2 and under are free. 

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Those with an unrequited, inexplicable obsession with all things social, artistic, fashionable and fabulous got our annual fix last week during Art Basel 2010, where for seven straight days we were over stimulated from the rooster’s crow to the coyote’s howl-and are just slightly the worse for wear this week. At what other time of the year does the bar line at any given event seem transported from the Tower of Babel? Or does one’s daily conversation involve such derivatives of the word “Basel” as: Baseling, Baselites, Basel brain, Basel Tov, Basel hangover or Baselitis? And when else are you just as likely to bump into Academy Award winners, Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon as funny men, Steve Martin and Ben Stiller; social fixtures, Andre Balazs, Daphne Guinness, Nicky Hilton; designers, Calvin Klein, Christian Louboutin; music moguls, Russell Simmons and the Estefans, or singer, Pharrell Williams; swoon-worthy beautiful people, Gerard Butler, Isabella Rossellini, Naomi Campbell; sports figures, Alex Rodriguez and Serena Williams; art collectors Johnny Pigozzi, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Muhairi, or artistic genius Julian Schnabel, in mismatched clothing as if he’d just gone on a shopping spree at Goodwill? Far from exhaustive, here’s the short list of some of the Basel events that put the “ART” in P-ART-Y. Read the rest here »

The ubiquitous Isabella Rossellini was spotted about town Baseling amongst locals and rubbing elbows with elite art enthusiasts.  Rossellini was feted at a private dinner at the Wolfsonian museum on Wednesday night, made an appearance at the museum on Friday evening and also  received a key to the City of Miami Beach from local favorite Vice Mayor Michael Gongora at a brunch on Saturday.  The former model/actress and award-winning Green Porno producer, left Art Basel’s beaten path to visit the animal portraiture during Arts For A Better World at Soho Studios in Wynwood. 

Nicole Miller  hosted an exclusive evening to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida at her Collins Avenue boutique on Thursday. Miller, along with Ines Rivero and Tracy Mourning, shopped at the Vogue Lounge at the Raleigh Hotel. 

R.E.M’s Michael Stipe hit the Rooftop Lounge at the Townhouse Hotel this weekend for the Broken Hearts Club events.

On Wednesday, a couple of hundred lucky guests attended Steve Martin’s book reading at the W South Beach Hotel & Residences followed by dinner at Mr. Chow.

After dining at the new Blue Door Fish at Delano with friends, world renowned photographer Sante D’Orazio celebrated the opening of his “Priests” exhibition in the hotel’s iconic lobby. Friends, including Perry Ferrell and wife Etty Ferrell, Natalie Kill, Heidi Klum’s ex Ric Pipino and Milk Studios creator Mazdack Razzi enjoyed cocktails in the orchard.  Afterward many of the guests moved on to Parisian club transplant, Le Baron in The Florida Room.

On Friday night, Pringle of Scotland and London’s Serpentine Gallery celebrated their joint project, 195 Collaborations at the Webster with an event hosted by Tilda Swinton (a.k.a. the “White Witch” from Narnia). Susan Sarandon was also at the dinner.  Sarandon, owner of NYC and LA's SPiN Ping Pong Club, was on-hand at the Delano on Saturday night for MOCA and SPiN Galactic’s The Art of Ping Pong.

A Magic Gala in the Magic City

Head to the Miami Magic Gala sponsored by the Junior League of Miami (JLM) next Friday, December 10 at the Four Seasons (1435 Brickell Avenue). Enjoy dinner and dancing under the stars, and have the opportunity to bid on 15 raffle packages, along with a special diamond raffle. Tickets cost $150 a person, with all proceeds benefitting the JLM projects which help empower Miami’s women, children and families. Contact Bibi Cruz-Ledon Sears/Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos, 305.443.0160 or email:  cruzie@aol.com / marleneafernandez@yahoo.com.

Be an Amigo!

 There’s still time to donate a toy for the 19^th Annual Amigos For Kids® Holiday Toy Drive Caravan which will take place on Sunday, December 12 at various locations throughout Miami, embarking on a joy-filled journey of delivering gifts with Santa Claus, celebrities and hundreds of volunteers.   You may request to become a volunteer for the caravan by contacting the telephone number below but all are encouraged to log on and donate toys!

The Toy Drive fulfills the specific wishes of each individual child, as indicated on their wish list.  You may deliver toys for the caravan to Ford Lincoln Mercury locations, select TotalBank locations, Gulliver Schools, Miami Dade College, Republica Agency, Todo Frio and any El Dorado location in South Florida throughout the entire month of December.  Visit the website for exact locations.

To donate your time or resources to children in need, or to volunteer to help with the Amigos Toy Drive, please call 305.279.1155 or visit http://www.amigosforkids.org/amigos.php#toydrive-10.

Santa Paws at Daddy O

On December 16, Daddy O Hotel (9660 East Bay Harbor Drive), the Palm restaurant, and Salon Poochini present a special holiday party from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to benefit PetNet, the young professional group of the Humane Society of Greater Miami.   A $25 donation entitles guests to complimentary beer and wine throughout the event and delicious bites, courtesy of the legendary Palm restaurant.  Gluhwein, a German holiday drink of hot spiced red wine will also be served. Santa-Paws will be there for photographs of guests and their dogs for the holidays with a portion of the photo proceeds going toward the cause.

There will also be a silent auction.  Daddy O is a dog-friendly hotel and all well-behaved dogs are welcome.  Tours of the newly renovated hotel will be given. The Humane Society of Greater Miami will have a few of Miami’s most eligible dogs there for adoption. 

RSVP to Ricki Diamond at ricki@humanesocietymiami.org or 305-749-1814

Wild for the Holidays at Zoo Miami

Zoo Miami, formerly Miami Metro Zoo (12400 SW 152 Street) is hosting a few special events this season. The zoo’s glorious grounds come to light for 12 brilliant nights during Zoo Lights, December 17 – 30 (excluding December 24 and 25) from 7 – 10 p.m. (ticket booths close at 9:30 p.m.).  Guests can enjoy dozens of bright animal-shaped lights, while sipping hot chocolate, munching on delicious cookies, and listening to wonderful holiday music.  Included with admission is a pair of 3D glasses, which will make the Zoo Lights experience even more engaging and amusing.  General admission is $8.95 plus tax per adult and $6.95 plus tax per child.  Zoo members are $7.95 plus tax per adult and $5.95 plus tax per child.

 Dinner with Santa will take place on December 23, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.  Families will be treated to a delicious dinner and photo op with Santa at Wings of Asia.  Children will receive a holiday plush gift and will get to make their own holiday ornaments!  Admission includes parking, entry to Zoo Lights with unlimited carousel rides from 7 – 10 p.m. and a classic holiday menu of fresh roasted turkey with homemade gravy, baked ham, candied sweet potatoes with melting marshmallows, herbed buttery carrots, homemade cranberry sauce, dinner rolls with butter, homemade seasonal pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing, strawberry-infused lemonade, and cranberry mint-infused water.  General admission is $42.95 per adult and $39.95 per child ages 3-12.  Zoo members are $38.95 per adult and $36.95 per child ages 3-12. Children ages 2 and under are free. 

 Dinner with Diego will be held December 28, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., at the Wings of Asia building.  Diego will be available to take his picture with guests between 8:30 – 8:50 p.m.  Dinner with Diego’s admission includes parking, entry to Zoo Lights with unlimited carousel rides from 7 –10 p.m. and a wonderful dinner including a fresh garden salad with dressing, pan seared chicken breast with herbed shallot cream sauce, chicken tenders with dipping sauce, honey glazed carrots, macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls with butter, chocolate fudge brownies, chocolate blondies, fresh tropical fruit salad, cucumber and lemon infused water, lemonade, and iced tea.  This event is ideal for families with children under eight years of age.  Every paying child also receives a Diego beanie baby plush gift and a meet and greet and photo with Diego!  General admission is $39.95 per adult and $43.95 per child ages 3-12.  Zoo members are $35.95 per adult and $38.95 per child ages 3-12.  Children ages 2 and under are free.   For tickets and more information, visit: www.zoomiami.org