Michael Shore, Ivette Naranjo and "birthday girl" Mary Jo Shore at Cafeina

 Birthdays can be stressful, especially for Geminis, who take them way too seriously- wanting to do too many (often opposing) things at once to celebrate.  So for one Gemini in particular, it seemed fitting that the perfect place to honor the annual calendar date would be one, which much like those who share the Zodiac sign, is really lots of different places-all in one.  What better space than a clubby yet “chill” lounge/restaurant/loft/outdoor terrace/garden/art gallery, serving the best food this side of anywhere?  You know the place, it’s tucked away in a little crook of  Wynwood, known only to those  in the know- those who read the 411, and 944, and the Herald and the New Times, and Black Book…well you get it. Read the rest here »

Friday night, Miami-based pop music artist Corey Michaels celebrated the launch of his debut album, Who Killed the King? with an exclusive performance at SCORE. Corey performed his songs “Don’t Go” and “Rockstar” – one of which is rumored to be his fist single out next month – to a packed house of club kids. Michaels greeted his fans and made his way onto the dance floor to join the revelers until well into Saturday morning.

Paulina Rubio

Latin hotspot, Morena, (formerly Macarena) was THE place to be late Saturday night, for the Paulina Rubio concert after party.  The place was so packed, there was barely enough room for Rubio and her friends, who were among the last to arrive.  The group danced all night in the VIP area.  Latin Grammy-winning Spanish-Italian musician/ actor Miguel Bose joined in the celebration as well.

Sean Penn booked a reservation at STK Miami for his daughter and a group of friends on Saturday night. Penn made a cameo toward the end of the meal to say hello to the table of teenage girls and pay their bill. 

Last week, comedian/actor Tony Roberts performed at Play Nightclub in South Beach. The comic has appeared on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and BET’s Comic View.  Miami Heat star, Udonis Haslem, was at Play to enjoy the show.

 Trump Hollywood recently hosted an exclusive luncheon to celebrate the U.S. premiere and return of the

Perla Machaeh and Beatriz Samano

 hot, new reality show, Vive La Vie, which chronicles Mexican socialite Perla Machaen and her girlfriends as they travel the world. Co-stars Beatriz Pernia, Marion Lanz-Duret and Beatriz Samano-Fernandez joined Machaen at the luxury oceanfront condominium.

Latin Grooves at Mokai

 Mokai is going Latin with the launch of Alternativo Thursdays. Featuring a blend of Latin indie pop, Rock en Espanol, World Sounds and Modern Latin Dance Music, DJ Felix takes the turntables, as live performances take over the dance floor every week, bringing a much needed dose of Latin music to the South Beach scene. Upcoming acts include: Afrokumbre, Locos Por Juana, Rosamax from Brazil, Xperimento, Dr. Draw, Joe Dert   and Oscar G. Doors open at 11pm. Mokai is located at 235 23^rd street on Miami Beach, guests can call 305 531 5535 or visit www.mokaimiami.com for more info.  

 Get Ready to Wine

 The 6th Annual Florida International Wine Challenge uncorks with an unlimited sampling of more than 400 world-class wines from 15 countries on Thursday, June 24 and Friday, June 25 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Palms Hotel & Spa (3025 Collins Avenue).  A portion of the proceeds benefit the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation and the Melanie Finley Ovarian Cancer Foundation.  Enter code WINEDINE for discounted $50 tickets at www.fiwc.net or call 866.998.VINO for more information. 

 Bikes & Babes at Grand Central this Friday!

This Friday, June 25, at 8 p.m. Grand Central, Ducati Miami and Love Cat Marketing & Events present the national premiere of Ducati’s new Monster 796. Motorcycle fans will have the opportunity to get a first look and experience one of Ducati’s newest bikes and be treated to additional eye candy courtesy of Rockstar Swimwear during an informal fashion show featuring the brand’s latest summer looks. All guests will also enjoy complimentary fenom Modern Absinthe cocktails all night. For RSVP information, please email gino@taraink.com.  Following the Ducati event, Grand Central will launch its new weekly Friday night party “Propaganda.” Propaganda is hosted Love Cat Marketing & Events and MAG Miami and features open format sounds by resident DJs and local favorites Danny Daze and David G. For complimentary admission email  Zac Courtney at lovecatllc@gmail.com Grand Central is located at 697 N Miami Ave.

 American Black Film Festival (ABFF)

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) takes place from June 23 – June 26, and is sponsored by Grey Goose vodka.  To commemorate, GREY GOOSE will present the first annual national “Rising Icons” award to the talented Chrisette Michele at the 2010 American Black Film Festival Awards this Saturday. The award will be presented by Julious Grant, Senior Vice President of Bacardi USA.   Guests will have the chance to enjoy the Grey Goose L’Orange “Startini,” at all ABFF events. For the full schedule and more information, visit: http://www.abff.com/festival/.

It’s An IRIE Weekend!

The 6^th Annual Irie Weekend takes over South Beach on June 25, featuring an action-packed weekend which kicks off with a private welcome reception followed by a bash at LIV at 11 p.m. on Friday night.  Irie will be spinning his irresistible sounds at the club.  The star-studded celebrity golf tournament takes place at the Miami Beach Golf Course on Saturday. Proceeds raised throughout the weekend will benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami.  For more information, visit: http://irieweekend.com/pdf/signup.jpg.  To RSVP for LIV, call 305.674. 4680. Check out last year’s participating celebrities at: https://miamisocialholic.com/07/dj-irie-does-it-again/.

On Friday night, over 700 guests joined hosts Michael Capponi and Eric Milon at SET nightclub for
the official launch party of the internationally acclaimed website, Miami Socialholic™ sponsored by Grey Goose vodka.  Miami Socialholic™ co-founders and partners, Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore, Maryanne Salvat and Joe Almeida, celebrated alongside hundreds of friends and family members in the opulent club, which was filled to capacity by midnight and remained that way into the wee hours.

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Christina Aguilera and Kim Kardashian celebrated the bachelorette party of celeb stylist, Simone Harouche at LIV on Friday night.

NBA Champs, Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning hosted a meet and greet and autograph signing at Publix on Saturday for the “Be A Pro With Zo & D. Wade Sweepstakes Presented by Publix. Consumers had the opportunity to win and be a part of Seminole Hard Rock Presents The Summer Groove with Zo and D. Wade (July 14-18, ) weekend of fun with an “Enter To Win” sweepstakes. Fans lined up as early as 5 a.m. Once inside, they were treated to music, raffles, giveaways, and product sampling from participating partners. Several fans took advantage of the opportunity to try to convince Wade, whose contract expires this year with the Miami Heat, to stay in Miami.

Passion Pit and Jesse Metcalf photo credit World RedEye

On Sunday night, Passion Pit performed in Miami Beach and hosted their after party at Coco de Ville.  The members of the band took turns hitting the DJ booth while fan Jesse Metcalf enjoyed vodka cocktails with them at their VIP table.

Michael Jordan was at JB Kitchen & Bar on Sunday night watching the NBA finals. Michael told restaurant staff that he loved the place and said he’s coming back later this week to watch the World Cup.

Shareef Malnik and Michael Gongora

Forge owner, Shareef Malnik held an exclusive cocktail for the unveiling of the renovated façade of the Forge Restaurant I Wine Bar, which was dramatically covered in white fabric. To the average observer driving by, the wrapped building may have resembled the work of Christo and the late Jeanne-Claude (you remember, the folks who wrapped the islands in Biscayne Bay a few decades back).

A gorgeous sunset served as the backdrop for this momentous street-side affair, during which Miami Beach commissioner Michael Gongora presented Malnik with a Proclamation and Key to the City and shared that he held his first victory party at the Forge a few years ago.  Malnik followed with a touching speech in which he told guests that he considers the $10 million renovation a “labor of love and the result of fine work.” He said that the Forge has a sense of community and that he is touched by the support of the community throughout the years.  Malnik closed with “I consider it a responsibility to serve you and feed you.” He then invited several people who were instrumental in “Forge of the future” to join him for the ribbon cutting and unveiling, including Chef Dewey Losasso and Michael Capponi, whose company, the Capponi Group  was critical to the project.

A collective, “Wow!” emanated from the crowd as Malnik pulled the enormous cover off of the façade of the building, which boasts a neoclassical design and seems to glow, illuminating 41^st Street. 

Christo and Jeanne-Claude once stated that “the purpose of their art, is simply to create works of art or joy and beauty and to create new ways of seeing familiar landscapes.”  With the renovation of the Forge I Wine Bar, Malnik has done just that.