Daisy Casuso, Tracey Mourning, and Leslie Wolfson

 A special group of influential ladies gathered at a special luncheon at the Forge Restaurant I Wine Bar as Shareef Malnik and Sue Miller welcomed the Women’s Council for Educational Change. The organization focuses on giving children the opportunity to succeed and to make a difference for generations to come.  During the luncheon, Executive Chef Dewey LoSasso served Forge favorites including chilled red and yellow tomato gazpacho with chive oil, lobster and shrimp salad, and lemon fennel panna cotta.  VIP ladies in attendance included Alicia and Veronica Cervera, Lisa Pliner, Lydia Touzet, Tara Solomon, Tracy Mourning, Dr. Leslie Bauman, Nancy Batchelor, Norma Quintero, Norma Jean Abraham, Leslie Wolfson, Michelle Rubell, Daisy Casuso, Arlene Chaplin and Judy Weiss.

JR Ridinger, Tony Parker, Loren Ridinger, and Eva Longoria

Last weekend, Tony Parker celebrated his birthday at STK at the Gansevoort alongside his wife, Eva Longoria, Scottie and Larsa Pippen and their best friends, Market America Moguls, JR and Loren Ridinger.  The group had a blast at the dinner party, which also served as an “unofficial temporary farewell” to the Ridingers, who will be yachting and summering in New York.  Auf Wiedersehen, Ridingers!

Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama

 Wednesday, legendary Colombian soccer player Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama made a guest appearance at Grove Liquors signing autographs and socializing with fans.  Valderrama has partnered with Hennessy in honor of the upcoming World Cup. 

The holiday weekend had its fair share of buzz-worthy celebs. Plunge, at the Gansevoort Rooftop, was ground zero for Chris Brown, TI, Busta Rhymes, Terri Kirby, D’Shaun Jackson, Troy Grant, and Thomas Jones. 

Nikki Reed

 Cedric Gervais performed at LIV to a crowd of overzealous fans.  Nikki Reed, a.k.a. Rosalie Hale of the Twilight Saga was also spotted at LIV last weekend, celebrating her birthday. 

 Lil Jon and Tayo Otiti were seen at Mokai.  Otiti was also spotted at Louis.  

 Eliza Orlins of Survivor fame was taking in some sun poolside at the Mondrian. 

Sharon Gless

 Sharon Gless, the former Cagney and Lacey star who currently plays Jeffrey Donovan’s on-screen mom in the hit show Burn Notice, celebrated her birthday at the Forge Restaurant I Wine Bar along with two friends on Sunday night.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Brotherly Love brings Live Music all over Town

 Brotherly Love Productions presents another weekend of great live music, kicking it off Friday with Southern-rock jammers Cypress at The Funky Buddha (www.thefunkybuddha.com).  This will be their final show with founding member/guitarist Bill Talley.  Opening act Diocious will hit South Florida with two additional shows. The psychedelic funk-rock trio plays Titanic Brewery on Saturday (www.titanicbrewery.com), and they’re the featured artists at BLP Sunday Cookout at Hurricane Bar in Delray Beach (www.hurricanelounge.com).

 TahDah!

 Hot on the heels of an outstanding cover story by the Miami SunPost, Shareef Malnik announces the official unveiling of the new façade of The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar on Tuesday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. The exterior redux, inspired by the architecture of the French-Neoclassical period was conceptualized with the original Forge in mind, but with modernized touches to match the modified interior. The public unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony comes after receiving rave reviews following the reopening of the award-winning restaurant.  Representatives from The City of Miami Beach will also issue a proclamation to Malnik, Chef Dewey LoSasso and The Forge family, presenting them with The Forge’s sixth key to the city.  This project was realized by project manager Allegra Parisi of Apartment A, KCS Construction, designer Francois Frossard and Capponi Construction under the direction of Shareef Malnik.  The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar is located at 432 W 41^st Street.  For more information, contact: 305.538.5833.

 Big Names Join Forces for Miami Socialholic™ Party at SET

 Miami’s hottest new website,  Miami Socialholic™ is hosting a launch party and you are invited!  The Opium Group’s, Eric Milon, along with Michael Capponi, two of the biggest names in nightlife, present Miami Socialholic’s official launch party at SET, on Friday, June 11^th. The party starts at 11 and goes all night with a complimentary vodka bar for the first hour or two (check back next week for more details).  Visit www.miamisocialholic.com  to RSVP for this fabulous celebration. 

Imari Pozo and Nathalie Pozo

Sex and the City 2, which can best be categorized as “Fashion Porn” added an ample dose of sparkle to Lincoln Road last Wednesday, bringing well- “stilettoed,” glammed-up girls (and a FEW good men) out of the woodwork for the sneak peek and pink carpet pre-party on the 7th floor of the 1111 building (garage).  More than 500 of this Magic City’s most gorgeous joined the Vibe Agency in celebrating its 5th anniversary at the “New York-meets-Abu Dhabi” themed soiree, complete with a live, spitting camel, belly dancers, and hookah pipe, before viewing a special screening of the highly anticipated flick at Regal South Beach Cinema.  While the movie, much like its X rated counterparts lacked in the plot department, it, like the party, was a feast for the eyes. Shoes and clothes worn by the stars of the movie and bejeweled floral centerpieces from the “gay wedding” were on display and an Arabian-style lounge with jewel-toned pillows, lamps, hookah pipes, and elaborate Moroccan rugs served as the perfect area to relax and enjoy the music being played by the DJ, Mix in Wheels, who spun from the back of a Hummer.

Even more noticeably absent than the stars of the movie, were the cocktails; in particular, the Cosmos made famous by the series.  Instead, the party featured sparkling pink lemonade served in Cosmopolitan glasses paired with Middle Eastern delights and hors d’ oeuvres provided by Aaron’s Catering, including baked dates, chicken and apricot kabobs, and Moroccan gazpacho shooters.  Read the rest here »

Shareef Malnik, Ken Gorin, and Robert Hill

One of our favorite events every year the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, is so huge that it has several pre-parties in its anticipation.  One such party took place last Thursday at the InterContinental Miami.  The purpose of this kick off celebration (which follows the Make A Wish Garden Party that was held last month) was to officially anounce the date of the Ball, which will be held on Saturday, November 6. Over 250 of South Florida’s leading philanthropists including the Ball’s “Three Amigos” – Norman Wedderburn, President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida; Shareef Malnik, Ball Chairman and proprietor of The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar; and Robert Hill, Gala Host and General Manager of InterContinental Miami gathered for signature cocktails and scrumptious fare, including a Kobe beef carving station and made-to-order risotto.  Celebrity DJ, Irie, provided the musical entertainment.  Wedderburn, Malnik and Hill officially announced this year’s Asian theme and hinted at the special host.  While we’ve been sworn to secrecy, we will say she is “muy caliente!” Stay tuned– we promise to blow the whistle in the very near future. Read the rest here »

At the risk of dating ourselves, we’ll admit it- when it comes to the movie Grease, we had it all- the poster, the record (yes, kids, that’s what we called them in those days), the Candies, the (inappropriate-for-our-age) off-shoulder black top and tight jeans, the movie photo-book and the 18 movie stubs.  With regards to the Grease fan club, meet the president!  Talk about “Hopelessly Devoted!”  So we are delighted to report that a childhood dream was actualized last Thursday when we met “Sandy” a.k.a. Olivia Newton John at the Raleigh for the Pink and Blue For Two fundraiser, sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka. To say that our heads almost exploded when she sang “You’re the One that I Want” with Jon (Secada– not Travolta, but we’ll take what we can get- after all, he did play “Danny” on Broadway) is the understatement of the year!  “Oh yes indeed- eeed!” The otherwise sophisticated crowd went crazy, jumping, screaming and dancing on the sand.

The performance culminated a series of terrific musical acts including:  Inner Circle who played a concert, which included “Bad Boys,” the theme from Cops, Brett Goldsmith, Olivia Newton John’s nephew who flew in from Australia to sing and play the acoustic guitar and Jon Secada, who sang his hit, “Just Another Day,” before his duet with Newton John. Read the rest here »