Vizcaya was a page out of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby on Saturday night for the glitzy and glamorous, Lingerie Miami, the only such showcase of lingerie in the United States. Aglow in pink lighting, the palace was reminiscent of Versailles, its beauty rivaled only by the gorgeous crowd of 500, who braved the uncharacteristically chilly weather, forking out $1,000.00 a head to support the 7Bar Foundation, a charity aimed at helping impoverished women around the globe. The event, hosted by actress Eva Longoria Parker and co-hosted by supermodel Veronica Webb, former Apprentice, Sean Yazbeck and spiritual leader and author, Deepak Chopra, (strange bedfellows indeed), was nothing short of spectacular, right down to the gold-gilded goblets, Swarovski-encrusted Moet & Chandon bottles and the raciest, sexiest lingerie this side of a Paris bordello. European lingerie designers, Fifi Chachnil, Carine Gilson and Agent Provocateur produced unique, sensual fashion shows, proving that lingerie is couture.

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When the chips are down, you can count on nightlife impresario and entrepreneur, Michael Capponi.  Over the  past several years, he’s helped countless numbers of  underprivileged and afflicted people during disasters such as the Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina and has hosted events to benefit the United Way, Red Cross, Make-A-Wish and Bay Point Schools, to name a few, not to mention the homeless food drive he hosts every Thanksgiving. So it came as no surprise that Capponi took action once again to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. In addition to loading a private jet with emergency personnel, doctors and supplies just a few days after the quake, and heading to Haiti, Capponi threw an exclusive party  a few weeks ago, “Save Haiti Saturday,” along with a few of his influential friends, at his beautiful Sunset Island home- Villa Capponi  to benefit Project Medishare, which provides medical assistance to earthquake victims. Read the rest here »

The Super Bowl blew through town last week, taxing my endurance, bank account and liver (Forget the guest list, just add me to that transplant list will you?). And in addition to the game, there were celebrity appearances, concerts and parties, parties, parties!  Since the helicopter and speed boat were in the shop, I couldn’t make it to EVERYTHING, but managed to put together a “short” recap of who was where and what they were doing.  Unless otherwise noted most of the A-list celebrities (and B and C for that matter) spent most of their time at the parties they attended just hanging and milling about, as if they were a display at the Museum of Natural History.  The biggest bashes in terms of shear number of guests (Bashes for the Masses) were thrown by ESPN, MAXIM, TAO and Playboy.  Notable concerts included: Rhianna, Marc Anthony at the Icon Brickell, JLO in a cat suit at LIV, Ne-Yo at ESPN at the Fontainebleau, Wycleff Jean and Snoop Dogg at the 944 Hotel on separate nights, and an impromptu concert by Wycleff Jean at the Florida Room during which Queen Latifah and Robin Thicke jumped on-stage.   Read the rest here »

Earlier in the week, a chic crowd of over 700 gathered for the official opening of the Webster rooftop, the majority of which wasn’t even aware that there had been a football game played in Miami a few days before.  Guests clamored into the stairwell to access the minuscule, (1,100 square foot, do the math- it was a tight squeeze) chili rooftop of the boutique. Upstairs, patient attendees enjoyed Grey Goose cocktails, small bites from Kaspia, and music by DJ Jeffrey Tonneson.  The VIP list, included Barbara Becker, Sam Robin, Jonathan and Criselda Breene, Merle Weiss, Iran Issa Khan, Susie and Walid Wahab, Markus Ketty, Tui Pranich, Jeffrey Koffman, Glenn Albin, Juan Carlos Arcille-Duque, Ambra Medda, Jamie Jo Harris, Jillian Jacobson-Altit, Susan Birbragher, James and Samantha Wall, Lolo Sudarsky, and Webster owners:  Laure Hériard Dubreuil, and Frederic Dechnik.  The Webster rooftop is open 6 days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, serving lunch and dinner from Kaspia and full bar service. Bottle service is also available.

The New World Symphony took over the Gusman Center on Valentine’s eve presenting Vivace: “Great Loves of the Silver Screen” better known as “catnip for romantics.”  Brilliant musical performances by the orchestra accompanied some of Hollywood’s most memorable movie scenes from love stories, starting with the Titanic anthem “My Heart Will Go On”. The handsome and charming, Academy Award-winning director, David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me) served as emcee and made snarky and funny comments before and after each performance.  For instance, Frankel proclaimed he was “King of the World” after the Titanic number and described Madame Bovary as “a film about frustrated peasant woman who slept around and then committed suicide- Perfect for Valentine’s Day.”   Other favorite music and film clips included Dr. Zhivago and A Time for Us.  Following the performances, guests many of whom channeled their inner Golden-Era film legend, crossed the street on a red carpet to the Alfred I. DuPont Building, which had been transformed into a 21^st century speakeasy. A jubilant, energetic vibe permeated the entire evening.  Attendees included Martin Rozenblum, Claudia Cisneros, Rita Cabasés, Gordon Myers, Lourdes & Timothy Collett, Lin and Sarah Arison, Neisen & Ana Kasdin, Howard & Mary Frank, Gerald & Jane Katcher, Mario & Lourdes de Armas, Woody and Judy Weiser, Matthew & Jennifer Buttrick,  Stanley & Gala Cohen, Edward Shumsky & Sue Kronick,  Adam & Chanin Carlin, Bob & Diane Moss, Jody Wolfe, Diane Sepler, Sheldon & Florence Anderson, Sari & Dr. Arthur Agatston, Beau Beasley, Anne Owen & Alan Roth, Vanessa & Gary Ressler, Lisa Schejola Kin & Jeffrey Akin and Irene & Rod Sintow, David Restainer & Sandra Hernandez, Florencia Ximenez-Marcos & Xavier Gonzalez, Orlando Gonzales, Marcia Martinez & Michael Laas, Aaron Resnick, Chad Turner and Alia Dia.[smooth=id:82;]

  Lunch in the Garden

 The Second Annual Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon at the historical gardens at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (3251 South Miami Avenue) will take place on Friday, February 26, 2010 starting at 11:00 a.m. on The Casino Mound for cocktails and garden tours and continue at the Formal Gardens, from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., with a luncheon al Fresco. Women are encouraged to wear hats and men to dress “dapper.”  Neiman Marcus will be providing an informal fashion presentation showcasing spring 2010 collections from luxury brands and Atlantico Rum will provide the cocktails.  The goal of the Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon is to introduce guests to the splendor of Vizcaya’s gardens as originally intended, and raise funds to further the mission of The Vizcayans: to protect, preserve and restore the estate including the gardens.   Ticket prices are $250 for individuals. For more information, contact (305) 856-4866 or www.vizcayans.org.

 Fish + Wine

 Miami’s Area 31 at Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel is hosting its inaugural “Fish + Wine” dinner on Thursday, February 25, hosted by Executive Chef John Critchley and Master Sommelier Emily Wines, the four-course dinner will feature fresh-caught, sustainable seafood paired with boutique wines and will benefit the Marine Mammal Conservancy. The MMC is a local nonprofit whose mission is to protect marine mammals and their habitats through research, rescue, rehabilitation, release and education. Visit www.marinemammalconservancy.org for more information.   The price is for $175 per person, limited to 150 people. For guests interested in the dinner menu’s fish selection, a VIP experience is available for a maximum of 16 people that includes a boat excursion and lunch aboard a private charter with Executive Chef John Critchley which includes a tour of Miami’s finest fishing markets as well as tips on picking premium fish to be featured in the pairing dinner. The VIP experience costs $275 per person including dinner. For more information and reservations, call 305.424.5234 or visit www.area31restaurant.com.

 Blacks are Back for the Fifteenth Year

The Blacks’ Annual Gala benefiting at-risk kids in need through The Consequences Charity & Project Medishare for Haitian relief efforts will take place on February 27th, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. This is one star-studded gala you won’t want to miss. This year’s celebrity performers include Grammy Winner Natalie Cole Latin Pop Sensation Paulina Rubio, Platinum Recording Artist Rick Ross, TV/Latin Music sensation, Jencarlos Canela, saxophonist, Alto Reed, and music by well-known DJs: Entice, Irie and DJ Tracy Young.  In addition to appearances by Real Housewives from Bravo Network, an exhibition boxing match featuring top heavyweight boxer Fres “Fast Fres” Oquendo, Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski, presented by David Goldberg and Oquendoberg Productions.  And the list goes on, past years have seen the likes of Patti LaBelle, Lil Wayne, Pamela Anderson and Barry Gibb to name a few. For a recap of last year’s gala, go to https://miamisocialholic.com/2009/04/back-in-black/

100% of the ticket sales and auction proceeds go directly to Educate Tomorrow, I Have a Dream, and Project Medishare founded by Dr. Barth Green. Individual tickets go for $500 per person/$1,000 for preferred seating and VIP packages range from $2, 500 – $25, 000.  For more information visit www.theblacksannualgala.org. For tickets please email jasonfclarke@hotmail.com.