Caudalie at Aventura Mall

Caudalie, the French Vinotherapie skincare line has opened its first brick-and-mortar Miami location inside the Aventura Mall. Caudalie’s products feature the antioxidant powers of grape and grapevine, and the new location features a treatment room (the only one in the entire mall), along with their must-have items like their Premier Cru Eye Cream, Vinexpert firming serums, tinted moisturizers with SPF and their famous Beauty Elixir.

Blue Harmony at the Shelborne Wyndham Grand

Blue Harmony, the brand new spa at the historic Shelborne Wyndham Grand Miami Beach offers exceptional spa treatment specials for the perfect mid-day retreat. During “spa month” locals and visitors will have a chance to experience luxurious treatments at exceptional prices while gazing at the hotels $150 million dollar make-over. Enjoy an invigorating deep tissue massage, Vitamin C facial, or the “Sun Goddess” ritual. For more information visit: www.shelbornewyndhamgrand.com.

Wapo Taco! In the Gables

Owners Michael Berkman, Manuel Mattei and the Musi family of Wapo Taco! – Coral Gables and Wapo Taco! – Hallandale Beach welcome Miami’s Consul General of Mexico, the honorable Jose Antonio Zabalgoitia, and Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the of the new Wapo Taco! – Coral Gables, located at 2526 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10. In light of the recent development, Musi and his team will commence their open-to-the-public Grand Opening celebration, featuring free al pastor tacos, Mexican beer and surprise mariachi performances, directly following the ceremony and carrying on until 9 p.m., a bit earlier than originally expected. Guests will be permitted up to four al pastor tacos, as well as two Mexican beers during the event, while supplies last; the full menu is available for purchase all day beforehand and will also be available directly following; for more information visit: elwapotaco.com.

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation^® South Florida

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation^® South Floridafundraiser on your radar. The 27^th annual benefit, dedicated to ending childhood hunger, is taking place in a gorgeously renovated ballroom at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Thursday, July 16 from 7:00 – 10:00p.m.  This year, the South Beach Chic – Food, Wine & Art– themed event will bring more than 50 of Dade and Broward’s top chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and brewers under one roof. The party continues with bottomless prosecco and ample oysters at the exclusive “Chefs on a Half Shell” after party hosted by Chef Josh Capon and Chef de Cuisine John Iatrellis at Lure Fishbar, from 10p.m. to Midnight.  General admission tickets are priced at $125 per person. VIP tickets are priced at $250 per person and provide access to the event one hour before the doors open, as well as admission to the after party.

Vintro Hotel + Kitchen

Vintro Hotel + Kitchen has upped the ante on Miami post-happy hour specials. The culinary experts have carefully crafted a new tapas menu to be served from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. daily. For $25 a person, evening diners receive a choice of two tapas and unlimited red or white house wine.

Bocce Midtown

Chef Nunzio Fuschillo brings his native Napolitano cuisine to Bocce Midtown along with an extensive menu of mouthwatering treats and tantalizing beverages that create an Italian ambiance in the heart of Miami. With the city’s only official bocce ball court, Bocce brings an old-school Italian favorite pastime for guests to enjoy throughout the evening.

Rosa Blanca Café at Dilworth Park, in collaboration with the Center City District, has opened a newly designed garden seating area on the PNC Terrace. In addition, Wednesday and Thursday nights will now feature live musical performances, DJs and happy hour specials, complementing other programs and free events at Dilworth Park throughout the summer season.

Renowned landscape architect, Groundswell Design Group designed the enhancements to the PNC Terrace, featuring a new garden bar, with elevated planters with colorful flora, new furniture, umbrellas and market lights to enhance the al fresco dining experience in Dilworth Park. Read the rest here »

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Dubbed “the party of the summer,” the annual Miami Celebrity Domino Night, benefiting Amigos for Kids drew a crowd of 1,700 supporters to Jungle Island on June 20, for a steamy party filled with food, fun, fanfare, dancing and of course, fierce domino competitions.

The party began with a blue carpet on Jungle Island’s first level, where celebrities and television personalities, including actress Elizabeth Gutierrez, Mexican actor Khotan, Univision Network anchor Maria Elena Salinas, Venezuelan actress Sonya Smith, Primer Impacto anchor Pamela Silva-Conde, singer Pablo Argenis, and Mexican TV host Maggie Jiménez posed and mingled with guests. Throughout the first floor of the venue, food stands from various restaurants and catering firms prepared delightful treats for partygoers. Our favorite? A Joy Wallace’s buttermilk fried chicken. Other standouts included Donut Divas’ fried Oreos in red velvet donuts (don’t judge!) and the Café & Sweets Bistro by Café La Carreta and Versailles Restaurant. Presenting sponsor Bacardí U.S.A. kept guests well-hydrated with free-flowing cocktails. Read the rest here »

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape 

Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach, the inaugural hotel property in the U.S by COMO Hotels and Resorts, invites enthusiasts and aficionados of holistic health to experience COMO’s award-winning wellness and spa concept for the months of July and August, at the hotel’s COMO Shambhala Urban Escape during the spa’s participation in Miami Spa Month 2015. Located on the hotel’s eighth floor, COMO Shambhala Urban Escape will offer a broad selection of the most popular and diverse signature treatments to choose from – all at exclusively reduced rates from July 1 through August 31. Local South Florida residents receive 15% off any treatment 60 minutes or longer on the full COMO Shambhala Treatment Menu (not combined with any other promotion).  COMO Shambhala follows a healthy living philosophy that takes its inspiration from mythological roots: in ancient Buddhists texts. “Shambhala” refers to the center of peace and harmony in Sanskrit. Reservations at COMO Shambhala Urban Escape at Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach can be made by calling 305-695-3600 or emailing met.mia@comoshambhala.com. For more information on COMO Shambhala, visit www.comoshambhala.com.

Nikki Beach Miami Does the 4^th of July 

Nikki Beach Miami, the quintessential South of France style beach club known for it’s joie de vivre and larger than life celebrations does 4th of July the good, old American way – with explosive beats, over-the-top BBQ, and a massive fireworks display across the South Beach sky. Celebrated at each of the twelve Nikki Beach locations across the world, Fourth of July Nikki Beach-style has become legendary. This year, IndepenDance DJ’s include Boris, Cocodrills, Vanjee, Patrick M, ALX, Allan Gallego, Bill Kelly, Donnie Lowe, Carabetta & Doon, Thinking of Us, Chiri, Yander Delgado and surprise guests take to the decks, leading guests into hours of dance floor revelry.

Beachside, guests can feast on the ultimate BBQ featuring eight kinds of burgers – from The St. Tropez Foie Gras Burger, featuring seared foie gras, sautéed mushrooms and a fried egg, to the ‘Meeerrrica Burger featuring American cheese and pork belly bacon smashed between two glazed donuts – and many more. Also on the menu are a variety of foot-long hot dogs smothered in chili and slaw, and Chef Frank’s famous truffle fries, fried macaroni and cheese balls and many more. The night is complete with a massive fireworks show – one of only two that take place directly on South Beach – exclusively for Nikki Beach guests who can recline on the beach club’s luxurious day beds or sit with their toes in the sand teepee-side while watching the night sky.

IndepenDANCE takes place July 4th from noon til 11pm and is 21+. Tickets start at $20.00 and burgers start at $10.00. For more information visit www.independance.com. Nikki Beach is located at One Ocean Drive, Miami Beach FL. www.nikkibeach.com.

Passion at First Bite with Chef Jenny Patrizia at Kitchen 305

Kitchen 305, located in the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort, is spicing up Tuesday nights in South Florida with a new culinary experience that will leave participants craving for more. This summer celebrity chef and aphrodisiac culinary guru, Jenny Patrizia, world-renowned as the Sexy Nutritionist, will be raising the temperature at Kitchen 305 as she teaches classes on how to create healthy aphrodisiac meals, succulent desserts and delectable drinks. Passion at First Bite, a company founded by the Sexy Nutritionist, specializes in unique, fun, sexy cooking classes that only use aphrodisiac ingredients. Couples, groups and singles can participate in the class for only $37.50 a person. Classes are every Tuesday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Kitchen 305; For reservations, call 305.749.2110.

For the first time, CoZara is offering a Hamachi dinner as a unique summer delicacy prepared by Chef Phila Lorn. The dish costs $250 and will feed six to eight people. The hamachi is salt roasted and comes with three varieties of hamachi maki including: yellowtail jalapeño mango, yellowtail scallion and spicy crunchy yellowtail. The hamachi is served with three accompanying sauces, including ponzu, Hiro’s spicy sauce and mango mint. Grated daikon, soy pickled jalapeños and grilled lemon are served alongside each dish. A limited number of Hamachi Platters will be available each day, and must be reserved 24 hours in advance by calling CoZara at 267.233.7488.

CoZara is located at 33rd and Chestnut Streets in Chestnut Square.

Jason Arasheben celebrated the opening of his eponymous store with a sexy “Eyes Wide Shut” themed party in the Design District’s Palm Court. Guests, who dressed in theme, enjoyed trying on the unique over-the-top jewelry and timepieces, favorites of numerous famous athletes and celebs including Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Madonna and Rihanna. Signature cocktails by Moscai and canapes were served by runway servers wearing leather and lace masks (and little else). Partygoers also sampled forbidden fruits from a living wall of edibles- modeled after the Garden of Eden and mixed and mingled to sultry house beats by DJ Tavin Reiter.

Fans of Jason of Beverly Hills in attendance alongside Founder, Jason Arasheben and wife, Lisa and Chief Operating Officer, Brandt Branand, included: Washington Wizards player Drew Gooden; NBA player Mickael Pietrus; Berthil Espegren, Benny Bloch, Brenda Nestor Castellano and Bobby Castellano, Carly Patterson, Christina Getty, Elysze Held, Fabian Basabe, Fabiana Bosca, Farah Abassi and Benny Aboud, Hello Campos, Hilda Morello, Petra Mason, Richard Jay-Alexander, Stephanie Gold, Vivienne and Cristian del Rio; Tara Solomon and Michael Leondas Kirkland.

Jason of Beverly Hills is located at 140 NE 39th Street, suite 124.