Mayor Philip Levine poses with Lourdes Hanimian, Catherine Bennett, Red Carter, Monica Wise, Sue Dichio, Jeremy Somers, Katinka Somers, Mara Hoffman and Benny Rosset at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2015 at The Raleigh on July 17, 2014 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2015 took over the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach from July 17-21 for five fun-filled days and nights of splashy parties and sexy swimsuit shows. Mercedes-Benz celebrated the 10th anniversary of MBFW Swim and its collaboration with labels that have shown throughout the last decade by wrapping ten 2015 C-Class cars in custom prints by ten iconic designers. The stunning designer-print wrapped cars welcomed guests to the tents each night, with a rotating selection parked on Collins Avenue. Designers such as: Carmen Marc Valvo, Cia.Maritima, Luli Fama, Beach Bunny, Suboo, We Are Handsome, Mara Hoffman, L*Space by Monica Wise, Red Carter and Nanette Lepore created prints to “dress” the cars. In addition, gorgeous models posed around the pool, donning limited edition cover-ups during the Retrospective Fashion Show during the MBFW Swim kick-off bash on opening night. Read the rest here »

By: Maryanne Salvat 

Batch Gastropub  

Batch Gastropub celebrates their new brunch with a bang sure to please foodies and brunch connoisseurs from all over. Guests can indulge with $20 Bottomless Mimosas, Sangria, Bellinis & a delectable Brunch Menu Saturday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Standing by their “Quality vs. Quantity” motto, Batch Gastropub patiently perfected selections before releasing their full brunch menu. Brunch-goers will savor the new additions, such as the Batch Hash ‘n’ Egg which features pork belly and short rib served with potato, red onion, and a sunny side up egg. Another new dish is the Belgium Waffle & Country Fried Chicken made with maple butter, powdered sugar, and sticky honey chicken served on top of a finger-liking-good Belgium waffle. Sugar fiends can turn to Homer’s Doh’nut Waffles, made with donut batter, cinnamon-sugar, and a donut glaze.

The Restaurant at the Setai Wine Dinner Series  

The Restaurant at the Setai continues its monthly Wine Dinner series on Thursday, August 28 at 7:30 pm. Guests are invited for an intimate evening to enjoy a four-course menu designed by Executive Chef, Mathias Gervais, paired with guest winery, Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate. Tickets can be purchased for $105 and can be reserved by contacting 305.520.6400 or dining@thesetaihotel.com. On Saturday, August 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Chef Mathias will be hosting an interactive cooking class where guests will have the opportunity to learn to prepare The Restaurant’s Langoustine and Hamachi. After the demonstration, guests will have a chance to taste the dishes with drink pairings. Tickets can be purchased for $50 per person and can be reserved by contacting 305.520.6400 or dining@thesetaihotel.com.

Read the rest here »

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that when its first Miami-Dade store opens in Sweetwater, FL on August 27, it will recognize loyal, enthusiastic customers by giving away thousands of dollars in gift cards and merchandise – including an iconic EKTORP sofa for each of the first 39 adults in line, and a POANG armchair for the next 100 visitors.  Other highlights include a free mattress for the first 39 on Thursday, August 28 and free weekly meatball meals for the year to the first 39 on Friday, August 29.   (Customers may begin lining up on 9 a.m. EDT on Monday, August 25 – 48 hours before the store’s opening at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 27.)  Also, Sweetwater Mayor Jose M. Diaz and IKEA U.S. CFO Rob Olson will join store manager Selwyn Crittendon in the official opening of the new store.

IKEA Miami is the Swedish company’s 2^nd store and restaurant destination in South Florida, 4^th in the state, 39^th in the United States, and 361^st worldwide.  (Florida’s first IKEA store opened in the Broward County city of Sunrise in 2007, followed by one store each in Orlando and Tampa.)  The 416,000-square-foot IKEA Miami was built on 14.6 acres adjacent to Dolphin Mall, near both the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) and Florida’s Turnpike, in the City of Sweetwater.  The store employs more than 350 coworkers and features 10,000 exclusively-designed items, a 600-seat IKEA Restaurant, 44 inspirational room settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area and approximately 1,500 parking spaces.  Reflecting the company’s solar presence atop 90% of its U.S. locations, IKEA installed South Florida’s largest rooftop solar array at IKEA Miami.  Read the rest here »

Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello arrive in Miami, Florida on July 24, 2014.
Credit: Splash News

American designer Tommy Hilfiger dined at Seasalt and Pepper Restaurant on the Miami River with his wife and another couple.

Actress Sofia Vergara and her new boyfriend, Joe Manganiello also recently dined at Seasalt and Pepper. Vergara reportedly picked up the check and left a generous tip. The couple was seen at Cecconi’s the night before.

SNL’s, Keenan Thompson was spotted in Miami with his wife and newborn child. They checked into the Palms Hotel and Spa. Keenan and his wife had a lovely dinner at Essensia and chatted with Chef Julia Frans. The couple also dined at Cecconi’s.

Eva Longoria recently had dinner at Katsuya with a gentleman.

Cassie Ventura, recording artist and girlfriend of Diddy, was spotted at SLS South Beach for a Ciroc photo shoot. Diddy Combs stopped by the shoot twice, posing with guests for photos.

By: Maryanne Salvat

Miami Spice  showcases the very best of Miami cuisine. From August 1 through September 30, restaurants offer three-course meals featuring signature dishes created by world-renowned chefs at reduced prices: Lunch $23 and Dinner $39. Below are a few signature restaurants that we have had the pleasure of previewing.

Azul, the Five-Star restaurant at Mandarin Oriental, Miami announces the appointment of William Crandall as chef de cuisine. Chef Crandall brings his sophisticated, eclectic cuisine of French flavors with Asian influences to the new menu at the 120-seat waterfront restaurant. The delightful Miami Spice Menu includes: Scallop “Poke” trout roe, fingerling potato, sorrel, Kurobuta Pork Belly tenderloin, pumpernickel, braised cabbage, rainbow carrot; Caramelized Banana Cake – Dominican milk chocolate cream, chai tea ice cream. Diners at Azul will also enjoy a refreshed design, which was unveiled in 2014 and includes a new private chef’s table overlooking the restaurant’s open white marble kitchen, accommodating parties up to 12. Reservations are suggested at 305.913.8358 or momia-restaurants@mohg.com. Valet parking; all major credit cards accepted. Read the rest here »

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

During the weekend of June 27-28, iHeartRadio and Fontainebleau Miami Beach hosted the third annual iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party presented by VISIT FLORIDA. The two-day music fest drew fans from all over the country, including more than 150 contest winners, who gathered for an incredible bash on the lawn, in the pools, and all throughout the Fontainebleau.

Hosted by Nick Cannon, the iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party kicked off Friday night with exclusive performances by Lil Jon who set the one with his hit “Turn Down for What?!” The energy boomed from there as Tiesto, Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande took to the stage. Read the rest here »