Christina Getty-Maercks, George Lindemann, and Criselda Breene

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

A Night at the Museum

Despite the fact that we are huge art buffs, and have delighted in the works of the Masters at museums throughout the world, we couldn’t recall a time when we had actually had fun in an art museum (with the exception of the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence where we had our way with Michelangelo’s slaves and David in our early twenties).  This changed on Thursday, April 26 at the Bass Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser “A Night at the Museum,” for which the museum should have been renamed the “BLAST” museum; as many of Miami’s chicest and most artsy socialites gathered after hours to socialize, chat, nosh, dance and enjoy the fantastic exhibits, which became more and more interesting with every cocktail. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Seeing the Light:  Bianca the Delano

On Thursday night, the highly anticipated Italian restaurant, Bianca opened at the Delano Hotel to the delight of over a thousand guests who made their way across the eternal lobby into the restaurant and braved the limestone along the pool for the indoor/outdoor celebration.

While celebrities and VIPs dined inside the restaurant and on the terrace, partygoers enjoyed bites, libations and musical performances by Chris Botti and Little Louie Vega, (strange bedfellows indeed) out by the pool.  Vega’s dance tunes were abruptly halted by Botti’s intoxicating trumpet, which was accompanied by a gorgeous violinist who played in the pool, yes, IN the pool.  The music was captivating, especially when Botti played the theme from Cinema Paradiso, one of our favorite movies of all time.  The performance brought on a melancholy mood which was quickly interrupted by the site of a group of drunken models traipsing through the pool- there are just certain elements of this iconic hotel that will never change.  After which, Little Louie Vega took over again and was joined by Michelle Rodriguez for his second live set. Read the rest of this entry »

Doug Scott and Olga Granda-Scott

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

Wolfsonian Visionaries 11:11:11

Every now and then all of the ingredients that make for a perfect evening come together in one delicious bite- resulting in magic.  Such was the case last Friday night during the Wolfsonian Visionaries’ 11:11:11 party, where hundreds of the “fabulartsy” gathered in the garage bearing the address to match the party’s unique date, the landmark 1111 Lincoln Road garage, transformed into the ideal venue, by an array of white linens, furnishings and bunches and bunches of flowers from top-to-bottom- even the bars were made to resemble bushes. The gusty, chilly winds that enhanced the panoramic views had the already stylish group, with a flair for the fabulous, donning fancy furs (sorry PETA), colorful scarves and warm, winter garb reserved for such incredible nights in New York City this time of year, just adding to the already dramatic landscape of the evening.  

The magnificent affair was held in honor of the Wolfsonian’s 16th anniversary, and featured signature dishes from Miami’s top restaurants and caterers, who served up cold weather comfort food such as Michelle Areces & Nima Vandy’s Petit Pois’ truffle polenta served in miniature pots and chocolate truffle pearls (that left green glitter dust all over the guests’ faces); Jim Mozina of Le Basque’s seared tuna on a bed of mashed potatoes;  Lyon + Lyon’s (which is now open at the Wolfsonian) grilled cheese sandwiches and watercress soup and ooohhhhhh! those piping hot Shake Shack burgers!  Guests also enjoyed top shelf Bacardi cocktails, music by DJ Mauricio Parra and the images of artist Emilio Chapela which were on display in a site-specific installation.  Read the rest of this entry »

Bonnie Clearwater, Angelo Ricasa, Ivonne Ronderos, and Meredith Becker

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

MOCA Mystery Dates Kick-off

The Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MOCA) young, hip “Shakers” threw a bash for 400 at newly minted Miami Beach lounge The Well, to kick-off ticket sales for their annual highly-anticipated, Mystery Dates fundraiser, to be held on November 12.  On the soggy evening, the artsy patrons came out in droves to fill the relaxed yet stylish space and enjoy Grey Goose vodka cocktails, while chatting excitedly about the upcoming Mystery Dates event, which consists of a series of glamorous dinner parties held concurrently at the homes of private art collectors and designers around Miami.  The mystery is that guests have no idea as to where they will be dining until the night of the actual event. Read the rest of this entry »