By: Maryanne Salvat
All Hail Queen Lounge
Queen Lounge, an intimate cocktail and gastro-lounge will celebrate its official grand opening on Thursday, April 5. The 4,000-square-foot venue pays homage to the power and glamour of women in art, music and fashion throughout history. Founded by European nightlife savant Sanaa Moussaoui and managing partner, Miami native Maria Ortiz, the multi-room venue features superior handcrafted cocktails by mixology master Thomas Merolla and small plates by Executive Chef Matthew Goldberg. The lounge boasts a 30-item cocktail menu featuring “Timeless Truths” and Queen Lounge Signature Cocktails, created by head mixologist Thomas Merolla, a previous contributor to the illustrious bar menus of staple South Beach hotels including Delano, Mondrian, and W South Beach. Queen Lounge is open seven days a week from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. The kitchen is open until 10:00 p.m. Guests can unwind and enjoy $5 cocktails and tapas from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. daily during The Ultimate Happy Hour. For private bookings and advance reservations, contact 305.397.8056, info@queenlounge.com or visit www.queenloungemiami.com.
Operation HOPE TOTE
Miami Rescue Mission will be hosting Operation HOPE TOTE, their annual Easter/Passover event, on Friday, April 6. The event is open to thousands of homeless and needy families in the Miami area. The goal of Operation HOPE TOTE is to provide basic, personal hygiene items to thousands of needy men, women, and children in our communities starting this Easter and Passover Season. Items needed include: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, deodorant, new underwear, new socks, disposable razors, diapers, baby wipes, sanitary napkins, and lotion. Please note, the Capponi Group will be accepting hygiene products and/or monetary donations to purchase the items for the HOPE TOTE. To learn more about the Operation HOPE TOTE, visit: http://miamirescuemission.com/hopetote.htm. Drop off products to 228 5th Street Miami Beach, Florida 33139. If you have any questions, call 305.695.4410.
3rd Annual Golden Key 5K
The 3rd annual Golden Key 5K to celebrate heart and skin health will be held this Saturday, April 7. The event is a collaborative effort between University of Miami undergraduate and medical students. UM dermatologists will be on site giving free skin cancer screenings and all proceeds will go to support melanoma skin cancer research at the University of Miami and a program called Team for Life that helps get life-saving heart defibrillators out into Miami. The run/walk will take place at Crandon Park South on Key Biscayne. Race day registration and packet pick-up begin at 6:30am and the race start time is 8:00am. Private skin screening stations will open after the race. An awards ceremony will also be held after the race. All participants receive free t-shirts. Early online registration is $20 for individuals and $15 for UM students. Race day registration is $25 for individuals and $20 for UM students. For more information, and to register, visit www.GoldenKey5k.com.
The District Factory
In honor of Andy Warhol’s famed studio “The Factory”, The District Factory, an evening shopping event & mash-up, set to launch Saturday, April 14, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Miami Design District, during Art & Design Night, shines a spotlight on the emerging designers and artists who are single-handedly manufacturing the hottest trends. Partners of this eagerly anticipated launch include Miami Design District, MIAMI Magazine, and Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables. Receiving a portion of the evening’s proceeds is Dress for Success Miami. To learn more about The District Factory, visit www.DISRTICTFACTORY.com.
Food and Garden Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Come see what’s cooking at Fairchild during a celebration of fresh fruits and vegetables and the gorgeous gardens they grow in on Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15. Gather new tips and recipes from our popular culinary demonstrations taught by local chefs using local products. Go green at the farmers’ market where local growers showcase the best organic fruits, vegetables and herbs available in South Florida. Sample a variety of spring beers and summer ales at the Beer Garden. There’ll even be a Spring Flower Market where you can buy beautiful fresh cut flowers! All weekend, children will enjoy hands-on activities and special culinary programs just for them. Invite the whole family to come out and learn how to cook and enjoy food that is fabulously fresh, healthy and in season! For more information visit: www.fairchildgarden.org .
Driven to Dine
Driven to Dine is a one-of-a-kind, luxurious dining experience taking place on Saturday, April 14. It kicks off with an exclusive cocktail reception where guests will sample an array of wines and spirits compliments of Total Wine, enjoy delectable appetizers provided by Le Cordon Bleu, and participate in a live auction. After the reception, guests will gather into groups of 8 and select a sealed envelope containing the name of one of several top restaurants in South Florida. With their destination unknown, diners will adjourn to a stretch limousine, which will ferry them to the restaurant for an elegant multi-course, heart healthy dinner sure to please their palates. After an amazing meal, limos will return guests to the place of origin. The FHRI hand-selected some of South Florida’s most prestigious restaurants to partner with in this year’s Driven to Dine. They include: 1500˚ at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, CRAVE, db Bistro Moderne, Edge, Steak & Bar at the Four Seasons Miami, Flemings Prime Steakhouse, La Cofradia, RED The Steakhouse, Tudor House, Truluck’s and J&G Grill at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Tickets for Driven to Dine cost $5,000 per limo, which seats 8 guests; or $625 per person. the cocktail reception, at a private residence, will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $5,000 per limo, which seats 8 guests, or $625 per person; to purchase tickets visit www.heartofachef.org.
The Third Annual Dream Makers Gala
The Foundation of Debbie’s Dream (CSC) will host the third annual Dream Makers Gala on Saturday, April 21, at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood beginning at 7:00 p.m. Co-Chairs Susie Alvarez Cope, Jason Chalik, and Ani Solarana hope to exceed the $180,000 raised at last year’s Gala. “Expect the Unexpected” is the evening’s theme. The event will begin with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and silent auctions followed by dinner, dancing, fabulous live auctions, and award presentations. Lisa Petrillo, Entertainment Reporter at CBS4, will be the guest speaker. Award recipients being honored at this year’s Gala for their dedication and commitment to CSC’s mission include Michael A. Choti, MD, from Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Mary Lynn Swartz, former CEO of Westside Regional Medical Center; Jennifer Kapp, CSC Board of Directors; and Meredith Clements, Society Scene Editor of the Sun-Sentinel. Tickets for the Gala are $175 per person, and sponsorships range in price from $600 to $25,000. To become a sponsor or to purchase tickets, call 954.475.1200 or email Events@CantStomachCancer.org.
