InterContinental Miami is turning up the volume in the 305 with the debut of ICON Live: A Monthly Music Series, inviting locals and visitors to soak in Miami’s rhythm under the stars. Beginning this month, every third Thursday from 7PM to 9PM, the hotel’s chic outdoor Picante Terrace transforms into a vibrant live‑music lounge overlooking the glittering Biscayne Bay.

Created as a tribute to Miami’s dynamic homegrown music scene, ICON Live brings together music lovers for an evening of high‑energy performances, handcrafted cocktails, and unbeatable waterfront vibes.

The series kicks off on Thursday, January 22, in partnership with KISS Country 99.9, featuring a special performance by Orlando Mendez, the Miami‑born Cuban country artist who stole hearts on NBC’s The Voice (Season 22). Expect Mendez to bring the heat—blending country soul with Miami spice for a night that promises pure fun and unforgettable energy.

The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30PM, and guests can enjoy exclusive giveaways from KISS Country 99.9. A cash bar will be available throughout the evening. Attendees must be 21+, and Eventbrite tickets with QR codes are required for entry.

Music lovers can also mark their calendars for upcoming ICON Live dates on February 19 and March 19, each offering its own unique experience.

InterContinental Miami is located at 100 Chopin Plaza, Downtown Miami. To reserve your spot, visit: www.icmiamihotel.com/IconLive

Follow along:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/intercontinentalMiami/ (facebook.com in Bing) www.facebook.com/ToroToroMiami (facebook.com in Bing)
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/interconmiami/ (instagram.com in Bing) www.instagram.com/torotoromiami/ (instagram.com in Bing)

InterContinental Miami celebrates summer inviting hotel guests and visitors to experience the Summer Soirée.  The experience begins upon arrival at the hotel, with a summer themed playlist providing a soundtrack to summer – one that can be downloaded via QR code by all guests.

For visitors, the Summer Soirée vibe is attainable via two special rooms packages – Tropical Tranquility and Beach Bliss. Tropical Tranquility invites hotel guests to enjoy a DayLifeCabana poolside, stellar bay and city views, and a luxurious experience on the InterCon’s fifth floor pool deck, while Beach Bliss extends an invitation to exclusive beach access with two chairs and an umbrella on Miami Beach for all InterContinental Hotel guests booking the package.  

Pending availability, DayLife Cabanas are available for hotel guests to book separately or via Resort Pass if not staying at the hotel. Soak up the sun, take in the bay and enjoy a luxury poolside experience. On the weekends, add in a DJ spinning cool tunes and chilled lemongrass scented hand towels.

Additionally, there are several activations that extend the Summer Soirée theme throughout the property. Back in the hotel lobby, Thursdays through Saturdays the Ketel One Botanicals Cart will offer specially priced, perfectly crafted botanical and herb influenced cocktails and mocktails from 4PM – 6PM as the perfect pregame to a summer night out on the town. 

Even our four legged friends can get in on the summer fun! On Wednesday, June 26, Paws Patio™ – the weekly doggie networker that takes place every Wednesday evening from 5PM to 7PM – will serve as the location for the Dog Days of Summer Soirée. Experience a tail-waggin’ good time with your furry friend and beat the heat with a doggie pool, sprinklers and more to help keep things cool for a pawsomeplay date. The open-air event begins at 5PM and is free and open to the public. Water bowls are on hand for all canines, while adults can enjoy Dirty Dog Martinis, Mutt Mules and other libations from the cash bar.

Club InterContinental hotel guests who book certain Club level rooms can also enjoy several special activations just for them as part of the soirée – with an invitation to craft their own signature summer cocktails at the Club Lounge. On Fridays and Saturdays from 5PM to 7PM, the interactive DIY Happy Hour will feature Ketel One Botanical Vodkas and a garnish station. All guests must be 21 or older.

Summer Soirée at InterContinental Miami is currently underway and will run through Sunday, September 1. InterContinental Miami is located at 100 Chopin Plaza in downtown Miami. For more information and to see all current offers, please visit www.icmiamihotel.com/summer-soiree; Telephone: (305) 577-1000. Follow on Instagram: @InterConMiami

If the shows at the Tents and Paris, the fashion world’s fabulous versions of Mardi gras and Carnaval combined, have left you fashionably jetlagged (even if only in your mind), you’ll be glad to know that we’re heating up the runways right in our own backyard. To boot, at least a few of these fashion fetes and shows are designed to benefit great causes not just to wear out the strip of that Black Card. Here’s to a stimulus plan that actually works, and is oh, so much fun!

One such fashion celebration was last week’s opening of the Carolina Herrera boutique in Bal Harbour followed by her runway presentation the next day. Making a pit stop in Miami in between her shows in New York and Paris, Herrera showcased her spring 2010 collection last Thursday, October 1^st, in support of the Guardian Angels, a branch of Jackson Memorial Foundation, which hosted its 11^th Annual Guardians of the Children luncheon at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Miami. Herrera, who exudes a regal elegance which is personified by her designs and boutiques around the world, was on-hand to present a full runway fashion show, which was inspired by the intricate forms of woven Japanese baskets. The texture of the fabrics, the prints and the interlacing in the accessories are taken from patterns found in details of these baskets. Following the spectacular fashion show, the designer made a personal visit to Holtz Children’s Hospital where she met with all of the children, reviewing the sketches of budding designers and fans, as well as autographing teddy bears for the children to enjoy.

“It was wonderful to be able to show the spring collection to the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels to benefit the Holtz Children’s Hospital. Children’s charities are so important to me. After the show I was taken for a tour of Holtz Children’s Hospital and the amazing medical facilities and I had the opportunity to meet the very impressive doctors and patients they help –the children were incredible. The whole experience was something really special to me.” Read the rest of this entry »

One special fashion celebration was last week’s opening of the Carolina Herrera boutique in Bal Harbour followed by her runway presentation the next day. Making a pit stop in Miami in between her shows in New York and Paris, Herrera showcased her spring 2010 collection last Thursday, October 1^st, in support of the Guardian Angels, a branch of Jackson Memorial Foundation, which hosted its 11^th Annual Guardians of the Children luncheon at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Miami. Herrera, who exudes a regal elegance which is personified by her designs and boutiques around the world, was on-hand to present a full runway fashion show, which was inspired by the intricate forms of woven Japanese baskets. The texture of the fabrics, the prints and the interlacing in the accessories are taken from patterns found in details of these baskets. Following the spectacular fashion show, the designer made a personal visit to Holtz Children’s Hospital where she met with all of the children, reviewing the sketches of budding designers and fans, as well as autographing teddy bears for the children to enjoy.

“It was wonderful to be able to show the spring collection to the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels to benefit the Holtz Children’s Hospital. Children’s charities are so important to me. After the show I was taken for a tour of Holtz Children’s Hospital and the amazing medical facilities and I had the opportunity to meet the very impressive doctors and patients they help –the children were incredible. The whole experience was something really special to me.”

VIPs in attendance at this year’s luncheon included: Carolina Ferreiro-Diaz, event chair, Cindy Davis Carr, this year’s Guardians of the Children Honoree, Shirley K. Fletcher, Honorary Chair, and committee members, Vivian Adrian, Mari Alarcon-Grimalt, Angela Andrade, Fanny Dascal, Silvia Rios Fortun, Alina Gallart, Fana Holtz, Aslynn Rivera, Marilyn Samlut and Gloria Sesana, along with Chris Riley, Alexia Echavarria, Lisa Pliner, Marlen Pernetti, Loretta Nunez, Rolando Rodriguez, President and CEO of Jackson Memorial Foundation and President and CEO of Jackson Health Systems, Dr. Eneida Roldan and Channel 10 anchor, Laurie Jennings, who served as emcee.

The previous night, Herrera celebrated the opening of her most recent boutique at Bal Harbour Shops with a standing-room only crowd. The event, which, by all accounts was packed to the hilt, was co-hosted by Maria Celeste Arraras and Lourdes Fanjul. Over 300 adoring fans including Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, artist Iran Issa-Khan, socialite Margarita Ziqq and jewelry designer Carole Seikaly packed the intimate 2000 square foot boutique, (that’s about 6.6 square feet per person, without a stitch or seat in the store) the Designers’ fourth free standing boutique to open in the United States boutique. Herrera donated 10% of the proceeds from boutique sales from Wednesday- Saturday to the Guardian Angels.

“I started doing this because I loved fashion,” she says.  “But I had no idea what it would become.” This goes to show that you just never know. On June 2, 2008, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honored Herrera with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. Herrera’s got numerous projects in the works, including new fragrances, a breast cancer awareness campaign, and her ongoing work as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.

Nick D’Annunzio and Tara Solomon, the self proclaimed “King and Queen of Hearts” celebrated Go Red for Women at a heart-healthy brunch at the Intercontinental Hotel to benefit the American Heart Association.   Elaine Lancaster spun some great tunes, as many South Beach locals and Miami socialites and philanthropists enjoyed a one-of-a-kind afternoon- dressed in red, of course.

The InterContinental Hotel was transformed into an enchanted forest for the14th Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, one of the premier and most well-attended events of the social season.More than 900 A- listers were treated to a night of surprises from the moment they entered the hotel’s lobby, replete with mythical creatures including living tables, talking trees, centaurs, nymphs, and of course, little people, (the new requisite party props), think Narnia meets Neverland. Enormous butterflies of every color hung from the ceiling throughout the lobby and ballroom and there were even fairies swinging from bejeweled swings above the dance floor. Several of the well-heeled guests were surprised while waiting for delicacies from the lavish raw bar, for which this gala is known, to find that one of the columns of the surrounding gazebo, moved or tapped them on the shoulder. During the sumptuous dinner, the gracious and gorgeous reality television personality, Kim Kardashian, emceed the extravagant live auction, the most unusual items of which included a 2009 Aston Martin DBS, an Aspen home rental, a package of 10 Lasik procedures, and a walk-on role on the set of HBO’s Entourage. Charming and adorable cult favorite, Entourage star, Adrian Grenier capped off the gala with a musical performance by his band, The Honeybrothers.

Read the rest of this entry »