Imagine there’s a Heaven, it’s easy if you try

The Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball brings a little taste of Heaven to those who need it most. At Saturday’s ball, where “Imagine” was the theme, the beautiful, 16 year old Marina Diez, gave a poignant speech, detailing the thrill of having her wish to go to Wimbledon fulfilled and explained what having a wish granted means to a sick child.

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Francophiles rejoice! Au Pied de Cochon, the legendary Parisian brasserie, (and our version of Big Pink in the Latin Quarter) is finally open and ready to feed you the traditional French fare to which you are accustomed- 24 hours a day.  At the grand opening party on Thursday, the folks who have kept your belly full after long nights at Buddha Bar, Villa Barclay or Le Bain Douche (years ago) in Paris, G.M., Joaquim Braz, and chefs Joel Veyssiere and Bernard LePrince were on-hand to fete owner Carlo Bicaci and chef Didier Lailheugue at our very own Parisian “diner.”  The heavy rain did not stop Miami’s General Consulate of France, Philippe Vinogradoff, from joining in the celebration and assisting Bicaci in the red ribbon cutting ceremony, nor hundreds of A- listers from packing the south of fifth eatery. A beret-clad accordionist played traditional Parisian compositions including the restaurant’s theme song “Au Pied de Cochon,” while guests munched on specialty menu items and sipped French wine and champagne hand-picked by expert sommelier Kareem Zarwi.  Among the many notable guests partaking in the Parisian Bacchanal: philanthropist Sanford Ziff; news anchor, María Celeste Arrarás; real estate broker, Edie Lacquer; photographer, Iran Issa-Khan; Forge owner, Shareef Malnik; MTV Networks Latin America Vice President of Public Affairs, Mario Cáder-Frech; MTV DJ, Mauricio Parra, MTV News VJ, Ilana Sod and MTV former VJ Eglantina Zingg; Countess Claudine Smurfit; architect, Charles Benson; designer, Rene Ruiz; uber-realtor, Veronica Cervera; cookbook author, Linda Gassenheimer; Hip-e boutique owner, Daisy Casuso; designer, Glen Miller; Big Time Productions owner, Eugene Rodriguez; ACT productions owner, Bruce Oroz; Lady Monica Heftler; philanthropist, Marlene Berg, photographer, Iran Issa Khan; interior designers-to-the-stars, Todd Davis and Rob Brown; and Tara Solomon and Nick D’ Annunzio of Tara, Ink..  “We are proud to begin a new tradition in one of the most modern, trend-setting cities in the world,” said Bicaci.  “It was truly a nostalgic evening and we were honored to bestow a piece of Parisian history to South Florida.”

Summer is officially here, time to bring out the white sandals, up the ante on the anti-frizz products, increase the SPF and put away all your black clothing in exchange for some cooler, brighter duds.  While summer typically signifies a time to unwind, take-off and recover from the many wild antics of the non-stop social season, this summer is throwing us a bit of a curve, in that there are still restaurant, club and store openings and fabulous events to attend, making it seem that like our year-round summer weather, the social season is, well, endless.  For those of us lucky enough to live in the city where most people vacation, there are also a few summer steals of which to take advantage.
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