The Flat. Catch Game 6 in style with the chicest happy hour South of Fifth. Very Happy Hour(s) at The Flat offers signature cocktails, craft beer and wine ranging from $5 to $8 available from 8 to 10 p.m. View the game on a jumbo projection screen and enjoy signature sips such as the Empire State, Peached Old Fashion and the Suite 180. For more information, call 305.531.3528,  www.theflatmiami.com.

RA Sushi in South Miami. Spice up your Game 6 watch party and order one of RA’s “Big Three” sushi platters. Ranging from $70 to $120, these three platters – the Maki Maki, Tsukiji Combo and Harajuku Combo – are large enough to share in the office or even host a block party! For more information, call 305.341.0092, www.facebook.com/RASushiSouthMiami.

South Shore and Florida Cookery Patio at The James Royal Palm. Head in to the South Shore rum bar or sit at the Florida Cookery Patio pool bar for Miami HEAT specials including two-for-one Bacardi rum-inspired cocktails from 7:00 p.m. to midnight while you cheer on “The Big Three.” A Florida Cookery small bites menu will be available as well as $10 validated valet parking. For more information, call 305.604.5700, www.jameshotels.com/miami/eat-drink.

The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar. After the game’s over, head over to The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar to enjoy table sharing bites prepared by Chef Dewey LoSasso and signature cocktails crafted by mixologist Andres Aleman, available from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Miami HEAT players Chris Bosh and Juwan Howard have been known to celebrate in style at the restaurant after major game victories. For more information, call 305.538.8533| www.theforge.com.

Cheer on the Miami Heat in style with a trendy Sportiqe top. Sportiqe has identified a niche relating to delivering “true fashion” licensed apparel. Sportiqe’s apparel lines represent the culmination of intense research of the current trends in fashion and what is most applicable to the sports, music, and licensed products industry. They intend to narrow the gap between basics and casual fashion leveraging licensors to bring on more fashion-forward products. These great tops are available at the American Airlines Arena, Bloomingdales or www.Sportiqe.com.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

Fashionably Conscious Fundraising Sale

Hundreds of shoppers, including:  VIPs, socialites, and philanthropists raided the donated designer goods of Miami’s most elite crowd last week at the annual Fashionably Conscious fundraiser, raising almost $85,000 for Coconut Grove Cares, The Barnyard, a locally beloved and cherished community center which provides after school and community care services to families of the West Grove Community.  From Valentino and Giorgio Armani suits to Chanel dresses and Prada and Jimmy Choo shoes, Fashionably Conscious brought the best of the best to the generously donated space provided by Village of Merrick Park. The weekend began with a VIP sale where more than a hundred devoted shoppers lined up outside the space waiting for doors to open. By Sunday the fully stocked space was nearly cleared and little to nothing remained to be purchased. The fashionably conscious crowd sipped on champagne, shopped for a cause and mingled with Miami’s biggest trendsetters. Read the rest of this entry »

Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, LeBron James photo courtesy Manny Hernandez

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

When our beloved Miami Heat finally won the NBA Championship, a victory more than two years in the making, Miami as a whole experienced the cathartic joy- as we are now all, on some level, champions. Nowhere was this more evident than at LIV at the Fontainebleau, just a few hours before dawn, on Friday morning, and on the streets during the championship parade and at the American Airlines Arena (AAA) for the championship celebration on Monday.

“We are the Champions” blared through the speakers at LIV nightclub at just before 3 a.m. on Friday morning, as the newly crowned, World Champions, Miami HEAT, fresh from winning the NBA championship entered the massive nightclub for their official victory party, to the ecstatic chants of thrilled fans, who shouted, “Let’s go Heat!”  The chanting changed to “MVP” shortly thereafter, as LeBron James made his way to the stage at the back of the club, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the “vampire image” of his face.   The music stopped for a bit as Heat owner Micky Arison and coach Eric Spoelstra were cheered on as they took to the stage to address the fans and thank them for their support. Read the rest of this entry »

Gabrielle Union hosts Hotel Noir presented by Grey Goose

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Grey Goose Brings Hotel Noir to FDR

On Wednesday night, our favorite basement club, FDR at the Delano was transformed into “Hotel Noir,” for the launch of Grey Goose vodka’s latest flavor, Cherry Noir. To parallel the national television advertising campaign entitled “Hotel Noir,” the club was transformed into a seductive sanctuary draped in deep red hues and dim lights.  The best part was the library wall- complete with shelves lined with old hard-cover books-which was really a trap door leading to the clandestine back room.  The secret space took us back a decade to Liquid’s “Situation Room” where we spent many a night welcoming the sunrise- dancing to Old School Michael Jackson and Earth Wind and Fire.  We enjoyed the same type of music in the back room of FDR- which some partygoers dubbed- the “Harry Potter room.”     Read the rest of this entry »

Cathy Blank, Tracy Wilson Mourning, and Honey Bug Rebecca Francisque

On Tuesday March 6, Tracy Wilson Mourning, wife of NBA Champion Alonzo Mourning, and Founder of the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, encouraged more than 150 women to become members of the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, through a series of “The Art of Entertaining” tips and tricks useful for any social occasion, at the residence of longtime member and philanthropist Cathy Blank.

Held in part to creatively build upon the network of members in support of the program’s mission, recruitment events like “The Art of Entertaining” help fund nurturing experiences that enlighten the path and empower the future of young girls enrolled in the Honey Shine Mentoring Program. “We are truly thankful. It is through the collective power of the women who gathered that we are able to make profound changes in the life of our Honey Shine girls”, said Tracy.

Professionally lead do-it-yourself tutorials included floral arranging by Kitanim, a floral design company founded on the philosophy that flowers have the magical ability to transform a space and mood through the senses with flowers provided by Berkely Florist Supply. Fare to Remember, Miami’s premier caterer, served-up creative culinary bites made easy by Chef Sarah Davidoff. Berry and strawberry mojitos, prepared by popular mixologists, soon followed. Meanwhile, helping any “entertaining” hostess look her best for her guests was Cream Beauty who had the Beauty Bar booked in between demos and Salsa dance classes lead by Morgan Munoz. Topping-off the mid-day soiree were the many sweets and entertainment gifting treats courtesy of Gift Chixx, Aroma Espresso and 3 Men & A Lil Lady Sweat Treats who provided the best cake pops ever!

After a few moving words and testimonial from Rebecca Francisque, high school freshman and Honey Bug, an impressive group of 40 women, present at the mixer, became members, totaling $20,000 in donations awarded to the program, with more expected to pledge Honey Shine in the coming weeks. Membership, by both individuals and corporations, continues to be one of the primary funding sources by which more than 180 girls enrolled in the Honey Shine Mentoring Program continue to receive much-needed mentorship. In addition to the fun perks, such as tickets to the highly anticipated 10^th Annual Hats Off Luncheon on May 8^th, 2012, and member-only functions that make up the membership program, each commitment by a new or returning member helps support year-round program activities that include bi-weekly workshops and a six-week summer camp developed to encourage young girls to shine as women. For additional programming and membership package details, visit HONEYSHINE.org.

photo courtesy: Mitchell Zachs