Emeril Lagasse at The Q

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

The annual Bacchanal/gorge-fest otherwise known as the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) blew into town last weekend for a four day eating/drinking marathon, leaving our scale shaking its head and asking, “What have you done?” come Monday morning. SOBEWFF kicked off with Moët Hennessy’s barbecue bash named The Q on Thursday night hosted by larger-than-life personalities:  Emeril Lagasse and Guy Fieri.  Other festival highlights included Party Impossible, the Chefs’ After-party at the Dream Hotel, Diamond Dishes at the yet-to-be opened Marlins Park, Best Thing I Ever Ate Late Night Bites & Sweets and the festival’s closing party, Trucks on the Beach.  So now we fast and purge, after acting like Ms. Pac-Man with a tape worm for four straight days; and apologize to the liver, if we can find it- we are guessing it may have left the building. 

The Q

Hosted by Guy Fieri and Emeril Lagasse, The Q started the weekend revelry on Thursday night, a fitting replacement to the beloved, marquee event Bubble Q which was retired last year.  Just as much fun as Bubble Q, this party was our first SOBEWFF experience of 2012 and served as a reunion of local and national foodies and chefs, who imbibed in champagne and cocktails and filled up on enough barbecued meats to stumble out of the enormous tent with Gout. Read the rest of this entry »

Eco Lifestyle Gala

The 2^nd Annual Green Drinks Eco-Lifestyle Gala will take place Thursday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the exclusive Boca Raton Resort & Club (501 East Camino Real). The event is designed to honor environmental stewardship and support socially conscious causes through fundraising and community support. This year, Green Drinks will recognize celebrity actress and philanthropist, Patricia Arquette, with its prestigious Eco-Lifestyle Pioneer Award for her work with GiveLove, a non-profit Haiti relief organization she founded in 2010. The event will support GiveLove’s work to improve housing and sanitary conditions in Haiti, as well as Global Green USA’s greener rebuilding efforts in Haiti.  The event organizers promise an impressive line-up of live musicians and entertainers, including NYC Comedian Jessica Kirson, DJ Mark Leventhal, and renowned Native Rock musician, Robby Romero. Tickets for the gala are a bargain at $75 per individual ticket; $125 per couple.   Tables of 10 can be purchased for $500. A wide range of sponsorship opportunities are available, from Presenting Sponsor to Exhibitor and Gift Bag Sponsors. For more information on sponsorships or to purchase tickets, contact April Milliken Trigg at april@eventologie.com or 404. 627. 4630 ext. 204.  For more information visit:   http://www.ecolifestylegala.com or http://www.southfloridagreendrinks.org.

MIAMI PRO-AM Dance Styles Expo

Local artist and urban realist Miguel Paredes and his nationwide graphic design and printing company, PK Graphics, are the presenting sponsors for the 15^th annual MIAMI PRO-AM Dance Styles Expo, the first break dance conference in the world and longest running hip-hop dance competition in the US east coast. 2011’s expo begins on Friday, May 20 and runs through Sunday, May 22 at various South Florida locations. For additional information or bookings, and a complete listing of events visit: www.hiphopelements.com.

The Shane’s Champagne Brunch

The Ronald W. Shane Center (6500 Indian Creek Drive) invites you to its Champagne Brunch on Sunday, May 22, where you’ll get to nosh on food by Joe’s Stone Crab and enjoy a silent auction, live music and a rowing exhibition.  The fun starts at 11 a.m. and benefits the Shane Center, home of the Miami Beach Rowing Club, a non-profit organization which funds rowing scholarships for underprivileged youth.  The event will honor the center’s many founders and donors who have shaped the facility since its inception in 1991.  Tickets for the Champagne Brunch cost $100 per person.  For further information, contact Diana Maldonado at 305.861.8837.  To purchase tickets online, go to www.shanecenter.com/events.

 Base Paint | The Auction

On Wednesday, May 25, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., Ideobox Artspace, SaludArte Foundation, Fundación Manos del Sur, Step by Step Foundation, and Curators Antuan & Tanya Brillembourg join forces as they prepare for Base Paint | The Auction event to benefit the Base Paint Project.  The tents have arrived in Haiti and will be installed this summer as part of a secondary school on the property of L’Athletique d’Haiti. The funds raised will help to finance the new school’s operational costs and ensure the continuation of the work that was begun with the Base Paint Tents.   The contemporary art auction and curated exhibition will be held in Wynwood at Ideobox Artspace and is open to the public with complimentary admission. Base Paint | The Auction will feature over 45 artists that have generously donated works of art to help raise these funds.  For a list of artists and auction pieces, visit www.basepaint.org. While guests view the silent auction and place bids at Ideobox Artspace, the space will host a variety of refreshments and entertainment.  On hand to set the vibe will be famed band Miami City Mix and later in the evening DJ Umber Bandi-Ville will be mixing beats. Artist Leni Ibarguengoytia will unveil her event installation on crate boxes which will act as lounge areas.  Bacardi cocktails sponsored by a private donor will be available to quench the thirst of those who savor Diego’s Andalucia Tapas & Deli’s paella and Zucchero Ristorante Bistro’s hors d’oeuvres. For more information on the foundation, visit www.lathletiquedhaiti.org.