Athina Marturet, Maestro Marturet, and Christian Meischel

The Adrienne Arsht Center was packed to the rafters on Saturday January 21 for the Miami Symphony Orchestra’s (MISO) annual gala concert, An Evening in Vienna, where more than 3,000 of Miami’s social elite gathered to witness an unprecedented occasion.  On this special evening, the House of Swarovski presented MISO’s Music Director and Conductor Eduardo Marturet, with a one-of-a-kind crystal baton.   Christian Meischel, Swarovski’s project manager, flew in from Austria especially for this momentous occasion, as the baton is the first-ever of its kind.   

Throughout the evening, the charismatic and energetic Marturet, wearing royal blue crystallized Donald Pliner loafers to match the stage lights, encouraged the audience to share in his enthusiasm, which even resulted in a broken baton! Fortunately, said baton was not the Swarovski baton, which had yet to be presented.  The crowd obliged, clapping to the Polka, and dancing to the upbeat tempos, and delighting to the waltzes, and great overtures.  Read the rest of this entry »

Valentine’s Day the Right Way

If waiting two hours for a table and overpaying for a “prixe fix” menu are not exactly your idea of romance, consider The New World Symphony’s (NWS), first annual Vivace benefit, bringing the glamour and romance of old Hollywood to 21^st century Miami this Saturday, February 13. This pre-Valentine’s celebration begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Gusman Center (174 East Flagler Street) with a performance titled “Great Loves of the Silver Screen.” A one-of-a-kind full-orchestral concert, with projected excerpts from classic films like Doctor Zhivago, Madame Bovary, Brigadoon and King Kong and the songs of cinematic favorites such as Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On” and “A Time For Us” from Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet.

 Immediately following the concert, Vivace patrons will enjoy a Golden Era-themed red-carpet party at The historic Alfred I. Dupont Building, where they will get a chance to mingle with the NWS Fellows, sip classic cocktails, dine on exquisite cuisine, bid on unforgettable silent auction items and share a dance with their Valentine.

 Adding to the Hollywood Glamour of the evening, Academy Award-winning director David Frankel will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Frankel is internationally renowned for his film and television projects including Marley & Me, The Devil Wears Prada, Miami Rhapsody the Emmy winning series’ Band of Brothers and Entourage and the Academy Award winning short Dear Diary.

Individual tickets for the Vivace benefit, which include the concert and the post-performance party, are $750 with special packages available from $5,000 to $50,000. Concert-only tickets, priced at $77 and $42 are also available by calling 305-673-3331.  For additional information on Vivace, please contact Rebecca Mandelman at 305-428-6733. 

The Anti-Valentine

Single and Fabulous (www.FabulousAlways.com) founders Tiffany Rosen and Erin Newberg present the Second Annual Anti-Valentine’s day soiree “LOVE IS A BATTLFIELD.” The event will take placed this Saturday, February 13th at 9:00 p.m., at Louis lounge at the Gansevoort South Hotel.   According to Rosen and Newberg, “For those of you who are single and dreading the upcoming ‘Hallmark holiday’ here’s your chance to turn Single Awareness Day (aka V-Day) into an opportunity to celebrate ‘singledom!’”  The event costs only $20 but RSVP is mandatory to attend. For more info and to RSVP, contact Tiffany@fabulousalways.com.

Romance in Art

Calix Gustav Gallery is pleased to announce the launch of its newest exhibition “Basics,” showcasing works by classically trained emerging artists who utilize contemporary subject matters. Hosted by Miami Art Guide and coinciding with Wynwood’s monthly Art Walk, Calix Gustav Gallery will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy live entertainment by Florida International University’s School of Music and Miami Symphony, as well as complimentary cocktails courtesy of V Georgio Vodka.

Visit www.calixgustav.com. Events are open to the public – RSVP to calix@taraink.com or 305.864.3434 ext. 157.

 Happy Hour for a Cause at Viceroy Miami’s Club 50

 Every Thursday, 5% of Club 50’s proceeds benefit a local cause or organization. Last season’s Happy Hour with a Cause donated over $35,000 to such charities as Big Brothers Big Sisters, UM-NSU Center for Autism & Related Disabilities, United Way of Miami-Dade and the Sabrina Cohen Foundation. From 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., guests can enjoy drink specials including $5 well spirits, beer and house wine as they unwind at Miami’s ultimate rooftop bar and lounge. For the Happy Hour charity schedule go to: http://viceroymiami.com/cuisine/club_schedule.html.

A number of high profile business minds and celebrities will be at the American Airlines Arena this Thursday through Saturday as they support local Miami Beach residents, JR and Loren Ridinger, who own the internet company Marketamerica.com and will welcome over 25,000 people to Miami to learn about the company’s newest product launches and the economic opportunity offered to its independent business owners. Celebrities in attendance will include Eva Longoria Parker, Emilio Estefan, Scott Barnes, Scottie Pippen and Alonzo Mourning. The show will close Saturday at 6:30 pm with a performance by Grammy award winning artist Alejandro Sanz. Market America has just released a small number of tickets to this sold-out conference for $195 for all three days.  For more information and to purchase tickets, email media@marketamerica.com.

Friends with Benefits

“Friends of New World Symphony,” will showcase Bach on Saturday, January 30, at the Lincoln Theater.  The “Authentic Incarnations” will highlight Bach and offer young patrons an introduction to the classics by the 87 New World Symphony Fellows.   This event is a taste of what’s to come at the New World Symphony gala February 13. The after party takes place at a private home on Fisher Island, A.K.A., “La Isla Bonita” immediately after the concert, featuring creative cocktails courtesy of GREY GOOSE Vodka, hors d’oeuvres, and a fusion of music by saxophonist, Jason Kush and DJ Roberto Castillo.  The event is for members of “Friends of New World Symphony,” a group of young professionals with a mission to support the arts.  “Friends” annual memberships range in price from $150 to $2500 and offer an in-depth experience with the country’s most talented musicians.  For membership information, contact Stacey Glassman, stacey.glassman@nws.edu.

Pre-Game Show

The Eats Beats Cleats Gridiron Festival presented by Comcast will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 4 on Lincoln Road, featuring more than 75 current and former NFL All Stars, fan experiences and VIP events throughout the weekend.   Expect to see NFL greats, who will be signing autographs, and national sports exhibits, including the Heisman, Super Bowl, World Series, IRL and NASCAR trophies, which will be in one place for the first time ever. 
Weekend and daily passports are available ($85-$350) by going to www.ebcmiami.com.  The four-day festival presented by Comcast and sponsored by Lincoln Mercury, LandShark Lager, AirTran Airways, Bacardi, Gallo Wines, Coca Cola, Cundy Insurance, Miami magazine and Lincoln Financial Radio is set to dominate Lincoln Road the entire weekend. All proceeds benefit the Gridiron greats Assistance Fund.

Also on Thursday, February 4, Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is hosting a “Haiti Relief Effort” event from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at his restaurant, Proof Ocean Drive, in the former Table 8 space. The Ricky Williams Foundation, a not-for-profit charity led by Ricky Williams supporting national and international communities in need, has joined forces with JBF Worldwide, NFL Players Association and the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund to raise money and encourage relief efforts for the numerous victims suffering from the island’s recent and catastrophic earthquake. Guests will enjoy dinner prepared by Proof Ocean Drive’s executive chef Ivan Dorvil, cocktails and live music. Football fans will also be able to bid on items such as Super Bowl XLIV tickets, jerseys worn by their favorite players, genuine NFL memorabilia and a luxury time piece during the event’s silent and live auction. Guests are asked for a minimum donation of $100 to attend this event. Proof Ocean Drive is located inside the Z Ocean Hotel at 1458 Ocean Drive, South Beach.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and creativity for that matter. In an age where charitable dollars are hard to come by, organizations are getting more and more creative when it comes to urging people to part with their contributions. Over the past couple of weeks lucky guests have been treated to a cruise to nowhere, brushes with celebrity and mystery dinners. This weekend packs in more excitement with a celebrity scavenger hunt, right in our own backyard.

 Just Sit Right back and you’ll hear a Tale… Read the rest of this entry »

Crystal Waters

Apple Restaurant and Lounge finally opened last week, after much ado about rain delays, permits, yada, yada, yada… The highly-anticipated LA eatery held a small

soiree last Wednesday evening for special guests including: principal, Steve Marlton, Shai Ben Ami, Corina Biton, Jason Clarke, Dr. Julio F. Gallo, Carmel Dubuque, Ricky Elias, Andrea Greenberg, Ashlee Harrison, Yannick and Hadley Henriette, Jillian Jacobson Altit, Edie Laquer, David Lebatard (LEBO), Nicole Lozano, Leslie Wolfson and Dr. Sanford Ziff who had the opportunity to sample a few of the restaurant’s offerings, prepared by chef, Bryan Ogden, son of James Beard Award winning chef, Bradley Ogden. The selections were passed by servers clad in uniforms designed by heiress-turned-fashion designer, Nicky Hilton. Apple, which is open every night but Sunday, is a restaurant from Tuesday-Saturday from 7:00 p.m.-midnight and then becomes a lounge until 5:00 a.m., (Mondays it is only a lounge) has taken over the former Snatch space, which was previously the home of Liquid Lounge (if those walls could talk!). This latest incarnation is more subdued and elegant, with oak-lined walls and astro-turf on the ceiling (we didn’t get that either). Gone are the stripper poles, deer-horned chandelier gilded with bras and our favorite, the mechanic bull that comprised Snatch’s decor. Nothing like watching a drunk, half-naked girl get flung across a bar by a mechanical bull! Ah, but we digress…We suspect that Apple will probably eventually become more lounge than restaurant, so there should still be plenty of bull to go around.

Also on Wednesday, Salon Vaso, the only Miami salon to receive the “A Cut Above” honor in the August issue of Allure Magazine, celebrated with a seaside cocktail aboard the Carrousel Yacht. Over 200 guests were treated to signature hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. VIP attendees included New World Symphony Friends Director, Stacey Glassman, Allure Magazine journalist, Brooke Siegel, NBC 6 meteorologist, Trina Robinson, handbag designer, Dr. Amy Brecka, Get Ink PR principal, Ellen Marchman and Carrousel Yacht owners, Leslie and Ian Kaplan.

On Thursday night, LIV was the scene for one of the hottest parties of the summer,

second only to Nick D’Annunzio’s ‘80s birthday bash, (which we are still buzzing about!), in celebration of 944 magazine’s Nightlife issue. The consensus among party guests was that they haven’t had that much fun in a club in quite some time (dreaded summer months!). The party was a live celebration of music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today (not to sound like a radio station commercial). Reggeaton megastar, Pitbull, came on first and sang all of his current hits including “Culo,” “Ay Chico-Lengua Afuera” and his newest song “I Know You Want Me.” Pitbull surprised the already excited crowd when he brought out guest performer, Lil’ Jon. Representing the 70s was Anita Ward, who sang her timeless hit “Ring My Bell.” 90s dance music diva, Crystal Waters, kept the energy going when she sang chart-topping dance floor anthems such as “Gypsy Woman” (La da di dow dow…she’s homeless-you’re singing it now, aren’t you?),” “100% Pure Love” and her most recent smash “Destination Unknown!” When asked about the party, 944’s editor, Hadley Henriette, said, “Pitbull’s performance was really off the hook. I didn’t expect him to show up with a five piece band and all. Everybody was up on the tables during Calle Ocho. Anita Ward belted out Ring My Bell. What can I say? She’s still got it! It was 2:30 in the morning by the time Crystal Waters got busy with two back-up dancers. The crowd went nuts and Crystal sounded just like it was 1993. LIV is usually closed on Thursdays, but we brought in a great crowd. Everyone who was there really felt like they were part of something special: to see all these great performers…or maybe it was the Hornitos.” Hornitos and Presidente provided the cocktails for the party, which was well attended by many of the folks featured in the Nightlife issue, including: Jimmy Vargas, Erin Newberg, Buster Cox and Barbara Basti. Also in attendance were musicians, Doug E. Fresh; Dorks, Morons, and Geeks; Black Dada and T-Pain; Joseph Soracchi from The First 48 Hours; Mario Mosely from Dance your Ass Off, and Maria Lankina from Miami Social.

Prior to the 944 extravaganza, RA Sushi in South Miami celebrated its one year anniversary with a “Mad Hatter’s Sake-Tea-Ni Party,” which raised over $800 for The Wellness Community – Greater Miami.

The fun continued throughout the weekend. On Friday, The Fifth hosted the latest performance to support the GREY GOOSE® Entertainment presents “Rising Icons” series.  R&B diva, Keri Hilson, performed an entire set to a packed crowd. Dennis Rodman, Cindy Taylor and David Lee Roth (strange bedfellows indeed) helped to celebrate Bullets 4 Peace designer, Rafi Anteby’s birthday at the Eden Roc hotel on Saturday night with a poolside fashion show featuring painted models walking the runway.   Sunday night at LIV was quite a scene. Singer/producer, Ryan Leslie, took the stage, delighting fans including Michael Jordan, Matt Damon, his wife Lucy, and Wilmer Valderrama.

Coming Up

The MOCA Shakers, a group of young, international patrons of the Museum of Contemporary Art, will hold a kick-off party for the launch of their season on Thursday, September 3, at the Viceroy’s Club 50 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The launch will be an effort to boost ticket sales for MOCA’s upcoming Mystery Dates fundraiser which is scheduled for November 7.  A party to promote a party, what a novel idea! Grey Goose Vodka will be serving up free cocktails during the launch party and MOCA insiders ensure a good showing of their “hip artsy members.” The Mystery Dates Party will include glamorous dinner parties at the private homes of some of Miami’s most intriguing art collectors and designers.  The ‘mystery’ of which dinner each guest will attend will be revealed immediately preceding the dinner, at a cocktail party at Museo Vault. Proceeds from this event benefit MOCA exhibitions of emerging and experimental artists.

Celebrity Sightings:

W South Beach was a celeb hotspot this weekend. Basketball legend, Michael Jordan, was spotted taking in the scene and cuisine at Mr. Chow on Friday night.   Meanwhile, comedian, Eddie Griffin, was hanging out in a different area of the hotel enjoying a little downtime after his performance at the Miami Improv.  Akon,  Alonzo Mourning and good friend, Amare Stoudemire, of the Phoenix Suns savored mixologist, Ilad Svi’s tantalizing concoctions at the Living Room. The cast of Burn Notice wrapped up filming on the terrace of Area 31 restaurant and at the pool deck of the EPIC hotel on Monday.  The hotel and restaurant will be featured in the season finale.   So You Think You Can Dance? winner, Jeanine Mason held a party for 800 of her closest fans and friends at Jungle Island’s Treetop Ballroom last week. Fresh out of high school, Mason is starring in a 41 city tour with the top 12 dancers, from the show. The tour is scheduled to hit the American Airlines Arena on Oct. 22.

As Barry Manilow proclaimed in his timeless disco hit, Copacabana, music and passion are always in fashion- especially on South Beach.  If you’ve been reading the headlines this week, there have been lots of controversial reports about unbridled passion, Thorn Birds style, but this is not that kind of column, (o.k., sometimes it is) so instead, we will focus on those with a passion for music, who truly got their fill this week, thanks to terrific concerts and music bashes courtesy of Wyclef Jean, Katy Perry, Blake Lewis, Crazy Pianos and the New World Symphony, and whose cups shall runneth over this weekend, as the Band from T.V. takes over the Shore Club this Saturday. 

 T-Mobile pulled out all the stops by sponsoring the Grammy Celebration Concert last Thursday night at the Fillmore starring Wyclef Jean and Kerry Perry, during which lucky guests enjoyed open bars, hors d’ oeuvres, give-a-ways, a photo booth and a night of incredible performances. Prior to the concert, American Idol finalist, Blake Lewis, got the party going by spinning great music and beat boxing for the excited crowd.  Wyclef Jean took to the stage and performed a knock-out concert of over ten songs.  Jean demonstrated his musical diversity, singing everything from No, Woman, No Cry, to Staying Alive to Carnaval and even doing a rap version of Guantanamera before lunging into the audience.  His show also included a song he wrote about President Obama and a tribute to Celia Cruz, during which he shouted, “If you love Celia Cruz raise your phones up.”   There’s a new one! At one point, Jean played the electric guitar with his tongue, leaving the women in the audience thinking, “If he’s that good on the guitar, imagine what he can do on the ‘organ’.”  Jean garnered respect from the whole crowd, who screamed and sang along throughout his hour and a half long concert. There was a lull between performances, thanks to Katy Perry, the Betty-Boop-faced songstress with an affinity for cherry chapstick, who kept the crowd waiting for two hours due to “back pain.”  Once Perry finally arrived, she apologized and performed crowd favorites, Waking up in Vegas, Hot and Cold, One of the Boys and, of course, I Kissed a Girl, during which she picked up a gigantic inflatable red lipstick and flung it around on stage.

 On the same night, designer label, Diesel, fueled a great party at the Moore Building for the launch of its new fragrance, Only the Brave. On hand for the festivities, which featured three floors of music and art work:  NBA All-star, Tim Hardaway, supermodel/celebrity DJ, Eve Salvail, Diesel CEO Steve Birkhold, designer, Monica Esposito, and 500 local socialites including, Matt Heien, Sale Stojanovoc, Erin Newberg, and Augie Lasseter, to name a few.  According to Heien, “It truly was ‘only for the brave’ – In order to get a drink you had to order while standing underneath hundreds of razor sharp scissors hanging over your head!”

On Wednesday night, Crazy Pianos, Coconut Grove’s new dueling piano bar and restaurant, debuted in the former Café Tu Tu Tango space in Cocowalk.  While similar in concept to the old Grove haunt, Howl at the Moon, Crazy Pianos is larger and classier and actually serves delicious food.  Last week’s grand opening marked the Netherlands-based company’s first venue in the United States, during which piano masters, Stevie B and Orin Sands tickled the ivories at two, cherry-red baby grand pianos until 3:00 a.m. Crazy Pianos owners invested more than $5 million into the place, including half a million dollars for the sound system alone. Crazy Pianos is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.  At 10:00 p.m., Crazy Pianos morphs into a late night club venue for adults 21 and over featuring live performances based on special requests from the audience.  For more information, go to www.crazypianos.com or call (305) 567-2462.

Friends of the New World Symphony, hosted a two-hour music festival on Saturday evening, entitled Symphony and Mystery, which featured performances by NWS fellows showcasing the works of Sam Hyken as well as a set by The Mysterytones, a seven-piece funk, rhythm and blues band, alongside DJ, JJ Neil.

As previously mentioned, another awesome music bash takes place this Saturday night, May 16, at the Shore Club, as the Band From T.V., comprised of you guessed it, T.V. stars, including Desperate Housewives’ on-again-off-again adorable couple, James Denton and Teri Hatcher; Heroes’ stars, Adrian Pasdar and Greg Grunberg, The Bachelor and TLC’s Date My House’s, Bob Guiney, The Office’s, Melora Hardin, and House’s Jesse Spencer take to the stage for the first time ever, for the Concert for Charity, to benefit the following charities: Epilepsy Foundation, Miami Children’s Hospital, Art of Elysium, Conservation Fund, Indian University-Kenya Partnership, Rush Medical Center-Pediatric Epilepsy Unit, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The Band from T.V. has become an international sensation, with a #1 hit CD/DVD on Amazon.com.  The event starts at 7:30 with a VIP reception with the band and the concert begins at 9:00 p.m.  General admission tickets have been reduced to $50.00 and VIP tickets are selling fast for $175.00. To get yours, call 800-745-3000 or purchase online at Ticketmaster.com.  Make sure to check out the band at www.Bandfromtv.org.

More Good Times for Great Causes

Mad About Tea

Even if your idea of tea is named after Long Island and involves six different liquors and you have no idea what a crumpet is, (neither do we) make some time on Sunday, May 17, for the PlayGround Theatre’s Tea at the Ritz with “celebu-mogul,” Ivanka Trump, who is this year’s honorary chair.  WSVN-7’s anchor, Belkys Nerey, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies and Barton G. will produce the party, which includes a children’s fashion show, performances and lots of fun activities for the whole family. The festivities begin at 3:00 p.m. at the South Beach Ritz Carlton Hotel. 

Prior to Sunday’s tea, Ivanka Trump will present two trunk shows of her eponymous collection of diamond jewelry.  The first show takes place on Friday, May 15, at the Palazzo on Palm Island and the second will be held on Saturday May 16, at the Gables home of Lydia Touzet.  For tickets and more information about the Tea and Trunk Shows, contact (305) 751-9550 ext. 223; Fax (305) 751-9556; E-mail: judy@theplaygroundtheatre.com; or visit www.theplaygroundtheatre.com.

N.K.B. for S.G.K.

It appears that the New Kids on the Block, NKB, (yes, the 80s boy band- who insist on still calling themselves “kids” despite being in their 40s) will host NKB fav, Danny Wood’s birthday celebration at LIV on May 14.  While originally we thought the band should be called, New Kids on the Schlock, we’ve got to give the “boys” props, since proceeds from the event go to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Opening this Weekend:

This Friday, the folks who brought you Crobar, invite you to “get off” at Exit 66, their latest beachside club, located at 219 Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd.  Earlier this week, two thousand lucky “VIPs” received a motel key, attached to a kitschy red plastic key chain, entitling them to all kinds of benefits, including free admission, guaranteed entry with no waiting and promotions on special events and concert tickets.  Exit 66 kicks off this weekend with party on Friday at 9:00 p.m. and another bash on Saturday, hosted by 944 Magazine.  For more information, contact (954) 357-9981.

Celebrity Sightings:

Nicole Richie inaugurated her jewelry collection, House of Harlow, at the Fontainebleau last Wednesday, alongside her beau, Joel Madden, and notable guests, Katrina Kampins and Ingrid Casares. On Friday, American film director, Spike Lee, was spotted dining at Area 31.  At Saturday night’s Miami Beach Chamber Gala, celebrities included George Hamilton, who served as Master of Ceremonies and Elle McPherson, who accompanied honoree, Jeff Soffer.  Alonzo and Tracy Mourning were also honored.  Dennis Rodman and his posse dined and reportedly dashed at Phillipe Chow at the Gansevoort over the weekend, Rodman will celebrate his birthday on Saturday at Pangea at the Hard Rock.  Matt Damon, his wife, Lucia and daughters enjoyed Mother’s Day brunch at Smith and Wollensky on Sunday afternoon. Emilio Estefan power- lunched at Abokado in Mary Brickell Village on Monday.