Beer Dinner Event This Weekend – Wynwood Brewing Company

In case you have a sitter lined up and are looking for something fun to do this weekend, check out this Beer & dinner event Wynwood Brewing Company is hosting (aka Husband Heaven).

If you haven’t been, WBC is Miami’s “first craft production brewery in the heart of Wynwood Art District, featuring a tap room. We are family owned and operated with the simple objective of bringing fresh, delicious, and creative beers to thirsty South Floridians and tourists alike. We operate a 15-barrel brewhouse and distribute our blond aleIPAPorter, barrel aged Strong Ales and seasonal offerings.”

This Saturday, they are hosting a beer&dinner event.  A variety of food plates will be matched with specific beers.  Looks pretty amazing, see menu and info below.  Maybe take a cab…

 

Miami Magazine Food Event

Every year, MIAMI Magazine (a publication I contribute to) hosts an annual celebration of their restaurant issue – Live and Dine Miami.  It’s a really great tasting event with Miami’s best chefs – who all take it very seriously.  Fun atmosphere, an overwhelming amount of ridiculously delish food, and a chance to chitty chat with our city’s top food talent.  What more could you want?

This year’s event is next week – July 31st. The tickets are going fast, so be sure to get yours soon – definitely babysitter worthy.

Food from Catch, Swine, The Dutch, Cypress Room and more.  Like going to ten restaurants in one and only trying their best dishes (last year I overloaded on Haven’s Tiger Shrimp…yum!).

Mister Wolfe opens at TownHouse

The old Bond Street space in TownHouse South Beach has now been filled by a stylistic club/bar serving food as well.  A powerhouse team is behind this locale, let’s all hope for the best! I’m not sure if a lounge concept fits into my lifestyle anymore ( I can barely stay up for drinks after dinner and can barely wait to eat dinner, so stopping for drinks beforehand never seems to happen), but you never know.  Either way, when you’re using a babysitter for nights on the town, there is no hit or miss – these places better be good!

I may try it out and will udpate if I do (with a babysitter worthy or not judgement).  See Press release and pix below.

 

MISTER WOLFE ARRIVES AT TOWNHOUSE MIAMI

The Creative Pop Up Bar Offers Sophistication, Style and Substance

Mister Wolfe, in the former Bond St. Lounge, is the natural evolution of the traditional bar and lounge.   Enticing and intimate, Mister Wolfe is sophistication through simplicity for the savvy crowd who gets it, been there, and craves an alternative.

Mister Wolfe is familiar yet fresh.  Max Pierre, owner of Arrive Miami, AE District Concept Gallery and CMO of Public School, a contemporary menswear private label; Erik Yehezkel, former nightlife director at the Delano; and AE Collective, one of the leading DJ management and booking agencies, bring you Mister Wolfe.  The exceptional DJs offer an eclectic and continually progressive range of music rooted in quality.  With its stylish new build-out, Mister Wolfe is not just a place or persona; it’s an ideology to bring a new perspective to nightlife and entertainment.

Much more than a bar, Mister Wolfe delivers great food through the culinary expertise of Nuno Grullon, owner of Ironside Cafe, and responsible for the first all organic menu at Metro Organic Bistro.  Passionate about all natural and local, Grullon adds a delicious dimension to social eating by bringing his philosophy across the bridge.  The bar program serves signature cocktails like the Wolfe Bite and Townhouse Secret, along with wine, Champagne and a full bottle list.  Mister Wolfe draws a diverse crowd from the social set to the cultural influencer looking for something as simple as good food, good people and good music.

Mister Wolfe at Townhouse, 150 20th Street, Miami Beach, FL  33139.  Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.,Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., and Sunday 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The kitchen serves until 1 a.m. daily.  www.mister-wolfe.com

Shop Miami!

Raise your hand if you need a good excuse to go shopping.  Ok, put your hand down, every single woman I know.  Good news – It’s Shop Miami month!

February 2013 celebrates Greater Miami and the Beaches’ leading retail destinations.  Here are a few reasons you can justify your J Crew dollars this month:

  • You can win money and cool stuff – Consumers who spend $500 or more over the course of the month of February at participating Shop Miami Month malls, marketplaces and retail establishments will receive a $20 Shop Miami Month Reward Card.*  Ok, it’s not the BEST cash back reward, but if you’re gonna spend $500 anyways, at least you can say you only spent $480?!?
  • Also, consumers who spend $500 or more will also be entered automatically to win great prizes such as airline tickets, MSC cruise for two and hotel stays (that part is cool!)
  • The Retailers are good – not random or sucky (Aventura Mall, Bloomies, etc.)
  • YOU GIVE BACK TO OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY!

For more information check out the link – http://www.shopmiamimonth.com/

WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL – One for the Fam

Wine & Food Festival is coming up – which is always a fun time of year for Miami.  While the festival does bring some extra beach traffic (not as much as the boat show, but more on that complaint another time), I do love the energy and excitement it brings to our city.  I don’t love the extra four pounds it always brings to my ass, though…

I’m covering a few events and will report back with fun details, but for those who aren’t budgeting hundreds of dollars to wait 45 minutes for a hamburger, and can’t get a sitter to watch our kids for 5 hours in the middle of the day while we get drunk at a “tasting” (and come back the next morning), I wanted to share this event that involves the whole family and isn’t too expensive.

On Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th, Jungle Island will play host to The Fun & Fit Family Events.  Join your favorite chefs and culinary talent for two fun-filled days of food, fitness and learning at Florida Blue presents Fun and Fit as a Family sponsored by Carnival featuring Kellogg’s Kidz Kitchen at Jungle Island. Children will have the chance to explore the food garden, play sports on the beach, get their hands messy in the interactive kitchen and explore the animals of Jungle Island while learning the basics of preparing nutritious meals and having fun doing it. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS. 

I’ve been to this event before and it’s definitely fun.  It has been getting more popular each year, so ARRIVE EARLY.  Another tip – if you want to watch the cooking demos – Giada, Robert Irvine, Rocco, etc. get a seat at least 20 minutes before the start. It fills up fast!

 

Claudia E Sale

A great sale next Thursday from a fun, local line.  Support Miami Designers and check it out! Nice beachy/flowy clothing to rub in the faces of everyone in 20 degree weather :)

Sale items will be 20-70 % off and you’ll be able to check out their new spring ‘13 collection!

 

Basel Best List

Four late nights in a row jumping between parties + Three days walking the streets of Sobe/Design District/Wynwood + endless hours looking for parking +  One baby still waking all night long + one 3.5 year old looking to start his day at 6 am, both thinking for some reason that I am their mother, here to provide them with love, care, attention, and food=ART BASEL 2012. Keep in mind this would not be my typical Art Basel life (I’m on couch in PJ’s by 8 pm most weekends) but I was on assignment for People Magazine.

Below, is my summary – with pix – of the best of Art Basel.  This was not taken from a motherly POV (i.e. wasn’t much to do for kids), but a fun wrap up nonetheless.  On that note, drum roll please…

Best Party Overall: SLS/Roberto Cavalli/Saks Bal Harbor/Rico Love Bday

I was lucky enough to cover Rico Love’s 30th Birthday Dinner at Katsuya, at the SLS Hotel, combined with a Saks Fifth Ave/Roberto Cavalli fashion show.  After a few days & nights of running between events, eating just little nibbles of food and splashes of alcohol, I was hungry.

The evening started with a cocktail party/red carpet and there was actually a generous amount of food being passed.


The fashion show (shockingly on time) – was suspended over the infinity pool – really cool looking, with some fun music to boot.  The dinner offered a plethora of family style food – from rock shrimp tempura to spicy tuna crispy rice to chicken, steak, sushi, and vegetables.

Nothing was left out. And while I wouldn’t quite consider Rico Love, Fat Joe, and Pharell and Diddy “my peeps”, it was really fun feeling their energy.  I also got to interview Kelly Rowland who is ADORABLE.  Jay Z and Beyonce were upstairs having a private dinner.  Click for my people article about the event.

Best Dessert: 

Valentino Cake pops – The Valentino Rooftop party on the Webster was short but sweet…literally.

The food was sparse BUT they handed out these cake pops which were seriously the best I have EVER had (not to mention adorable – they matched the Valentino polka dot resort wear).  I thought I was just starving, but when I saw the woman who works for Valentino the next day, she told me they tested hundred of pops to find the best one, and sent these down from NYC.  So I guess they were special!

Least Snooty place to see art: NADA Art Fair

NADA was at the The Deauville Beach Resort – an old, classic Miami Beach hotel.  My mom said she used to stay there with her family when she was a kid.  There is something comforting about a hotel that has stayed the same for 40 some-odd years (Granted, they could use a small facelift) but I hope they never go “glam”.

NADA was the perfect fit, this art fair is a “not-for-profit collective of professionals working with contemporary art. Our mission is to create an open flow of information, support, and collaboration within our field and to develop a stronger sense of community among our constituency. It is the only major American art fair to be run by a non-profit organization.”

The event was Free with free shuttle service from Miami Beach.  They Even had a public pool party.  AND, they have something for kids! For the first time, they brought their “Little Collectors” exhibit to the fair.  It’s for kids years 5 and up and looks like a great introduction to art for the little ones.  See their blog and info here:

http://www.littlecollector.com/blog/category/art-fairs/

So, next year if you feel at all intimated where to go/what to do and wonder if kids can be involved, be SURE to check this out!

Best Newcomer: UNTITLED ART FAIR

I’ve seen a lot of events erected on the sand (The Food & Wine Festival is pretty amazing), but none quite like this.  It was a huge art gallery in the middle of the beach.  Walls, paintings, sculptures, the works.  For the first time around, they really had their stuff together.

Something to keep an eye on for next year! http://www.art-untitled.com/index.php/what/

Best Chill Out Spot: AD OASIS

Art Basel has a major interior design element, Design Miami, and Architectural Digest went with this theme when they set up the AD Oasis at the Raleigh- a luxurious retreat created for artists, designers, collectors, and VIPs…created by celebrated AD100 designer Mark Cunningham.  Guests of the exclusive destination included Kate Mara, Zosia Mamet, Jane Seymour, Scout Willis, Fabrizio Moretti, Mia Moretti, Rick Yune, Kai & Sunny.

 The space consisted of a lounge by day with a café, gallery and spa treatments until it was transformed nightly into a glittering hot spot.  I attended the opening night party with The Strokes DJ’ing, and it was definitely a fun, not at all pretentious, event (and they gave us flip-flops, which were an absolute savior after four hours in heels for my used-to-flip-flops-and-Toms only feet.

The Raleigh has always been one of my favorite Sobe Hotels – cool, classy, and beachy, with a true Deco feel.  So, it served as the perfect backdrop for this event. And of course, AD does nothing half-assed – so the design was pretty amazing.

Pix: Kate Mara & John Mara, Zosia Mamet of GIRLS

 

Best Celeb Run-In/Interview:  Christian Slater. My generation was an overlap of the John Hughes teen angst movies mixed with the Heathers/My So Called Life era. Christian Slater was the star of one my favorites, “Pump up the Volume” which I would watch over and over, wishing I led a way more badass life than my gifted program/ballet three times a week reality.  His character was such the perfect mix of mysterious bad boy with sensitive, Eddie-Vedder esque poet. I interviewed him because he was on a panel with Adrien Grenier for the Young Arts Foundation.

He was ADORABLE and told me a funny story about his whole Miami Voting controversy.  He was surprised by all the attention the issue got, and because he was new to Twitter, he had no idea how many people would respond.  In fact, he told me a few days later he was out walking his dogs and three huge SUVs approached him, swarmed by Paparazzi and he thought – “wow, this thing has gotten really big!”.  Turns out, Kim Kardashian was getting out of the van….

Best Outdoor Installation: Wynwood Walls

Wyndood Walls is Miami’s cutting-edge free outdoor street art museum featuring internationally renowned graffiti artists such as Kenny Scharf, Shepard Fairey, among others.  The installation was already in effect, but Basel brought it a lot of attention and they did a cool pop up shop during the weekend.

http://thewynwoodwalls.com/

Best Food: Toro Toro, Intercontinental Hotel

The Intercontinental Miami showed off its $60 million renovation and 19-story digital canvas during a a large celebration.  ‘Entourage’ Star Jeremy Piven, Domestic Doyenne Martha Stewart and Photographer Patrick McMullan joined in the festivities.

The Celebration also Served as Grand Opening Soiree for Chef Richard Sandoval’s Critically-Acclaimed Restaurant and Lounge Concept, Toro Toro – which would explain why the food was delicious and plentiful!  The crowd feasted on a Pan Latin tasting menu prepared for the event, featuring: grill, anticuchos, ceviche and dessert stations throughout the lobby, as well as a tasting of the Latin spirits served at the Toro Toro bar.

Guests also experienced the newly installed Art Walls in the lobby, positioned around the hotel’s $20 million Henry Moore sculpture, The Spindle. The hotel presented its Art Basel showing with a New Media art show debuting three curated exhibits, as well as sculpture and 3D paintings.  The exhibits will run through January 31, 2013 and are free to the public and guests of the hotel. 

H&M!

For those of you who didn’t know (or weren’t invited to the 600-person craziness that was the opening party), H&M is now open on Lincoln Rd!! Chace Crawford, Flo-Rida, Matthew Morrison (of Glee), etc. hosted the event.

Chace looked adorable as always – I definitely have a old-mom crush on him and Flo-Rida rocked the house.

Unfortunately, they don’t have the kids stuff.  Do we start a petition? How do we fix this horrific injustice?

But they do have women’s stuff.  Remains to be seen if they’ll cater to the cheesy Miami/stripper-esque/Spring Break/ “I just got here from London/Pittsburgh/College and need to look South Beachy” crowd, OR if they’ll realize that J Crew Collection, with preppy-beachy (and not cheap) clothing is one of the most successful recent openings on Lincoln Rd, so they’ll buy for the audience who wants the traditional copied-from-the-runway H&M angle…we’ll see.

Either way, it seems the event was star studded and the opening is exciting.  Post Release and pix below.

MIAMI BEACH, FL – NOVEMBER 07: Chase Crawford attends the VIP grand opening of the H&M Lincoln Road Miami Store on November 7, 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for H&M)

 


 

 

 

 

MIAMI BEACH, FL – NOVEMBER 07: Flo Rida performs at the VIP grand opening of the H&M Lincoln Road Miami Store on November 7, 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for H&M)

 

 

H&M DEBUTS FIRST EVER STORE IN MIAMI BEACH

Global Fashion Retailer Celebrates with VIP Event and Exclusive Performance by Flo Rida

H&M, Hennes and Mauritz, one of the world’s largest fashion retailers known for offering high fashion at affordable prices, celebrated its debut in Miami Beach last night, Wednesday, November 7th, with an extravagant event featuring a live performance by Florida native, Flo Rida. Chace Crawford of Gossip Girl, Matthew Morrison of Glee, Paz de la Huerta of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and Adriana De Moura and Lisa Hochstein of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Miami, were among the 1,000 guests who attended the party held at the new 24,000 square foot multi-level store at the historic art deco Lincoln Theatre on Lincoln Road.

Famed DJ Mia Moretti kept the energy level high while guests had the opportunity to be the first to shop the hottest fall fashion at the new store, enjoy signature cocktails and share photos from the interactive vintage photo booth. American hip-hop and rap artist Flo Rida took the stage around 9:30 p.m. and closed the night with a special performance of his recent chart toppers, even including shout-outs to H&M by incorporating the brand into the lyrics.

“It was a magical evening and the first live performance in the beautifully renovated Lincoln Theatre,” said Marybeth Schmitt, H&M’s continental communications director. “We are thrilled to be in Miami and share such an exciting experience.”

“This is my city, my town, and I look forward to coming here, said Flo Rida. “I look at it like club H&M. As soon as I hit the block and see how huge it is, it’s just out of this world.”

“If you’re going to put it (H&M) on Miami Beach, this is the block to do it,” said Chace Crawford.

MORE PICS: http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr177401789