News

Gloria Estefan joins The National Trust and Friends of Miami Marine Stadium to Restore Miami Marine Stadium

Estefan will serve as “Voice of Miami Marine Stadium” as Miami City Commission considers approval of a new site plan for the stadium

Washington (May 8, 2013) – The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium are pleased to announce that international superstar and Miami’s own Gloria Estefan, a seven time Grammy-winning artist and leading Miami businesswoman, will take a prominent role in the ongoing advocacy campaign to restore the iconic stadium as a centerpiece of cultural life in Miami. Estefan, a Trustee of the National Trust since 2012, will serve as the voice of efforts to preserve Miami Marine Stadium at a time when the Miami City Commission is weighing approval of a new site plan for the stadium.

Estefan will lend her support to the National Trust and Friends of Miami Marine Stadium’s ongoing campaign to preserve the stadium by appearing in public service announcements, sharing information about the campaign with her followers on social media, and appearing in print and video materials supporting the structure’s restoration. On April 24, Estefan participated in a photo shoot at the stadium with influential Miami artist/photographer Carlos Betancourt, whose work will grace the campaign.

“Miami Marine Stadium is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind place, and I am thrilled to be able to join the National Trust and the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium to help restore it to its former glory,” Estefan said. “As someone who once had the honor of performing at the stadium, I can attest to the fact that it is a completely unique place, and I know thousands of Miami residents feel the same kind of personal connection to the stadium.”

“The stadium reflects the diversity of South Florida. It was designed by a young Cuban-American architect, and has played host to artists from Jimmy Buffett to Sammy Davis Jr., as well as boat shows and many other events. We look forward to the day when this spectacular place is once again a thriving center of cultural life for people in South Florida.”

The campaign to preserve Miami Marine Stadium faces a critical milestone this spring, when the Miami City Commission will vote on a comprehensive site plan allowing the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium to continue their restoration efforts. Two of the five city commissioners have already voiced their support for the reuse plan. Members of the public can urge the City Commission to support the stadium’s site plan by visiting the National Trust’s website at http://bit.ly/miamimarine

The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Miami Marine Stadium one of America’s National Treasures in 2012. National Treasures are endangered places of national significance where the National Trust is committed to a long-term effort to preserve a place and shepherd its return to active use. The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, an all-volunteer group, has been working to save the one-of-a-kind structure since 2008. The stadium was also named one of the National Trust’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America in 2009, and was named to the World Monuments Fund Watch List in 2010.

In October, Miami Marine Stadium will be the focus of a special exhibit at the Coral Gables Museum. Titled Concrete Paradise: The Miami Marine Stadium, it will be the first-ever museum exhibit devoted exclusively to Miami Marine Stadium – past, present and future.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places. www.PreservationNation.org

Friends of Miami Marine Stadium (FMMS), a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2008 to save and restore the Miami Marine Stadium, which was built in 1963 and shuttered in 1992. FMMS’s plan not only will renovate the majestic, architecturally iconic structure, but also create a waterfront marine stadium park as a public space for concerts, triathlons, boat races, festivals, spectacles, and community events. FMMS’s plan will be topped by adding a state-of-the-art maritime center, which has already received a pledge of support from the Antique Boat Museum of Clayton, New York, to raise $7 million for a satellite maritime museum to be housed there. Despite more than 20 years of vandalism and neglect, the 6,500-seat stadium built of poured in-place concrete is structurally sound and is considered an engineering marvel now studied internationally. FMMS awaits final approval of their site plan from the Miami City Commission before fundraising efforts can begin. In-depth information can be found at www.marinestadium.org

LOOK OUT FOR AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SOUL OF MIAMI COMING SOON!

Photo credit: (c)Carlos Betancourt Inc.

PRESS RELEASE

The Miami Foundation set to award more than $1 million in 2013 Community Grants Program

– Pre-proposal applications now being accepted on miamifoundation.org–

2013 Community Grants program
DEADLINE FEBRUARY 7, 2013
In their signature program for awarding dollars to nonprofits, The Miami Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2013 Community Grants program. Established in 1967, the program invests in quality and innovative organizations that strive to build a greater Miami. The Foundation will review pre-proposals and invite selected organizations to complete full proposals. The deadline to submit a pre-proposal is Thursday, February 7, 2013, by 4 p.m. Last year, the Community Grants program awarded more than $1 million to support 62 nonprofits in Greater Miami.

“These grants are made possible by generous philanthropists in our community and allow us to address emerging needs throughout Miami,” said Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “From youth and homeless programs to the arts and social services, the causes supported are as diverse as Miami-Dade’s community. We invite all local nonprofits that share our vision for a better Miami to apply.”

2013 Safe Passage Grant Program
DEADLINE FEBRUARY 13, 2013
Pre-proposals for the 2013 Safe Passage grant program are also being accepted and are due by Wednesday, February 13, 2013, by 4 p.m. Safe Passage grants support nonprofits that help young people make the challenging transition from foster care to living independently. These grants, totaling $200,000, are made possible through the generosity of the DadeFund, an endowment established by Hugh Westbrook and Esther Colliflower in 1992.

Guidelines and pre-proposal applications can be found on The Miami Foundation’s website at miamifoundation.org in the “Community” section. For additional information, please contact Marianne Maduro, senior program officer, at 305-357-2087 or mmaduro@miamifoundation.org.

Knight Foundation Announces New Gifts Totaling $23 Million for Miami Arts

PRESS RELEASE
Support for established institutions and grassroots organizations brings Knight’s investment in South Florida cultural community to $86 million

MIAMI, Dec. 3, 2012—The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced $23 million in new funding for the arts in South Florida. The support brings Knight Foundation’s total investment in South Florida’s diverse and dynamic cultural community to $86 million in six years.

Knight’s initiative supports both established institutions and grassroots organizations as a way to engage South Floridians and weave culture into people’s everyday lives. It includes funding for key arts institutions, and for the continuation of the Knight Arts Challenge, a contest open to the entire South Florida community that for five years has allowed artists to experiment and innovate even through a weak economy.

“The arts not only inspire and challenge, they help create the shared experiences that connect people to one another and the places they live,” said Alberto Ibargüen, president of Knight Foundation. “The success of our earlier initiative in Miami has encouraged us to expand to Philadelphia and Detroit and, now, to take it to the next level in Miami.”

The Miami announcement follows a recent, $19.25 million Knight Foundation investment in the Detroit arts scene, backing the cultural initiatives that are helping shape the future of that city.

In South Florida, the investment includes:

Support for leading cultural institutions ($14 million). Funding will engage and inspire audiences in new ways:
Miami City Ballet ($5 million): In its 28 years, the ballet has earned a national reputation. New funding will help the ballet increase its outreach and add new works to its repertoire, including new commissions.
The Wolfsonian-FIU ($5 million): The museum holds one of the most important collections of art and design objects from the modern era. With this new funding, The Wolfsonian will develop dynamic programming to engage South Florida residents and build greater access to its online collection. 
Cleveland Orchestra ($2 million): The organization that has become Miami’s winter symphony expands its subscription season to four weekends of concerts and significantly increases its educational outreach programs to students.
Arts education ($1 million): Miami artists often begin their careers at one of two schools, the Design and Architecture High School and the New World School of the Arts. To expand the horizons of the next generation, new funding will send students on cultural field trips to New York City and Europe.
Borscht Film Festival ($500,000): The homegrown festival has put Miami into the national conversation on independent filmmaking, with works shown at 40 international film festivals. New support will help the festival expand its efforts and create more “only in Miami” stories.
Miami International Film Festival ($500,000): The festival helps make the city a destination for first-class cinematic creations. Knight Foundation will further the expansion of Ibero-American film through awards at this annual event.

Continuing the Knight Arts Challenge contest ($9 million) – Each year, the challenge asks everyone in South Florida for ideas to enhance the South Florida arts. The contest has just three rules: Projects must be about the arts; take place in or benefit South Florida and match Knight’s funding.

The best ideas receive Knight Foundation funds. Anyone can apply: the challenge purposefully seeks out nontraditional grantees. In fact, 6,601 ideas have been received over the past five years. More than half of these ideas came from individuals, businesses, and small organizations that don’t have 501(c)(3) non-profit status.

With Knight Foundation’s new commitment, the contest will offer funding to organizations of all sizes – from businesses to individual artists – through 2015.

Knight Foundation is extending the contest because of its success: A new, independent evaluation of Knight Foundation’s impact found that the challenge has helped fuel Miami’s cultural scene. In particular, the challenge has helped small projects with an entrepreneurial spirit take shape. For example:
A newly created art-book publishing house, [NAME] Publications, has sold books about Miami artists nationally.
An internationally recognized visual artist, Naomi Fisher, is hosting Weird Miami Bus Tours that take visitors to little-known local haunts.
The Borscht Film Festival’s shorts have been shown at SXSW in Austin (four short films in 2012 alone) and the Sundance Film Festival.
Additionally, prior funding has brought cutting-edge exhibitions to North Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art, supported a new media program that includes the signature “Wallcasts” at the acclaimed New World Symphony campus, and will bring every Miami-Dade third grader annually to the soon-to-open Perez Art Museum Miami on the downtown waterfront.

“Miami’s creativity is limitless, Knight Foundation’s arts initiative and its Knight Arts Challenge have acted as its conduit – pulling the best ideas out of the city’s most creative thinkers, and helping them flourish. In a truly creative town like Miami, everybody should be able to participate, to dream and to ultimately see their passions through to reality,” said Dennis Scholl, Knight Foundation’s vice president for arts.

For more information about Knight Foundation’s arts program, visit KnightArts.org.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.

On September 7 and 8, 2012, DWNTWN ArtDays was the first collective two day arts and culture event spanning Downtown Miami. This event included not only exhibitions, exclusive art tours, artists open studios, it also featured outdoor performances, a bike ride, a kickball match and last but definitely not least a dedicated arts and culture trolley for easy access to all of our arts and culture venues.

Official video produced by the Miami DDA

PRESS RELEASE:

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Sunset Harbour Shops and Garage Opening on Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

Miami Beach Real Estate Developer Scott Robins, partner Philip Levine and Miami Beach Mayor; Matti Herrera Bower, The Miami Beach City Commission & Interim City Manager; Kathie G. Brooks announced the opening of SUNSET HARBOUR SHOPS & GARAGE in Miami Beach with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning.

This beautiful retail & garage development represents a public/private partnership between the Robins Group and the City of Miami Beach. Designed by world renowned Architectonica, the project is located at 1900 Bay Road (between 18th & 20th Street) in the very hip and trendy Sunset Harbour district of Miami Beach. Together with their other holdings in Sunset Harbour, The Robins Group has over 60,000 square feet of newly constructed retail and restaurant space.

Over 15 new establishments have either opened or will open in the coming months. They include Emack & Bolio’s Ice Cream, Eberjey Lingerie, Tequizlan Restaurant & Tequila Bar, Lucali Pizzeria from Brooklyn, Splendor Restaurant, Panther Coffee, Icebox Café, Sunset Clothing Co., Threadcount, True Loaf Artisanal Bakery, Jugo Fresh, Peace Love World, Blush, Footworks, and Frankie Boutique amongst others!

The 4 level city owned public garage located directly above the retail shops provides over 460 parking spots for guests with short term self-parking rates at just $1.00 per hour. A wide pedestrian breezeway connects Bay Road & Purdy Avenue, allowing people to easily circulate throughout the retail shops and restaurants. The garage serves the entire Sunset Harbour district with its vast array of neighborhood establishments as well as major destination businesses such as the newly constructed Fresh Market, Publix, and Office Depot.

About Scott Robins:
Scott Robins is the founder of Scott Robins Companies, Inc. and SRC Properties LLC, (“SRC”). Since 1988, Mr. Robins has grown his companies into a mid-size, vertically-integrated real estate development firm, specializing in development, construction, leasing and management of commercial property. Most of the property Mr. Robins owns and manages is located in the famous Art Deco District of Miami Beach (“South Beach”) and Downtown Miami. His properties consist of office, retail and residential space in prime locations and represent some of the most noteworthy real estate in the area. His professional accomplishments have been awarded with Certificates of Appreciation Public Service Awards by the City of Miami Beach; Historical Revitalization Award by the Miami Design Preservation League; Award for Excellence in Architecture for a Contractor by the American Institute of Architecture; and Award for Public Service from The Women of Tomorrow.

About Arquitectonica:
Arquitectonica is an internationally recognized architectural firm headquartered in Miami, FL. The firm’s work has been featured in nearly 3,000 national and international publications such as Time, Newsweek, Life, Fortune and Business Week, as well as numerous professional journals such as Architectural Record, Progressive Architecture, Architectural Design, Domus, Global Architecture, L’Architecture D’aujourd’hui, Abitare and Häuser.
For additional information please visit: http://sunsetharbourshops.com

Miami, Florida-September 20, 2012. Taste of Peru 2012 unquestionably the most important Gastronomic Festival in the United States launches its 3rd Annual Gastronomic Festival. TASTE OF PERU 2012 has been recognized as one of the most important culinary demonstrations of the United States and its organized every year by the Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce of South Florida (PACCSF). This unique event will be held from 9th thru 11th of November at the world renowned Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC).

The Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce of South Florida’s prime objective is to promote in Miami (So. Florida), Peru’s cuisine, tourism, trade opportunities and culture. This Event is co-sponsored by the Consulate of Peru in Miami, Marca Perú, Sierra Exportadora, Taca Airlines, Cristal – Cuzquena and Goya Foods among other prestigious organizations.

Peru’s Ambassador to Washington Harold Forsyth, “Padrino of Taste of Peru 2012” will cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening Ceremony. “I’m deeply humbled to have received this honor bestowed on me by the Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce of South Florida”. “We certainly encourage and support any initiative to promote the commercialization of our Peruvian products and of course the culinary art of Peru” proudly commented Peru’s Ambassador to Washington DC, Hon. Harold Forsyth.

Taste of Peru 2012 will feature local restaurants from Peru to delight our palates with the best of Peruvian cuisine. Local area restaurants from like El Chalan, Chalan on the Beach, Aromas del Peru, Divino Ceviche, Goyo Pollo, Mixtura, Pisco O, Pisco Viejo Tonel, Pisco Don Benedicto, among others will be the key exhibitors of Taste of Peru 2012.

Event venues will include culinary live demonstrations led by famous world renowned Chefs Bocchio, Benoit and Pesaque . there will be “ Pisco competitions”, an attraction that has captivated the attention of bartenders from all nationalities not only from Peru but the United States as well.

Taste of Peru 2012 theme this year will focus on promoting different regions of Peru. The Loreto Region being one of those, has confirmed their participation this year in an effort to promote fruits and vegetables from their region.
“Perú continues to augment its culinary talent thus attracting top quality international attention to their culinary achievements and innovations,” said Maricarmen Sega, PACCSF President. “This is the ideal momento to further contribute to the food chain represented by farmers, exporters, chefs and restaurants of our country”, concluded Ms. Sega.

For more information, please contact the Ms. Melvi Dávila at 786-333-8371 or email info@tasteofperuusa.com