Had a wonderful night at the opening of the Cirque du Soleil Echo show at Gulfstream Park. The place was packed and the energy was high. Sorry, no sneak peek photos from inside the show, but it was definitely wonderful. Highly recommended. Runs through April 21, 2024. Get tickets here.
We were pleased to join Mezcal Union for their Margarita Day celebration at Dante’s HiFi. Great little spot with a wall of old records. Be sure to check it out and get you one of those Mezcal Union drinks. Here are a couple of unique drinks you can make at home.
1) Golden Hour Margarita
Ingredients:
1.25 oz Mezcal Unión Uno
0.25 oz Chile Liqueur
0.75 oz Clarified lime juice
0.75 oz Golden Milk (turmeric milk) *
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled. Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a dehydrated orange half and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Garnish: Dehydrated orange half & rosemary
Glassware: Rocks
Ice: Cubes
*Golden Milk Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups coconut milk
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch black pepper
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
Instructions: Add ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Give the mixture a good stir and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Make sure to stir it occasionally so that the turmeric powder and cinnamon don’t clump up.
2) El Melocotonero Margarita
Ingredients:
1 oz Mezcal Unión Uno
0.75 oz sherry
0.5 oz peach liqueur
0.5 oz agave nectar
0.5 oz lemon juice
2 dashes of Orange Bitters
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled. Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint speared through a peach ring candy.
Garnish: Mint sprig & peach ring candy
Glassware: Rocks
Ice: Cubes
Below are photos from the private, invite-only event.
Thankfully, The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) returned for 2021! It is a national, star-studded, four-day destination event showcasing the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. Its 20th anniversary will take place May 20-23, 2021.All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center.
This year they opened with limited capacity and fewer events due to the pandemic. We stopped by the Grand Tasting on Sunday afternoon. The weather was spectacular and the energy was high. In fact, there was an excited buzz in the that had been dimming the past few years.
Finally back out into the night! It felt so good to be covering an event again, finally. The opening of Dogfish Head Brewery, in the beloved Concrete Beach location, was the perfect thing for it. We were delighted to hear that Dogfish Head has the same dedication to localness as Concrete Beach. They have a variety of interesting beer flavors and are even including fruit beers, as befits a south Florida brewery.
Doghead Beach Brewery open to the public on Friday, May, 21, at 3:00pm. They are located at 325 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127 in Wynwood.
The weather Sunday for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival was amazing! It seemed like this year the food and beverage was better than previous years. And, we got to see Busta Rhymes!
This year for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, we attended the Friday night party at the National Hotel called Taste Jamaica. And, wow, we did! This was easily one of the best events we have been to in a long time. There was a good crowd, but the lines for food were not too long. It was plentiful and quickly served. All of it was so good, we could not pick favorites. Hopefully they will bring it back for next year!
The Miami Rum Congress 2020 hosted more than twenty experts from the rum industry. There were seminars about the latest topics in the fields of distillery, premiumization, and cocktail culture. This is a show for real aficionados. The most exciting part, of course, was the grand tasting, where you could try dozens of different Rums from all over the world. Tastings are one of our favorite activities because it gives you a chance to find new favorites at minimal expense. We had an awesome time and definitely discovered some flavors we will be adding to our list! If you missed it this year, definitely keep an eye on Soul Of Miami for news about next year.
We got to attend a great night with our good friends over at the Motivational Edge. It has been so heartwarming to see their growth from day one. It was also our first time at Barter Wynwood, and we really like the place.
Stopped by the Art Mob show that took place at the old Macy’s in Downtown Miami. It also included the Miami Marine Stadium seat artworks exhibition by Anzhelika Productions. Some really excellent art there!
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Arrived at the tail end of the Art Miami opening.
We arrived a little early for the River Art Fair Opening, but they had a beautiful spread of art, food, and beverages. The bites from Texas de Brazil were particularly delicious.
We attended the 31st Festival of Chefs at Jungle Island on Wednesday, November 13th from 6:30 – 10:30. This was, by far, one of the best organized events we have ever attended. It was easy to move around the floor and get to the food tastings. Plenty of delicious food to try. Lots of delightful attendees of all ages, from young professionals to experienced executives. If you are choosing your fundraisers to attend for 2020, we can highly recommend adding this one to your list.
The exclusive exhibit celebrates the 50-Year Anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing with a global debut of forty never-before-seen photos from the historic missions between 1955 and 1994. Among the exhibition is the first and original photograph developed of the Neil Armstrong Footprint on the Moon. A private collector in Miami Beach has acquired the most complete vintage photo collection of original prints developed from the NASA lunar missions.
The month-long exhibition, entitled “Space-Time Continuum,” will be held at the iconic Continuum residences in Miami Beach, from October 24 to November 24. The exclusive exhibit is curated by one of the most private art collectors, Rudolf Budja, based in Miami Beach. The forty photographs have been selected from the complete NASA photo collection of 8,000 pictures acquired by Budja himself, that is now part of his personal archive at Rudolf Budja Gallery in Miami Beach. The complete collection obtained by Budja remains under copyright by NASA.
Each photograph in the collection includes the original typed description of the image by NASA on the back, the date the photograph was taken, the respective mission, together with a stamp of authenticity given by NASA administration. Thousands of photos that were not framed by NASA over the decades are under lock-and-key at Rudolf Budja Gallery, and contained within several dozen binders that were used by NASA to preserve the integrity of each image.
The “Space-Time Continuum” exhibition will be shown from October 24th to November 24th at the Continuum, located at 50 South Pointe Drive in Miami Beach, Florida. Viewing appointments may be made through Rudolf Budja Gallery by calling 786.556.6685 or by emailing Budja@me.com.
Link to Instagram Videos
The HEAT is on!
The iconic South Beach Seafood Festival, brought to you by Breakthru Beverage Florida and partners, along with the team from CI Management, kicks off Miami’s globally-recognized stone crab season every October in the best way that South Beach knows how!
For those that don’t know, the historic Stephen’s Deli in Hialeah has changed hands again, but the good news is, the new hands are good hands. The new owners are the folks who run LoKal, Kush and a bunch of other places you probably already like! We attended a media tasting there and were quite pleased with the atmosphere and the flavors we enjoyed (yes, it was free, no, that does not affect our review, though it does affect our decision to attend).
To be honest, I don’t know what “real New York deli food” should taste like, the last time I was in New York was 15 years ago, but I can say that the food here is quite good. We tasted the Classic Reuben, the Turkey Rachel, the Matzoh soup, and the Reuben croquetas. The menu is a fun mix of traditional fare alongside some Cuban and Latin fusion, like the croquetas. Definitely recommended. And, while you are there, you can take a look at all the murals in the adjoining Leah Arts District.
Florida Supercon brough special celebrity and creative guests for fans of comics, superheroes, science fiction, anime, cartoons, video games, wrestling and more.
The latest collections from the Miami International University of Art & Design Associate of Arts and Bachelors of Fine Arts in Fashion Design students. More than 20 fashion design students presented their collections during the show and I have to say, WOW. I’m fairly particular about fashion, but most of these were quite impressive. Flattering to the body, beautiful colors, interesting materials, and some real innovative lines in this collection. Congratulations to all the students, I look forward to seeing more in the future.
Had the opportunity to roll through Robin Schulz & Friends at the Spinnin’ Hotel last night. We got to see Robin Schulz himself, as well as a few of his friends. Despite a little bit of rain, the party was popping. The staff at the hotel was awesome (something not always true at MMW parties).
I actually think that in more than a decade of covering Miami events, I have never been in the Nautilus hotel. It is a beautiful place, right between the Shore Club and the Shelborne. The Spinnin’ Hotel goes all weekend, so if you are looking for a good party in Miami Beach, I can definitely recommend it.
Winter Music Conference was March 25-28 at the Faena complex in Miami Beach.
So, I went to check out the new WMC this year. Gotta say I loved it. The new location is beautiful. The vibe was positive and buzzing. Maybe I’m biased because I love being around music biz people, but that is certainly how it felt to me.
It was definitely smaller than back in the heyday, but I heard quite a few people remark that they hoped it would grow in its new home. It does seem like there is still a desire for a professional industry gathering, which is good.
It was well organized. The signage was plentiful and clear, something I am a real stickler about. The staff was polite and helpful, something that is not always common.
They had a nice variety of workshop sessions, including a few that covered more uncomfortable, but necessary, topics, such as mental health issues. There were demos and tutorials, and the modest exhibit hall had quite a bit of gear that attendees could test out.
I think the one thing I missed the most was a talent showcase. I like those a lot. Also, the networking at the Tree of Life was too loosely organized. I would have like to have seen some better management of that. Making connections is really one of the most powerful aspects of a conference, and they let it slide by the wayside this year.
All in all, it seemed a positive and upbeat restart to the brand. I look forward to future iterations as they grow. Below are a few photos of the various spaces and the IDMA after-party.
By Guest Contributor Sarah Hirth
“A multi-sensory and inclusive event gathering leading experts that takes us on a journey to learn, experience and practice tools that assist people on a path to sustainable happiness and well-being. Through knowledge and new positive mindsets attendees can reshape their personal, family and professional lives.” – from the WoHaSu website.
The WOHASU 2018, that took place at the University of Miami, was a weekend filled with inspiring and educational talks about happiness. Leading experts in from various different disciplines, such as positive psychology, fashion, media, sustainability, economics, mindfulness, technology, and business, attended this year’s summit. The topics of the presentations ranged from sharing personal experiences and personal projects to talking about the science behind happiness. Of course, there were many more areas that were covered, but in some way, they all related to the main topic of happiness. This year, the WOHASU welcomed people from over 35 countries and 45 US states.
Every morning a few early birds participated in the outdoor yoga program, before attending the first talk around 9 am. Although the weekend was filled with many talks, and panels, there were also breakout sessions during which multiple experts presented in different rooms at the same time. This allowed attendees to chose presentations that they were most interested in. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with coaches in small groups. These sessions were great for networking, but also for talking about the lessons learned and how to best implement and integrate the lessons into a daily routine.
EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management who also assist Festival organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, and inventory as well as working alongside some of the world’s greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. To date, the Festival has raised more than $26 million for the School.
The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival is produced by Florida International University and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.
sobefest.com
America’s beloved queen of Italian cuisine joined us at the Festival once again to celebrate the release of her latest cookbook Giada’s Italy (Clarkson Potter, April 2018). Giada De Laurentiis shares secrets of la bella vita with readers, taking them on a journey of the dishes that have inspired her family traditions for years and giving an intimate look at some of her favorites. She hosted more than 30 of the nation’s greatest chefs serving up dishes originating from various regions of Italy. Guests enjoyed Mezza di Mezzacorona’s Italian Glacial Bubbly & estate-grown wines from Mezzacorona’s Trentino vineyards, refreshing cocktails from Aperol and Campari, and a captivating live musical performance by the “All Star,” Multi-Platinum and Grammy nominated group, Smash Mouth, presented by Magic City Casino.
The Rotary Club of Key Biscayne Foundation recently completed its XIII Annual Wine and Food fund raiser on Friday, January 26th. The event sold out quickly and turned into another resounding success with the help and support from the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne, The Nobis Foundation, The ARC of South Florida, our long standing partner Manos del Sur and community members at large.
Thirteen participating restaurants from our community prepared food delicacies to match the wines. Twenty four wineries competed for the recognition of Best in Show White and Red.
According to five independent judges, the winning white wine was B de Chanzy, a Rose from Provence, France, a delightful blend of Grenache and Syrah.
The winning red wine was a Merlot from Deerfield Ranch in Sonoma Valley, CA.
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The #ChefShowdown assembles Miami’s top executive chefs for an evening of competitive cook-offs where YOU are the judge. In a perfect combination of competition level cuisine, tropically fresh cocktails, and live entertainment, the #ChefShowdown tours guests through the best of Miami’s culinary scene, featuring 16 of Miami’s most progressive and recognized Executive Chefs. This was a CAN’T miss experience for all.
One of the surprise delights of the week was Satellite, an energetic and eclectic fair filled with avant-garde and cutting edge work. Definitely one of our favorites.
The small, but interesting INK Art Fair is one of our favorites! It features works on paper, prints and work that you will not see anywhere else. For example, one item we saw was a drawing of a capitol building from 1739. The oldest items we saw was from the 13th century. And they have work all the way up to today. It is a wonderful quiet respite from the noisy mayhem of many of the shows.
Art Basel Miami Beach is back for 2016! This year, over 200 of the world’s leading international Modern and contemporary art galleries display artworks by over 4,000 artists, including paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, film, video, and digital art. Visitors can find works ranging from editioned pieces by young artists to museum-caliber masterpieces.
Excellent show at Context this year.
Held at the “Waterfront Fair in the Roundâ€, Concept Art Fair sits on a 32-acre Noguchi designed Bayfront Park on Biscayne Bay – the epicenter of Downtown Miami’s Arts, Museum and Entertainment District – bounded on the north by Perez Art Museum Miami and on the south by the city’s dynamic Brickell Financial District, home to over 1000 companies making up Miami’s global trading, banking, law, creative and tech industries.
World-renowned artists Bill Viola and famous violinist Julian Rachlin come together in one of the year’s most significant performances of Miami Art Week. Viola Meets Mozart is the result of the collaboration of the SaludArte Foundation and MANA Contemporary.
Pinta Miami opened at the Mana property with a lovely party full of beautiful art and people.
Red Dot and Spectrum opening party during Art Basel Week 2016.
pARTicipate, an immersive, interactive art experience, takes place during Art Basel week at Red Dot Miami. Brought together by Life Is Art in collaboration with Virtual Relief and Miami International University of Art and Design, CARON Paris and Paris Perfumes.
The 5th Annual Art of Transformation Series (AOT), which included an exhibition and related programming presented by the Opa-locka Community Development Corporation, was a celebration of Opa-locka’s revitalization through the arts.
Curated by Tumelo Mosaka, the 5th Annual Art of Transformation Series was themed “SAY IT LOUD!â€Â and featured an exhibition of work by prominent contemporary artists Michael Paul Britto, Myra Greene, Joshua R. McFadden, Mario Pfeifer and Roberto Visani, and films by Bhawin Suchak & Ira McKinley and Stanley Nelson. “SAY IT LOUD!†is inspired by the James Brown song of the same name that addresses racial discrimination and calls for black empowerment. The call in this context is a rallying cry for all to mobilize against injustice and discrimination, as well as embrace black culture pride in the United States and African Diaspora. The artists explored a range of experiences that not only address the re-imagination and representation of blackness, but also examined the fear, trauma, and grief transpiring in black communities.
Food tastings by CrabMan305
Musical performance by RaRa Rock Roots Rasin
Exhibition Dates/Hours: November 10, 2016 to January 22, 2017, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Closed on holidays. Please email aileen@olcdc.org to arrange special visits (group tours, weekend or evening viewings). For more information, visitwww.opalockaart.com
For Sponsorship & Partnership Inquiries, contact: Aileen Alon, OLCDC Director of Arts & Creative Industry - aileen@olcdc.org or 305-687-3545 x224.
For Media Inquiries, contact: Suzan McDowell, Circle of One Marketing - suzan@circleofonemarketing.com or(305) 576-3790.
The Craft Spirits Fest, the original exhibition of artisanal, boutique, craft, premium, small-batch spirits and cocktails returned for its 4th year. The Grand Tasting was pushed back to October 13th due to Hurricane Matthew, but the place was still packed to capacity. The CSF showcases spirit producers, bartenders and beverage industry leaders who are influencing today’s resurgent craft spirits and craft cocktail movement. Over 120+ different Spirits and Cocktails were available to sample. At bars throughout the building, Miami’s best bartenders from the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild served amazing craft cocktails.
#5kPARKFest is a unique festival that provides and easy way to raise money and awareness for your favorite cause. It is a unique community festival that serves as a vehicle for all service-driven people to FUNdraise for their favorite non-profit organizations. The 5k PARK Fest is professionally produced and driven by a community of people inspired to PARK (Perform Acts of Random Kindness) in honor of the victims of 9/11 and in celebration of all of our servicemen & women; military, veterans, police, firefighters and their families.
For their new location Sushi Maki Brickell hosted a nice media tasting. Food is quite good and the prices are reasonable. For example, $14 for a sushi platter of 9 pieces, $11.50 for a big place of wok fired udon with chicken.
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Had a great time at Supercon this year!
