Last week, Kim Kardashian was spotted in Germany wearing a traditional dirndl in celebration of Oktoberfest (she tweeted this photo of her costume). As a result, Kim has inspired this post on Fritz & Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables. Join the festivities starting October 1st through the 10th to honor this 16 year tradition- Oktoberfest! This has become one of Miami's most anticipated festivals and it's known to attract up to 15,000 guests over a two weekend span. Stop by Fritz & Franz to enjoy an exciting line up of performances, traditional Austrian/ Bavarian food, a Jodel Contest and a Bratwurst Eating Contest. Did I mention there will be plenty of beer? Proceeds from Oktoberfest's $5 raffle to win a cruise for two will benefit local charity, CHARLEE Homes for Children. Admission to Oktoberfest is free. Festival hours are from 11 a.m. till midnight on weekdays and to 2 a.m. on weekends. Fritz & Franz Bierhaus is located at 60 Merrick Way in Coral Gables.
Art in the Park: Additional Oktoberfest celebrations will be taking place at Art in the Park! On October 1st and 2nd, guests can attend this annual concert series at Ponce Circle in the heart of Coral Gables. Bring your friends and watch live performances with a German Bavarian twist. There will be a Sam Adams beer garden throughout the park, schnitzels, pretzels, musical chairs and prizes for the most original costumes [go for the Kim Kardashian look and you should be fine]. This event is sponsored by the Kiwanis of Little Havana & Music Foundation along with Sam Adams Beer. For more information, visit the Art in the Park website. Remember to drink responsibly and get creative with your outfits!!!
It has a been a wonderful week so far in Miami! Even though the weather is cooler, the events certainly seem to be getting hotter! On Thursday, September 16th,Business Buddies Miami presented a poolside event calledNetworking for Friendship at the W South Beach. Business Buddies is designed to raise awareness and funds for Best Buddies, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through friendships and jobs. Guests who attended the sizzling event enjoyed live entertainment featuring DJ Irie of the Miami HEAT, a silent auction and cocktails provided by Grey Goose Vodka. This was a great networking opportunity and all of the proceeds from the night benefitedBest Buddies and their programs. Top: Dr. Jodi Stoner (Etiquette Expert and Psychotherapist) and DJ Irie (official DJ of the Miami Heat basketball team). Dr. Stoner is a sought after motivational speaker, workshop trainer and etiquette consultant. Based in South Florida, Dr. Stoner provides professionals with the most up-to-date etiquette techniques. Top Left: Tatiana Santos from Best Buddies along with Marcos de Andrade. Top Right:DJ Irie and Amaris Jones (CEO of Elite Home and Lifestyle Management). Top: I ran into my friend Bobby (right) who attended the event with his collegues. Top: Yours truly along with my fabulous girls- Michelle Hampton, Daylene Foch and Diaset Cabrera (my sister). Hope you get a chance to visit the Best Buddies website to find ways in which you can get involved with this great organization. You can donate, volunteer or sponsor a future event. Cheers to a fun night of networking!
My favorite Style Guide, Bobbie Thomas, was in Miami on Monday, September 13th, to speak about LATISSE® at the Four Seasons Hotel in Brickell. LATISSE® solution is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grow lashes longer, fuller and darker for those with inadequate or not enough lashes (eyelash hypotrichosis). As an Ambassador for the LATISSE® Wishes Challenge campaign, Bobbie Thomas is currently leading a team of LATISSE® users who are challenged to raise more than a quarter of a million dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Bobbie is also the official Style Editor of NBC's "Today Show" and Author of In Touch Magazine's The Buzz Column. Did I mention she has a fabulous website? www.Bobbie.com Style Guide, Bobbie Thomas, Professional Ballroom Dancer, Chelsie Hightower (pictured above: left), and Fashion CEO, Kathy Ireland (pictured above: middle), are leading teams of LATISSE® users to see who can raise the most funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The first 10,000 people to participate in the campaign (by making a minimum donation of $20) will receive a LATISSE® free trial certificate. At the end of the campaign, LATISSE® will double each individual’s donation, with a maximum donation of $250,000, through October 31st. If you'd like to participate in the LATISSE® Wishes Challenge, you can join a team by visiting www.LatisseWishesChallenge.com. After learning about Bobbie's commitment to the LATISSE® Wishes Challenge, I knew I had to interview her during her visit to Miami. Here is a recap of my interview with the very talented and beautiful, Bobbie Thomas:
MBS: How did you become involved with LATISSE® and are you a satisfied user? Bobbie: I am. I actually started using LATISSE® before I became involved with the brand. I was obsessed (and that's an understatement) with using false eyelashes. Over the years, after every application, I was pulling my own eyelashes off. Being in the business of knowing about the latest buzz and aesthetics, I was first in line when I heard about LATISSE® being FDA approved. I visited my doctor and he told me that I was a perfect candidate for the product. In terms of results, I started applying the product every night and saw a big difference after 4 months (the total time it takes for LATISSE® to make its full effect). The fullness in your lashes take time to appear and the results definitely vary per user.
[At this point, Bobbie allowed me to touch her stunning eyelashes...and yes...they are 100% natural.]
MBS: Why did you want to support the LATISSE®Wishes Challenge campaign? Bobbie: I jumped at the opportunity! Any time I can use my platform to give back...I'm there! I am such an advocate for women and children who are facing life threatening illnesses. The fact that we can help grant the wishes of these children is awesome. If we can use the buzz surrounding a product to create buzz for a charity, all of the stars aligned for me as far as my involvement. I love working alongside Kathy Ireland and Chelsie Hightower. I would urge your readers to join one of our teams. It's great to know that LATISSE® will be doubling everyone's minimum donation ($20). Your readers can also visit the LATISSE® website to see the progress different people are experiencing by comparing their before and after pictures. MBS: In your opinion, why should women be aware of their personal appearance and style? Bobbie: Because you are your own walking, talking, 24/7 marketing campaign! There's no better person on earth to let people know who you are. I tell people over and over again (I don't care if I sound like a broken record) style is the way you speak to the world. You should be taking advantage of every single opportunity, every first, second and third impression to let somebody know what you're all about! It's not about being superficial. Use the superficial layer to say something meaningful. There's so much that your wardrobe can say. As women, that's how we communicate in a sense.
MBS: Which award show do you get most excited about attending or covering? Bobbie: After being on the Today Show for 5 years, it has definitely become my second home now. I am so honored that I get to work with Kathie Lee and Hoda every day. Since I follow the buzz and trends surrounding award shows, I love watching the Oscars because they're so grand. Everyone knows that celebrities borrow dresses. I feel like every designer holds on to their dresses for that one particular show. That's why it's so exciting to watch and see what everyone ends up wearing. You definitely want to see familiar faces pull off all the stops on that night! MBS: Have you been to Miami before and what is your favorite place to visit while you're in town? Bobbie: You're not going to believe it but I love going to Versailles. My background is Spanish and Portuguese so my family and I love to eat! I always stop by when I'm in Miami.
ABOVE: A great clip I found of Bobbie doing her thing on the Today Show! Hope you've enjoyed reading my interview. I have to say that Bobbie was extremely kind and down-to-earth when I interviewed her this week. I can see why she has been so successful in her career! The one thing she kept stressing throughout our interview was the need for women to feel confident. Bobbie was truly inspiring and she really cares about today's youth! To stay up-to-date with Bobbie and read all about her upcoming projects, make sure you visit her website: www.Bobbie.com. The website also features her blog and of course, all of the latest buzz! You can follow her on Twitter @BobbieThomas and watch her fashion and beauty segments on NBC's Today Show and her "Minute Buzz" segments on Fridays with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford. For more information on LATISSE®, check out www.LATISSE.com. Remember: you cannot use LATISSE® without consulting your doctor first! xoxo
Eva Longoria Parker was in Miami today, September 12th, to formally announce that she will be returning for her second year as Rally's Honorary Chair. JR and Loren Ridinger, President/ CEO and Senior Vice President of Market America, will be joining Eva Longoria as Co-chairs for this annual event. The Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup takes place November 12th and 13th, 2010 in Miami. Participants must each raise a minimum of $25,000 to enter their personal car and earn the chance to draft a Celebrity Navigator such as Eva Longoria Parker. The more funds you raise, the better draft position you earn during the Celebrity Navigator selection process. The event's goal is to raise much needed funds for children's cancer research, treatment and care. As Eva Longoria Parker stated, "Every child should have the chance to live a life free from pain and suffering, and enjoy a full and happy life." Eva's passion for kids with cancer was truly inspirational! Today's press conference was held at the Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel in Miami Beach. Top Left:Maria Bravo and Eva Longoria Parker on the red carpet. Top Right: Sofia Milos, Actress on CSI: Miami, will also be joining this year's Scavenger Cup! Top Left: Paola Pacheco, Jewelry Designer and close friend of Eva Longoria, is an official Driver for this year's Rally for Kids event. Top Right: Eva Longoria Parker during the Rally for Kids press conference at the Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel. During the press conference, Eva Longoria Parker stated, "I love Miami and this is a great reason to come here." To learn more about this exciting event, make sure you visit the Rally for Kids website. Top: Janelle Prieto (Director of IKF Wonderfund), Maria Bravo, Eva Longoria Parker and Sofia Milos strike a pose after the press conference. The Jackson Memorial Foundation, IKF's Wonderfund and Holtz Children's Hospital will be the event beneficiaries once again this year. As for sponsors, Perry Ellis International is among this year's sponsors who will host one of the main pit stops during the Scavenger Cup. Want to see how much fun you'll have at this annual event? Check out a video recap from last year's festivities. Top: Joel Hock (Founder of Rally for Kids with Cancer) pictured on the far left along with his supporters for this year's Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup. Here's my highlight from today's press conference with Eva Longoria Parker:
What a night in Miami! There was no better way to celebrate Fashion's Night Out (FNO) than shopping around the luxurious Bal Harbour Shops. VOGUE Magazine, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Company and the City of New York created this global event to help spread awareness for different charity organizations while also supporting the fashion industry. Miami did not disappoint sazoneros! I ran into my favorite Shoenistaand star of VH1's Basketball Wives, Evelyn Lozada, who hosted an event at the Trina Turk store (pictured above wearing a stunning Trina Turk cocktail dress). Miami socialites Dana Shear and Vivianne Kurzweil also hosted the event along with lifestyle editor Jacquelynn Powers. Guests enjoyed cupcakes and champagne while perusing the store for the latest fall trends. Throughout Bal Harbour, customers purchased the official FNO shirts to help support the NYC AIDS Fund. The FNO event at Trina Turk Bal Harbour was amazing! Film Director, Screenwriter and Producer Cess Silvera along with CEO of Elite Home and Lifestyle Management, Amaris Jones and Evelyn Lozada (star of VH1's Basketball Wives). The season premiere of Basketball Wives will air on VH1 in December so tune-in to watch! Jennifer Kopitke, Trina Turk's Store Manager, struck a pose for MBS with Samantha Chiz and Sandy Medino during the FNO event. Top Left: Tom and Debra brought their adorable doggy duo, Coco and Lulu, to join the festivities for the night. I LOVED IT!!! Top Right: The lovely Vanessa Hauc, co-host on Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo, attended the event at Trina Turk. Top: Evelyn Lozada, owner of Dulce Shoes in Coral Gables, was joined by her daughter, Shaniece, at Trina Turk Bal Halbour for Fashion's Night Out. My next stop: The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis hosted a fabulous game of Bocce Ball in the middle of the Bal Harbour Shops! The Buoniconti Fund serves as the national fundraising arm of The Miami Project and aims to reach high levels of spinal cord injury awareness within local communities. Last night's event kicked off the 25th Anniversary of the Great Sports Legends Dinner, which takes place on Monday, September 27th, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. For more information, visit their website! Top: Former Miami Dolphin greats were in attendance during the Bocce Ball Bash. From left to right- Dick Anderson (1972 player of the undefeated Miami Dolphins team), Lesley Visser (First and Only Woman Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame), Nat Moore, Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard and Morten Aagaard. My final stop for the night was at Chloé Bal Harbour. The store presented a fun in-store event hosted by Latina actress, host and producer of Telemundo’s Al Rojo VivoMaŕia Celeste Arrarás (pictured on the left). Maŕia was joined by actress and model Paola Turbay and Miami philanthropist and socialite Kelly Gold. Guests sipped on champagne by Louis Roederer and hors d’oeuvres while checking out Chloé’s Autumn/ Winter 2010 ready-to-wear collection. A portion of the evening’s proceeds benefited Rally for Kids, a non-profit organization providing critical funds for care, treatment and research for children suffering from cancer. Eva Longoria Parker has joined the fight! Visit their website to learn how to get involved in your own way. Top: Tara Solomon (middle), Principal of TARA, Ink., along with her friends at Chloé’s FNO event at Bal Harbour. Top Left: A fashionista in action...all I have to say! Top Right: Nick D’Annunzio, Principal of TARA, Ink., along with Reporter, Writer and Economist Brett Graff. Finally, Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo Maŕia Celeste Arrarás strikes a pose with yours truly! I'm a big fan of Maŕia Celeste and she was so kind and sweet during the event. Hope you enjoyed my recap and feel free to leave your comments below. Cheers to a wonderful night of fashion! xoxo
Two time Grammy Award winner Jon Secada is making dreams come true in Miami! Secada is officially headlining an incredible giveaway in town to support the Mission of Saint Francis, a non-profit charitable organization that helps people in need. Every cent that is generated from this raffle will directly go toward the charity itself! For a $30 raffle ticket (tax-deductible), you can enter to win a waterfront estate in South Florida. Get excited and purchase your ticket online through Jon Secada’s website. The drawing is set for October 10, 2010, and only 300,000 tickets will be sold for the $3 million home, or you can take $1.5 million in cash if you prefer. Regardless, this is a great opportunity to give back to the community. Who knows? You may end up walking away with a beautiful property in Miami. GOOD LUCK & spread the news!
Whether you're attending Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York or celebrating Fashion's Night Out (FNO) in Miami- this week is all about fashion! In the spirit of creativity and style, I wanted to share an exciting new collection by local designer Christina Annmarie Gray. Christina recently launched her collection called "Leemari Live to Inspire" which aims to inspire women to follow their dreams. What makes this fashionista unique? All of her pieces cost $55. Each dress she designs retails for 55 dollars because it is paired with a matching accessory. By December 2010, Christine plans to provide her clients with the complete look by selling bag accessories and shoes on her website. Leemari is partnering with Maxine Thomas from the UK for an upcoming handbag collection as well. In the meantime, you can stay connected with Leemari by joining their mailing list or following them on Twitter (@Leemari_). Once you join the list, you'll receive a 10% coupon for your first purchase! To shop online and view the entire collection, visit Leemari's Ebay store or Facebook page. Have a fashionable week and keep living inspired!
Miami is known for its rich diversity. I love sharing the success of local artists who embrace this city and transform it into an art form. Montserrat Franco (pictured above; photo by Gary James) is a singer who I previously featured in my Betty Boop Cabaret Series post. Today, Montserrat's musical career is quickly flourishing with the release of her first album titled "La Gatica" which was produced in Miami by Kiki Sanchez. “La Gatica” definitely brings listeners a new tropical sazon. After collaborating with Trinidad and Tobago’s artist “Terra B,” this album will make you want to dance! Montserrat also joined forces with Gloria Estefan’s guitarist Marco Linares who adds his amazing touch to the album. If you're looking for an international integration of music, check out “Se Stasera Sono Qui.” This song blends the classic Italian song on an unexpected samba arrangement. Talk about eclectic! To purchase her CD, visit online retailers like Itunes, Napster, Amazon, Rhapsody, Ilike and Reverbnation. Best of all, part of the proceeds from Montserrat’s new album sales will benefit Miami based foundation Common Ground for Conservation, a non-profit organization that helps protect Mother Earth and educate on sustainability. To learn more about Montserrat Franco, find her on MySpace, follow her on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and visit www.montserratfranco.com. Meet Montserrat on the set of her video for "La Gatica"!
Forget going to the mall to watch a movie! Consider attending our city's most elegant historic landmark, Vizcaya Museum & Garden. Built by agricultural industrialist James Deering in 1916, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens features a main house, ten acres of formal gardens, and a vast area of native forest. Experience firsthand what it might have been like to be a guest of Mr. Deering’s and enjoy movie night in the house’s main Courtyard. This screening series features modern day films that have a cool connection to Vizcaya as well as historical silent films that Mr. Deering and his guests might have seen in their time. Guests can listen to live music (which will accompany the silent films) along with themed cocktails. Tickets cost $15, available on-site beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the evening of the film (films start at 7 p.m.). Here's the line-up of upcoming films:
Thursday- September 16, 2010 Dostana (2008) The first Bollywood movie to be shot entirely in Miami! Wednesday- September 23, 2010 Heartbreakers (2001) Running Time: 122 minutes, Rated PG-13
Wednesday- October 21, 2010 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) Running Time: 107 minutes, Rated PG-13
Last week, Kim Kardashian was spotted in Germany wearing a traditional dirndl in celebration of Oktoberfest (she tweeted this photo of her costume). As a result, Kim has inspired this post on Fritz & Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables. Join the festivities starting October 1st through the 10th to honor this 16 year tradition- Oktoberfest! This has become one of Miami's most anticipated festivals and it's known to attract up to 15,000 guests over a two weekend span. Stop by Fritz & Franz to enjoy an exciting line up of performances, traditional Austrian/ Bavarian food, a Jodel Contest and a Bratwurst Eating Contest. Did I mention there will be plenty of beer? Proceeds from Oktoberfest's $5 raffle to win a cruise for two will benefit local charity, CHARLEE Homes for Children. Admission to Oktoberfest is free. Festival hours are from 11 a.m. till midnight on weekdays and to 2 a.m. on weekends. Fritz & Franz Bierhaus is located at 60 Merrick Way in Coral Gables. 
