| EVENT REPORT 07.05.07 3:57 PM |
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| Amigos Compete at Dominos to Help Children |
| Latin culture was prevalent at the ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night '07, a fund-raising event to benefit abused, abandoned, and less fortunate children. |
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| From the Latin Grammy-winning musician and the guayaberas worn by most of the attendees to the domino playing and fake tropical trees that decorated Hall C of the Miami Beach Convention Center, the Latino community was given several reasons to help support the nonprofit Amigos for Kids organization during the 10th annual Celebrity Domino Night. An estimated 2,000 guests answered the call. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | Hot Jam hired Hispanic characters for the night, including this salsa queen and a tamales street merchant.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Over the Top supplied leafy-design table linens that matched the rest of the decor and helped build up the tropical atmosphere.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Latin Grammy-winning singer Jorge Moreno got the Miami Beach crowd dancing by performing a half-hour set of old-style Cuban songs.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | A silent auction area at the center of the room offered everything from necklaces and art posters to custom-made evening gowns and an autographed domino table.
Photo: Peter Richardson of Red Eye Production |
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 | Simmering together varying combinations of rice, vegetables, meat, chicken, and seafood on the spot, Paellas R Us provided some of the night's freshest food.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Most food stations were identified by overhead signs, but some used giant banners—either way, they all catered to the crowd by offering complimentary bites.
Photo: Manny Hernandez |
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 | The Pasta Factory was serving three types of pastas: meat lasagna, ravioli mix, and baked ziti.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Table centerpieces mixed branded glass candles with palm leaves.
Photo: Manny Hernandez |
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 | Decorative white trees with fake coconuts helped separate the room's decor from that of other events.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Amigos for Kids-branded domino boxes contained ING dominos for paying guests to use while competing against local celebrities during the main portion of the evening.
Photo: BizBash |
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"We are delighted with the turnout and support at this year's ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night," said Amigos for Kids executive director Rosa Maria Plasencia. "The participation of hundreds of celebrities, community leaders, media, and individual and corporate sponsors is a true testament to their commitment to the children of our community."
The room featured simple decor, a giant square-shaped silent-auction area in the center, 20 food and beverage stations set up around it, and an empty stage.
Restaurants served dinner by the bite, ranging from Chispa's creamy Manchego polenta with veal osso buco to the Pasta Factory's three types of pasta (meat lasagna, ravioli mix, and baked ziti) to Qdoba Mexican Grill's chicken and pico de gallo, alongside rice and beans, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Paellas R Us's chefs used two gigantic frying pans to create the famed saffron-flavored Spanish dishes, while Papa John's had a pizza-shaped mascot at its booth to help distribute their cheese and pepperoni slices. The other participating chefs, caterers, restaurants, and culinary suppliers were Mena Catering, Miami Gourmet, Le Basque Catering & Productions, 1909 Café, Versailles, Catalina Products, El Sembrador, Giardino Gourmet Salads, Cielo Garden & Supper Club, Cake Designs by Edda's, Café Pilon, Romanicos Chocolate, Starbucks, Vino en Casa, Dewar's 12, and A-List Events Inc., which provided the event's chocolate fountain.
Throughout the evening, guests could view the silent-auction tables and bid on items such as a domino table autographed by members of the 2004-2005 NBA champion Miami Heat; a hot air balloon ride for two anywhere in the nation, complete with a bottle of Champagne, courtesy of Soaring Adventures; an autographed Romero Britto poster; five salsa-lovers group dance lessons, courtesy of Indira Llanos; and a $500 gift certificate toward a custom-made evening gown by Amilcar Ferrer Designs. Soiree Event Rentals scattered cocktail tables throughout the room, Over the Top Rental Party Linens topped those with leafy-design linens, and centerpieces combining branded glass candles with palm leaves complete the room, which was also appointed with fake coconut and palm trees.
Honorary chairwomen and local celebrities Alina Mayo Azze and Jackie Nespral thanked guests for coming and introduced the night's entertainment, which included a half-hour set by Latin Grammy winner Jorge Moreno and Miami's Band, as well as performances by O.L.L.A. Elite Dance Company, Hot Jam, and Salsa Kings. The latter performances included costumed Latino characters (including street merchants, dancers, and an old man), a dance routine that used wooden sticks, and many comical guest interactions.
After Moreno's short set, the eastern end of the ballroom opened to reveal another room, filled with white couches, wooden tables, ING- and Amigos for Kids-branded wall lighting, and a stage. Those who had paid the $150 entrance price could sit at their designated table and play dominos with some of the on-hand celebrities and other guests, while some of the aforementioned performances took place around them.
Among the celebrities in attendance were Emmy-winning news anchor Maria Elena Salinas, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 1980s Spanish television host and all-around entertainer Charityn, and representatives from the six largest South Florida television news outlets.
Read our coverage of the 2005 and 2006 Amigos for Kids fund-raisers.
—Albert del Toral
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