Miami, South Florida Event Coverage of Benefits, Galas, Public Promos, Launch Parties, Movie Premieres, Fashion Shows, Art Exhibits and Live Music in Miami, South Florida by BizBash

FROM NEW YORK Given Microsoft's enormous customer base—a January 2009 report put the technology giant's market share at 88 percent—when it launches a product, there's always a certain amount of buzz surrounding it. But rather than replicate the elaborate marketing stunt it produced for the debut of the Windows Vista operating system, Microsoft took a simpler approach to the press event introducing Windows 7. Inside Skylight Thursday, October 22, some 340 journalists, software testers, and executives from hardware manufacturing partners gathered for a six-hour launch that combined art gallery-style exhibits with live demonstrations and product vignettes.

"We wanted to create an event that represented the product and be mindful of the current state of the economy and the broad consumer mindset. So we set a tone that was simple, approachable, and authentic while demonstrating the excitement we all feel for Windows 7," said Windows group marketing manager Ed Chase, who led the planning of the project. To pull it off, Chase collaborated with Pinnacle Exhibits and a crew of other local and West Coast companies. MORE >>

Microsoft, Windows, Dell, Samsung

EVENT REPORT

10.28.09 12:52 PM

Shriver's Women's Conference Adds Second Day of Programming—Plus a Step-and-Repeat—for 25,000 in Attendance

Helen Devore Waukazoo on the podium with Maria Shriver at the Minerva Awards
Photo: Gold/Wong

FROM LOS ANGELES It might be said that 2009 is a year that created a particular need for inspiration and community support—especially in a state like California, where budget shortfalls and the unemployment rate have become notorious. Either in spite of or because of that climate, California's first lady, Maria Shriver, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Women's Conference once again drew masses of women from all over the state to join a packed roster of about 70 high-level speakers and participants at the Long Beach Convention Center.

This year, the program ballooned from a single day to two full days—to accommodate the increasing number of would-be attendees. (Each year, full-day passes to the conference sell out in record time. Tickets this year sold out in less than two hours, beating last year's record of three.) The first day's program, a Day of Transformation, served as somewhat more informal programming, with two 1,500-attendee sessions and six 400-person breakout sessions. "We were getting so much feedback from people who wanted to participate and have access," said executive producer Alexandra Gleysteen. "It's a way to get more hands-on information—how to get a new job, start a nonprofit—all in a spiritual context and a serene environment. It's on a different scale, more intimate, than the main program." MORE >>

The Women's Conference, Maria Shriver, Arnold Schwarzenegger

EVENT REPORT

10.27.09 2:20 PM

Porsche, Infiniti Partner With Big Brands for Separate Car Parties

Models preparing to unveil new Porsche Panamera
Photo: Seth Browarnik/Red Eye Productions

Luxury cars took center stage in Miami last week as Porsche launched its newest model and Infiniti unveiled a concept car at separate events within 24 hours of each other. To host their parties on October 21 and 22, respectively, the brands partnered with brands such as Piaget, Jimmy Choo, and W Hotels.

On Wednesday, Coral Gables luxury car dealership the Collection hosted the South Florida launch of the Porsche Panamera, the company’s first four-door model, with a party for nearly 500. “The Panamera is a very substantial entry into the [luxury car] marketplace, so it’s very important to showcase the car and launch it to this market,” said Ken Gorin, president of the Collection. Gorin added that the Collection is one of the largest Porsche dealerships in the world and highest in sales. MORE >>

Porsche, Infiniti, The Collection, Miami magazine, Piaget, Jimmy Choo, Rene Ruiz, Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Florida, International Geneva Auto Show

EVENT REPORT

10.27.09 11:24 AM

Elle Pop-Up Shop Promotes Online Content

The fashion show at Elle's Personal Style Awards
Photo: Seth Browarnik/Red Eye Production

On Saturday Elle magazine held Passport to Style, the last in a series of seven fashion events at its monthlong pop-up Style Pod at the Bal Harbor Shops in Miami. Part of its Web-based Shopping A to Zee campaign, which features 26 fall trends from the magazine's creative director, Joe Zee, the series included a mix of public fashion shows, interactive seminars, and invite-only cocktail parties.

“We wanted to really drive to retail,” said Elle’s special events manager, Caitlin Weiskopf. “With the economy being how it's been, it’s really important for our partners and our clients to see that we're working for them and getting people to shop and excited about fashion again.” MORE >>

Elle, Gucci, Cartier, Max Mara, Diane von Furstenburg, Valentino, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent

EVENT REPORT

10.26.09 4:19 PM

Volkswagen Party Launches Car and Its iPhone App Counterpart

The 2010 GTI
Photo:John Minchillo for BizBash

FROM NEW YORK More than 100 members of the gaming and automotive press made their way to the mouth of the Holland Tunnel last Wednesday, where Volkswagen launched both a tangible and video game version of its latest GTI model at the Classic Car Club. To cater to the tech savvy crowd, Volkswagen brought in G4TV's Olivia Munn to host, built several gaming stations, and filled the room with suggestions to guests to post comments about the party to Twitter.

As of the morning after the party, the 2010 GTI became the first vehicle launch on Apple's app store—with a role in a free version of the popular Firemint Real Racing game—so the mobile application was woven into the fabric of the party almost as much as the car itself. MORE >>

Volkswagen, Apple, Twitter

EVENT REPORT

10.20.09 1:54 PM

Children's Hospital Foundation Moves Gala to Smaller Venue, Continues to Sell Out

The cocktail reception in the hotel's courtyard
Photo: Joseph Cancellare & Assoc. for BizBash

The Miami Children's Hospital Foundation hosted the annual Diamond Ball, its largest fund-raiser of the year, on Saturday night at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, a considerably smaller venue than the American Airlines Arena where it was held in 2008 for 700 people.

"Because of what's happening in the economy, we wanted to make [the event] more personal, with a smaller group and more outreach to our donors," said the foundation's senior vice president, Meschelle Heuther. "It's more one-on-one with an intimate group."

The event sold out for the third year in a row with 450 guests, the maximum capacity for the hotel's ballroom. Additionally, the foundation brought in 33 sponsors—two fewer than last year due to the reduced number of tables—including American Airlines, the Miami Heat, and Macy’s. MORE >>

Miami Children's Hospital Foundation, American Airlines, Miami Heat, Macy’s, Wade's World Foundation

EVENT REPORT

10.19.09 2:39 PM

Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour Attracts More Than 30,000

The Costume Reference exhibit in the train
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash

More than 30,000 South Florida residents headed to the Florida East Coast Railway Company throughout the weekend to check out the A Christmas Carol-themed train. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures converted a seven-car Amtrak train into a moving museum to promote the studio’s upcoming holiday movie, a new take on the classic Dickens novel.

“We’ve done [events with] planes and cars in the past, so we came up with the idea of doing a tour across the United States using a train and inflatable theater to promote the film,” said Bob Gault, vice president of special event operations for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. MORE >>

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, ImageMovers Digital, Charles Dickens Museum, Disney Channel, HP, iFlip

NEWS

10.14.09 6:36 PM

Nicole Miller, Custo Barcelona Recruit Sponsors for Funkshion Fashion Week

Funkshion Fashion Week, Miami’s semiannual alternative fashion showcase, kicked off last night at the Setai in South Beach with a special show from Nobulingka With Love, a line designed by Tibetan monks. Now in its 13th season, Funkshion’s lineup of designers such as Nicole Miller and Custo Barcelona have helped garner the event more sponsors than ever before.

“Some people found out about the event through the press and contacted us,” said Funkshion founder and producer Sale Stojanovic. “The whole schedule is really strong this year, and we’ve proven to people that [though] the economy is so bad, we can still attract designers to come to Miami.” Stojanovic said he offered the same sponsorship packages as in years past. MORE >>

Funkshion Fashion Week, Nicole Miller, Custo Barcelona, Presidente, President Light, Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority, Silver Dagger Vodka, Cointreau, Nespresso, Motives by Loren Ridinger, Fame Route

EVENT REPORT

10.14.09 5:04 PM

Movie Pictures: A Look at Meatballs, Zombieland, Law Abiding Citizen, and Whip It Premieres

Food props on the red carpet of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Photo: Line 8 Photography

FROM LOS ANGELES In some parts of the world, fall brings crisp weather and colorful leaves that crunch under foot. In Los Angeles, it brought a hyper-busy event calendar filled with parties that included movie premieres packed with ideas—like an army of zombies, oversize donuts that hung overhead, and decor that begged to be admired but definitely not touched. Here is a selection of photos from the arrivals scenes and bashes for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland, Whip It, and Law Abiding Citizen. MORE >>

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland, Whip It, Law Abiding Citizen, Sony, Fox Searchlight, Overture Films, Columbia Pictures, Derby Dolls

EVENT REPORT

10.14.09 4:23 PM

Puma Wraps Growing, Unconventional Golf Tour in Miami

The tournament's Golf Pong hole
Photo: BizBash

The third annual Puma Open wrapped up its unconventional golf tour in Miami on Friday on the Blue Monster course at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa. Coordinated for Puma by Connecticut-based sports marketing agency Octagon, the tour takes a lighthearted approach to the traditional sport—one hole required players to use a sports drink bottle as their tee. After six sold-out stops in 2008—including the one in Hallandale Beach at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa's Country Club—Puma expanded the event to 11 cities this year in an attempt to reach more people and further solidify the brand's place in the golf world.

The tour began in Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 15 and stopped in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and Las Vegas before heading to Miami, where 36 teams of four players—who paid $300 per team for the privilege—participated in the nine-hole golf scramble. Each hole had specific directions: The Lucky 7 hole required all players to use only their seven iron, and the On the Clock hole awarded sponsor and Puma products, along with a better score, to the team who finished it in the shortest time. MORE >>

Puma, Almost Golf, Function Energy Drinks, Cobra Golf, RCA

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