BizBash Miami/South Florida News

EVENT REPORT: Red Bull Opens Beachfront Exhibit to Connect With Miami Artists

]]> Red Bull’s ninth Art of Can exhibition, a temporary gallery filled with artworks created with the energy drink’s cans, opened to the public on Thursday in Lummus Park in South Beach. Housed in a temporary structure created by EventStar, the exhibition was officially unveiled Wednesday night at an invite-only party for 500, hosted by local DJ and drag queen Elaine Lancaster.

According to a company spokesperson, Red Bull created the free and open-to-the-public promotion as a way to expand the brand into the music and arts scene by providing artists around the country with an opportunity to work in a new medium—the can.

EVENT REPORT: SoBe Wine & Food Fest: Parties From Hornitos, Patr�n, Amstel Light, and Perrier-Jou�t

]]> The South Beach Wine and Food Festival wrapped up Sunday following four days of food- and drink-laden events. Spirit brands had a large presence at the festival this year, sponsoring the big name events like Burger Bash (presented by Amstel Light) and BubbleQ (sponsored by Perrier-Jouët Champagne) as well as late-night parties from the Patrón Spirits Company and Hornitos Tequila. Here's a look inside the parties.

EVENT REPORT: More Photos From MOCA's Bohemian-Inspired Benefit

]]> Museum of Contemporary Art chief curator Bonnie Clearwater and board of trustees president Ray Ellen Yarkin compiled a group of five local artists to helm the decor at this year's Bohemian Bash. The artists divided the 7,400-square-foot museum into six areas, each showcasing an aspect of Bohemian lifestyle. Here is a look at some of the more eye-catching details and inspired ideas from the evening. Our full story from the event is here.

EVENT REPORT: MOCA Partners With SocialMiami.com to Drive Benefit Ticket Sales

]]> The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami hosted its annual cocktail party fund-raiser on Saturday night. The museum partnered with society event Web site SocialMiami.com to promote the Bohemian-themed art benefit, resulting in a spike in advanced ticket sales.

“[SocialMiami] has been a very effective source for getting the word out about our events, so I thought, ‘Why not just have them sponsor?’” said Bonnie Clearwater, director and chief curator at the museum.

EVENT REPORT: Despite Marketing Increase, Miami Boat Show's Footprint Shrinks 20 Percent�

]]> The 69th annual Miami Beach International Boat Show and Strictly Sail wrapped up on Monday following five days at the Miami Beach Convention Center and Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center. In an effort to combat the economy’s effect on the show, organizers at the National Marine Manufacturers Association expanded advertising efforts by 10 percent, reaching out to more than 200 domestic and international media outlets.

Despite those efforts, the exhibition's overall footprint—which includes land and in-water displays—shrank by 20 percent.

LOCATION SCOUT: Spring Preview: Miami's 6 Most Anticipated New and Updated Venues�

]]> With a new season come new event venues throughout Miami. Here’s a look at six of the city’s most anticipated new and renovated venues in downtown, Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Brickell, and Coral Gables.

1. This 56-room Tempo Miami in downtown Miami opened its guest rooms and lobby bar in January. Construction on the rest of the hotel's amenities is still underway, with the 8,000-square-foot RockResorts spa and 14th floor pool deck overlooking the city scheduled to open April 1. Additionally, the property will have meeting space ranging from 340 to 910 square feet and an on-site restaurant, Amuse, opening in May.

LOCATION SCOUT: 4 New Restaurants for Medium-Sized Groups

]]> Some of the newest restaurants around Miami have large dining rooms and an open layout that can easily accommodate medium-size groups for seated dinners, presentations with unobstructed views, or receptions. Here’s a look at four restaurants in Brickell, South Miami, Doral, and the design district.

1. JB Kitchen and Bar opened in early February in the former Badrutt’s Place restaurant in Brickell. The 2,500-square-foot eatery is comprised of an open 80-seat dining room that can hold 300 for receptions and a 20-seat bar area. There’s a 110-inch projection screen at the far end of the dining room with unobstructed views from all areas. JB serves American cuisine mixed with signature Latin dishes like ceviche and churrasco steak. There is also a 2,000-square-foot patio.

THE WALKTHROUGH: Bar� Urbano: International Restaurant With Urban Art Accents

]]> One of the latest new venues to open in the thriving Brickell area is Baru Urbano, which debuted in February. The restaurant and bar serves blended international cuisine from various Latin American and European countries in an urban environment catering to groups as large as 200.

The 3,000-square-foot space has slanted wood panel ceilings and is decorated with wall-to-wall murals painted by street artist Andres Risquez.

THE WALKTHROUGH: Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach: Working a Nautical Theme After a $30 Million Renovation

]]> The Sheraton Yankee Clipper reopened last month as the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, following a $30 million upgrade to its guest rooms, meeting space, restaurants, and public areas.

The 492-room beachfront hotel has 7,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, and the pool decks have been expanded to 5,600 square feet.

THE WALKTHROUGH: The Ivy at the Grove: English Restaurant Opens Stateside

]]> English restaurant the Ivy at the Grove opened in late November. Housed in the former home of Christabelle’s Quarter in Coconut Grove, the restaurant has three floors, each of which can be rented for private events.

Owners Tim Powers, who also owns the Ivy in London, and financier William Gerhauser updated the decor by removing window treatments throughout the three floors to allow more light into the space and opening up the first floor doors to allow for sidewalk dining.

THE SCOUT: 3 Trends From Wine Spectator's SoBe Wine & Food Party

]]> On Friday night Wine Spectator hosted its annual Best of the Best showcase at the Fontainebleau during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. The magazine had its Award of Excellence winery and vineyard recipients—all 72 of them—on hand to pour samples, while 41 restaurants, randomly chosen from a list of 300 of festival founder Lee Brian Schrager's favorites, provided nourishment. "Each year I keep a running list of all the great restaurants I've heard about, read about, and dined at over the past year and then toss all the names into a bowl," Schrager said.

Despite the restaurants’ varying geographical origins, the chefs shared a common choice of ingredients and style of preparation. Several dishes featured lobster, Southern flavors, and pickled elements. Here’s a look at 10 of the offerings.

THE SCOUT: 3 New Group-Friendly Activities in Miami

]]> Here are three new group activities designed for a quick meeting break, educational afternoon, or high-energy retreat.

1. The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club has created the Buenos Dias Miami package, which teaches groups to prepare traditional Cuban coffee and food, including guava and cheese-filled pastelitos. Led by one of the resort’s chefs, the class requires at least 15 participants and is priced at $75 per person. Classes utilizing other types of cuisine can be arranged upon request; prices vary based on food choices.

THE SCOUT: A New Source for Video Game Rentals

]]> GameWars, a new video game rental company, offers gaming stations for events throughout Florida. The Miami-based company can provide Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3 gaming stations along with 100 games such as Dance Dance Revolution, Madden 10, and Guitar Hero. Gaming stations are rented in pairs and start at $700 for a two-hour rental of two 42-inch monitor stations with a gaming attendant, video projectors, and all games and controllers.

THE SCOUT: 4 Last-Minute Ideas for Holiday Parties in Miami

]]> As we enter the thick of the corporate holiday party season, here are some ideas and resources to keep a group entertained, fed, and rewarded.

1. Whether you’re looking for an easy last-minute gift idea or quick desserts for an office party, Cookie Monkey L.L.C. can deliver orders within 24 hours. Founded in October by baker Marisa Scime, the company has two new flavors for the holidays: chocolate chip with peppermint patties and s’mores made with chocolate chips, graham crackers, and marshmallows. The cookies are $21 per dozen. Special pricing is available for orders of three dozen or more, though a week’s notice is required. Custom-designed cookies can be made by request and cost $24 per dozen.

THE SCOUT: 3 New Ideas for Outdoor Events in South Florida

]]>Looking for ways to jazz up outdoor events? Here are three new options that fit the bill.

1. Tents N Events recently added a line of black tents to its inventory. Similar to a traditional clearfont temporary structure, this version has black vinyl panels on the top and sides of the tent, giving an event an indoor feel. The tents can also be custom-designed with clear, white, and black panels, including combinations such as a clear ceiling and black walls. The structures range in size from 10 by 10 feet to 50 by 100 feet. Rental prices start at $125.

Q & A: Pedro Pablo Pe�a Brings Dancers From Around the World to Miami for 17-Day Ballet Festival

]]>Each September more than 11,000 dancers, critics, and fans, gather for 17 days of events in the International Ballet Festival of Miami. In the past 13 years, founder and artistic director Pedro Pablo Peña has created what is billed as “the most successful ballet event in the United States” in a city not known for its artistic endeavors. He spoke with us about his vision for the festival, its future, and importance to Miami and the ballet community.

What is your primary goal for the festival?
This year it's the same as every year, which is to continue with this festival so that people know the importance of dance in the world. The principal function is for people to know what the new dances are, who are the new stars, and what the new style for the different ballets is going to be for the upcoming season. This is the only dance festival in the classical style in the city. It’s the only opportunity during the year for the audience to see the dancers, choreography, companies, styles, and the techniques.

Q & A: SwimShow Director Brings on New PR Firm, Trims Show Length to Cut Costs

]]>The Swimwear Association of Florida’s annual SwimShow is the largest swimwear trade show in the country, with more than 2,500 lines represented. Originally encompassing 100,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Miami International Merchandise Mart when it was founded, the show moved to the Miami Beach Convention Center in 2004 and now has more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit space for its 27th annual show, which is scheduled to take place July 18 through July 21. Along with returning labels such as Max Mara, Diana von Furstenberg, and Billabong, multiple new European labels will use the show to launch in the United States. SwimShow executive director Judy Stein spoke with us about the grassroots marketing efforts that have helped her continue to grow the trade show, despite economic setbacks.

How do you promote the show to potential exhibitors and attendees?
Our direct mail, advertising, and marketing campaigns assure them that this is one-stop shopping. There’s no way at a regional market that they’ll be able to see the caliber and variety of lines that are at the show, so if they’re in the swimwear industry, this is the trade show they need to come to. We’re constantly pounding the pavement to make sure we bring in the resources that we feel our retailers want, which is based on word of mouth and what we read about in publications. Having a new [exhibitor] come on board is something that’s exciting to us—we know the retailer will be excited as well.

Q & A: Making His Mark: Elliott Stares

]]>Born into a family of journalists in the U.K., Elliott Stares knew that his innate extroverted charm wouldn't let him get stuck behind a desk. Since coming to Miami, Stares has not only spearheaded several projects for heavy-hitter public relations firm Tara Ink as its entertainment and hospitality division manager, but has also successfully launched his own one-man company, Elliott Stares Public Relations Inc.

BREAKING INTO THE INDUSTRY Upon graduating from University of Southampton with a degree in communications, Stares began his formal training in the industry at Hill & Knowlton, There, he managed U.K. accounts for Adidas' sponsorship of David Beckham, Procter & Gamble, and the pan-European launch of Gillette's Mach3 razor.

That last job eventually brought him to host his first event in the U.S., where he single-handedly brokered and orchestrated his first event on U.S. soil-a successful attempt to break the world land-speed record, sponsored by Gillette MACH3.

Q & A: Making Her Mark: Alexis Knapp

]]>Alexis Knapp, principal of Treskoi PR-a Miami-based firm specializing in public relations, brand management, and special events-puts self-promotion aside to concentrate on what she sees as the main target: the client.

BREAKING INTO THE INDUSTRY A New York native, Knapp attended college at the University of Indiana, double-majoring in communications and journalism while spending her summers as a club promoter for Empire Events in Miami. Executing events at venues such as the Forge, B.E.D., Mansion, and Prive, Knapp was able to learn event production firsthand.

"Though I wouldn't say it makes or breaks an individual, for a publicist it is very important to work in a special events sector," says Knapp, who worked with Empire over six years. "We coordinated a lot of themed and charity events."

Permanently moving to Miami in 2000, she continued to work for Empire and in 2004 signed on with Tara Ink., a top public relations firm, where she worked with national brands such as Evian and locals like Sushi Samba Dromo, who hosted an event in conjunction with the MTV Video Music Awards in 2005.

Q & A: Quick Poll: What do you have to have with you during your event and why?

"My toolbox for event day contains a range of items from scissors to a lighter to fishing line, but something that really amazes people when I pull them out are ceiling clips. These are made for metal tracks on tiled ceilings so that you don't damage the ceiling when you hang things up. That's important to me because managers I work with know Eventions will put up elaborate decor-but also know that I won't damage their facilities." Felina Martin, president, Eventions, Tallahassee

"For me every event, I take a first aid kit. I carry a small one with me, and you'd be surprised how many times I've had to use it." Sheila Banks, event planner, Baptist Health Foundation, Miami

"A BlackBerry to communicate via voice, fax, and email." Jeff Wagstaff, director of integrated marketing, Clear Channel, Orlando

NEWS: South Beach Wine and Food Fest Kicks Off Tonight

]]> The ninth annual Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival officially begins tonight with the signature Prelude Dinner at Red, the Steakhouse, hosted by chef Michael Symon. Coordinated by founder Lee Brian Schrager and Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management students, the four-day festival will have more than 40 events taking place around Miami Beach through Sunday. Numerous Food Network chefs and personalities—Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse—will hosting and conduct food demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Rachael Ray will once again host Burger Bash tomorrow night in a 28,000-square-foot tent behind the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. The grilling competition will pit 28 local restaurants and celebrity chefs, including Rocco DiSpirito, against each other for the coveted Amstel Light People’s Choice Award, among other honors, as determined by event attendees.

NEWS: AFR Event Furnishings Acquires Room Service

AFR Event Furnishings announced Tuesday that it has acquired Room Service Furniture and Event Rentals. The Miami-based acquisition will now be known as Room Service by AFR Event Furnishings and will combine its inventories with AFR's, nearly tripling its offerings.

Room Service will retain its offices in Miami, Orlando, and Washington, and owner Greg Zalkin will run AFR's southeast region, which services Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, and part of Georgia.

NEWS: Maxim, Playboy, ESPN the Magazine, and Bud Light Head to Miami for Super Bowl

]]> The Super Bowl returns to Miami for the 10th time next Sunday, February 7, and after a lackluster 2009 in Tampa, the game's notorious hooplah is back. Brands such as Maxim, ESPN the Magazine, and Bud Light will be touting themselves at events held throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as will Playboy, after skipping last year’s game in Tampa to save money.

The marketing stunts kick off today with the opening of the Bud Light Hotel in South Beach, where Anheuser-Busch gave the Doubletree Surfcomber Hotel on Collins Avenue a head-to-toe rebranding. The venue will be home to a week’s worth of events, with the likes of GQ, Ultimate Fighting Championship, Jamie Foxx, and Usher hosting parties through next Saturday, the day before the game.

NEWS: Art Basel Preview: New Convention Center Layout, Giant Beach Structure for Audi

]]> Art Basel Miami Beach, the international art fair that attracts more than 40,000 people annually, will kick off on December 2 with a V.I.P. Vernissage preview at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the headquarters of the four-day art fair. Within Art Basel will be 10 programs named for the type of art being showcased or the informational programming they provide ("Art Video," "Art Nova").

For the 2009 show, organizers have redesigned the layout of the convention center’s main exhibit floor and created a new 40,000-square-foot temporary exhibition structure on the sand at Collins Park.

NEWS: 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.