The first annual Aqua Party to benefit the Key Biscayne Community Foundation was held steps away from the ocean on the sandy backyard of the Sonesta Beach Resort Key Biscayne. Liz LaCorte, the foundation's executive director, and co-chairs Lauren Batlle and Pat Molinari, of Parties by Pat, worked with a 16-member committee to host a beachside benefit for 445 guests.
"We wanted to create an event that defined what Key Biscayne is all about," LaCorte said. What better place to host the event than in one of the community's landmark resorts. Stephen Sonnabend (Sonesta's senior vice president and one of the foundation's board of directors) donated the venue for the event. "Since the Sonesta will be demolished in August to make room for a condo-hotel, we wanted to take advantage of the historic location before it's gone," LaCorte added. She hopes to use a venue in the community to host the event each year to further promote the area.
Guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres during an hour-long reception. Mingling with the crowd were eccentric characters from CircX, such as a white-and-blue-clad pair of entertainers with feather boas who tried to snag drinks, cell phones, and other belongings of anyone within distance. Two other performers in multi-tonal blue costumes with tube-like appendages resembled jellyfish. Instead of walking around, they swayed around guests as if they were floating in water.
Dinner took place right on the sand, prompting many to kick off their shoes and enjoy the natural surroundings. Parties by Pat arranged long rows of communal tables topped with bright aqua-colored linens that mimicked the ocean views. Rows of simple votive candles in small glass holders ran the length of the tables along with bud vases that held coral-colored flowers.
Parties by Pat also donated all the food for the event. Guests visited four distinct food stations that mixed popular surf and turf dishes. The Asian station offered boats filled with sushi rolls plus steamed dumplings, vegetable stir-fry, and seared tuna skewers while guests loaded up on beef tenderloin and grilled duck breast at a nearby carving station. Seafood lovers enjoyed fresh cocktail shrimp, oysters, smoked salmon with capers and onions, and conch fritters made on site. The final station featured trays with shredded chicken with cilantro and Creole shrimp and large platters of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mofongo (a Latin dish made of mashed plantains). Instead of cocktails, oversized martini glasses held toppings such as mozzarella cheese, chives, sour cream, and more to dollop onto the mashed side dishes.
Steve Kaplan Productions Inc.'s Street Talk Orchestra played popular songs from the 1960's to today as guests enjoyed the balmy breezes, fine cuisine, and sand between their toes past midnight. The festivities, however, didn't end there—all guests were sent home with gift bags containing coffee, mugs, muffins, a copy of Key Biscayne's Islander News, and other treats to enjoy breakfast on behalf of the foundation the next day .
—Vanessa Goyanes
"We wanted to create an event that defined what Key Biscayne is all about," LaCorte said. What better place to host the event than in one of the community's landmark resorts. Stephen Sonnabend (Sonesta's senior vice president and one of the foundation's board of directors) donated the venue for the event. "Since the Sonesta will be demolished in August to make room for a condo-hotel, we wanted to take advantage of the historic location before it's gone," LaCorte added. She hopes to use a venue in the community to host the event each year to further promote the area.
Guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres during an hour-long reception. Mingling with the crowd were eccentric characters from CircX, such as a white-and-blue-clad pair of entertainers with feather boas who tried to snag drinks, cell phones, and other belongings of anyone within distance. Two other performers in multi-tonal blue costumes with tube-like appendages resembled jellyfish. Instead of walking around, they swayed around guests as if they were floating in water.
Dinner took place right on the sand, prompting many to kick off their shoes and enjoy the natural surroundings. Parties by Pat arranged long rows of communal tables topped with bright aqua-colored linens that mimicked the ocean views. Rows of simple votive candles in small glass holders ran the length of the tables along with bud vases that held coral-colored flowers.
Parties by Pat also donated all the food for the event. Guests visited four distinct food stations that mixed popular surf and turf dishes. The Asian station offered boats filled with sushi rolls plus steamed dumplings, vegetable stir-fry, and seared tuna skewers while guests loaded up on beef tenderloin and grilled duck breast at a nearby carving station. Seafood lovers enjoyed fresh cocktail shrimp, oysters, smoked salmon with capers and onions, and conch fritters made on site. The final station featured trays with shredded chicken with cilantro and Creole shrimp and large platters of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mofongo (a Latin dish made of mashed plantains). Instead of cocktails, oversized martini glasses held toppings such as mozzarella cheese, chives, sour cream, and more to dollop onto the mashed side dishes.
Steve Kaplan Productions Inc.'s Street Talk Orchestra played popular songs from the 1960's to today as guests enjoyed the balmy breezes, fine cuisine, and sand between their toes past midnight. The festivities, however, didn't end there—all guests were sent home with gift bags containing coffee, mugs, muffins, a copy of Key Biscayne's Islander News, and other treats to enjoy breakfast on behalf of the foundation the next day .
—Vanessa Goyanes
The Key Biscayne Community Foundation's Aqua Party was held beachfront at the Sonesta Beach Resort Key Biscayne.
Parties by Pat donated several food stations, such as an Asian buffet with fresh sushi rolls and steamed dumplings.
A lit pink flamingo decorated the seafood station, which offered shrimp cocktail, oysters, and conch fritters.
Oversized martini glasses held toppings for mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes.
A performer from CircX hanged from the beamed ceiling of the outdoor bar.
Another CircX performer, decked out with feathers and glowing accessories, mingled with guests during the cocktail reception.
