The stage, solid and subtle, blended into the ever-present luxurious outdoor wonderland. Executive chefs Damon Gordon and Claude Troisgros created a special New Year's menu for some of South Florida's social set, hotel guests and celebrities to enjoy while treated to acoustic performances by Rufus Wainwright and Ben Jelen. Between and after performances, DJ Mark Ronson spun tunes from a floating DJ station positioned behind a water screen in the pool. Colorful images and patterns were projected onto the water screen and the hotel's façade, lighting up the evening.
While this lovely event under the stars remained serene, around 10 PM, just a few doors down, the second half of this double bash was getting underway. The trendy Shore Club was the yang to the Delano's yin, dishing up an over-the-top party that took over the Red Room and the Sky Bar Miami Beach. Triton created an inviting tented area by the back pool, set up to feel like a Moroccan oasis. Guests mingled, sipped Perrier Jouet and danced to the rockin' sounds of DJs Jus Ske, Ruckus, Brooke Grabow and Tom LeRoc in this outdoor sanctuary, complete with sexy white lounge areas bathed in sensual red light. For a retro effect, a sparkling silver disco ball hung from the ceiling in the tent's entrance.
The hopelessly hip guests socialized tirelessly with celebrities including Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, Mark Wahlberg, Adrien Brody, Jessica Alba and many others, but at midnight everyone took a moment to stop and watch the customary display of Add Fire's fireworks coming from the beach. Then, it was back to some serious fun until the New Year was officially underway.
—Shari Lynn Rothstein