When it opened in 1939, the Carlyle Hotel on Miami Beach's Ocean Drive was the place to see and be seen. Fast-forward to the present, where the historic hotel has been reinvented as a residential building, with 19 beachfront condos starting at $1 million. To unveil the property's new direction, Carlyle Beach Associates LLC threw a soiree with an opulent, glamorous 30's feel. Thania Vernon of Fortune South Beach Realty Inc., along with Amy Zakarin of Zakarin Public Relations, collaborated with the developers to host the event at Casa Casuarina.
A 30's movie premiere vibe kicked off the event, as guests—mostly potential buyers, brokers, and V.I.P.s including Jason Lewis from Sex and the City and NFL athletes Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants and Jamie Sharper of the Houston Texans—walked a red carpet lined with actors posing as paparazzi with vintage cameras. Then white-gloved doormen dressed in retro usher uniforms led guests into Casa Casuarina, the former Versace mansion, which was bathed in red light to create a loungelike atmosphere. A bar was set up in the atrium, and above it was a screen playing the movie The Birdcage, the Robin Williams comedy filmed at the Carlyle in 1996. A Swarovski chandelier that will be the focal point of the hotel's new lobby was on display as well.
Barton G produced and catered the event. His signature bite-size fare included fried chicken served in popcorn containers, crispy French fries, and mini hot dogs. All were a bit on the greasy side, but passed appetizers such as breadsticks wrapped with prosciutto made up for it. Grey Goose served Carlyletinis, made with the label's vodka, grenadine, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
Cre8tiv Juice provided gift bags that included a crystal keychain, a mini bottle of Grey Goose vodka, and a commemorative brochure enclosed in a red velvet pouch.
—Vanessa Goyanes
A 30's movie premiere vibe kicked off the event, as guests—mostly potential buyers, brokers, and V.I.P.s including Jason Lewis from Sex and the City and NFL athletes Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants and Jamie Sharper of the Houston Texans—walked a red carpet lined with actors posing as paparazzi with vintage cameras. Then white-gloved doormen dressed in retro usher uniforms led guests into Casa Casuarina, the former Versace mansion, which was bathed in red light to create a loungelike atmosphere. A bar was set up in the atrium, and above it was a screen playing the movie The Birdcage, the Robin Williams comedy filmed at the Carlyle in 1996. A Swarovski chandelier that will be the focal point of the hotel's new lobby was on display as well.
Barton G produced and catered the event. His signature bite-size fare included fried chicken served in popcorn containers, crispy French fries, and mini hot dogs. All were a bit on the greasy side, but passed appetizers such as breadsticks wrapped with prosciutto made up for it. Grey Goose served Carlyletinis, made with the label's vodka, grenadine, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
Cre8tiv Juice provided gift bags that included a crystal keychain, a mini bottle of Grey Goose vodka, and a commemorative brochure enclosed in a red velvet pouch.
—Vanessa Goyanes
The Carlyle's launch party drew a large crowd at Casa Casuarina.
A neon Carlyle sign, which cast a red glow over the entire area, was set up over the mansion's pool.
The Grey Goose ice sculpture was provided by Miami Ice Man.
The chandelier that will grace the hotel's new lobby was on display at Casa Casuarina.
