It's National Fried Chicken day, so we've got battered bird on the brain.
Fortunately, so does the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival. HuffPost can exclusively report that the annual must-do foodie extravaganza is adding a fresh new bash to its roster of drool-worthy soirees: enter the "Chicken Coupe", hosted by famed chef Andrew Carmellini.
Lest you assume the name means you'll be herded into a tent to pluck corn from sands of South Beach, let a little schooling reassure you: "coupe" is the technical term for a goblet-shaped Champagne glass! The party will combine the two best things, bird and bubbly, with a slew of top chefs manning the fryers:
Andrew Carmellini, The Dutch
Jeff McInnis, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten
Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene
Elizabeth Karmel, Hill Country Chicken
Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia
Brendan Connor, Whisk Gourmet Food + Catering
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Animal
John Currence, City Grocery
Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, Torrisi Italian Specialties
Giorgio Rapivavoli, Eating House
Unfortunately for those wanting to wash down fried chicken with Champagne RIGHT NOW -- aren't we all, always? -- the South Beach Wine and Food Fest doesn't get underway until the weekend of February 21-24, 2013, with Chicken Coupe headlining Saturday night from its perch at the W Hotel.
Stay tuned for more delicious details.
Funnyman and musician Reggie Watts is returning to the Miami Light Project next month with his disorienting brand of humor.
You may have seen his beat-boxing and stand-up on "Conan" and most recently on the IFC talkshow "Comedy Bang Bang" where he serves as sidekick.
Tickets to his Miami Light Performances on June 6 and 7 cost $30 general admission and $50 VIP.
Tickets to his show on June 8 cost $100 and include access to the after party with BBQ and cocktails.
Watch him below on "Conan":Her pioneering art gallery lasted 12 years in Miami, so when Bernice Steinbaum closed her Wynwood last summer, we figured it wouldn't be long until she was back. Though she remains semi-retired from dealing art full-time, Steinbaum is now ensconced in a second-floor office at nearby Zadok Gallery, where she's taken on the role of curator and consultant.
Saturday, she opened "Reclaimed Miami," an exhibition of 10 Miami-based artists who utilize recycled, nontraditional materials. The artists have been "imaginatively re-purposing objects all around us that might not strike the average viewer as fodder for fine art," according to the gallery, transforming litter by "knitting, embroidery, silk screening, welding, crocheting, gluing, folding, appropriating, and stuffing."
Check out photos from "Reclaimed Miami" and other Zadok exhibitions during Saturday night's Wynwood Art Walk, from photographer Marisa Matluck:
J.Lo was at Fort Lauderdale Beach this weekend, shooting her "Live It Up" music video with Pitbull. The set was reportedly disrupted as gunshots rang out nearby.
Click below for images and video from the set:With the Latin Billboard Awards in town last week, we've been spotting stars all over the place. And after the big show Thursday night, a hoard of big names hit the Miguel Paredes art gallery downtown to live it up with Hennessy V.S. Spotted: Toby Love, Vida Guerra, DJ Africa, Laura Styles, Chef Douglas Rodriguez, Los Rakas, the Soulfrito collective, and more:
If all you know about polo is the divot-stomping scene from "Pretty Woman," well, it really is that fun -- and it's coming right to us!
The 9th Annual La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup, the world’s largest and most prestigious beach polo tournament, is underway today on the sands of South Beach. Top-ranked female players are battling it out starting Thursday, and the men kick off 3-day tourney play on Friday.
Best of all, it's free to watch, but there's a VIP experience (and shade) available, too. Tickets starting at $100 get fans access to the covered grandstands, where food and beverages are complimentary and your fanciest hat won't blow off. (Kids 12 and under are free, and those 12-21 are half off.)
Between matches, there's even shopping: Aventura Mall will have a pop-up retail village next to the polo field, located behind the Setai Hotel between 21st and 22nd Streets. What's not to love?
After the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, City of Miami Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue deliberated and decided to give the green light to the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run, the largest 5K in the Southeast. More than 25,000 are expected to attend the race on Thursday.
Security will be stepped up, organizers say, and most of those measures won't be visible to the public.
Both the city and run organizers ask participants to leave all bags -- that includes gym bags, backpacks, etc. -- at home.
The race begins Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at Bayfront Park.
Here's a message from race director, John "Hans" Huseby:
With each passing day we gain a little clearer perspective on the tragedy in Boston and we find police departments across the country reviewing and implementing new procedures along with event organizers. As runners and walkers we know that in our free society, and with the open nature of road races, the notion of complete and total safety is not always possible.
We also know that we must not retreat into a shell and try to hide from the realities of the world. Last November Mother Nature dealt a hard blow to the Northeast portion of our country and the New York City Marathon had to be cancelled. This week a man-made and harsh incident hit our country through the Boston Marathon...the running community now has two "new" realities to accept and deal with.
The Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run has been given the "green light " to go on as scheduled on Thursday April 25th, from Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The Miami Police Department has planned added security... most of it not visible. The Miami Police Department has made one simple request to the participants...do not bring backpacks, gym bags or large bags to the event. This seems pretty easy. Plan ahead , bring only the essentials and keep it simple.
So, next Thursday, when you head downtown to run or walk with your coworkers, leave the unnecessary items in the trunk of your car at work... Come with your sneakers, shorts and company t-shirt! Leave the bags behind!
Miami runners will honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings with a silent run Tuesday night.
Participants are encouraged to wear white to the 3.5-mile run that is free and open to the public.
Baptist Health will provide water bottles, NBC6 reports, and special mock bibs resembling those from Boston will be given to runners to wear.
One thousands runners are expected, according to event organizer Frankie Ruiz.
Run for Boston will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Fortune International Parking Lot (1300 Brickell Avenue).
Get more details on the Facebook event page.
What if Alice made her way to Wynwood instead of Wonderland?
Front Yard Theatre Collective and Emerge Miami put a 305 spin on the Lewis Carroll's trippy children's tale with a free theatre and bicycle tour called "Alice in Wynwoodland."
Wear your Queen of Hearts attire and meet at the Omni Metro Mover station at 6 p.m. on April 27.
The tour will make its way to Wynwood "while enjoying skits, music, and crazy surprises in every stop" according to the event page on Facebook.
Alice and friends will eventually wind up at Lagniappe in Midtown.
"We're all a little mad," write the organizers.
We miss Ultra Music Festival already. Where are the fireworks, the sounds, the half-naked people moving as one?
Fortunately the folks behind the festival have released a super epic slo-mo memory reel, "Forever In My Mind," that captures some of the best moments from the two-weekend 2013 bash last month so we can relive it all over and over.
"A special video to thank everybody for an historic 15th anniversary of Ultra Music Festival in Miami," said Ultra organizers. "Attended by 330,000 people and watched by more than 10 million people on YouTube! We have made history together!"
Indeed -- check out the especially gorgeous overhead shots of downtown:
Michael Schwartz is at it again.
The legendary Miami chef, already the force behind Michael's Genuine and Harry's Pizzaria, is opening his fourth restaurant in the Design District: The Cypress Room promises a "freshly polished finish" with a nod to the classic dining of the 1920s when it opens its doors next week.
A rose-colored wallpaper lines the dining room, where you'll find walls of old Florida photos and crystal chandeliers over gleaming wood tables and bar. And on the menu: frog legs, lamb tartar, antelope, burger, agnolotti and more, all made with Schwartz's particular dedication to high-quality ingredients from small farms and fishermen.
Check out photos and the menu below. The Cypress room opens Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m. -- but is already taking reservations.
If you're planning on hitting the Sony Open, underway now through March 31, you'll get lots of advice on Key Biscayne traffic, sunscreen, and how to stay upright if you hear Andy Murray's accent.
But we'll let you in on the best advice possible: hit the Champagne tent.
Yes, there's a Champagne tent -- and it doubles as a sushi lounge! Veuve Clicquot has announced the return of its popular Champagne + Sushi Lounge, which was a major hit at last year's tourney. Guests can stop by before, during, and after matches for a bit of bubbly and a nibble from Sushi Maki on couches in the shade, or swing by one of three Veuve Clicquot carts stationed around Crandon Park for a glass and a cup of fresh cut strawberries. Our fave is the lounge, which is decked out with comfy furniture, chic tennis decor, and very happy fans.
And because this is Miami, there's bottles, of course. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label will be available by the glass for $18 and by the bottle for $118, and Veuve Clicquot Rosé will be available by the glass for $23 and by the bottle for $125.
After crossing Bear Cut Bridge, let's face it: you'll need a drink.
Veuve Clicquot is hosting a ticket giveaway for their twitter followers to win a pair of tickets to the Sony Open; follow @VeuveClicquot and @Sonyopentennis for more details.
Dating in Miami is excruciating, let's face it.
But The Standard is here to help! The spa is hosting a 3-part series with relationship expert Nikki Novo called "The Love Club," and the program has a point: dating should be fun! It should actually, really, be fun!
Novo promises answers to 305 questions like "Do I really have to wear a tight dress to score a dude in Miami?” and “Do I just have to leave this city all together to find love?” With mock dating scenarios, worksheets, dance moves, and easy meditations, she'll help the group revamp their love lives and shed those boring approaches to dating.
Classes start Tuesday night and will be held monthly, a schedule that's a lot easier to keep than a tired old blind date. RSVP to nikki@nikkinovowrites.com for March 13 from 7 to 9 p.m.; each session is $50.
Sunday night hip-hop bawse Rick Ross hosted the Reebok Miami White Party at the Fontainebleau's LIV, the 305 club recently bought by media mogul Robert F.X. Sillerman.
Ross partied and rapped alongside those in his Maybach Music Group, including Meek Mill, Wale, and Omarion.
See the photos below:
If you're strolling Second Saturday Art Walk in the Design District and all of a sudden hear someone singing, yes, that is performance art.
In fact, it's a special preview from the Florida Grand Opera, who are putting on the District's first operatic production next weekend at The Stage with a sultry tango-themed double bill featuring Robert Xavier Rodriguez's Tango and Ástor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires.
But first, Saturday night's previews will be performed at The Hangar in the midst of the gallery's current exhibition on our graffiti subculture, “Miami Minds." Bonus: there'll be complimentary cocktails courtesy of Little Black Dress Vodka, and the preview performance is free with RSVP to rsvp@fgo.org. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., 8:20 p.m., and 9:10 p.m.
Like what you hear? Grab tickets to see the whole shebang at The Stage from March 21-24. Tickets are just $25, part of FGO's Knight Foundation-sponsored "Unexpected Operas in Unexpected Places" series.
Golf with the stars -- and do good, too.
HEAT broadcasters Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino are hosting their annual celebrity golf tournament and dinner this week, and there's still time to join up. Thursday's day on the links has drawn the likes of former Dolphins Coach Don Shula, former HEAT players Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, and NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen. And Saturday night's "Call of the Game Dinner" will honor locals who work behind the scenes to make a difference, emceed by Tracy Mourning and with a special presentation by HEAT President Pat Riley. Among the honorees are former Canes and Dolphins linebacker Twan Russell, reporter Sarah Ganim, HEAT assistant coach Ron Rothstein, and Marlins broadcaster Dave Van Horne.
The whole shebang benefits Lauren's Kids and the Dade Schools Athletic Foundation. More: reidandfiorentinoevents.com
Ready? Set? Party! March is here, which means Miami festival season is in full swing!
Carnaval Miami 2013 begins a week of celebrations with "Carnaval on the Mile," in Coral Gables this weekend. Saturday and Sunday along Miracle Mile, take in a day for the senses viewing contemporary art and tasting the best in Latin and Caribbean cuisine, all while hearing sounds of nearly 30 jazz music acts from around the country.
The event leads up to the world's largest block party, Calle Ocho, in Little Havana Sunday, March 10. Enjoy the packed revelry and fill up on some of Miami's best street food as 500 liters of free Sangria are given away to celebrate 500 years since Florida's European discovery.--JF
Saturday, New World Symphony and musical director Michael Tilson Thomas celebrated 25 years as an orchestra academy with a fancy gala.
The celebration maxed out the potential of their new(ish) Frank Gehry-designed building with a sit-down dinner at various transformed spaces at the New World Center and a "West Side Story"-esque performance in the high-tech concert hall.
Gloria and Emilio Estefan, and Christian Slater even showed up for the very classy bash. --AM
Click below for images from the gala:
New York artist Cat Del Buono staged a flash mob on Lincoln Road on February 16, as an extension of her series "Vanity Unfair." Participants donned big wax lips and inserted balloons into their shirts to reference Miami's obsession with the, ahem, augmented lifestyle.
Del Buono opened an exhibit titled Vanity Unfair in Little Havana's 6th Street Container gallery last year. She told HuffPost Miami that her works questioning beauty were inspired by the mannequins with implant-sized chests she saw when doing her residency at ArtCenter/South Florida.
An art fair has asked Del Buono to stage a similar Vanity Unfair flash mob in New York in the coming months. --AM
Click below to see her Lincoln Road performance:Did you make it to the Big Gay Ice Cream Social on Sunday?
The East Village ice cream-teers, in town for the South Beach Wine And Food Festival, captured some of the foodies enjoying their curious flavors.
Using Twitter's new video-sharing app Vine, they filmed the mugs of Andrew Zimmern, Duff Goldman, and Ottavia Bourdain in mini six-second films.
Watch below:
Botched @andrewzimmern vine. FROWNY FACE! vine.co/v/bgbWa2w1nbr
— Big Gay Ice Cream (@biggayicecream) February 23, 2013
Vining @ottaviabourdain. #sobewff vine.co/v/bgbJm5nhBaP
— Big Gay Ice Cream (@biggayicecream) February 23, 2013
Vining @duff_goldman. #SoBeWFF vine.co/v/bgbzIpBDIqw
— Big Gay Ice Cream (@biggayicecream) February 23, 2013
Just look at these two. We can't even handle the cuteness that is Paula Deen drinking (not alcohol but we like to pretend) on the streets of South Beach in her most cheerful "Miami colors, y'all!" She's like every mom rolled into one.
My handsome hubby Michael and sure are enjoying this awesome weather at #SOBEWFF, y'all! ow.ly/i/1yU8E
— Paula Deen (@Paula_Deen) February 21, 2013
Like all celebs, Ms. Deen has a hater, and it's fellow chef Anthony Bourdain, who harshly criticized her for endorsing a diabetes medication after years of cooking unhealthy foods on her show. But doesn't he look so nice when he's sleeping after a long read on the Kardashians?
To find out how to scalp your way into a sold-out SOBEWFF event, click here. - JC
The Huffington Post | By Janie Campbell Posted: 07/06/2012 3:35 pm Updated: 07/11/2012 6:52 pm