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Presidents’ Day weekend with the Coconut Grove Art Festival and Boat Show kicked off even more festival events in February beginning with the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF). Celebrity Chef Chris Valdes orchestrated another over-the-top night, a pre-SOBEWFF event, EATZ, at the Loew Hotel Miami Beach on Feb. 19.
The affair, held in a beautiful outdoor setting on a picture-perfect night, offered guests a sampling of some creative and delicious food and drink. While Chef Chris’ station had amazing steak, fried bread and cabbage palm hearts, other stations provided a great variety of international food and amazing desserts.
Party goers were entertained with dancers on stilts, a great deejay for music and dancing, and several photo op areas. Florida Dairy Farmers provided beautiful cannoli with a choice of fillings and a yummy alcoholic beverage with a base of chocolate milk.
While Birdie Bistro offered Jerk Chicken Kabob and braised short ribs, Chef Chris and Florida Beef Council had beef T-bone steak, breads and more while Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard and Bar Tulios provided a variety of tacos.
Congratulations to Arely Ruiz PR and others who made the event an overwhelming success.
While thousands enjoyed the SOBEWFF, at the same time the South Miami Rotary’s Art Festival attracted huge crowds for the two-day art festival on Feb. 22 and 23. Festival goers enjoyed great art on display and for sale, yummy food, drink and some amazing bands that inspired many to dance.
For both festivals it was a perfect day and all for great charities. SOBEWFF benefits the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU) and the South Miami Art Festival benefits the South Miami Rotary Foundation that funds college scholarships for South Miami students and other community service projects.
In other news, the music ministry at St. Augustine Catholic Church and the University of Miami presented a beautiful concert, titled “Music from the Heart,” at the church hall on Friday, Feb. 21. A sell-out crowd enjoyed a variety of love inspired music from all eras that drew a standing ovation. Kudos to music director Jorge Emilio Pis Rodriguez on a beautiful program that included several gifted vocalists and musicians.
Following the concert, guests were offered a buffet of delicious treats and beverages with time to socialize and congratulate the performers.
The month of March is Women’s History Month and many organizations are taking note.
The Rotary Club of Coral Gables (RCCG) Foundation recently helped support the General Federation of Women’s Club President’s Project, “A Flight to Honor,” that is unique to the Honor flights of the past. This project will fly women veterans who are members of the General Federation of Women’s Club on a chartered flight to Washington, DC, where they will stay overnight and visit Arlington Cemetery, all of it underwritten by donations from clubs all over the state of Florida. RCCG’s Foundation kicked in $1,800 to support this effort presenting the check to representatives from the Coco Plum Woman’s Club who will direct those funds to support that project.
Yet another GFWC District 11 Club, Coral Gables Woman’s Club (CGWC) also is raising fund for the “A Flight to Honor” project as well as other programs helping women. On Mar. 10, 6:30-9 p.m., the Coral Gables Woman’s Club will hold another fundraiser for the President’s Project at the American Legion, 303 Alhambra Circle in Coral Gables. Tickets are $25 per person and include appetizers, drinks, a deejay, and lots of fun. For tickets, visit gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org or go to Eventbrite.
Most recently, CGWC held another fundraiser to support women at the club’s Feb. 25 Gringo Bingo held at Birdie Bistro on the Granada Gold Course. A portion of the proceeds will be directed to the Women Voice Network, an amazing non-profit that helps to economically empower women who are victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
The funds will help underwrite free online courses for those women looking to speak English, learn computer skills, financial education, and the list goes one.
Look for more on that organization in the next issue. Shout out to Rita Tennyson and her staff at Birdie Bistro for hosting the event as well as Steven Bradley for emceeing, DJ Germain for providing music and Vivo at Dolphin Mall for donating great prizes every month.
Ongoing sponsorships make this a success month after month. These include Lynn Bauer and Dr. Hal Wanless, Jerry Kavulich, Carlos and Mayra Rossi, Dr. Jose Chaviano, and Kim and Tom Davison.
Congratulations and many blessings go out to CGWC member Ali Cardenas and Lawrence Fassler on their recent marriage. The wedding was a lovely affair at Crazy About You with family (son, Rey, and daughter-in-law, Kristine, coming all the way from Calgary, Canada), friends and CGWC club sisters to celebrate the special day.
Finally, here are some more dates to save:
Now through April – South Florida PBS’s DaVinci Immersive Experience in Boyton Beach, www.southfloridapbs.org.
Mar. 8 – 32nd Villagers’ Garden Tour, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Ponce/Davis/South Gables area, www.thevillagersinc.org.
Mar. 8 – Paws4You’s Mardi Paws! Gala at the Cruz Building in Coconut Grove.
Apr. 26 – Family Resource Center’s annual Art From The Heart event, 6-9 p.m., at Mana Wynwood 318 NW 23 St., Miami.
May 10 – Coral Gables Woman’s Club Mother’s Day Tea/Tickets $150 per person; for info visit www.gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org.
May 16 – Eighth annual Tee Off for a Cause Charity Golf Tournament at Red Tiger Golf Course. Call 305-882-1305, ext. 104 or send email to safehaven@asafehavenfornewborns.com.
May 16 – United HomeCare’s 30th annual Claude Pepper Awards Luncheon, 11 a.m., at The Pullman Hotel.
June 28 – Coral Gables Woman’s Club fundraiser, Cruise on MCS new ship MSC World America for eight days from $959. For more info, call 954-900 5942 or visit www.HappeningOutTravel/CGWC/.
In closing, remember to count your blessings, share a kind word and a smile, and make a difference.
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