Drawing for the door prize winner: Joseph’s on the Water Proprietor Joseph Maggi; Hallandale Beach Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Patricia Genetti; Aventura Marketing Council President Elaine Adler

The “hot topic” everyone’s still talking about is the networking reception recently hosted by Joseph’s on the Water in Hallandale Beach – where even Barbara Walters and Whoopi would agree “the view” is spectacular as diners enjoy the ultimate in waterfront dining and a variety of exceptional cuisine including South Florida’s freshest seafood.

Joseph’s proprietor Joseph Maggi, famous for friendly hospitality, welcomed business and community leaders from the Aventura Marketing Council, Hallandale Beach Chamber of Commerce and North Dade Bar Association, who all said if Oprah had a “restaurant of the month club,” Joseph’s would definitely be the top pick!

Leaders from Marksman Security, Bnai Zion Foundation, New York Life, attorney Bruce Coane and the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort were especially impressed by Joseph’s scenic Intracoastal views from tables inside, outdoors and the vantage point of an elegant bar area.

North Dade Bar Association President Maria Antonatos, Attorney; Bob Cahn, AFLAC; Madelyn Fradkin, Mobile Assistant Direct

Joseph’s is also renowned for presenting “Le Cabaret” – an intimate area designed for live music and singing while enjoying conversation, dinner, or cocktails. Even Jay Leno would probably want to book diverse performers presenting entertaining repertoires ranging from jazz and American standards to Broadway show tunes and musicals – plus original arrangements and songs.

Friends from Mount Sinai Medical Center, Memorial Healthcare System, Mercy Hospital, Macy’s, AFLAC, Jet Printing, Denise Rubin Realty and Mobile Assistant Direct also learned Joseph Maggi’s proud tradition of culinary excellence would definitely impress talkative TV chefs like Paula Deen, Rachael Ray – and even Gordon Ramsay.

Maggi was inspired by his grandparents, who launched their food service careers in Milan, Italy at the turn of the century. The legacy continued with his parents, owners of Maggi’s Restaurant in Connecticut – and was then carried on when Joseph Maggi opened The Fish Grill, gaining recognition from “Best Restaurants in Florida.” Today, the Maggi recipe for success is still earning rave reviews at Joseph’s on the Water, where Joseph personally inspects all the seafood arriving at the restaurant.

Allison Friedman and Suzanne Friedman, Dr. Jennifer Adelson, Tiki Dental; Anthony S. Adelson, Attorney

Teams from the UBS, Coconut Grove Bank, Granoff Enterprises, Federal Commercial Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Advisors concurred economic commentators from CNN would highly recommend Joseph’s exceptionally priced menu featuring generous portions for lunch, dinner or catered events.

Just some of Joseph’s specialties include fresh Snapper Soufflé; Baked Stuffed Shrimp; Sesame Seared Tuna; Maine Lobster; and Surf & Turf, joining tender N.Y. sirloin steak with a Florida lobster tail.

Colleagues from Miami Gardens Florist, Dr. Nancy Bacher and Associates, C&C Insurance East, Action Coach, Fashion Factor, Advantage Computer Solutions and the American Cancer Society noted Joseph’s would get two thumbs up from Regis and Dr. Oz for hearthealthy choices like tilapia, trout, Mahi Mahi, salmon, scallops, yellowtail, red snapper, grouper, swordfish, sea scallops and gulf shrimp. And for sure, David Letterman’s top 10 list would include Joseph’s filet mignon, New York strip, rack of lamb, veal chop, ribs, Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Cacciatore, Penne a la Vodka, Pasta Primavera and Linguine Marinara.

Before the memorable evening was over, Marvin Cashion of Cashion ADR was the lucky winner of a gift certificate to Joseph’s; rumors were spreading that the Ellen Show wanted to order from the Joseph’s TelephoneTakeout.com delivery menu; and everyone at the networking reception planned to tell family and friends to reserve a table for a power lunch, dinner – or a date for a custom catered private party or corporate function.

For more information, visit Joseph’s at 1975 South Ocean Drive in the Hemisphere’s Condo in Hallandale Beach, phone: 954-455- 6996 or visit www.josephsonthewater.com

This Mother’s Day, what do you get for the Aventura mom who has everything? Here are some good suggestions…

Mother’s Day Lunch: If you want to take your mom out to lunch in Aventura to show her how much you love her in a really big way, the Cheesecake Factory would be a good place to go since one portion size is almost big enough for the Octomom and all of her kids!

Mother’s Day Shopping Spree: If you really want to be a “mothers helper,” take her to the Aventura Mall and let her pick out her own gift so she won’t have to go to the trouble of exchanging whatever you get her for something that fits (she knows it’s the thought that counts!)

Mother’s Day Flowers: You could spend a lot to buy mom roses, but since Aventura already has such an abundance of beautiful landscaping, probably no one would notice if you picked some flowers from the medians to make a Mother’s Day bouquet…just add in a nice card and ask a friend to make the delivery!

Mother’s Day Chocolate: Calorie conscious moms who get lots of Godiva chocolate would especially appreciate a complimentary guest pass to the Equinox fitness club – or a fashionable pair of new sneakers for running after all the kids!

Mother’s Day Massage: For Aventura soccer moms, a gift certificate to Massage Envy would be a great way to express appreciation for all those pickups and drop offs…actually a limo driver from Aventura Worldwide Transportation Service would be an even better idea!

Mother’s Day Photo: There’s nothing moms like more than photos of their kids and grandkids – but this year, you might want to consider giving her a portrait of members of the City Commission – after all, they’re the ones who help ensure every day feels like a holiday in Aventura!

Standing (L-R) The Continental Group’s Sr. Vice President Louis Pincus and President Tim O’Keefe; Lukes-Sawgrass Landscape President Pete Lucadano; (seated) Tony Segreto, Mike Dee and Dick Anderson – (Photography by Andrew Goldstein)

Bringing more Super Bowls to the football field at Sun Life Stadium – and excellence in the field of property management and landscaping generated great fanfare when The Continental Group and Lukes-Sawgrass Landscape hosted an Aventura Marketing Council breakfast meeting featuring special guests Mike Dee, CEO Miami Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium; Dick Anderson, Dolphin great; and award-winning sportscaster Tony Segreto.

AMC Chair Cliff Schulman of Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza, Cole & Boniske welcomed hundreds of business and community leaders huddled at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort for the event highlighting The Continental Group – the state’s largest manager of multifamily rental communities as well as condo and homeowner associations. Continental Group president Tim O’Keefe, joined by Louis Pincus, Broward region senior vice president and Pete Lucadano, president of Lukes-Sawgrass Landscape teamed up to share their winning game plan.

“Continental has continued to grow and be a significant part of the city of Aventura,” O’Keefe said. “Today, we manage 1,600 communities statewide and 34 properties in Aventura. Our Lukes-Sawgrass business provides all the landscaping to help keep this city a really beautiful place. Our primary goal is to focus on providing great service to all of our customers. We’ve built our business ‘a property at a time – one relationship at a time.’”

O’Keefe also noted Continental recently partnered with the city to host a symposium helping developers learn more about building “green” and the Lukes-Sawgrass team’s quick response helped the city clean up following heavy rains.

While Continental also goes to bat for Aventura by sponsoring the city’s little league program, Mike Dee, Dick Anderson and Tony Segreto explained Super Bowl XLIV paired with the Pro Bowl was played in South Florida for a record tenth time this year and now – an “all-star” community effort can help bring the game back to Sun Life Stadium in 2014 and beyond.

Anderson, who chaired the committee making a recommendation for the Super Bowl 2014 presentation this May in Dallas, spoke about potential improvements to Sun Life Stadium and the game’s tremendous economic impact, generating $267 million for South Florida alone, according to a Host Committee survey.

Rick Lassiter, Kanha Tieng, and Conway Bennett, Miami Dolphins; Leslie Nixon, Miami Dolphins Foundation

“That doesn’t even include media value,” Anderson said. “The committee’s conclusion – you can’t put a price on the exposure South Florida gets from Super Bowl.”

Dee added, “When it comes to criteria for competing for Super Bowls, South Florida scores in the 99th percentile for being a great destination and having the best community support thanks to the Super Bowl Host Committee and volunteer efforts. The third and most important element is ‘quality of facilities’ that don’t fall below minimum standards required to host games.

“Long term, South Florida should go after future Super Bowls and we hope to go forward with improvements to Sun Life Stadium within the next three years. The Dolphins want to help make Sun Life Stadium a ‘South Florida destination’ bringing entertainment and value to the community – not just during football season – but during the entire year.”

For more information, visit www.thecontinentalgroupinc.com ; www.lukes-sawgrass.biz ; www.sunlifestadium.com .

The Aventura Marketing Council’s Student Connection graduation hosted by Florida International University‘s Biscayne Bay Campus marked the culmination of yet another stellar year dedicated to helping students from the AMC’s Dade Partner Schools keep their grades up, get diplomas and become future business leaders.

FIU Vice Provost Steven Moll along with AMC Education Committee Chair Eileen Glastein of Bnai Zion Foundation welcomed students and guests to the special occasion sponsored by Miami- Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman; the Florida Marlins Community Foundation; Wells Fargo Advisors and College Planning Specialists.

Appreciation was also expressed to honorary Student Connection Chair Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle; Superintendent Alberto Carvalho; Assistant Superintendent Enid Weisman; School Board members Dr. Martin Karp and Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway; Region Director Paul Greenfield, principals, teachers, career specialists and guidance counselors.

Dr. Martin Karp, Board Member, Miami-Dade County Public Schools; AMC Edu. Comm. Chairwoman Eileen Glastein, Bnai Zion Foundation; Steve Moll, Vice Provost, FIU Biscayne Bay Campus; Enid Weisman, Ass’t Superintendent Miami-Dade County Public Schools

A highlight of the Student Connection graduation was an inspiring “One-on-One” program providing students with the opportunity to meet role models including Michael Shear of Wells Fargo Advisors; Laurie Allen of South Florida Circus Arts School; Jeff Cross, National Football League alumni; Eric Beck of IT Doctors; plus special guest DJ Lorenzo of WEDR Radio.

During the event, stories of surmounting challenges and achieving success were shared with a common theme focusing on the importance of education, a positive attitude and working hard to achieve goals… philosophies shared by the Aventura Marketing Council, four-time winner of the annual Dade Partner of Excellence award and inducted into the Dade Partners Hall of Fame for four consecutive years.

Expressing the sentiments of all those who support the AMC’s Education Committee, Eileen Glastein noted, “If we can change even one child’s life, turning them towards a more positive direction, then we have succeeded!”

School Board member Dr. Martin Karp added, “The Student Connection program is so valuable for helping students learn beyond classroom walls and realizes if you do well in school, your future is that much more secure.”

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of a “winning education team,” Student Connection field trips are enjoyed by students from the AMC’s Dade Partner Schools: Ojus Elementary, Greynolds Park Elementary, Aventura Waterways K-8, David Lawrence Jr. K-8, Highland Oaks Middle School, Krop Sr. High, North Miami Beach Sr. High and Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Sr. High.

Eric Beck, IT Doctors, help students how to plan for the future.

The Student Connection graduation’s grand finale featured the presentation of Jane Reno “Can Do” awards, named in memory of the mother of Janet Reno, the Student Connection program’s first honorary chair. Each year, Jane Reno “Can Do” awards are given to students who show the greatest turnaround during the school year.

FIU Vice Provost Steven Moll expressed congratulations, noting, “There are 8,000 students attending FIU’s 200 acre Biscayne Bay Campus – the only university next to a natural mangrove. It’s the most beautiful university in the U.S. mostly because you are here…we’re looking forward to seeing you back as FIU college students!”

Just before lunch prepared by Tropical Smoothie owner Michael Erber; with Blue Bell Ice Cream by David Horner and Sue Reddy Silverman, the AMC received accolades and another A+ for “constant support, encouragement and inspiration.”

Eileen Glastein said, “We’ve been building the bridges of understanding between the education and business communities for nineteen years and we invite any AMC member to join the Education Committee,” she said.

For information about the Aventura Marketing Council’s Education Committee and Student Connection program, call 305-932-5334.