Michael Capponi celebrated his 45th birthday and the grand opening of his latest project, the El San Juan Beach Club in grand style with a weekend extravaganza filled with parties, decadent food, award-winning entertainment, celebrities and surprises. Not one to do anything small, Capponi (the human “Swiss Army Knife”) has celebrated his past birthdays with thousands of his closest friends in a treehouse mansion on Nygard Cay, an airplane hangar, a 150 foot yacht, alongside Donna Karan at famed nightclub, Capitale in New York, and at mansion after mansion after mansion. His parties are typically themed-from 007 to Alice in Wonderland to 1930s to masquerade- which requires his stylish guests to scramble for a costume in the spring. Well worth the effort, Capponi’s parties are the talk of the season.
It came as no surprise that the festivities over Memorial Weekend and the El San Juan Hotel and Beach Club, were nothing short of spectacular. In a recent social media post, Capponi wrote, “No one plans to fail, he just fails to plan.” One can say that his impeccable planning throughout his projects, from his years as a nightlife impresario, to his charity efforts in Haiti to his successful construction and development corporation to this latest project at the El San Juan Hotel- Capponi’s strategic vision leads to success and all who are lucky to know him reap the benefits.
Joining Capponi for the three day celebration were seasoned nightlife impresario, Eric Milon, Capponi’s partner at the Deck at Island Gardens and partner/co-creator for the El San Juan Beach Club, and Puerto Rico nightlife guru and Brava Nightclub owner, Shimmy Mchugh, models, Victoria’s Secret Angels, Socialites and celebrities: Jencarlos Canela, Real Housewife of New York City Carole Radziwill, Andre Berto and Amber Arbucci.
The weekend celebrations began with a black-tie party in the hotel’s grand lobby featuring white-glove service, top-shelf liquor and Champagne, passed bites and music by the El San Juan Big Band directed by two-time Latin Grammy nominee Charlie Sepulveda and Billboard Latin Music Award nominees La Tribu de Abrante. Capponi and his elegant guests could not stop dancing to the sexy, lively Latin music. Following the party, well after 2 am, guests continued the revelry at the unveiling of the newly redesigned Brava Nightclub, where Radziwill and boyfriend, Adam Kenworthy danced until the sun came up.
On Sunday afternoon, Radziwill, relaxed in a poolside cabana at El San Juan Beach Club while sipping on champagne in the Isla Verde sunshine, while DJ Ivan Robles and DJ Arlette kept the music going.
An elegant black and white sunset celebration ensued for the unveiling of Aquarelle, the stunning, French-Caribbean ocean-front restaurant at the El San Juan Beach Club. Guests enjoyed grilled lobster and other seafood dishes, classic Mediterranean cuisine, cocktails and great music. Everyone feted Capponi with sparklers as they sang him happy birthday. It was delightful to see him smiling non-stop throughout the celebration.
Capponi shared the following about the unforgettable weekend. “This was the beginning of a series of Memorial Weekend events at the El San Juan. We already have a special website set up for every year. I was very excited to see this iconic property come to life the last few weeks. Expect some great things to come at Aquarelle and our Beach Club.”
About the El San Juan Hotel
To step into the iconic hotel, which recently underwent a $60 million renovation, is to step back in time. The hotel embodies the glamour of the 1950s, when it was built, complete with arched, carved mahogany ceilings, gold-domes, pink marble floors and stunning, ornate chandeliers. A cabaret is part of the hotel, which also includes various restaurants, such as the outstanding and authentic Caña, under the direction of Puerto Rican native, Chef Juliana Gomez, who prepares elevated Caribbean cuisine. Aquarelle, the French Caribbean ocean-front restaurant at the El San Juan Beach Club is helmed by Michael Mina alum, Gonzalo Rivera, who serves fresh seafood in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
