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International Center of Photography Honors Jeff Bridges and Other Luminaries

Pier 60, Chelsea Piers, NY, NY | 05.01.2013 | by Merry Esparza

The International Center of Photography (ICP) welcomed supporters to its 29th Annual Infinity Awards on May 1st at Manhattan's Chelsea Piers. The Infinity Awards were inaugurated in 1985 to bring public attention to outstanding achievements in photography by both seasoned professionals with distinguished careers and emerging luminaries. The Awards are ICP’s primary fund-raising event, supporting the full range of its programs, including exhibitions, education, collections, and community outreach. This year's event drew a mixture of collectors, philanthropists, photographers, artists, writers, media, and other professionals. The program included a special presentation to Academy Award-winning actor and photographer, Jeff Bridges (shown left). more...

The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health 19th Annual SportsBall Gala

Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, NY, NY | 04.11.2013 | by Merry Esparza

On April 11th, the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health (AAIUH) celebrated its 19th Anniversary at the Annual SportsBall Gala held at New York's Chelsea Piers. New York 1 News Anchor Cheryl Wills co-hosted the spectacular event with Mary Carillo, Sports Analyst for CBS, HBO Sports, NBC, and the Tennis Channel. The "black tie & sneakers" event brings together sports celebrities, medical professionals, academic leaders, public figures, and others who support the legacy of tennis champion and humanitarian, Arthur Ashe, who founded the Institute prior to his death in 1993. The gala, which raises funds for critical health empowerment programs in urban minority communities, honors significant contributions by individuals who further its mission. (left: Hosts Mary Carillo and Cheryl Wills) more...

Art Basel Miami Beach

Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, FL | 12.06 - 12.09.2012 | by Merry Esparza

Art Basel Miami Beach, the most prestigious art show in the Western Hemisphere, welcomed over 50,000 visitors to its 11th edition from December 6-9, 2012. A companion to Switzerland's Art Basel, and the new Art Basel Hong Kong, the show featured more than 250 galleries from 31 countries. The fair showcases the best and latest in 20th-21st Century art, featuring both established and younger galleries and artists, and attracting seasoned and new art collectors, museum directors, curators, celebrities, and art lovers. Art Basel Miami Beach collaborates with local and international partners to present special exhibitions, events, panel discussions, and private collection tours, making it a nexus for key players in the international art world. (left: "PixCell–Red Deer," Kohei Nawa, 2012; taxidermy covered in glass beads; SCAI The Bathhouse, Tokyo) more...

Design Miami

Meridian Avenue & 19th Street, Miami Beach, FL | 12.04 - 09.2012 | by Merry Esparza

The eighth edition of Design Miami/, held from December 4-9, 2012 in South Beach, welcomed 31,000 design collectors, enthusiasts, and museum representatives to its pavilion located next to the Miami Beach Convention Center. The show, which ran concurrent to Art Basel Miami Beach, presented 36 galleries this year, a 25% increase over last year's number of exhibitors. The caliber of the fair's exhibitors, its site-specific design collaborations, its program of talks and tours, and its cross-disciplinary approach to design at the intersection of culture and commerce contribute to its status as a global forum for design. The pavilion's entrance concept, "Drift" (left), designed by New York-based studio, Snarkitecture, consisted of a floating environment made of huge inflatable tubes. more...

The Miami Art Museum Ball

Miami Art Museum, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL | 12.08.2012 | by Merry Esparza

The December 8th Miami Art Museum (MAM) Ball marked the Museum's 29th year at the Miami-Dade Cultural Center. In December 2013, the Museum will reopen as the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), renamed in recognition of long-time museum trustee and patron, Jorge M. Pérez. The new facility, designed by Herzog & de Meuron will be located on Biscayne Bay, on a site provided by the City of Miami. But for the present, art collectors, artists, and cultural leaders gathered to enjoy the final black-tie fundraiser ball at the West Flagler Street location, and to support the Museum's exhibitions and education programs that serve 35,000 people each year. (left: Jorge and Darlene Pérez) more...

Orchid: The Show -- Entertainment in the Miami Design District

299 NE 38th Street, Miami, FL | 12.07.2012 | by Merry Esparza

If you thought Miami's Design District was just for designers and architects, think again. At the intersection of 38th Street and Biscayne Boulevard is The Pleasure Garden, current home to two vintage cabaret-inspired pop-up structures that provide a surreal evening of dining and theatrical entertainment. A 500-seat performance tent decorated with mirrors, chandeliers, and red velvet, houses Orchid, an outrageous cabaret, burlesque, and circus-inspired experience that incorporates pop music, aerial acrobatics, carnival, story-telling, and performance art. Think Moulin Rouge meets Cirque de Soleil. The companion tent houses a restaurant with an old world circus-inspired menu created by award-winning chef, Michelle Bernstein. There is also an outdoor cocktail bar. more...

Architectural Digest Hosts Art Basel Miami Beach Oasis at the Raleigh

Raleigh Hotel, 1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL | 12.06-12.08.2012 | by Merry Esparza

Architectural Digest hosted its second annual Art Basel Miami Beach AD Oasis from December 6-8, 2012 at the Raleigh hotel in South Beach. The luxurious poolside retreat, catering to artists, designers, collectors, media, and VIPs, was a much-needed respite from the hectic pace of the event-heavy week. This year's AD Oasis environment, with its cabanas, canopies, upholstery, and fabric walls, was created by AD100 designer Mark Cunningham in collaboration with Sunbrella. The AD Oasis offered a daily menu of café fare and specialty cocktails, complimentary Wi-Fi, and spa treatments (mini-facials, manicures, and massages) hosted by Clarisonic. At the AT&T Social Media Cabana, guests charged up, checked out the latest wireless devices, and shared photos on Instagram. more...

Actress Anne Hathaway Hosts Women’s Media Center Awards

Guastavino's, 409 East 59th Street, NY, NY | 11.13.2012 | by Merry Esparza and Alan Horowitz

On November 13th, Academy Award-nominated actress Anne Hathaway (left) hosted the star-studded 2012 Women’s Media Awards, an annual initiative of the Women’s Media Center (WMC) to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing women's and girls' visibility and power in media. Co-founded by Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan, and Jane Fonda, WMC actively works to ensure that a diverse group of women are present in all aspects of media. The 2012 Awards, held at New York's elegant Guastavino's venue, honored Paley Center for Media President/CEO, Pat Mitchell; Time Inc. Editorial Director, Martha Nelson; journalists and television hosts, Lisa Ling and Laura Ling; journalist Sarah Hoye; and writer/humorist/social media strategist, Luvvie Ajayi. more...

Musicians Rock the Joint at the Jazz Foundation's Annual Jazz Loft Party

Hudson Studios, 601 West 26th Street, NY, NY | 10.27.2012 | by Merry Esparza and Alan Horowitz

On October 27th, the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) raised more than $275,000 at its annual Jazz Loft Party at New York's Hudson Studios. A 21-year-old tradition, the benefit gives guests the opportunity to listen to and mingle with jazz greats, many of whom played with legends Miles Davis, Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk and others. Hosts included actor Danny Glover; JFA Chairman Dick Parsons and Laura Parsons; JFA President Jarrett Lilien and Maritess Lilien; JFA Executive Director Wendy Oxenhorn, and Montreux Jazz Festival Founder, Claude Nobs. Parmigiani Fleurier luxury timepieces sponsored the event. (left: Parmigiani General Manager of the Americas, Marcia Mazzocchi, and Danny Glover) more...