Sister Cooke and many of the parents from Carrollton School all joined together at the Grand Bay Club to celebrate a pre-gala event to raise funds for the school. The official gala will take place on the premises of the school in January 2008.

International Yachtsman, the primer magazine showcasing the passions and pastimes of the world’s yachting elite, hosted a mansion soiree with The Luxury Council and Sol Sotheby’s that invited guests to discover The 8th World Wonder. Guests sipped on Dewar’s 12 and libation offerings from Premier Beverage while touring international real estate options from Royal Islands in the Bahamas and Keys Caribbean Resort Residences, Marinas & Club. So what was the 8th Wonder? Besides the Erno Laszlo-laden goodie bags, it was the party itself, of course.

With more than 70 percent of their hotel residences already sold and hope for a full sell-out by early 2008, Mondrian South Beach celebrated their success at The Forge in Miami Beach. To reflect the interiors of the residences, the Forge was outfitted with furnishings from Moooi. Guests were treated to a screening of a video visualization of Mondrian South Beach while sipping on complimentary cocktails and sampling light bites.

Larry Robinson and Dr. Orlando Silva hosted a private reception at Northern Trust on Brickell Avenue to grow awareness for Misioneros del Camino. Throughout the evening, The New World of School of Arts held private performances for guests. The night of networking and good will culminated with attendees committing to get involved in the efforts of Misioneros del Camino to the benefit of all those involved.

Recently the Miami Science Museum, together with more than 100 VIP guests, enjoyed an exquisite Dinosaurs of China private reception to raise awareness for the new museum’s capital campaign.

To celebrate the beginning of the social season with glamour and style, Hollywould and The Whitehall Society entertained more than 300 selected VIP personalities and stars with an exclusive gala evening at the splendid landmark Flagler Museum.

An extraordinary gala dubbed Believe 2007 welcomed more than 600 guests to Karu & Y Restaurant to yield funds for six organizations that raise awareness for Colombia’s social needs. It was a magical evening complete with an auction, a fashion show by Silvia Tcherassi and a private concert by Juanes, Fonseca and Fanny Lu.

Family, friends and Key Biscayne neighbors gathered to toast champagne and dance the night away to celebrate Christina Termine’s birthday, together with her fiance, Rafael Bild, at their Mashta Island home.    

Fourth generation Key Biscayner Cristina Figueredo and 20-year Key resident Alejandro Zizold were married at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne followed by an elaborate champagne reception at the Ocean Club Tennis Center. The couple has decided to continue to reside on Key Biscayne as they embark on their new life together.

Luminaries, friends and stars of the entertainment industry all gathered to celebrate the award-winning film Bella at the Mashta Island home of the film’s executive producers, Sean and Ana Wolfington. The private dinner party included celebrity legends from various genres and nationalities as well as Key Biscayne’s elite.

Fashion took on a whole new meaning when MarketAmerica.com, Vogue and Grey Goose hosted Hollywood’s hottest stars during an exclusive party featuring a fashion show by designer Alberta Ferretti showcasing her spring/summer 2008 Collection poolside at J.R. and Loren Ridinger’s waterfront mansion.

Grey Goose debuted Artiste at the One Man Show exhibit showcasing masterworks by Pablo Picasso, Fernando Botero, Frank Stella and Guillermo Munoz Vera inside Gary Nader Fine Art Gallery. Among the 500 VIPs were famed author Tom Wolfe, music mogul Emilio Estefan and real estate powerhouse Jorge Perez, CEO of The Related Group.

A celebratory reunion at Ocean Club on Key Biscayne honored the doctors, nurses and volunteers who recently spent four days in Sumpango, Guatemala, on yet another successful Medical Mission to help the area’s residents. During the trip, the group saw more than 4,000 patients and changed just as many lives.

Key Biscayne’s art lovers came out to enjoy the paintings of contemporary European artists Alexandre Zakharov and MOZ at the internationally renowned Opera Gallery at Bal Harbour Shops. Host Bernard Markowicz, director of Opera Gallery, encouraged guests to visit OperaGallery.com for details on upcoming exhibits and special events scheduled at the venue.

Albertina Cisneros and Juan Manuel Pascual hosted a cocktail event at the Bass Museum in Miami Beach to raise funds for the Child-Brain Foundation. Friends, family and community leaders participated throughout the evening in order to help advance the knowledge and treatment of pediatric neurological diseases in hopes of aiding the infants and children who benefit from the scientific research the organization supports.

Fortune International Realty and The Related Group recently joined forces to create FRIS: Fortune Related International Sales, a joint effort that has all of South Florida buzzing. They celebrated the partnership with a Key Biscayne fiesta to promote Icon Vallarta on Mexico’s Gold Coast, one of the many projects that represent the joint venture’s $2 billion in developments throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Chef Pascal Tingaud, Moët & Chandon’s private chef at the exclusive French Chateau de Saran, made a rare appearance stateside to host a private dinner with Cioppino Chef de Cuisine Ramon Guerrero and Sommelier Jorge Mendoza at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. Thirty-two exclusive VIPs enjoyed this gastronomic rarity with each course designed to expertly match tastes from the Moët & Chandon range. Trés chic!

The Mount Sinai Medical Center Key Biscayne opened its doors recently, providing residents of the island with the high-quality care they deserve and the convenience they desire. Residents joined community leaders and Mount Sinai President and CEO Steven Sonenreich for a VIP tour of the new facility, located in Key Colony Plaza at 200 Crandon Boulevard. The facility offers adult primary care, consultations in internal medicine, geriatrics, physical exams, preventive medicine and routine diagnostic testing. To make an appointment, call 305.674.2599.

The 11th Annual Miami Jewish Film Festival presented by the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education offered an exceptional lineup of award-winning domestic and international features and documentaries to sold-out audiences. The celebration began Opening Night with the presentation of the Community Arts Award to Nancy and Norman Lipoff. Under the guidance of MJFF Director Ellen Wedner, filmmakers, directors, actors and special guests enhanced the screenings by lending insight into the filmmaking process.

The Key Biscayne Community Church Day School PTA hosted a “Parents Night Out” Spanish dinner to raise money to purchase additional computers for the early literacy program classrooms in their school. Parents and teachers alike enjoyed a marvelous evening of paella, dancing, Flamenco show and renewing friendships.

Mike Aixala and Brigitte Nachtigall hosted a fundraiser at their home on Key Biscayne for the campaign of State Attorney Kathy Fernandez-Rundle. More than 120 guests including family and friends took part in the beautiful evening full of joy and glamour.

In celebration of the launch of her new website, IsaZapata.com, artist and illustrator Isa Zapata hosted a cocktail party on Key Biscayne that showcased her fresh concept in design for children’s rooms as well as some of her captivating artwork.

Fundacion Manos del Sur recently hosted its annual Generosity Polo Cup at Patagones Polo Club to benefit children in Argentina. To get involved, go to ManosDelSur.com.

The Rusty Pelican hosted a Nicaraguan brunch, bazaar and fashion show to benefit the Fundacion Manos del Sur in Nicaragua, whose mission is to provide children living in extreme poverty in Central America with the opportunity to grow into healthy, productive adults.

PrepWorks!, the company founded by Key Biscayne resident Tracy LaFlamme Ortega to provide innovative personalized academic preparation, recently opened its new office and education center on the island at 604 Crandon Blvd. in the Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza.

Segafredo recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Brickell. As guests arrived, they were greeted by six “Vegas-style” showgirls, a stilt-walker and a flame-thrower exhibiting eye-opening feats. Once inside, guests mingled as they sipped on Grey Goose, Leblon, Red Bull and Mahou Beers and nibbled on a few of the many fantastic dishes that Segafredo Brickell offers. A tour of the adjacent nightclub, Spazio Nero, rounded out the night.

Misioneros del Camino hosted a world-class gala at the Ocean Club in Key Biscayne that included a live auction to benefit the orphaned, abandoned and malnourished children of Guatemala.

There’s nothing like a grand goodbye party filled with old friends, libations and overall good cheer. Such was the case when Adrienne Arsht, who has served as chairman of TotalBank for more than a decade before stepping down after the bank was sold to Banco Popular, was honored at a tribute celebration hosted at the Biltmore Hotel. The event also introduced Banco Popular’s Jorge Rossell as the new TotalBank chairman.

Surmesur, the chic, unique “boutique-boutique” in Key Colony Plaza welcomed Bonpoint, the respected French fashion house for children, for the first time in Miami to showcase their 2008 spring/summer collection to Key Biscayne mothers and kids. Balloon artist Irina provided the entertainment with her creative balloon caricatures and yielded hundreds of smiles and giggles throughout the event.

Long-time Key Biscayne residents Marianne and Carlos Coto organized the 3rd annual Cabana Crawl at Oceacn Club to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Having planned the event to coincide with the full-moon, the “crawlers” went from cabana to cabana, where they were greeted with an assortment of food, libations and music. The entertainment at the Coto’s cabana was provided by Don Pan owners Edgar and Betty and by a saxophonist named German. Other hosts dressed their cabanas in a variety of U.S. themes, such as “Mini Fenway Park,” “Boston Seafood Market,” and “Mardi Gras,” to name a few. Others added international flair to the Crawl by offering treats from their country of origin, including Peru, Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador, France, Italy, India and the Greek Isles.

Christina Termine celebrated a Valentine’s Day jewelry party by launching “Diamonds on the Key.” Valentine’s treat’s and drinks were served for all to enjoy.

St. Agnes Academy hosted a family picnic on a Sunday for both parents and children to get together, play and enjoy. It was a gorgeous day full on laughter, fun and activities for all ages.

Key Biscayne residents Jose Luis Bueno and Antonio Mauri invited more than 100 friends and family to the launch of their Family Entertainment Center, Cool-de-Sac Play Café, located on the third floor of the Shops at Sunset Place. Cool-de-Sac is the first entertainment center that’s designed and built with parents in mind.

Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church Preschool hosted their annual fundraiser and silent auction serving stone crabs and churrasco under the stars at the Key Biscayne Beach Club.

The 2nd Tennis Pro-Am gathered players, families and friends for a memorable event at the Ocean Club Tennis Center. After facing many games and court rotations with an accompanying crowd, main event sponsor South Bay Group’s principal, Roberto Cortes, awarded this year’s first and second place prizes to Peter Galan and Guillermo Salcedo. In addition, all participating players received gift baskets and goodie bags in appreciation of their efforts. But there were more than two winners...Fundación Manos Del Sur obtained sponsorships for three children making them the top winners of the night!

In the Mood for Pop features Opera Gallery’s collection of exciting and kitschy works by contemporary masters like Warhol, Wesselmann and Lichtenstein along with paintings by emerging international avant-garde artists. The opening reception was a global mix of art and music with celebrated guests from both sides of the pond. Beginning in London in the mid 1950’s, Pop Art — a visual art movement expressing popular mass culture — found artists using themes influenced by advertising, everyday products and comic books. Opera Gallery is located in the Bal Harbour Shops at 9700 Collins Ave.

Florencia Godward hosted a party for her husband, Marcos, who celebrated his 50th birthday surrounded by family and friends including their four children: Chloe, Felix, Ivan and Beltran. Guests enjoyed music, dancing and dinner throughout the night.

Green Grass House Boutique recently held a photography exhibition for two artists, Emiliano Scatarzi with Telavisione and Kenneth Rubenoff with his work entitled Optical Beauty. The event included an art showcase, live music by DJ San Martin and cameos by some of Brickell’s finest as well as appearances by various artists.

Peterson’s Harley-Davidson South recently hosted a historical weekend that celebrated their 30th year in business. Harley fans enjoyed an interactive photo gallery timeline, an impressive museum and antique collection, cocktails, rock ‘n’ roll, stunt shows and autograph sessions by record-breaking Harley-Davidson daredevil Bubba Blackwell.

Mercedes-Benz USA recently sponsored a Southern Automotive Media Association luncheon at The Shore Club in South Beach that gave journalists the opportunity to preview the new 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG. Hosts Geoff Day and Greg O’Shea made sure each guest got the full tour of the new ride.