Out and About in Miami. February 2011 news

February 2011                              www.MiamiandBeaches.com

OUT AND ABOUT IN MIAMI
Thank you for your continued support of Miami! The February issue of the monthly Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Media Relation’s e-newsletter is filled with story leads you can develop,
including exciting news and events. Enjoy!

2011 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW AND STRICTLY SAIL MAKES WAVES WITH NEW ATTRACTIONS AIMED AT ON-THE-WATER FUN, TRAVEL AND HANDS-ON EDUCATION: The 70th annual Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami, one of the world’s largest boating events, returns February 17-21, 2011, showcasing thousands of the newest powerboats, sailboats, engines, electronics and marine accessories from more than 2,000 leading manufacturers from around the world. And with new attractions including the Dive & Travel Harbor featuring the ‘Be a Diver’ scuba pool, and the new Discover Boating Resource Center, a boating education experience offering free boat rides, on-the-water training courses, and daily seminars, the 2011 show is the ultimate destination to discover boating. From personal watercraft and performance boats to sport fishers and mega-yachts, visitors will get the rare opportunity to board and compare boat brands side-by-side at competitive bargains and find exclusive show specials on the newest marine accessories and electronics. In addition to the vast selection of boats and marine accessories for sale and hundreds of products making their world debuts, there is a wide array of attractions boaters of all ages can enjoy throughout the five-day event.
www.MiamiBoatShow.com or www.StrictlySailMiami.com 

SOUTH BEACH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL KICKS OFF FEBRUARY 24, 2011: Celebrating its 10th year, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine will land on Miami Beach Thursday, February 24 – Sunday, February 27, 2011. The national, star-studded, four-day destination event will also celebrate the release of the official Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival cookbook (Clarkson Potter), written by Lee Brian Schrager with Julie Mautner, featuring a foreword by Anthony Bourdain. Set against the tropical backdrop of South Beach, the festival is sure to satisfy taste buds with an array of exciting culinary events for which tickets are still available. Among the highlights are the Moet Hennessy USA Sobe’s 10th year Anniversary Party hosted by Emeril Lagassee and Martha Stewart, Kohl’s Fun and Fit as a Family featuring Kellogg’s Kidz Kitchen, Italian in Paradise hosted by Giada de Laurentiis, Paula Deen’s Down Home Cookin’ Sunday Gospel Brunch and Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village. To access the festival schedule or purchase tickets visit www.SobeWineandFoodFest.com.

ACQUALINA RESORT & SPA IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AAA FIVE DIAMOND AWARD FOR 2011: Acqualina Resort & Spa, South Florida’s ultra-luxury retreat, has earned the prestigious 2011 AAA Five Diamond Award for the second consecutive year. Poised as Miami Beach and South Florida’s most elite beachfront haven, the award winning hotel is a coveted member of The Leading Hotels of the World and a premier Florida retreat boasting 4.5 beachfront acres with 400 feet of stunning Atlantic coastline. With the first ESPA-branded spa in the United States and the famed Il Mulino New York restaurant, Acqualina Resort & Spa, in Miami Beach, is the ideal relaxation and rejuvenation retreat for refined travelers. The AAA Diamond rating system is North America’s premier rating program covering the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. AAA ratings are one of the top considerations that members and travelers recognize and trust when selecting hotel accommodations. Cleanliness, comfort and security are implicit, but it is Acqualina Resort & Spa’s pristine Mediterranean landscape, luxurious accommodations and consummate staff that push it to the ultimate in unsurpassed quality and service. www.acqualinaresort.com 

NEW PERFORMANCE VENUE BRINGS INSPIRATION TO THE STREETS OF MIAMI: Creating a home for well known and undiscovered artists alike, The Stage is the first of its kind in Miami. During the day, the venue is used as rehearsal space for artists young and old and at night The Stage invites local artists to test boundaries and showcase their talents in front of live audiences. On any given night patrons can take in a variety of experiences whether an up-and-coming band is rocking out, a comedian is on stage, or an indie film is in the reel on Cinema & Sushi Nights. The 10,000 square foot venue (3,200 square feet inside and 7,000 square feet outside) boasts the perfect set up for performance and pleasure. With the stage as the focal point, guests are guaranteed a perfect view and an unforgettable experience. State-of-the-art acoustics, an intimate ambiance and various amenities ensure both the artist and audience unparallel entertainment. Able to accommodate 1000 guests, The Stage presents the public with a unique space for not only entertainment but also corporate and private events. The Stage is ideal for record release parties, photo shoots, exhibitions, fashion shows, cover parties, product launches, and corporate happy hours. The Stage is the latest to join Miami’s booming Music Corridor which stretches from the outskirts of Brickell to the Brooklyn-esque Design District. For general information on The Stage visit their website at www.thestage.com, find them on facebook at www.facebook.com/thestagemiami 

CITY HALL, THE RESTAURANT: Seasoned restaurant veteran Steve Haas and acclaimed chef Tom Azar, previously of iconic celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants in New Orleans, Orlando, and Miami, are teaming up at City Hall restaurant. Haas’ new down-home, brasserie-style dining destination is slated to open for lunch and dinner, January/February 2011 at 2004 Biscayne Boulevard. The two-story, 6,000 square foot eatery, located five blocks north of Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and a five minute drive from downtown Miami, will cater to the area’s business and political folks, residents and theater aficionados. Opening for lunch and dinner daily, the moderately priced menu will average below $20 per person for lunch and $25 per person for dinner. The menu, designed to appeal to diners who love down home dishes as well as those with a more sophisticated palate, features Chef Azar’s comfort food specialties as well as a selection of classics with a twist. Late night dining to accommodate theater-goers is expected to be a welcome change in this early-to-bed district. City Hall restaurant, at 2004 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, is slated to open January/February 2011. www.cityhalltherestaurant.com 

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MIAMI OFFERS PRIVATE BEACH EXPERIENCE: Mandarin Oriental, Miami introduces the new Oasis Beach Club offering a variety of choices for lounging while enjoying the sand, sun and sea. The luxurious beach furnishings include new chaise lounges, cocoon daybeds, hammocks strung from palm trees and sleek cabanas for total privacy equipped with the latest tech gadgets. Friday night Happy Hour gatherings, complimentary “Moments of Delight” amenity program and a dedicated children’s area complete the outdoor experience. The private cabanas at Oasis Beach Club are available to rent for half or full day and include a personal beach butler, welcome oshibori towels, Evian bottled water and exotic fruit platter. Cabanas are prepared with a flat-screen TV, mini refrigerator, sunblock, iPad and Powermat electric charger usable on most electronic devices. Cabanas may be rented for a half day at USD 150 or a full day at USD 250. For those looking for a more tailored cabana experience, specialty packages are available for families, avid spa goers and a girls or guys beach getaway. www.mandarinoriental.com/miami 

MIAMI’S FAVORITE BBQ MASTER HOWIE KLEINBERG OPENS BULLDOG BURGER: Miami celeb chef and barbecue devotee Howie “Bulldog” Kleinberg will sink his canines into a new concept this winter when the wildly-popular chef behind Bulldog Barbecue in North Miami launches its sister restaurant Bulldog Burger in early 2011. Branded “Bulldog” because of his take-no-prisoners persona on the Miami season of Bravo’s Top Chef, Kleinberg has won over locals and visitors alike with his delicious, simply prepared, affordable barbecue served in a casual, comfortable setting. An intimate, 1,000 square-foot space with approximately 70 seats, Bulldog Burger will boast a rustic, comfortable décor, sporting a unique look and feel that complements Bulldog Barbecue’s design. The restaurants will be linked by an arched entryway cut into their shared wall, allowing the bulldog to make sure all is well in both his territories. And while there will be separate menus, Kleinberg assures that regardless of where his guests are seated, they’ll have a choice between his North Carolina-style barbecue and the long list of signature and do-it-yourself burgers the chef has created for the new venue.
Prices are planned to be family and wallet-friendly with a check average around $15. A daily burger special, featuring a burger-of-the-day with fries and a soft-drink, will be $10. The value, the chef says, is in the quality ingredients that go into each sandwich, including house-made sauces and toppings, and hand-formed patties grilled to juicy perfection. www.bulldog-bbq.com 

MIAMI CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OPENS THE DOOR TO THE ADVENTURES OF MR. POTATO HEAD EXHIBIT: The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEADTM, a new interactive exhibit debuted at the Miami Children’s Museum on January 22nd. Sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, the exhibit is scheduled to run through May 15th at Museum’s Watson Island location. The much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to jungle safaris and archeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences. The exotic and fanciful exhibit is designed to develop school readiness and academic skills for young children, focusing on literacy, problem solving, mathematics, science and social studies. It is based on developmental milestones set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and national academic standards. The 2,500 square foot exhibit, targeted to children ages 3 – 8, was created by Milwaukee’s Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with PLAYSKOOL®, the infant/preschool toy division of Hasbro, Inc. www.miamichildrensmuseum.org 

KIMPTON’S EPIC HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI LAUNCHES TWO-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER: Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel, the top-rated hotel for luxury, style and service located in downtown Miami, today announced a two-year partnership with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. As an official preferred hotel of the Adrienne Arsht Center, EPIC is now offering preferred pricing on its guestroom and suite accommodations to guests who stay at the waterfront hotel immediately before or after an Adrienne Arsht Center event. With a thriving arts and culture scene, downtown Miami is quickly becoming the community art hub of the “Magic City.” Just minutes from the Adrienne Arsht Center, EPIC will offer 20 percent off its best available rates. Also included in this offer are complimentary daily morning coffee and tea service, as well as complimentary daily hosted evening wine receptions and state-of-the-art fitness center. When booking, use rate code AHC. In addition to hotel discounts, become an Adrienne Arsht Center member and receive exclusive access to ticket pre-sales and invitations and discounts to special events and unique programs. www.epichotel.com, www.arshtcenter.org 

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE TEAM UP TO OFFER JOINT ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE: Organizers of the 2011 Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), produced and presented by Miami Dade College, and the 2011 Winter Music Conference (WMC) are joining forces to offer unprecedented access to film and music lovers who attend the two hottest entertainment tickets in town this March. MIFF and WMC are creating a special “Film and Music Passport,” a discounted pass to encourage film industry executives to attend the annual music conference’s slate of panels, networking events parties and special performances while offering music conference attendees similar access to film festival screenings, panels, networking events and parties. The 26th edition of the Winter Music Conference runs March 8-12, 2011, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The 28th edition of the Miami International Film Festival runs March 4-13, 2011, at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, Regal South Beach Cinemas, Miami Dade College’s Tower Theater and other venues. The Film and Music Passport will offer all WMC pass holders a $50 discount on MIFF’s Industry Pass (different access levels valued at $129-$249), through a special discount code made available upon completion of their WMC registration. MIFF pass holders will receive the same $50 discount on WMC’s Industry Pass (valued at $350-$475) through a special registration form they will receive from the MIFF office. The registration at both organizations is open now. www.miamifilmfestival.com, www.wintermusicconference.com 

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