Fringe is in!

Part two of my weekend exploring Swim Week 2016 was a pool party and swim wear fashion show at the recently renovated and fabulous Shelborne Hotel.

A 1940 Art Deco hotel, the Shelborne hotel underwent a $90 million renovation and highlighted the classic car theme, a telling sign of the auto design that was to come in the 1950's. The hotel reopened in September 2014.

The pool deck was the perfect setting for a dual pool soiree, vendors exhibit, and fashion show.

Photo credit: Vannia Enriquez

First piece of business is the traditional Step-n-Repeat photo opp. But instead of red carpet, it's a blue carpet to represent the blue ocean or pool water to wear and showcase your new bathing suit.

Christine Michaels on the blue carpet

The cabanas were brimming with exhibitors showcasing swim and fashion accessories. From jewelry-inspired temporary tattoos, to sunglasses, shoes, and of course swimwear.  I ambled down the poolside and visited a few "cabanas".  A great way to pass the time in between pool dips--networking and shopping!  Immediately, I was drawn to the out-of-ordinary presentation of a man wearing a hat sitting at an old typewriter with its own signage "The Biscayne Poet".  Intriguing...

Christine Michaels sits down with Biscayne Poet, Oscar Fuentes

Impromptu writing! I love it. So my poem reads:

Yes I am a mermaid!

To learn more, visit www.thebiscaynepoet.com and follow on Twitter/Instagram @thebiscaynepoet.


In the same cabana was Peroni and their high fashion sunglasses. The rep asked me to model a pair of my choice for the photo opp. Sure!  And the poet asked if he could be in the photo--the more the merrier!  So I chose a leopard print frame to complement my Wildfox swimwear coverup shirt.  Love the glasses (Only $187).

The Biscayne Poet, Oscar Fuentes and Christine Michaels

Next I run into another Miami lifestyle blogger, Vannia Enriquez of FlairMiami, selling tank tops to "Blog Your Heart Away".  Yes we are passionate about blogging.


 After getting my gold and black foil (temporary) tattoo on my arm (to match my bathing suit) it was time to relax at my lounge chair before the fashion show. In watching people walk by,  the person next to me pointed to this attractive, striking woman with a presence.  It was Marysol Patton, of Miami's Desperate Housewives reality show. Candidly I have never seen the show but I knew the name more for her reputable PR firm, The Patton Group,  a leading full-service public relations, special events, and marketing firm, catering to the high-end luxury goods, spirits, hospitality, and restaurants.

Miami Desperate Housewives' Marysol Patton and Christine Michaels

Clearly Marysol was in charge of the PR for the day's event.  Actually I kept bumping into her photographer during the runway show.  Speaking of which, the featured swimwear and apparel was by Bianca Coletti.

My favorite model was this little girl. Her face was exquisite and she had it all. The walk, the look, the attitude. But still sweet.



To view more swimsuits, click on this highlights video.




 Admiring the outdoor architecture of the Shelborne, I'm reminded how trends affected design not just for buildings but fashion as well. The Shelborne staircase is Art Deco with emergence of MiMo architecture, the next architectural boom following Art Decoratif.





 

The younger models

Time to take a dip in the pool

This was a fun and perfect day in every sense.  This is my Christmas--in July. Taking time off, relaxing, and doing my favorite things--sunbathing, socializing and shopping all in one.

 Well as much as I would have enjoyed lounging by the pool with endless champagne and cocktails, alas I had to get ready for the next event in the evening--a swimwear show at the exclusive Versace Mansion! Stay tuned.

When British buttoned-up and dandy tailored clothing meets flirtatious, colorful Miami, it can only mean one thing. Ted Baker of London is opening up a store on Lincoln Road in South Beach.

It started with a clever marketing campaign incorporating subtle humor and teasing shoppers to find Ted as he globetrotted from continent to continent with new store openings. The first hint below: a British style telephone booth with bright sign and palm trees in the background.
As a marketing aficionado, I played along and thus embarked on my search for Ted Baker, armed with fashionable peacock colored bejeweled shoes.



Admittedly I always knew the exact location of the store, but as  I previewed the launch on my Instagram page, @miamichristine, it made for great storytelling and building up to the climatic pre grand opening festivities. #TedLovesMiami

Ted Baker London designs every store with its location in mind, and the South Beach outpost is no exception. The Lincoln Road shop, the second to open in Miami after the Aventura store, is quintessentially Miami Beach, with an ever-so-slight nod to the brand's English roots. Art deco prints adorn the walls in the dressing rooms, racks perforated with golden palm trees and umbrellas housed the clothes and a splashing of loud colors and flirty prints completed the look. Crystal chandeliers meant to resemble 'London rain' was the only hint of a British influence. The fashion house seems to understand what Miamians really want to wear.

Ted Baker Store Lincoln Road, South Beach #TedLovesMiami

Chandelier rain drops

As the sun started to set on January 15, the festivities began.




Last night was the Pre Grand Opening of the London based clothing brand at the increasingly lux 1111 Lincoln Road address. For select VIP  Miami fashion bloggers and glitterati, Ted Baker hosted a grand entrance with old world elegance and whimsical Miami splash.





With a catchy alliteration Ted invited you to enjoy a Tipple or Two. (for those who do not speak British English, "Tipple" means "cocktail" in American English ).

Dapper young men prepared and served classic Florida cocktails, the Rum Runners and Piña Colada with pink umbrellas or the traditional champagne in glass flutes.

Ill take one of each. Yes the tall one!

Invited by the local PR company, I also invited two friends, Zenya and Ben.



Christine and Zenya enjoying Piña Coladas

Zenya and Ben encourage me to try this dress I was admiring

After two tipples, my defenses were weakened. ( That's Tipples with a "t".) The store attendants harried to take hold of the dress and check for an available dressing room. Designated the largest room I was taken aback by the exuberant, colorful dressing rooms in Art Deco pastel. (An Art Deco-phile I wanted to linger in the dressing room. ) Ted Baker is all about craftsmanship and attention to detail in everything it touches. And like Cinderella worried that the small glass slipper would not fit, the slender fitting dress was a body glove.  Thanks to Zenya for picking the right size for me.

SOLD!

For shopping and attending the event, we were given a stylish chartreuse green gift bag with some Ted Baker accessories. A ladies scarf, and a handsome leather bound journal. A classy event from beginning to end.  Thanks Ted!



For more photos and to learn the secret to Ted Baker success, click here!

Ted Baker Stores in Miami
Aventura Mall (North Miami Beach)
Lincoln Road (in South Beach)

www.tedbaker.com

One of the few families on Lincoln Road Father and daughter riding green dinosaurs

As mentioned in previous posts, Miami loves to celebrate Halloween. It's not just for children but adults get to dress out of character, and simply have fun. 

Me as Burlesque Victoria and my cousin Alexandra as 80's rocker

The most popular destination to parade in your costume or spectate the hundreds of revelers, is on Lincoln Road in South Beach.  This was my first year attending. Surprisingly, most costumes were in good taste (the famous Vizcaya Halloween party is very risqué).  The more elaborate the costume, then you were a guaranteed hit and would have to stay in one place while passerbys asked to take your photo. See photos below.

However, keep in mind that Lincoln Road is PACKED with people. So if you do not like crowds (sardine-style) then be sure to stay off this pedestrian promenade or grab a table at a restaurant early (before 8pm) to watch the action go by without getting stampeded.

To make the most of the evening I also attended the Playboy Halloween party at the SLS hotel. This was even better.  The event was outdoors at the Hyde Beach backyard with plenty of elbow room at each bar and space to walk and dance!  DJ played great variety music.  Tickets started at $30 just to get in and sold out the day before.

Since I knew that all the beautiful people would attend the Playboy party and "sexy" was no doubt the theme, I chose a "Victoria's Secret goes Burlesque" costume.  Unfortunately, my "helper" (aka mom) decided to rearrange my closet while I was on a recent trip that my costume accessories were nowhere to be found. Hence my costume was lacking. While I looked out of place on Lincoln Road, no worries, at Playboy I still fit in.  See photos below.

Now--time to order my costume for next year!  Enjoy!

LINCOLN ROAD photos

(that's me in the center wearing black wig)

The women went sexy to Playboy party, the men wore anything

Hotel guests visiting from Chicago, NYC and Atlanta



Christine, Edith (borrowing hat), and Alexandra

Most creative in my opinion--Breathalyzer (notice the white tube of where to blow)

Holding a (fake) tarantula and petting a skull

Miami is synonymous with hot weather, glistening beaches, sultry dancing (salsa and tango), fabulous food and Gloria Estefan--the original singer of the Miami Sound Machine.  The last two come together as Emilio and Gloria Estefan showcase specialty Cuban cuisine at their popular restaurants, Bongo's Cafe in Downtown Miami and Lario's on the Beach in South Beach.

Lario's on the Beach

A visit to Miami is not complete without eating authentic Cuban food.  Lario's is located on the famed Ocean Drive that attracts tourists worldwide.  Recently I had the chance to revisit the restaurant for their Miami Spice menu for dinner. For a quick recap on Miami Spice, it's a popular dining program  the months of August and September where high end restaurants offer a pre-fix, three course meal for a discounted price.

Upon entering, Lario's is always alive with Caribbean sounds, rhythms, and colors.  The decor is modern yet capturing the 1950's glory days of Cuba.

Bar at Lario's on the Beach

Lario's has a unique addition to their Miami Spice menu by offering  a classic mojito cocktail or glass of sangria.  A definite plus.  But the cherry on top was the flavored mojito. The waitress highly recommended the guava mojito.  Sensational!

Guava mojito at Lario's on the Beach

 While sipping our cocktails, Chef Gaston Sanchez kicked off the food frenzy by serving a platter of  papa rellena (stuffed potato),  a flight of ceviche samplers in various tropical juices, and Tostone (fried green plantain) cups filled with picadillo (minced ground beef) or shrimp criolla. I'm a big fan of ceviche and creative uses of  Tostones and these bites met my expectations. Everything was delicious--fabulous start! Please know for the Miami Spice menu, customers select one of the appetizers. I recommend the ceviche* for seafood lovers or the Tostones Rellenos for a balance of beef and seafood. The Papa Rellena would be the safe choice for those less adventurous.

Ceviche, papa rellena, and tostone cups with shrimp and beef criolla

Then we transitioned to a handsome section of the dining room in wood and honey colored tones and four vibrant turquoise color photos of Gloria in sequential facial expressions.  I noticed the room would be ideal for private dining groups when the sliding doors were pulled.




The parade of food dishes continued with great fanfare. First were the classics such as churrasco steak and a "tour of Cuba" which consisted of a trio of shreds of fried chicken, roasted pork and Ropa Vieja (shredded beef). All were good and one could taste the freshness. Many Cubans offer less praise for these dishes at Lario's perhaps because many mom and pop restaurants use more fatty meats and seasoning. For these classic dishes I tend to agree and would frequent other restaurants, if you don't mind higher caloric intake.

The star of the night that stole the show was the Zarzuela de Mariscos, a medley of lobster, shrimp, scallops, calamari, baby clams and mussels bathed in a homemade criolla red sauce.

Larios- seafood medley, Tostones, moros (beans and rice) and maduros (fried ripe plantains)

The sauce alone for the seafood medley was outstanding that our group wanted to order a gallon to take home. No doubt to decipher the secret ingredients and portions.

The Cuban side classics such as tostones (the mini round pancake size fritters), moros (combo beans and rice) and the maduros (fried ripe plantains) were cooked to Cuban recipe perfection. 

I can not judge the portions for Miami Spice as we were served in a banquet style. Our hostess encouraged us to sample all food items which we gladly obliged.

 Then there was a showering of desserts! The Miami Spice menu lists three options but I recommend the classic Flan-- a well-loved custard typically prepared with egg yolks, sugar, evaporated and condensed milk, and vanilla extract.  Another classic not on the Miami Spice dessert options but worth ordering is the Tres Leches pictured below. My new favorite is the Flan Bread Pudding! Genius blend of two favorite recipes.

Tres Leches dessert

The Cuban culture celebrates family and life by sharing a home cooked meal. In our case, sitting among new colleagues, our feast was cause for celebration and we were ready to dance--well maybe in our dreams as we rolled out like loaded barrels. Or was that mojito-induced dance vibes?

Regardless, Lario's is the destination for great Cuban cuisine whether you are a tourist in search of the  ultimate Cuban experience, or  introducing a friend to a unique experience or a group outing to entertain clients or special get-together. Many celebrities such as Rosie O'Donnell, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have dined at Lario's on the Beach.

I just realized I have only dined at Lario's for dinner and never at lunch time where the interior restaurant exudes a daylight vibrancy.  Will have to remedy this anomaly!

Lario's on the Beach
820 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL  33139

Lario's on the Beach, Miami Spice menu



* Ceviche is a traditional Peruvian seafood dish that starts with fillets of raw fish and cured in lemon or lime juice overnight. Restaurants today will  either follow this technique or use cooked fish and set in tropical juices.  Other variations include use of cooked shrimp. If you have any concerns about eating raw fish, always ask the waiter if the restaurant is using cooked fish or cured fish.