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May/June 2012
© 2012 BizBash Media
On the Cover Marlins Park. Photo by Kiko Ricote.
7
From the Editor
The technology conundrum
Readers’ Forum
9 What’s your first thought on the
morning of an event?
10 Cheryl Cecchetto’s rules for event
planning
11 Using neuroscience to engage
attendees
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ALFRED DUNHILL, JEFFREY A. DAVIS (PRUDENTIAL), BFA (BARBIE)
The Scout
13 An immersive video-and-sound
installation
14 Savory renditions of sweet dishes
and liquor branding at Sundance
16 The digital future of teambuilding
17 Custom DJ booths
18 Patterned furniture rentals and
printed linens
20 Mismatched vintage china,
a supersized iPhone, new charging
kiosks, and the Fresh List
22 Bing’s elaborate social media
activation at Sundance
23 Ideas, products, and trends to have
on your radar
Event Reports
25 From Los Angeles: Oscar’s biggest
parties
28 From Miami: MOCA’s 15th
anniversay celebration
30 From Orlando: the Adidas event
honoring Orlando Magic player
Dwight Howard during N.B.A.
All-Star Weekend
31 From Orlando: the International
Builders’ Show
32 From Miami: Pillsbury’s Bake-Off
Contest with Martha Stewart
33 From Miami: Oreo’s 100th birthday
34 From Miami: Innovatative events
and activations at the South Beach
Wine & Food Festival
Alfred Dunhill’s High-Tech Snow Globe
bizbash.com/alfreddunhill
Features
37 Time Machines
Retro musical acts by decade
40 Remote Control
10 audiovisual production tips for
hybrid events
Venues
43 The Miami/South Florida
Venue Report
The city’s newest event spaces
49 Miami/South Florida Venue
Directory
516 area venue listings
Artsy Entertainment at Prudential Sales Convention
bizbash.com/prudential
Ted Kruckel
76 The magic of otherworldly
events
Mattel’s Barbie Promotion at New York Fashion Week
bizbash.com/fashionweek
PLUS:
How Pharmaceutical Meetings and Events Are Changing
bizbash.com/pharmevents
Top Topics Discussed at M.P.I.’s EdCon
bizbash.com/mpiedcon
10 Venues for Summer Entertaining in Miami
bizbash.com/miamisummerentertaining
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bizbash.com may/june 2012 3
BIZBASH
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Larry Carrino, PARTNER, BRUSTMAN CARRINO PUBLIC RELATIONS;
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MARLINS; Lori Elsbree, SENIOR EVENT STRATEGIST, BAPTIST HEALTH
FOUNDATION; Lauren Halpern, MEETING & EVENT PLANNER, DECO
PRODUCTIONS INC./GRANDE AFFAIRES INC.; Susan Holtzman,
PRESIDENT, EVENTURES; Wendy Kallergis, PRESIDENT/C.E.O. GREATER
MIAMI & THE BEACHES HOTEL ASSOCIATION; Gerry Kelly, DIRECTOR
OF CORPORATE EVENTS, TRIO ON THE BAY; Anita Mattner, EXECUTIVE
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Melnyk, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING MANAGER, BACARDI; Mona
Meretsky, PRESIDENT, COMCOR EVENT AND MEETING PRODUCTION
INC. AND COMCOR CONSULTING SERVICES INC.; Kelly Murphy,
GENERAL MANAGER, PANACHE, A CLASSIC PARTY RENTAL COMPANY;
Bruce Orosz, PRESIDENT, ACT PRODUCTIONS; Steven Pollock,
MANAGER, GLOBAL ACCOUNTS, HELMSBRISCOE; Lee Schrager,
VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS AND NATIONAL
EVENTS, SOUTHERN WINE & SPIRITS; Craig Skilling, PROGRAM
COORDINATOR/INSTRUCTOR, DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT/
EVENT MANAGEMENT, JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY; Debbie
Spiegelman, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIAMI CHILDREN’S MUSEUM;
Tracy Wallach, SENIOR MEETINGS & SPECIAL EVENT PLANNER,
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS L.L.C.
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From the Editor
What’s the Point?
New technology can help you achieve your goals,
or it can distract you from them.
Content, including keynote sessions, from SAP’s Sapphire
Now conference in Orlando in May 2011 was shared online
and with 18 satellite locations around the world.
At BizBash we love what’s new. That’s in our
event specialists are developing all-virtual games
nature as journalists, and it’s crucial to our misdesigned to help co-workers bond while they sit,
sion to help event professionals stay on top of
separately, at their desks.
industry trends and ideas.
Sounds pretty interesting, no? But isn’t the
But while reading the stories in this issue,
point of a teambuilding activity to get people
I was reminded that sometimes the excitement
out of the daily grind and interacting away from
of the new can get in the way.
their phones and computers?
When associate editor Mitra Sorrells reported
In Lauren’s story, Wizard Studios C.E.O.
her piece on audiovisual production for hybrid
Russell Brumfield describes a new model:
events, meeting consultant Mary Boone told
“I think the future of teambuilding is hybrid:
her, “The most important thing to keep in mind
nine months of virtual bonding and then coming
is figuring out what technologies
together [a few times a year] for
make the most sense to achieve
physical bonding.”
the event’s particular goals. A lot of
Speaking of the new, when
times that gets lost in the excitewe relaunched BizBash.com
ment of experimenting with new
in March, we added some
April 20 marked the
technology.”
features that I think dovetail
one-year anniversary of
It’s easy to get caught up in
nicely with our mission. Like
our daily email, the Call
figuring out the latest apps and
a photo in one of our stories?
Sheet. We’ve been happy
gadgets, watching how others are
Want to save it? Now you
to hear from many
using them, and adapting them to
can create an Idea Book and
industry insiders who
our own projects—so much so that
fill it with inspiring work. Or
say it’s the first thing
we can forget to ask a critical quescreate several—an Idea Book
they read each day. That
tion: How will these things help us
of catering concepts, an Idea
is exactly the intention
achieve this project’s goals? (Or, for
Book of sponsor integrations,
of this daily digest of
the really lost: What exactly are this
an Idea Book for an upcoming
industry news—a mix
project’s goals?)
event. Plus, we’re working on
of big industry stories,
That idea echoed in my head
additional new features that
local tidbits, and links to
when I talked to style editor Lauren
will help you find more creative
analysis of the trends
Matthews about the new wave
solutions in our archive of more
changing the event
of teambuilding activities modthan 10 years of event coverage.
world. It’s designed to be
eled after video games and social
While it’s important to stay
a cheat sheet for what
media apps like Foursquare. While
on top of the latest developthe industry is talking
companies like Google, Apple, and
ments, remember an idea
about. If you haven’t
Facebook are incorporating highdoesn’t necessarily need to be
already, sign up now at
tech takes on scavenger hunts into
new to be relevant.
bizbash.com/callsheet
their corporate-bonding activities,
—Chad Kaydo, editor in chief
PHOTO: BEN PANCOAST/SAP AG
The Call Sheet
Turns 1
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Readers’ Forum
What’s your first
thought on the
morning of an event?
“Our audience. Washington Post Live brings together top-tier
experts on a given subject, and I always look forward to seeing
how the attendees engage in the event we worked so hard
to produce.”
Nicole Herr, events manager, Washington Post Live, Washington
“That 24 hours from then, the event
will be over and everything will
have worked out triumphantly.
From that moment on, any minor
bump in the road is taken in
stride because I’ve started my
day with the belief that the event
will end on
a successful
note.”
Andrea O’Donnell, marketing events coordinator,
Oticon Canada Ltd., Toronto
“What’s the name of the song that’s stuck in my head? Then,
of course, it’s who do I need to pay, who do I need to send
information to, who can replace me should something
happen, and do I need gas in my car?”
Lori Elsbree, corporate philanthropy and fund-raising events manager,
Baptist Health South Florida Foundation, Miami
“I plan the day out—go over
the day’s schedule and make
sure everything
is right.”
Josh Mark, vice president of production
and special events, director of
sustainability, creative services group,
Fox Broadcasting Company, Los Angeles
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF READERS
“The day’s agenda. Then I look out the window and hope it
will be a beautiful day. After that I’m ready to hit the ground
running.”
Tracy Roberts Simon, senior federal affairs specialist, Eli Lilly and
Company, Washington
“My mind is racing: Did I charge the camera battery? Do I have
enough time for a Starbucks run? Where is my phone? Then I
check my email to see what last-minute changes need to be
updated in the agenda, speaking points, A.V., or lineup.”
Emily Rouse, senior communications manager, National Multiple Sclerosis
Society, National Capital Chapter, Washington
“What a wonderful day it will be. I look outside and smile if it
is a clear and sunny day. After a cup of tea and a mental review
of the day, the adrenaline kicks in and I am off with a great attitude that this will be another successful event.”
Astrid H. Ehrenstein, director of special events and development,
Boys & Girls Club, Miami
More comments from readers bizbash.com/readersforum
“Visualizing the day and
walking through the
itinerary the way I want to
have it unfold. My second
thought: pure excitement. As a planner, you need to radiate positivity and
enthusiasm, as this can be contagious
to your guests.”
Jessica Diniz, managing director, brand
marketing & events, Sunnybrook
Foundation, Toronto
“Everything will
be perfect because I have the
perfect
event staff.”
Tracy Wallach, senior
meetings and special events
planner, JM Family Enterprises
Inc., Miami
“What I need
to do first and
what needs to
happen.”
Lauren G. Callahan, conferences and events planner,
Commonwealth Financial
Network, Boston
“Because I even dream about work, my mind is
usually already racing with a laundry list of
final touches to take care of before my feet
even hit the floor. Once they do, my next
thoughts are creating a reverse mental
schedule, working from
the event start time back
to that current moment,
followed by ‘Ready, set, go!’”
Kate Mazzuca, director of event
marketing, Variety, Los Angeles
bizbash.com may/june 2012 9
Readers’ Forum
My Cool New Job
Nicole Alexander has been named
director of events at Viacom
Entertainment Group, where she
will oversee development, management, design, and execution for major award
shows, screenings, and other events for Spike,
Comedy Central, and TV Land.
As owner and president of
Sequoia Productions in Los
Angeles, Cheryl Cecchetto
oversees the Emmys’ and
Oscars’ Governors Balls,
and corporate functions for
brands like Dove, Hallmark,
LG, and Revlon.
2. Focus on Pre-Production I can’t stress pre-production
enough. Document everything. Absolutely nothing should be
left solely to someone’s memory or only one notebook. Should
you hand off your coordination binder to any professional event
producer, they should be able to get right to work.
3. Empower Your Team My father always said, “Surround yourself with people who are much more educated and experienced
in their area of expertise than you are.” A great vendor is one whose passion for success is as
strong as yours. Appreciate everyone loudly and frequently.
4. Streamline the Experience Ensure that your client and guests’ experience is easy and
seamless. Leave nothing to chance. Incorporate traffic controllers/hosts, reserved areas,
directional signage, and every other opportunity to provide guests with all the information and
guidance they might need. Detailed service puts your guests at ease so they are free to enjoy
themselves and the experience you have created.
5. Create a Transcendent Experience I’m very interested in transporting guests via all of the
senses. It may be the music of a riveting performer who highlights one guest’s experience, or a
wonderful wine that enchants another. If they arrive in one state and leave in another, you’ve
done your job.
6. Strengthen Relationships Through Excellent Service I’ve always believed that if you give
your guests and clients 120 percent, they will consistently feel extremely pampered and nurtured,
and they will develop a deep trust in your work and expertise. They can’t possibly be aware of all
the details you’ve handled, but they can’t miss the result.
7. Take Risks Develop fresh, bold ideas that have not yet been seen in the event world. In Los
Angeles, clients and guests usually attend many functions, and they may think they have seen it
all. It’s my job to surprise them with the fact that they have not.
8. Be a Visionary There’s never a problem, only a solution. If I feel that the energy from anyone
is “the glass is half-empty,” I know we won’t click. My ideas are so outrageous, I need a team and
vendors who are willing to say, “O.K., Cheryl, this one’s really crazy but let’s give it a shot.”
9. Do What You Hate Before Noon Do what you hate first. If there’s a job at hand that you
are loath to begin, invariably that is the job that most needs your attention. Handle what you’re
avoiding early, so by noon you can have fun with elements you love.
10. Cast Your Team Cast the staff in an area each person loves the most. A dear friend and
teacher said, “Find out what you love, and do that like gangbusters.” I have staff that do not want
to be the front people. They want to be the team players behind the scenes. On the other hand,
we have staff who love dealing with the entertainers and the show side of things, because they
are entertainers at heart. I know I’ve put together an ideal team who complement each other.
Cecchetto will be the keynote speaker at the BizBash IdeaFest in Los Angeles on June 13.
bizbash.com/laideafest
10 bizbash.com may/june 2012
The Craziest $#!%
I Ever Pulled Off
“Setting up a
nonprofit gala
event for 2,500
people in a
million square
feet of tenting
on a runway at
O’Hare airport
in just six days.
The tent included a temporary art gallery, a
stage, a dining area, and 34 video and plasma
screens to show sponsors’ logos and event
footage. With no electricity or plumbing on the
runway, we also had to bring in restroom
trailers and 10 generators.”
Sean Cannon, C.E.O, Event Creative and Venue
One, Chicago
My Favorite Vendors
Rich Castiglione is president of Castle Events
L.L.C., producer of the 63rd New England Home
Show, and has been involved with the show for
nearly 25 years.
Decor “Freeman Decorating Company
[888.508.5054, freemanco.com] is great at the
personalization of the show. This year they did
a great job enhancing our feature areas.”
Box Office “AP Convention [617.380.0080,
americanpersonal.com] is very professional,
and they understand the business.”
Electrical “Everyone knows Exhibitions
Electrical Company Inc. [617.439.5425]. They do
a fabulous job.”
Venue “The Seaport World Trade Center in
Boston [617.385.5000, seaportboston.com]
was a great host for this year’s show.”
PHOTOS: GREG GRUDT/MATHEW IMAGING FOR BIZBASH (CECCHETTO), COURTESY OF NICOLE ALEXANDER, RICK AGUILAR (CRAZIEST), COURTESY OF LYNN RANDALL
My Rules
1. Know Your Client Take the time to understand your
clients—their taste and style. Don’t rush into production.
Interpret and clearly understand what the mission statement is
for the event, then collaborate to embark in the right direction.
“Every award show or event has its own
aesthetic and vibe, contingent upon the
target audience. For example, the Comedy
Awards are like the Oscars of comedy. The
feel is black tie, sophisticated, yet not over
the top. A suave, New York vibe is key, and
creating this fine line is how our target audience will enjoy that particular experience.
The set inspiration for the 2012 Comedy
Awards was taken from images of the old
Penn Station—before it was demolished—
but with a little Saturday Night Live twist.”
Blind Them
With Science
By LYNN RANDALL
While there’s plenty of room for
debate about what makes the ideal
event, we can agree on one thing:
Attendees are human beings with
immutable truths of human biology.
Unlocking those truths and applying
them can guide us to successfully accomplishing our event goals.
Neuroscientists have proven that
our brains are constantly changing
and reprogramming on the fly. This is
called neuroplasticity. Combine that
with our ability to search the Internet
whenever and wherever we are, and
our brains have adapted to information blasting past our eyes like a fire
hydrant set loose on a summer day.
This means event professionals
have to deliver information in smaller,
quicker bites, and in more ways. Attendees want event experiences to
mirror the rest of their lives, with
games, interactive chats, and the ability to stop and ask a question of an
expert.
At its 2011 C.R.V. (cardiology,
rhythm, and vascular) Minnesota
Employee Expo, Boston Scientific and
event designer Samuel J. Smith appealed to the brain’s neuroplasticity
by skipping the traditional generalsession parade of lectures for a more
interactive expo-style format. When
guests arrived they were ushered into
a waiting hall where they watched
a short video from the company’s
executive V.P., who described how this
event format differed from previous
meetings. Then a big curtain was
pulled back, and attendees could
flood into the space and explore. This
allowed participants to engage with
the content, the products, and each
other in many different ways and as
they desired.
Neuroscientists have also found
that human beings are wired to be
social. It helped us safely evolve (even
cavemen knew they were more likely
to survive an attack together than
alone). We are driven by a desire to
connect with one another, rewarded
with chemical boosts of oxytocin
when we bond.
By optimizing the social and
networking elements of events we are
serving a higher biological requirement for attendees, bringing them
powerful chemical boosts that help
them feel positive emotions.
During Event Camp East Coast
in November 2010, event architect
Adrian Segar helped attendees connect socially by allowing them to
learn from one another. An initial
roundtable created a sense of community by inviting attendees to
introduce themselves, then the 35 or
so attendees selected the topics to be
Neuroscience can make
events work for attendees
at a biological level.
discussed. What emerged was a program that focused on issues relevant
to the group, and the environment felt
collaborative and inclusive, as a result.
Neuroscientists also have studied
how the human brain passes new
information from short-term memory
into long-term. In order for that handoff to occur, people have to make a
personal connection to the new information. If your session design doesn’t
include social groups interfacing with
your messaging and information, your
investment is a waste of money.
P.C.M.A.’s Convening Leaders conference, held in San Diego in January,
kept its event top-of-mind in multiple
ways. General-session speakers all
gave 15-minute main-stage talks
followed by more intimate breakout
sessions where attendees could interact with the speakers. Additionally,
P.C.M.A. offered a virtual event with
sessions rebroadcast about a month
later. Finally, they started a book club,
where attendees can meet virtually
on a monthly basis to discuss books
published by conference speakers.
Taking neuroscience’s understanding of the human animal and
applying it to event design can truly
set you apart as an event professional.
Lynn Randall is a managing member of
Randall Insights L.L.C.
MIAMI’S NEWEST VENUE
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The Scout
PHOTO: CRITTER
Everything Is Illuminated
For 10 nights in February, more than 65,000 people braved the chill
at the Cloud Gate sculpture (a.k.a. the Bean) in Chicago’s Millennium Park to experience the site’s first interactive video-and-sound
installation, titled “Luminous Field.” Commissioned by the Chicago
Office of Tourism and Culture, Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero of
Luftwerk (773.292.1463, luftwerk.net) mounted 10 massive video projectors atop four towers that projected colorful geometric patterns
synced to percussive music across the plaza and surrounding the
Bean’s reflective surface. The result was an immersive, ephemeral
sculpture of light and sound. —Lauren Matthews
bizbash.com
bizbash.com
winter
may/june
2011–2012
2012 13
Not Just
Desserts
Savory versions of typically sweet
dishes are surprising event guests.
By LAUREN MATTHEWS
Savory S’more
with short rib and
feta by Limelight
(773.883.3080,
limelightcatering
.com) in Chicago
Leek cheesecake with arugula pesto, caramelized onions, and a
sweet grape tomato served in a pesto cracker spoon by Puff ’n
Stuff Catering (866.849.0805, puffnstuff.com) in Orlando
Gorgonzola panna
cotta with yellow beet
gelée and prosciutto
crisps by Love Catering Inc. (323.936.7400,
lovecateringinc.com)
in Los Angeles
Share this story bizbash.com/newonthemenu
14 bizbash.com may/june 2012
PHOTOS: TYLLIE BARBOSA FOR BIZBASH (CHICAGO), FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY VISUAL CUISINES (ORLANDO), ALEX FRIENDLY (WASHINGTON), MICHAEL
KOVAC (MULBERRY PROJECT, HYDE), JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES FOR GREY GOOSE, DIMITRIOUS KAMBOURIS/WIREIMAGE (PATRÓN), EMMA
MCINTYRE FOR BIZBASH (TORONTO), JIKA GONZÁLEZ FOR BIZBASH (NEW YORK), BRIDGET KENNY FOR BIZBASH (LOS ANGELES)
New on the Menu
At the Bar
Chicken liver mousse
skewer with Chinese
five-spice cotton
candy by Eat & Smile
Foods (202.270.1018,
eatandsmilefoods.com)
in Washington
Spirited
Displays
At the Sundance Film Festival,
marketers used subtle branding to
showcase liquor sponsors.
By LAUREN MATTHEWS
Guests tried
bespoke libations and hors
d’oeuvres
from New York
cocktail bar
Mulberry Project and sister
restaurant
Vinatta Project
at the Element
Electronics
Après-Ski Retreat. A chalkboard listed marketfresh ingredients that tipplers could ask the bartenders to add to their drinks.
Savory cones by Marigolds & Onions (416.256.4882,
marigoldsandonions.com) in Toronto
A version of Los Angeles’s
Hyde Lounge came to Park
City and hosted a different
party each night over the
weekend. Sponsored in part
by Hennessy, the bar served
specialty cocktails made
with Moët & Chandon,
Belvedere vodka, and Hennessy, including the
Burning Mandarin, made with vodka, jalapeño
slices, and lemon and orange juice.
Sesame-and-hummus and truffled
foie gras macarons by Canard Inc.
(212.947.2480, canardinc.com) in New York
Actor Josh Mond and
his co-stars from the
film Simon Killer took
over the Grey Goose
Blue Door suite’s bar
at their premiere party. Grey Goose used
the invitation-only
lounge to give guests
a taste of its newest flavor, Cherry Noir.
At Miami Oasis, a suite organized by the
Miami & Beaches tourism board, Patrón hosted a muddle-your-own-mojito station and
gave away engraved muddling tools.
bizbash.com may/june 2012 15
Teambuilding
Game Changers
As corporate bonding goes high-tech,
are completely virtual activities the next
big thing? By LAUREN MATTHEWS
Prime
Time
Popular TV shows have
sparked teambuilding
ideas in recent years.
Here are the latest.
By ROSE CHEVALIER &
JULIA CUOZZO
challenges about new products on
their phones,” Brumfield says.
The new tools can even help motivate especially jaded employees. “The
technology element definitely helps
ease people into the game and makes
teambuilding seem less gimmicky,”
says Ian Fraser, co-founder of techenabled-scavenger-hunt company
the Go Game, which has worked with
Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft,
and Intuit. Fraser adds that using
smartphones and tablets has logistical advantages, too, particularly with
large groups. “Having the points tabulated on a cloud-based system makes
the process much faster—there’s no
need to have someone with a pen and
a calculator,” Fraser says.
Adds Brumfield, “Phones and
iPads make it much easier to talk to
a thousand-person group and make
something happen instantaneously,
since everyone is looking at the
same portal.”
The latest element in high-tech
co-worker bonding is all-virtual
teambuilding game platforms. After
getting requests from clients who
wanted to continue the company
bonding beyond a one-day event,
Fraser and his team launched the Go
Game Office. The online software,
which costs $100 a month for as
many as 100 players, involves dividing
employees into teams that get new
mini missions every week, like sharing
Like Smash? At Broadway
Fantasy Camp (212.713.0366,
broadwayfancamp.com)
amateurs gain access to
theater pros during one- to
five-day musical boot camps
that culminate with a performance on an off-Broadway stage. Packages start
around $995 per person.
16 bizbash.com may/june 2012
your favorite lunch spot, or posting
your most awkward childhood photo
for points. More than 500 companies
have signed up since the Go Game
Office launched in 2010. “The idea
was to create a private, Facebook-y
environment that built on employees’
intrinsic need to engage with each
other, but that only took five minutes
a week,” Fraser says. “The main goal is
getting to know your co-workers. It’s
about connecting with people.”
Other companies are looking beyond simply connecting co-workers
on an entertainment level in the
virtual world, hoping to increase
engagement and productivity
among employees by adding gaming elements to intranet platforms.
Social business-software platform
Jive teamed with game-mechanics
service provider Bunchball in March
to launch the Jive Gamification
module. The software incorporates
role-based missions, challenges,
status levels, and badges into digital
education and training experiences.
A company’s sales staff, for example,
could take part in a competition to
see who could complete training
materials first. “It’s about creating a
fun environment at the workplace,”
says Bunchball sales representative
Like Mad Men? Groups
are challenged to come up
with a new product, then
create and film a 60-second
commercial during the
Ad Biz from Corporate
Games (800.790.4263, corp
games.com). The exercise
accommodates 10 to 400
and starts at $1,800.
During tech-driven Go Game
scavenger hunts, participants use
smartphones to download clues
and missions for their teams.
Angelina Elhassan. “Ropes courses
and other teambuilding activities
offer a way to get to know your coworkers outside of the office. This
is meant to function as a way to
encourage daily bonding.”
Experts emphasize, however,
that these new virtual teambuilding platforms are meant to augment
face-to-face bonding, not replace it.
“I think the future of teambuilding is
hybrid—nine months of virtual bonding and then coming together [a few
times a year] for physical bonding,”
Brumfield says. “It’s like Facebook, in
which people are keeping in touch
with each other [even] when not
physically in contact. All this technology is bringing people closer together, and the game layer is adding to
the motivation for participation.”
Adds Fraser, “[A team] can
virtually sail a boat together and
say, ‘We’ve achieved an eye-patch
badge and 10 gold coins,’ or they can
actually learn to sail a boat together
and feel the saltwater splash in their
faces. I think there will always be a
place for hands-on activities, even if
technology is involved.”
Like The Voice? One Voice
from Creative Team Events
(888.704.5569, creative
teamevents.com) assigns
vocal coaches to teach harmonies to teams in a 45- to
90-minute activity, which
ends with a performance.
For groups of 20 to 1,000,
prices start at $1,427.
Like Cupcake Wars? During
Cupcake Wars from Parties
That Cook (888.907.2665,
partiesthatcook.com), teams
watch a baking demo before
baking recipes, sampling one
another’s cupcakes, and declaring a winner. The activity
accommodates eight to 300,
and costs $75 per head.
Share these stories bizbash.com/teambuilding
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF VENDORS
Social media platforms and apps are
adding gaming elements like badges,
channels, and leader boards to the
daily lives of many smartphone users. As a result, teambuilding companies are seeing a rise in requests for
activities that bridge the digital and
the physical.
“Everyone loves gadgets, and
they want to be a part of what’s new
and cutting-edge,” says Lisa Jennings,
chief experience officer at Wildly
Different, an Orlando-based teambuilding company that launched an
iPad hunt in September involving
a custom mobile app that delivers
directions and clues.
“Teambuilding has always involved basic game mechanics,” says
Russell Brumfield, C.E.O. of Wizard
Studios Global Events, whose company launched an event technology
division in 2009. “The difference is
that now people are adding a technology layer, which allows for more
of a learning takeaway on top of the
physical bonding.” Wizard’s teambuilding games deliver missions and
track scores via a custom app, but
also integrate physical challenges
and real-world interactions. For a
Johnson & Johnson meeting last
year, “we created an activity that
had employees interacting with
character actors and filming funny
videos, but that also involved the
employees solving informational
PHOTOS: CARLA WARRILOW/BIZBASH (LED TUBE LIGHTS), LINE 8 PHOTOGRAPHY (ESPN THE MAGAZINE), SEAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY (ROLLING STONE), STEVE WRUBEL (ART
BALL), CALEB FERGUSON FOR BIZBASH (HARD ROCK HOTELS), NILAYA SABNIS (JASON WU), EMMA MCINTYRE FOR BIZBASH (TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL)
Idea File
The September wrap party for
So You Think You Can Dance
Canada, produced by Mafalda
Productions Inc., offered a black,
mirrored DJ booth illuminated
by LED tube lights from Westbury National Show Systems.
ESPN the Magazine’s “Next” event at Super Bowl XLVI
featured a stage structure where DJ D-Nice spun alongside
dancers and screens showcased sponsor logos.
Spin
Doctors
These custom DJ booths
at recent events helped
get the party started.
As part of Rolling Stone’s “Rock Weekend” festivities at the
Super Bowl in February, artists like Pete Wentz got behind the
turntables in a flying DJ booth during a bash at the Crane Bay.
By LAUREN MATTHEWS
At a preview for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos’ new
music initiatives held in New York in December, DJs
spun behind a booth designed to look like oversize
speakers by We Came in Peace Inc.
At the preview of the Jason Wu for Target collection in January, DJ Harley Viera-Newton’s raised
booth was surrounded by rose-filled window
boxes to resemble a French balcony, part of the
Parisian-street-scene set created by ExtraExtra in
New York.
Share this story bizbash.com/djbooths
For the Toronto International
Film Festival’s opening night
party in September, producer
Barbara Hershenhorn of Party
Barbara Company surrounded
the DJ booth in the main room
with 18 TV screens looping a
futuristic video.
At the Art Ball at the Dallas Museum of
Art in April, Todd Events used honeycomb walls, interior Versa tubes, and
lighting elements to build a decorative
platform for DJ Lucy Wrubel over the
registration desk.
For Rent
Pattern
Recognition
Rental companies are perking up their
inventories with more prints.
Cloud loveseat by Pucci, $297, available
throughout Southern California from
FormDecor (310.558.2582, formdecor.com)
By LAUREN MATTHEWS
Custom-printed
illuminated bar
unit, available
throughout
the U.S. from
Blueprint Studios
(415.922.9004,
blueprintstudios
.com)
Flower Power pillow, available in Toronto
from Contemporary Furniture Rentals Inc.
(416.703.9236, cfrentals.com)
Damask-pattern accent table,
available throughout the
U.S. from Blueprint Studios
(415.922.9004, blueprint
studios.com)
Black-and-white striped Encore wingback chair, $125, available throughout
Southern California from Town & Country Event Rentals (818.908.4211, tacer.biz)
18 bizbash.com may/june 2012
Beach Stripe
dinner plate,
available on
the East Coast
from Party
Rental Ltd.
(201.727.4700,
partyrentalltd.com)
Yellow
Hexagon back
and seat
Chameleon chair,
available in
Miami and
New York from
Nüage Designs
(305.573.7840/
212.995.8855,
nuagedesigns
.com)
Lily Pulitzer collection, $275 for the corner section with cushion and two pillows; $225
for the armless section with cushion and two pillows; available throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, from Taylor Creative Inc. (888.245.4044, taylorcreativeinc.com)
Share this story bizbash.com/patternedrentals
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF VENDORS
Bronze Modular Circle
ottoman, $30, available
throughout the U.S. from
Suite 206 (214.749.0400,
suite206.com)
For the Table
Blue Purple Mosaic linen, $25 for a 118-inch
round, available in the U.S. and Canada from
Susan Murray International (416.243.9284,
susanmurray.com)
Soft Fantasia sheer
embroidered organza
fabric in blue, $10 per
yard with minimum
of 25 yards, available
from partyfabrics.com
(646.872.3203 )
Infinity Flock,
available across
the U.S. from
Cloth Connection
(212.585.1284, cloth
connection.com)v
Babylon Blue Print
Basic linen, available
on the East Coast
from Party Rental Ltd.
(201.727.4700, party
rentalltd.com)
Sea Star, $68 for a 132inch round, available
across the U.S. from
Wildflower Linens
(866.965.7775, wild
flowerlinens.com)
Hemp with light pink
flocking, available in
Miami and New York
from Nüage Designs
(305.573.7840/
212.995.8855,
nuagedesigns.com)
Taj Shantung,
$28.50 for a 90inch square, available across the
U.S. from BBJ Linen
(800.592.2414,
bbjlinen.com)
Plan your next event here.
561.835.1408 | cityplace.com
Plates from the Vintage Table
Company (310.210.9298, thevintage
tableco.com) in Los Angeles
New Charging Kiosks
GoCharge (800.265.8069, gochargenow.com)
specializes in mobile-device-charging kiosks with
patent-pending technology that claims to offer
the fastest charging speed available. The new
Orion model rents from $200, charges nearly all
models of cell phones, smartphones, and MP3
players, and is designed to fit into tight spaces
and on tabletops found in exhibitor and sponsor booths. GoCharge also offers Athena, a floor
model with an interactive LCD screen that can be
fully wrapped and branded, from $2,000. —L.M.
Trend Spotted
China
Town
NOT SO FRESH
Damask
Selections from Dinner Party
(dinnerpartyshop.com) in Chicago
these new vintage-specific rental operations
have an inventory that includes glassware and
serving pieces in addition to plates, but bear
in mind that quantities may be limited, as the
owners continually build up their collections,
which usually range between 200 and 500 settings. And because the pieces are sourced from
estates, thrift stores, and flea markets, complete
matching place settings typically aren’t an option. “Clients often see a certain pattern on my
Web site and think I have 50 more of the same
plate, but usually I just have that one. It’s important to be into the mismatched look if you want
to use a vintage rental company,” Le Backes says.
—Lauren Matthews
Printed photos
Russell
Brand
20 bizbash.com may/june 2012
PHOTO BOOTH
RESULTS
CELEBRITY
HOST
Chevron
Rectangle
Instant uploads
to social media
LL Cool J
INSPIRATION
SHARING
Calorie-heavy
comfort food
ON THE MENU
Calorieconscious
health food
Evites
INVITATION
DELIVERY
By hand
Bare concrete
floors
FLOORING
Wall-to-wall
temporary
carpet
Biggest iPhone Ever
New York-based Interactive Entertainment
Concepts (800.760.0724, interactiveparty
.com) is introducing the world’s largest
operating iPhone for use at trade shows,
product launches, and events. Any iPhone
app or function can be used on the
phone’s multitouch-screen surface, and
the unit can be suspended horizontally
or laid flat. The giant iPhone is available
nationwide and sells for $4,000 to $4,500.
—L.M.
LINENS
PATTERN
TABLE
SHAPE
Round
The shabby-chic look has invaded the rental
market, with companies exclusively dedicated
to mismatched vintage china and tableware
popping up across the country. Why is the
style on the rise? “Mismatched china can add
character to a corporate environment and set
an event apart from the standard white-platesin-a-hotel-ballroom look,” says Kathy Le Backes
of the Vintage Table Company in Los Angeles.
“For guests, it conjures up a sense of nostalgia
and personal connection.
6 vintage china I’m always hearing people
at events say things like, ‘My
companies
grandma had that same
bizbash.com/
china pattern!’” Most of
vintagechina
FRESH
RED CARPET
GAWKING VEHICLE
TV
Chinese
GLOBAL
INFLUENCE
Ustream
French
PHOTOS: WILDFLOWERS PHOTOGRAPHY (THE VINTAGE TABLE), NATHAN MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY (DINNER PARTY), COURTESY OF VENDORS (ALL OTHERS)
Mismatched vintage
china rentals make
what’s old new again.
The Fresh List
ADVERTISEMENT
MAPS Announces
New Outdoor
Space: The Backlot
INSIDE EDGE
Mobile Arts Production Services
(MAPS) has announced the opening
of its newest venue, the MAPS Backlot.
The unique outdoor space is both
a photo studio and an event space.
It features two cyc walls, which
can be used for events to project
unique lighting design, create art
installations, or be painted as desired
to create a custom backdrop. The
Backlot features 10,500 square feet
of space, easy vehicle access and
adjacent private parking. The Backlot
is located in the Wynwood arts
The Dezer Collection Celebrates Grand
Opening
The Dezer Collection, one of Miami’s
newest event spaces, celebrated its
grand opening in March 2012 and
is now available for both special
and corporate events. The venue
offers complete event production,
coordination, and design services.
The Dezer Collection includes several
uniquely designed spaces that are
available individually, making the
venue equipped for large or small
events. The venue was designed to
provide event planners with a choice
of either a blank canvas space or a
themed space.
The James Bond Lounge offers
guests a sophisticated, unique event
experience. The 15,000-squarefoot lounge is home to the largest
collection of James Bond vehicles
in the world, including original
automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes,
and water crafts. Alternatively, the
Dezer Showplace is 25,000 square
feet of open, raw space with mobile
partitions, allowing planners to create
a venue tailored to their specific needs.
All spaces at the Dezer Collection
have audio visual capabilities, and
the option for on-site catering and
valet parking. (305-503-4021, www.
dezercollection.com)
district in Miami and will be ready to
host events for up to 500 guests in late
summer 2012.
In addition to the Backlot, MAPS
also has a South Beach location, the
MAPS Studio. The Studio is also both
a photo studio and an event space,
and can accommodate events for up
to 250 guests. Both venues have topof-the-line audiovisual capabilities,
advanced lighting opportunities,
and the capacity for valet parking
and catering. (305.532.7880, www.
mapsproduction.com)
NACE South Florida presents the Taste of NACE Hunger Games
Join the South Florida
chapter of NACE for one of
the most highly anticipated
industry events of the year,
the Taste of NACE Hunger
Games. The Taste of NACE
will be at the Renaissance
Fort Lauderdale-Plantation
Hotel on Thursday, June 21.
The event will showcase more
than 30 local NACE-member
caterers and entertainment
and decor companies,
highlighting all the latest and
greatest trends. The event
will feature a silent auction
and a V.I.P. lounge, and will
benefit Feeding South Florida,
the NACE Foundation, and
the South Florida NACE
Scholarship Fund. Visit
www.southfloridaNACE.net
for more information and
to register.
NACE, the National
Association of Catering
Executives, is the oldest and
largest catering association
in the world, encompassing
all aspects of the catering
industry. NACE is dedicated
to promoting the career
success of its members
and professionalism of
the catering industry as a
whole. With NACE, members
have access to top trends
in catering and events,
resources to help them build
their careers, and recognition
and award programs to help
them give back to the people
who make them successful.
(410.290.5410, www.
southfloridanace.net)
Bing rewarded
some festival
attendees who
mentioned the
brand on social
media with
entrance to the
“Bing Bar.”
Bing created a studio inside the
Bing Bar to conduct celebrity
interviews, which were shared
on Facebook and Bing.
Bing partnered
with Spin
to host a
variety of live
entertainment
at the Bing
Bar, including
Drake, Jason
Mraz, and
Fitz and the
Tantrums.
Strategy Session
Search Results
Bing’s elaborate activation at Sundance
shows how a brand can use social media to
meet customers’ needs. By MITRA SORRELLS
To manage the on-site activities, the company created the “Bing
Brigade,” a sort of social media
concierge service. The team of 14
people monitored and responded to
questions about the festival posted
on Twitter, handed out Bing swag
to people waiting in lines (the company distributed more than 4,500
items, including sweatshirts and
mittens), and even charged attendees’ phones using special backpacks.
Sedgwick said the most
popular giveaway was access to
the invitation-only Bing Bar, in
the former Claim Jumper Hotel,
which offered cozy lounge areas,
interviews with filmmakers, and
concerts from such artists as Jason
Mraz, Cobra Starship, and Drake.
“People would tweet, ‘It would be
my dream come true to go to the
Bing Bar to see Drake,’ and for a
number of people we reached out
and said, ‘Here is your dream come
true,’” Sedgwick said. The company
also created a Bing-Sundance 2012
group on GroupMe (a group texting
service also owned by Microsoft)
and encouraged attendees to use
it to coordinate their activities with
friends. Sedgwick said hundreds
of groups were created, and they
22 bizbash.com may/june 2012
Postagram’s mobile photo team
snapped nearly 2,000 photos in
three days at the festival.
rewarded the most active ones with
access to the Bing Bar.
The Bing Brigade also monitored tweets inquiring about restaurants. “We had booked reservations at the hottest restaurants
ahead of time,” Sedgwick said. “So
if people tweeted about trying to
get a reservation with the hashtag
#teambing, we would randomly
pick some to give a reservation and
a $100 gift card. We wanted to show
that Bing helps you get things done
while you are at Sundance.”
For another activation, Bing hired
Sincerely, the maker of Postagram, to
provide a team of 10 photographers
to snap photos of festival-goers.
About a week after the festival, those
people received their photos in the
mail in the form of a Postagram
postcard printed with Bing’s logo.
“We wanted that extra touchpoint
a week later, another iteration of
our name out there to hopefully get
people to try the product, and have
a more positive connotation around
it,” Sedgwick said.
Bing also used social media to
connect with movie buffs and music
fans worldwide. “There are tons of
people who are not able to get to
Park City, so we thought about how
we could help people experience a
taste of [Sundance] while at home,”
Sedgwick said. The solution was
live-streaming performances and
speakers at Bing Bar to the brand’s
Facebook page, giving people incentive to “like” the page in order to
have access to the stream.
One bit of fallout from Bing’s
efforts at Sundance: In March the
company fired two marketing
executives, Eric Hadley and Sean
Carver, for violating company policies in part related to purchases for
the Bing Bar.
Share this story bizbash.com/bing
PHOTOS: DAVID HUA (PHOTO TEAM), CHARLES PETERSON (ALL OTHERS)
Microsoft’s search engine brought its
“Bing Is for Doing” slogan to life at
the Sundance Film Festival in January. Bing created a multilevel social
media campaign that offered guests
access to exclusive concerts, restaurant reservations, merchandise, and
concierge services. The premise was
simple: Give festival attendees what
they want and need, and in return,
they’ll share their affinity for your
brand on social networks.
“We had done some social
stuff last year at Sundance, but not
nearly to the scope and scale of this
year,” said Bing social media manager Dustin Sedgwick. “We wanted
to be positive and fun, to surprise
and delight, and to help people to
get things done at Sundance.”
The company received more
than 55,000 views of its Facebook
stream, and nearly 55 million Twitter
impressions during its five-day presence. Of all the social media buzz
about brands at the festival, Bing
owned 56 percent of the mentions.
The effort had two components:
providing special treatment and
insider access for some of the 50,000
attendees at Sundance, and sharing
the festival with the company’s fans
on Facebook.
LAS VEGAS La Tavola
Fine Linen Rental
recently opened
its first Las Vegas
showroom (3301
West Spring
Mountain Road #8,
702.383.3337,
latavolalinen.com).
Clients can experiment with tabletop designs at the new
space, no appointments necessary.
WASHINGTON
MIAMI The Water Taxi Miami (305.600.2511,
James Beard
Awardwinning chef
José Andrés
of ThinkFoodGroup
debuted his Spanish food truck, Pepe
(202.638.0202, pepefoodtruck.com), in March.
The silver truck is available for private events, offering a selection of eight flautas— rolled sandwiches layered with ingredients like Iberico pork,
piparra peppers, Serrano ham, and manchego.
There is a minimum of $1,200 and 20 guests,
which includes the truck and staff for two hours.
watertaximiami.com) is now operating between
four docking points, including the Miami Convention Center and South Beach. The yellow boats
hold as many as 38 passengers and are also available for private charters, which start at $450 for
the first hour and $150 for each additional hour.
Forecast
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF KIMPTON HOTELS (BOSTON), SCOTT SUCHMAN (WASHINGTON),
BERGONIA PHOTOGRAPHY (CHICAGO), COURTESY OF VENDORS (ALL OTHERS)
Ideas, products, trends, and
other new stuff to have on
your radar.
LOS ANGELES Le Cirque has been bringing the
experience of dining at the iconic New York
restaurant to private clubs. The pop-up dinner
series (888.402.3933, clubcorp.com/lecirque)
makes its final stops in Southern California,
visiting San Diego on May 11 and Los Angeles
on May 18. The $150-per-person price tag
includes a four-course menu, wine, and a copy
of Sirio: The Story of My Life and Le Cirque.
Share this story bizbash.com/forecast
BOSTON In April, the Hotel Marlowe in
Cambridge (25 Edwin H. Land Boulevard,
617.868.8000, hotelmarlowe.com), which
overlooks the Charles River and the Lechmere Canal, began offering relay-style
kayaking races for as many as 40 guests.
Races are held in the afternoon and conclude with a cocktail reception featuring
regional drinks.
TORONTO Sliced Gourmet (650 Bay
Street, 416.971.4000, slicedgourmet
.com) has a full gourmet catering menu
of sandwiches and salads for in-office
meetings and private events. All items,
like the Lobster B.L.T., are made from
scratch with
seasonal,
natural
ingredients.
Delivery is
available
for orders
over $50.
EVERYWHERE Send gift boxes filled with
ORLANDO Ice Magic (407.816.1905, icemagic
.biz) has created a swivel table that can be
attached to any of the pieces in its Totally
Mod line of modular leather furniture. The
Orlando-based company can construct the
tabletop in glass, acrylic, or wood and in sizes
from 14 to 22 inches. The table starts at $50.
CHICAGO Mixologist Revae
Schneider, a veteran of Gilt Bar,
has launched
Femme du
Coupe (773.916.
6070, femmedu
coupe.com),
a bar-styling
company
specializing in
creating custom
cocktails for events. Schneider practices
“interactive mixology,” giving guests
the option to create their own libations
alongside her. Femme du Coupe also
offers teambuilding classes and sells premade cocktail mixers for $40 each, which
can be used as corporate gifts.
magazines and snacks from Cheeriodicals
(855.584.2207, cheeriodicals.com) as a
client or employee gift. In addition to
treats, each box contains four magazines
geared toward the
recipient’s
interests. Boxes
start at $40,
with volume discounts for orders
of at least 50.
NEW YORK In late June, P.S. 1 MoMA (22-25 Jackson
Avenue, 718.784.2084, ps1.org) in Queens will debut a
temporary 3-D eco-friendly installation made from nylon nets treated with a titania nanoparticle spray that
neutralizes airborne pollutants. The star-shaped structure called Wendy was designed by New York-based
firm HWKN. It will house a DJ booth and its spiky arms
will mist water and blast cool air into the courtyard.
bizbash.com may/june 2012 23
The Rusty Pelican is one of the top Special Events Venues in Miami that offers complete
event production, custom catering, coordination and design services for corporate and special
events. The newly transformed Rusty Pelican has impeccable amenities for weddings, corporate
functions and socials, including premium audio and visual equipment, bridal suites with a personal
concierge, outside terrace for cocktail hour and so much more. We create and implement high quality
events that capture the attention, emotions and imagination of your audience like no one else can.
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EVENT REPORTS
PHOTO: LINE 8 PHOTOGRAPHY
Lunch at Five
On February 23, Essence marked
the fifth anniversary of its
“Black Women in Hollywood”
luncheon, taking over the
Beverly Hills Hotel with a black,
white, and purple look produced
by Caravents. For more Oscarweek events, turn the page.
25
Governors Ball
The stars of this year’s Oscar night
parties include two new players as well
as a fresh dining concept for the Academy’s Governors Ball.
LOS ANGELES
By ALESANDRA DUBIN
Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair took its annual A-list event back to the Sunset
Tower hotel, which was bathed in colorful lighting that
matched the host’s brand. The arrivals carpet was
decorated with logos; inside, the viewing dinner got an
understated look.
Share this story bizbash.com/oscars
26 bizbash.com may/june 2012
PHOTOS: LINE 8 PHOTOGRAPHY (GOVERNORS BALL), COURTESY OF WOLFGANG PUCK (TRAY-PASSED DISHES), ADRIAN
SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (JEAN DUJARDIN), CHRISTOPHER POLK/VF12/WIREIMAGE (VANITY FAIR DINNER)
Golden Boys
An oversize Oscar statuette stood
sentry at the Governors Ball, produced
and designed by Cheryl Cecchetto of
Sequoia Productions with ball chair
Jeffrey Kurland. This year’s event at
the Grand Ballroom on the top level of
Hollywood & Highland got a revamp,
abandoning the traditional sit-down
dinner for a format Cecchetto described
as “energized,” with a meal of more
than 50 mostly tray-passed dishes by
Wolfgang Puck. Entertainment included
Dave Koz (pictured), Tony Bennett, and
Gregg Field and his band.
A color-coded
grid composed
of 20,000
squares of the
museum’s past
press releases,
editorial clippings,
photos, and
invites decorated
the walls and
lampshades.
In a nod to the museum’s anniversary,
Stark created a collage backdrop for the
stage that highlighted the number 15.
On the center
of each table
sat two MOCA
catalogs,
standing and
open, from
within a
plastic cover.
Tables of
Content
MOCA showcased its history with a colorcoded collage at its 15th anniversary event.
The Museum of Contemporary Art in
North Miami celebrated its 15th anniversary February 25 with a bash produced by David
Stark. The event marked the first time that the
institution had worked with the New York-based
The dinner space had a contemporary urban-loft
event producer and designer and was Stark’s first
feel, with exposed ceilings and white columns.
large Miami production.
To celebrate the museum’s milestone, Stark
and his team paid tribute to its accomplishments
over the years using geometric shapes and neon
colors to highlight elements of contemporary art.
The interior gallery was transformed for dinner
with a floor-to-ceiling, color-coded photo mosaic of
20,000 images.
“We’re looking at 15 years of MOCA existence,
creating decor entirely out of abstractions or
croppings of the different graphics that appeared
in catalogs, ads, press pieces, invites, and posters
throughout the 15 years,” Stark said. “It’s this incredible collage created with the museum’s content. It
During dinner,
allows us to create something new and exciting,
Icelandic
but still have the meaning of what everyone came
artist Ragnar
together for.”
Kjartansson
TentLogix provided tenting for the after-party,
sang a new piece
which covered the museum’s courtyard. Museum
created for event.
supporters walked down a red carpet, which led to
a dance floor that had been set up underneath a
At the after-party,
three-dimensional, LED display of
a 3-D display was
MOCA North Miami’s
the word paradise. The exhibit of
inspired by Jack
15th Anniversary
Jack Pierson’s “Paradise,” which is
Pierson’s work
Celebration
regularly displayed on the wall of
“Paradise.”
the courtyard, inspired the letters
Audiovisual Production,
Lighting All Access Audio
suspended from the ceiling. “The
Video Lighting
goal is to elevate the decor to the
Catering Lyon & Lyon
realm of installation art,” Stark said.
Catering
Icelandic artist Ragnar KjarDJ DJ Hottpants
Decor, Production
tansson performed a dramatic
David Stark Design and
set during dinner that had been
Production
created especially for the occasion.
Rentals Atlas Party
At the end of the night, guests
Rental Inc., Ronen
Rental—Boutique Event
left with gift bags containing
Furnishings
perfume from the evening’s lead
Valet Park One
sponsor, Cartier. —Ashley Marco
The contemporary theme carried
through to the menu. Staffers
served guests desserts in a series
of “MOCA Geometrics.”
28 bizbash.com may/june 2012
Share this story bizbash.com/mocamiami
PHOTOS: JOHN PARA/WIREIMAGE FOR MOCA (DINNER SPACE, KJARTANSSON), COURTESY OF KT MERRY PHOTOGRAPHY (ALL OTHERS)
MIAMI
Today’s Talking
Points
The Call Sheet is the mustread daily digest of event
news — a quick look at
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local market.
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Decked out in Adidas
apparel, Fabolous was
part of the night’s live
musical entertainment.
Three large LED screens showed
Adidas original video content.
To showcase
the connection
between the
brand and the
basketball
player,
Night Vision
Entertainment
constructed a
case to display
54 pairs of
Dwight Howard
Adidas shoes.
Feet First
Adidas’s shoes decorated its bash
during N.B.A. All-Star Weekend.
Amid the flurry of private events
during the N.B.A. All-Star Weekend
was the February 24 affair hosted by Adidas for
one of its key endorsers, Orlando Magic player
Dwight Howard. Held at the Orlando Executive
Airport, the 700-person party saw Night Vision
Guests could have pictures taken with
Entertainment turn an airplane hangar into a
music-themed props, then upload them
sleek, modern lounge with understated cues to
instantly to their social media sites.
the sportswear company’s branding.
“Dwight is one of our key athletes, so we
really wanted to help him celebrate All-Star
Weekend,” said Lisa Markusen, head of brand
design and events for Adidas. “A lot of the decor
was built around light. We are playing with
a lot of patterns. It’s very modern, very clean,
very subtle use of our logo. We don’t like to
over-brand.”
Night Vision worked with Launch! to create a bilevel truss system in the middle of the
12,000-square-foot hangar. Multicolored lights
filled the site, as guests danced to live performances from Fabolous, Young Jeezy, D.M.C., and
The event was held in
B.o.B. Above the main bar, 12 monitors displayed
honor of Orlando Magic
Adidas’s original videos.
player Dwight Howard.
The design team scattered pillows emblazoned with the Adidas logo on contemporary white lounge furniture from Cort Event
Furnishings, filling the upper V.I.P.
platform and a small section of
Adidas All-Star
the main floor. Night Vision also
Weekend Party
created two decorative elements
Audiovisual Production,
using Adidas shoes: a shoe chanLighting, Sound, Staging
Launch!
delier and a three-shelf display
Catering Renaissance
of 54 pairs of colorful Howard
Catering
sneakers.
Decor, Design,
Guests dined on small bites
Production Night Vision
Entertainment
from Renaissance Catering,
Entertainment
including piña-colada-flavored
BabyBlueStar Productions
chicken skewers and cream puffs
Flowers Lowe and Behold
topped with caramel sauce. FootEvent Accents
Furniture Rentals Cort
Action, Red Bull, Duracell, and Soul
Night Vision Entertainment
Event Furnishings
by Ludacris headphones were the
hung 22 pairs of shoes in a
Venue Showalter Flying
evening’s sponsors.
spiral pattern.
Service
—Mitra Sorrells
30 bizbash.com may/june 2012
Share this story bizbash.com/adidas
PHOTOS: JOE HILL/DUCK UP PRODUCTIONS (FABOLOUS, PROPS, DWIGHT HOWARD), KAYLA HERNANDEZ FOR BIZBASH (ALL OTHERS)
ORLANDO
location. A large stage hosted speakers such as
television personality Bob Vila and J.R. Martinez,
an Iraq war veteran and Season 13 winner of
“Dancing With the Stars,” along with presentaThe International Builders’ Show brought tions on topics such as green construction. A mix
of chairs and lounge furniture from Cort Event
education and networking out of
Furnishings filled the middle of the carpeted
meeting rooms and onto the show floor. area to “create a space where people could spontaneously gather,” Pursell said. Two 10- by -10foot enclosed rooms on the perimeter provided a
A new open-air theater on the
ORLANDO floor of the National Associaquiet place for attendees to hold meetings.
Show organiztion of Home Builders International Builders’
ers also moved the
Show attracted a steady stream of attendees
National Association
Finance Pavilion into
during the event February 8 to 11 at the Orange
of Home Builders
County Convention Center. Dubbed “I.B.S. Live,” the I.B.S. Live—giving it a
International Builders’
6,300-square-foot area in the middle of the floor more prominent loca- Show
tion in recognition of
did exactly what organizers hoped it would do:
Audiovisual Production,
create a new reason for some of the nearly 50,000 the fact that financExhibitor Services,
Freight Services, General
ing issues are a hot
attendees to spend time on the show floor. “We
Contractor, Sound,
topic for attendees.
wanted to take some of the education and netStaging Freeman
working out of meeting rooms and put it right in Throughout the four
Catering Centerplate
the middle of the show, to create a destination for days, builders and
Entertainment
Washington Speakers
developers gathered
the attendees, the buyers, the builders, to come
Bureau
in this area to hear
see what’s happening,” said Mark Pursell, the
Furniture Rentals Cort
presentations from
association’s senior vice president of exhibitions,
Event Furnishings
financial industry rep- Housing, Lead Retrieval,
marketing, and sales. “It’s a different program
Registration Experient
resentatives and to
every hour. Anything we can do to draw people
Photography Oscar
to the floor is healthier for the show and makes it participate in group
Einzig Photography/
discussions. In the afinteresting for the attendees.”
Videography/Imaging
ternoons, the associa- Security Dupree Security
Banners suspended from the ceiling
Group
tion hosted networkmarked the four corners of the I.B.S. Live
ing receptions in I.B.S. Venue Orange County
area and allowed attendees throughout the
Convention Center
410,000-square-foot trade show to easily see its Live.— Mitra Sorrells
Floor Factor
PHOTOS: MITRA SORRELLS/BIZBASH
The trade show included
about 900 exhibitors,
which is similar to last year,
although many used less
space than in 2011.
J.R. Martinez, an Iraq
war veteran and
Season 13 winner of
“Dancing with the
Stars,” drew a crowd
to the I.B.S. Live area.
The Kohler exhibit included an enclosed showroom
created by architectural firm Marmol Radziner to
showcase the company’s new Numi toilet.
Share this story bizbash.com/ibs
PHOTOS: MITRA SORRELLS/BIZBASH (CONTESTANTS), COURTESY OF PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF (BROADCAST)
Contestants in the Pillsbury
Bake-Off prepared their
entries inside a ballroom at
the Peabody Orlando.
During a live broadcast,
Stewart revealed that judges
had selected Christina Verrelli’s
pumpkin ravioli with salted
caramel whipped cream as the
grand-prize winner.
Mixing It Up
Pillsbury chose Martha Stewart as its
new partner for its baking competition.
Pillsbury held its Bake-Off Contest
in a new location this year and
brought in a new celebrity partner, Martha
Stewart. The talk-show host chatted with contestants as they prepared their entries inside a
ballroom at the Peabody Orlando on March 26.
The next day she announced the million-dollar
winner during a live broadcast of The Martha
Stewart Show from a temporary television
studio in the hotel.
ORLANDO
The contest was last held in 2010 at the
organizers created 100 mini kitchens—one for
Waldorf-Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando
each contestant—equipped with a cabinet,
Bonnet Creek. “Orlando is easily accessible from countertop, chair, and G.E. electric range. Conall over the United States and has many large
testants also used nearly 1,000 measuring cups,
hotels that are able to accommodate our space more than 300 mixing bowls, and 270 spatulas.
and service needs,” said contest manager Onju
Along a back wall of the ballroom, 28 refrigeraSturlaugson. “Florida is a great destination this tors held supplies such as eggs and butter.
time of the year and has many attractions and
This year’s contest began online more than
activities if the finalists want to extend their
a year ago. A panel selected 90 recipes to bestay after the contest.”
come finalists and 20 that faced off in an online
This was the 45th rendition of the contest
contest for the 10 remaining spots. Each of the
that invites home cooks to create original reci100 finalists won a trip to Orlando, a G.E. micropes using Pillsbury products along with products wave oven, and $125. The grand-prize winner,
from sponsors such as Progresso, Herselected by a panel of 12 food writers
shey’s, Land O’Lakes, and Fisher Nuts.
Share this story and industry executives, received $1
Set up began March 22 inside the
bizbash.com/ million and $10,000 worth of G.E.
hotel’s Windermere Ballroom, where
kitchen appliances. —Mitra Sorrells
pillsbury
More than 40 dancers surprised shoppers at Mary
Brickell Village in downtown Miami, singing and
dancing to celebrate Oreo’s 100th birthday.
The costumed character Oreo Man greeted
adults and kids at the shopping area.
Smart Cookie
PHOTOS: DAVID ADAME FOR OREO
Oreo marked its 100th birthday with a
flash mob and cookie-dunking contests.
set up “Twist, Lick, and Dunk” contests for kids of
all ages. The “Oreo Man” even made an appearance, stopping to greet guests. All participants
and spectators snacked on free milk and cookies
On March 6, Oreo threw surprise
MIAMI celebrations around the world in honor during the afternoon. Oreo also set up a Web site
where fans could send a virtual birthday mesof the 100th birthday of the chocolate-flavored
biscuit cookie with cream filling. To celebrate this sage to someone from Oreo and the band Lady
Antebellum.
milestone, Oreo and Nabisco hosted numerThe birthday events were not only part of its
ous activities around the world, including seven
centennial celebration, but also Oreo’s marketing
surprise flash-mob-style birthday parties in the
mission to celebrate the kid inside every conUnited States., like the one at Mary Brickell
sumer by inspiring and collecting one million moVillage in downtown Miami.
ments of slowed-down, carefree fun. The brand
The birthday party showcased more than 40
is measuring the fun through its Oreo
dancers, who surprised shoppers with a
Share this story Million Moments Meter on this site.
flash mob of dancers who sang “Happy
bizbash.com/
Oreo’s 100th birthday also marked
Birthday” to the cookie. Following the
oreo
the introduction of an international
party’s opening performance, staffers
The birthday celebration
continued with dancing,
cookie giveaways, and
cookie-dunking contests.
limited-edition cookie: the Birthday Cake Oreo,
with colorful sprinkles in the cream filling held together by the cookie wafers, which are embossed
with a special birthday design. Nabisco also introduced new global advertising for print, TV, and
digital campaigns March 2. —Jana Schiowitz
Fun & Fit as a Family
Rachael Ray shared family friendly nutritional tips at her
live cooking demonstration during the event presented
by Florida Blue. Rocco DiSpirito taught children how to
assemble healthier pizza options, using fresh ingredients
and whole wheat pizza dough. The chef even sported an
official festival T-shirt promoting hashtag #SOBEWFF.
Here’s a look at some of the innovative events
and brand activations from the South Beach
Wine & Food Festival February 23 to 26. By TRACY BLOCK
MIAMI
The Best Thing I Ever Ate
Offering “Late
Night Bites &
Sweets,” the
Food Networkand Cooking
Channel-sponsored event
was inspired
by traditional
American
diners and
decorated with
white booths
and a wall of
food personality caricatures.
To give guests a
first look at the
new stadium, Julie
Loria, wife of Marlins owner Jeffrey
Loria, hosted a V.I.P.
evening on the field
of Marlins Park.
Chefs Eric Chopin,
Hedy Goldsmith,
Laurent Tourondel,
Scott Conant, and
Michelle Bernstein
prepared dinner items such as
burgers and lemon
meringue pie.
Thrillist’s BBQ & Blues
Brightly illuminated stations dotted Thrillist’s event, where more than
a dozen chefs plated food using Creekstone Farms offerings. Chef Paula
DaSilva of Eden Roc restaurant, 1500 Degrees, prepared a suckling pig,
while Top Chef alum and North Miami Beach chef Howie Kleinberg
served tender beef-brisket sliders and fresh coleslaw.
34 bizbash.com may/june 2012
Share this story bizbash.com/sobewinefoodfest
PHOTOS: ALEXANDER PORTER/BFANCY.COM (DIAMOND
DISHES), ELIZABETH RENFROW FOR BIZBASH (ALL OTHERS)
Big Bites
Diamond Dishes at Marlins Park
Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village
PHOTOS: TRACY BLOCK FOR BIZBASH (FIJI, DIET PEPSI), VALLERY JEAN/WIREIMAGE (THE SLICE), ELIZABETH RENFROW FOR BIZBASH (ALL OTHERS)
Hundreds of patrons headed into
the grand tasting’s grounds on
Ocean Drive for a
seven-hour feast of
food, wine, spirits,
and Food Network
celebrity appearances. Outside the
tent, sponsor Buick
built a sandcastle,
while inside brands,
such as Aperol, Jelly
Belly, Bertolli, and Fiji
Water, displayed their
wares. Fiji Water’s
carnival-inspired display had a photo-taking station, fortune
tellers, and fresh fried
doughnuts.
Cultivate Wines’ Trucks on the Beach
Select food trucks like local grilled cheese truck Ms. Cheezious, parked under the
tent for the Andrew Zimmern-hosted event, which was the festival’s closing party.
The Slice
The Cosmopolitan of Las
Vegas hosted
visitors at the
Slice, its traveling two-story
pop-up with
interiors reminiscent of the
resort. Outside,
guests used
chalk to draw
on Dunny by
Kid Robot.
Moët Hennessey’s the Q
Diet Pepsi set up an aluminum display with interactive touch-screen
stations, allowing attendees to post their favorite dishes to Twitter or
Facebook. Buick packed the trunk of one of its vehicles with picnic products, including a bottle of champagne from event sponsor Moët Hennessy. The glittering cow display from sponsor Allen Brothers Steaks
became the event’s landmark for lounging and photo ops.
RESTAURANT
2 9 0 1 F L O R I D A AV E N U E
~
~
LOUNGE
IN THE GROVE
~
~
E V E N T S PAC E
305 774 1500
~
VILLA-MAYFAIR.COM
30
Native New Yorker George Gee formed his first big band orchestra in
1980 while a student at Carnegie Mellon University. Ten years later, he
returned to New York City, where his 17-piece group George Gee Swing
Orchestra (718.779. 7865, georgegee.com) continues to play swing, big band,
and jazz. Gee’s so-called 10-piece “economy big band,” is also available for
events. You’ll hear: the best of greats like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny
Goodman, and Glenn Miller.
PHOTOS: STEPH HODGE PHOTOGRAPHY (BEANTOWN SWING ORCHESTRA),
PHOTOSWITHCLASS.COM (RICHARD HALPERN’S), COURTESY OF VENDORS (ALL OTHERS)
TIME MACHINES
A regular at Los Angeles vintage
hot spot the Cicada Club, Richard
Halpern’s Jazz-Age Speakeasy
Show (213.739.3377, richardhalpern.info) bills its eponymous
leader as “Mister Tin Pan
Alley.” He offers a repertoire of old-timey 1920s
standards that can be
backed by prerecorded
tracks, a pianist, or
a full live orchestra.
You’ll hear: Al Jolson’s
“I’m in Seventh Heaven.”
20
’S
Share this story bizbash.com/vintageacts
Specializing in swing and big
band standards, vocalists and
American Idol finalists John
Stevens and Jen Hirsh front
Beantown Swing Orchestra
(617.272.5730, beantownswing
.com), an 18-piece Boston-based
orchestra. Professional swing
dancers can be added for demos and
group lessons at events. You’ll hear:
“In the Mood” and “The Way You Look
Tonight.”
’S
These retro musicians
offer throwback tuneage
to transport guests to
another era.
By LAUREN MATTHEWS
Listening to New York-based jazz ensemble Carte Blanche (888.800.3526,
carteblanchesamples.com) will make you feel like Owen Wilson’s character in Midnight in Paris after he stumbles back in time. The six-person
group dresses in all-white vintage outfits, and their fans include David
Stark and Martha Stewart. You’ll hear: French and American jazz standards from the 1920s, plus Latin music à la Buena Vista Social Club.
New York-based vintage
DJ Michael Cumella
spins pre-electric
78-rpm records from
the early 1900s on two
hand-cranked centuryold phonographs in
Michael Cumella’s
Crank-Up Phonograph DJ Experience
(646.228.5780, michael
cumella.com/phono
graphdj). You’ll hear:
ragtime, jazz, blues, and
artistic whistlers.
bizbash.com may/june 2012 37
Fronted by Ella Fitzgerald sound-alike Sheila Ford
and U.S. Navy Band chief arranger Scott Ragsdale,
Washington-based Raggs and the All-Stars
(888.800.3526, raggsandtheallstars.com) maintains a classic 1940s look (think big band fronts
and vintage tuxes). The core band has seven members but can be expanded with a vocal trio known as
the Ragg Dolls, who perform Andrews Sisters hits. You’ll
hear: “It’s De-Lovely” and “Nice Work if You Can Get It.”
’S
60
Chicago-based Beatles sound-alike act American English
(773.582.9102, americanenglish.com) has performed
everywhere from Liverpool to Japan for corporate clients
including Volvo and Motorola. The group also employs
a live keyboardist for orchestrations and sound effects.
Costume changes span from Ed Sullivan (suits and skinny
ties) to Sgt. Pepper (psychedelic) to Abbey Road (hippies).
You’ll hear: “Let It Be” and “She Loves You.”
The seven-piece Blue Sky 5 (410.961.7981, bluesky5.com)
sets the mood with American Lindy hop and swing from
the 1930s and ’40s while wearing clothes tailored à la
1941. (Lead singer Christina Crerar moonlights as a vintage
stylist.) You’ll hear: Billie Holiday’s “I Wished on the Moon”
and Benny Goodman’s “Gotta Be This or That.”
50
Formed in 2001 to perform in front of the Mel’s Drive-In at
Universal Studios, the four-person doo wop group Double Date
(407.645. 1006, entertainmentcentralagency.com) sings half-hour
a capella sets of 1950s pop hits. The Orlando-based ensemble
wears Grease-inspired outfits (poodle skirts for the ladies, cuffed
jeans and Converse for the guys). You’ll hear: Chuck Berry’s
“Johnny B. Goode” and Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party.”
38 bizbash.com may/june 2012
’S
’S
Singer Shawn Aileen Clark of Lapis Luna (888.800.3526, lapisluna.com)
transports listeners back to a time when the voices of sultry jazz singers filled smoky lounges, backed by a diverse instrumentation that can
include sax, trumpet, clarinet, flute, and vibraphone. The Brooklyn-based
ensemble, which was featured in the retro-tinged ad campaign for Kate
Spade’s Twirl perfume, specializes in hot jazz, blues, bebop, and bossa nova.
You’ll hear: Gene Kelly’s “Almost Like Being in Love” and Nina Simone’s “My
Baby Just Cares for Me.”
More old school acts bizbash.com/directory
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF VENDORS
40
Spot-on Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin
impersonators sing their respective hits in the Rat Pack Tribute
(702.897.4687, ratpack.com). The Las Vegas-based act can be
performed as a 60- to 75-minute show with a visit from a faux
Marilyn Monroe, or as a shorter opening-reception bit.
You’ll hear: “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Candy Man,” and
“That’s Amore.”
JEFF FARSAI (FLASHBACK), COURTESY OF VENDORS (ALL OTHERS)
70
Billed as a ’90s
party band, Lovefool (510.655.7926,
lovefoollive.com)
can dress in grunge
wear and perform
a genre-spanning
set that includes
Britney Spears and
Salt-N-Pepa. You’ll
hear: “Possum
Kingdom,” by the
Toadies, and “Love
Rollercoaster,” by
the Red Hot Chili
Peppers.
’S
Ten-piece Boogie Wonder Band (450.372.7764,
boogiewonderband.com) has been performing together since 1996, sharing the stage with
’70s legends like Gloria Gaynor and Kool & the
Gang, and playing at events for Sharpie, Levi’s,
and Cirque du Soleil. Based in Montreal, they tour
throughout Canada and the U.S., playing a funk- and
disco-heavy set list while wearing leisure suits and afro
wigs. You’ll hear: Rose Royce’s “Car Wash” and Earth,
Wind & Fire’s “September.”
Formed in 1992, Los Angeles-based cover band Boogie
Knights (888.250.8712, boogieknights.com) specializes in
all disco all the time, complete with choreography and
goofy outfits. You’ll hear: “Disco Inferno,” by the Tramps,
and the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”
90
’S
The two-hour “Saved by the ’90s” show has the four-piece New
York-based Bayside Tigers (718.858.2229, thebaysidetigers.com)
wearing outfits that would make Zack Morris and Kelly
Kapowski proud, while covering a songbook that ranges from
pop to grunge. You’ll hear: “I Want It That Way,” by the Backstreet Boys, and “You Oughta Know,” by Alanis Morissette.
80
Four-man group Flashback Heart Attack (714.647.2435, flashbackheartattack.com)
sports slick-looking red leather suits while delivering authentic-sounding covers of ’80s
anthems. Based in Orange County, California, the band has performed for companies
like Red Bull, Ford, and T-Mobile, and recently headlined the Birds Nest at the 2012 WM
Phoenix Open alongside Will.i.am and the Goo Goo Dolls. You’ll hear: Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself,” and the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.”
’S
Kicking out party-time cover songs by the likes of
Madonna, Duran Duran, and Journey, eye-candy-heavy
Rubix Kube (718.858.2229, rubixkube.com) features the
New York-based group’s six members wearing loud
’80s threads and hairspray-lacquered ’dos. The fiveyear-old band counts Katie Couric and Debbie Gibson
among its fans and has appeared on the Today show,
Celebrity Apprentice, and Cake Boss. You’ll hear:
“Jessie’s Girl,” by Rick Springfield, and “Africa,” by Toto.
bizbash.com may/june 2012 39
REMOTE
CONTROL
Hybrid events use audiovisual technology to share all or part of a physical event with
attendees participating off-site or online. Here are 10 production tips to keep in mind.
T
echnology has removed
the four walls that traditionally housed events in
one space, at one time.
Now hybrid is hot. The
term has come to refer
to an event that offers both an
in-person component and at least
some of its content live via the Internet to groups of attendees participating from organized satellite
locations or to individuals at home
or work. The growth of hybrid
events has been driven by society’s
increasing adoption of technology and also by economic factors:
greater competition in the technology industry is driving costs
down, coupled with reductions in
corporate travel budgets.
Whether it’s a big, international conference, such as SAP’s
Sapphire Now that creates elaborate broadcast studios on its show
floor, or a small, internal corporate
meeting that may only use one
camera, the purpose of a hybrid
event remains the same: to engage
participants—both in-person and
those attending virtually—in a
meaningful experience while staying on budget.
Here are 10 production tips to
keep in mind to create a successful
hybrid event.
1. Quality audio is paramount. Weak
sound or static will be even more
annoying to remote attendees than
to those in the room. “That cuts
down on your engagement,” says
Samuel J. Smith, C.E.O. of Interactive
Meeting Technology, a Minnesota
company that specializes in the
design, production, and execution
of interactive technology for events.
Also consider whether the remote
audience needs to be able to hear
people other than the main presenter. “If a person asking a question doesn’t have a microphone, the
virtual audience can’t hear it. That
will be a big downside. They will
hear some dead air and then hear
the presenter answer and have no
idea what he is referring to,” says
Dennis Shiao, director of product
marketing for INXPO, a Chicagobased company that provides online
destinations for events, recruiting,
training and communications.
2. Purchase enough bandwidth.
Internet bandwidth determines
how much data can be transmitted
and at what speed; for the virtual
audience it determines how your
event looks and feels. Without
enough bandwidth, the virtual
audience will see low-quality
video—the signal may drop out
40 bizbash.com may/june 2012
or require continual buffering—
which can be frustrating for virtual
attendees. In most cases, planners
purchase bandwidth from the venue,
which usually has an exclusive
arrangement with a bandwidth
provider. While this is not a place
to skimp, look for opportunities to
negotiate the cost in the same way
you negotiate the cost of space.
Also keep in mind that bandwidth
requirements are directly related
to how many sessions are being
streamed at the same time: three
sessions going out at once require
three times as much bandwidth.
Once you are on-site, verify that
you are getting what you are paying for by using one of the many
Web sites that offer a free, instant
measurement of Internet upload
and download speeds, such as
InternetFrog and Bandwidth Place.
3. Determine the number and type
of cameras needed. Start by
determining which sessions will
be streamed. For a conference with
sessions in multiple rooms, planners can cut down on the number
of cameras and operators needed
by scheduling the sessions to be
streamed at different times so
the same room can be used over
and over. A hybrid event needs at
least one fixed camera, but (if the
budget allows) multiple cameras
per session are preferable because
different angles and shots can help
keep the virtual audience engaged.
As for the type of cameras, Smith
says even if your event will not be
streamed in high-definition, it may
be worth using high-definition
cameras so videos produced from
the event will be top-quality. If that
is not a concern, the choice of camera can be one way to save money.
“In a pinch, I used our family’s old
digital video tape camcorder and it
was just fine,” says Midori Connolly,
C.E.O. and chief AVGirl of Californiabased Pulse Staging and Events, an
audiovisual staging company.
4. Vendors need to communicate
with one another. A hybrid event can
involve multiple service providers,
such as the company running the
audio and video in the room, the
information technology team from
the venue, a webcasting provider,
and possibly a virtual platform
provider. “Anybody who is touching
the experience needs to be talking
to one another,” says John Pollard,
event services program director at
Sonic Foundry, a Wisconsin company that created Mediasite, a platform for hybrid events, webcasting
Share this story bizbash.com/hybridevents
PHOTOS: RANDY BELICE/SAP AG (NETWORKING LOUNGE), JAMIE WINDAN/SAP AG (BROADCAST STUDIO)
By MITRA SORRELLS
Arts Central
PHOTO: ROBIN HILL
The Miami
New Venue Report
It’s challenging to keep up with South Florida’s venue scene, thanks to an
abundance of restaurant openings, large nightclub debuts, and the unveiling of new cultural spaces such as the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts
Center. And with new hotels like the St. Regis Bal Harbour and the boutique
Surfcomber, the market shows no signs of slowing. By ROSE CHEVALIER
The two-building South
Miami-Dade Cultural
Arts Center opened in
Cutler Bay in October.
The main building
houses the 966-seat
main stage theater,
a 1,900-square-foot
multipurpose black box
theater, a 2,160-squarefoot theater lab, and a
1,500-square-foot dance
studio. Available for preand post-show receptions,
the outdoor promenade
links the two buildings.
The backyard lawn, which
holds more than 700, is
also available for private
functions. (10950 SW 211
St., Cutler Bay, 786.573.5316,
miamidadearts.org)
Reports from Miami’s
newest event spaces
bizbash.com/miamivenues
bizbash.com may/june 2012 43
The Miami New Venue Report
Spas
1
Located in the St.
Regis Bal Harbour,
Fashion magazine
the 14,000-square-foot
1
Elle opened its first
Remede Spa offers group
Elle Spa at the Eden Roc
package options as well
Renaissance Miami Beach
as nine private cabanas
last year. With 18 treatment with wet bars, full bath
rooms, the 22,000-square- and showers, daybeds,
foot spa boasts rooftop
and flat-screen TVs. The
cabanas, a hair and nail
interior is decorated with
salon, group exercise
creamy marble walls, plush
studio, and beachfront
carpets, and white furnishfitness center. (4525 Collins ings. (9701 Collins Ave., Bal
Ave., 305.674.5585,
Harbour, 305.993.0600,
ellespamiami.com)
remede.com)
2
2
3
1
2
MEETING SPACES
The waterfront
Miami Marriott
Biscayne Bay reopened in
May 2011 after a two-year
renovation. In addition
to 23 meeting rooms and
a grand ballroom, the
updated space has a new
2,500-square-foot Bayview
Ballroom and executive
boardroom. Also available
for events are the terrace
overlooking the bay and
pool, and a private dining
room for 20 at the hotel’s
restaurant, Catch Grill &
Bar. (1633 North Bayshore
Drive, 305.374.3900,
marriott.com)
Fusse Studios
2
debuted near Miami’s
design district in April 2011
as a site for private parties,
live music, gallery exhibi1
tions, product presentations, video shoots, and
corporate meetings. The
2,000-square-foot space
has a studio, which seats
as many as 60 or holds
200. The entry lounge
and gallerylike area can
be combined to serve as
pre-function or meeting
spaces. (327 NE 59th Terr.,
786.282.2629, fussestudios
.com)
The Hampton Inn &
3
Suites Miami Brickell
Downtown opened in
September with more than
3,800 square feet of meeting space. The Heron and
Blue Bird boardrooms hold
as many as 12; the Egret
meeting room holds 45;
and Ibis I and II each hold
150 for a meeting, or 300
44 bizbash.com may/june 2012
when combined. All rooms
feature audiovisual equipment and complimentary
Internet access. (50 SW
12th St., 305.377.9400,
hamptoninnmiami
brickell.com)
In January, the
4
Lindemann Family
Creativity Center opened
at Bass Museum of Art. The
670-square-foot space has
five seven-foot-long tables
that seat as many as 30 in
a classroom or workshop
layout. The center can also
be turned into a lecture,
movie, or presentation
setting with seating for as
many as 60. For receptions or art showings, it
holds 100. (2121 Park Ave.,
305.673.7530, bassmuseum
.org)
Cozy in Coconut Grove
Dinner Key Dining Room opened in January as the
dedicated event section of the earthy Coconut Grove
Peacock Garden Café. Located just steps from the bay,
the 4,000-square-foot space seats as many as 200
guests. The floral garden serves as a cozy outdoor
sanctuary for
cocktails or
activities before,
during, or after
any event. (2889
McFarlane Road,
Coconut Grove,
305.774.3332,
peacockspot.com)
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MARRIOTT BISCAYNE BAY, SERJ/EYEWORKSPRODUCTION.COM (FUSSE), ANTONIO CUELLAR PHOTOGRAPHY (HAMPTON INN), MANNY
HERNANDEZ (LINDEMANN), ALEXANDER TAMARGO (ELLE), COURTESY OF ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR (REMEDE), ADAM LARKEY PHOTOGRAPHY (DINNER KEY)
4
1
2
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ROUGE, COURTESY OF BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE, CANDACE WEST (PL8), JAMES BRANTLEY (VIC & ANGELOS), ANDREW MEADE (DOME), COURTESY OF BLO MIDTOWN
3
4
RESTAURANTS
Located at the
Intracoastal Mall
Plaza, Rouge Waterfront
Dining opened in December.
This boutique restaurant,
helmed by restaurateur
Alex Podolnyy, is accessible
by boat or car and offers an
array of globally inspired
fare. The main dining room
seats 100, and a private
patio holds as many as
1
2
100. (3957 NE 163rd St.,
305.944.9997, rouge
waterfront.com)
Helmed by chef
2
Brandon Whitestone,
PL8 Kitchen & Side Bar
opened in downtown Fort
Lauderdale last July. The
downstairs dining area
seats 65 and an outdoor
patio seats 60. The dimly lit
main dining room, located
5
upstairs, seats 50. Also
upstairs, the bar area holds
50. (210 SW 2nd St., Fort
Lauderdale, 954.524.1818,
pl8kitchen.com)
Nestled in the Shops
3
at Boca Center, Brio
Tuscan Grille opened in
November. Decorated with
floor-length curtains and
lush carpets in hues of red,
green, and cream, the Boca
Raton restaurant holds 400.
A private chef’s table seats
as many as 14. (5050 Town
Center Cir., Suite 239, Boca
Raton, 561.392.3777,
brioitalian.com)
The Italian coal-oven
4
enoteca Vic & Angelo’s
opened on Ocean Drive last
July. The 1,000-square-foot
main dining area is located
downstairs. Upstairs, the
private space has a lounge
area, which seats 90, and
a V.I.P. balcony with four
tables. The outdoor area
has three private cabanas,
seating four each, and 16
tables. (290 East Atlantic
Ave., 561.278.9570,
Activity Venues
1. The new Ayama Yoga
Center in North Miami
Beach opened in late
February. Private and
corporate yoga packages
are available for tension
relief and mood management, held in a room with
abundant natural light and
hardwood flooring. The
healing-arts session can
include classes and workshops on Thai massage,
yoga, dance, and reiki.
(2250 NE 163rd St., 305.932.
7755, ayamayoga.com)
Blo Blow Dry Bar
2
opened in the Shops
of Midtown in December.
The loft-like space has hot
pink and white furnishings,
high ceilings, and wood
flooring. With eight salon
chairs, it holds groups of
as many as 30. The afterwork hair happy hour
offers blow-drys, dry hair
treatments, braiding, and
vicandangelos.com)
South Florida’s first
5
LEED Silver-certified
restaurant, the Dome,
opened in January on
Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.
The restaurant-lounge seats
40 in the main dining room
and 11 at the bar area. Decor
elements include reflective
walls created using recycled
mirrors and bar tops made
from recycled paper and
concrete. (271 Miracle Mile,
Coral Gables, 305.648.4999,
thedomebar.com)
curling. (3301 NE 1st Ave.,
Suite 102, 786.373. 5256,
blomedry .com)
3. Located in the Bal
Harbour Shops, Gee Beauty
opened last August. This
modern makeup and
skincare studio has white
furnishings, mirrored walls,
and counters stocked with
products. Group classes are
available and include topics
such as pampering, rejuvenating, and makeup application. (9700 Collins Ave.,
Bal Harbour, 305.868.3533,
geebeauty.com)
bizbash.com may/june 2012 45
The Miami New Venue Report
1
The modern Philippe
Boca Raton opened
last August with a color
palette of black, white, and
red. The 9,000-square-foot
lounge and casual restaurant seats 500 and offers
a private cellar as well as
two private dining rooms
for corporate gatherings.
Specialty drinks highlight
lychee and berry flavors,
and popular menu items
include Peking duck and
chicken satay. (200 East
Palmetto Park Road, Boca
Raton, 561.393.4666,
philippechow.com)
2. Boca Raton spot Spin
Ultra Lounge has a number
of options for entertaining
groups of 50 or less,
including a lower level
known as the “pit,” an
upper-level bar, an outdoor
cabana area with high-top
tables and bar, or an upstairs
area with high-top tables.
(346 Plaza Real, Boca Raton,
1
2
5
1
PRIVATE ROOMS
Located in the newly
opened St. Regis Bal
Harbour, chef Jean-Georges
Vongerichten’s J&G Grill
offers a semiprivate
dining room with ocean
views. With gray leather
furnishings and metallic
mobile light fixtures, the
space seats 14 or holds 20
for receptions.
(9703 Collins Ave., Bal
Harbour, 305.993.3333,
jggrillmiami.com)
After much success
2
with the first location in New York, chef
Andrew Carmellini opened
the Dutch at the W South
Beach Hotel & Residences
in November. The 170-seat
1
restaurant features a
private dining area for 14, as
well as indoor and outdoor
spaces. (2201 Collins Ave.,
305.938.3111, thedutch
miami.com)
3. Chalk Miami Beach, the
city’s first and only ping
pong and billiards lounge,
opened in October. The
6,600-square-foot interactive venue has two V.I.P.
rooms for private events
equipped with an iPod
sound system, LED screens,
and ping pong or pool
tables. (1234 Washington
Ave., 305.532.8662, chalk
miami.com)
4. Downtown Miami allAmerican bistro
46 bizbash.com may/june 2012
City Hall opened last June.
Within the 6,000-squarefoot space is an intimate,
private dining area that
seats 40. The interiors
include lacquered floors
and dark walnut and black
varnished wood tables and
chairs. (2004 Biscayne Blvd.,
305.764.3130, cityhallthe
restaurant.com)
Located in the space
5
formerly occupied by
Acqua at the Four Seasons,
Edge Steak & Bar has two
private dining rooms, one
for eight and the other for
20. The restaurant, which
opened in November, offers
private mixology classes for
20. Additionally, the outdoor
terrace can be used as a prefunction space. (1435 Brickell
Ave., 305.381.3190, edge
restaurantmiami.com)
3
561.361.3999, spinboca.com)
The 4,000-square-foot
3
music lounge Vibe
comes from the owners
who launched Yolo and O
Lounge, Himmarshee Bar &
Grill, and Side Bar. Available
for private and corporate
events, the Fort Lauderdale
lounge can accommodate
300. The garden patio can
also be used for events.
(301 Las Olas Blvd., Fort
Lauderdale, 954.713.7313,
vibelasolas.com)
4. Located next door to
its sister property, Rouge
Waterfront Dining,
C Lounge can be
accessed by boat or car. A
terrace overlooking the
Intracoastal holds up to 20.
Open till 4 a.m. most nights,
the cigar bar and lounge is
available for buyouts and
holds 32. Live performances
can be arranged. (3945 NE
163rd St., 305.354.9300,
c-loungemiami.com)
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR (J&G GRILL), NOAH FECKS (THE DUTCH), COURTESY OF EDGE STEAK AND BAR, COURTESY OF PHILIPPE BOCA RATON, COURTESY OF VIBE
Bars & Lounges
In the Ballpark
1
Marlins Park, home to the Miami Marlins,
opened in March. Holding 37,442 guests
in its 928,000-square-foot space, the
baseball stadium includes 45 gamewatching suites. Bringing a piece of South
Beach, the Clevelander is a 4,600-squarefoot pool-lounge concept that can hold
300 for private events. Other spaces
include a 12,000-square-foot terrace and
a 200-person restaurant/lounge. (501
Marlins Way, 877.627.5467)
PHOTOS: DANIEL NEWCOMB (BURGER BAR), COURTESY OF ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR, ROBERT KLEM (REGENCY HOTEL), JERRY RABINOWITZ (DECK 84), COURTESY OF BREATHE, ALISSA DRAGUN (D’ANGELO TRATTORIA)
New Eats in Delray Beach
Located adjacent
to the Atlantic
Avenue Bridge along the
Intracoastal, Deck 84 offers
Burt Rapoport’s take on
casual-American cuisine.
The outdoor patio has a
heated deck and bar, and
seats as many as 140. The
restaurant’s 60-seat main
dining room is offered for
semiprivate and private
functions. Full restaurant
buyouts are available for
larger groups. (840 East
Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach,
561.665.8484, deck84.com)
2. Union, an Asian fusion
gastrolounge, made its
debut in February. Its
3,000-square-foot indoor
1
dining room seats 121 or
holds 200 for receptions.
The 1,000-square-foot
outdoor patio is covered
with AstroTurf and has its
own bar area; it seats 55 or
holds 80 for receptions.
(8 East Atlantic Ave., Delray
Beach, 561.330.4236,
uniondelray.com)
Specializing in
3
Mediterranean
cuisine, Breathe opened in
downtown Delray Beach
in January. The restaurant,
lounge, and bar has a V.I.P.
area, which holds 25 and
has its own butler, bottle
service, and flat-screen TVs.
Furnished with brick-red
banquets and metallic
1
3
4
black curtains, Breathe
seats 50 in its main dining
room and holds as many
as 200 in its lounge area.
(401 West Atlantic Ave.,
Delray Beach, 561.330.4526,
breatheindelray.com)
Chef Angelo Elia and
4
architect Alfredo Leon
turned a 1920s Delray Beach
cottage into the 120-seat
D’Angelo Trattoria in early
November. The rustic Italian
eatery boasts modern black
and white furnishings and
holds 100. The back terrace
and front porch can be used
by small groups for wine
tastings or dinners.
(9 SW 7th Ave., Delray
Beach, 561.330.1237)
2
5,500-square-foot Le Club
holds 320. The 800-squarefoot Le Jeune room seats
70. (1000 NW Le Jeune
Road, 305.441.1600,
Designed by Yabu
1
regencyhotelmiami.com)
Pushelberg, the St.
3. The boutique
Regis Bal Harbour Resort
Surfcomber Hotel opened
debuted in January. The
in South Beach in January.
243-room property has
several pools, private beach The Kimpton property has
access, a 24-hour concierge, more than 1,500 square
feet of event space, includand butler service. On-site
ing two meeting rooms
are approximately 11,200
and a pool deck, which can
square feet of meeting
hold as many as 500 for
facilities, including the
outdoor receptions. (1717
7,800-square-foot Astor
ballroom, which seats 630 Collins Ave., 305.532.7715,
surfcomber .com)
banquet-style or holds
4. The 100-room Hotel
800 for receptions. (9701
Breakwater houses the
Collins Ave., Bal Harbour,
2,200-square-foot Intimissi
305.993.6000, stregis
Lounge. The space is
balharbour.com)
an intimate rooftop set
Five minutes from
2
with daybeds, plush love
Miami International
Airport, the Regency Hotel seats, and views of the
Miami completed a renova- Atlantic Ocean; it holds
tion late last year. Updates 98 for receptions. The
980-square-foot Edison
to the outdoor space
penthouse holds as many
include a 4,000-squareas 80 for product launches
foot deck, which holds as
or intimate events. (940
many as 100. For events
Ocean Drive, 305.532.2362,
inside the hotel, the
breakwatersouthbeach
1,200-square-foot Gables
.com)
room holds 170 and the
HOTELS
bizbash.com may/june 2012 47
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
A selection of resources from our comprehensive online directory of event and meeting suppliers and venues
Activity Venues p. 49
Arcades & Virtual Reality Centers
Bowling Alleys
Golf Courses & Country Clubs
Sports Venues
Other Activity Venues
Bars, Lounges & Clubs p. 50
Bars & Lounges
Clubs
Boats, Yachts & Cruise Ships p. 51
Conference, Convention Centers &
Auditoriums p. 52
Entertainment &
Performance Venues p. 52
Comedy Clubs
Music Clubs
Screening Room
Theaters & Performance Spaces
Hotels p. 53
Independent Event Spaces p. 57
Mansions & Homes p. 58
Museums & Cultural Spaces p. 59
Art Museums
Art Spaces & Galleries
Children’s Museum
Historical & Cultural Institutions
Science & Natural History Spaces
Outdoor Spaces p. 60
Restaurants p. 60
Retail Spaces p. 64
Spas p. 64
Stadiums p. 64
Updates & addition
[email protected]
ACTIVITY VENUES
ARCADES & VIRTUAL REALITY CENTERS
features 13-foot doors and a black granite waterfall; the
3,000-square-foot banquet foyer was reconfigured to
This interactive entertainment venue opened in
host larger receptions (it can now hold 360 people); and
November 2011 and features classic games such as Connect the foyer’s carpeting was replaced with Italian marble,
Four, checkers, and beer pong. The 6,600-square-foot
its ceiling height was raised to 16 feet, and its pot lights
space includes wireless jukeboxes, Ping-Pong tables, 12
were replaced with contemporary Austrian crystal
LED screens for broadcasting sports, and two V.I.P. rooms
chandeliers. Similarly, the carpeting in the 8,000-squarefor private events. (1234 Washington Ave., Miami Beach,
foot main ballroom, which can hold 600, was replaced
305.532.8662)
with mahogany flooring. (997 North Greenway Drive,
DAVE & BUSTER’S HOLLYWOOD
305.392.0819)
This 58,000-square-foot venue has three rooms for private DEERING BAY YACHT AND COUNTRY CLUB5
This country club has multiple event spaces. The Crystal
functions: the Midway Room for 100, the showroom for
Room can seat 60 and be used in conjunction with the
200, and the executive boardroom for 50. The showroom
pool terrace, which seats 120. For smaller groups, the
includes a private bar and restrooms, and each room has
library accommodates 40; the wine cellar, for 14, is also
audiovisual equipment. Additional function space for as
available. The club features an Arnold Palmer signature
many as 100 is scattered throughout the facility. (3000
golf course and P.G.A.-certified instructors. Use of the club
Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood, 954.923.5505)
DAVE & BUSTER’S MIAMI
is exclusive to members. (13610 Deering Bay Drive, Coral
The location inside Dolphin Mall offers classic arcade
Gables, 305.254.2111)
games, billiards, and state-of-the-art virtual reality games, DIPLOMAT GOLF RESORT AND SPA5
as well as two private rooms for events. The Midway Room This 6,800-yard, 18-hole Hallandale Beach course is
can accommodate 100 guests, and parties of 200 can take surrounded by 3,000 palm trees, as well as banyan trees
advantage of the showroom, which includes a full-service and lakes. Ten tennis courts are available. The property
has more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event
bar and private bathrooms. (11481 NW 12th St., Suite E622,
space in four rooms, which can accommodate groups
305.468.1555)
JOHNNY ROCKETS GAMEROOM
of 150 to 760, depending on the setup. Other amenities
Half high-energy interactive video arcade and entertaininclude a 30,000-square-foot spa with 17 treatment
ment space, half full-service restaurant and bar, the
rooms and a 60-room resort. Outdoor function space is
former Gameworks in Sunrise is now Gameroom and can also available. (501 Diplomat Pkwy., Hallandale Beach,
accommodate as many as 400 people. Two private rooms 954.883.4000)
THE LA GORCE COUNTRY CLUB5
each hold 50, or the entire facility can be bought out. The
staff can also coordinate teambuilding packages and offer This country club was built in 1927 by dredging more than
full audiovisual services. (2608 Sawgrass Mills Cir., Sunrise, two million cubic yards from Biscayne Bay. It was named
after John Oliver La Gorce, a pioneer in the development of
954.845.8740)
Miami Beach. The private club is now home to an 18-hole
BOWLING ALLEYS
golf course, a clubhouse with a private dining room, a
LUCKY STRIKE LANES LOUNGE AND BOWL5
pool, tennis courts, and a fitness center. (5685 Alton Road,
A hip bowling alley off Lincoln Road, Lucky Strike has 14
Miami Beach, 305.866.4421)
lanes, a 108-seat restaurant and lounge, and outdoor seat- MIAMI BEACH GOLF CLUB5
This club has primarily outdoor space for events—including in its 20,000 square feet. The lanes can host as many
as 400 patrons. A private room with direct access to valet ing a patio for as many as 250 people. Inside the main
clubhouse, there is a meeting room for 64. On-site event
parking is available, or clients can choose to curtain off
six bowling lanes for a unique event space for 75. Catering staff can arrange for signage in the parking lot, food and
beverage service on the course, after-hours receptions,
is available from chef Bill Starbuck. (1691 Michigan Ave.,
and more. Rental clubs, personalized golf towels, putting
Miami Beach, 305.532.0307)
SPLITSVILLE
contests, and golf clinics can also be arranged. (2301 Alton
Opened in 2008 in South Miami’s Sunset Place shopping
Road, Miami Beach, 305.532.3350)
center, this 26,000-square-foot bowling alley has 13 lanes, ROOKERY AT MARCO5
This semiprivate championship golf course at the Marco
billiard tables, a DJ performing four nights a week, dancIsland Marriott Resort Golf Club & Spa was recently
ing areas, and five bars, including a champagne bar that
specializes in sparkling sake. Splitsville can accommodate redesigned by Robert Cupp. The clubhouse includes a
game room, exercise facility, library, lounge, veranda,
as many as 700 guests and is open every night—though
only those 21 and over are allowed after 8 p.m. (5701 Sunset dining area, business office, and meeting space ideal for
board retreats or convention groups that incorporate
Drive, 305.665.5263)
STRIKE MIAMI
golf outings into their agendas. An 18,000-square-foot
Strike Miami is a 37,000-square-foot multimedia
expansion was recently completed. (3433 Club Center Blvd.,
playground that offers various catering and bar options. It Naples, 239.389.6600)
features a sports lounge with seating for 125, a 40-foot bar,
SPORTS VENUES
a 12-foot projection screen, and 12 plasma TVs. A private
room has a 10-foot projection screen and double-sided bar CALDER RACE COURSE5
for intimate gatherings. The in-house event staff can help Event space includes a trackside open-air pavilion, which
can host 60 people, or a picnic grove with tables and
coordinate corporate or private events. (11401 NW 12th St.,
chairs for groups of 40 to 1,500. The rental fee includes
305.594.0200)
area admission, a racing program with the group’s name,
GOLF COURSES & COUNTRY CLUBS
lunch, and gratuity. In-house catering is available, as are
COUNTRY CLUB AT MIRASOL5
souvenir photos with the winning jockey. (21001 NW 27th
This Palm Beach venue’s clubhouse features a pro shop,
Ave., 305.625.1311)
GULFSTREAM PARK5
indoor and outdoor dining space, lounges, lockers, and
Gulfstream Park is a 158,000-square-foot entertainment
men’s and women’s card rooms. The upper level of the
destination with live horse races January through April,
50,000-square-foot clubhouse has multiple areas for
year-round off-track betting, poker tables, and more than
events. Additionally, the property’s Esplanade Sports &
850 Vegas-style slots. Restaurants Ten Palms and Christine
Fitness Center has 17,000 square feet of space, with a
fitness facility, pro shop, 15 tennis courts, a pool, and a spa. Lee’s offer buyouts and private dining. In 2010, the
property opened the Villages at Gulfstream Park, a retail
(11600 Mirasol Blvd., Palm Beach, 561.776.4949)
CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB
complex with 13 additional restaurants. (901 South Federal
The 45,000-square-foot Coral Gables Country Club
Hwy., Hallandale Beach, 954.454.7000)
HOMESTEAD MIAMI SPEEDWAY5
completed a 12-month, $3 million makeover late last
This 600-acre motor-sports complex is available
year. Among the changes: The north entrance now
NEW CHALK MIAMI BEACH
bizbash.com may/june 2012 49
a small-bites menu or for buyouts will allow
outside caterers. (3250 Buena Vista Blvd., Suite 124,
305.673.3873)
RUMBAR
about 500, the space can be split to create multiple
lounges—both inside and on the balcony; there’s
also an open dance floor. (1 Ocean Drive, Miami
Beach, 305.538.1111)
BOATS,
YACHTS &
CRUISE SHIPS
This Havana-inspired bar in the Ritz-Carlton, Key
Biscayne, pours more than 50 rums from 18 countries
and can accommodate 50 people. A menu of appetizers and main courses is available. For the cigar lover,
RumBar is equipped with stocked humidors. V.I.P.
rum lockers are also available. Buyouts are allowed.
(455 Grand Bay Drive, Key Biscayne, 305.365.4500)
GREEN ROOM
SECADA’S
THE GRYPHON
ACTION YACHT CHARTERS & EVENTS
Singer Jon Secada’s intimate bar and lounge, which
opened in 2010, is on the mezzanine of the Magic
City Casino. Enhanced with Secada’s personal
memorabilia and equipped for a DJ or live musicians,
the 3,000-square-foot space can accommodate 240
(or 160 seated). Steps away is a V.I.P. suite for about
75. (450 NW 37th Ave., Miami, 305.649.3000)
This Cirque du Soleil-inspired club at the Seminole
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood derives
its name from the mythological creature. The
6,000-square-foot space includes a sunken
European-style dance floor, two distinctive bars, and
an elevated V.I.P. area. Together with the adjoining
Pangaea, it can accommodate as many as 1,300
guests. (5711 Seminole Way, Hollywood, 954.581.5454)
The 78-foot catamaran Caribbean Spirit can accommodate 125. There is fixed seating for 93, rail seating for 32,
and a trampoline net area for additional guests on deck.
(6980 NW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton, 305.509.2044)
SKYLINE BAR & CLUB
Open since 2010, this 4,000-square foot bilevel nightclub holds 200. The loft-style venue has chandeliers,
LED-lit white walls, and white leather furnishings.
Two plasma screens are available for video or branding. Outdoor balconies will be added later this year.
(109 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954.449.1028)
Formerly home to Honey Lounge, this South Beach
space was rebuilt and opened in 2009. It is now a bar
and lounge built with the deconstructed pieces of a
retired U.S. jumbo jet, including a bar made from a
wing and two giant jet-engine turbine fans behind
it. The 3,600-square-foot venue can accommodate
220, with three V.I.P. areas, dubbed First Class 1, 2, and
3. (645 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305.397.8046)
MANSION
NEW SPIN ULTRA LOUNGE
Mokai reopened in 2010 as the newest addition to
nightlife conglomerate the Opium Group’s properties. The 4,000-square-foot club is outfitted with red
sofas, black walls, red lattice detailing, and custom
chandeliers. Buyouts are available for 270. (253 23rd
St., 305.538.6337)
Opened in 2011, the venue offers options for entertaining groups of 50 or fewer, including a lower level
known as “the pit,” an upper-level bar, an outdoor
cabana area with high-top tables and bar, or an
upstairs area with high-top tables. (346 Plaza Real,
Boca Raton 561.361.3999)
THE TAURUS5
First established more than 83 years ago, the Taurus
was shut down in 2002 due to residential development plans. The bar reopened in its original location
in 2009. Restaurateur Tom Billante channeled
the old pub’s roots with hardwood floors and the
original Taurus sign. The 875-square-foot space has a
10-seat bar and an outdoor space shared with sister
restaurant Calamari Italian Seafood. (3540 Main
Hwy., Coconut Grove, 305.441.0219)
The 40,000-square-foot venue, which was built
in 1936 as the French Casino, has two levels with
six bars and a capacity of 2,500. Design highlights
include sweeping staircases, fireplaces, crystal chandeliers, and brick walls. Seven projection screens are
available. (1235 Washington Ave., 305.531.5535)
MOKAI
NIKKI BEACH5
The 35,000-square-foot nightclub in Miami Beach
has indoor and ample outdoor space on the beach.
The open-air venue is outfitted with its signature
white beds, loungers, and bamboo accents. Indoor
nightclub Club Nikki is on the second level of the
building. Catering is available. (1 Ocean Drive, Miami
Beach, 305.538.1111)
OPIUM HARD ROCK
This nightclub from the Opium Group opened in
2009 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The
NEW VICE LOUNGE MIAMI
6,000-square-foot club resembles a Parisian cabaret
Vice Lounge opened in March 2011. By day, the venue with Asian accents. Under the expansive staircase,
is known as Vice Café, serving dishes by executive
the 2,000-square-foot French Boudoir Room holds
chef Michael Blum. By night, the space turns into a
200 people. The venue can accommodate as many
lounge, complete with DJ sets and bottle service. A
as 1,200 for full buyouts. (5729 Seminole Way,
freestanding bar welcomes guests into the corridor
Hollywood, 954.327.9094)
PINKROOM
of the 3,800-square-foot space, which sprawls over
two levels. Decor ranges from the jet black walls and The 4,300-square-foot South Beach nightspot opened
couches of the main bars to a 25-seat “Crystal Room,” in 2010 and holds 350. The room has purple and
magenta accents, interactive murals, mirrored walls,
one of two V.I.P. areas. Vice Lounge is available for
buyout Sunday through Wednesday nights and can a giant LED screen, and a bedazzled DJ booth. There
are also two private mezzanine areas for groups of
accommodate 350 people. (330 Lincoln Road, Miami
about 80 each. (737 Washington Ave., Miami Beach,
Beach, 305.532.2667)
305.534.7465)
CLUBS
NEW AMNESIA MIAMI
This 26,000-square-foot nightclub opened in October
2011. The space features a DJ booth with six moving
LED walls, 150 light heads that move to the beat of
the music, high ceilings, and a stage. There are also
46 V.I.P. tables and a 25-foot-wide dance floor. (136
Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.538.2424)
ARKADIA
Arkadia opened in 2010 and is a 6,000-square-foot
nightclub in the basement of the Fontainebleau
resort; it can accommodate 385 guests. Low ceilings,
tentacle-like drapes, antique French furniture, and
fashion installations serve as decor. A separate pool
section with cabanas holds 300. Buyouts are available. (4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.674.4690)
NEW BAMBOO
This disco theater club opened in March 2012 in
the space previously occupied by Paris Studios. The
venue is equipped with audiovisual equipment
including full wall LED panels and a complete
soundstage for nightly live performances.
Renovations to the second floor will increase the
current capacity of 950. (550 Washington Ave.,
Miami Beach, 305.695.4771)
CAMEO
This bilevel club in South Beach is a disco lover’s
haven and accommodates as many as 1,200 people.
The mezzanine has V.I.P seating for as many as 150
and can be used for private events. Full buyouts
are available. (1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach,
786.235.5800)
CLUB NIKKI5
In the former Pearl nightclub space above Nikki
Beach in South Beach, Club Nikki has a similar
style to its beachfront counterpart. With room for
REVOLUTION5
This nightclub has 28,000 square feet of space and
three private areas for as many as 3,000 people. The
inside space features a stage, two full-service bars,
and a V.I.P. room. Outdoor concert hall America’s
Backyard holds 2,000 people and has two full-service
bars. The V.I.P. mezzanine area for 250 overlooks
the stage. (200 West Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale,
954.449.1028)
TREEHOUSE5
Treehouse, which opened in 2011, is an 8,000-squarefoot South Beach nightclub/lounge intended to evoke
the charm of a child’s tree house. The wood-filled
venue has three spaces. The 2,000-square-foot lounge,
the Aspen Room, is designed like a cozy ski lodge. The
3,000-square-foot main room features stadiumstyle black leather banquet seating. In the rear, the
3,000-square-foot garden has a casual, backyard
ambience. (323 23rd St., Miami Beach, 305.674.4478)
VIBE5
The 4,000-square-foot music lounge comes from the
owners that launched Yolo, O Lounge, Himmarshee
Bar & Grill, and Side Bar. Available for private and
corporate events, the lounge can accommodate
300 guests. The garden patio can also be used
for an event. (301 Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale,
954.713.7313)
WALL
The 3,500-square-foot Wall nightclub inside the W
South Beach hotel recently underwent renovations.
Additions include two gold couches and a spherical
chandelier containing
hundreds of LED
Search by capacity
lights. (2201 Collins
bizbash.com/
Ave., Miami Beach,
miamivenuedirectory 305.938.3130)
THE ADVANTAGED
This company has a multi-vessel fleet with a range of
sizes. Its boats include a 41-foot catamaran, a 51-foot
fishing yacht, several sailboats, and a 130-foot private
yacht with five staterooms. The company can arrange
themed dinner charters, water sports, and deep sea
fishing charters. (Miami, 305.358.0745)
BISCAYNE LADY YACHT CHARTERS
This company has a fleet of multiple vessels including
the 41-foot Recess, the 111-foot Biscayne Lady holding 360,
the Venetian Lady holding 140, and the Island Lady yacht
holding 120. (401 Biscayne Blvd., 305.379.5119)
CHARTER ONE
Charter One’s fleet includes two vessels: the three-deck
Summer Wind, which holds 65, and the five-deck Grand
Floridian for 400. The 15,000-square-foot Princess
Floridian is composed of a main salon, a 240-seat
dining salon, and a 2,500-square-foot open-air sky
lounge. (4419 West Tradewinds Ave., Fort Lauderdale,
954.771.0102)
HOLIDAY OF MAGIC YACHT CHARTERS
The fleet is made up of four charter yachts. The Miami
Lady, a 75-foot vessel, and the 130-foot Venetian Lady
both hold 149. The 111-foot Biscayne Lady can host 400
on its three decks. The 62-foot Holiday of Magic holds 49.
(1717 North Bayshore Drive, 305.372.8055)
LOTS OF YACHTS/LOTS OF SPOTS
With 15 vessels ranging from 30 to 167 feet, Lots of Yachts
can accommodate groups of 500. The vessels are available from Key West to Jupiter, with additional locations
in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and New York. (132
Sussex G, West Palm Beach, 561.242.4753)
MIAMI CHARTER BOAT
This sport fishing charter has a 22-vessel fleet, including a 60-foot yacht. Most of the fleet has room for six,
but some boats take 12. The company offers hourly,
half-day, and full-day fishing excursions. Fishing
tournaments can be arranged for groups looking to
catch snapper, sailfish, swordfish, mahi mahi, and
marlin. (401 Biscayne Blvd., 954.562.0747)
NORWEGIAN EPIC
The Norwegian Epic arrived at the Port of Miami in 2010.
The 1,081-foot cruise ship has multiple restaurants, as
well as an ice bar, a 259-seat comedy club, and a steak
house. Ideal for meetings, the Epic Theater can host 681
amid graduated rows of plush chairs. It generally cruises
between European destinations but has some Miami
availability. (7665 Corporate Center Drive, 866.625.6338)
REWARD FLEET
The Reward Fleet, at the South Miami Beach Marina,
offers two vessels for deep-sea fishing, private parties,
corporate functions, and other events. Private charters
hold as many as 100. (390 Alton Road, Miami Beach,
305.372.9470)
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean offers two ships: Allure of the Seas is
an 1,187-foot-long, 208-foot-wide cruise ship. Meeting
spaces include studio B, which can fit 775, and the
conference center, which can hold 300. The ship’s four
restaurants and its 2,000-person theater are available
for buyout. Majesty of the Seas, an 880-foot craft, has
12 decks, nine bars, and eight meeting rooms, the
largest holding 995. (1080 Caribbean Way, Miami,
305.982.2172)
TIKKI BEACH AND CABANA BEACH CHARTERS
Tikki Beach party boat has two decks; the lower one
seats 85, and the upper deck holds 150. The lower deck
has a full galley, three buffet stations, and a private bar.
The 3,000-square-foot upper deck has a separate cabana
area with grass flooring, its own bar, and seating for 50.
Cabana Beach is a 400-passenger white yacht with three
decks and three bars. It seats 300 for a dinner cruise
divided evenly between two decks. (253 NE 2nd St., Suite
809, Miami, 305.538.4040)
WINDRIDGE YACHT CHARTERS
With three yachts ranging from 130 to 170 feet,
Windridge can accommodate groups of 432. The Lady
Windridge offers sunset and midnight tours. The dining
room holds 220. (2950 NE 32nd Ave., 954.525.7724)
bizbash.com may/june 2012 51
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
CONFERENCE CENTERS, CONVENTION CENTERS
& AUDITORIUMS
CONFERENCE CENTERS
ROYAL PALM CENTER
BONAVENTURE RESORT CONFERENCE CENTER
In the center of the Boca Raton Financial District, the Royal
Palm Center offers views of the Boca Raton Resort, golf
course, and the ocean. With about 6,300 square feet of
meeting space, the center offers a variety of conference
rooms for business events. (595 South Federal Hwy., Boca
Raton, 800.839.6899)
Spectrum, this entertainment, meeting, and convention
complex provides a range of event space. A theater seats
4,646, and the 28,000-square-foot Riverfront Hall is also
available. The Miami Conference Center has an auditorium,
a lecture hall, and 17 meeting rooms. Also on site: a river
walk and the 612-room Hyatt Regency Miami. (400 SE
Second Ave., 305.416.5970)
SOUTH FLORIDA CONFERENCE CENTER
MIAMI AIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER
Part of the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Hotel, this
conference center has more than 60,000 square feet of
prefunction and flexible meeting space. There are 10
meeting rooms and a 175-seat amphitheater. High-speed
Internet and catering for events are optional. (250 Racquet
Club Road, Weston, 954.389.3300)
GOLDBETTER OFFICE BUSINESS & CONFERENCE CENTER
This conference center provides 15 conference rooms. The
largest holds 15 seated. Meeting spaces include a satellite
office and a conference room. (1031 Ives Dairy Road, Suite
228, 305.651.8406)
KOVENS CONFERENCE CENTER
On Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay campus
in Miami, the center has meeting rooms that range
from 729 to 1,620 square feet and hold 20 to 90 people
each. Events for more than 440 can be hosted in the
5,500-square-foot ballroom, which has views of the bay.
The 10,930-square-foot terrace can accommodate 350. Four
1,560-square-foot auditoriums and meeting rooms are
available. (3000 NE 151st St., 305.919.5000)
THE MARIE GREEN FORUM FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS
This space has 12 meeting rooms, the largest of which holds
400. The forum also offers a separate registration space and
professional catering services. Overnight lodging can also
be provided. The space is available to churches, nonprofit
organizations, schools, hospitals, and other Christian organizations. (600 SW 3rd St., Pompano Beach, 877.337.8569)
PALMETTO BAY VILLAGE CENTER 5
Palmetto Bay Village is a 300,000-square-foot building that
offers spaces suitable for 50 to 1,000. A 9,500-square-foot
banquet facility offers views of Biscayne Bay. A terrace that
can hold 500 is also available. (18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite
307, Palmetto Bay, 305.234.4118)
ROBERT AND JUDI PROKOP NEWMAN ALUMNI CENTER
This conference center opened on the University of Miami’s
Coral Gables campus in 2010. The 72,000-square-foot
building can be booked for private events by alumni and
non-alums. The 3,640-square-foot multipurpose room is
the largest space, seating 280 for dinner or up to 500 people
for a reception. The executive conference room holds 36 for
dining. (University of Miami, 6200 San Amaro Drive, Suite
200, Coral Gables, 305.284.2872)
RONALD W. SHANE CENTER5
Overlooking Indian Creek Waterway, the center offers more
than 4,000 square feet of rentable space, which can seat
200. The room can be broken into three separate meeting
rooms. The center is equipped with a large patio. (6500
Indian Creek Drive, Miami Beach, 305.861.8837)
This state-of-the-art conference center has more than
100,000 square feet of exhibit space available for events.
Ten meeting rooms can seat as many as 2,500 guests. (6101
NW 31 St., Margate, 954.977.5863)
Following a $12 million renovation in 2011, this convention
center became the city’s second-largest convention and
exhibition facility, with about 130,000 square feet of event
space and room for more than 400 trade show booths. The
TURNER AGRI-CIVIC CENTER5
reconfigured second floor includes two 8,000-square-foot
With 20,000 square feet of event space on 100 acres, the
ballrooms and 16 breakout rooms totaling 30,000 square
Turner Center can accommodate small and large meetings. feet. On the first floor, there are two main exhibit halls,
The venue also has cattle barns for agricultural events and measuring 75,000 and 30,000 square feet. The center
a large 20-acre fenced area for outdoor events. A smaller
shares its facilities with the DoubleTree Hotel. (711 NW 72nd
2,500-square-foot exhibit hall is adjacent to the main build- Ave., Miami, 305.261.3800)
MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER
ing. (2250 Northeast Roan St., Arcadia, 863.993.4807)
WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM5
The center spans more than four city blocks in Miami
Owned and operated by the city of Fort Lauderdale,
Beach and has more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit
the facility is ideal for conferences, trade shows, and
space on one level. There is also 100,000 square feet of
performances. The 20,000-square-foot exhibit hall can
prefunction space and 73 meeting rooms totaling 127,000
fit 125 8- by 10-foot booths or seat as many as 2,110 people.
square feet on the second floor. The center can provide
The lawn, which can be tented, accommodates events for
audiovisual services, equipment rentals, marketing, and
10,000. Catering is exclusive to Professional Concessions.
catering. The center is managed by Global Spectrum. (1901
The venue can arrange event staffing. (800 NE 8th St., Fort Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, 305.673.7311)
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EXPO CENTER5
Lauderdale, 954.828.5380)
Home of the Miami-Dade County Fair, this 86-acre site is
CONVENTION CENTERS
available for rent and hosts a variety of indoor and outdoor
AMERICRAFT EXPO CENTER
events. Edwards Hall contains more than 35,000 square
The two halls at the center at the South Florida Fairgrounds feet of unobstructed show space, and the 7,900-square-foot
feature an exposed roof structure and space for large
Blue Ribbon Room seats as many as 400 guests. (10901
events and conventions. The arena seats 5,000. Exposition Coral Way, Miami, 305.223.7060)
PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER5
Hall West offers 35,700 square feet of open space, and
The bilevel center sits on 19 acres and offers nearly
Exposition Hall East has 49,051 square feet that can be
divided into two smaller halls. Five smaller exposition halls 350,000 square feet of meeting and event space. It has
a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall capable of holding
are on site, the largest offering 11,490 square feet of space.
500 booths, 19 meeting rooms, and a 22,000-square-foot
(9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561.793.0333)
BROWARD COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
ballroom. There is also a 3,077-square-foot outdoor area.
This three-story convention center in Fort Lauderdale
The center has built-in viewing screens and telecommunihas 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, 28 meeting
cations, data, and audio capabilities. (650 Okeechobee Blvd.,
rooms totaling 350,000 square feet, 53,000 square feet
West Palm Beach, 561.366.3000)
PORT ST. LUCIE CIVIC CENTER5
of prefunction space, and 18 covered loading docks. The
The Port St. Lucie Civic Center, opened in 2008, offers
20,000-square-foot ballroom can seat as many as 1,800
50,000 square feet of exhibit space, including the
guests or hold 126 exhibit booths. Savor is the exclusive
5,790-square-foot Ruby Conference Hall and the
caterer and can also provide audiovisual services.
13,464-square-foot Emerald Ballroom. The center also has
(1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.765.5900)
JAMES L. KNIGHT INTERNATIONAL CENTER5
a brick-lined patio overlooking a pond and fountains. (9221
Owned by the city of Miami and managed by Global
SE Civic Center Place, Port St. Lucie, 772.807.4488)
ENTERTAINMENT & PERFORMANCE VENUES
COMEDY CLUBS
CLUB PLAY
THE IMPROV
This 10,000-square-foot entertainment venue opened in
2009 in the space formerly known as the Fifth. The bilevel
nightclub can accommodate as many as 700 people and
is equipped with Wi-Fi and full audiovisual and sound
systems. Bill Hansen Catering is the preferred vendor. (1045
5th St., Miami Beach, 305.532.4340)
This popular comedy club in West Palm Beach—with
additional locations in Coconut Grove and Hollywood—
can host events for 20 to 650 people. Guests may
participate in stand-up comedy classes or choose specific
comedians to perform. (550 South Rosemary Ave., Suite
250, West Palm Beach, 561.833.1812; 3390 Mary St., Suite
182, Coconut Grove, 305.441.8200; 5700 Seminole Way,
Hollywood, 954.981.5653)
LAFFING MATTERZ
Located at the Broward Center, this 175-seat cabaret dinner
theater features gourmet fare. The theater has a private
skybox that holds 35 people; full buyouts are also available.
Catering is exclusive to the venue. (201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort
Lauderdale, 954.462.0222)
THE STAGE5
The Stage is primarily a live music venue, but with 10,000
square feet of indoor and outdoor space, it can also host a
variety of corporate and private events. The 3,200 square
feet inside and 7,000 square feet outside can accommodate
a total of 1,000 guests. The courtyard can seat 500, and
an additional 250 can be seated indoors. (170 NE 38th St.,
Miami, 305.576.9577)
SCREENING ROOMS
MUSIC CLUBS
MIAMI BEACH CINEMATHEQUE
AMERICA’S BACKYARD
The Miami Beach Cinematheque debuted in January 2011
on Washington Avenue, on the first floor of Miami Beach’s
original city hall. The 2,700-square-foot cinematheque
is ideal for private screenings, cocktail receptions, video
presentations, and press conferences. The space consists of
a screening room for 75, a gallery for photographic exhibits
that can accommodate 120, and a main lobby that can hold
an additional 40. An outdoor café serving Nespresso, the
cinematheque’s main sponsor, will be added soon, and will
This 27,000-square-foot pavilion can host concerts and
entertainment events for as many as 2,000 and features
backyard-inspired amenities like a pool, the Tool Shed bar,
a swing set, a drive-in theater screen, and the upstairs Back
Porch Bar. The venue’s all-night menu features backyard
barbecue foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato
salad. There is a semiprivate space for 80. (100 SW Third
Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954.449.1030)
52 bizbash.com may/june 2012
accommodate an additional 16 seated or 50 standing. (1130
Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305.673.4567)
PARAGON GROVE 13
Formerly an AMC theater, CocoWalk’s cinema was
renovated and reopened in 2010 with a new name and
ownership. Paragon Grove 13 has 13 theaters that seat 80 to
150. Each is outfitted with Sony Digital 4K projectors that
can be used for events or meetings. A 150-seat restaurant
with a full bar, six bowling lanes, and a private theater with
lounge seating is there, too. (3015 Grand Ave., 954.557.1612)
SCREENING SNUG
Screen a classic holiday film for as many as 22 in the
Screening Snug, the movie theater inside the Soho Beach
House, which opened in 2010. Catering is available,
courtesy of in-house restaurant Cecconi’s. Other areas of
the oceanfront property are also available for events.
(4385 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 786.507.7900)
THEATERS & PERFORMANCE SPACES
ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS5
This performing arts center can accommodate 600. The
Plaza for the Arts is a 57,000-square-foot outdoor area
designed for concerts and festivals. The Knight Concert Hall
and Ziff Ballet Opera House—with intimate lounges and
salons throughout—have fully equipped stages and seat
2,200 and 2,400 guests, respectively. (1444 Biscayne Blvd.,
305.949.6722)
5 Venues with outdoor event space
AVENTURA ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER
HARD ROCK LIVE
Opened in 2010 and managed by the Broward Center for
the Performing Arts, the 14,864-square-foot facility has a
324-seat theater with a 3,420-square-foot stage, lighting and
sound systems, and views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
(3385 NE 188th St., Aventura, 305.466.8002)
The 5,600-seat indoor arena at the Seminole Hard Rock
Hotel & Casino in Hollywood can host music and comedy
acts, as well as sporting events. Morris Architects designed
the four-story space, which has a movable 2,400-squarefoot stage with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology and
a private room on the upper level for catered events.
(1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, 954.315.9112)
BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS5
This Fort Lauderdale facility features two theaters that seat
590 and 2,688 guests. Other available spaces include the
Einstein Room, which seats 40 or holds 60 for receptions;
the New River Room, which holds 200 for banquets or 320
for receptions; and a courtyard with seating for 90 or room
for as many as 300 standing. In addition, the Horvitz Grand
Lobby seats 160 or holds 400 for receptions. (201 SW Fifth
Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954.468.3337)
CORAL SPRINGS CENTER FOR THE ARTS5
This recently renovated 1,471-seat theater has a full-service
box office, a 10,000-square-foot museum, on-site catering,
and a lakeside terrace with three event spaces, each with
room for more than 200 people. The venue has an ample
load-in dock and offers audiovisual equipment rental. (2855
Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, 954.344.5999)
CUILLO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
This state-of-the-art facility in West Palm Beach is home
to two theaters: the Mainstage, which seats 377, and the
Second Story Theatre, which seats 45. Both are available
for events and are fully equipped with sound and lighting
systems. (201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 561.835.9226)
THE FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH AT JACKIE GLEASON THEATER5
Formerly the Jackie Gleason Theater, the Fillmore offers
a tiered floor plan allows seats to be removed to create
reception areas for as many as 2,500 guests. Also available
are three private rooms that cater to groups of 50 to 200,
two corporate lounges for 40 people each, and a rehearsal
space for 250. The south lawn holds 400. (1700 Washington
Ave., 305.938.2505)
FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Part of the University of Miami, the Frost School of Music
offers use of its facilities for events. The Gusman Concert
Hall accommodates 600, and the Clarke Recital Hall seats
139. (P.O. Box 248165, Coral Gables, 305.284.2438)
GUSMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Moorish architecture and simulated night skyline
of this 1920s movie palace lend events a vintage flavor.
The 1,567-seat theater has 11 dressing rooms with private
baths, two large choral rooms, and full audiovisual
capabilities. The dramatic double-height lobby accommodates receptions of as many as 500 and can be rented
independently of the auditorium. (174 East Flagler St.,
305.374.2444)
HOTELS
This property has 124 guest rooms including 54 suites. The
hotel offers two meeting rooms—a total of 1,200 square
feet—that open up to the fifth-floor pool deck and hold
72. The 80-seat East End Brasserie is a Parisian bistro with
private space for 25. (601 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.,
Fort Lauderdale, 954.567.8020)
B OCEAN FORT LAUDERDALE
The flagship property of the B Hotels & Resorts brand
opened in 2011. The 14-story, 240-room hotel has 8,000
square feet of event space on its penthouse floor, dubbed
“B on Top.” Two ballrooms include the 3,500-square-foot
Infinity, which can hold 250 people, and the 1,500-squarefoot Horizons Junior, which can be divided into three
breakout rooms and accommodates 150. B on Top offers
2,400 square feet of prefunction space, floor-to-ceiling
windows overlooking the ocean, and an express elevator
NEW WORLD CENTER5
The 100,000-square-foot New World Center is the home of
the New World Symphony. Designed by Frank Gehry, the
center has a 30,000-square-foot performance hall, which
can seat 756, with variable seating and staging configurations. The SunTrust Pavilion is a separate, 2,400-square-foot
area that can seat 175 or accommodate 250 reception-style.
The atrium features an LED-lit glass bar with a titanium
HOLLYWOOD CENTRAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
canopy that can serve 250 guests for a cocktail party, and
Managed by the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, this the 8,000-square-foot rooftop garden can host 250. On the
facility’s theater has 502 seats. The Spotlight Corner Café
outside of the building and next to the glass-front entrance
contains a 128-square-foot theater and has a capacity of
is a 7,000-square-foot projection wall available for presenta128—90 chairs with tables and 30 without. (1770 Monroe St., tions and entertainment. The outdoor space is part of the
Hollywood, 954.921.3439)
Miami Beach Soundscape, a park developed in conjunction
HOLLYWOOD PLAYHOUSE
with the performance hall that can accommodate 1,000
This 18,000-square-foot facility has a 265-seat theater. The
people. The building also has some 30 smaller, multipurSkylight Lounge and front lobby are available for smaller
pose rooms. (500 17th St., Miami Beach, 305.673.3330)
OLD SCHOOL SQUARE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
events that do not need the full theater. The facility also
This four-acre center is composed of the old Delray Beach
houses a set design shop, sound studio, rehearsal studio,
dressing room, and video editing suites. Full film and video Elementary and High School buildings, which were
production services are available through in-house produc- converted into event spaces in 1990. Theatrical perfortion company Real Productions L.L.C. (2640 Washington St., mances can be held at the 323-seat Crest Theatre. There
are also nine classrooms, the largest of which seats 100
Hollywood, 954.922.0404)
JOSEPHINE S. LEISER OPERA CENTER
theater-style. The restored 1926 high school gymnasium
This two-story facility (and the headquarters of Florida’s
measures 3,500 square feet and seats 400 theater-style. The
Grand Opera) features a marble lobby leading into the
3,000-square-foot entertainment pavilion has a concession
3,500-square-foot ballroom. A wood-paneled boardroom
building and event restroom facilities. (51 North Swinton
accommodates as many as 50. The Leiser Center has
Ave., Delray Beach, 561.243.7922)
relationships with several local caterers. (221 SW Third Ave., PARKER PLAYHOUSE
Opened in 1967, this neoclassical venue was built by Dr.
Fort Lauderdale, 954.728.9700)
KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Louis Parker and is managed by the Broward Center for the
Options at this facility include the Rinker Playhouse for 300, Performing Arts. Its 1,167-seat theater is available for events.
Gosman Amphitheatre for 1,400, and Dreyfoos Hall, with
(707 NE 8th St., Fort Lauderdale, 954.462.0222)
ROSE & ALFRED MINIACI PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
space for nearly 2,200. The Cohen Pavilion, a multipurpose
On the campus of Nova Southeastern University, this
facility with meeting and catering resources, has an
498-seat auditorium is equipped with state-of-the-art
additional four event and performance spaces, as well as
lecture halls, theater labs, a community conference room, a lighting and acoustics and balcony seating for 99.
(3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.262.5480)
dance studio, a recording studio, and more.
THEATER OF THE SEA
(701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561.832.7469)
MANUEL ARTIME THEATER
This Islamorada theater is known for its sea-animal shows
This 839-seat theater features a 30- by 60-foot stage. It also starring dolphins and sea lions. Tours of the marine life
features a lobby and two marble staircases. (900 SW 1st St., exhibits are available for as many as 250. (84721 Overseas
305.575.5057)
Hwy. at Mile Marker 84.5, Islamorada, 305.664.2431)
HARRIET HIMMEL THEATER
Formerly the first United Methodist Church of West Palm
Beach, this 11,000-square-foot trilevel cultural arts center is
in the multiuse City Place development. The venue can hold
60 trade show booths, 600 people in a banquet or theater
arrangement, and 900 for receptions. (700 South Rosemary
Ave., West Palm Beach, 561.366.1000)
from the ground level to the penthouse. (999 North Fort
Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.564.1000)
BAHIA MAR FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH5
This DoubleTree by Hilton resort and mega-yacht marina
houses 22,000 square feet of event space, with 17 meeting
rooms that accommodate groups of 10 to 600. The
ACQUALINA RESORT& SPA ON THE BEACH5
Commodore Ballroom can be divided into six sections. The
This hotel has 54 rooms and 43 suites. Four oceanfront
waterfront gardens seat 200 for banquets. (801 Seabreeze
meeting rooms include the Mediterranean Ballroom, which Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 888.802.2442)
BELLASERA5
can be divided into three separate areas and holds 130,
This Naples property has 100 suites and 4,000 square feet
and the boardroom, which seats 14. Lawn spaces are also
of meeting and event space for groups as large as 200. The
available for events; the largest holds 200. (17875 Collins
spaces include an executive boardroom, a terrace overlookAve., Sunny Isles Beach, 305.918.8000)
THE ANGLER’S RESORT5
ing the pool, and ballrooms ranging from 520 to 1,600
Open since 2007, this European-style four-building hotel
square feet. Mediterranean-infused restaurant Zizi seats 60.
with Art Deco decor offers a 250-square-foot private dining (221 9th St. South, Naples, 239.649.7333)
BETSY HOTEL5
room with 16 seats. Its menu features Mediterraneaninflected contemporary cuisine. A 900-square-foot covered The Betsy Ross Hotel reopened in 2009 as the Betsy Hotel.
The 63-room property has two spaces for events: a 96-seat
front porch, the 1,000-square-foot 660 Lounge and side
BLT Steak restaurant and a 3,500-square-foot rooftop
terrace, and 2,000 square feet around the pool provide
solarium with space for 150. Additional amenities include
outdoor options. The wide front sidewalk also is available
a three-cabana spa and a 500-square-foot pool deck. (1440
for car previews. The hotel is available for buyout. (660
Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305.531.6100)
Washington Ave, Miami Beach, 305.534.9600)
THE ATLANTIC RESORT & SPA5
MIRAMAR CULTURAL CENTER/ARTSPARK5
In the heart of Miramar Town Center, this center has a
banquet hall that can seat 300 or be divided into three
separate spaces for smaller events. There is also an 800-seat
theater, two art galleries ideal for prefunction cocktail
receptions, a full-service kitchen, and a botanical garden.
(2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, 954.602.4500)
BILTMORE HOTEL5
The historic Biltmore on 150 acres consists of 275 guest
rooms. Among the tropical landscape there is an 18-hole
Donald Ross-designed golf course and 10 tennis courts.
Twenty-six breakout rooms, a boardroom, two amphitheaters, and three ballrooms comprise 76,000 square feet of
indoor/outdoor event space. (1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral
Gables, 305.445.1926)
BOCA BEACH CLUB5
This Waldorf-Astoria resort property has 212 guest rooms
and 146,000 square feet of meeting space. The resort has
seven boardrooms, the 4,575-square-foot Dunes Ballroom,
and three new pools. The 1,200-square-foot eatery Sea Grille
seats 47. (900 South Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, 888.564.1312)
BOCA RATON RESORT, THE WALDORF ASTORIA COLLECTION
This resort sprawls across 356 acres in a private village on
Florida’s Gold Coast. There are 1,043 guest rooms, including
56 suites, 76 junior suites, and 60 one-bedroom bungalows.
The hotel offers about 146,000 square feet of space that can
accommodate groups of 15 to 2,000. Serendipity—a branch
of the famous ice cream café in New York City—is on site.
(501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, 888.543.1277)
BOULAN SOUTH BEACH5
This 52-room boutique property was designed by Zyscovich
Architects and opened in October 2011. It includes a
4,582-square-foot Zen meditation garden, reflecting pools,
cabanas, and an 8,917-square-foot landscaped rooftop space
with views of the Atlantic and the Miami skyline. The
Boulan Shops offer designer retailers and additional nightlife venues. (2000 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.538.7661)
BRAZILIAN COURT5
Palm Beach’s Brazilian Court has catered to the elite since
1926. Mahogany millwork and Provençal colors decorate
80 one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites and studios with
patio and terrace options. The hotel features 2,750 square
feet of meeting space, including a 120-seat ballroom, and
1,100 square feet of outdoor space. There is a Frederic Fekkai
Salon and Spa, as well as French-American Café Boulud. (301
Australian Ave., Palm Beach, 561.655.7740)
BREAKERS HOTEL5
This hotel offers 540 guest rooms. Three grand ballrooms,
25 meeting rooms, and six boardrooms are part of 45,000
square feet of indoor meeting space and 20,000 square feet
of outdoor space. Other amenities include 10 restaurants,
a spa, an 18-hole championship golf course, and the John
Webster Golf Academy. (1 South County Road, Palm Beach,
888.273.2537)
CANYON RANCH MIAMI BEACH5
This 150-suite hotel has a 70,000-square-foot spa with
54 treatment rooms, 750 feet of beach, and two 14-seat
boardrooms. There are four dining options, including the
Canyon Ranch Grill, which has private dining for 32. The
hotel’s two-story indoor rock climbing wall can be used for
teambuilding activities. (6801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.514.7000)
CASA MARINA
This 311-room Waldorf-Astoria resort originally opened
bizbash.com may/june 2012 53
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
HOTELS
Restaurant is available for private events of 130. (9660 East
Bay Harbor Drive, Bay Harbor Islands, 305.868.4141)
THE DEAUVILLE BEACH RESORT
on New Year’s Eve 1920 and is on the National Register
of Historic Places. It offers 22,000 square feet of meeting
space, including the 3,000-square-foot Flagler’s Ballroom,
the 4,800-square-foot Keys Ballroom, and four outdoor
reception areas holding as many as 200 people. (1500
Reynolds St., Key West, 305.296.3535)
CASA MODERNA MIAMI HOTEL & SPA5
The former 56-room Tempo Miami is now Casa Moderna.
This high-rise property has a 14th-floor pool deck, which
overlooks the city and holds 60. Other meeting spaces
range from 340 to 910 square feet. Also on site are an
8,000-square-foot spa and a restaurant, Amuse, that seats
100. (1100 Biscayne Blvd., 786.369.0300)
CASA YBEL RESORT5
Casa Ybel is on Sanibel Island, with 114 one- and twobedroom suites. Meeting space includes the Birdcage, a
private dining room that holds 30 for banquets; and the
Waterfront Room, which overlooks the gardens and holds
100. Tenting is also available; the largest holds as many as
560. (2255 West Gulf Drive, Sanibel Island, 239.472.3145)
Built in 1957, the 17-story Deauville has a history of
opulence. There are 484 guest rooms and seven suites,
and all oceanfront rooms feature large balconies overlooking the beach. The 75,000 square feet of event space
includes three ballrooms, two boardrooms, breakout
rooms, and a 200-seat theater. The Napoleon Ballroom
holds 1,500 for receptions. (6701 Collins Ave., Miami
Beach, 305.865.8511)
DELANO HOTEL5
Philippe Starck designed this 194-room, 16-floor Morgans
Hotel Group property. The Delano includes unusual
features such as an indoor/outdoor lobby and an
international collection of furniture and art. Several unique
meeting spaces include the Agua Rooftop Solarium, which
holds 125; the pool and beach bar area, which holds 525; and
bungalows that hold 20. A 25-seat boardroom and 40-seat
gallery are also available. (1685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.672.2000)
DELRAY BEACH MARRIOTT5
This hotel offers 14 meeting rooms with more than 14,000
square feet of space, including the Seacrest Ballroom,
This stylish boutique hotel is composed of three separate
which holds 900. Additional amenities include an adultsbuildings—the Catalina, Maxine, and Dorset—following
only pool, the N Spa, and three dining options: Seacrest
the South Beach Group’s acquisition of the latter two hotels. Grill, O’Grady’s Lounge, and Cascades Poolside Grill. The
The 192-room property has three pools (including two
property’s 269 rooms were entirely renovated in 2010.
rooftop pools with private bars), two on-site restaurants,
(10 North Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561.274.3200 ext. 7710)
and three bars and lounges. (1732 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA5
Five championship golf courses and a spa are on this
305.674.1160)
CHIC PLACE AT LINCOLN5
650-acre property. More than 100,000 square feet of
Formerly Stay at Lincoln, this boutique residence in Miami meeting space includes the 60,000-square-foot Legends
Beach has nine apartments ideally suited for executives.
Ballroom, which accommodates 2,000. There is also a lodge
Each of the apartments has a full-size European kitchen
with 11 meeting rooms that measure 500 to 1,000 square
and is decorated with vintage furniture, art, and flat-screen feet. (4400 NW 87th Ave., 305.592.2000)
TVs. The courtyard garden can host day or night receptions DOUBLETREE HOTEL PALM BEACH GARDENS5
The executive meeting center at this 279-room hotel
for 35. (1611 Lenox Ave., Miami Beach, 877.390.6170)
CLEVELANDER5
contains seven meeting rooms, five of which can be divided
The 70-year-old renovated property added a tower and four into smaller rooms, across 13,700 square feet of space.
event spaces in 2009 and has a total of 60 guest units. The There is an additional 12,000 square feet of meeting space
south tower offers the SPF4 Sundeck, which holds 90. In the throughout the hotel, including a ballroom that seats 300.
old tower, 1020 Music Lounge is the hotel’s indoor nightlife (4431 P.G.A. Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561.622.2260)
DOUBLETREE MIAMI MART/AIRPORT HOTEL & EXHIBITION
entity; it holds 113, with room for an additional 189 on the
CENTER
terrace. (1020 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 786.276.5325)
COLONY PALM BEACH
This hotel contains 334 guest rooms and suites and offers
This renovated antique boutique property has 90 rooms,
complimentary shuttle service to the airport. There is
an on-site Polo Steaks & Seafood, and a theater space. The
155,000 square feet of meeting space, including the Royal
1,113-square-foot Royal Room seats 80. (155 Hammon Ave.,
Poinciana Ballroom, which can hold 960 or divide into
Palm Beach, 561.655.5430)
eight areas. (711 NW 72nd Ave., 305.261.3800)
THE CATALINA HOTEL & BEACH CLUB5
CONRAD MIAMI HOTEL
This high-rise luxury hotel by Hilton offers 203 guest rooms
and 103 residence suites. Of the 20,000 square feet of meeting space, the largest venue is the Conrad Ballroom, which
holds 400 for receptions. A restaurant and lounge, Level 25,
is on the 25th floor. (1395 Brickell Ave., 305.503.6500)
CORAL SPRINGS MARRIOTT HOTEL GOLF CLUB5
The lobby of this 217-room hotel is a tropically landscaped
seven-story atrium. The 11,700-square-foot Grand Floridian
Ballroom is the largest event space, with a maximum
seating capacity of 1,200. There are 12 additional meeting
rooms, including a boardroom and the pool deck. (11775
Heron Bay Blvd., Coral Springs, 954.753.5598)
COURTYARD FORT LAUDERDALE NORTH/CYPRESS CREEK
This hotel has 131 rooms and five suites on four floors. Six
meeting rooms create 7,000 square feet of space, including
a 12-seat boardroom. The grand ballroom is 2,520 square
feet and seats 200 people. Four breakout rooms are also
available. The Bistro is also available for breakfast and
dinner. (2440 West Cypress Creek Road, Fort Lauderdale,
954.772.7770)
NEW DREAM SOUTH BEACH5
Opened in summer 2011, the Dream South Beach transformed historic Art Deco icons the Tudor Hotel and Palmer
House into a chic, luxury boutique hotel. The hotel features
Moroccan-inspired starlight doors and 108 rooms and
suites. There is no meeting space, but the hotel works with
nearby meeting centers. The property’s Tudor Restaurant,
seating 150 or holding 215 for receptions, is available for
buyout and can provide some outdoor seating. The rooftop
Highbar lounge holds 275 by the Dream’s infinity pool. (1111
Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.673.4747)
EDEN ROC RENAISSANCE MIAMI BEACH5
This oceanfront Marriott has 631 rooms and suites. There
are 28 meeting rooms across 46,000 square feet of space,
including the 10,200-square-foot Pompeii Ballroom &
Promenade, with a seating capacity of 1,000. Four outdoor
spaces are available, including the Ocean Garden, which
holds 1,500. (4525 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.531.0000)
NEW ELEMENT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
This five-story hotel has 300 guest rooms. There are six
meeting rooms in 2,900 square feet of space, including
a 2,000-square-foot ballroom and three boardrooms.
Champions Sports Bar is on site. (1201 NW LeJeune Road,
305.642.8200)
Starwood’s nonsmoking property opened in February
2012. Amenities at the eco-friendly property include a
24-hour grab-and-go gourmet pantry, a laundry room,
and free Wi-Fi. Rooms have work spaces and kitchens. A
meeting space features a 50-inch flat-panel TV, Polycom
speakerphones, and complimentary high-speed Internet. It
seats 40 theater-style. Outdoor function space is available
in the pool area. (3525 NW 25th St., 305.636.1600)
COURTYARD MIAMI COCONUT GROVE
EMBASSY SUITES MIAMI—INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Near Biscayne Bay, this hotel has 196 rooms and 7,000
square feet of meeting space. The 3,072-square-foot
Sapphire Ballroom is on the 20th floor, where it offers
panoramic views of the bay from floor-to-ceiling windows.
(649 South Bayshore Drive, 305.858.2500)
This hotel is only half a mile from the airport and offers
complimentary shuttle service. There are 318 guest suites
and more than 12,000 square feet of event space. The
14 meeting areas include three ballrooms and a 15-seat
boardroom. (3974 NW South River Drive, 305.634.5000)
This 311-room property boasts 10,000 square feet of
meeting space, including the 3,200-square-foot Waterway
Pavilion, which can accommodate 355, and multiple meeting rooms for 20. The property also features a pool, a bar
and lounge, and two dining options. (4000 South Ocean
Drive, Hollywood, 954.454.4334)
This 411-room waterfront hotel has more than 11,000
square feet of indoor meeting space, including eight
meeting rooms, a 1,734-square-foot foyer, and the
4,187-square-foot Metropolis Ballroom. The 13,752-squarefoot wrap-around pool deck and the private marina are
available for events. (270 Biscayne Blvd. Way, 305.424.5226)
COURTYARD MIAMI AIRPORT SOUTH
CROWNE PLAZA HOLLYWOOD BEACH RESORT5
DADDY O HOTEL MIAMI
This 46-room boutique hotel opened in 2010 just blocks
form the Bal Harbour Shops after extensive renovations
to the former Bay Harbour Inn & Suites Hotel. There is
a boardroom for 12, and on-site dining spot the Palm
54 bizbash.com may/june 2012
EPIC RESIDENCES & HOTEL5
FISHER ISLAND HOTEL AND RESORT5
This hotel is accessible only by ferry or boat. Forty-five
cottages and villas are scattered over 216 tropical acres. The
2,250-square-foot ballroom in the Vanderbilt Mansion seats
120, but is currently unavailable because of renovations
begun April 2012. The conference center seats 40 classroomstyle and can be broken into two sections.
(1 Fisher Island Drive, Fisher Island, 305.535.6000)
FONTAINEBLEAU MIAMI BEACH5
The 1,504-room Fontainebleau boasts 107,000 square feet of
meeting space, including three ballrooms totaling 62,000
square feet. Outdoor space is available, including the
21,000-square-foot Ocean Lawn. For cocktails, the property
has a 70-person lounge with a house DJ.
(4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.538.2000)
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MIAMI5
An 80-foot water wall greets guests as they arrive at this
hotel, which offers 221 guest rooms and 39 suites. Most of
the 14,900 square feet of meeting space is set on the sixth
floor, including the 5,830-square-foot ballroom, which
holds 525 and can be divided in half. The Palm Grove space
on the seventh-floor pool terrace holds 450 for receptions,
or 300 seated. (1435 Brickell Ave., 305.358.3535)
FOUR SEASONS RESORT PALM BEACH5
This four-story hotel houses 210 guest rooms. There are
19,000 square feet of indoor function space, including the
6,000-square-foot Flagler Ballroom, which has 10 breakout
spaces; and an executive boardroom, which seats 14. (2800
South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, 561.582.2800)
GROVE ISLE CLUB & RESORT5
This 50-room resort is on its own 20-acre island. An
8,000-square-foot conference center includes three breakout conference rooms and a 3,600-square-foot ballroom.
The Bay Front Ship’s Deck offers outdoor space for 125.
(4 Grove Isle Drive, Coconut Grove, 305.858.8300)
NEW HAMPTON INN & SUITES MIAMI BRICKELL DOWNTOWN
The property opened in September 2011 with more than
3,800 square feet of meeting space: five rooms that can
hold 12 to 300 people. All rooms feature audiovisual
equipment and complimentary Internet. (50 SW 12th St.,
305.377.9400)
HARBOR BEACH MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA5
This hotel has 618 rooms and 32 suites. Featuring 40,000
square feet of indoor and 60,000 square feet of outdoor
event space, this hotel has 32 function rooms and can host
2,000 people. The Oceanfront Ballroom seats 800.
(3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale, 954.525.4000)
HAWKS CAY5
This 60-acre resort features 177 guest rooms, 244 two- and
three-bedroom villas, and more than 25,000 square feet
of event space. The 10 indoor meeting rooms all have
waterfront views and range from 350 square feet to the
5,544-square-foot grand ballroom for 600. (61 Hawks Cay
Blvd., Duck Key, 305.743.7000)
HILTON DEERFIELD BEACH/BOCA RATON
This 220-room hotel stands as an unusual pyramid-esque
building. There are 13 breakout rooms across 20,000
square feet of space, including the 5,000-square-foot grand
ballroom. The boardroom seats 10. (100 Fairway Drive,
Deerfield Beach, 954.427.7700)
HILTON FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH RESORT5
This 374-studio-and-suite hotel is a beachfront beacon
along the Fort Lauderdale skyline. The Del Sol Ballroom
measures 3,410 square feet and holds 300 for receptions.
The second-floor meeting space hosts six smaller function
rooms that seat 30 to 70 guests. (505 North Fort Lauderdale
Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.414.2222)
HILTON FORT LAUDERDALE MARINA5
The former Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel and Yacht Club
was rebranded as a Hilton in 2011. This 589-room property
has 21,000 square feet of function space, including 19
meeting rooms, two divisible ballrooms, three theater-style
rooms with seating for 85, and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor
space. There are three restaurants, including China Grill
Fort Lauderdale, seating 493 in the main dining room and
64 on the terrace. The former G Bar has been replaced with
Marina Blue Bar & Grille, seating 100. (1881 SE 17th St., Fort
Lauderdale, 954.463.4000)
HILTON KEY LARGO RESORT 5
This 200-room luxury resort, formerly the Key Largo
Grande Hilton Resort and Beach Club, has more than
10,000 square feet of function space in six different
meeting areas, including one ballroom with 4,000 square
feet. The property also has a 21-slip boat marina and
docking facility. (97000 South Overseas Hwy., Key Largo,
305.852.5553)
HILTON MIAMI AIRPORT
This resort is on a peninsula on Blue Lagoon. The property
renovated its gym in 2011 and began a guest-area renovation, which will be completed this year. The property also
added a presidential suite, bringing its room count to
508. There is 30,000 square feet of event space available,
including the 9,600-square-foot international ballroom.
The same amount of exhibit space is also available.
(5101 Blue Lagoon Drive, 305.262.1000)
HILTON MIAMI DOWNTOWN
This 527-room Hilton recently underwent a multimilliondollar renovation. Boasting the largest ballroom in
downtown Miami, nearly 17,000 square feet, this hotel can
host banquets for 1,300. A total of 45,000 square feet of
5 Venues with outdoor event space
function space includes five boardrooms and eight other
meeting areas. (1601 Biscayne Blvd., 305.374.0000)
HOLLYWOOD BEACH HOTEL AND HOSTEL5
Opened in 2009, this 27-room property is a half block from
the beach. The hotel offers an array of teambuilding activities, like surfing and volleyball, and has portable barbecue
equipment for guests to stage their own dinner on the
beach. (334 Arizona St., Hollywood, 954.391.9448)
HOTEL ASTOR
This Art Deco 42-room hotel dates back to 1936. A garden
with a set of stairs leads down to La Casa Florentina, a
restaurant serving Tuscan cuisine and seating 85. A twostory wine cellar seats six. (956 Washington Ave., Miami
Beach, 305.531.8081)
NEW HOTEL BREAKWATER5
The 100-room Hotel Breakwater opened in June 2011 and
provides views of Miami Beach along with a boutique
resort climate. The rooftop deck accommodates 175 guests,
while other spaces include a 2,220-square-foot exhibit
space, a lecture hall with capacity for 180, a private courtyard, and the opportunity to host activities and ceremonies
on the beach. The hotel opened its see-through pool and
spa deck in October 2011. (940 Ocean Drive, 305.532.2362)
HOTEL URBANO5
Hotel Urbano was added to the expanding Brickell skyline
in 2010. This 65-room boutique hotel has 1,650 square feet
of meeting space among three rooms and holds groups of
20 to 60. A Cuban-inspired restaurant and an outdoor pool
with private cabanas are available for events.
(2500 South Brickell Ave., 305.854.2070)
HOTEL VICTOR, A THOMPSON HOTEL
This 90-room hotel is brings 1930s elegance to the present
after a massive redesign by Jacques Garcia. Two thousand
square feet of meeting space is available. The Viaggi Room’s
560 square feet event space overlooks Ocean Drive and the
Atlantic. (1144 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305.428.1234)
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL MIAMI5
This 641-room hotel has more than 66,000 square feet
of versatile function space, all with natural light and bay
vistas. There are 30 meeting rooms including the grand
ballroom, which seats 1,400. The Blue Water Restaurant
serves fresh seafood in a casual poolside ambience.
(100 Chopin Plaza, 305.577.1000)
COMING SOON THE JAMES ROYAL PALM
Designed by Rottet Studio, this property is set to open in
late 2012. The brand’s first hotel in Florida will feature 179
guest rooms, 211 studios and suites, 10,000 square feet of
meeting and event space, and a beachfront restaurant.
(1545 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 877.627.5467)
JW MARRIOTT HOTEL MIAMI
This 22-story hotel has 296 guest rooms and 22 suites, as
well as an 18,000-square-foot conference and meeting
facility. The grand ballroom seats 1,026. Fine dining can be
found in the Trapiche Room, which features wine-inspired
Mediterranean cuisine. (1109 Brickell Ave., 305.329.3500)
JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS
The indoor entertainment and lifestyle complex of this
downtown 313-room hotel spans two floors and offers
50,000 square feet of flexible event space. Guests can
play pool in the billiard room, sip cocktails in the lounge,
or use the virtual bowling alley and golf simulators. A
10,000-square-foot arena on the 19th floor can be converted
into a basketball or tennis court, and can also serve as
carpeted event space. For a formal affair, a 20,000-squarefoot divisible grand ballroom is available. (345 Ave. of the
Americas, 305.350.0750)
KEY WEST MARRIOTT BEACHSIDE HOTEL5
MAYFAIR HOTEL & SPA5
With 8,600 square feet of flexible meeting space, this
179-room hotel has seven meeting rooms with versatile
floor plans. A 7,000-square-foot rooftop deck features a bar
and lounge, as well as plasma televisions. (3000 Florida
Ave., 305.441.0000)
NEW MIAMI MARRIOTT BISCAYNE BAY5
The Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay reopened in May 2011
after a two-year, $31 million renovation. The property
has 20,000 square feet of event space that includes 23
meeting rooms, two ballrooms, and a new boardroom. Also
available are a terrace overlooking the bay and pool and a
private dining room for 20 at the hotel’s restaurant, Catch
Grill & Bar. (1633 North Bayshore Drive, 305.374.3900)
MONDRIAN SOUTH BEACH
Mondrian South Beach offers views of the Atlantic Ocean
and downtown Miami. The 330-room hotel also features
restaurateur Jeffery Chodorow’s Asia de Cuba, which
blends Asian and Latin cuisines, and nearly 4,000 square
feet of space on two levels. (1100 West Ave., Miami Beach,
305.514.1500)
THE MOORINGS VILLAGE5
This property consists of 18 villas and nearly 1,100 feet of
beach. The 18-acre village has the Pierre restaurant for
events. It can accommodate 100 indoors and another 20 on
its veranda. (123 Beach Road, Islamorada, 305.664.4708)
NAPLES BAY RESORT
This luxury resort has 85 guest rooms and suites and 108
two- and three-bedroom cottages. The clubhouse features
3,150 square feet of space, including a 2,000-square-foot
conference room and two smaller breakout facilities. The
resort’s private yacht club has additional event space for 30.
(1500 Fifth Ave. South, Naples, 239.530.1199)
HYATT AT THE BLUE
This seven-acre beachside resort has nearly 9,700 square
feet of meeting space and two private beaches totaling
2,500 square feet. The 213-room resort has tropical gardens,
a heated pool, a helicopter landing pad, a private pier, a
tapas bar, and two restaurants. (3841 North Roosevelt Blvd.,
Key West, 305.296.8100)
This property in Doral is composed of 15 Florida-style
mansions with 215 suites and villas. The 3,500 square feet
of meeting space accommodates as many as 150 seated.
There are five distinctive golf courses nearby, including
the adjacent CA World Golf Championship course, as
well as the Jim McLean Golf School. (5300 NW 87th Ave.,
305.597.8600)
KING & GROVE TIDES SOUTH BEACH5
This 125-acre resort has 319 guest rooms and a pool deck for
200. The resort is also home to a championship golf course,
tennis center, four restaurants, and 34,000 square feet of
event space. (851 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples, 239.261.2222)
This property rebranded in November 2011. The hotel has
45 suites, oceanfront private rooms, and a penthouse suite
with a rooftop patio that holds 20. The boutique property
also offers the La Marea restaurant, which can host as
many as 100 for an oceanfront reception. (1220 Ocean Drive,
Miami Beach, 305.604.5070)
HYATT REGENCY BONAVENTURE
LAGO MAR RESORT & CLUB
This 151-room hotel combines a South Beach locale with
classic Hollywood panache. The National features 2,200
square feet of event space. The Oval Ballroom holds 150,
and the Martini Room can accommodate 40. A terrace
overlooks the infinity pool. (1677 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.532.2311)
This 501-room hotel on 23 acres features a conference
center with 60,000 square feet of meeting space, including
a 175-seat amphitheater. Other amenities include a spa
and nightclub Bar Zen. (250 Racquet Club Road, Weston,
954.616.1234)
This boutique-like, 204-room hotel is in the exclusive
Harbor Beach neighborhood. The 12,000-square-foot
conference center has four meeting areas that open up to
the Fountain View Lobby’s 5,000 square feet of prefunction
space. The Directors Room, a conference-style area, can seat
30. (1700 South Ocean Lane, Fort Lauderdale, 954.523.6511)
THE NEW HOTEL5
HYATT REGENCY COCONUT POINT RESORT & SPA 5
NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GOLF CLUB5
NATIONAL HOTEL5
The property opened in 2009. Lou’s Beer Garden serves as
the hotel’s main event space. On the 800-square-foot tiled
pool deck, the eatery can seat 50 or host as many as 100 for
a reception. A small six-seat bar, accented with a backdrop
of mosaic tile, anchors the pool deck. (7337 Harding Ave.,
Miami Beach, 305.704.7879)
This 454-room Hyatt features 26 acres of tropical
greenery. A significant amount of the 70,000 square feet
of function space is outdoors, including 30,000 square
feet of courtyard, terrace, and pavilion space. Indoors, the
14,000-square-foot Calusa Ballroom holds 1,500, and the
boardroom seats 12. (5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs,
239.444.1234)
LOEWS MIAMI BEACH HOTEL5
This Art Deco landmark has 790 guest rooms. More than
65,000 square feet of meeting space can accommodate
groups of 14 in the boardroom and 3,000 in the Americana
Ballroom. Several lawn spaces are also available, accommodating as many as 700. (1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.604.1601)
NEWPORT BEACHSIDE HOTEL AND RESORT5
This 14-story Mediterranean-style hotel contains 250
rooms and 18,000 square feet of event space. The Hall of
Ambassadors features 20-foot ceilings and holds 420 for
receptions. The 2,380-square-foot Venetian Ballroom seats
230 for banquets. Outdoors, a courtyard can hold 420.
(50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, 305.441.1234)
This 326-room hotel is influenced by Asian design. There
are 15 versatile meeting spaces in addition to 20,000 square
feet of private beach space. The ballroom holds 835 and
has access to a terrace for 180. A 10-seat boardroom is also
available. (500 Brickell Key Drive, 305.913.8288)
This 100-room Noble House property has 8,670 square feet
of event space. The 870-square-foot Mallory Conference
Room Suite is available for 50, while the outdoor ocean
terrace and surrounding pool area hold 100. The private
Sunset Pier holds 250. (0 Duval St., Key West, 800.328.9815)
HYATT REGENCY CORAL GABLES5
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MIAMI5
MARCO ISLAND MARRIOTT RESORT GOLF CLUB & SPA5
This hotel has 320 rooms and offers 18,000 square feet
of event space, as well as the Kitchen 305 restaurant. The
Atlantis Ballroom has 4,800 square feet of space to host
400 for receptions or 350 for banquets. (16701 Collins Ave.,
Sunny Isles Beach, 305.949.1300)
OCEAN KEY RESORT AND SPA5
OCEAN REEF CLUB
This private community offers 300 guest units and more
than 30,000 square feet of space. The club has five independent venues, including the 7,350-square-foot Town Hall.
The Marina Inn houses four breakout rooms that together
can hold 130 conference-style, while the 3,750 square-foot
MARENAS RESORT & SPA5
Key Largo Building provides three breakout rooms. The
This all-suite, 166-unit beachfront hotel is midway between Everglades Conference Complex features 5,040 square feet
Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Featuring a 925-square-foot
of space. (35 Ocean Reef Drive, Key Largo, 305.367.2611)
HYATT REGENCY PIER SIXTY-SIX5
THE OMPHOY OCEAN RESORT5
terrace room and a 16-seat boardroom, the Marenas can
This 380-room hotel is known for its waterfront and
Open since 2009, this 134-room resort has 5,000 square feet
host business meetings and gatherings. The resort also
garden views. The 7,500-square-foot Crystal Ballroom,
offers its own culinary team for events. (18683 Collins Ave., of space for groups as large as 125. Catering is provided by
which can be divided into four sections, holds 400. There
the on-site Malcolm’s Restaurant. (2842 South Ocean Blvd.,
Sunny Isles Beach, 305.503.6000)
MARRIOTT HOLLYWOOD BEACH
is also a conference-style boardroom that seats 12. The
Palm Beach, 561.540.6440)
ONE BAL HARBOUR RESORT & SPA5
3,000-square-foot Pier Top Lounge offers 360-degree views This 229-room hotel has seven meeting rooms in 6,634
On five acres with 750 feet of beach and 124 studios and
of the skyline and is exclusively reserved for private events. square feet of space. The largest venue, the 4,674-squareexecutive suites, this hotel has 10,000 square feet of event
foot grand ballroom, seats 350 guests. The Sunset Key
(2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale, 954.525.6666)
INN AT PELICAN BAY5
space, 3,700 square feet of which are spread between three
Boardroom seats 25 and the Wentworth Boardroom seats
This 100-room boutique hotel blends Mediterranean charm 10. (2501 North Ocean Drive, Hollywood, 954.924.2202)
conference rooms. A boardroom provides 1,380 square feet
MARRIOTT MIAMI AIRPORT CAMPUS
and Old World hospitality. There is 3,708 square feet of
of prefunction space. Mister Collins restaurant, offering
This campus opened in 2009. The venture is comprised
meeting space, including a 20-seat executive boardroom.
oceanfront dining, opened on site in 2011. (10295 Collins
of three properties, the largest of which is the 366-room
The poolside patio holds 50. The Lakeside Courtyard can
Ave., Miami Beach, 305.455.5459)
PELICAN GRAND BEACH RESORT5
Miami Airport Marriott, which has 12,000 square feet of
hold 250 guests, while a private beach venue hosts 300.
This 152-room resort sits on 500 feet of beach. The hotel
meeting space. The 292-room Courtyard Miami Airport
(800 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, 239.597.8777)
THE INN ON FIFTH5
has six function areas, including the 962-square-foot
South has six meeting rooms for groups of 48 to 93. The
This Naples hotel has 87 rooms. The property has 8,000
Everglades Meeting Room. The Oceanfront Rooftop Deck
Residence Inn Miami Airport South has 163 rooms and a
square feet of function space and can accommodate 150
15-seat meeting room. The entire campus offers a combined has more than 5,000 square feet of space and a gazebo.
people indoors and 250 outside. The 1,876-square-foot Palm 15,000 square feet of space. (Miami Airport Marriott: 1201
(2000 North Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 800.525.6232)
Ballroom can be divided in two for smaller gatherings. The NW LeJeune Road, 305.649.5000; Courtyard Miami Airport PERRY SOUTH BEACH HOTEL, RESORT AND SPA5
Formerly Gansevoort South Hotel and Residences, this
executive boardroom can host 55 and has a private foyer.
South: 305.642.8200; Residence Inn Miami Airport South:
property became the Perry in February 2012. Meeting
(699 Fifth Ave. South, Naples, 888.403.8778)
1201 NW 42nd Ave., 305.642.8570)
HYATT REGENCY MIAMI
This 612-room hotel features striking white towers that
overlook Biscayne Bay. Connected to the Convention
Center, this Hyatt has 100,000 square feet of meeting and
event space. The James L. Knight International Center, a
16,000-square-foot concert hall and theater, can seat 5,000
people. The 11,840-square-foot Regency Ballroom can host
1,000. (400 SE Second Ave., 305.358.1234)
Surrounded by exotic Balinese details, the 727-room Marco
Island Marriott Resort offers 225,000 square feet of indoor
and outdoor event space that overlooks white sand beaches
and poolside areas. The resort can accommodate 2,000.
(400 South Collier Blvd., Marco Island, 239.394.2511)
bizbash.com may/june 2012 55
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
HOTELS
NEW RIVIERA SOUTH BEACH5
This boutique property from the South Beach Hotels Group
opened its second building in May 2012. Near the Miami
space at this 340-room hotel includes a 6,600-square-foot
Beach Convention Center The property has been designed
ballroom and six rooms with prefunction space. Plunge,
to emphasize modern design and Hollywood Regency
the 26,000-square-foot rooftop space with a 110-foot pool,
elements. It has 54 rooms. The first building with 55 suites
offers views 18 stories above South Beach. (2377 Collins Ave., contains the Riviera’s meeting space which includes a pool
Miami Beach, 305.604.1000)
deck holding as many as 200 for events. A third building
P.G.A. NATIONAL RESORT & SPA5
is planned for 2013. (2000 Liberty Ave., Miami Beach,
This 339-room resort features 40,000 square feet of
877.762.3477)
SAGAMORE HOTEL5
event space. This includes 23 meeting rooms, a 50-seat
amphitheater, and two ballrooms for as many as 1,000. The This 93-suite hotel features one- and two-bedroom suites,
16 two-floor ocean-side garden bungalows, eight rooftop
6,000-square-foot outdoor Honda Pavilion overlooks the
resort’s 26-acre lake and the 18-hole championship course. penthouses, and 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor
event space. Indoor spaces include the 410-square-foot
All of the property’s guest rooms are slated for renovation
over the summer through October. (400 Ave. of Champions, screening room for 20 and a 670-square-foot modern game
room. (1671 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.535.8088)
West Palm Beach, 800.633.9150)
PIER HOUSE RESORT AND CARIBBEAN SPA5
This property has 142 rooms and boasts 2,600 square
feet of indoor space. Adjacent to the private beach is a
9,000-square-foot covered area that holds 100. (1 Duval St.,
Key West, 305.296.4600)
SANCTUARY SOUTH BEACH5
This 27-room, two-story boutique hotel has a Japanese
garden with a waterfall and bar. The rooftop pool and
lounge can accommodate 250 guests. OLA restaurant is on
site, with a private rooftop terrace and a main dining room
PRIME HOTEL5
that accommodates as many as 120 guests.
In 2010, Prime One Twelve owner Myles Chefetz opened the (1745 James Ave., Miami Beach, 305.673.5455)
THE SEAGATE HOTEL AND SPA
14-room Prime Hotel above his restaurant. The property’s
The Seagate Hotel and Spa opened in 2009. The 162-room
first floor is a lounge extension of the restaurant; it can
accommodate 12 to 100 guests for events. The rooftop pool hotel has a 1,912-square-foot ballroom, a smaller one with
1,730 square feet of space, and a boardroom that holds 12 for
and surrounding deck area can host 50, but is only availevents. There is also a 230-seat Atlantic Grill restaurant and
able for events for guests staying in the hotel. (100 Ocean
the 8,000-square-foot Seagate Spa. (401 South Ocean Blvd.,
Drive, Miami Beach, 305.532.0553)
THE RALEIGH5
Delray Beach, 561.665.4800)
The Raleigh’s penthouse has 6,000 square feet of meeting SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO HOLLYWOOD5
space and a 1,850-square-foot terrace. The Esther Williams This property has 481 guest rooms and 50,000 square feet
Suite offers 975 square feet of space and can accommodate of meeting space. The 15,000-square-foot ballroom can
be divided into eight separate spaces. Inside, there is the
30. The 20,000-square-foot outdoor Oasis area is lined
22,000-square-foot Rock spa, a 140,000-square-foot casino,
with embowering trees and holds 800 for receptions. The
and multiple dining options. (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood,
property has 105 guest rooms.(1775 Collins Ave., Miami
954.327.7625)
Beach, 305.534.6300)
THE REACH RESORT5
The beachfront property has 190 guest rooms and
4,700 square feet of meeting space. The latter includes
a 2,800-square-foot ballroom that seats 150. The Caribe
Ballroom can seat 80. The 1,500-square-foot sundeck offers
ocean views. (1435 Simonton St., Key West, 305.296.5000)
RITZ-CARLTON COCONUT GROVE5
This 117-room property features 13,439 square feet of
meeting space and 4,878 square feet of prefunction space.
Event space includes the 5,194-square-foot grand ballroom,
an 18-person boardroom, and 5,540 square feet of outdoor
space. (3300 SW 27th Ave., Coconut Grove, 305.644.4680)
RITZ-CARLTON FORT LAUDERDALE5
THE SETAI5
Built in the late 1930s, this landmark South Beach hotel
has 165 suites. One option for small business meetings is
the library, accommodating 60, or the two private dining
areas for 10 guests each at the Setai’s restaurant. The
10,000-square-foot penthouse holds 150. For larger events
of as many as 250, the property’s courtyard is also available.
(2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.520.6000)
SHELBORNE BEACH RESORT AND HOTEL
This property has resided in its Miami locale for more than
60 years, boasting 280 luxury rooms, suites, and town
houses. In 2011, the property premiered its renovated lobby,
three new restaurants, an infinity pool, and a boutique. The
hotel offers multiple event options for planners, the largest
of which is the 3,500-square-foot Starlight Ballroom, which
seats 290. (1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.531.1271)
This resort has 192 rooms and provides more than 24,000
square feet of space, including the grand ballroom,
with space for as many as 530 seated guests, and a
SHERATON FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH HOTEL5
29,000-square-foot pool deck. Three meeting rooms each
hold 100, and a boardroom seats 16. (1 North Fort Lauderdale The 486-room beachfront hotel has 7,500 square feet of
meeting and banquet space and pool decks totaling 5,600
Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.465.2300)
RITZ-CARLTON GOLF RESORT NAPLES5
square feet. A 4,000-square-foot ballroom holds 220 seated
This property offers 295 rooms and 16,500 square feet of
guests. (1140 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.524.5551)
meeting and conference space. The latter holds 14 meeting SHERATON SUITES KEY WEST5
The 180-suite hotel has two 30-seat boardrooms that can be
rooms and a grand ballroom which seats 540 or holds 720
for reception. Between January and April, a 14,000 square- combined. There is also a deck for groups as large as 50 and
foot seasonal pavilion is erected for events. The resort also a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating for 60. (2001
South Roosevelt Blvd., 305.292.9800)
has two 18-hole courses designed by Greg Norman. (2600
SHORE CLUB
Tiburón Dr., Naples, 239.593.2000)
RITZ-CARLTON KEY BISCAYNE5
This hotel has 309 guest rooms, seven private bungalows,
This 450-room hotel has more than 20,000 square feet
and a triplex penthouse. The Shore Club boasts 13,300
of meeting and event space, including a 10,000-squaresquare feet of meeting facilities. A 2,900-square-foot
foot ocean-view ballroom, five breakout rooms, and a
oceanfront meeting space can accommodate as many as
boardroom. A gazebo holds 100, and the beach in front of
150 people. (1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.695.3100)
NEW SLS HOTEL SOUTH BEACH
the resort holds 250. (455 Grand Bay Drive, Key Biscayne,
SBE Hospitality opened its first East Coast SLS Hotel in May
305.365.4500)
RITZ-CARLTON NAPLES5
at the former Ritz Plaza Hotel. The 142-room, $45 million
This 450-room resort offers 42,000 square feet of space,
project includes 10 poolside bungalow suites, restaurants
including a 10,194-square-foot ballroom which can be
such as the Bazaar by chef José Andrés, a Ciel Spa, and the
divided into four salons, a 10,125-square-foot conference
8,000-square-foot Hyde Lounge. (1701 Collins Ave., Miami
center, and 20 conference rooms. In 2011 the property’s
Beach, 305.674.1701)
SOHO BEACH HOUSE5
meeting rooms were renovated. New furnishings and
London-based brand Soho House opened its third North
audio visual technology was added to each room. The
American property, Soho Beach House, in 2010. The
on-site Naples Beach House, with views of the Gulf of
oceanfront property combines aspects of a private club, a
Mexico, is a 3,000-square-foot venue that seats 150.
50-room hotel, and a spa, with areas open to nonmembers
(280 Vanderbilt Beach Road., Naples, 239.598.3300)
RITZ-CARLTON PALM BEACH5
for vents of 22 to 150 people. The Screening Snug movie
This 310-room Palm Beach hotel includes a 3,000-squaretheater can seat 22 on sofas for a private film screening.
foot oceanfront terrace, youth facilities, and a business
There is also a pool deck with room for 75, a library that
center. Three ballrooms are available; the largest, the
holds 50, and a penthouse with a terrace and space for 60.
Ritz-Carlton, is 9,680 square feet and seats 600. (100 South In February, the property added rooftop Mexican restauOcean Blvd., Palm Beach, 561.533.6000)
rant Ocho. (4385 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 786.507.7900)
RITZ-CARLTON SOUTH BEACH5
A restoration of a 1953 Morris Lapidus-designed hotel, this
375-room property boasts 20,000 square feet of meeting
space, a pool with a surrounding deck, and a 16,000-squarefoot spa. Event space includes the 10,000-square-foot
Ritz-Carlton Ballroom and 10 meeting rooms. (1 Lincoln
Road, Miami Beach, 786.276.4000)
56 bizbash.com may/june 2012
SOUTH SEAS ISLAND RESORT5
On 330 acres of private beach on Captiva Island, this
465-room resort offers 31,000 square feet of event space,
including the 5,000-square-foot Captiva Ballroom and
the 8,000-square-foot King’s Crown Lawn. A yacht harbor
offers 2,100 feet of dock space. (5400 Plantation Road,
Captiva, 239.472.5111)
ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR RESORT5
This property, opened January 2012, has 243 guest rooms
with balconies and floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean. The
resort offers 11,200 square feet of meeting space including
the 7,800-square-foot Astor Ballroom, four boardrooms,
and an outdoor function space that includes patio, pool,
and beach areas. (9703 Collins Ave., 305.993.3300)
SURF COMBER HOTEL MIAMI
This retro Art Deco hotel is a Kimpton property on 200 feet
of oceanfront and consists of 186 guest rooms. The hotel
offers two meeting spaces: the Atlantic, on the pool level,
holds 75 for dinner; and the Collins meeting room, near the
lobby, seats 12. (1717 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.532.7715)
TOWNHOUSE HOTEL5
A 69-room Art Deco-infused enclave, this five-story
property has a 500-square-foot meeting space. The on-site
BondSt Lounge sushi restaurant provides catering for the
rooftop lounge, which accommodates as many as 250.
(150 20th St., Miami Beach, 305.534.3800)
TRUMP INTERNATIONAL BEACH RESORT5
This 32-story Sunny Isles Beach property has 390 guest
rooms and 22,000 square feet of function space. Facilities
include the 5,075-square-foot Ocean Ballroom, along with
16 meeting rooms. The property is also home to a pool
complex, a spa, retail shops, and Neomi’s restaurant. (18001
Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, 305.692.5600)
TURNBERRY ISLE MIAMI5
This Mediterranean-style hideaway is on 300 acres and
has 416 guest rooms and recently affiliated with Marriott’s
Autograph Collection. A 40,000-square-foot conference
center includes a 12,000-square-foot grand ballroom and
a 10-seat boardroom. The Magnolia Courtyard holds 250
and overlooks a 64-foot waterfall installation. (19999 West
Country Club Drive, Aventura, 305.932.6200)
VICEROY MIAMI5
Opened in 2009, this 162-room hotel has 4,000 square feet
of space, notably the great room, which holds 120. There is
a two-acre deck that boasts an 80-person hot tub and a spa.
The property added a new business center in early 2012.
(485 Brickell Ave., 305.503.4400)
W FORT LAUDERDALE5
This 517-room hotel opened in Fort Lauderdale in 2009.
There is 12,400 square feet of meeting space, including
5,550 square feet outdoors. Steak 954 restaurant, Whiskey
Blue nightclub, Living Room lounge, and the Wet pool area
can also host events. (401 North Fort Lauderdale Beach
Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.414.8200)
W SOUTH BEACH HOTEL & RESIDENCES5
Opened in 2009, the W South Beach’s event space includes
two 2,250-square-foot ballrooms, three meeting rooms that
each hold 60, and the hotel lawn, which holds 1,000. The
property also houses outposts of Mr. Chow and the Dutch
restaurants. (2201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.938.3000)
NEW THE WALDORF
Spanish hotel chain Room Mate Hotels opened this
44-room property in the renovated Waldorf Towers in
September 2011. The lobby holds 30 people for reception.
Prime Time Restaurant & Bar, operated independently, can
hold 50. (860 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 786.439.1600)
WALDORF-ASTORIA NAPLES5
In January 2012, the Naples Grande Beach Resort became
the Waldorf-Astoria Naples. The property offers more than
32,000 square feet of meeting space. The largest available
is the Royal Palm Ballroom, which holds 1,600 guests for
reception. The Vista Room, on the new lobby level, seats
400 for banquets. Also available are 25 executive meeting
rooms. (475 Seagate Drive, Naples, 239.597.3232)
WESTIN BEACH RESORT, FORT LAUDERDALE5
This 432-room resort boasts more than 32,000 square
feet of event space including 22 meeting rooms. The
10,000-square-foot Las Olas Ballroom holds 900, while the
Atlantic Ballroom’s 7,000 square feet can accommodate
850. The 5,536-square-foot rooftop Sky Terrace holds 550
for receptions. (321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort
Lauderdale, 954.467.1111)
WESTIN DIPLOMAT RESORT & SPA
This 998-room oceanfront hotel has convention center
and meeting facilities with 209,000 square feet of space,
including a 50,000-square-foot great hall and 39 breakout
rooms. There are multiple restaurants on the property. (3555
South Ocean Drive, Hollywood, 954.602.6000)
WESTIN KEY WEST RESORT & MARINA5
This hotel has 188 guest rooms. There are nine separate
meeting spaces; the largest of these, the 3,850-square-foot
Truman Ballroom, can be divided into seven rooms. Two
hospitality suites can accommodate 10 each. Outdoor
spaces include Sunset Deck and a 10,000-square-foot pier.
(245 Front St., Key West, 305.294.4000)
ZEE OCEAN HOTEL
The former Hotel de Soleil South Beach property boasts
80 rooms, including 27 rooftop suites. Also on site are a
670-square-foot executive boardroom that can host 40,
a 400-square-foot wine room that seats 20, and a glassbottom pool that looks down into the restaurant. (1437
Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.672.4554)
5 Venues with outdoor event space
INDEPENDENT EVENT SPACES
home to Metegoal, an indoor soccer arena with group
teambuilding options. (7620 NE Fourth Court, 305.757.6000)
MIAMI TOWER
THE ADDISON5
Originally built in 1926 by acclaimed architect Addison
Mizner, the Addison is steeped in old-world elegance and
charm. The Addison offers many unique features, from its
historic architecture and world-class cuisine to a courtyard
featuring 100-year-old banyan trees and a cascading fountain. A variety of private settings are available, including
rooms for dinner parties, stylish luncheons, and corporate
meetings, and a grand ballroom perfect for hundreds of
guests. (2 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, 561.372.0568)
ALFRED I. DUPONT BUILDING
Opened in 1939, the Alfred I. Dupont Building is Miami’s
only Art Deco skyscraper and representation of Depression
Moderne architecture. The interior boasts bas-relief doors,
marble floors, hand-painted cypress ceilings, and brass
scrollwork gates and grates. On the mezzanine, the north
ballroom features teller windows and the safe-deposit
vault, which provides an additional 1,500 square feet of
event space. The 6,500-square-foot south ballroom has
30-foot ceilings and holds more than 500 guests.
(169 East Flagler St., 305.374.3677)
THE AWAREHOUSE5
Part concert venue and part art gallery, this 20,000-squarefoot property has been open since 2009. The converted
warehouse can hold 500 for art- and music-related events.
A movable 300-square-foot stage anchors the ground floor,
where 10-foot windows provide views of a 15,000-squarefoot sculpture garden that can accommodate 1,000 people.
(550 NW 29th St., 305.576.4004)
THE BATH CLUB5
Once members-only, this waterfront beach club renovated
in 2010 and is now open to the public for events.
Interconnecting spaces include the boardroom, which
seats 15; the courtyard, which holds 400 for a reception; the
ballroom, which seats 350; and a billiard room, a pool deck
seating 100, and a private beach. (5937 Collins Ave., Miami
Beach, 305.867.5938)
BIRDSIDE BANQUET HALL
In the heart of South Miami-Dade County, this banquet
facility can accommodate parties of 30 to 300. A professional staff is available to plan events. (12851 SW 42nd St.,
NEW BRIZA ON THE BAY 5
Briza is a 5,000-square-foot waterfront venue with
panoramic views of Miami’s skyline. Audiovisual equipment is available including projectors, screens and HD
video recording devices. The venue is also set up to allow
laser and fireworks shows. (1717 North Bayshore Drive,
786.350.2220)
structure on the corner of Alton and Lincoln roads. The
25,000-square-foot venue has views of Biscayne Bay and
South Beach and accommodates as many as 500. The
seventh floor, with its 34-foot ceiling, is the primary event
area, but the other floors of the garage can be used.
(1111 Lincoln Road, 305.538.9320 ext.101)
EXIT 665
Formerly the Bank of America Tower, this downtown
office building’s exterior can be lit in a variety of colors and
contains numerous event spaces. The sky terrace on the
11th floor can accommodate as many as 1,000 guests. The
sky lobby, which overlooks the terrace, holds 250. An auditorium on the 19th floor can seat 150. An indoor walkway
connects to the James L. Knight Convention Center and the
Hyatt Regency Miami. (100 SE 2nd St., 305.539.7100)
This 30,000-square-foot entertainment and nightlife
space has five individually themed rooms, including a
10,000-square-foot poolside space for 400 and three bars.
The Beach House is a recently renovated, all-white space
with floor-to-ceiling windows and space for 150. It opens
onto the oceanfront terrace to hold an additional 150.
(219 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale,
954.357.9981)
THE MOORE BUILDING
This alternative Miami venue is in the Fire Fighters
Memorial Building, just west of Miami International
Airport. Inside, the 8,120-square-foot ballroom can accommodate 540 for banquets or as many as 940 with stadium
seating. The covered lakeside terrace can also host events
for 265. Catering is available. (8000 NW 21st St., Suite 227,
305.599.0905)
OASIS BANQUET HALL
4141 BUILDING
THE OCEAN CLUB KEY BISCAYNE
This industrial-looking space is operated by Bridge House
Events. The atrium has more than 6,000 square feet and
lends itself to cocktail parties, fashion shows, and corporate
events. The venue can hold as many as 500 people. (4141 NE
Second Ave., 786.871.4821)
This elegant venue offers a lushly landscaped resort setting,
views of a large pool and the ocean beyond. Several spaces
are available including the Palm Court with limestone
pillars and archways which seats 200, 120 with a dance
floor, the Palm Court terrace seating 100 and a card room
seating 25 classroom-style. For large events, the dining
room and the Palm Court’s lounge can be combined to seat
300. (795 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, 305.361.1101 ext. 227)
THE FIRE TOWER5
NEW FUSSÉ STUDIOS
Debuting in April 2011 in Miami’s design district, Fussé
Studios features drive-in access and a cyclorama wall. The
2,000-square-foot space holds 200 for cocktail receptions,
40 for seated dinners, or 60 for seated meetings. The
studio also contains high-tech amenities from a Bose
sound system and two LCD HD televisions to a Panasonic
projector and elevated LED DJ booth. (327 NE 59th Ter.,
786.282.2629)
GABLES BANQUET HALL
This facility has two banquet halls; one can accommodate
receptions for 80, and the other holds 180. A chocolate
fondue fountain, a wine fountain, a fireworks show, and
full linen services are available. (7360 SW 24th St., Suite 19,
305.266.1771)
ICE PALACE FILM STUDIOS
Extensive renovations have transformed the Ice Palace
Film Studios, housed in a 1920s ice plant, into more than
145,000 square feet of soundstages for film and television
COLLINS BUILDING
production, as well as events for as many as 10,000 people.
The Collins Building is located along the central spine of
The venue has five stages ranging from 6,000 to 12,000
the Miami Design District. The unique space was renovated square feet, 24-foot ceilings, a lobby, and a garden. (1400
in 2011. The 6,000-square-foot space can accommodate
North Miami Ave., 305.672.5117)
200 seated or 400 for receptions. An outdoor terrace can be ICE PALACE WEST5
This multiuse indoor/outdoor facility offers 50,000 square
tented for additional space. (139 NE 39th St., 786.871.4818)
COPPERBOX CULINARY ATELIER
feet of event space that holds up to 2,600 people throughIn the Wynwood Arts district, Copperbox offers a private
out its five rooms and gardens. The property also features
dining experience in a room with Japanese lanterns,
a Dale Chihuly chandelier, a Murano glass wall, and eight
copper walls, and washed concrete floors. It seats 30 or
waterfalls. (71 NW 14th St., 305.672.5117)
LA JOLLA BALLROOM
holds 50 for reception. The venue showcases the cuisine
This historic property designed in the Spanish colonial
of chef/owner Gabriela Machado whose seasonal menus
style has a capacity for 220. La Jolla provides all inclusive
meld flavors of Morocco, Viet Nam, India and the West.
services, and off premise catering is accepted. (301 Alcazar
(3328 North Miami Ave., 305.392.0983)
THE CORAL GABLES WOMAN’S CLUB
Ave., Coral Gables, (305. 460.0047)
The club offers two halls in its historic building for events. LEISER CENTER5
In Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment
The Flamingo Room, a classic ballroom built in 1935, can
District, this two-story building has 4,000 square feet
accommodate 240 guests. The Coral Room can accommoof available space. Events for as many as 150 guests can
date 200. The halls can be rented together or individually,
and amenities for both include a kitchen and bar. (1001 East be held in the courtyard, lobby, and 3,500-square-foot
ballroom. A wood-paneled boardroom seats 50. (221 SW
Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, 305.639.4749)
NEW THE CRUZ BUILDING
Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954.728.9700)
After interior renovations, the Cruz Building of Coconut
NEW THE LOFT AT CONGRESS
This 5,000-square-foot facility has a 2,000-square-foot
Grove reopened in June 2011. Resembling a French row
prefunction room with cocktail area, a 3,000-square-foot
house, the facility features architectural elements from
banquet area, and 22-foot ceilings. Graphic murals cover
Europe and New Orleans alongside natural keystone and
the walls but can be hidden with white sheets for customtravertine columns. The venue offers 10,000 square-feet
ized events. The facility can accommodate up to 150 seated
of space on three floors, each with an outside area and
kitchen, and the property holds 700 for cocktails through- or 200 for receptions. (530 NW 77th Street, Boca Raton,
561.819.3154)
out a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces. A ground floor
MAPS STUDIOS
English Bar features a 40-foot-long bar and holds 275. The
floors are equipped with high-tech sound systems that can Photography production firm Mobile Arts Production
Services opened its two studio spaces on South Beach for
be synchronized with the other levels. (3157 Commodore
private events in 2009. Studio A is two levels and is outfitPlaza, Coconut Grove, 305.508.9500)
DESIGN CENTER OF THE AMERICAS
ted with a catering area and furniture for seating. Studio
This Dania Beach venue features interior-design
B has large windows, three skylights, and an open layout.
showrooms and three atriums to host events. The open
The studios have a combined 6,000 square feet and can
spaces seat 600 or hold 1,500 for receptions and can be
hold 200 people altogether. (212 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
left as is or decorated specifically for events. Catering is
305.532.7880)
exclusive to on-site Bistro D. (1855 Griffin Road, Dania Beach, MIAMI EVENT SPACE
This venue spans nearly three blocks and features studios,
954.920.7997)
1111 LINCOLN ROAD EVENT SPACE
offices, and raw warehouse space. The main event building
This outdoor venue is on the seventh floor of a parking
has 7,000 square feet across two levels. The facility is also
Located in Miami’s famed Design District, this four-story
atrium-style space was built in 1921 as the furniture
showroom for Moore and Sons. The more than 20,000
square feet of event space features grandiose architecture
and art installations throughout. The central atrium can
accommodate as many as 4,400 for receptions or 1,100
seated. The adjoining Garden Lounge can also be used. (191
NE 40th St., Suite 100, 305.572.0866)
This full-service facility has two ballrooms with packages
that accommodate 50 to 300 guests and include chair
covers and table linens. The hall also offers full catering
and bar services, state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, and a high-tech indoor fireworks show.
(10776 SW 24th St., 305.225.6235)
PALMETTO BAY VILLAGE CENTER5
This center is on 80 acres of landscaped space in Palmetto
Bay with large windows with views of Biscayne Bay. Nine
event spaces for rent include the 9,500-square-foot Palm
Room, which can accommodate 150 for weekday events
and receptions for 350 on weekends. A terrace overlooking
the bay holds 500. (18001 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay,
786.249.0946)
PHILLIPS POINT CLUB BY THE BREAKERS
Owned by the Breakers Palm Beach, this private club is
an enclave for business, civic, and community leaders.
As many as 120 guests can be accommodated in its 1,560
square feet. A bar and lounge area holds 50, and the club’s
1,930-square-foot restaurant, Top of the Point, holds 100.
(777 South Flagler Drive, Club Level, West Palm Beach,
561.832.2424)
ROOFTOP LOUNGE
Rooftop Lounge opened atop the Townhouse Hotel in
Miami Beach in 2010. The 5,000-square-foot lounge can
accommodate 250 for a reception, with expansive city
views. Seating has been updated with new couches, and
the venue is now open only on Fridays and Saturdays.
(150 20th St., Miami Beach, 305.534.3800)
IN THE WORKS ROOFTOP GARDEN5
This garden area is scheduled to open in 2012. The
4,200-square-foot space will accommodate 225 standing.
(175 NE 40th St., 305.531.8700)
SIGNATURE GRAND
The grand ballroom at this 100,000-square-foot facility
has 40,000 square feet that can be subdivided into 13
private areas. There are also four 495-square-foot suites
and a 3,040-square-foot atrium for as many as 250 guests.
All catering is done in-house, and Southern Audio Visual
provides exclusive audiovisual support. (6900 State Road
84, Davie, 954.424.4000)
SO COOL EVENUE5
The venue offers 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting
and event space and features a 25- by 30-foot ice room
with an ice bar, indoor and outdoor prefunction space, new
bathrooms, catering space, and valet parking.
(2585 NW 21st Ter., 305.635.8088)
SOHO STUDIO AT WYNWOOD CONVENTION CENTER
Managed and owned by Soho L.L.C., this versatile
52,000-square-foot warehouse is in Miami’s Wynwood arts
district. The building has high ceilings, Wi-Fi, and plenty of
electrical outlets for audiovisual equipment. A raw space
with bare walls, the facility is intended for buyout for as
many as 6,000 guests. (2136 NW First Ave., 305.600.4785)
THE SPACE MIAMI5
This space serves as the office, production facility, floral
laboratory, and event space for production company Karla
Conceptual Event Experiences. The 3,500-square-foot venue
can host guests inside and out. The interior has modern
industrial architecture and a monochromatic color scheme
and can hold 350. The garden is being renovated, with plans
to include a pool with water features and an area that can
be tented to hold 500 seated. (100 NE 25th St., 305.644.3555)
STUDIO INSTRUMENT RENTALS5
SIR’s North Miami music studio and warehouse are
bizbash.com may/june 2012 57
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
INDEPENDENT EVENT
SPACES
foot mezzanine overlooking the living room and a
2,900-square-foot sun deck with a pool. A soundproof
media room has a 100-inch projection screen and surround
sound. (1415 Euclid Ave., 305.300.6537)
NEW TRIO ON THE BAY5
available for private events. The 2,400-square-foot space is
all black, has a separate entrance from the main lobby, and
can be used in conjunction with the adjoining 800-squarefoot lounge. The expansive lawns can be used for events.
(12200 NE 14th Ave., North Miami, 305.891.3350)
SYNAI GARDEN BANQUET HALL
This banquet hall for 200 specializes in receptions,
rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, corporate events, and
holiday parties. Amenities include a state-of-the-art sound
system, catering, linens, tables, and chairs. (8356 SW 40th
St., Suite C, 305.554.8665)
TEMPLE HOUSE
Temple House offers more than 16,000 of event space
designed as a private residence. It has a 6,600-squarefoot living room with 28-foot ceilings, a 1,100-square-
Nestled against Biscayne Bay, restaurant-club Trio On the
Bay opened in April 2011. Private rooms include the Bay
Front and Main rooms, each seating 50; the intimate Upper
Bay View room, which seats 45; and the private dining
room, which seats 14. The patio features bay views and
custom fire pits. The entire 23,000-square-foot venue is
available for buyout, with a total capacity of 1,000.
(1601 79th St. Cswy., North Bay Village, 305.866.1234)
This 35-acre venue is a former plantation and subtropical
estate that can accommodate both indoor and outdoor
functions. All services must be outsourced, and a list of
preferred vendors is provided. (900 North Birch Road, Fort
Lauderdale, 954.563.5393)
This banquet hall offers two 6,000-square-foot areas that
accommodate more than 250 guests. It also features a
120-inch screen projector system, a state-of-the-art sound
and laser light system, and parking accommodations.
(8300 West Flagler St., 305.554.5454)
WHITESPACE
V BOCA
This bilevel loft-style space is completely white—and
repainted before every event. The main area, studio A, is a
2,500-square-foot room that holds 100 on the ground floor
and 100 on the mezzanine. A private room can be used as
a V.I.P. lounge for 50. The 5,000-square-foot studio B has
18-foot ceilings and a glass-front reception area. (1200
Stirling Road, Units 11 A & B, Dania Beach, 954.926.5840)
This 4,600-square-foot space within the Embassy Suites is
divided into three levels. A double-level dance floor features
a wrap-around stone bar, lighted cocktail tables and
chairs. LED lighting, laser systems and an interactive game
station are also available. Galaxy Productions manages all
in-house catering, décor, floral arrangement and entertainment. (661 NW 53rd St., Boca Raton, 954-851-9599)
Built in 1959, this building features its original facade and
mosaic staircase and is available for film and photo shoots
as well as special events. The venue’s 13,000 square feet
include a garden, two lounges, three showrooms on two
levels, and a large lobby. The garden seats 150. The venue
maintains a list of caterers. (194 NW 30th St., 305.573.2130)
MANSIONS & HOMES
BONNET HOUSE5
VENETIAN BANQUET HALL
Whitehead St., Key West, 305.587.4282)
HARRY S. TRUMAN LITTLE WHITE HOUSE5
Built in 1890 as naval officers’ quarters, this property
has been used as a winter White House by Presidents
Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Clinton. On almost an acre, the
home is often used for private dinners, during which guests
CORAL CASTLE5
can tour the house. The dining room can seat 14, and the
Built by one man between 1923 and 1951, Coral Castle is
adjoining porch seats 30. Three shaded lawns can be used
1,000 tons of coral rock carved secretly and single-handedly, individually or together to accommodate as many as 1,500
using nothing but hand tools. This unusual accomplishguests. (111 Front St., Key West, 305.294.9911)
ment by Edward Leedskalnin features a nine-ton gate that MAXWELL ROOM
On one of the oldest sites in Fort Lauderdale and
moves with just a touch of the finger, a Polaris telescope,
built in 1925, this event space is an example of classic
a sculpture garden, and functioning rocking chairs—all
Mediterranean Revival architecture. The Maxwell Room
made of coral. (28655 South Dixie Hwy., 305.248.6345)
DEERING ESTATE AT CUTLER5
can accommodate groups of 30 to 130. (10 South New River
The historic Stone House and Richmond Cottage comprise Drive East, Fort Lauderdale, 954.463.6630)
STRANAHAN HOUSE5
this Miami estate’s event space, which can accommodate
Built in 1901, the house originally served as a post office,
groups of 250. Outdoor events can be held in the Stone
community center, and town hall for Fort Lauderdale, and
House Courtyard, and the west side of the lawn offers a
later as a restaurant during the Great Depression. Listed
view of Biscayne Bay. (16701 SW 72nd Ave., 305.235.1668)
ERNEST HEMINGWAY HOME & MUSEUM5
on the National Register of Historic Places, the house and
Home to Hemingway from 1931 until 1940, this Key West
grounds can host outdoor events for as many as 75 guests.
property features original 1851 furnishings and historical
A preferred catering and audiovisual vendor list is availitems. Tentable outdoor function spaces for 25 to 225
able. (335 SE Sixth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954.524.4736)
THE VILLA BY BARTON G.5
include a large lawn, a brick courtyard, and a poolside
The former home of Gianni Versace, this oceanfront
area. Guests must share the grounds with more than 40
mansion has been transformed into an ultra-luxurious
six-toed cats descended from Hemingway’s own pet. (907
WYNWOOD ART GARDEN5
event and catering venue run by Barton G. The
19,000-square-foot property saw a $1 million renovation in
2010. Events can be held poolside, in the courtyard, and on
the roof. (1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305.576.8003)
VILLA 2215
This restored 1920s house opened for events in 2009. The
venue has 8,500 square feet of indoor space over two floors
and nearly 22,000 square feet of gardens. It can host groups
of 50 to 2,500. There are two parking lots. (221 NE 17th St.,
305.416.5280)
VILLA WOODBINE5
Designed by architect Walter de Garmo in 1930, the Villa
Woodbine is a private Mediterranean Renaissance design
mansion. In addition to Spanish arches, colorful Havana
tile, and original fixtures, the property has a fountain in
its coral rock courtyard. In 2011, Villa Woodbine unveiled
renovations including landscaping, a paved parking lot
and new driveway, new lighting, a new tile roof, and
the addition of central air-conditioning in the salon.
The historic house can seat 230 guests or accommodate
300 for receptions. Dinners and receptions for 225 can
be held in the lush garden. (2167 South Bayshore Drive,
305.858.6660)
VIZCAYA MUSEUM AND GARDENS5
This Coral Gables mansion is styled after a European estate,
with 34 rooms decorated with art and antiques that span
2,000 years. The landscaped gardens can hold 2,000. The
main house can host functions for 100 in its 1,715-squarefoot courtyard and also includes a 685-square-foot tea
room. The east terrace overlooks Biscayne Bay and can host
300. (3251 South Miami Ave., 305.250.9133)
MUSEUMS & CULTURAL SPACES
ART MUSEUMS
BASS MUSEUM OF ART5
In Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco district, this museum
offers several event spaces for private use during nonpublic hours. A boardroom seats 10, and a gallery can seat 80
in a theater setup. The café and terrace seat 80 and 120,
respectively, or combined they hold 300 for receptions.
The museum offers complimentary use of the facility
to sponsors who donate $10,000 or more to support the
museum’s programming. (2121 Park Ave., Miami Beach,
305.673.7530 ext. 1013)
BOCA RATON MUSEUM OF ART5
The Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park has
several areas for events, including the outdoor sculpture
garden, which accommodates 400, and the great hall,
which holds 400 for receptions or 125 for seated dinners.
The Wolgin Auditorium seats 125 theater-style or 75
for a seated dinner, and access is available to special
exhibitions and permanent collections during events. The
museum has a list of preferred vendors. (501 Plaza Real,
Mizner Park, Boca Raton, 561.392.2500)
NEW THE DEZER COLLECTION
Opened in Spring 2012, the 250,000-square-foot venue
is home to the 1981 DeLorean from Back to the Future,
as well as eight event spaces that hold between 50 and
2,500. The largest room seats up to 1,500, or holds 2,500
for a cocktail reception. Smaller spaces include the
58 bizbash.com may/june 2012
1,500-square-foot James Bond Lounge, which holds 200
for a reception, and the Batman Lounge, which also holds
200. Other spaces include the American Classics ‘50s-style
diner, which holds 300; the Arcade, which holds 500; and
an indoor drive-in theater. ( 2000 Northeast 146th St.
North Miami 305.354.7680)
IN THE WORKS JORGE PÉREZ ART MUSEUM
Miami Art Museum will reopen as the Jorge Pérez Art
Museum in late 2013. With a budget of $220 million
dollars, the new facility in Museum Park will be three
times the size of the previous museum. More than
200,000 square feet of programmable space will include
an auditorium with capacity for 150 and outdoor event
space with views of Biscayne Bay. (1075 Biscayne Blvd.,
605.375.3000)
LIGHTHOUSE ARTCENTER
Northern Palm Beach and southern Martin County’s
oldest and largest visual art museum can accommodate groups of as many as 130 people for events in its
1,948-square-foot east gallery. Assistance with event
coordination is available. (373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta,
561.746.3101)
LOWE ART MUSEUM
At the University of Miami, the Lowe Art Museum
offers elegant gallery spaces to host lectures, corporate
functions, private receptions, and other events while
surrounded by 5,000 years of world art. The museum can
provide chairs, tables, linens, and audiovisual equipment.
(1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, 305.284.6981)
MUSEUM OF ART, FORT LAUDERDALE5
This facility has two floors of options for events. The
Norma and William Horvitz Auditorium seats 256. The
2,800-square-foot Miriam and Bernard Peck Sculpture
Terrace on the second floor is an open-air space for 200.
For larger groups, Marks Gallery can seat 250, and the
lobby in conjunction with the breezeway can hold as
many as 500. Audiovisual equipment is provided by the
museum, along with a preferred caterers list. (1 East Las
Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.525.5500)
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART5
The 23,000-square-foot MOCA in North Miami features
unique architectural details such as curved walls met by
angular planes. A palm-tree-lined plaza and reflecting
pool greet visitors before they enter the 9,000-squarefoot gallery, home to more than 400 works of art.
After-hours events for as many as 500 can be held in the
courtyard. The area can also be tented. Outside vendors
are allowed. (770 NE 125th St., North Miami, 305.893.6211)
NORTON MUSEUM OF ART5
The Norton Museum of Art is a versatile indoor and
outdoor setting for groups of 20 to 400. The museum’s
event spaces include a 2,040-square-foot theater, two
courtyards and a garden totaling 13,300 square feet, a
1,020-square-foot boardroom, and five other rooms. Lyon
5 Venues with outdoor event space
+ Lyon is the in-house caterer. (1451 South Olive Ave., West HISTORICAL & CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
ART AND CULTURE CENTER OF HOLLYWOOD5
Palm Beach, 561.832.5196)
THE WORLD EROTIC ART MUSEUM
The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood manages three
Just two blocks from Ocean Drive, the World Erotic Art
facilities, a total of five spaces. The historic home where
Museum in Miami Beach offers a collection of sexual art, the galleries and offices are located has a capacity of 260.
sculpture, tapestries, and artifacts sure to ignite conversa- The Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center offers the
tion among guests. The museum can host cocktail
use of its theater for 500 and the café and lobby for 200.
receptions and sit-down dinners in its 12,000-square-foot And the art school, which has a gated yard and covered
reception area and can accommodate as many as 250 on patio, can accommodate groups of 50. Free parking is
a walk-through basis. Outside vendors are allowed.
available. (1650 Harrison St., Hollywood, 954.921.3274)
CISNEROS FONTANALS ART FOUNDATION5
(1205 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305.532.9336)
This Miami exhibition space in a converted 1936
ART SPACES & GALLERIES
warehouse has a 10,000-square-foot plaza that can host
ARTSERVE
as many as 700 people. It features a multicolored glass
Fort Lauderdale’s ArtServe is a multipurpose facility that facade made from Bisazza tiles that depicts a bamboo
offers shared offices and a venue to nonprofit cultural
jungle. Inside, the 16,000-square-foot space can host
organizations and artists in Broward County. The
events for 1,500 people or be divided into two spaces for
20,000-square-foot facility houses the Bienes Business
smaller functions. Parking is available for 200 cars, and
Center for the Arts, a dance studio, an auditorium, and
valet companies can work with the staff to coordinate
two conference rooms. (1350 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort
additional room. (1018 North Miami Ave., 305.455.3380)
NEW ECO DISCOVERY CENTER AT THE MUSEUM OF
Lauderdale, 954.462.8190)
BRITTO CENTRAL
DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE
This gallery of pop-artist Romero Britto is located in
the heart of the Lincoln Road Mall, a pedestrian-only
promenade of sidewalk cafes, unique shopping, galleries,
and fine dining. The gallery has 2,887 sq ft of entertaining
space including the 1130-square-foot main gallery, which
can accommodate up to 200 and a 525-square foot gallery
room, which can accommodate up to 50. Events for 60
guests or fewer can be held in the upstairs studio where
Britto used to paint. (818 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach,
305.531.8821)
The discovery center opened in November, more than
doubling the museum’s exhibit and program space. The
center can be rented out by floor and includes access to
exhibits on that floor. The space holds 3,000, depending
on the format of the event. (401 South West Second St.,
Fort Lauderdale, 954.467.6637)
KEVRO’S ART BAR5
This 7,800-square-foot Delray Beach compound consists
of two separate spaces—a photo/video studio and an
art bar—as well as an 800-square-foot patio and 4,000
square feet of outdoor space. The studio is 1,200 square
feet and features 12-foot ceilings. The 1,000-square-foot
art bar has two 50-inch plasma TVs and holds 49 people;
it is available separately from the photo studio Sunday
through Tuesday, when it is closed to the public. (166 SE
Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561.274.0007)
FLAGLER MUSEUM5
Whitehall, the former Lake Worth home of Standard
Oil tycoon Henry Morrison Flagler, is now the Flagler
Museum. Special events at the museum are the privilege
of some levels of membership. Relics of the Gilded Age,
the museum’s event spaces include the 4,800-square-foot
grand hall, a courtyard, the West Room and adjoining
Lake Room with terrace, the Flagler Kenan Pavilion, and
the boardroom and study. (1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach,
561.655.2833)
seating for 224 can be rented. The museum offers catering.
(4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, 561.495.0233)
OLD DAVIE SCHOOL HISTORICAL MUSEUM5
This historic structure, which opened its doors in 1918,
was the first permanent school in the Everglades and is
now Broward County’s oldest existing school building.
All meeting rentals include an overhead projector, screen,
tables and chairs. Party rentals also include the use of the
Seminole Chickee Hut for outdoor events. (6650 Griffin
Road, Davie, 954.797.1044)
RAGTOPS MOTORCARS
Originally a 1920s car dealership, this three-story,
16,000-square-foot museum is home to a revolving set of
antique automobiles. The Tropical Art Deco building can
be used in conjunction with the main building to accommodate as many as 1,500 people. Period decor includes an
antique gas station, soda bar, and drive-in. The staff will
coordinate all elements of an event upon request. (420
Claremore Drive, West Palm Beach, 561.655.2836)
SCIENCE & NATURAL HISTORY SPACES
CARIBBEAN GARDENS: THE ZOO IN NAPLES5
Guests can dine and be entertained against the tropical
backdrop of this 52-acre botanical garden in Naples.
The open-air Rainforest Grove can accommodate a
6,000-square-foot tent and seat 400 for dinner, 600
for receptions, or more than 750 in a theater setup. An
1,800-square-foot pavilion can accommodate 120 for
banquets, 180 for receptions, or 225 in theater rows. The
zoo’s event staff can arrange animal presentations, private
cruises on Lake Victoria through the Island of Monkeys,
or after-hours tours, as well as catering. (1590 GoodletteFrank Road, Naples, 239.262.5409)
MIAMI MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND PLANETARIUM
The planetarium accommodates groups of 10 to 1,000.
The galleries, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet,
can hold 800. The grand lobby can be used as prefunction space for 150 people. A 243-seat theater with a
FORT EAST MARTELLO MUSEUM & GARDENS5
stage is ideal for presentations, lectures, or meetings.
Since 1949, this Civil War-era fort has housed a collecThe Planetarium Dome and Space Gallery can produce
tion of local artifacts, historical records, and military
star and laser shows and offer a total of 5,870 square
memorabilia. The parade grounds seat 150 or hold 350 for feet of space. The dome has 231 seats while the gallery
MIAMI ART SPACE5
receptions. The courtyard inside the fort’s eight-foot-thick seats 150 or holds 225 standing. (3280 South Miami Ave.,
In the heart of the Wynwood art district, this property
granite walls seats 110 or holds 300 for receptions. The
305.646.4200)
MIAMI SEAQUARIUM5
is a former dry-cleaning facility turned event venue
fort’s interior seats 50 people or holds 90 for receptions.
With dolphins, whales and alligators as spectators, the
and art gallery. Three main galleries range from
(3501 South Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, 305.296.3913)
FORT LAUDERDALE HISTORY CENTER5
aquarium can host everything from a private picnic
800 to nearly 2,000 square feet, for as many as 300
Home to several historic buildings near the New River,
to an evening gala. The Dolphin Lobby is available for
guests. A 7,000-square-foot courtyard is landscaped
the Fort Lauderdale History Center offers use of the 1905
indoor receptions, and the outdoor event area is ideal for
with a bamboo garden. There is a small catering area,
New River Inn for events. Home to the history museum,
company picnics and larger parties. The renovated Sunset
and outside vendors are allowed. (244 NW 35th St.,
the inn’s Lucy Bryan Room seats 50 or holds 125 standing. Cove waterfront garden opened in 2008 and offers a view
305.437.8336)
NEW SOUTH MIAMI-DADE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER5
The veranda, second-floor balcony, and front and back
of the Miami skyline. (4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key
Opened in October 2011, this $51 million multidisciplinary lawns each accommodate up to 200 guests. Valet parking Biscayne, 305.421.1950)
MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE, FORT LAUDERDALE
cultural venue has multiple event spaces. The main build- is available, and tours of the museum and the other
ing houses a 966-seat proscenium theater; a 129-seat
historic buildings can be arranged. (219 SW 2nd Ave., Fort Spanning 85,000 square feet, this hands-on, interactive
facility in Fort Lauderdale can accommodate groups of 25
lab theater for intimate performances and rehearsals;
Lauderdale, 954.463.4431 ext.14)
I.G.F.A. FISHING HALL OF FAME5
in one of its smaller rooms or a complete buyout for 2,500.
a dance studio; a 1,000-square-foot café; a promenade,
This 4,680-square-foot attraction can seat 300 guests
Highlights include the grand atrium, which can host 550
which can be used for receptions; and the backyard
or accommodate 500 for receptions. Guests can browse
for receptions, and the New River Balcony, with space
concert lawn, with space for more than 700 people for
concerts and festivals. (10950 South West 211th St., Cutler displays and engage in the interactive fishing simulators for 150. The 294-seat AutoNation Imax Theater is also
in the Catch Gallery and main hall. Other spaces include
available for slide, LCD, or DVD presentations, as well as
Bay, 786.57316)
VISUAL ARTS PAVILION
the 3,735-square-foot lobby, with a capacity of 250; the
speaking engagements. (401 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale,
Visual Arts Pavilion opened in Hollywood in 2008. The
3,285-square-foot event hall; a 2,000-square-foot marina; 954.467.6637)
PALM BEACH ZOO
versatile two-story building houses a glassblowing area, a 1,536-square-foot art gallery; and a 1,000-square-foot
On the shores of Baker Lake in the Tropics of the Americas
metal workshop, mixed-media painting space, yoga
courtyard that can hold 100 people for cocktails. The
studio, and ballet studio. Run by the nonprofit Greater
newly renovated 500-square-foot Gulf Stream Room holds exhibit, the Tropics Café at the Palm Beach Zoo offers a
Hollywood Arts Foundation, the building can accom100. (300 Gulf Stream Way, Fort Lauderdale, 954.922.4212) variety of menu and event options in a unique tropical
INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME
environment. With an Amazon Basin theme, tiki torches,
modate parties of 50 to 300 guests. Outside vendors are
This Fort Lauderdale facility is the international showand animal encounters, the restaurant and catering faciliallowed, and buyouts are available. (330 North Federal
place for swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized ties offer breakfast buffets, hot hors d’oeuvres, four and
Hwy., Hollywood, 954.921.3500)
WHEREHOUSE 2016
swimming, with a museum, library, and archives
five star buffets, and a specialty carving station.
This 4,600-square-foot Miami art studio features abstract that contain the world’s largest collection of aquatic
(1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561.533.0887)
painting covering the flooring and walls, 20 15- by 7-foot memorabilia. Occupying more than 7,500 square feet, the IN THE WORKS PATRICIA AND PHILLIP FROST MUSEUM OF
wall graphics, dozens of light sculptures, a trilevel stage, wave-shaped building features a 3,192-square-foot audiSCIENCE
The new $275 million science museum to be located
and an illuminated bar. Big-screen TVs, serving dishes,
torium for 200 guests and a 20-person boardroom. The
furniture, and a prep kitchen are available for rental.
6,000-square-foot museum is also available for events of in Museum Park overlooking Biscayne Bay is slated to
Groups as large as 300 can be accommodated. (2016 NE
as many as 650 people. Outside caterers are allowed, and open in early 2015. Grimshaw Architects are designing
the 250,000 square-foot project which will feature a
155th St., 305.956.9282)
guests can bring food and beverages into the exhibits.
ZADOK GALLERY
600,000 gallon aquarium. (3280 South Miami Ave.,
(1 Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, 954.462.6536)
One of the largest galleries in the Design District, this
JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA
305.646.4209)
This event space on Miami Beach is composed of two
SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE MUSEUM
space has approximately 12,000-square-feet on two
The South Florida Science Museum offers 22,000 square
levels. Six individual gallery rooms offer distinct settings restored synagogues connected by a narrow bistro. The
original 1936 Art Deco building can seat 100 in sanctuary feet of event space, with the option of adding planetarium
and capacities. Il de la Cite holds 40 standing or 20 for
shows and demonstrations to events. (4801 Dreher Trail
benches, and the synagogue—built in 1929—can
a banquet, and the 2,500-square-foot mezzanine can
North, West Palm Beach, 561.832.1988)
accommodate as many as 400 guests. Both venues
accommodate 300 standing or 250 seated. (2534 North
ZOO MIAMI5
together make up 15,000 square feet of space. There is a
Miami Ave., 305.438.3737)
With more than 100 exhibits, 2,000 animals, and 740 acres,
catering kitchen, and outside vendors are allowed. (301
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
the Miami Metrozoo offers several indoor and outdoor
Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305.672.5044)
MIAMI CHILDREN’S MUSEUM5
MORIKAMI MUSEUM AND JAPANESE GARDENS5
event spaces for as many as 6,000 guests. Team-building
This 56,500-square-foot facility contains a 170-seat audiThe grounds of this Delray Beach museum include six
activities are available for corporate events, and hosts can
torium with a stage, theatrical lighting, and audiovisual
gardens, each modeled after a different historical period
arrange for interactive activities with the animals. On-site
capabilities. Three classrooms—two that measure 680
and type of Japanese garden. The lobby can accommodate
catering is available,
square feet each and another that is 540 square feet—are 250 people for cocktail receptions or 150 for sit-down
although outside caterers
Search by capacity
available, along with the 2,808-square-foot Everglades
dinners. The terrace will hold 350. The grounds can also
are allowed for a fee.
bizbash.com/
Park for outdoor events. All exhibits remain open during
be tented to accommodate groups of 600 for receptions
(12400 Southwest 152nd St.,
events. (980 MacArthur Cswy., 305.373.5437)
or 400 for banquets. In addition, a theater with tiered
miamivenuedirectory 305.251.0400 ext. 84939)
bizbash.com may/june 2012 59
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
OUTDOOR SPACES
ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDENS
This 1.7-acre property is the former residence of sculptor
Ann Weaver Norton and features 300 species of tropical
palms and more than 100 works by the artist. The
gardens can accommodate 150 guests; gatherings of
75 people or fewer can make arrangements to use the
house. Aaron’s Catering is the exclusive caterer. (253
Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach, 561.832.5328)
and views of the Miami skyline and the waterways
surrounding it. The acreage can be used for customized
tent events, weddings, teambuilding activities, cocktail
parties, or sporting events. (300 Biscayne Blvd. Way,
305.424.5226)
seated dinners, 120 for conferences, or as many as 200 for
receptions. The great lawn, with its vertical landscape
of orchids, bromeliads, and cascading greenery, can
host tented events for 300. Other options include the
Rose Fountain courtyard, the 630-square-foot Butterfly
Room for events of 40, and the Japanese Garden, which
holds 60. (2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach,
305.673.7256)
MIAMI BEACH SOUNDSCAPE
Next to outdoor dining and shopping destination
Bayside Marketplace, Bayfront Park hosts events on its
32 acres. Bayfront Park Amphitheater holds as many
as 10,000 for general admission shows. The Tina Hills
Pavilion can host 1,000 guests in fixed seating and on
the lawn. (301 North Biscayne Blvd., 305.358.7550)
This $13 million, 2.5-acre city park, designed by Dutch
urban and landscape architecture firm West 8, fits 1,000
guests and has public restrooms, a sidewalk concession
area, and lighting and audiovisual capabilities to suit
both daytime and nighttime events. The park also serves
as an area from which to view the New World Center’s
7,000-square-foot projection wall, which will feature
programming such as free concerts, video installations,
FLAMINGO GARDENS, WRAY BOTANICAL COLLECTION
and movie screenings. (17th St. and Washington Ave.,
Groups can tour 60 acres of lush gardens with exotic and Miami Beach, 305.673.7730)
PINECREST GARDENS
native plants or enjoy a 25,000-square-foot free-flight
aviary, an Everglades animal sanctuary, and more. Event This municipal park in Pinecrest has several
spaces include a 946-square-foot meeting room, a gallery facilities for events. In its 630-square-foot pergola or
13,690-square-foot meadow, Pinecrest Gardens can
with room for 75 seated guests, and the 2,500-squareaccommodate groups of 50 to 500. All events must be
foot barbecue house. Guests can also take a 25-minute
held during park hours. (5855 SW 111th St., Pinecrest,
tour through the property’s wetlands and groves. (3750
305.284.0900)
South Flamingo Road, Davie, 954.473.2955)
BICENTENNIAL PARK
HISTORIC VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK
ARTSPARK AT YOUNG CIRCLE
Ten acres of historic land in downtown Hollywood,
ArtsPark offers an array of visual and performing arts
venues. Facilities such as the Meadow, the Grove, and
rooms in the Visual Arts Pavilion are available for rent.
An outdoor stage with seating for 2,500 can also be used
for events. (1 Young Cir., Hollywood, 954.921.3500)
BAYFRONT PARK
FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN
Established in 1938, this 83-acre garden has grounds
available for events. The 1,904-square-foot visitor center
ballroom holds 225 standing or 150 for a seated dinner.
It and the 4,770-square-foot Garden House, which seats
250 or holds 400 for receptions, can be rented along with
the surrounding lawns. In addition, tents can hold 650.
(10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, 305.667.1651)
This 29-acre open park sits on the shores of Biscayne Bay,
just a few blocks north of Bayfront Park, and can host as
many as 45,000 for events. Given the wide-open space,
the park has hosted everything from a single-stage event
to shows with multiple stages and carnival atmospheres.
(1075 Biscayne Blvd., 305.358.7550)
This venue offers an event meadow, a 35-acre green
space with a capacity of 10,000; a historic dance floor,
a circular concrete surface shaded by palms that can
accommodate 100; and a large pavilion. Other facilities
within the park include the carousel building, the
bath house, and the Biscayne Virginia Rickenbacker
CRANDON PARK
Central miniature railroad. (4020 Virginia Beach Drive,
This park boasts a beach, a baseball field, sand volleyball 305.960.4618)
courts, picnic areas, a running track, cabanas, and park- NEW MAPS BACKLOT
ing for more than 3,000 vehicles. Covered pavilions have The newest venue from Mobile Arts Production Services,
barbecue grills and picnic-style tables and hold 70 guests the Backlot opened in March 2012. Located in the
each. Hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton are within minutes Wynwood Arts District, this outdoor cyc studio is the
only one of its kind in Miami. With a large gate and
of the park and offer additional meeting and event
adjoining parking lot, the Backlot is ideal for automotive
space. (4000 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, 305.361.5421)
EPIC LAWN
shoots and can hold up to 500 guests within its 10,000Epic Lawn is a 27,000-square-foot fully landscaped
square feet. (342 NW 24th St., 305-532-7880)
MIAMI BEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN
outdoor venue overlooking the Miami River and
This 4.5-acre botanical garden offers a variety of event
Biscayne Bay. This waterfront space by the Epic
spaces. The 1,500-square-foot Banyan Room holds 110 for
Residences & Hotel offers marina access, valet service,
RESTAURANTS
AREA 315
Area 31 opened in 2008 on the 16th floor of Brickell
Avenue’s Epic Hotel in downtown Miami, offering
skyline views and seating for 70 guests. The restaurant
has two private dining spaces for groups of six and
12, and poolside dining for 64, including 10 cabanas
that hold two to eight people each. The property also
launched Cigar Bar 31, an outdoor lounge that can
accommodate as many as 50 people for events. (270
Biscayne Blvd. Way, 305.424.5234)
NEW BÂOLI-VITA5
Opened early in 2012, this upscale Mediterranean
restaurant and lounge located in South Beach is modeled
after the renowned Bâoli in Cannes. Bâoli offers chic
ambience in a garden setting. The restaurant has two
primary locations for events, the inside lounge holds 200
reception 120 seated while the garden can host 300 for
cocktails or 200 dinners. Management welcomes special
requests for menus, entertainment, and décor. (1906
Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.674.8822)
BARÚ URBANO5
International restaurant Barú Urbano opened in 2010 in
Brickell, serving Latin American staples such as fried yucca
and guasacaca (Venezuelan relish) along with flavors
from Thailand, Colombia, and Italy. The 3,000-square-foot
venue’s main dining room, which is decorated with streetart-style murals, seats 200 or can accommodate as many
as 400 for receptions. There is also a private covered patio
for 50 and two semiprivate outdoor areas for 60 each. (1001
South Miami Ave., 305.381.5901)
BARTON G. THE RESTAURANT5
Dishes at the Miami Beach hot spot include popcorn
shrimp, served in a popcorn box with—you guessed it—
popcorn, as well as the “seafood martini,” a martini glass
filled with crab legs, lobster, and shrimp. Spaces include
the 110-seat dining room, the 1,681-square-foot orchid
garden, and the 480-square-foot terrace. (1427 West Ave.,
Miami Beach, 305.672.8881)
60 bizbash.com may/june 2012
BENGAL5
Bengal opened in 2008 in downtown Miami. The bilevel
Indian restaurant offers authentic tastes from all over
South Asia and can accommodate 100 on the first floor
and private events for 60 on the second. Banquettes and
linens are wine-red and white, and 40-inch flat-screen
TVs show Bollywood musicals daily. All meat is halalcertified. (2010 Biscayne Blvd., 305.403.1976)
NEW BIANCA5
This restaurant replaced the Blue Door in the Delano
hotel at the end of 2011. While dining on modern Italian
cuisine made from local ingredients, Bianca’s guests can
enjoy the understated decor of the main room or sit on
the terrace overlooking the hotel gardens and orchard.
Parties of as many as 200 are welcome, with room for
90 in the main dining room. (1685 Collins Ave., Miami
Beach, 305.674.6400)
NEW BIERGARTEN BOCA RATON5
This casual restaurant conceived by Arturo Gismondi of
Cannoli Kitchen opened in September 2011. Inside the
4,500-square-foot space are communal tables with treetrunk stools seating 70. Other spaces include a cozy V.I.P.
room and an outdoor space with benches for 40.
(309 Via De Palmas, Boca Raton, 561.395.7462)
BLT STEAK5
Inside the Betsy Hotel, this South Beach outpost opened
in 2009. A mix of traditional French bistro and classic
American steak house, the dining room is outfitted with
a restored pink terrazzo floor, cream suede chairs and
banquettes, and dark wood tables. The restaurant can
seat 96 guests inside and 84 on the patio. Adjacent to the
dining room, the B-Bar can seat 50. (1440 Ocean Drive,
Miami Beach, 305.673.0044)
BONGOS CUBAN CAFÉ
The Bongos Cuban Café from Gloria and Emilio Estefan
opened in 2010 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &
Casino, offering some 12,000 square feet of total event
space. The main dining area is 7,000 square feet and
includes an indoor Latin restaurant/lounge, a patio, and
a mezzanine—which combined can seat 280. A separate
5,000-square-foot rooftop lounge has private cabanas
and can hold 250. A second floor on the rooftop houses
a V.I.P. section for 40. Buyouts are available. A location
NEW SKYDECK MIAMI
Open spring 2012, this rooftop venue at the former
Sony building has a 360-degree views of South Beach’s
entertainment district and the Atlantic Ocean. Designed
to evoke the feel of a yacht’s upper deck, Skydeck Miami
offers a sleek white 3,700 square foot space. Elevator
access from the lobby opens directly to the rooftop’s
private lobby with side entrances leading to the deck.
The venue was designed and is permitted to support
events for 200 guests. (605 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach,
305.672.5010)
VENETIAN POOL
This Coral Gables venue was converted in 1923 from
a coral rock quarry into an 820,000-gallon spring-fed
pool with two waterfalls, coral caves, and grottoes.
Venetian-style architecture surrounds the pool, which
can be rented for evening events for as many as 150
people. Glassware is not allowed on the property, and
swimming is prohibited if alcoholic beverages are
served. (2701 DeSoto Blvd., Coral Gables, 305.460.5306)
in Miami, open since 2000, holds 400 for dinner and is
available for buyout. (5733 Seminole Way, Hollywood,
786.236.0876; 601 Biscayne Blvd., 786.779.2100)
BOURBON STEAK
This eatery opened in 2008 at the Turnberry Isle Miami
in Aventura. The 350-seat Michael Mina restaurant offers
two private rooms: a glass-enclosed terrace that faces the
pool and seats 14, and the tasting room, which can seat
30 amid mirrors and French terrace doors. (19999 West
Country Club Drive, Aventura, 786.279.6600)
BRICKELL IRISH PUB5
Brickell Irish Pub opened in 2009, offering a forum for
live entertainment, casual bar games, and a selection
of more than 40 whiskeys. Spanning more than 7,000
square feet, the venue has a raised 150-square-foot stage,
a 35 foot-long bar, and a 1,500-square-foot second floor
area. A 550-square-foot sidewalk café is also available.
(1451 South Miami Ave., 305.381.6651)
BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE5
With six other locations across the state, Brio Tuscan
Grille opened in Pembroke Pines in 2008. The restaurant
uses wood-fired ovens and grills to make specialty
steaks, pastas, and flatbreads. The 8,400-square-foot
location, which features an open-air kitchen, seats 260,
with room for an additional 140 on its bar-equipped
terrace. A private room for as many as 30 is available.
(14576 SW 5th St., Pembroke Pines, 954.431.1341)
BULLDOG BARBECUE
In 2008, former Top Chef contestant Howie Kleinberg
opened this down-home barbecue restaurant, which
also has a full burger menu, in North Miami. The
1,300-square-foot casual dining space seats 50 at wood
tables topped with brown butcher paper, rolls of paper
towels, and Kleinberg’s signature barbecue sauce. (15400
Biscayne Blvd., 305.940.9655)
CAFÉ BOULUD5
In the Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach, this upscale
space has a ballroom and conservatory, as well as
a courtyard, available for events. The ballroom can
seat 110 guests or hold as many as 150 for receptions,
while the adjacent conservatory seats 50 or holds
80 for receptions. (301 Australian Ave., Palm Beach,
561.655.6060)
5 Venues with outdoor event space
CAFE IGUANA PINES
This 25,000-square-foot facility in Pembroke Pines caters
to every form of entertainment, with eight bars, two
giant-screen TVs—plus 88 HD TVs—an expansive dance
floor, and a sports bar with a 25-foot ice bar. The media
room is a turnkey meeting space with audiovisual and
broadcasting capabilities. The Latin-themed Babalou
Room can accommodate as many as 200 guests.
(8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pikes, 954.433.8787)
CHAMPIONS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
This casual restaurant and bar is inside the Courtyard
Miami Airport South at the Miami Airport Marriott
Campus. The space can seat as many as 125 and is
available for semiprivate and private events. (1201 NW
LeJeune Road, 305.642.8200)
CHIMA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE
At this Brazilian barbecue restaurant in Fort Lauderdale,
as many as 300 guests can enjoy a full salad bar, then
return to their table for unlimited helpings of grilled
meat sliced from large skewers. The restaurant has a
semiprivate dining room for 75 people. (2400 East Las
Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.712.0580)
COMING SOON CHINA GRILL MIAMI5
After shuttering its Miami Beach location in April
2012, this restaurant plans to relocate. The new space
is slated for three levels in a 15,000-square-foot space.
The property is to be designed by ICrave Studio of New
York and Miami’s Arquitectonica. A late-2012 opening is
forecast. (801 Brickell Ave.)
CHINA GRILL FORT LAUDERDALE5
This property, open since 2008, is in Fort Lauderdale’s
Hilton Marina. With 14,000 square feet, the restaurant
can accommodate 493 in the main dining room and an
additional 64 on the terrace, and has a private room and
separate dining area for 32 and 104 guests, respectively.
The restaurant features a theater kitchen in the center,
as well as a sushi bar with seating for 10. (1881 SE 17th St.
Cswy., Fort Lauderdale, 954.759.9950)
accommodations range from an intimate dinner party
for 14 people to a larger affair for as many as 70 guests.
(2201 Collins Ave., 305.938.3111)
HAVANA’S CUBAN CUISINE
NEW EGG & DART
IL BACIO RESTAURANT AND ULTRA LOUNGE
Opened in August 2011, Egg & Dart is a bustling
hotspot for the area’s foodies and hipsters. Named
after the iconic decorative molding prevalent in Greek
architecture, the restaurant combines contemporary
sophistication with rustic regional cuisine, served in a
vibrant, convivial atmosphere. The space seats 202. (4029
North Miami Ave., 786.431.1022)
This 5,000-square-foot Italian restaurant opened in
2009 and can seat 150 or hold 250 for receptions. The
private champagne room can seat 12, and a V.I.P. table is
available for six. A 12,000-square-foot courtyard has five
eight-seat cabanas and a stage. As many as 1,000 people
can be accommodated for buyouts. (29 SE Second Ave.,
Delray Beach, 561.865.7785)
8 OZ. BURGER BAR
IL MERCATO CAFÉ AND WINE SHOP
On Alton Road in Miami Beach, this 2,200-square-foot
restaurant from chef Govind Armstrong opened in
2009. The dining room and bar can seat 95 or hold as
many as 150 for receptions. The bar is outfitted with a
pool table and jukebox and can be rented separately for
semiprivate events for as many as 55 guests. Armstrong
uses only local, organic produce in his seasonal menu.
(1080 Alton Road, Miami Beach, 305.397.8246)
In 2010, Il Mercato Café and Wine Shop opened in
Hallendale Beach. The 60-seat international eatery
specializes in global cuisines with health-conscious
components, mixing classic Italian dishes like spaghetti
with French specialties like duck confit. The restaurant
lists 70 wines hand-selected by the in-house sommelier
and priced at $99 or less; an additional list of high-end
wines is available. (1454 East Hallandale Beach Blvd.,
Hallandale Beach, 954.457.3700)
Cooper City got its first Cuban restaurant in 2010
with the opening of Havana’s Cuban Cuisine. The
NEW EDGE STEAK & BAR
2,400-square-foot restaurant can seat 80 people in its
In Miami’s Four Seasons Hotel, Edge Steak & Bar offers
open dining room. The establishment specializes in
an eclectic menu of high-quality cuts of meat, indigclassic Cuban cuisine like picadillo criollo (ground beef
enous seafood, and locally sourced fruits and vegetables. simmered in tomato-based Cuban sofrito) and masa
With a sleek sensibility and contemporary style, the
de cerdo (pork chunks served with a guacamole-style
restaurant has indoor seating for 150, private dining
avocado sauce) mixed with Argentine grilled meats
rooms for parties of as many as 20, and a patio that holds and Mexican spices. (8600 Griffin Road, Cooper City,
80. (1435 Brickell Ave., 305.358.3535)
954.530.1400)
THE FILLING STATION
The Filling Station reopened in 2009 after being closed
for almost a decade. Split between a mezzanine and a
ground-level dining room, the restaurant—decorated
with car memorabilia—can seat 50 or host as many as 75
for a reception. Catering options are also available. (95 SE
2nd St., 786.425.1990)
FOGO DE CHAO
The Brazilian steakhouse opened in 2008. The
12,000-square-foot restaurant seats nearly 300 in its
12,000 square feet. There are six private rooms—includInside the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, this Tuscan restau- ing a wine cellar—for groups of fewer than 14, as
rant can host indoor and outdoor events. For smaller
well as two semiprivate areas that holds 20 each and
groups, the wood-paneled wine room has a private
can be combined. Buyouts are available. (836 1st St.,
entrance and can seat 20. The Ocean View Room can
305.672.0011)
THE FORGE5
accommodate as many as 40 and has a terrace that can
double the capacity. (455 Grand Bay Drive, Key Biscayne, Landmark Miami Beach restaurant the Forge reopened
after renovation in 2010. The bar has 36 seats and
305.365.4500)
CITY FISH MARKET5
provides full dinner service. For private events, the wine
The 15,000-square-foot restaurant in Boca Raton
cellar can seat 22, a boardroom seats 16, and the library
provides water views and nautical decor. The restaurant seats 40. There is also a courtyard for 100. (432 41st St.,
has four private dining rooms: Three accommodate 150
Miami Beach, 305.538.8533)
GEORGE’S IN THE GROVE
guests when used together, and a separate space for 85
George Farge opened this self-titled spot in 2008. The
opens onto one of two connected terraces, which can
cozy French bistro boasts contemporary decor and
host 100 when used together. (7940 Glades Road, Boca
a quirky menu that includes such items as avocado
Raton, 561.487.1600)
NEW CITY HALL, THE RESTAURANT
tartare. The dining space seats 65 and features an open
This all-American bistro in Downtown Miami opened
kitchen. Though buyouts are not available, the staff
in June 2011. Within the 6,000-square-foot space is an
can accommodate groups of 25 for private events. (3145
intimate private dining area that seats 40. The interiors Commodore Plaza, 305.444.7878)
GEORGE’S ON SUNSET
include lacquered floors and dark walnut and black
varnished wood tables and chairs. (2004 Biscayne Blvd., George Farge, the name behind George’s in the Grove,
opened a second namesake restaurant in 2010. The
305.764.3130)
NEW CRAVE5
3,000-square-foot casual eatery can seat 75 in its main
In 2011 the expanding chain added this 9,000 squaredining room. There’s also a semiprivate room that can
foot outpost in the Village of Merrick Park. The menu
seat 25, and space for an additional 50 outside on the
from executive chef Eli Wollenzien showcases fresh
sidewalk and patio. (1549 Sunset Drive, 305.284.9989)
COMING SOON GEORGIA’S UNION
ingredients and Mediterranean and Asian influences.
Several event spaces are available including the outdoor On the former South Beach site of Morgan’s, owner
Fountain plaza for 200, a sushi bar seating 15, the Gables Barclay Graebner plans to open a new restaurant
offering southern comfort food with organic soul food
room for 40, the open air Breezeway holding 45 and a
elements. The space is being remodeled and slated for a
curtain-enclosed private area with three chefs tables
each seating 10.(4250 Salzedo St., Suite 1425, 305.772.5761) summer 2012 opening. (1787 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach)
CIOPPINO5
D’ANGELO PIZZA5
D’Angelo Pizza opened in 2010, serving pizzas, tapas,
and salads for lunch and dinner. The 2,000-square-foot
eatery can seat 90 in its dining room, with an additional
40 on the patio. The patio, which is available for private
receptions, was given a hard top and retractable walls
in 2011. (4215 North Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale,
954.561.7300)
DOLORES, BUT YOU CAN CALL ME LOLITA5
This 12,000-square-foot former Miami firehouse can
accommodate as many as 350 guests. In 2009, the
property debuted a new 70-person private dining space.
The venue also includes a classic fire pole that connects
the floors; the Lolita Lounge; two private rooms; and a
rooftop dining space for 90 guests. Audiovisual equipment, off-site catering, and buyout options are available.
(1000 South Miami Ave., 305.403.3103)
NEW THE DUTCH
New York restaurateurs Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard,
and Luke Ostrom partnered with locals Karim Masri
and Nicola Siervo to bring their SoHo hotspot the Dutch
to the W Hotel Miami Beach. American roots-inspired
dishes are shaped for big-city palates with the best
ingredients and some neighborhood charm. Private
GIBRALTAR5
This seafood restaurant opened inside the Grove Isle
Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove in 2009. The 60-seat main
dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows with views
of Biscayne Bay. The terrace can seat an additional 80
or hold 150 for receptions. (4 Grove Isle Drive, Coconut
Grove, 305.857.5007)
GRILL ON THE ALLEY
Modeled after the original established in 1984 in
Beverly Hills, Grill on the Alley brings a taste of Rodeo
Drive to Aventura Mall. Opened in 2008, this 200-seat
restaurant’s classic American cuisine is overseen by chef
John Sola. There is a private room for 28, a semiprivate
space for 30, and two patios that hold 35 and 20. (19501
Biscayne Blvd., Aventura, 305.466.7195)
GRIMPA STEAKHOUSE
This 10,000-square-foot bilevel restaurant is owned by
four Brazilian businessmen and has views of Miami’s
financial district. There are two meeting spaces on the
second floor that can accommodate 40 and 80 guests,
respectively. The 45-seat rotunda becomes a private room
by closing a set of white floor-to-ceiling curtains. The
40-seat veranda is a more secluded space with a private
entrance. (901 South Miami Ave., 305.416.9355)
JOEY’S ITALIAN CAFÉ
The 1,600-square-foot restaurant in the Wynwood arts
district can seat 45 guests inside, with accommodations
for an additional 30 on the private terrace. The menu
changes seasonally and is complemented by a list of
Italian wines selected by owner Joey Goldman. (2506
NW Second Ave., 305.438.0488)
KITCHEN 305
Kitchen 305 replaced Michael’s Kitchen at the
Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort in Sunny Isles. The
3,600-square-foot restaurant serves American fusion
cuisine in a dark nightclub atmosphere. The space
features an open kitchen, a 40-foot bar for 15, a 100-inch
flat-screen TV, a 10-person chef’s table, two semiprivate
dining rooms, and a DJ on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
(16701 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles, 305.749.2110)
KUNG FU SUSHI
This Asian fusion restaurant is in the lobby of the
Catalina Hotel and Beach Club in Miami Beach. The
1,500-square-foot space seats 125, including 15 at the
sushi bar, and holds 300 for receptions. The patio seats
125. (1720-1756 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.534.7905)
LA BAGUETTE
La Baguette is a 24-hour alfresco coffee and sandwich
shop that opened in 2009. The restaurant’s open-air
seating consists of about 30 bar stools and lounge areas
for an additional 25. The venue can host receptions for 75.
(427 SW 8th St., 305.860.1113)
LA COFRADIA CEVICHE BAR
This Peruvian restaurant is in Coral Gables, The
1,750-square-foot restaurant seats 95 people or holds 150
for receptions. The bar area holds 30. Although there is
no private room, a semiprivate dining area can seat 10 to
15 guests. (160 Andalusia Ave., Coral Gables, 305.914.1300)
LA MAREA
La Marea—meaning “the tide” in Italian and Spanish—is
inside the Tides South Beach hotel. The restaurant
blends Mediterranean fare with Northern Italian
accents. Celebrity designer Kelly Wearstler handled the
decor, which blends painted tortoise shells with 50- by
60-foot chandeliers and bishop chairs. The main dining
room seats 60, and the front terrace can host 150 for
cocktails or seat 52. (1220 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach,
305.604.5070)
LARIOS ON THE BEACH
Larios offers a bit of old Cuba from the 1950s glamour
days in a contemporary setting. Latin fare is on the
menu as are classic and flavored mojitos. The restaurant,
part of the growing Bongos Cuban Café organization,
seats 220 and has event facilities for as many as 700.
(820 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305.532-9577)
LE BOUDOIR
Le Boudoir expanded from Coral Gables to a second
location in downtown Miami. The 1,000-square-foot
restaurant was furnished by Dutch design company
Moooi and holds 40. Decor highlights include pink
leather banquettes, chocolate-brown porcelain floors,
and Italian mosaic bathrooms. Le Boudoir offers off-site
catering. (186 SE 12th Ter., 305.372.2333)
LOLA’S ON HARRISON
This 1,850-square-foot restaurant in Hollywood seats 120
guests and features charcoal floor tiles, chocolate-colored
banquettes, white curtains, and subtle lighting. At the
sandalwood bar, suspended glass shelving at various
heights along the back wall creates the illusion of floating bottles. (2032 Harrison St., Hollywood, 954.927.9851)
bizbash.com may/june 2012 61
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
RESTAURANTS
MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE5
white walls punctuated by red banquettes and black
Morton’s Steakhouse has several locations in the
chairs. There is seating for 500 inside and outside, but
Greater Miami area. The North Miami Beach restaurant the space is divided into manageably sized dining rooms.
NEW LOU’S BEER GARDEN5
has a dining room seating 160 and two private rooms
(200 East Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, 561.393.4666)
Inside Miami Beach’s New Hotel, this poolside
NEW PL8 KITCHEN5
holding 36 and 40 respectively. In Miami the dining
Previously Himmatshee Bar and Grill, Pl8 Kitchen
gastropub set in a lush tropical garden serves an eclectic room seats 175, and two event spaces when combined
opened in 2011. A small-plates concept with a capacity
Mediterranean- and Asian-influenced menu with its
hold 100. Coral Gables has an outdoor patio seating 36
of 70, it also has a large outdoor space that holds 50. (210
suds. The area has space for as many as 100 for events.
and three private dining rooms that each hold 22. Fort
SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale, 954.524.1818)
(7337 Harding Ave., Miami Beach, 305.704.7879)
Lauderdale’s outpost offers three private event rooms
NEW LUCA BELLA MORE
POSITANO RISTORANTE
that combine to hold 100. The location in West Palm
This family-style Italian restaurant opened in September Beach has two private rooms holding 45 and 35 diners
Positano Ristorante opened in Doral in 2010, serving
2011 in the former Chef Allen’s space. The 4,000-square- respectively. In Boca Raton, the dining room seats 139,
classic Italian cuisine. The restaurant is decorated in a
foot restaurant seats 200 inside, with additional room
geometric style, with all dark wood and white elements.
and the largest private space holds 40. (17399 Biscayne
on a patio. There is also a private room for events and a
Blvd., North Miami Beach, 305.945.3131; 1200 Brickell Ave., The dining room can seat 92 amid a mixture of booths
20-seat bar. (19088 NE 29th Ave., Aventura, 305.792.2222) 305.400.9990; 2333 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Coral Gables,
and four-top tables. There’s also a patio seating 22. The
NEW MAKOTO
menu is comprised of classic Italian dishes, including
305.442.1662; 500 East Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale,
Opened in March 2011, this spot is from chef Okuwa
various meat and fish carpaccios as starters. (2475 NW
954.467.9720; 777 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach,
Makoto. He continues to evolve his style of crafting
95th Ave., Suite 10, Doral, 305.594.2828)
561.835.9664; 5050 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton,
PRELUDE BY BARTON G.
playful, exquisitely presented dishes that pay tribute
561.392.7724 )
MR. CHOW MIAMI
This restaurant at the Adrienne Arsht Center comes from
to Japanese tradition. With an indoor capacity of 204
event producer and caterer Barton
and two large outdoor spaces that hold 60 each, Makoto This famed New York Chinese
G. Weiss, the exclusive provider
has become a Bal Harbour favorite for upscale Japanese restaurant opened in the W South
Beach in 2009. The dining room seats
for the center. Opened in 2009, the
cuisine. (9700 Collins Ave., 305.864.8600)
MANDOLIN AEGEAN BISTRO
250, and the patio seats an additional
restaurant has indoor seating for 130,
This 2,600-square-foot Mediterranean restaurant
200. There are two private rooms, one
well as outdoor seating. Prelude
Dine in a Artsy Space as
opened in the design district in 2009. Taking over a
indoors and one out, that seat about
serves brunch, lunch, and dinner,
The artsy, 5,000-square-foot
residential property built in the 1940s, the space can
50 each. The indoor room has a sepawith designated reservation times for
seat 20 inside and 30 on its patio. There is also a 30-seat rate bar and entrance. (2201 Collins
ticket holders. (1300 Biscayne Blvd.,
Wynwood Kitchen & Bar,
private room. (4312 NE Second Ave., 305.576.6066)
Ave., Miami Beach, 305.695.1695)
Miami, 305.357.7900)
which opened downtown in
MEAT MARKET
THE 19TH HOLE BAR & GRILL
PRIME ITALIAN
November 2010, blends brasserieThis restaurant was organized as a joint effort by restaura- Opened in 2009 at the Doral Park
Myles Chefetz of Miami’s Prime One
style cuisine and urban street
teur David Tornek and chef Sean Brasel. The 4,400-square- Country Club, this restaurant and bar
Twelve teamed up with developer
art. Jessica Goldman Srebnick
foot contemporary steak house can accommodate 180 and can accommodate more than 200 for
Jorge Perez for this 7,500-squareand her father, Tony Goldman,
features a unique three-tiered menu format that allows
events. The 2,500-square-foot space
foot Italian restaurant on South
tapped chef Marco Ferraro to
guests to enjoy the cuisine at all price points. A semiprivate has a dining room for 110 and a patio
Beach. Opened in 2008, the 180-seat
oversee the menu. It offers items
area for groups of 24—with seating arranged for six people for 125. (5001 NW 104th Ave., Doral,
restaurant features an open kitchen
such as small plates, six types of
at four chef’s tables—highlights the floor-to-ceiling wine
305.591.8800)
with a wood-burning pizza oven, a
burgers; pork, lamb, and vegetable
NOVECENTO5
cellar behind it. There is also a sushi and raw bar, dubbed
semiprivate wine room for eight, and
skewers; a variety of sausages;
This 6,000-square-foot Miami
Crudo Bar. (915 Lincoln Road, 305.532.0088)
outdoor seating for 60. (101 Ocean
and sandwiches and salads, as
MERCADITO MIDTOWN
restaurant—the third location in the
Drive, Miami Beach, 305.695.8484)
well as entrees. Some important
In downtown Miami, Mexican restaurant Mercadito
RACKS SOPRANO CAFÉ
city—can accommodate as many
names in the contemporary art
Formerly Racks Italian American
Midtown opened in 2010. The 5,600-square-foot restau- as 300 guests and serves Argentine,
scene contributed original works
Bistro and Market, this 4,000-squarerant can seat 190 in its main dining room and adjacent
European, and pan-Latin cuisine.
to the space: An 11-foot colorful
foot North Miami Beach bistro
lounge area with an attached patio, or host as many as
The classic Argentine decor includes
sculpture of a man by David
modified its name in May 2012. It
400 for receptions. There is also a semiprivate room for
marble floors, wooden blinds, and rich Benjamin Sherry stands at the
has an Italian-inspired menu and
35. (3252 NE First Ave., 786.369.0430)
red leather banquettes. For private
entrance to the 1,300-square-foot
MESAZUL
atmosphere with a communal table
dining, the restaurant’s Malbec Room
interior dining room, which can
Mesazul opened in 2010 inside the Doral Golf Resort and seats 45, and larger groups can take
for 20, a Venetian-themed bar with
hold 106 people and features 20Spa. The 160-seat restaurant features a wall of windows advantage of the terrace that holds
seating for 14, and additional seating
foot canvases by German abstract
offering unobstructed views of the resort’s TPC Blue
for 12 at the outdoor waterfront
100. (1414 Brickell Ave., 305.403.0900)
artist Christian Awe. Artist
PAVILION GRILLE
Monster golf course from every seat. The traditional
marketplace. (3933 NE 163rd St., Miami
Shepard Fairey created a floorsteakhouse menu is prepared with Latin-inspired ingre- Pavilion Grille is the centerpiece
Beach, 305.917.7225)
to-ceiling mural in his trademark
RA SUSHI
of a four-story high glass-walled
dients and flavors. For smaller groups, a private dining
black, red, and gold palette for
This 5,800-square-foot restaurant
landmark building. The expansive
room seats 48. (4400 NW 87th Ave., 305.591.6616)
the 1,000-square-foot, 14-seat bar
NEW MI AMI5
features dark decor and red lighting.
open-plan venue features fountains,
area, which can accommodate as
Barolo Ristorante was replaced by Mi Ami in April 2012, natural palm trees, and a canopymany as 32. A patio holds 64. (2550 The space contains a traditional sushi
in South Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood. This
bar and full cocktail bar and lounge
covered 2,000 ft. wood dance floor.
NW Second Ave., 305.722.8959)
1,500-square-foot Italian restaurant can seat 40 inside
next to the patio. Chef Hui “Kenny”
The venue comes with an on-site
and 36 on the patio. There is also a private cellar that
Li serves lunch and dinner. RA Sushi
catering team and is available for
can accommodate as many as 40 for events. (444 Ocean buyouts. Offering a variety of menu
can accommodate 240 guests, as well
Drive, Miami Beach, 305.532.5511)
as requests for off-site catering and
choices and event set-ups, Pavilion
MIA AT BISCAYNE
custom menus. (5829 SW 73rd St.,
Grille can accommodate over 240
Standing two stories and stretching 14,000 square feet,
305.341.0092)
guests in the main space and 60
RARE STEAKHOUSE
MIA at Biscayne opened in 2009. The space has three
guests in the private dining room.
This 4,000-square-foot steakhouse
areas available for private and semiprivate gatherings:
(310 Yamato Road, Boca Raton,
can accommodate as many as 165
an L-shaped patio for 120, a 120-seat restaurant, and
561.912.0000)
PEACOCK GARDEN CAFÉ
and has a private second-floor
a lounge space (with upstairs V.I.P seating) for 200.
Opened 2011, this restaurant with
dining room for as many as 25. The
The 16-foot multitouch iBar and a 24-foot iWall are
venue features earth-tone walls and
highlights of the downstairs lounge. (20 Biscayne Blvd., 9,000 square feet of space focuses on
local ingredients and has a variety
banquettes accented by black-and305.642.0032)
MICHAEL’S GENUINE FOOD AND DRINK5
of areas for events. Its private dining
white artwork. The certified kosher
Chef Michael Schwartz’s 2,500-square-foot eatery in the room can accommodate as many as 150 people, but the
menu includes a combination of signature and classic
design district can accommodate 50 inside, 60 outside,
star attraction for events is the patio. The landscaped
steak dishes, as well as fresh fish, poultry, and salads.
14 at the bar, and an additional four at the back food bar. area is dotted with vintage iron tables and can hold
(468 41st St., Miami Beach, 305.532.7273)
RED, THE STEAKHOUSE5
A separate dining area seats 30 for private events. The
85. Inside, the main dining room caters to 220 and an
This Cleveland-based steakhouse expanded to South
restaurant has rich wood accents in the bar and 18-foot
additional 50 at the bar. Black-and-white photos and
Florida in 2008 with the opening of its 7,000-square-foot
ceilings in the dining room. (130 NE 40th St., 305.573.5550) archival documents from the late 19th/ early 20th
MINT LEAF INDIAN BRASSERIE
Miami Beach location. The restaurant has minimalist
century decorate the walls, and are complemented by
With a taste discovered in Delhi and developed in
vintage furnishings and antiques. (2889 McFarlane Road, decor with seating for 180. Three private rooms are
London, Mint Leaf Indian Brasserie offers an immersive Coconut Grove, 305.774.3332
available—one outfitted with glass walls and room for
NEW PHILIPPE5
Indian experience. The venue offers indoor seating
12—and can be combined for groups of as many as 64.
Chef Philippe Chow opened a restaurant inside the
for 56. Off-site catering, special event packages, and
The restaurant hosts rooftop barbecues every Sunday
former Gansevoort South Hotel, now rebranded as the
buyouts are available. Outside audiovisual companies
during the summer. (119 Washington Ave., Miami Beach,
are allowed for events. (276 Alhambra Cir., Coral Gables, Perry South Beach. The Philippe hotel outlet closed
305.534.3688)
RED, THE STEAKHOUSE BOCA RATON
and relocated nearby in late 2011. The new location
305.443.3739)
MISS YIP CHINESE CAFE
Red, the Steakhouse added another outlet in Boca Raton
has 6,000 square feet of space, a retractable roof over a
The Prive Group opened a downtown outpost of Miss
April 2012. The property, which can seat 120, features the
second floor dining area available for private events, a
Yip Chinese Cafe in 2010. The 4,000-square-foot eatery’s private wine room for 20 and a patio seating 25. Indoors, signature red in its color scheme while the menu offers
1,800-square-foot dining room, which features burgundy the restaurant seats 180. (36 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach,
steaks, chops and a large selection of seafood. Sister Red
banquettes and a large Buddha statue, is divided into
Group restaurant, Rosso Italia, shares a central entrance
305.674.0250)
three sections, seating a total of 150. Additional seating is NEW PHILIPPE BOCA RATON5
and address on Military Trail. (1901 N. Military Trail, Boca
available in the restaurant’s front terrace, a 700-square- Chef Philippe Chow opened another namesake restauRaton, 561.353.9139)
ROCCO’S TACOS & TEQUILA BAR5
foot area with six tables for 26. A separate, 1,500-square- rants in 2011, but this location features a lower-price
This 4,400-square-foot Mexican restaurant opened in
menu and a more casual setting. With high-energy
foot outdoor lounge can seat 74 on red couches. (900
Boca Raton in 2009. The dining room can seat 200 or
decor, Phillipe Boca Raton has shiny black floors and
Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305.358.0088)
62 bizbash.com may/june 2012
5 Venues with outdoor event space
PHOTO: MORIS MORENO
Where to...
hold 250 for receptions. There’s also a patio that can seat
an additional 100. (5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton,
561.416.2131)
ROOF TOP CAFÉ5
Nestled among the treetops overlooking Mallory Square
in Key West, the Roof Top Café can host indoor and
outdoor events. The main dining room seats 80, but
can hold an additional 40 with the doors to the balcony
open. The bilevel deck holds 30 people up top and 40
below. The restaurant serves new island cuisine. (308
Front St., Key West, 305.294.2042)
ROSA MEXICANO MIAMI
This 8,000-square-foot restaurant in the Mary Brickell
Village features authentic upscale Mexican cuisine. Like
the others in the franchise, this venue features a signature David Rockwell-designed water wall with little
plastic divers. The restaurant can host 150 indoors, 90
in the outside dining and bar areas, and 100 in a private
dining room. (900 South Miami Ave., 786.425.1001)
NEW ROSA MEXICANO SOUTH BEACH
Opened in 2011, this Rosa Mexicano is tucked into
the corner of Alton and Lincoln roads. The restaurant
measures 3,500 square feet and seats 130 inside and 80
outside. A private room for dining or cocktail parties
exhibits bright decor influenced by Mexican architect
Ricardo Legorreta. (1111 Lincoln Road, 305.695.1005)
NEW ROUGE WATERFRONT DINING5
Restaurateur Alex Podolny is behind this Sunny
Isles place at the Intracoastal Mall, which opened in
November 2011. It offers casual dining and global cuisine
with an upscale lounge feel. Rouge is accessible by land
and water, as the property is situated by a dock. A sister
cigar bar, C Lounge Premium Cigar bar is steps away.
Rouge has a covered patio seating 97, a dining room
seating 87, and a bar area for 10. (Intercoastal Mall, 3957
NE 163 St., North Miami Beach, 305.944.9997)
THE ROUND UP
This country-western nightclub and restaurant features
an expansive 2,000-square-foot dance floor, four bars,
and several options for semiprivate events for as many
as 500. In addition to areas around the dance floor and a
semiprivate billiard room, the venue’s stage can seat 50
or hold 150 for a cocktail function. Line dancing lessons
can be arranged. (9020 West State Road 84, Davie,
954.423.1990)
NEW ROSSO ITALIA
In April 2012, the Red Restaurant Group opened this
property—its first Italian restaurant—which shares
an address with the Boca Raton outlet of popular
steakhouse, Reds. Rosso Italia is light and airy with
splashes of red. The restaurant offers handmade pasta
and brick-oven pizza. It seats 220 and has an event space
in the back seating 40. (1901 Military Trail, Boca Raton,
561.353.9819)
RUSTY PELICAN
This property offers modern, fun and comfortable
dining. It offers views of the water and city, and executive chef Michael Gilligan’s take on modern American
cuisine features small plates for sharing. For events this
venue offers custom catering and design services. Three
ballrooms are available; the largest, the Pelican has
6,188 square feet of space and holds 640. The intimate
Coral room holds 70. (3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key
Biscayne, 305.361.3818)
SAGE BISTRO & OYSTER BAR
Owned by chef Laurent Tasic, Sage Bistro & Oyster Bar
brings French-American cuisine to Hollywood. Opened
in 2008, the 5,000-square-foot restaurant can seat as
many as 120 guests, with an additional private room
for 50. Buyouts and outside vendors are allowed. (2000
Harrison St., Hollywood, 954.391.9466)
NEW SAWA RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
This Asian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant opened in
2010 inside Coral Gables’ Village of Merrick Park shopping center. The intimate 2,500-square-foot restaurant
seats 72 and has a 50-inch flat-screen TV over the bar
that can connect to a laptop or other media device for
presentations. The 1,500-square-foot patio can hold 250
for an after-work reception and doubles as a hookah
lounge. (360 San Lorenzo, Coral Gables, 305.447.6555)
SEA LEVEL RESTAURANT AND OCEAN BA5
This 160-seat restaurant opened in 2010 at the Harbor
Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. The
eatery specializes in fresh seafood and has a 105-seat
terrace and a communal table for 10. (3030 Holiday Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, 954.765.3041)
SHAKE SHACK, MIAMI5
This New York-based burger joint opened its first South
Florida location in late 2010. The 2,500-square-foot
restaurant is able to seat 50 or host an additional 25 for a
reception in its main dining room. There is also seating
for 60 on the patio. (1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach,
305.434.7787)
660 MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN
In the historic South Beach Art Deco district at the
Angler’s Boutique Resort, 660 Mediterranean has two
semiprivate dining spaces for 55 guests total, a front
porch for 40, and two poolside cabanas. As many as
200 can be accommodated for receptions poolside, and
a 250-square-foot boardroom can hold 14 guests. (660
Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 866.729.8800)
SMITH & WOLLENSKY
The renowned steakhouse has expanded its sprawling
waterfront locale on Miami Beach. The restaurant has
added a covered 90-seat second-floor deck over the
existing patio bar, bringing its total capacity to 850. (1
Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305.673.2800)
SOYKA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE5
This restaurant has been around since 1999 and offers
casual dining and American cuisine. High wooden
ceilings with exposed support beams and large windows
add to the comfortable setting. Sokya seats 216 and
has a covered patio area for 14 diners. A private party
area holds 60 seated, 75 reception.(5556 NE 4th Court,
305.759.3117)
SRA. MARTINEZ
Chef and restaurateur Michelle Bernstein’s upscale
restaurant seats 150 in the main dining room and patio.
The mezzanine can be booked for groups of 40. This
Latin tapas eatery is inside a 1920s post office in Miami’s
design district. (4000 NE Second Ave., 305.573.5474)
STK
This bilevel upscale steak house opened inside the
Gansevoort South, now the Perry South Beach, in 2010
and can seat as many as 600. Four private dining rooms
on the second floor can accommodate groups of 10 to
30 people. The rooms can also be combined to hold
100 for receptions. (2377 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.604.6988)
SUGARCANE RAW BAR GRILL5
Open since January 2011, Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill is in
the process of adding a semiprivate lounge slated for
completion summer 2012. Designed by firm CetraRudy,
Sugarcane’s look takes cues from South America’s Colonial
Spanish-style architecture. The lounge serves cocktails,
crudos, and tapas and seats 16, the main dining room 96,
the bar 52. Another 100 diners can be accommodated
outdoors. (3250 NE First Ave., 786.369.0353
TANTRA
This Miami Beach space is all about environment—
incense burns and candles glow. Tantra can seat 180
guests or hold 250 for receptions, and the food is reflective of its highly charged energy. Buyouts are available.
(1445 Pennsylvania Ave., Miami Beach, 305.672.4765)
TATIANA RESTAURANT AND CABARET SHOW
The 700-seat Hallandale restaurant has two private
upper terraces that overlook three tiered sections of
the space. The menu offers more than 500 items, full
audiovisual setup, and numerous plasma TVs. The Las
Vegas-style cabaret show is revamped every six months,
and buyouts are available. (1710 Hallandale Beach Blvd.,
Hallandale, 954.454.1222)
TEQUILA RANCH
Just outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,
Tequila Ranch conveys the casual elegance of a Mexican
hacienda. The restaurant and bar offers four different
rooms, plus an outdoor space, El Lago Patio, to accommodate groups of 50 to 350. Enhancements include a
blazing fire pit and a mechanical bull. (5760 Seminole
Way, Hollywood, 954.556.7430)
NEW TERRAZZA 5
On the former site of Ago, this restaurant at the Shore
opened in September 2011. Terrazza offers a casual
ambience featuring Moroccan inspired Bali-beds.
There is a private dining room for 70 and a large terrace
for as many as 170. (1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.695.3226)
TEXAS DE BRAZIL
This chain opened a 30,000-square-foot location in 2008
at the Miami Beach Marina. The main dining room can
seat 300, and the patio lounge, with views of the bay,
seats 40. The restaurant has six party rooms, including
a bar for as many as 200 and the Beijos Lounge for 50.
Off-site catering is available. (300 Alton Road, Miami
Beach, 305.695.7702)
NEW TEXAS DE BRAZIL, FORT LAUDERDALE
The sixth Florida location of the Brazilian steak house
chain opened July 2011. Its three private dining spaces
can accommodate 70 guests and are dressed with dark
wood interiors. The event-specific menus feature slowroasted cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and Brazilian
sausage accompanied by salads, sides, and wine. (2457
East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.400.5630)
TRIO ON THE BAY5
Nestled against Biscayne Bay, restaurant-club Trio on the
Bay opened April 2011 with 23,000 square feet of total
event space. The main dining room can seat 200 people,
while the patio which features bay views and custom
fire pits has seating for 140. Inside, private rooms include
the Bay front room and main room, which each seat 50;
the intimate Blue Crystal Room, which seats 45; and the
private dining room, which can accommodate 14. The
property is available for buyout. (1601 Kennedy Cswy.,
Miami Beach, 305.866.1234)
TRULUCK’S SEAFOOD, STEAK, AND CRAB HOUSE
This 7,000-square-foot restaurant is known for its
seafood, serving fresh fish and Florida stone crabs, but
it also serves antibiotic-free meats. The main dining
room can seat 325, and events can also be held in the
1,500-square-foot piano bar, which has live music
nightly. There is also a private room for 50 and two
outdoor areas for 45. (2584A East Sunrise Blvd., Fort
Lauderdale, 954.396.5656)
TUDOR HOUSE5
On the rooftop of Dream South Beach is the Tudor
House, a restaurant led by chef Geoffrey Zakarian.
It offers private dining options such as the Palmer
House’s rooftop, which accommodates 20 seated and 50
standing. The rooftop also has smaller cabanas that seat
15 and hold 25 standing. The detached outdoor lounge,
Highbar, has a private elevator, plasma TVs, rocking
chairs, and wicker chaises, and seats 60 or has room for
150 standing. (1111 Collins Ave., 305.673.4747)
NEW TUNDRA RESTAURANT5
Opened November 2011 this 1,400 square-foot venue is
committed to keeping things cool using more than 10,000
pounds of ice each week for its food, drink, and serving
pieces. Alex Podolny and David Berman’s place seats 120
with half the seats outdoors. Tundra is available for full
buyouts. (1017 East Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale, 954.761.2122)
UPSTAIRS AT THE VAN DYKE CAFÉ
Above the famous Van Dyke Cafe on South Beach’s
Lincoln Road, this open-air rooftop venue can seat
45 guests for dinner and hold an additional 65 for
receptions. It is only available for buyout during the day,
as around 9 p.m. the locals start pouring into what The
Miami New Times calls Miami’s best place for live jazz.
(846 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305.534.3600)
NEW VERDEA
Opened 2011, the Verdea offers seasonal menus in a classic American bistro setting. The restaurant can accommodate 200, including the main dining room, the grand
bar, a private dining room, and a wine bar that offers
more than 250 varieties of wine. The full restaurant is
available for buyout Sundays and Mondays. (4350 P.G.A.
Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561.691.3130)
NEW VILLA AZUR5
Opened in May 2012, Villa Azur brings a piece of the
French Riviera to South Beach. Co-owned by French actor
Olivier Martinez, Michael Martin, and Jean-Philippe
Bernard, the restaurant’s 6,000-square-foot space offers
a contemporary romantic backdrop for events. La Cave
d’Azur is a private dining room that offers more than 190
wines and seats 12; also available is the 4,000-squarefoot courtyard, which holds 110 seated. The entire space
can seat 250 and hold 300 for receptions and is available
for buyout. (309 23rd St., Miami Beach, 305.763.8688)
NEW VILLA MAYFAIR
This elegant restaurant with interiors by Frederic Joulin
opened in December 2011. It delivers a diverse range
of mediterranean delicacies, and lets ingredients take
center stage. Villa Mayfair seats 120. In addition to a
private dining area seating 26, an outdoor terrace is
available. (2901 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove, 305.774.1500)
VINYL & KAI
A casual South Beach venue with a rock ’n’ roll theme,
Vinyl & Kai has 2,000 square feet for private parties. It
can seat 40 for dinner or accommodate 120 with a hosted
bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, or a buffet. Optional extras
include live music, a DJ, or karaoke. (1131 Washington
Ave., Miami Beach, 305.531.2640)
WAXY’S ON THE RIVER5
Waxy’s on the River opened in 2009 on the ground floor
of residential building Neo Vertika. The 7,000-squarefoot Irish pub and restaurant seats 222. A 64-foot
chocolate-colored bar seats 40 and serves as the venue’s
centerpiece. A covered patio holds 120. (690 SW First
Court, 786.871.7660)
WYNWOOD KITCHEN & BAR5
Goldman Properties’ 5,000-square-foot eatery in
Wynwood blends brasserie-style cuisine and urban
TRE ITALIAN BISTRO
street art. An 11-foot colorful sculpture of a man by
Tre Italian Bistro opened downtown in 2009. The 40-seat David Benjamin Sherry stands at the entrance to the
eatery is outfitted with high-backed orange banquettes.
1,300-square-foot interior
A nine-seat bar anchors the 1,900-square-foot space and
dining room, which can
Search by capacity
has a 42-inch TV that can be used for presentations. A
hold 106 people and
bizbash.com/
covered patio out front seats an additional 50. (270 East
features 20-foot canvases
Flagler St., 305.373.3303)
miamivenuedirectory by German abstract
bizbash.com may/june 2012 63
Miami/South Florida Venue Directory
artist Christian Awe. Artist Shepard Fairey created a
floor-to-ceiling mural in his trademark black, red, and
gold palette for the 1,000-square-foot, 14-seat bar area,
which can accommodate as many as 32. The patio area
can hold as many as 64 guests. (2550 NW Second Ave.,
305.722.8959)
YARDBIRD SOUTHERN TABLE & BAR
This South Beach bistro opened in October 2011. The
RETAIL
SPACES
BAYSIDE MARKETPLACE5
This retail, dining, and entertainment complex is
on Biscayne Bay. The bilevel open-air marketplace
includes more than 150 stores and 14 restaurants
and bars. It can accommodate 1,000 people for
outdoor receptions and features live entertainment nightly on the Marina Stage. (401 Biscayne
Blvd., 305.577.3344)
DOWNTOWN AT THE GARDENS5
This 350,000-square-foot complex is comprised
of 60 acres of restaurants and retail space. The
property is bordered by a 20-acre lake area, which
can host tented receptions for as many as 600
people. (11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave., Palm
Beach Gardens, 561.515.1137)
LA BOTTEGA BY CARMEN TRIGUEROS
This retail wine shop opened in 2009 with an
underground wine room outfitted with leather
sofas and club chairs and wine racks lining the
walls. The space can seat 12 at a long table or
accommodate groups of 40 for receptions. (3540
Main Hwy., Coconut Grove, 305.444.3493)
SOUTHLAND MALL
With more than 986,000 square feet of space—
including more than 100 stores and a movie
theater—the mall can host a variety of events.
Colorful window planters and glass panels
brighten the mall with natural light. (20505 South
Dixie Hwy., 305.235.8880)
THE WEBSTER
This 20,000-square-foot multibrand boutique is
in a historic Art Deco building. The third floor can
accommodate 125 people for a seated dinner or 350
people for private cocktails and exhibitions. The
boutique also has an 1,100-square-foot open-air
roof that serves as a lounge. (1220 Collins Ave.,
Miami Beach, 305.674.7899)
WINE DEPOT & BISTRO 5555
This all-in-one wine store, wine bar, and bistro
opened in 2010. The warehouse-style building is divided into two main areas: an indoor,
6,700-square-foot space that can seat 90, and
a 2,250-square-foot patio that can seat 150.
The bar seats 18. For added privacy, there is a
250-square-foot private cellar called the Vintage
Room. Equipped with a large flat-screen TV, the
cellar seats 14. (555 Jefferson Ave., Miami Beach,
305.672.6161)
STADIUMS
eatery seats 200 indoors including four communal
tables for 12. A deck can hold 40. Menu items include
fried green tomato B.L.T.s and shrimp and grits. (1600
Lenox Ave., Miami Beach, 305.538.5220)
YOLO AND O LOUNGE5
This restaurant and lounge has multiple indoor and
outdoor spaces. The garden patio, with a full bar and
fire pit, seats 60, while the main dining can accommodate 202. The restaurant’s private room can host
40 people. O Lounge, within the restaurant, is its own
1,008-square-foot bar and lounge with seating for 45.
SPAS
NIRVANA SPA
BLISS SPA
The 7,300-square-foot Bliss Spa at the W South Beach
includes a nail lounge, seven treatment rooms, and a
beauty boutique. The spa offers a variety of massages
and treatments, as well as a brownie buffet and the
company’s own line of products.
(2201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.938.3000)
CORAL GABLES SPA
In the Biltmore Hotel, this spa
features a relaxation lounge,
poolside cabanas, an aroma steam
room and sauna, and a variety of
massages and body treatments.
It also offers group sessions and
a boutique. (1200 Anastasia Ave.,
305.913.3187)
ELEMIS SPA
This spa opened its first freestanding location in Coral Gables in 2002.
With 7,000 square feet of available
event space, Elemis also features a
variety of body services, a kid’s spa
club, and a hair and nail salon. (330
San Lorenzo Drive, Suite 2345, Coral
Gables, 305.774.7171)
P.G.A. NATIONAL RESORT SPAR5
Where to...
Elle debuted Elle Spa at the
Eden Roc Renaissance in Miami
Beach. The 22,000-square-foot
space has a Mediterraneaninspired design. The spa, the
magazine’s first, boasts rooftop
cabanas, a hair and nail salon,
a group exercise studio, and
a beachfront fitness center.
(4525 Collins Ave., Miami Beach,
305.531.0000)
EMENA SPA
Combining modern and environmentally friendly treatment
practices, this 2,500-square-foot
spa offers six treatment rooms
and can accommodate groups
as large as 100 for events. Group
fitness and treatment packages are
available. (180 NE 39th St., Suite
223, 305.438.3777)
ESTERRA SPA AND SALON
This 3,000-square-foot facility
offers six massage and skin care rooms, separate salon
and nail areas, and a Vichy shower room. (6231 Estero
Blvd., 239.765.4772)
EXHALE SPA
This bilevel 12,000-square-foot spa opened in 2010
inside the Epic Hotel in downtown Miami. There
are 14 treatment rooms, and event packages such as
customized classes, workshops, and education sessions
are available. (270 Biscayne Blvd., 305.423.3900)
MYSPA
On the plaza of the InterContinental Miami, this spa
has 10 treatment rooms, a hydrofusion pod, and a
fitness studio. MySpa offers personalized body and
N.H.L. team. The center has 12 function areas, including
three meeting rooms, the largest of which holds 500.
There are also several 800-square-foot and 400-squarefoot party suites. Centerplate is the exclusive caterer. (1
Panther Pkwy., Sunrise, 954.835.8359)
BANKUNITED CENTER
This multipurpose arena on the University of Miami
campus in Coral Gables is ideal for concerts, sports,
and special events, and can seat up to 8,000 guests.
The Hurricane 100 Room, which offers state-of-the-art
technology, can accommodate as 200 for receptions.
(1245 Dauer Drive, Coral Gables, 305.284.8244)
64 bizbash.com may/june 2012
In the Howard Johnson Hotel near Miami Beach,
this spa has 20,000 square feet of available space
for events. Nirvana Spa has steam rooms, a workout
facility, and pool and beach access. (8701 Collins Ave.,
305.867.4850)
Available for events and with 32 treatment rooms, this
spa is part of the P.G.A. National
Resort, which features five championship golf courses and seven
restaurants and lounges. The spa
offers meals by the resort’s Waters
Get Pampered on a
of the World Café. (450 Ave. of the
Rooftop
Champions, Palm Beach Gardens,
In June 2011, fashion magazine
561.627.3111)
The arena overlooks the bay in downtown Miami and
has more than 1.4 million square feet of space. Groups
of 130 can watch games or concerts from party suites
like the 7,600-square-foot Dewar’s Club, and groups of
24 can book a mini suite. The 16,000-square-foot arena
floor can also be used for large events. Members of the
Miami Heat’s entertainment team can make special
appearances at any event booked at the arena. (601
Biscayne Blvd., 786.777.1000)
This 20,763-seat venue is home to the Florida Panthers
German chef Rainer Becker opened the first U.S.
location (the original is in London) of Zuma in 2010
inside the Epic Hotel. The 8,500-square-foot Japanese
restaurant has access via private dock, as well as the
hotel’s main entrance, and is able to seat 198 throughout its main dining room, bar, lounge, and sushi bar.
There are two private rooms for groups of eight or 12.
There is a 68-seat terrace. (270 Biscayne
Blvd. Way, 305.577.0277)
skin treatments as well as a retail boutique of spa
products. (100 Chopin Plaza, Plaza Level, 305.372.4444)
AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
BANKATLANTIC CENTER
(333 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954.523.1000)
ZUMA
NEW MARLINS PARK
Opened for the 2012 baseball season, the new $515
million Marlins Park is home to 15 venues, including
South Beach mainstay The Clevelander. Just west of
Little Havana, the park can host 37,442 guests in its
SPA AT THE ICON BRICKELL
This 28,000-square-foot spa opened
in 2009 inside the Viceroy Hotel.
The spa’s movie theater and party
room can be used for private events
for groups of 36 and 40, respectively.
The spa also has 10 treatment rooms
and a 2,500-square-foot gymnasium.
(485 Brickell Ave., 305.503.0369)
THE SPA AT THE WESTIN DIPLOMAT5
This 30,000-square-foot spa offers
facial and body services that
combine Eastern philosophies with
Western techniques. In addition
to 22 treatment rooms, the venue
has private patio courtyards, a fullservice salon, a lounge, and a pool.
A fitness center is also available.
(3555 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood,
954.602.6000)
SPA ELEVEN5
Measuring 11,000 square feet, Spa
Eleven features a courtyard, seven
outdoor cabanas, and a tanning
pool, as well as a variety of spa
treatments. (1440 North Federal Hwy., Delray Beach,
561.278.1100)
SPA V
In the Hotel Victor, this spa offers 6,000 square feet of
tranquil relaxation and a coed steam room. There are
also private treatment rooms, an array of Europeaninspired services, and a fitness center. (1144 Ocean
Drive, Miami Beach, 305.428.1234)
WILLOW STREAM SPA
This spa features bright colors and Mediterranean
decor. In addition to offering massages and body
treatments, it is available for events and group fitness
classes. (19999 West Country Club Drive, 305.932.6200)
928,000-square-foot space. The 12, 000 square-foot
Skyline Terrace, on the promenade level, overlooks
downtown Miami and features retractable glass
window panels. It seats 350 or hosts 1,000 for a reception. The Diamond Club Lounge, located behind home
plate, can host 200 guests. The park is certified LEED
Gold by the U.S. Green Buildings Council. (501 Marlins
Way, 877.627.5467)
SUN LIFE STADIUM
Formerly known as Dolphin Stadium, this complex,
still home to the Miami Dolphins, made $250 million
in improvements in 2007. The stadium seats 75,500
and offers 350,000
square-feet of event
Search our directory
space. (2269 Dan Marino
bizbash.com/
Blvd., Miami Gardens,
miamivenuedirectory 305.623.6100)
5 Venues with outdoor event space
PHOTO: COURTESY OF EDEN ROC RENAISSANCE MIAMI BEACH
RESTAURANTS
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EXPO
& AWARDS
Florida / Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center / April 18, 2011
More than 1,200 event professionals
gathered at the BizBash Florida Expo &
Awards, held on April 18th, 2012 at the Ft.
Lauderdale Convention Center. Alpine
Creative Designs provided event invitations
sent out to show attendees. Public relations
by Elliott Stares Public Relations Inc.,
drew attention to this year’s show features.
This included a full day of education, trade
show floor exhibits, entertainment, and
networking that encouraged planners to
get inspired by their surroundings and
incorporate their newfound ideas and trends
into planning their upcoming events. The
excitement kicked off with the BizBash expo
pre-party hosted by China Grill at the Hilton
Ft. Lauderdale Marina Hotel, where out of
town guests stayed, as well as Renaissance
Ft. Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel.
On the expo day attendees arrived to a
packed schedule of events, all outlined in their
show guide, sponsored by Executive Printers.
A newly revamped morning and afternoon
conference program featured interactive
feedback devices by IML in an industry
roundtable discussion led by CEO, David Adler.
For their generous participation, speakers
received premium branded leather luggage tags
provided by Corporate Presence. Additionally,
the Event Leadership Institute directed
by Howard Givner, made its second year
appearance, which catered to event business
EXPO Convention Contractors, our Exhibitor Service Contractor, designed registration desks and E-vents Registration operated registration, along with computers and printers provided by NMR. Registration lounge furniture provided by CORT Event Furnishings. CORT
Event Furnishings designed the area with their Blo Field Collection
of furniture, with florals provided by Blooming Design & Events. Café
ala Carte offered delicious coffee to guests upon arrival.
Industry partners, ISES, NACE, MPI, and ABC, exhibited in the registration lobby with a constant flow of visitors throughout the day.
owners looking to accelerate their practices.
The morning general session kicked
off with the dynamic sounds and visuals
of impressive 3D Mapping, designed by
Media Stage, BizBash’s main stage producer.
Having the full attention of the audience
after the impactful opening, Barton G.
Weiss of Barton G. continued to light up
the main stage, providing inspiration and
motivation for all attendees. The Top 100 Events
Luncheon, sponsored by Constant Contact
& Grey Goose, was designed by Panache
to compliment the farm to table cuisine for
attendees. Guests mixed and mingled with
Top 100 Event crews to discuss the state of the
industry and regional trends. Later in the day,
Nicki Grossman, President and CEO of the Broward County
and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau,
welcomed all attendees to the opening general session with a
positive overview of the events taking place there.
Show App creator, Wizard Studios Global Events, demonstrated
on-stage in front of the impressive stage design of 3D mapping
technology. Media Stage provided seamless main stage
production, producing general sessions that attendees loved
from start to finish.
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The afternoon Trends in Catering session provided hands on
interactive sampling to the delight of attendees. State of the
art technology equipment for our education sessions was
provided by PSAV.
AFR Event Furnishings designed an all green lounge on the
show floor offering a sanctuary to attendees who enjoyed
relaxation.
The salute to the Top 100 Events luncheon, sponsored by
Constant Contact, Grey Goose, and South Florida Chapter MPI,
used family style country styled tables provided by Panache
to create a lively mood for discussion, over the tasty menu
designed by SMG Food & Beverage, surrounded by Design
Elements backdrops.
Education sessions were designed to provide enhanced
collaboration for attendees, including the sold out Event
Leadership Institute, back for it’s second year in Florida.
The George St. Kitts Band provided the perfect mood for the
Top 100 Events Luncheon supported by PSAV’s audio and
visual services.
Dorene Collier’s Event Show Productions
provided entertainment for the afternoon
general session.
Other expo perks included the popular
Event Leadership Institute Knowledge
Forum stage, sponsored by Rental Stages,
PSAV, and Design Elements. It was in
this central location that attendees
could watch 10-minute flash education
sessions presented by well-known local
industry professionals. Guests were also
The second annual Hands-On Design Lab hosted by Erin
Patrick was a crowd favorite as groups designed a complete
themed table, and even designed the floral arrangements.
Design Lab sponsors included The Farm Agency,
Emagination, BBJ Linens, and Panache.
excited to check out BizBash’s lounge with
furniture provided by So Cool Events.
After a successful Readers’ Choice Award
presentation at the expo, attendees were
invited to toast the award winners with
cocktails on the trade show floor provided
by Grey Goose and food provided by SMG
Food & Beverage. The cocktail reception
was brought to the next level with
furnishing by Nuage Designs.
BizBash extends a very special
thanks to our national sponsors: AFR
Event Furnishings, Backdrops Beautiful,
Brightroom, Constant Contact, CORT Event
Furnishings, E-vents Registration, GLOW
Design Group, IML, NMR, Society Awards,
and to all of our exhibitors, sponsors and
attendees — all of whom made BizBash’s
South Florida Expo & Awards an event to
remember. Be sure to visit www.bizbash.
com/miami to access 2012 expo post-event
information.
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The Farm Agency, importer of fresh cut flowers to event
planners, created a virtual garden of visual delights, which
was one of the top planner favorites of the day.
Grey Goose presented a new flavored drink using cherry
infused alcohol during the post-party on the trade show floor,
with music provided by T Skorman Productions, Inc.
The floor featured many high tech products for the first time.
Emagination Creative provided state of the art Photomingle
and Imaginator, which got high marks from the attendees.
TentLogix created a complete atmosphere of sheer fabric
draping to showcase their product and hosting guests inside
their exhibit area.
CORT’s booth featured their inflatable Blo Field products
which they designed throughout the registration area in a
conversational grouping for attendees, which they said both
provided comfort and a fun experience.
One of the tastiest sampling spots on the floor were the free
candy samplings which brought a smile to all who passed by
the Hilaleah Products/New Urban Farms booth treats.
Entertainment Management Group created a two story tower
in the middle of the trade show floor housing their production
expertise while a DJ played to the crowd.
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Barton G. Weiss joins colleague Jill after his well-received general
session interview on tips to the events industry and his career
highlights.
The industry nominated their top Florida peers for the Readers’
Choice Awards, winners all listed on the following page.
The Top 100 Event organizers in attendance received a certificate of
appreciation for their outstanding contribution to events in Florida
at the luncheon sponsored by Constant Contact & Grey Goose.
Event sponsors (as of 5/29/12):
QuestDrape.com
The Farm Agency
P.O. Box 971502 Miami, Fl. 33197
877-661-7097 fx:866518-8622
[email protected]
BizBash Florida Publisher Ann Keusch presided
over the induction of Victoria Ascione, director of
Corporate Meetings and Events at Bacardi USA, and
Wendy Kallergis, president and CEO of the Greater
Miami and The Beaches Hotel Association into the
BizBash Hall of Fame.
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I<8;<IJË:?F@:<8N8I;J
Caterer of the Year (Off-Premise)
PR Professional of the Year
WINNER
RUNNERS-UP
Jennifer Bisbee, Bisbee and Company
Larry Carrino, Brustman Carrino Public
Relations
Mabel De
Beunza,
Fontainebleau
Miami Beach
Maria Hayworth, Hayworth Creative Public
Relations
Marlene Janetos, Museum of Discovery
and Science
WINNER
Brian Aaron, Aaron’s Catering
Laurie Steele, Steele the Show Public
Relations
Yaniv Cohen, Shiraz Events
Annika Sundell, Fry Hammond Barr
Nancy Vaughn, White Book Agency
Anna Whitlow, The Clevelander and Essex
House Hotels
RUNNERS-UP
Kerry Becker, Boys & Girls Clubs of
Broward County
Lori Elsbree, Baptist Health South Florida
Foundation
Marlene
Quincoces,
PARK Project, Inc.
Tony Porcellini,
Walt Disney
World Swan and
Dolphin Hotel
Joy Wallace, A Joy Wallace Catering
RUNNERS-UP
Gladys Mezrahi, Indigo Events Corp.
Teresa Blumberg, TOCA Events
Germaine Moody, Germaine Moody Events
Chad Everett, Galaxy Productions
Lindsey White, The Society of the Four Arts
Darren Johnson, Creative Services Event Co.
Lee Schrager, Southern Wine & Spirits of
America, Inc.
Spencer Kramer, A Hot Party
Claudio Resnick, ARPI Group
Tara Liaschenko, The Link Event
Professionals, Inc.
Monica Varner, Elan Event Studio
Sarah Martin,
Delray Beach
Marketing
Cooperative
Venue Manager of the Year
WINNER
RUNNERS-UP
RUNNERS-UP
Vanessa Lopez, Hello Florida!
Jason Carroll, The Florida Aquarium
Jaqueline Reissent, Dave & Buster’s
Lisa Burns, One of a Kind Event Design
Warren Dale Moore, Warren Moore Events
Eddie Diaz, Encore Creations
Scott Schaefer, The RitzCarlton Key
Biscayne
Liz Diaz, Star Bright Event Designs
Sami Rodriguez, Sami & Co. Event
Design Group
Ivette Day, Smith and Wollensky Miami
Beach
Bonnie Ell, Hard Rock Cafe/LIVE Orlando
Tom Embrey, BankAtlantic Center
Katya Segovia, KNR at W South Beach
Hotel & Residences
Tara Lightfoot, Chic Event Furniture
Rental
Danielle Seaberg, Grand Events of
Florida, LLC
Cathy Jenkins, Revolution Live / America’s
Backyard / Green Room
Peter Sheppard, The Clevelander and
Essex House Hotel
Sabrina Anico,
New World
Center
Social Event Planner of the Year
RUNNERS-UP
WINNER
RUNNERS-UP
42Five
Side Project: DJ & Drummer
Jamie Billig, Confetti Events & Weddings
Linzi Etzion, Linzi Events Inc.
Circ X
Sing!
Lisi Korn, Forever Events
Dead Ringers
Sons of Mystro
Yissel Cabrera, Vitamin C
Communications
Tamara Cohen, TC Event Design
Brooke Palmer, r.s.b.p. Events
Victoria DeSilvio, Engaging Events and
Weddings
Georgia Watson, Weddings By Georgia
Shapeology
Caterer of the Year (In-House)
WINNER
David Schwadron, Chef David Catering &
Event Design
Mark Baratelli, The Food Truck Bazaar
Entertainment Act of The Year
Mr. Nice Guy
Warren Dietel, Puff ‘n Stuff Catering
Ethel Lipoff, Museum of Discovery &
Science
Sharon Siegel, DECO Productions, Inc.
WINNER
Sarah Beth Davidoff, Fare to Remember
Creative Catering
Jamie McFadden, Cuisiniers Catered
Cuisine and Events
Matthew Levy, Special Olympics Florida
Courtney Leffew, Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation
Amanda Allen, MMD Events
Jose Zaldivar,
Fiction Events
Suzanne
Sacasas-Chavez,
Suzanne Michael
Catering & Event
Production
WINNER
Event Designer of the Year
WINNER
Kevin Lacassin, Good Food Catering
Company
Tony Adams, Big Wheel Provisions
Event Producer of the Year
Fund-Raising Event Planner of the Year
WINNER
RUNNERS-UP
Shari Lynn Rothstein-Kramer, SLK
Creative
RUNNERS-UP
Eric Trelles,
et events, llc
Corporate Event Planner of the Year
WINNER
RUNNERS-UP
Anna Noriega, Alore Event Firm
Paula Wyatt, Posh Able Events
DJ of the Year
WINNER
RUNNERS-UP
John Askew, The Peabody Orlando
Victoria Ascione, Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.
DJ Adam Lipson
Carlos Cepero, Turnberry Isle Miami
Dahlton Bennington, Randstad US
DJ Mike D inc.
Sunshine Gutierrez, EPIC, A Kimpton Hotel
Stefanie Fernandez, Telemundo Network
DJ Slim Rok, Rock With U Entertainment
Francis Metais, Waldorf Astoria Orlando
& Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Yunior Rodriguez, Casa Marina &
The Reach
Alyssa Rhoads,
Tampa Bay
Business Journal
Tracy Wallach,
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Larry Rodkin,
Lawrence of
Florida
Chris Cruz, Emagination Creative Group, Inc
Jeff Greene, 84 West Studios
Jason Logan, LoganMania Music & Madness
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FEATURED IDEA BOOKS
SOUTH BEACH STYLE EVENT SPACE
LIGHT UP SPECIAL OCCASIONS!!!
STAGE A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY EVENT
A9 Event Space
Cigar Country
Copperbox
11850 W State Road 84 #A9
Davie, Florida 33325
www.A9eventspace.com
887.277.8561
www.cigarcountry.com
Culinary Atelier
by Chef Gabriela Machado
3328 North Miami Ave., Miami, Fl 33127
305.392.0983
www.copperbox.com
Known for its modern, stylish vibe &
glamorous finishes, A9’s 2000 square
feet of event space is perfect for small
weddings, quinces, sweet sixteens and
corporate gatherings. A9 includes DJ
entertainment, intelligent lighting,
LED lighting, lounge furniture, fabric
draping, crystal chandeliers, photo
booths and more. Stunning events
with one phone call!
Cigar Country is the only online cigar
store that specializes in customized
premium brand cigars, such as Arturo
Fuente, Montecristo and Romeo
& Julieta. Every cigar is specially
selected from the factory of origin
and shipped direct to you! Perfect
for celebrating weddings, corporate
events and any other special occasion!
Copperbox Culinary Atelier chef/
founder Gabriela Machado curates
exclusive epicurean dining
experiences for 10 to 30 guests in
an intimate setting that engages
all of the senses. Her innovative
gastronomic studio and thoughtful
seasonal menus are designed
expressly for the moment, the meal,
the meeting, the memory.
To book these vendors, please visit bizbash.com/bingo/nyla/mayjune
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FEATURED IDEA BOOKS
See, Save & Share more idea books at bizbash.com!
FRESH. VIBRANT. AMERICAN.
EGGSTRAORDINARY EVENTS WITH…
TAKE YOUR EVENT CENTER STAGE
CRAVE
Eggwhites Special
Event Catering
Fillmore Miami Beach
Coral Gables & Orlando
CRAVEamerica.com
CRAVE offers versatility with a wide
range of private and semi-private
dining accommodations to host
groups of all sizes. Dedicated to the
promise of making your event “truly
unforgettable,” our executive chef will
customize a menu uniquely suited
to your personalized needs and be
assured that every detail is addressed
in our quest to maintain a legacy of
extraordinary service.
Miami-Dade: 305.892.2066
Toll Free: 877.833.eggs
www.eggwhitescatering.com
Under the direction of Chef Gary Lampner,
Eggwhites offers full-service catering
to Miami-Dade, Broward and the Palm
Beaches for corporate, wedding, social
and charitable events. Our stellar 18 year
reputation includes referrals at premier
locations such as Vizcaya, Deering
Estate, the Moore Building, Bonnet
House and Ancient Spanish Monastery.
Discriminating clientele include Fendi,
Swarovski Crystal, Rolex and Versace.
To book these vendors, please visit bizbash.com/bingo/nyla/mayjune
1700 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305.938.2505
www.fillmoremb.com
The theater passionately combines the
rich tradition of the Fillmore experience
with the energy and passion of Miami
Beach. The newly renovated, spacious
venue is the ultimate showcase for your
special event, offering a multitude of
unique spaces to accommodate groups
of 20 to 2,700. Located downtown, one
block from Lincoln Road, the grand
2,462-seat theater will make the perfect
home for your off-property evening
event, VIP party, or meeting.
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FEATURED IDEA BOOKS
A GEM IN THE HEART OF CORAL GABLES…
ON LOCATION AT MAPS BACKLOT
ON SET AT MAPS STUDIO
La Jolla Ballroom
MAPS Backlot —
Wynwood Arts
District
MAPS Studio —
South Beach
301 Alcazar Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134
www.LaJollaBallroom.com
Situated in the heart of historic Coral
Gables, La Jolla Ballroom is the city’s
latest premier event venue. The exterior
offers a beautiful Mediterranean villa
façade, while the interior is classic, yet
modern, lit with multiple gorgeous
chandeliers. La Jolla Ballroom can
comfortably accommodate up to 220
guests. We offer on & off premise
catering as well as all-inclusive packages
to serve occasions such as weddings,
quinces and corporate events.
342 NW 24th St., Miami, FL 33127
305.532.7880
[email protected]
www.mapsproduction.com
MAPS Backlot is nestled in the center
of the Wynwood Arts District, Miami’s
new frontier for contemporary art,
fashion, film, and entertainment. The
Backlot is the only outdoor photo studio
in Miami, and at 10,500 square feet
can host up to 500 guests and includes
private parking facilities.
212 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139
305.532.7880
[email protected]
www.mapsproduction.com
Tucked away in Miami Beach’s South of
Fifth St. neighborhood is MAPS Studio,
the site of Amy Winehouse’s only
Rolling Stone cover shoot, and host to
many commercials and photo shoots.
This 6,000 square foot loft-like space
works double duty as a private event
space. The Studio can host intimate
parties of twenty, to events of up to
150 guests.
To book these vendors, please visit bizbash.com/bingo/nyla/mayjune
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FEATURED IDEA BOOKS
YOUR NEXT CAPTIVATING EVENT AT
MAKE YOUR NEXT EVENT MAGICAL
EXPERIENCE ELEGANCE IN KEY BISCAYNE
Miami Airport
Convention Center
(MACC)
Miami Children’s
Museum
Ocean Club
Key Biscayne
980 MacArthur Causeway
Miami, FL 33132
www.miamichildrensmuseum.org
305.373.kids (5437) ext. 142
Jacqueline Alvarez:
305.361.1101 ext. 227
[email protected]
711 N.W. 72nd Ave., Miami, FL 33126
305.261.3800
www.macc.com
The MACC is Miami’s second largest
convention and trade show center,
with 172,000 square feet of recently
renovated meeting, conference and
social catering space, and an on-site
DoubleTree by Hilton, just minutes
from downtown Miami and Miami
International Airport.
Add fun and whimsy to your next
event! Whether you are planning a
corporate gathering, fundraiser, life
cycle celebration or photo shoot, our
one of a kind space guarantees that it
will be unforgettable! Special offers
include in-house event coordination,
audio visual support, and a wide range
of catering options.
Hosting events that give lasting
memories is our passion. Providing
first class service and exquisite cuisine
is our specialty. Your special occasion
deserves the very best location and the
spectacular setting and elegance of
The Ocean Club. Our attentive staff and
award-winning Executive Chef will
make your event memorable.
To book these vendors, please visit bizbash.com/bingo/nyla/mayjune
BIZBASH Magazine
Available as a digital edition!
The Digital Advantage
• Accessible on any mobile device: Laptop,
iPhone/iPad or tablet.
• Connect to vendors and suppliers.
• Keyword search single or multiple issues!
• Instantly share news and ideas using email
or social media!
• Create a complete archive of all issues,
and take up no physical space!
NEW!
Experience BizBash Digital Today!
info.bizbash.com/bizbashdigital.html
Download the iPhone/iPad App: bizbash.com/bizbashapp
Advertiser Index
Request more info from these vendors at
bizbash.com/bingo/florida/mayjune2012
A9 Event Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
AFR Event Furnishings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Alfred I. Dupont Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back cover
Arpi Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
The Bath Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Bridge House Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cigar Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Clevelander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Copperbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Crave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Dezer Collection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Eggwhites Special Event Catering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Epic Residences & Hotel Lawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Event Leadership Institute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
EventStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside front cover
Fillmore Miami Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Gulfstream Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
The Harriet Himmel Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Hawks Cay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
La Jolla Ballroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
LC Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
MAPS Backlot — Wynwood Arts District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
MAPS Studio — South Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Mayfair Hotel & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Media Stage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Miami Airport Convention Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Miami Children’s Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
New World Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Nüage Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside back cover
Ocean Club Key Biscayne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Over The Top Rental Linens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Primetime Amusements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Rusty Pelican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
So Cool Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Trio on the Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Villa Mayfair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Ted Kruckel
Magic
Makers
The best events transport
guests to fully realized
worlds. Here’s how.
McEvoy was the editor. He just had
one giant tree beautifully lit in the
center of Grand Central Terminal on
top of a bubble-gum-pink carpet. No
one noticed or cared that the catering was modest and there was not a
single chair to sit on. It was magical.
The Entry Is Everything Let’s face
it: We’re all drama queens at heart, so
everybody likes walking down a long
carpet. (Please, anything but red.)
Anna Wintour’s parties often have
an army of greeters, like servants to
the queen. I just love it and always
wonder who the hell they are. At one
of Harvey Weinstein’s super-exclusive
Oscar parties, I remember that Jeffrey
Best designed not one, not two, but
three sets of heavy velvet parting
curtains that you had to clear to get
into the party room at the Peninsula
Beverly Hills. You would say your
name, the guy would radio it to the
security people, then they’d draw
the curtains and you’d step forward
and repeat the whole rigmarole,
kind of like the “Get Smart” opening
sequence. Brilliant. I immediately
started copying it.
Banish the Mundane Ugh, I just
hate when I’m falling in love with
a party and all of a sudden there’s
an ugly, gray garbage pail. Another
fantasy pit are greeting tables where
the staff starts spreading all their
worker-bee drag: handbags on the
76 bizbash.com may/june 2012
Hold That Whimsy Nothing equals
buzzkill quite like an ugly elevator,
stopping and opening its doors on
even uglier fluorescently lit hallways.
Get resourceful, people. Gel the lights.
Put colorful mats on the floors. How
hard is it to get a little nice music for
three elevators? Once for Dior, I piped
and draped the elevator area on each
floor in case the car opened on a
work floor. People noticed.
floor, Post-It notes, and, of course,
their stupid smartphones.
Take Me on a Journey For an event
I did for The New Yorker’s “Hollywood
Issue” forever ago, we rented the
entire Oviatt Building & Penthouse,
where we did an Academy Awardthemed shindig. One floor was all
winter white, and we projected
scenes of Dr. Zhivago on giant orbs.
Another was crimson silk and gold
chinoiserie for that boring The Last
Emperor movie with Brad Pitt (you
get the idea). We gave guests beepers telling them when to move. The
planning was murder, and the guests
were a little confused, to tell the
truth. But that’s O.K. once in a while.
Nothing Beats Gargantua
Of course, everybody enjoys a
Rabelaisian feast: tables groaning,
laden with delicacies while servants
wipe your brow between courses.
But annoyingly not every budget
allows it. Still, one gigantic item can
sometimes do the trick. I’ll always
remember an Elle Decor cocktailer
Robert Isabell did when Marian
Full House = Success Watching Mitt
Romney address an audience of a
few hundred people in an otherwise
empty stadium (hee hee!) reminded
me of this formula. But that doesn’t
stop some people. Years ago I covered
Car Week (O.K., the Auto Show) and
was astounded by all the overly
grand spaces for relatively minor
crowds and amusements. The absolute worst (i.e., the most fun) was a
G.M. presentation at Madison Square
Garden that featured first a fiveminute W.N.B.A. basketball demo—
I guess the target was women,
still not sure of that messaging—
followed by an elaborate unveiling
of a handful of cars with very swirly
lights. But all I could think of was
how weird it was to be sitting in
this little, packed group in this giant,
open arena. Then the host stood
there, beaming with pride, saying,
“Some show, huh?” as guests tiptoed
through the stadium hallways made
spooky by their emptiness.
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PHOTO: TOM SIBLEY FOR BARNEYS (LADY GAGA’S WORKSHOP), NEILSON BARNARD/GETTY IMAGES FOR BARNEYS (LADY GAGA)
Many—so many—moons ago, I was
group marketing director of Elle and
Elle Decor, and one of my responsibilities was to dream up ideas for advertorials, those things in magazines
that try to fool you by looking like
actual editorial pages.
And no matter the client—
Chanel, Revlon, Escada, you name
it—one of the ideas we always presented was “Enter the world of …”
It was the art directors’ favorite because it was both easy and
creative. We’d just take whatever
badges, faces, logos, labels, and
buckles the brand was known for
and smear them across the pages.
We often suggested that eight pages
would do the trick.
Last holiday season my client, GiGi
by Graphic Image, was commissioned
by Barneys New York to make all the
leather handbags and accessories for
Lady Gaga’s Workshop. There was a
big opening-night party with Herself
in attendance, and then they kicked
everyone out and opened the shop to
customers at midnight. Very Gaga.
When I first walked into the shop,
I was really excited: It was like entering
a whole new world; in this case, hers.
They painted all the walls black (such
a great trick, it made the room feel
like outer space) and had a giant resin
sculpture of Lady G by Eli Sudbrack of
Assume Vivid Astro Focus. After you
got used to the drama of it all, you
could see that this was very much a
functioning retail space, with all the
clothing racks, shelves, and checkout
areas like any other store in America.
It was a reminder that you can
make an environment as crazy and
interesting as you like, and still sell
your lightbulbs.
Here are some thoughts about
keeping the fantasy alive while
getting the job done:
Lady Gaga’s Workshop at Barneys
pulled off a fully realized world
that still sold the goods.