“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn’t be, and what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?” Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Friday, April 16 marked the birthday party date for our local South Beach nightlife impresario, Michael Capponi. Each year, Capponi throws a birthday bash with a unique theme. For this year’s bash, Thomas Kramer’s waterfront estate on Star Island was transformed into ‘Alice’s Wonderland’. In 2010, the Mad Hatter was in the house in multitudes! And everywhere you turned, there was another Alice. But these were Alice’s with a South Beach twist wearing bosom-busting mini dresses with thigh-high tights. The Rabbit, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dom, King & Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat all made personal appearances as well. There were funny hats here, there, and everywhere!

Guests were asked to make a donation upon entrance to help Haiti or the United Way in lieu of birthday presents for the bday boy. Grey Goose was stocked at all the bars while Kramer’s kitchen crew cooked up a storm on the BBQ. We had juicy grilled chicken bites along with tasty mini-Mexican fare. Multi-colored inflated mushrooms and flowers appeared around the grounds adding a splash of whimsy to the atmosphere.

An unwanted guest arrived in the form of ‘Mother Nature’ with a several Miami showers sprinkling the scenesters. Everyone crowded under cover as the rain pitter pattered and then would venture back out under the moonlight as the moisture stopped. At closing time, as we exited the party, the sky opened up and doused us all one final time. Umbrella-less guests found there face-painted rabbit whiskers dripping and disappearing. But just in the nick of time our ‘party- mobile’, the magical Miami Limo Coach pulled up and the partiers piled in. This was no ordinary bus, but a South Beach Party Palace on wheels! It was decked out with laser lights, smoke machine, bars, DJ and host all under a 10 foot high ceiling leaving plenty of leg and arm room to dance. We quickly forgot about getting drenched by the rain and reveled our way to Set nightclub in South Beach where the party continued on with the Wonderland theme. One more round of drinks and time to call it a night in Paradise!

Check the Haute Living events page for more scenes from this evening.