Melinda Maria Baby Mosaic Earrings

We all love the jewels we see celebrities wearing on the red carpet, but in these economic times few of us are willing to dish out the dollars for these pieces.  Celebrity favorite jewelry designer Melinda Maria believes, “You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to look like a Million.” Her design philosophy is ”to create beautiful, high quality that looks real, but is actually fine crafted costume jewelry.”  The result is stunning pieces that can be worn by celebrities on the red carpet or by anyone anytime they want to feel beautiful.

Heart and Arrow Necklace

I sat down with Melinda Maria to chat about her captivating jewelry and unique concept.

Q: What is “Recession Proof” Jewelry?

MM: During the economic spiral, I decided to make my jewelry as affordable as I could without compromising the integrity of my craftsmanship and big designs. Thus, I made my line so that even in a recession people could buy a piece at a great price and fell like it is much more expensive than what they paid.

Q: Why is Jewelry important?

MM: Jewelry is very personal, for me I have always loved accessories, even in my home.  A bold chandelier dripping with crystals or amazing hardware on furniture or bold pillows on a clean couch.  I have always dressed that way as well.  Keeping my clothing more simplistic and wearing fabulous jewelry.  I guess I have a shiny object syndrome.

Q: You donate a considerable amount of time to charities and even craft pieces from your collection designed specifically to raise money for certain charities–tell me a little about that.

MM: There are a few reasons why I love designing for charity. First, people are buying a great piece of my jewelry and the proceeds always go to a good cause, you can’t beat that.  I also am such a believer in the power of spreading the word when it comes to charities.  When someone buys one of my charity pieces, it gets people talking about that particular cause and people love to wear a piece and tell a story of where their money went.  I have been very blessed in my life and it is my responsibility to do what I can to give back.

Melinda Maria CURA Heart Africa Necklace1

100% of proceeds from the CURA Heart Africa necklace go to CURA orphanage organization in the village of Cura, Kenya, a residence for children who have lost their parent to AIDS. The orphaned children range from ages 4-13 and CURA is a complete care facility which covers all the children’s food, clothing, education and most of all a place to call home.

Q: You have so many interesting and unique designs!  What inspires your collections?

MM: EVERYTHING can!  I just walk through my days with my eyes wide open because I can be inspired by so many things that I run into in my daily life.  I don’t just have to be in an exotic place–I could get inspiration from the produce section in the grocery store!  Shapes, colors,  and textures in anything can translate to art, so I am always looking.

Q: How difficult was it to create a line that is so beautiful with such quality yet affordable?

MM: I usually start with my limitless idea about a design and then I can tweak and translate that into something beautiful and affordable!  That part is really fun when we get it perfect knowing that so many people will be able to afford a little piece of Melinda Maria and feel good about buying it!

Learn more about Melinda Maria and view her entire collection at www.melindamaria.com or pick up some of her pieces at an INTERMIX boutique near you!

Melinda Maria wants to help get you red carpet ready! One lucky winner will receive a Melinda Maria Large Sun and Moon pendant necklace. (pictured above). Visit www.icanstyleu.com/blog and follow instructions on how to enter.

Insider’s Guide to Los Angeles

Hank Cohen

The Stats: Born in New York, NY; Currently lives in Southern California.

Why He Loves L.A: “There is never a dull moment!”

Being the CEO of KSL Media for 21 years, Hank Cohen knows what it is to be a true business man. His reformulated KSL’s unique selling proposition and constructed the backbone of the agency. With experience from both the client and agency sides, his extensive background knowledge in strategic planning, research, and analytical space are what have helped build KSL. All of his associates are to have all the tools necessary to deliver on client needs and expectations. Currently, he lives in Southern California with his wife of 28 years, Karen, and their children. He spends half of his time in Los Angeles and the other half in KSL’s New York Office.

Check out Hank Cohen’s favorite haute spots in Los Angeles at Haute Secrets.

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Regina King at Beso

Actress Regina King was spotted at Eva Longoria’s Beso steakhouse and Eve nightclub in Crystals at CityCenter on Saturday night. The star celebrated her 40th birthday with friends. King and her party ate dinner at Beso and headed upstairs to Eve for drinking and dancing. King and her group partied in Eve’s VIP section sipping on Grey Goose cocktails and dancing for several hours before leaving the nightclub at 2:30 a.m.

Pop rock singer Ryan Cabrera was spotted enjoying lunch with friends at Cabo Wabo Cantina at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort Sunday afternoon. Cabrera and six buddies were seen laughing and sipping on Coronas and soft drinks while munching on Cabo Wabo’s Build Your Own Nachos and chicken fajitas. The tattooed singer was sporting a black fedora, dark shades and a white button-down shirt.

“Grey’s Anatomy” stars Sarah Drew and Sara Ramirez were also spotted at Sammy Hagar’s Las Vegas cantina. The actresses were accompanied by seven gal pals and enjoyed guacamole, grilled fish tacos, chicken fajitas, Albondigas soup and Carbon tacos. The ladies laughed about their Vegas weekend memories for more than an hour before heading back onto the Strip.

Late on Saturday, Wilmer Valderrama was seen at Savile Row at the Luxor with his close friends at 3:30 a.m. The Prada for Nada star continued his 31st birthday celebration at the highly exclusive members and invited-only nightlife venue after hosting his party at Vanity Nightclub inside Hard Rock Hotel. His group sipped on Grey Goose and took shots of Patron throughout the early hours of the morning before heading out at 6:30 a.m.

Mötley Crüe front man Vince Neil was also spotted at Savile Row on Friday night.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

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The name of the group is Club Blue Miami and the proceeds that it raises go to the organization that launched them on Jan. 27, the Boys and Girls Club of Miami-Dade, a non profit that aids children and the community realize their potential.

The launch took the form of a cocktail party at the Crazy About You Restaurant & Lounge in Brickell. Young professionals, ages 21 to 45, networked and mingled at this fine event, which included the presence and support of Miami Heat player Chris Bosh and his fiancee, Adrienne Williams.

Alex Rodriguez-Roig, the Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, said that “the launch of Club Blue Miami attracted Miami-Dade’s most motivated, energetic young professionals, who we believe will become the community’s future leaders.” Club Blue Miami will bring Mr. Rodriguez-Roig’s organization constant financial support, as this excellent group of young professionals will be participating in numerous fund-raising events throughout the year. It also hopes to attract more young professionals to this group in the process, with membership opportunities starting at $150.

Information regarding membership into Club Blue Miami can be obtained by contacting Liudmila Esquerdo, Membership Coordinator, at clubblue@bgcmia.org. Information pertaining to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami Dade can be accessed by visiting www.bgcmia.org or calling 305 446-9910.

To view more photos from this event, visit Haute Living’s Events Gallery.

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I’m sitting here, admiring the details that Rolls Royce put into this vehicle, the Phantom Drophead Coupe. Yes, as usual, I’m wondering what killer collaboration can be made with a watchmaker. My conclusion is that Rolls Royce and watchmaker, Maitres du Temps must get together.

With all of the attention to detail that both of these companies present, a collaboration is truly in order. If you can bear to take your attention away from the Phantom and focus on Maitres du Temps, you’ll appreciate this proposed collabo and the timepiece that I think should be considered…

Pictured (and proposed) is the Chapter One, a timepiece with comparable detail, a killer aesthetic and quite frankly, the only timepiece that I can imagine one my wrist if I were so fortunate to own it, and the Phantom of course.

abbreviated specs for this timepiece…

• manual-wind mechanical movement
• one-minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock
• mono-pusher chronograph
• retrograde date indicator at 3 o’clock
• retrograde GMT indicator at 9 o’clock
• day of the week indication on roller at 6 o’clock
• patented precise moon phase indication on roller
• central hands indicating hours and minutes
• 60-minute counter at 12 o’clock
• two-position winding crown: pushed in to wind the watch; pulled out to set the time
• chronograph: start/stop/return-to-zero function activated by single pusher in the crown

Jason Williams is an independent behind the thesogolonmovement.com. The site was launched to catalog and share what he considers to be the coolest, downtempo timepieces ever brought to market.

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. Celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein is known for her signature Latin-infused dishes, but its what she’s serving up out of the kitchen that may make her one of Miami’s busiest chefs.

Michelle Bernstein

Category: Originators

Company: Michy’s, Sra. Martinez

Industry: Restaurant

What Made Her Haute: Professional ballerina turned award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein realized her true passion for cooking after taking a class on nutrition, and has never looked back since. Bernstein, who owns the critically acclaimed restaurants, Michy’s, specializing in locally grown gourmet comfort food, and Sra. Martinez, her newest restaurant that serves up a colorful assortment of traditional Spanish tapas, is best known for infusing her signature Latin flair into all of her dishes, making them both a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. In addition to receiving the prestigious James Beard Award in 2007 for Best Chef: South, Bernstein has been involved in several other projects, including guest judge on Bravo’s Top Chef, co-host of The Melting Pot on Food Network, and author of Cuisine a Latina.

What Makes Her Haute Now: When she’s not in the kitchen creating mouth-watering culinary masterpieces, Michelle Bernstein devotes her time to several events around South Florida, the most notable being the 2011 South Beach Wine and Food Festival, happening from Feb. 24-27. Her local restaurant-review television show, Check Please!, begins its fifth season today, where Bernstein serves as host while local food enthusiasts give their opinions on restaurants around the South Florida region. She is also involved in the new addition of the Miami Culinary Institute at Miami Dade College, as one of the local chefs recruited to help in achieving the goal that students receive an ideal education where they can learn first hand from some of the area’s top chefs and restaurateurs.

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Imagine a boat that blends the advantages of a catamaran with the thrill of a Hovercraft. That’s the Axcell 650 Catamaran Sport Yacht.

Measuring 66′5” with the swim platform, the Axcell 650 is the result of a collaboration between MACS Research and noted megayacht designer J.C. Espinosa. Like all catamarans, the yacht features twin hulls that cut through the water efficiently for a smooth ride. A twist comes in the form of what MACS Research calls HybridAir Technology, which it has patented. The hulls employ a Hovercraft lift fan, pumping air into their already-air-cushioned cavities. In a nutshell, the additional air helps the Axcell 650 switch into high-performance planing mode, meaning the hulls rise up a bit more out of the water. When you’re at the helm, you still get a well-mannered yacht, but one that is now capable of a reported 36-knot cruise speed and a 40-knot top end. Of course, the twin 1,150-hp Caterpillar engines play a big part in that, too.

The Axcell 650’s catamaran design further translates into a spacious interior. In fact, the 20’8” beam should ensure you and your four overnight guests have plenty of room to dine and relax. The dining area is particularly nice, outfitted with a wood sole and benefitting from lots of natural light. You’ll also appreciate how the windows to each side of the pilothouse, as well as the window aft of it, can drop down, letting breezes circulate. A sunroof aids in this regard, too. (Of course, the yacht has air-conditioning, but if the weather’s nice, why not take advantage of the fresh air?)

The overall decor is more along the lines of a higher-end motoryacht, with fine fabrics, leathers, and hardwoods. Another high-end motoryacht feature: a tender garage, housing a 16-foot RIB.

Pricing for the Axcell 650 starts at $3.695 million, with a variety of customizable options. You can see the yacht for yourself at the upcoming Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami from Feb. 17 to 21.

On Tuesday, Jan. 25, the Fest Friends officially kicked off the 2011 South Beach Wine & Food Festival at FIU’s Biscayne Bay campus. The 50 guests were greeted at the Southern Wine and Spirits Beverage Management Center with Prosecco while servers passed an array of colorful hors d’oeuvres which included salmon topped cucumbers and canapés. With the much-anticipated festival less than a month away, the friends were sent back to school and put to the true culinary test. After a quick introduction by Jackie Eisen, the organization’s director, the friends were split into 3 large groups and assigned taste guides (a.k.a. students) for their interactive experiences.

Experience #1: Sushi rolling and grilling station.

FIU students led the food enthusiasts through a culinary bootcamp of sushi making and fish grilling.

Experience #2: Cooking demonstration and tasting.

Chef Michael Moran, FIU’s most popular chef teacher carried out the cooking demonstration at the school’s state of the art demo kitchen, which is fully equipped with stainless steel cooking equipment, Wi-Fi, live video feed, and microphones. He cooked a classic French dish of lamb atop pea puree by Jean Georges Vongerichten straight from The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook: Recipes and Behind-the-Scenes Stories from America’s Hottest Chefs. The lamb was paired with a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Beaulieu Vineyards from California.

Experience #3: Essentials of wine and food pairing.

Barry Gump, professor of beer crafting and wine studies, effortlessly explained the many libations that were enjoyed throughout the evening and ended with a pairing of Riesling from Snoqualmie Vineyards from Washington State with white and wheat bread accompanied by a semi hard sheep’s milk cheese and semi hard cow’s milk cheese. The odd pairing was done to show the wine’s pairing flexibility.

The night ended on a sweet note with 3 different types of fondue and an endless table of dip-able treats. All guests left with sweet treats as well, by Mischa’s Cupcakes and FIU’s own students.

The Fest Friends is a select group of high net-worth individuals that have an exceptional interest in good quality food and are, of course, big enthusiasts of Miami’s largest and most popular festival, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Their role is crucial to the continuity and promotion of the festival. Their main fundraising efforts are aimed to continually improve FIU’s Hospitality College.

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February means Valentine’s Day … which means that restaurant chefs throughout the area will be showcasing special menus over the big weekend (many of which we’ll be profiling for you here in the next few days). But Stella Blu, that sweet little romantic dining room in West Conshohocken, is wondering why hold back? Instead of keeping their special lobster menu tucked away, they are offering it all through February.

And what delicious specials they are. Broken into first and second courses (order one of each for just $30), there are nine dishes to dive into. Start off light with a salad of watercress, fennel and orange dolled up with medallions of fresh lobster, or go a little more decadent with lobster and asparagus risotto, brightened up by a drizzle of citrus ponzu sauce. Spice up your entree with lobster fra diablo, spooned over fluffy house-made potato gnocchi, or their signature lobster mac and cheese, made of oozy helpings of asiago, Parmesan and goat cheese. Traditionalists may opts for the lobster tail and filet pairing, enhanced with a lemon saffron cream sauce and balsamic reduction.

The regular menu is, of course, also available, so go ahead and enhance that dinner with one of their tasty small plates or a dessert for two. Add in a bottle from their wine list, featuring  options of note from California and Italy, and you have an amazing and special supper, even if it’s not officially V Day.

Stella Blu is located at 101 Ford St., West Conshohocken, 610.825.7060, www,stellablurestaurant.com.

This full service oceanfront building is located in the historic Art Deco District of South Beach. Lumus Park is next door. The 08 tower has the largest apartments. Formerly a 3 bedroom, this 2 bedroom 3 bath apartment was opened to provide an expansive living space solely focused on the unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean. It has higher ceilings than all those below. There are 2 assigned garage spaces; one is enclosed within the main garage.

Offered @ $5,500,000

Contact Perci Pietro @ 305.995.8201 or info@ownrealty.com. Or visit www.ownrealty.com.