Morgans Hotel Group and Eric Firestone Gallery’s Teepee Project has officially opened on the banks of Mondrian South Beach. Step inside the works of artists Misaki Kawai and Jen Stark – Artwork starting today!
Here are a few pics from last night’s invite only opening party. Enjoy!
Every year in November, Bookworms unite at The Miami Book Fair International Presented by The Center for Literature and Theater at Miami Dade College. It is the nation’s largest literary event and we have made it a family tradition to go every year !
The mission of Miami Book Fair International is to promote reading, encourage writing, and heighten an awareness of literacy and the literary arts in our multi-ethnic community.
This year, we focused on the fabulous children’s program with our 3 year old Ava. She loves books and we wanted to share our perspective of the fair thru her eyes as well as ours. We picked up a guide at our local Starbucks and planned for our day at the book fair.
We attended the Street Fair on Saturday , Nov. 22, 2014. The weather was not the usual sunny day Miamians enjoy, however that did not stop us or others from enjoying the fair. There were plenty of activities for the kids to enjoy at the Generation Genius Children’s Alley. Puppets, music, dancing, author readings, face painting, photo booths, games and book shopping are just some of the tons of things available to do for kids of all ages!
We met a local Mom/Teacher and Author named Leneen Faith. She has set out to make learning and caring fun with a child’s book series: Peacebe and the Heartwatch. Ava was attracted to the illustrations, which we learned are done by the author’s brother David Cambell. Each book corresponds to a different character trait and we picked the one about helping around the house, called Peacebe’s Messy Room. Find out more at http://www.peacebekids.com and follow http://www.facebook.com/peacebekids
For more information on the Miami Book Fair International, visit webpage: http://www.miamibookfair.com/ and follow us on Twitterhttp://twitter.com/miamibookfair
Enjoy these pictures of our family affair at the 31st Annual Miami Book Fair!
This past labor day hubby and I packed up the car and our 3 yr old and headed to Key West,Fl for some fun. While Key West may have it’s share of odd and colorful characters none can match what is found at 108 Duval Street. That is the home of Ripley’s Believe It or Not ! http://www.ripleys.com/keywest/
According to their literature, this location houses over 550 strange and unusual artifacts, exhibits and optical illusions on two floors.
Robert Ripley was an artist who was obsessed with traveling the globe. In 1920 he made his first trek across Europe. In 1925 he visitied the Orient and was fascinated with the Chinese and their culture. Visitors here will definitely feel and see his Asian interests. He was called the modern day Marco Polo. He was always in search of the unknown and the unbelievable. He brought back all sorts of items which are on display here.
We enjoyed too many of the exhibits to name. Our little one was able to manipulate some of their kids size exhibits ,so that made our visit even more special. Some of our highlights were The Bridle Collar, the toilet paper wedding gown and the worlds oldest mother. The lobby floor has various tiles with factoids on them, so don’t forget to look up and down during your visit. This attraction is open 365 days a year. Even on Christmas and New Years. Believe it or Not !
To see various clips of how some of their exhibits are manufactured and also theme days at different locations around the country check out their YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/RipleyWorld
‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh ~ Freelance Photojournalist/ Bon Vivant Blogger ~ Follow @IJust_LoveThis
#SobeSavvy
Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, 1st Marqués de Dalí de Pubol. Name ring a bell ? Do you know him ? Yes you do. He goes by Salvador Dali. A man with so much color and eccentricity could never have had a regular name. He basically invented/popularized the surrealism genre in paintings. His pieces both reveal and revolt. To love his work is to constantly agree that you know not what it is you love about it. The colors ? The lighting ? The decay ? Take your pick.
My family and I took a roadtrip to Tampa this past weekend. No visit to the Tampa Bay area is complete without an afternoon spent in the spectacular Dali Museum in St Petersburg,Fl. http://thedali.org/ Dali also dabbled in photography, film and sculptures. Painting is undoubtledly where his legacy lies. He was a showman. Sometimes his eccentric behavior came close to actually detracting from his work. The museum houses some of his most famous pieces. It also hosts various other special exhibits. The current draw is an exhibit of Andy Warhol works. The grounds and the design of the museum itself all reflect Dali’s quirkiness and fascination with spirals. The center spiral staircase is a case in point. They have a great gift shop where you can buy all sorts of items with Dali works embedded on them.The outdoor area has a oversized sculpture of that famous moustache. Out front there is a “fountain of youth “. A nice acknowledgement of that magic water Ponce De Leon searched for in Southwest Florida. There is also a tree where visitors have left thousands of entry paper/plastic wristbands affixed near a tree. An ode to his oft theme of decay. Pictures are forbidden within the galleries themselves so I captured some of the grounds and bright public spaces.What a great way to spend an afternoon. With Dali.
Enjoy the pics from our visit
SobeSavvy had the pleasure of attending a cocktail and networking event at Hublot’s Bal Harbour Boutique. We had the opportunity to meet and interview famed artist Hebru Brantley on Fri Dec 6, 2013 . Hublot partnered with Brantley and the Mourning Family Foundation for Art Week Miami. There were art pieces on display and he donated an original piece to Tracy and Alonzo Mourning to benefit Mourning Family Foundation.
Mr. Brantley’s art can only be described in one word. Different.The famed Chicago-based artist transformed the luxury Swiss watch boutique into his own palette of imagination.
His website www.http://hebrubrantley.com describes it as..”a creative process akin to free-form journaling, using a variety of surfaces and media including wood, spray paint, coffee and tea. His work delves into political and social issues with a conscious focus on playful insight and the optimism and possibilities of youth”. I found his work colorful, playful and striking.
I interviewed Mr Brantley at the event:
What convinced you to partner with Hublot Watches ?
..”They are not a conventional brand and I am not a conventional artist so it is perfect for me.”
Do you ever fear that commercialization will ever overshadow your actual art?
..”No, with me it is integrity first. I partnered with a brand like Hubolt because they are a luxury brand, They are not a Coke or Pepsi . My art may be whimsical or playful but my fans and buyers are serious collectors who have serious collections so I do not worry about that.”
Have you ever considered doing an animated series or short films ?
” I am working on it. Most people outside of America get their initial knowledge about America from cartoons and animated films.I want to do something that while it may be aesthetically pleasing more importantly I want it to be thought provoking.”
Enjoy the pics from the event and I want to say a special thank you to Mr Brantley who took time out of a very busy day for the interview.
‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh ~ Follow @IJust_LoveThis #SobeSavvy
“Social Butterfly News for South Beach and Beyond! ”
I adore the art of dance! It moves me. And I am not alone. On June 13, I had the pleasure of joining other dance lovers at 8pm at the famous Colony Theater, located at 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach for an unforgettable sold out performance from Shaping Sound.
Shaping Sound, the hottest new contemporary dance company in the country, was formed by Emmy®-nominated choreographers Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini, Teddy Forance, and dance visionary Kyle Robinson . They took the stage with ten world-class dancers to present a synergy of sight, sound and movement. The audience filled with all ages were treated to explosive choreography showcasing the dynamic rhythm, speed and physical strength of these visionaries. Company members have been featured on “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Dancing With The Stars” and toured internationally with recording artists and world-renowned dance companies.
The creation of the dance company was featured in the Oxygen original series called “All the Right Moves,” which chronicled the search for dancers and musicians to join what is now Shaping Sound. Dance Magazine says of the show, whose tour coincides with the 10th anniversary of “So You Think You Can Dance”: “Smart, sassy and super cool “!
I thoroughly agree and encourage you to see this show when it comes to a city near you!
Enjoy these pictures from the Thursday night, 8pm show in Miami!
Lovely Leslie ~ www.SobeSavvy.com ~ Follow Instagram/Twiiter @IJust_LoveThis ~ #sobesavvy
SobeSavvy 