The Edit by Brett Graff
A snapshot of the Miami scene this week.
Ricky Patel Honored by St. Thomas College
Ricky Patel, a senior partner at Farrell, Patel, Jomarron & Lopez law firm received the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award from St. Thomas University School of Law’s Black Law Student Association. Patel is a STU Law alumni and a philanthropist who is known for founding ITS4THEKIDS and providing significant support to organizations including Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation and its Fashion Gives Back event, Gracious Hands Orphanage in Haiti, United Way and Little Lighthouse Foundation. The MLK Award is given to someone who has continued to show dedication to serving and uplifting the Black community. It was presented by Judge Tarlika Navarro.
PAMM Hosts Art + Soul Celebration
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) hosted a virtual version of the eighth annual Art + Soul Celebration. The event supports the museum’s Fund for Black Art, which allows it to purchase and showcase contemporary art by African Diaspora and African American artists for its permanent collection.
Acclaimed news presenter and host Neki Mohan led the evening’s program, which included a lively conversation between PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans, Art + Soul honoree and acclaimed chef and co-owner of Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown Marcus Samuelsson, and Managing Partner Derek Fleming about art, food, culture. What’s more, the fund’s newest acquisitions were revealed.
Knight Foundation President and CEO Alberto Ibargüen announced a new $1 million-dollar contribution to the Fund, made possible by a combined effort between Knight Foundation, Ford Foundation and Jorge M. Pérez.
Valentine’s Day Delicious
Uchi Miami is open and ready for day of love. The ten course menu costs $250 per couple and begins with oysters served with a champagne mignonette and ends with an A5 Striploin served with a beef fat fritter, black truffle and black garlic. (Uchi is located at 252 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127.) Meanwhile at Toscana Divino there’s love and opera. Yes, on both February 13th and 14th the authentic Italian cuisine – the regular menu will be offered along with a special four courses for $70 per person – will be served alongside live opera performances from local artists including Laura León, Edgar Miguel Abreu, and Anna Fateeva. (Toscana Divino is located in Mary Brickell Village at 900 S Miami Ave Space 185, Miami, FL 33130.) Villa Azur this Valentine’s Day is hosting couples on their spacious courtyard, offering a special a la carte menu along with their regular dinner menu. A specialty cocktail is the Clover Club made with Hendricks Gin, lemon juice, raspberry puree, egg white and mezcal scent. Entrees include the lobster linguine served in a sauce with roasted garlic, Osetra Caviar and topped with a one pound lobster. (Villa Azur is located at 309 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139.)
Brett Graff is SocialMiami.com’s managing editor and has been a journalist covering money, people and power for over 20 years. Graff contributes to national media outlets including Reuters, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Maxim, and the PBS show, Nightly Business Report. A former U.S. government economist, her nationally syndicated column The Home Economist is first published in The Miami Herald and then on the Tribune Content Agency, where it’s available to over 400 publications nationwide. She is broadcast weekly on two iHeartRadio news shows and is the author of “Not Buying It: Stop Overspending & Start Raising Happier, Healthier, More Successful Kids,” a parenting guide for people who might be tempted to buy their children the very obstacles they’re trying to avoid.
