Artistically Social with Amy Rosenberg

My husband and I decided to take a babymoon in New York before our next daughter arrives in the early fall. We managed to see a bit of Miami in New York with the exhibit Roberto Burle Marx: Brazilian Modernist at the Jewish Museum. If you’ve ever been along Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami and noticed the swirly orange and gray configuration on the sidewalks, that’s Roberto Burle Marx! The design goes from Southeast Second Street to Northeast 13th Street by the Arsht Center and is probably best absorbed from up high. Roberto Burle Marx was an inconic landscape architect (and fascinatingly quirky personality) best known for his boardwalk design on the famous Avenida Atlantica at Copacabana Beach in Rio. His work seems to be little known in Miami. (Sad.) We also had the added bonus of experiencing Russ and Daughters new outpost in the basement. I gave in to my cravings for chocolate babka and bialys from the appetizing counter. (Pregnancy has its perks!)

While in New York, we decided to pony up a zillion dollars and see the play Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s show is a work of genius. Simply put, it’s a groundbreaking original. Interestingly, Hamilton is bringing in $500,000 + a week and the performers are actually sharing in a small portion of the profits. The actor compensation agreement is a breakthrough in its own right. Payment to Broadway performers averages about $1900 a week and the bonus may help actors in periods of unemployment.

My good friend Soledad Picon turned me onto Ilona Oppenheim’s new cookbook Savor. Ilona and her hungry supporters congregated at Books and Books at the Arsht Center for a signing recently. In her book, Ilona shares recipes inspired by earth’s natural bounty including pine needle tea and baked potato chips. The book has more than 130 deliciously stunning photos, many taken by the talented author.

Few things make me happier than an evening spent out with beloved friends for a good cause. I got to spend time with people I truly love at the Locust Projects Spring Fling. The Spring Fling is an annual event that supports Locust Projects’ mission as a not for profit exhibition space dedicated to providing contemporary visual artists the freedom to experiment with new ideas without the pressures of gallery sales or limitations of conventional exhibition spaces. Local, national and international artists are encouraged to create site-specific installations as an extension of their representative work. The uber-talented Claire Breukel curated the cutting-edge contemporary art auction at this year’s Spring Fling. In attendance: Carolyn Travis, Andreea Baclea, Chana Budgazad Sheldon (Executive Director), Pauldine France and Dan Mikesell. I had the added bonus of leaving the event with my husband’s winning piece by Westen Charles. (Sorry Claire, Mark Alhadeff ended up outbidding you at the last second. Come over and visit Wes’s piece any time!)

A big congratulations to the indomitable Debi Hoffman, foundress and supporter of too many things to mention here for her Community Champion Award given at the Donor Next Door luncheon at Jungle Island.

Until next time…