Hot – Hot – Hot
AWB takes refuge in the Big Apple
There’s no beating the summer heat, unless of course you’re Allison Weiss Brady who glides through the humidity with a host of summer adventures. Miami to NYC and back to the Magic City – summer is star-studded for Miami’s social butterfly.
Life has been good during this hot summer. Can you believe the heat – my goodness! I just step out of the house and I’m sweating. So Chip and I decided to beat the heat and jet up to NYC for some events with Russell Simmons, which was hot for different reasons.
Ever the proponent of enriching one’s self and well-being, Uncle Rush took me to a Bent On Learning charity event organized by the amazing Alice & Olivia designer Stacey Bendet Eisner. We sat with Donna Karan (the event was at the Stephan Weiss Studio at the back of her Urban Zen space), Gwyneth Paltrow (wearing a stunning Alexander Wang dress), Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry’s wife), and New York City’s schools chancellor, Dennis M. Walcott, who mentioned he was at the launch of one of my family’s foundation events at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
As the presenters began to speak, they called for Gwyneth to come to the stage. Meanwhile, she was so busy schmoozing with Russell that she was late getting on stage. But she did manage to get Russell’s digits.
Also attending the event were NYC fashionistas, socialites, and celebrities including the recently engaged Molly Simms, Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford, singer Maxwell, Vogue’s Lauren Santo Domingo, model Angie Hsu, Ali Wise, Elle Macpherson’s former boyfriend Vito Schnabel, and Jennifer Raines. I was in celeb heaven.
I’ll be shooting back to New York – the Hamptons this time – for 12th annual “Art For Life” gala at Russell Simmons’ East Hampton home on July 30. It’s on the same day as one of my other favorite Hamptons events, Super Saturday 14 with Kelly Ripa and Kim Kardashian with a live QVC broadcast.
“Art For Life” is honoring Mary J. Blige, Edward Norton, Oz Garcia, Kimberly B. Davis of J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, and Jimmy Choo Founder Tamara Mellon. The gala is co-chaired by Boca Raton’s Marc J. Leder, Kimora Lee Simmons and her husband Djimon Hounsou, and Gwyneth Paltrow (surprise surprise), who has also contributed a fabulous package to Art For Life’s auction on CharityBuzz.com/artforlife. The event will feature performances by Jennifer Hudson and Miri Ben-Ari. Contact tdoolin@inezevents.com for information. It’s sure to be hot, hot, hot.
When I got back to Miami, I was desperate for some relaxation and pampering to recover from my hectic time in NYC. I headed to Coconut Grove to the four diamond service of the Mayfair Hotel and Spa right near CocoWalk.
On Sundays, the Mayfair has a private, invite-only Rooftop Pool Party from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., where you can dine on favorites including Capri pizza with prosciutto, speck and mushrooms, Bianca pizza with goat and fontina cheese and baby arugula, Coconut Shrimp with Thai chili sauce, or Spicy Ginger Gazpacho to cool off on these hot, hot, hot summer days.
While at the rooftop pool, we sat at the bar and watched an exciting soccer game with the U.S. beating Brazil in the Women’s World Cup (too bad we lost to Japan in the final!)
At the Mayfair, consider getting a private cabana, decadent massage, catching up on all the latest fashion magazines, noshing on frozen grapes and while spritzing oneself with Evian Misters. What a way to relax! The only way to get on the invite list is to fill out a comment card when dining at Spartico restaurant, the new Italian trattoria within the hotel that was written-up as a must-see in VOGUE’s travel column.
I’m excited to share with you a fun event I’m co-hosting with my friends Jennifer Diliz, Erin Newberg, Brooke Brown, Amy Rosenberg, and Erin Cohen. Ann Taylor, the clothing line for the young and hip, is having a party on Thursday, July 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the Ann Taylor store at Dadeland. With delicious goodies catered by Lasso the Moon, cocktails, and NY20 Premium Water, the event will benefit Gene Spotlight, which provides medical research grants for rare diseases. Please contact anntaylor@genespotlight.org for more information.
A little birdy told me that Ann Taylor will announce in late July its newest celebrity spokes model, no doubt as equally glamorous as its recent representatives, Katie Holmes and Heidi Klum. Can’t wait to hear which superstar it is.
The party is being organized by Ann Taylor’s director of PR, Andrew Taylor, who I’ve known since I was 15. I first met Andrew on a summer abroad program with Choate Rosemary Hall where we traveled to Spain and each lived with a family. It was one of the best summers of my life. Andrew also came to my sweet sixteen surprise party – and I was certainly surprised. I arrived in sweats! Fashionista lesson learned – always look fabulous – and the Ann Taylor event on July 28 will certainly help me to continue looking fabulous.
Until next time,
Allison
