MOCA Mystery Dates Another Sell-Out Success


MOCA’s Mystery Dates, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s surprise-filled fundraiser, was another sell-out success when 13 art collectors opened their homes for fabulous dinner parties in support of the museum’s exhibitions of emerging and experimental artists.
The evening began at MOCA, where the 350 guests learned which dinner they would be attending. Cocktails courtesy of Bombay Sapphire and the live band Ketchy Schuby created an exciting vibe for the evening. Before heading out to their dinners, the fashionable crowd admired a dazzling new BMW Z4 courtesy of presenting sponsor Braman Motors and bid on great opportunities at a selective silent auction.
Hosts of Mystery Dates all share a love of art and of entertaining, and each added a personal touch to their party. Lizzie Dascal’s dinner was all vegan and Dale and Richard Newberg surprised guests with a performance by jazz and gospel singer Maryell Epps. Kathryn Mikesell prepared 15 different dishes while Nina Johnson-Milewski and husband Dan Milewski served delicious fried chicken. Artist George Sanchez Calderone served dinner in his studio and guests to Mike Margulies dinner at The Margulies Collection at The Warehouse, were treated to a private tour by his father Martin. Other dinner hosts included Alana Burstyn, Gloria and Sergio Leyva, Billy Weisman, Joe Berg, Barbara Herzberg, Katy and Dario Stoka and Sofia Joelsson

After dinner, guests reconvened at The Shore Club on South Beach for late night fun.
Thanks to presenting sponsor Braman Motors of Miami and lead sponsors Museo Vault, Elle Décor, Cultured Magazine and Miami Magazine, the evening was a great success. Additional support was provided by Bombay Sapphire, The Brickellian, Southern Wine and Spirits, SLS Hotel South Beach, The Shore Club, and Lyon+Lyon.
Mystery Dates 2012 Co-chairs MOCA Shakers Meredith Becker, Valerie Graves, Zubin Nagpal, Erin Newberg and Anne Owen led a dynamic committee of Sarah Arison, Alana Burstyn, Lauren Busch Singer, Craig Dell, Maura Dominguez, Julia Ford-Carther, Lauren Gnazzo, Nina Johnson-Milewski, Alex Kushner, Jonathan Lazar, Carolyn Travis and Simone Weissman.
For more information, contact Valerie Ricordi, MOCA Public Relations at 305 893 6211 or vricordi@mocanomi.org.
Diane Lieberman, Mystery Dates host Lizzie Dascal
Artist and Mystery Dates host Geroge Sanchez Calderone, Jacqueline Falcone
MOCA Director Bonnie Clearwater and Christian Slater
Home of Nina Johnson-Milewski and Dan Milewski
Anne Owen, Dario & Katy Stoka, Ivonne Ronderos at Stoka's dinner
MOCA Director Bonnie Clearwater with Elle Décor Publisher Barbara Friedman and Editor Vicky Lowry
Channing Norton and David Herzberg at Barbara Herzberg's dinner
Iva Kosovic and Valerie Graves enjoy Bombay Sapphire cocktails at MOCA
MOCA Board President Ray Ellen Yarkin with Trustee and Mystery Dates host Barbara Herzberg
Jane Anne Murphy of Juicy Couture (center)
Lydia Pinnell and Ray Fort with Bombay Sapphire cocktails
Maryel Epps serenades Mystery Dates host Richard Newberg
Michelle Cammarota, Meredith Becker, Monica Chaplin and Marta Czernecka at the after party at The Shore Club
Anne Hiatt and Craig Dell at Alana Burstyn's dinner
Mystery Dates host Dan Mikesell gives guests a tour
Mystery Dates host Joe Berg
Mystery Dates dinner host Nina Johnson-Milewski, Zubin Nagpal, Jen Ghersi, and Austin Cohen
Jessica and Eli Alter at Alana Burstyn's