SocialMiami’s 15th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon

SocialMiami.com celebrated its 15th anniversary with a luncheon hosted by the Miami Design District and Joy Wallace Catering | Design | Special Events. The gathering was about everything SocialMiami.com has come to represent – good food, great friends, and the best that Miami has to offer.
Guests were invited to a pre-luncheon mixer in the Palm Court Plaza, Miami Design District’s pedestrian plaza amid luxury retail shops and world-class art – Buckminster Fuller Fly’s Eye Dome, Xavier Vielhan’s Le Corbusier sculpture and Sou Fujimoto’s waterfall inspired façade. Guitarist Claudio Spiewak played as attendees sipped wine and enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
John McPhee, Melanie Cohen, Joy Wallace, Toby Ansin, Suzanne Pallot and George Neary
Manny Hernandez and Joy Wallace
George Neary in front of Xavier Veilhan’s Le Corbusier sculpture in Palm Court Plaza
Carole Kotkin, Elizabeth Beach, Alice Fisher, Dorothy St. Jean and Sallie Byrd in front of the Buckminster Fuller Fly’s Eye Dome
Guests enjoying a pre-luncheon mixer in the Palm Court Plaza
Adrienne bon Haes and Elysze Held
Norma Jean Abraham and Charlie Cinnamon
Lisa Petrillo, Manny Hernandez and Miami Herald's Amy Reyes
Rachelle Kaminski, Nancy Lipsitz and Dolores Wolf
Michael Aller and Lisa Palley
Amy Reyes and Charlie Cinnamon
Brett Graff, Marile Lopez and Stephanie Aagaard
Steve Adkins, Harvey Burstein, Michelle Solomon, Charlie Cinnamon and George Neary
Aaron Glickman and Amy Rosenberg
Charlotte Libov, Roberto Iarussi and Carmen Betancourt Lewis
Rhoda Levitt
Moni Cohen and Raquel Libbin
Director of Design Production for Joy Wallace Catering, Jessica Zeidler Rojas, and Amanda Dobin
Jennifer Boin, Terry Schecter, Adrienne bon Haes and Amy Reyes
Marile Lopez, Norma Jean Abraham, Aaron Glickman, Stephanie Aagaard and Lisa Petrillo
Carole Kotkin, Melanie Cohen and Elizabeth Beach
Sonia Gibson and Joy Wallace
Director of Sales for Joy Wallace Catering Sara Silver, Dahlia Morgan and Jewel Stern
John Linn, Suzy Buckley and Adrienne bon Haes
Sheila Kuhl, Jim Murphy and Marilyn Cale
Aaron Glickman and Joy Wallace
Tracy Mourning and Norma Jean Abraham
Charlotte Schou and Jack Mizutani
Carole Moore of Getty Images and Sara Silver
Festive silk linens and tableware by Panache Party Rentals
Linda Levy Goldberg, Tracy Mourning, Elysze Held and Maria Beguiristain
Charlie Cinnamon, Joy Wallace and Nicole Henry
Joanne Silva and Dorothy St. Jean
Director of Marketing for Joy Wallace Catering, Sabdy Pacheco-Williams, and Melanie Cohen
Special guest Roberto Iarussi singing
Mediterranean Cucumber Ribbon Salad - home-cured salmon, heirloom tomato, French feta & dehydrated cracked kalamata olives, finished with champagne vinaigrette & lemon oil
Charlie Cinnamon receiving standing ovation
Lisa Petrillo, Charlie Cinnamon and Stephanie Aagaard
Norma Jean Abraham, Charlie Cinnamon and Tracy Mourning
Rosy Cancela, Alice Fisher and Jennifer Boin
Main Course - Mini Filet of Beef with Miso Mustard, served with black rice, butternut squash and pomegranate salad
Elaine Bloom and Nicole Henry
Zaydah Hernandez and Mari Grimalt
Joy Wallace Catering Culinary Team: Roger Rabanal; Yorman Sanchez; Thomas “TC” Chan, Chef de Cuisine; Elgin Woodman, Executive Chef; and Joy Wallace, President & CEO
Passion Fruit Panna Cotta in Mini Mason Jars, topped with passion fruit gelee, meringue crumbles and fresh berries
Anthony Japour and Maria Beguiristain
Elysze Held and Allison Weiss Brady (seated) and Brett Graff, Amy Rosenberg and Manny Hernandez (standing)
Suzanne Pallot, Roberto Iarussi and Nicole Henry
Ilene Zweig, Linda Levy Goldberg and Carol Iacovelli
Suzanne Pallot, Joy Wallace, Charlie Cinnamon and Melanie Cohen
Friends and philanthropists, arts supporters, Miami’s movers and shakers, and social sceners, many of whom had been acquainted for years, and some newcomers, offered personal well wishes to SocialMiami.com founder Melanie Cohen. A reunion of sorts for many, the crowd chit-chatted, mixed and mingled, so much so that it was difficult to break up the plaza party to move upstairs for the main event in the Palm Court rooftop event space.
When guests finally made their way into the large warehouse-inspired event space, there were plenty of “oohs” and “aahs.” Tables of lavender shantung with silk napkins and low-sprawling orchids, brightened the large, loft environment, which was generously provided for the luncheon, along with the Palm Court, by Craig Robins and the Miami Design District.
Guests selected a number from a fishbowl, which designated the table at which they would be seated, creating a lively mix of groups. The luncheon took on a life of its own, with conversations overheard that consisted of “so lovely to see you,” “it’s been too long,” and “isn’t this wonderful that we have this occasion to spend time together”.
Suzanne Pallot of Source Miami, One Stop Event Services, coordinated the event. The luncheon, served to 120 specially invited guests, was hosted by A. Joy Wallace Catering, Design and Special Events, which is celebrating its own anniversary in December – 27 years as Miami’s premier catering and design specialist. Joy’s tip-top serving team was on hand to deliver three courses, a preview of their 2015-2016 Fall/Winter menu, and more wine. Elegant tableware, linens, tables and chairs were generously donated by Panache Party Rentals.
George Neary, Director of Cultural Tourism for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the ebullient emcee who introduced special guests, including an unexpected treat! Roberto Iarussi, Italian-American tenor, a protege of Luciano Pavarotti, was at the luncheon and would later perform impromptu. Neary also recognized SocialMiami.com photographer, the picture perfect Manny Hernandez, who revealed an upcoming publication – a book of portraits by the iconic Miami photographer extraordinaire.
The man of the hour and the catalyst whose idea for the luncheon brought everyone together (as he so often does) was Charlie Cinnamon. As the final introduction – guests rose to their feet in a rousing standing ovation to Miami’s legendary publicist, a friend and supporter to many in the crowd.