Summer 2012
The fun never slows for AWB
Summer has been fab-u-lous for Allison Weiss Brady as she and Chip bounced from NYC to MIA for weddings, media events, condo debuts and store openings. The summer heat was no match for AWB in this sizzling season recap.
The whirlwind festivities surrounding my friend Caroline Waxler’s wedding ran the gamut from a lively bachelorette party to the main event, an over-the-top wedding at The Pierre hotel in Manhattan. I had the honor of being the Matron of Honor, as well as helping to plan the pre-wedding bash at Amali and styling the bride for her big day!
Caroline’s delightful mother Barbara, cousin Melissa and Aunt Joan – who hosts that super fab show on E! where they dish what everyone is wearing – were involved in planning various events leading up to the wedding, including the bachelorette party.
Much to my surprise, I learned that Caroline was into ghost-walking tours, so we planned some activities around that theme.
Hopefully our rather witty group, which included a few comedy writers, didn’t offend any politically correct spirits.
Also one of my responsibilities was to engage the rock group, The Niagras. Caroline sent me lead singer Rob Whaley’s phone number and told me to make it happen. They had been an item 10 years ago so I wondered how was I going to pull off this miracle? When I met Rob a few days later at the party venue, Amali – a fabulous new restaurant at 60th Street and Park Avenue – he strolled in with tons of swagger, sporting a fedora. I let him know that there would be no party without him and his group. His response was “Anything for Waxler,” and we were set!
Sorry, no bachelorette party photos, but we have some great wedding shots.
To help style the bride, I recruited the expertise of the uber-stylist for Deco Drive, SocialMiami.com’s own Elysze Held, who flew up to NYC to help. Caroline ended up looking beyond gorgeous!
Back in Miami, it’s been busy, busy, as SocialMiami.com launched Prospect: Neighborhood, a series of “where to go” highlights by realtor Rosy Cancela showcasing Miami’s eclectic neighborhoods. The launch party was thrown at Casa de Korge where social heavyweight Irene Korge resides. Irene was decked out in black Gucci and YSL from Saks Dadeland, a Santyanna ring, and a black onyx and silver bracelet she bought at a charity event for the Humane Society.
Rosy Cancela, draped in a black strapless dress from Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana strappy heels, and 14k gold from Neiman Marcus Merrick Park, was the real estate agent who sold Irene her house years ago.
Much of the event took place in the backyard which sits upon a private lake and has hills with streams running through them. The home is perfect for parties, and a couple of US presidents have attended events there.
One of the most fascinating rooms in Casa de Korge is the Doll Room, where Irene keeps her immense doll collection. Irene’s longtime friend Norma Jean Abraham gifted some fascinating pieces to the collection and was ever so gracious to help with Irene’s tour.
Ornare’s Claudio Faria and I were captivated by this room filled with Bob Mackie dolls created in the likeness of Cher, Barbie dolls wearing Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel, and a chandelier made entirely of vintage dolls hung from ceiling. I tried to borrow the Chanel bag from the Barbie, but eventually decided it would be too small to use as a clutch.
From Barbies to baseball – we got a call from our friend Walter Sylvester at the Colorado Rockies, inviting us to attend the Rockies vs. Marlins game at the new Marlins stadium. If you haven’t been to the new stadium, you absolutely must attend a game. Sean Flynn, Boris Menier, and Alex Buznego made sure that Chip and I had a wonderful time. We were on the field before the game and were given a private tour of the stadium, which included the Media Blogger room.
I ran into Claudio Faria again a few weeks later at Ocean House, a new condominium located South of Fifth in South Beach. Interior designer Alison Antrobus, winner of the DCOTA’s 2012 Stars on the Rise Award and a former Ornare Tastemaker, decorated a fourth floor unit.
Ornare designed the closets for this $7 million mansion in the sky. Joining me and Chip at the event was my dear friend Hildegarde Huysman, owner of the Belgium jewelry store Juwelen Huysman, and our new friend Delphine Vanhove.
Speaking of jewels, I celebrated the opening of Graff’s new location at Bal Harbour Shops at a private dinner party at The Villa by Barton G. We were dazzled by an exclusive showing of Graff Diamonds. Their new home is on the first floor at Bal Harbor Shops near Carpaccio in the former Cartier space.
Jill Viner and Barton G. were the ultimate party hosts. Joining us at some of the Graff events that weekend were Graff’s Peter Kairis, Susan Pullin and Courtney Smith, Dana and Gary Sheer, Marco and Vanessa Selva, and Christina and George Lindemann.
Be sure and visit the new Graff store and ask for Ashok Patel – you’ll feel like a Princess (or Prince).
Hope your summer was as fun!
Now it’s time to gear up for fall fashion, so be sure and check back on SocialMiami.com for all the latest and greatest upcoming fashion events!
Allison Weiss Brady handles marketing for celebrities and non-profits. She is active in many organizations in South Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania including Big Brothers Big Sister, The Community Coalition, Voices Against Brain Cancer, Gene Spotlight, The Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation, and one of her family’s foundations Say Yes to Education, which recently partnered with Quincy Jones. Weiss Brady and her husband Chip Brady are members of Art Basel’s Junior Host Committee and Weiss Brady is a member of the Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon Founding Committee. She on the Board of Advisors at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice and she’s the only female on the university’s Football Board. Weiss Brady was also the sole recipient of the University of Pennsylvania’s 2008 Young Alumni of the Year Award, and serves on the Overseers board for the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
