CALLE OCHO – MORE THAN A STREET NAME

12 Mar

(Miami, Florida) – When we think of “Calle Ocho” during the month of March, the first thing that comes to mind is the well-awaited for block party that draws in thousands of Miami residents to this very street. Why? – You ask? Because it’s the biggest festival of the year offering an array of live entertainment shows, and a delicious blend of central and south American food. Being the largest Hispanic festival in the nation, Calle Ocho marks the end of the Carnaval Miami season. But little is known about its origins, and what lies in the two weeks leading up to this Latin street fiesta.

In the late 70’s, the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana started an event to bring the Cuban community and culture together, and Carnaval Miami was born.  In the following years, it began to evolve into the melting pot of Latino cultures we see today.  This year, Miami’s Calle Ocho Festival broke the Guinness world record with a 250 foot long banner displaying 422 flags from around the globe. The carnaval has also showcased many highly acclaimed, international artists on its main stage, including Celia Cruz, Jose Feliciano, Gloria Estefan, Willy Chirino, Thalia, Olga Tañon, Elvis Crespo, Oscar de Leon, Albita, La India, Rey Ruiz, Pitbull and many more.

The carnaval begins in February with Miss Carnaval Miami, and continues on with various cultural, art, and sporting events in the two weeks that follow.  This year, the schedule of events included the Crowning of the new Miss Carnaval Miami Queen, Melissa Ramirez, Carnaval Soccer 5v5, Carnaval Miami Run, Art in the Park, Carnaval on the Mile, Carnaval Miami Cooking Contest, Carnaval Miami Domino Tournament, Carnaval Miami Golf Classic and, the grand finale, Calle Ocho Festival.

Pictures of the city’s largest annual party below – Calle Ocho 2012! ■

- Nathalia Y. Bogani – “The Etiquette Girl”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MIAMI UNITES TO FUNDACIÓN BELLA – A “BEAUTIFUL” CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER

4 Mar

 

(Miami, Florida) – Mexican photographer, Martin Gavica, is the Founder and President of “Fundación Bella” (Beautiful Foundation), a campaign designed to raise awareness about breast cancer, and educate women on the importance of self-examination for early detection. During the month of February, photo sessions were held in a studio in Brickell.  Women from all over Miami filled the room with an overwhelming sense of strength and empowerment. Gavica started the campaign as homage to his mother who died 2008 after a 9 year battle with breast cancer. In 2010 Gavica photographed 67 women in his hometown, Mazatlán, Sinaloa and, shortly after, found himself with more than 1,000 photographs of which one was of First Lady, Margarita Zavala.  After the initial campaign was published in a local magazine, he began receiving calls from people all over the country asking to participate.  Gavica has taken the campaign through all the states of Mexico and has also been invited to visit New York, California, Massachusetts, Washington, Texas, Arizona and Minnesota among other states within the U.S. “It’s not just about my mother anymore” – says Gavica – “it’s now about the survivors.  [The campaign] is moving along with its own force, and I’m just going with the flow.”    

Gavica visited Miami in February during which he was able to photograph 208 women.  These women represented countries from all over the world, including Canada, US, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Spain to name a few.

To obtain more information about this campaign, please visit http://www.fundacionbella.mx (Spanish website). ■

 

 

 

- Nathalia Y. Bogani – “The Etiquette Girl”

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

AN EVENING DEDICATED TO FIU’S “FIRST GENERATION” STUDENTS

26 Feb

(Miami, Florida) – FIU’S Presidential Residence, like every year, was home to the 3rd annual First Generation Scholarship Benefit.  Dr. Mark Rosenberg, President of FIU, opens his doors to the students, staff and faculty of the University to raise funds and awareness for this special empowerment program.  In 2006 the Florida Legislature established the First Generation Scholarship Fund to support students who will be the first generation in their families to pursue and attain a college education.  This is the only known program in all of the United States to match private contributions 100%. 

About 40% of FIU’s student body is composed of “First Generation” students.

During the benefit, the FIU Student Government Association raised over $166,000 with the state match. To date, FIU has awarded more than $3 million to over 5,000 students; however, the University has limited resources in scholarship funds to award to every single student with financial needs – leaving many talented individuals attending college on a part-time basis or not attending college at all.

If you would like to join FIU in supporting these “First Generation” students by making a contribution to this fund, please visit http://firstgen.fiu.edu/. ■

Dr. Rosenberg with Roary the Panther and wife Rosalie

 

Dr. Rosenberg speaking about the future of FIU and Federal Grants

 

Myka Figueiredo, FIU Development Officer

 

Nathalia Bogani giving a "Thank You" speech

 

Nathalia Bogani, Rosalie Rosenberg and Marly Quincoces of StarMar Events

 

- Nathalia Y. Bogani – “The Etiquette Girl”

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

THE FLORIDA GRAND OPERA DELIVERS A BRILLIANT PRODUCTION OF RIGOLETTO

30 Jan

(Miami, Florida) – The Florida Grand Opera never fails to excite and delight a demanding Miami audience with its vibrant performances, season after season.  The outstanding production seen during the debut of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto this past Saturday at the Adrienne Arsht Center continued to win the heart of eager spectators through an excellent and truly remarkable performance.  Rigolettohas endured a nonstop, successful 150 year trajectory, and the Florida Grand Opera only honored such untainted path.  The piece was mounted flawlessly to lure the audience to experience, along with the characters, obsession, mockery, desire and revenge – all compelling feelings accurately depicted in each of the three acts.  Nadine Sierra, the beautiful soprano who played Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter, enamored the audience with a delicately sung Caro Nome that hypnotized during act one scene two.  A little laughter and joy during act one in a brimming theatre, gradually transformed into sorrow and grief, as a tragic Rigoletto ending was dreadfully witnessed.

The Season, which opened with Federico Moreno Torrobas’ zarzuela, Luisa Fernanda and continued with Giacomo Puccini’s La Rondine, will close with a timeless love story that has shaped passionate, heavy hearts throughout the years – Roméo et Juliette opens April 21st at the Adrienne Arsht Center.

For tickets, and more information about the Florida Grand Opera, please visit: http://www.fgo.org/ ■

Nathalia Bogani – The Etiquette Girl

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

WGIRLS MIAMI ELECTS FIRST EXECUTIVE BOARD!

28 Jan

WGIRLS Miami, a non-profit organization, root of WGIRLS, Inc., has elected its very first Executive Board since its foundation in May 2011.  Elections took place during the month of November 2011, only six months after its launch party at the famed Roy Teeluck Salon located in Downtown Miami. The first of many events which came to benefit Lotus House Shelter, a unique resource center and residential facility serving homeless women and children in the heart of the historic African-American district of Overtown.   The beginning stages of this established organization made way for inspired young professionals to become a part of it by raising awareness and igniting the interest of those eager to lend a helping hand.  With its first Executive Board of Directors, WGIRLS Miami welcomes the following members in their new leading roles:

President:                           Shakti Ramdass – Established Miami Chapter

Vice-President:                 Krista Ammirato

Digital Marketing:            Daniella Veras

Philanthropic Chair:         Angela Williams

Social & PR Chair:             Nathalia Bogani

New Member Chairs:     Eve Diaz and Kate Brown

WGIRLS Miami is in the process of planning and organizing a great deal of new and exciting events for 2012.

WGIRLS Miami Launch Party at Roy Teeluck Salon to benefit Lotus House Shelter

 

WGIRLS Miami at Miami Science Museum to benefit the Children of Charlee

 

WGIRLS Miami at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to benefit Women with Breast Cancer

 

WGIRLS Miami's Halloween Party to benefit PICU at Holtz Children's Hospital

More About WGIRLS, Inc.

WGIRLS Miami is one of the youngest chapters of WGIRLS, Inc., an international all female non-profit organization that unites forces with different causes for the betterment and development of underprivileged women and children.  It provides support and resources necessary to achieve health, happiness, and the ability to lead productive and successful lives. Today, WGIRLS, Inc. has over 500 active members.  WGIRLS Miami was launched in May of 2011 and it organizes networker, fundraiser and social events throughout the year while creating social incentives for young, professional women.  Proceeds from these events support customized WGIRLS programming within the local community and/or are donated to local, pre-selected, 501 (c)(3) organizations that share our vision.  WGIRLS is proud to have supported more than 60 organizations over the past several years through volunteerism and donations of goods, services and grants.  

For more information you may visit www.wgirls.org.  You may also follow WGIRLS Miami on Facebook and Twitter.

Nathalia Bogani – The Etiquette Girl

WGIRLS Miami – Social and PR Chair

Tags: , , , ,

MIAMI IN PINK AND WGIRLS IN RUNNING SHOES RACING FOR THE CURE

4 Nov

(Miami, Florida) – The SUSAN G. KOMEN Foundation organized its 16th annual Race for the Cure taking place at Bayfront Park, where thousands of wholehearted, eager runners were ready to stump the floor at the start line.  The race began promptly at 8:30 a.m. on NE 3rd Street and made its way through the reminiscent streets of old downtown.  WGIRLS Miami participated in this year’s race after also promoting hand-made envelopes to help raise additional funds for the cause.

The Foundation started back in 1982, when a courageous Susan G. Komen lost her three-year battle to breast cancer.  Her sister, Nancy, haunted by the memory of her last conversation with Susan, decided to take matters into her own hands to start raising awareness on this serious illness.  This movement has completely transformed the way people think about breast cancer today, and it has played a major role in research efforts, and in the development of medical advances. 

Breast cancer will affect 1 in 8 women in the U.S. alone and an estimated 25 million women around the world.  A regular yearly checkup is the most important step to take in preventative care, and can help detect cancer early on which will allow the patient to undergo immediate medical treatment.

If you, or someone you know, may be at risk of having breast cancer, make sure to get your mammograms taken care of.  You should also educate yourselves on the subject by talking to your doctor and visiting the following websites:

http://ww5.komen.org/Default.aspx

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

http://floridabreastcancer.org/  ■

 

WGIRLS Miami Team

 

 

With My Beautiful Mother, Lucero

 

 

With Cindy Lopez and Liz Paras

 

EVERYONE was in for the Race

 

With Miss Miami 2012, Melissa Ramirez

 

WGIRLS Miami Rocking the Pink

 

- The Etiquette Girl

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

SHOPPING PARTY AT ISA BOUTIQUE FOR A GOOD CAUSE

31 Oct

(Miami, Florida) – Isa Boutique is the newest addition to the glam world of fashion in Miami with its hip hand-picked items, and its cozy, little spot to call home in the heart of Midtown, an area now known for its happening sites due to its many restaurants, stores, art galleries and fashion studios.  Co-owner, Isa Aguiar, invited special guest, Annie Vazquez, also known as The Fashion Poet to host this month’s shopping party with a cause, a charity event to benefit the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Guest got together for a few hours of shopping, drinking, and music while enjoying special dry-styling services by the blo girls, usually found at various events throughout Miami primping and styling men and women “on the go.”

“Every month we’re doing a shopping party with a different host from every angle in the fashion industry, magazines, photography, writers, models…anyone that’s linked to the industry in some way.  We’re trying to bring everyone together for different causes and fundraisers each month” said Isa Aguiar, who has built a sophisticated line for busy Miami professional women.  The model used is to wear an outfit to the office chic enough to rock at a sudden happy hour cocktail at the end of the day.   You can also treat yourself to one of her three “Body by Isa” lotions created by the all-natural Head and Foot Co.

Drop by at 3400 North Miami Avenue to view the latest high-end trends of the season.  You may soon be able to visit them online at http://www.isa-boutique.com.  ■

Nathalia Bogani and Isa Aguiar

With Co-Owner Rudy Rodriguez and his wife, Jacquie

Nathalia Bogani, Annie Vazquez, Isa Aguiar and Cassandra Martino

Sporting a Bianca Coletti Romper

- The Etiquette Girl

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 29 other followers