Miami Report 2016: Best Places to Eat, Drink, View Art

Seeing the year come to an end in 2015 in Miami was a total blast. This vibrant city is in a state of fierce development, attracting interesting people from around the globe. We had the good fortune to connect with the most creative chefs and mixologists in the area. Take a peek at our triple Miami Report for all the details on the food, drink, and scene. Details at hobnobmag.com

WHISPER Editions: Hand-crafted Limited Editions

What a fantastic idea! Whisper Editions teams up with very cool photographers, furniture makers, jewelry designers, artists, apothecaries, and other creatives to bring innovative, collectible goods in limited quantities. Once the run is done, that’s it. This idea is the brainchild of Judith Puckett-Rinella, who was a photo editor at TMagazine and Vanity Fair, and brings her discerning eye to each commission. As seen on the website this week: tinctures, teas and salves made from homegrown herbs by Field Apothecary, located in the Hudson Valley. Owners Dana and Michael Eudy are passionate about herbs and their healing properties. They also supplied the tincture for the cocktail at the launch party, which was quite nice. Sign up at the Whisper Editions’ website to see the covetable weekly offerings. Photos below are some of the pieces that caught my eye at the opening.

INDIAN SUMMER COCKTAIL
by Field Apothecary & Herb Farm
Tulsi Tincture with Lemongrass-Ginger Simple Syrup
Bourbon
Soda Water
(Tulsi—also known as Holy Basil—Tincture is part of Edition No. 15: Winter Wellness Bundle available on the Whisper Editions website)

A sheer curtain with projection divided the space at the opening.

No. 11 Gold Pumps by Joseph Heidecker 

No. 24 Secrets, Kauai, 2011 by Adrian Gaut

 

No.23 Steel Bench II by Stephen Schermeyer  

No. 9 Infinity Bracelet by Chorthip

New York Design Week @ Dune: Close Encounters

Dune kicked off the week with an exhibit by photographer Jean-Marc Bellaiche in their showroom on Wooster Street. Jean-Marc created beautiful abstract photos of architecture in Manhattan with super saturated colors. The photos are taken with an amazing eye and are only minimally enhanced. See more on the website or at Dune.

 Artist Jean-Marc Bellaiche poses in front of his photo, "Bar Code."

 photo, "On the Edge" had beautiful blue tones that caught my eye as soon as I entered the space.

 photo, "Infinite Sunset"

photo, "Complex Lines"

Art Preview: Textual Intercourse

Artist Darren Jones’ playful sense of humor is on display at Deep Space New York this weekend.  Check out the artist’s statements and pieces starting with Friday’s Vernissage (from 7:00 to 9:00), or Saturday and Sunday (from noon to 6:00). Deep Space is located at 220 east 17th street between 2nd/3rd Avenues, buzz 1G. View by appointment after this weekend. 212-253-8244.

La Boîte Biscuits & Spices: Art and Spice

Chef Lior Lev Sercarz is a spice master with a playful side. Twice a year he finds inspiration from an artist to create a special series of flavored biscuits. I attended the latest exhibit, Pure Real Taste, with minimalist herb photography by Thomas Schauer. Six photos were chosen to represent the seasons’ collection, one of which decorates the biscuit box, seen in the photo above with the chef. Flavors of the biscuits range from savory to sweet. In this collection: Zuta: wild mint, dates, vanilla; Basil: sesame seeds, basil, dark chocolate; Canella: smoked cinnamon, brown sugar, white chocolate; Breeze: salted butter, walnuts, anise. You can purchase the collection at this link, for $62 (page 2 on the site) or visit the store at 724 11th Ave /51st street. If you do go to the shop, be sure to check out his exquisite spice mixes. There are 40 blends using spices from around the world, providing a shortcut for livening up a simple dish, topping desserts, or incorporating into cocktails. Lior has been providing blends to top chefs, and, upon request, will create a signature mixture for you. Here are some that are available at the store, or online at this link: Apollonia Spice Blend: Fine quality cocoa powder blended with orange blossom; Breeze Spice Blend: Tea leaves, anise, lemon. A zesty floral blend perfect for seafood, duck, mixed greens, desserts. Galil Spice Blend: Flavors of the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, verbena, white cardamon, sage. See more about Chef Lior's background at this link.

 Photographer Thomas Schauer stands in front of one of his pieces, a passion fruit flower.

 More photos by Thomas Schauer.

 My friends Laura and Jude enjoyed the exhibit, one of our stops of the night.

 Biscuits were served at the event.

 A close up view: I believe this one was the Zuta: wild mint, dates, and vanilla.

The boxes set of biscuits for Pure Real Taste. Order one soon!

Scottish Artist Rory Donaldson: Shared Roadway Ahead

Before you head out for dinner tonight, stop in at the Winkleman Gallery to see Rory Donaldson’s new series of photos. I am a proud owner of two of Rory’s pieces, and am extremely excited to see the new work, which he calls the “RDX series.” Rory is pushing further the concept of digital photography, so much so, that you could not imagine his work was not done by hand. This painterly technique, complemented by his extraordinary sense of color is astonishing to view, provoking a thoroughly emotional response. When the pieces are viewed up close, you see the remnants of the original photos, which come as a total surprise. I had a preview of some of the pieces in their early stages, and was blown away by the creativity behind each one. To learn more about how Rory goes about creating these beautiful abstracts, go to this link. SHARED ROADWAY AHEAD opens tonight from 6:00 to 8:00, at the Winkleman Gallery, 621 West 27th St. between 11/12 Aves, on the ground floor. If you can’t make it tonight, the photos can be seen through April 21, 2012, Tuesday - Saturday, from11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

redecorate!

Summer is spruce-up time, some ideas to get you going...

Hamptons pop-up: GREY AREA
For those who will be out at the east end of Long Island and looking to add a few choice pieces, head to GREY AREA from July 23rd to the 31st. The new online store for artist-designed objects is bringing its wares to Watermill, NY in the Old Stone Boys Club, a vintage car club garage on Montauk Highway. They will be open everyday from 11am to 7pm at 938 Montauk Highway. Join them for opening cocktails on Friday, July 22nd from 4pm to 9pm. The Saturday Shindig on July 23rd goes all day: featuring live music, artist food truck, a kissing booth and more. Get a peek at some of the unique and conversation-starting pieces at this link.

outdoor LOUNGING

Comfortable seating makes being outdoors even better.


Gardenhouse: an artist’s touch
Photographer Cheryl Maeder and artist husband Gary love to scour flea markets and antique stores and update their vintage finds in vibrant colors and modern fabrics. This refurbished gold metal settee, seen above, is just one example. It can be used indoors or out, and has Sunbrella canvas cushions and pillows which flip to black patent leather on the reverse. Check the website to see their other finds. While you’re there, see Cheryl’s photography which also keeps with the “vintage gone modern” concept, featuring Dreamscapes of soft-focused beach scenes and sweeping landscapes. Decorate your weekend house with both! All the pieces can be purchased through the website and can be shipped throughout the US.

Drinks & Ink: Tuaca Liquore Originale cocktails and tatoos

Tuaca Liquore Originale scoured the United States to find out who could make the most creative cocktail using their liqueur, in addition to sporting the coolest tattoo. The competition’s nine finalists came to NYC to show off their mixing talents as well as their extensive body art. I have to say I was immediately intrigued by the whole idea, and made sure to attend and photograph the contestants and try their wares. The judges were chosen from the tops in the spirit and tattoo worlds, Corey Miller, seen on LA Ink was on hand, as well as Todd Weinberger, the creative director of Inked Magazine, who awarded the winner with a photo spread in the magazine. Mixologist Jason Littrell and cocktail authoritarian Gary Reagan brought their taste buds in to vote. See more photos of the night here.

Artful support: Japan

In support of the relief efforts for Japan, MOLO has added a big red dot to their felted wool hobo bag in a special limited edition of 50. Show your support for $150, by calling the Molo studio in Vancouver (+1 604 696 2501). The full proceeds will be donated to support Architecture for Humanity’s reconstruction efforts. This bag can carry a heavy load and doubles as a lantern with an energy-efficient LED light. This Friday, April 8th, 3.11 Project presents a silent auction taking place at Openhouse Gallery, from 6 to 9 pm, featuring NYC’s and Japan’s finest talent. The exhibition will feature more than 50 artists, displaying multimedia installations, painting, photography, and sculpture. It’s your chance to own some impressive art for less. One hundred percent of proceeds goes to Japan Earthquake Relief Fund via the Japan Society. See more information about the art at this link. 201 Mulberry Street. RSVP at rsvp@foundationworld.com

Graffit: Food in the Abstract

Spanish Chef Jesús Núñez, famous for his restaurants in Madrid (Polenta and Flou) was also a former graffiti artist, thus explaining the space and menu at this UWS spot, Graffit. I stopped in for a quick bite, and was quite intrigued by the menu, wishing I was with a couple more people so that I could try some more dishes without overeating. Luckily, I ran into fellow foodies, and was invited to sample along with them. That is one of the great things about living in NYC! See photos of the dishes I sampled, which were beautfully, and whimsically devised, like "Fake Truffles" Falafel with edible earth. Photos above show the communal dining areas near the bar, and the art in the ladies’ room.

February Highlights

It was a jam-packed month: MOMA, The Modern, lunches, tastings, parties. The usual. See photos from my adventures here. Shown here is the mushroom soup from The Modern, one of my favorite winter treats.

Hotel Griffou: Gourmet Underground

There was a palpable happiness in the air. It was Friday of Memorial Day weekend, the city was half deserted, and everyone was in a good mood. From the second we got out of the cab and were greeted by a handsome elderly gent at top of the stairs to our last bite and sip, the service at Hotel Griffou was absolutely splendid and welcoming. The space was dreamy, and, as in almost all cases nowadays, a throwback to the earlier days of New York, of speakeasies and secret hideaways. We ate in the Library Room, one of 4 rooms, which had a fireplace accessorized with a fox stole, and bookcases with lots of leather books and gadgets from days past and present. Brad Fisher’s paintings adorned the walls and were a sexy compliment to the space—powerful portraits loosely drawn  on gold backgrounds, screaming with personality. I did not enter with overly-high expectations on the food, but turns out I was dead wrong. All the dishes we ordered were exemplary, starting with green and white asparagus, crab cakes, and on to our fish entrees. Chef Jason Giordano has a way with a sauce, I loved the ginger broth that accompanied my red snapper, seen in the photo. Fantastic cocktails abounded as well, as sampled in the Ginger Reposado Margarita made with Milagro tequila. I highly recommend a dinner here. Click here to see more photos of the space and what we ate.

Exhibit: Drawing on Drawing PART TWO

If you missed Part One of this exhibit, don’t fret—you can still see more artists’ drawings this Friday night, May 21st. Deep Space New York will be hosting another fantastic show at 220 East 17th Street, 1G, from 7 to 9pm. Luckily, the weather will be perfect again, so art collectors and afficianados will be able to enjoy the garden and refreshing white sangria, while deciding on which piece they have to have. Featured artists: Eric Brown, Vincent Como, Matt Mullican, Jim Nolan, Deirdre O'Connell, Lucy Pullen, Sean Ryan, Kelly Wilson. Curated by Rory Donaldson and Erica Mercado.

Exhibit: Drawing on Drawing

I always find that drawings tell a lot about how an artist thinks. So, whenever there is an exhibit that includes drawings, I feel like I am getting the inside view. You can do just that, this Friday, at Deep Space New York, which is hosting a 2-part exhibit featuring only drawings. Come and view the works of  Eric Brown, Shane Caffrey, Vincent Como, Bruce Conner, Rory Donaldson, Jay Ivcevich, Jason Bailer Losh, Gary Petersen, Heidi Pollard, Sean Ryan, and Andy Warhol—while enjoying the adjoining garden and refreshments at 220 East 17th Street, 1G, from 7 to 9pm. Part 2 takes place on May 21st, from 7 to 9pm and features artists Eric Brown, Vincent Como, Matt Mullican, Jim Nolan, Deirdre O'Connell, Lucy Pullen, Sean Ryan, Kelly Wilson. Curated by Rory Donaldson and Erica Mercado. See you there!

art with heart

I just found out Benicio del Toro and I have something in common—we both own art by Joseph Heidecker. Joseph re-interprets iconic photos and transforms furniture into a visual treat that’s full of surprises. His art has a deliciously, quirky sense of humor. My piece (photo, top) makes me smile on a daily basis. Come and see his latest—the show opens this Thursday, September 10, from 6:00 to 9:00 at Johnson Trading Gallery, located at 490 Greenwich Street, between Spring and Canal. Hope to see you there!