Heart of a Chef: Foodalicious Family Festival

Heart of a Chef: A Foodalicious Family Festival is coming to the Miami Science Museum (3280 S. Miami Avenue) on Sunday April 11 from 4 to 7 pm.

Enjoy tastings from more than 10 local restaurants, stroll through the Whole Foods Farmers Market, Wine with the Wildlife, roll your own sushi with Sushi Maki and watch as local chefs battle in a mystery cook off judged by Food Network and Galavision Celebrity Cook Ingrid Hoffmann.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $12.00 for children under 12. MiaSci friends enjoy $5 off adults and $3 off kids when using promo code: MIASCI. Promo code valid through April 2, 2010. You may buy tickets and get a list of participating restaurants here.

Woman's Club elects new president

Doreen LoCicero, AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, Edna Buchanan and a "Legally Dead" Bill Hansen laugh it up at the Coconut Grove Woman's Club annual meeting.

Elections were held and Lisa Remeny is the new president.

"Being in this historic building had always been a fantasy for a mine," said local mystery writer Edna. Wonder if these ladies will find themselves in one of her spell binders. "Legally Dead," is Edna's 17th book.


At left: New prez Lisa Remeny with outgoing prez Nancy Boggio. Right: Ladies who lunch.

L'Afterpop at Le Cafe Pop

Le Cafe Pop (3425 Main Highway) is presenting a new Saturday night party called L'Afterpop.

Party each Saturday with a French twist from 11 pm to 2 am. There's free beer till the keg runs out and then any draft is $2.00, Jello shots are $1.00.

A live DJ is there every week, playing the latest in American and French hits.

During the day, Le Cafe Pop is open for breakfast and lunch then dinner at night. For more info, please call 786-362-5901 or visit www.lecafepopmiami.com

Ritz-Carlton is serving Easter Brunch

The Ritz-Carlson Coconut Grove (3300 SW 27 Avenue) is offering a special Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 4.

The gourmet feast in an Italian villa setting features a lavish selection of breakfast favorites, gourmet delicacies, grilled-to-order dishes, fresh seafood, caviar, sushi, imported cheeses, charcuteries, carved meats, risotto, decadent desserts, free-flowing Bellini's,Champagne and more, complete with warm, gracious Ritz-Carlton service.

While adults feast on the grand buffet, children can enjoy arts & crafts, games, movies, animal balloons and a traditional Easter Egg Hunt.

The brunch is from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. Cost is $85 per adult; $34 per child; 4-12. Complimentary Valet Parking included.

For reservations and more information, please call 305-644-4680.

"Florida Scene" opening reception is Saturday

The Windisch-Hunt Gallery (2911 Grand Avenue) presents "Florida Scene," opening this Saturday night with a reception from 7 to 10 pm.

Familiar places from some of the finest en plein air artists are part of the show which includes landscapes, seascapes and some Highwayman works.

This Vizcaya scene was done by the 2009 en plein air winner Pricilla Coote. Light refreshments will be served, the exhibit is free and open to the public

Home needed for Pan Am Museum

The Pan Am Historical Foundation in Bethpage, NY is looking for a home for a Pan Am Airline Museum in Miami. Seeing how the company established the first US international aviation route, with its Key West to Havana service. out of Dinner Key in the 1930's, that is the location the group would love to see as a museum site.

You may recognize City Hall in the photo above, since Miami City Hall is the old Pan Am Terminal. Many locals would love to see City Hall move to downtown Miami and have the building reverted to a museum and restaurant. But that doesn't seem to be on the horizon any time soon.

In a letter to Mayor Tomás Regalado, the Foundation says: "The two hangars just north of your offices on Pan American Way would make a unique Museum. We have in mind an informal exhibit structure similar to that used in the successful Museum of Flight in Seattle, with an emphasis on its educational appeal for children as well as aviation buffs. The close proximity to Dinner Key of the University of Miami's Richter Library, the custodian of Pan Am's archives, would facilitate the display of historical documents and photographs."

An independent research firm confirms that the museum would generate a large increase in tourism to the area and of course in turn, be a great economic generator.

The group is now prepared to meet with the Mayor along with Charlie Trippe, the son of Pan Am's founder and Jeff Kriendler, a founding board member of the Pan Am Historical Foundation.

More on Pan Am here.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

"A Better Way" Pop-Up Boutique event

Coming off the success of Miami’s First Pop-Up Boutique Event held earlier this month in South Beach, A Better Way will be in Coconut Grove on Saturday, April 3. The event is at Miami Skin Boutique and Pilates One Studio at 3100 S. Dixie Hwy, suit 401.

A Better Way to shop is when "we're with people we trust, the items are discounted or complimentary and add-on’s are included, we receive special treatment, we can speak directly to the important people behind the companies, and everything is conveniently located in the same place."

Each business owner is a Miami-based female entrepreneur. Each caters to same type of consumers which allows them to leverage their time and efforts while supporting other local female entrepreneurs.

MIAU Fashion’s clothing will be marked under $100.00, offering complimentary tailoring to the first 25 customers. Select Miami Skin Boutique (MSB) packaged services’ will be 40% off including their Deep Pore Cleanse Facial and Deep Tissue Massage package for $100 (a $170 value). For those who arrive early, MBS is performing complimentary Facial Exfoliation and Colorescience Make-up Applications.

Sonya Dakar gift bags will be given to first 50 people that arrive featuring Clarifying Line with Organic Acai and Willow Bark. Pilates One will take 25-30% off all Gravity Power Pilates Classes (private and group). Isotonix Nutraceuticals will be giving guests samples of their Prenatal Multivitamin Formula, Calcium with Vitamin D, Digestive Enzymes with Probiotics and Antioxidant Formula. Any purchase made that day will receive a complimentary Nutritional Analysis and 15% off.

This mini Pop-Up Boutique Event is open to the public. RSVP is a must (abetterway@city.com).

Wine, water and hors 'devours will be served while guests enjoy fun, high energy music. A drawing of gifts will be held throughout the afternoon.

Image courtesy Miami Skin Boutique