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News • Miami • Florida • United States • 2011-05-29

MIAMI - JUNE 2011

OUT AND ABOUT IN MIAMI

Thank you for your continued support of Miami! The June issue of the monthly Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Media Relation’s e-newsletter is filled with story leads you can develop,

including exciting news and events. Enjoy!

JUNE IS “MIAMI ROMANCE MONTH”: Love is in the air, as the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Knot embark on the city’s first ever “Miami Romance Month.” The year-long initiative with The Knot—the No. 1 wedding brand, reaching eight out of ten U.S. brides—seeks to celebrate and promote Greater Miami and The Beaches as the ideal destination for destination weddings, commitment ceremonies, wedding shopping trips, bachelor/ette parties, proposals and honey/babymoons. Miami Romance Month will begin with a month of special activities celebrating Miami and its wealth of wedding vendors, romantic restaurants and ceremony/reception venues—topping off with a “Marry Me in Miami” contest as the icing on the cake. Starting May 10th, contestants will be able to enter by logging on to http://miami.weddings.com and clicking for information about the Marry Me in Miami contest. In June, five finalist couples will be randomly selected to come to Miami on June 22, 2011 to compete for the grand prize in a “Wedding Day Challenge” obstacle course that will take place on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables—a wedding shopper’s paradise. The winner of that challenge will receive a Miami wedding or commitment ceremony valued at nearly $150,000, which will take place at the luxurious Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The Biltmore offers a variety of extravagant ballrooms—complete with stunning views from terraces and balconies—and is a full-service resort with a wealth of unique actives for the wedding party and guests. For more information about Miami Romance Month, please visit http://miami.weddings.com and www.MiamiRomanceMonth.com.

EDEN ROC RENAISSANCE MIAMI BEACH ANNOUNCES AN UNPRECENTED BRANDED LUXURY SPA FROM ELLE: This June, ELLE, the world’s largest fashion magazine will for the very first time, apply its unique ethos, experience and elite beauty and health aesthetics to the premier ELLE Spa, opening at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, the world renowned beachfront oasis. This joint venture — the first for ELLE and an unprecedented partnership between a media property and a luxury resort — will offer visitors and guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience combining the unparalleled service of the Eden Roc Renaissance, the style of ELLE, and the serenity of its oceanfront Miami Beach location. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the hotel’s lush tropical gardens and ocean, four infinity pools and sweeping seascape, the 22,000 square foot space boasts design and décor inspired by the Mediterranean coastline. High-coved ceilings, whitewashed walls, natural stone, water and wooden elements create a calm and chic environment for the ultimate spa escape. The ELLE Spa offers a comprehensive range of treatments that refresh the body, calm the mind and cleanse the soul. Here, the pages of ELLE come to life through elite, editorially-inspired treatments such as ‘Doctors’ Orders’ and ‘Forever 25’. Select treatments range from individual procedures for guests on the go to bridal packages and all-day couples VIP Suite retreats – replete with inspiring oceanfront views, rooftop dining, chocolates and champagne, and shared whirlpool tub, rain shower, and cozy beds. Depending on their schedule, guests can spend less than an hour or a whole glorious day experiencing wet spa areas with hot whirlpools, cold plunges, steam sauna and hydro-experience showers before being escorted to the decadent relaxation lounge. ELLE Spa visitors can also take advantage of an expansive rooftop deck with VIP cabanas, light dining and beverage service. A retail boutique will offer the ultimate selection of luxury spa products, apparel, and beach accessories, handpicked by ELLE editors. To make reservations and for more information visit www.edenrocmiami.com.

A FUTURISTIC GASTROPUB ON LINCOLN ROAD: Haven, a new refuge of space-age cocktails, duck sliders and other reimagined pub grub, opened on May 6, 2011 at 1237 Lincoln Road. Imagine, if you will, the harmonious marriage of a gastropub and a South Beach club—minus the bouncers, smoking and high-priced bottle service—and you’ll start to get an idea of the magic of Haven. If you’re on a double date with that couple who loves Top Chef, reserve the four-seat white onyx bar that flanks the open kitchen. There, you’ll get to observe the former sous-chef of Zuma churn out small plates like Lobster-Scallop Ceviche with coconut and vanilla oil and Duck Duck Quail Burgers with foie gras butter and poached quail egg. If you’re there with friends, commandeer a couch beneath the wraparound LCD screens displaying things like Indian temples and photos of the Beatles, and summon a round of Pop Drops, popsicles made with vodka, cucumber and basil... And before you know it, evening has turned to night, a DJ has materialized, somebody ordered some Swedish meatballs and tater tots with blue cheese, and things have gotten loud. For more information call 305-987-8885 or visit http://havenlounge.com/.

THE RITZ-CARLTON KEY BISCAYNE, MIAMI CELEBRATES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY; GUESTS GET THE GIFTS: When the sun rises July 1, it will be 10 years that The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami opened its doors just 10 minutes and a world away from downtown Miami. After a decade, it remains Miami’s only Five Diamond resort, offering four internationally inspired restaurants, two heated pools, an 11-court Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center (the largest of any Ritz-Carlton tennis complex worldwide), an island-inspired Ritz Kids program and an elaborate 20,000 square-foot, 21 treatment-room Spa retreat and Wellness Center. To celebrate this major milestone, residents and guests are invited to reap the rewards during the month of July, with $10 specialty priced meals, Champagne, rums and spa treatments, special summer room packages and more over celebratory dates. The resort has reserved ten luxurious resort view guestrooms for $10 each. Rooms are available July 5-7, 10-13, 18, 25, 26, but you have to dial fast. Reservations may only be made June 10 from 10 am to 2 pm EST by phoning 305-365-4582. *Only 10 total rooms available; two rooms maximum per reservation. In tribute to the original spa menu, guests can book the two signature treatments from 2001: the Key Lime Body Treatment (50 minutes) or Deluxe Sundae Pedicure (45 minutes) for just $10 each. *Reservations required by phoning 305.365.4286. Ten of these $10 spa treatments are available every Wednesday in July from 9 am to 1 pm., based on availability. For additional information on the remaining $10 anniversary deals including ‘Diamonds under your Pillow’, please visit www.ritzcarlton.com/keybiscayne, call toll-free 1-800-241-3333, the resort directly at 305.365.4500.

ZO’S SUMMER GROOVE CELEBRATES 15 YEARS: NBA Champion and Miami Heat great Alonzo Mourning hosts the 15th anniversary of Zo’s Summer Groove—three incredible days of summer that unfold in an extravaganza of lifestyle and community events, including golf, comedy and a star-studded gala. Kicking off the weekend with a swing, Zo’s Summer Groove Golf Classic at Fairmont Turnberry welcomes golfers with breakfast reception, unlimited food and beverages throughout the course and a post-event award reception with a dessert buffet. Later in the night is Zo’s Summer Groove Comedy Show attracting some of the biggest names in comedy. Allowing teens the opportunity to interact with celebrities, athletes, leaders in the community business professionals and peers, the Youth Empowerment Summit unites and inspires adults and teens. Celebrating the night at Zo’s Summer Groove Benefit Dinner and Gala, guests will indulge in dinner, drinks and dancing with a surprise performance to be announced soon.Wrapping up the Groove is the Sports Conference and Basketball Clinic, allowing kids to interact and learn the meaning behind discipline and perseverance. Teaching the fundamentals of basketball, the day is filled with achievement stories from professional athletes from around the league. By night, LIV at The Fontainebleau Resort hosts the official Closing Party with Zo, recognized athletes and celebrities coming out to cap the weekend in style. Throughout the weekend, AMC’s newly launched Sponsor-A-Student program will integrate across all Groove events--calling for individuals and corporate donors to make a commitment of $4,800 a year for three years to ensure results for each student at OYC, with the ultimate goal of graduating high school, attending college and becoming a productive citizen in local and global communities. For more information, visit www.amcharities.org.

$100 GLASSES OF TEQUILA IN BRICKELL: El Vato Tequila & Taco Bar is a new Brickell hotspot located in a warehouse-type space delivering an edgy feel amidst an amazing amalgam of graffiti-heavy walls done by a local artist, spare-tire sinks, skull light bulbs, low-rider bike chandeliers, and even a shiny red 1964 Riviera next to the kitchen that doubles as a four-really-old-person booth. South o’ the Border eats include chicharron de queso (essentially a bunch of Mexican cheeses grilled until crunchy); mahi tacos in housemade tortillas; and traditional flautas stuffed with chipotle aioli, homemade jalapeno jelly, and chicken they promise is "certified humane." As for the boozing, the hard stuff’s front and center, with just shy of 60 tequilas including Casa Noble Silver, Mi Barel Reposado, and $100/glass Patron Buerdos, as well cocktails like the Guadalupe Martini with reposado, midori, ginger syrup, watermelon puree, and fresh-made sour, plus a silver tequila and mango nectar-filled margarita called the Cheech & Chong, which will ensure your clear thinking and enunciation goes up in smoke. Vato awesomely plans keep its kitchen open until 5am on weekends so late-nighters can get their taco fix. For more information call (305) 523-2393 or visit www.elvatobar.com.

Calendar of Events:

MIAMI ROMANCE MONTH June 1-30 www.MiamiRomanceMonth.com

2011 WORLD SPINNING AND SPORTS June 1–5 www.WSSCMiami.com

CONFERENCE (WSSC)

MIAMI/BAHAMAS GOOMBAY FESTIVAL June 2-5 www.GoombayFestivalCoconutGrove.com

MIAMI SUPER BOAT GRAND PRIX June 3–5 www.Superboat.com

CORAL GABLES RESTAURANT WEEK June 6-19 www.CoralGablesRestaurantWeek.com

SUNNY ISLES BEACH OFFSHORE POWERBOAT June 16-19 www.OffshoreEvents.net

CHALLENGE WEEKEND

MIAMI GAY MEN'S CHORUS: LET'S HEAR IT June 17–18 www.MiamiGayChorus.org

FOR THE BOYS!

TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN June 22–26 www.CaribbeanHotelandTourism.com

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