#ThankYouMiami for One-Of-A-Kind Weekends - January 2014

I love living in Miami because our weekends are one-of-a-kind. And as locals, we easily reap the benefits of having amazing venues close to home or of knowing that friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend that is our "in" to that exclusive party. Moreover, there is never a lack of great things to do - giving us a calendar full of weekend events to keep the foodie, fashionista, and Miami snob in us reeling all year.

Last weekend offered the perfect mix of food, fashion, and music options that are available throughout the year (and #ThankYouMiami for that):

Timeless Jazz Thursdays & 15 Steps Restaurant at the Eden Roc
The weekend started early and in style courtesy of Eden Roc's amazing staff, who invited John from Social Media 305, Alexandria from Caviar Chronicles, Dominique from #InspiredBy, and me to partake in the Eden Roc experience. We began our evening at the Lobby Bar sipping champagne while local musical talent Jahzel Dotel, Markus Gottschlich, et al. indulged the crowd in classic jazz melodies. The lobby's ambiance, amplified by Jahzel's smooth vocals, resurrected an era when musical legends walked down the hotel's now perfectly preserved main staircase. I could spend every Thursday basking in the old Miami glamour so I was ecstatic to discover that Timeless Jazz Thursdays is a regular occurrence at the Eden Roc.

We continued cocktail hour in a more modern fashion at 15 Steps Restaurant, a new farm-to-table concept from Chef Jeremy Ford that filled the vacancy left behind by Chef Paula DaSilva's 1500°. At the bar, bartender Kedar greeted us with a selection of the hotel's new bourbon-based drinks, which are a refreshing upgrade to Eden Roc's previously traditional cocktail portfolio (think frozen piña coladas). For people who prefer tequila, like me, Kedar recommends their tequila-based cocktail that is made with a homemade tamarind and habanero-infused simple syrup.

Dinnertime was nothing short of spectacular. We tried and enjoyed so many courses, that I quickly lost count. My favorites were the decadent open-faced stone crab ravioli (served with buttery greens, brussel sprout leaves, pickled mustard seed butter, and shaved truffles), the spicy charred brussels with peanuts, and the tuna crudo (served with meyer lemon, a shishito vinaigrette, and a citrus foam). The food, the drinks, and the company made for an unforgettable night that I cannot wait to repeat.

Eden Roc's attention to detail was evident the moment we walked in the door and were greeted by this fantastic spread of local fare and a bottle of champagne at the Lobby Bar.

Although Timeless Jazz Thursdays is a regular occurrence, last week we were fortunate to witness a special performance from local seven-year-old piano prodigy, Brandon Goldberg. Brandon performed with a confidence, passion, and talent that was absolutely jaw-dropping.

Later, at 15 Steps Restaurant's chic bar, Miami's most enthusiastic bartender treated us to bourbon-based cocktails named after celebrities that were regulars at the Eden Roc during its golden era, like the Lucille Ball shown above.

As a fan of Miami-inspired styles, I fell in love with the sleek and modern designs decorating the 15 Steps Restaurant. The low-lighting added to an intimate dining experience suitable for a night out on the town with friends or a dinner date sure to win you some bonus points.

Chef Jeremy's open-faced stone crab ravioli was the star of the night and the reason for our visit, but all the dishes we enjoyed during our dining experience were a testament to his creativity and his love for the local ingredients with which he makes his dishes. I can't wait to try his brunch menu!

Nikki Beach Miami's What Women Want Fashion Show Event
Saturday night, I catered to my inner fashionista by attending Nikki Beach's signature fashion series, What Women Want. At the event, I had the opportunity to peruse pop-ups of Miami's best boutiques, including personal favorites Monc Boutique and Stella & Dot, to catch-up with my favorite fashion bloggers, and to enjoy a fashion show of Nikki Beach-quality production (A.K.A. there were snakes and fire). This month the event's fashion show showcased Kalil designer Gio Diaz's fabulous Miami-inspired pieces, as well as his collaboration with Loin Cloth L.A. that was more West Coast-inspired but killer nonetheless. After the success of this month's event, I can't wait to see what Nikki Beach has in store for February!

Loin Cloth L.A.'s designs, which were on display throughout the night in the boutique pop-up area, also got their time in the limelight during the What Women Want fashion show. The caps shown here were worn by all of the male models that hit the runway during the Loin Cloth L.A. feature.

In true Nikki Beach style, the crowd of fashionistas, trendsetters, and other influential elite was wowed by dancers with snakes and fire during a pre-fashion show performance and throughout the night.

Local artist, Alex Yost, treated the crowd to a live painting of one of my favorite film and fashion icons, Audrey Hepburn.

Kalil designer Gio Diaz flashed the crowd his gorgeous smile while he escorted model Paola Urbano in the fashion show's finale.

Did you also enjoy one of these events this past month and have a different perspective to share? Did you have a fantastic one-of-a-kind weekend experience in January that also deserves a highlight? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!