Miami Provocateur

Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards have been announced to see the winners and finalists you can visit http://nationaldesignawards.org/2008/

The categories are:

• Design Mind
• Corporate Achievement
• Architecture Design
• Communications Design
• Fashion Design
• Interior Design
• Landscape Design
• Product Design

Next Thursday, May 15th Miami Beach’s Raleigh Hotel welcomes the debut of Chanel Cruise Collection 2009.

You can see a clip from last year’s debut in Santa Monica, CA here.

“The concept of the Cruise Collection is based on traveling, and Miami is the ideal destination: A city that moves and has energy, with its small districts and its animated streets.” comments Karl Lagerfeld.

Below is the first of five Chanel Cruise Collection podcasts created to convey the energy of the 2008-2009 collection.

We posted the BAC’s Against the Grain exhibition and the MAP magazine coffee lounge and the good events keep coming. Check out Vicenta Casañ youareinmydreams.miami curated by Nina Arias.

Talk amongst yourselves… We’re getting Verklempt

Coffee, Art, Gentrification, Urban Renewal, Wynwood Second Saturdays….. Discuss

A great happy hour is being taking place tomorrow at Nikki in the Grove, hosted by the editors of Miami.com

The Loose Cannons are once again having the best bike race in Miami this Wednesday, May 7 starting at Univ South Beach 100 Collins Avenue and ending at PS 14 28 NE 14 ST.

Race starts at 10p.m. sharp, checkpoint at the Venetian and as usual all bikers must drink a bear or eat a banana at the checkpoint.

Once you arrive at PS 14 all bikers enjoy $1 beers, BBQ is $5, ladies drink free 10 p.m.-12 a.m.

Great photos here

Video of actual race available here

Mother’s Day is around the corner and if you still don’t know what to get for Mom, we have a few suggestions.

Sara Zamikoff, owner and creative force behind Coral Gables lifestyle shop Emporium helped us out with a few ideas, using the theme Because of all the Wonderful things Moms do for us

Because she always made sure you looked your best: Custom portrait by local artist Erin Ryan

Because she taught you how to write your name: Custom Mother of Pearl name bracelet

Because she always makes you feel warm inside: Gourmet coffees and teas

Because she carries the weight of the world: Chic handbags

Because she always reminds you to be thankful: Note cards and stationary

All items are currently available at Emporium

Emporium is located at 4710 South LeJeune Road 786.268.0689

*Photos courtesy of Miami Photo

May has arrived and we’re quickly slipping into summer. Some date you might want to reserve on the calendar:

May 8 International Red Cross Photo exhibit at Miami Woman’s Club

May 8- May 9 Rha Goddess performs Low: Meditations Trilogy Part One at Arsht Center

May 9 Bill Maher at the Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater

May 10 - June 16 Against the Grain at Bakehouse Art Complex

May 11 Happy Mother’s Day Brunch options

May 11 Afternoon Tea at Fairchild Tropical Garden

May 13 Shopping with a Purpose at The Webster Temporary

May 13 - May 18 Avenue Q at Arsht Center

May 14- May 17 49th Annual Clio Awards

May 16 Cinema 2 at The Wolfsonian featuring the film Secrets of the Dead: The Hunt for Nazi Scientists

May 16 - May 17 JVC Jazz Festival

May 18 Lincoln Road Outdoor Antique and Collectibles Market

May 20 Full Moon over Miami

May 20 Barnacle under Moonlight with Deblois performing

May 29 - June 22 Summer Shorts at the Arsht Center

May 30 - June 7 Brazilian Film Festival

May 31 - September 8 Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 at MOCA

Against the Grain opens this Saturday, May 10 at the Bakehouse Art Complex. The exhibit features over 15 BAC artists focusing on the impact urban development has on art and city life, sometimes the effects can be dark and these artists set out to reveal the often unheard side.

Exhibiting artist Luis Garcia-Nerey states, “In today’s landscape, our society requires a more rapid pace (and more and more space) for growth; [resulting in] an overdevelopment of [the] community which ultimately leads to the recurrence of history.”

BAC is located at 561 NW 32nd Street Miami, Florida 33127 in the Wynwood Arts District. 305.576.2828

The BAC is free and open to the public daily 12-5pm.

Yesterday NPR’s All Things Considered reported on the Miami Marine Stadium and the efforts to preserve this historical icon. The story included mention of the Marine Stadium’s shell like roof and the importance of recognizing the stadium’s relevance.

You can hear the full story online.

If you’re interested in learning more about preservation efforts to save the Miami Marine Stadium visit marinestadium.org and you can even become a member of the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium.

I drove by the Orange Bowl last week and was instantly saddened to see it being demolished, haven’t we lost enough history? There is a quickly disappearing city here and that is the Miami of yesterday sea planes, boat races, the Orange Bowl parade, etc. The Miami that created the buzz of Miami being the American riviera, the place where Jackie Gleason headlined at the Fountainbleu, where the Beatles met Muhammed Ali, where the Miss Universe pageant was held for 11 consecutive years, the city that was distinct because of its architecture and energy.

And now we’re losing it to the latest incarnation of indistinguishable strip malls and strips of skyscrapers, we’re even losing the historical names of places named after pioneers, been to the Filmore lately? A city’s architecture directly affects its character and energy.

Yes, I’m all for progress and looking towards the future but does it have to come at the price of losing our historical base, do we have to pay in preservation dollars?

Thursday, May 8th is International Red Cross Day and there will be a photo exhibit at the Miami Women’s Club with a reception from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Arsht Center for the Performing Arts released its Summer Calendar this week and South Floridians are in for several treats.

The most exciting show is Slava’s SnowShow which was described as a mix between the wonder of Cirque du Soleil and the interactive nature of the Blue Man Group. Slava’s SnowShow is promising Snow from July 24 - August 17. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow…..

Other events to save dates and purchase tickets for are

Summer Shorts, America’s Short Play Festival May 29 - June 22

• Short one act plays ranging from comedy to drama. There are two programs so choose wisely or indulge in both. There is also an Undershorts late night show running from June 12-June 22 that has a more adult focus and includes adult content, language, and nudity…. it’s time Miami has more intelligent, envelope pushing, provocative late nights

Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz June 18- July 6

• Witness 60 years in the musical life of this beloved superstar. Miami is the starting point for the worldwide tour

Miami Libre July 25 - August 17

• Dance production by Miami’s Tiempo Libre tells the story of a musician’s search for love and liberty

PSFK reported on Vice Magazine’s 2008 Global Trend Report and provided readers with a brief comparison to last year’s report.

Vice Magazine’s annual report covers fashion trends in 15 upcoming cities among them:

• London
• Barcelona
• Tokyo
• Paris
• Copenhagen
• Milan

Some differences you expect such as the contrast between NY and LA

NY: ” New York girls these days don’t want to look cutesy and innocent”

LA: ” For girls, the younger and cuter you can make yourself look, the better.”

Miami, didn’t make it into the report but we’ll try to work on a local trend report for you.