KIMONO CLUB + NEW CONCEPT
Japanophiles should pencil in Asiaticas trunk shows at the Mondrian South Beach today until 6:30; and Ocean Reef Club in the Florida Keys from February 28-March 2. Owner and designer Elizabeth Wilson mixes new Japanese textiles by NUNO and exquisite antique and vintage kimonos to design one-of-a-kind womens ready to wear and custom pieces. Each garment is handmade at her atelier and boutique in Kansas City, Mo., from her vast collection of kimonos purchased through private auctions in Tokyo and Kyoto. She also sells jewelry, scarves and Japanese home dcor such as tableware. Bimini-born Splash boutique in South Miami added a lifestyle store concept in its neighboring space. Whereas Splash focuses on fashion, Next Door carries accessories, footwear, books, and art and design.
asiaticakc.com. morganshotelgroup.com. oceanreef.com. 7297 SW 57th Avenue; 305.662.9883; shopsplash.com
BARTENDERS BAR
Employees Only, which pioneered craft cocktails in New York in the early aughts, expanded to South Beach. The restaurant and bar occupies a historic coral rock bungalow within the Washington Park Hotels compound of newly renovated buildings dating to the 1940s. An enclosed porchs dcor resembles an Old Florida cottage, while the Art Deco-inspired main dining room shifts to another era and mood. Mixologists win awards for pushing the beverage boundary, such as Beets By Al, Redemption Rye and Velvet Falernum liqueur with bitters, fresh lemon juice, and beet and rosemary syrup. Cuisine is as good as the cocktails. The chefs Eastern European heritage comes through in non-tropical dishes like bone marrow poppers, whole rainbow trout and ricotta gnocchi with oyster mushrooms. Late night? They serve until 3:30 a.m.
1050 Washington Avenue; 786.264.3945; employeesonlymiami.com
SBWFF DOES FLL
Fort Lauderdale foodies can enjoy all the good eating at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival without going to Miami. The events Taste Fort Lauderdale series brings top toques to Broward County. Geoffrey Zakarian fetes his new seafood-centric Point Royal restaurant at the Diplomat Resort & Spa with an old-fashioned clambake on Friday. Three of North Carolinas most applauded chefsVivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer, Andrea Reusing of Lantern, and Ashley Christensen of Bridge Club and Beasleys Chicken & Honeyare collaborating for a sisterhood-themed dinner at the Ritz-Carltons Burlock Coast on Saturday. You may as well book a room, because the next day Neil Patrick Harris and his hubby, David Burtka, an actor and chef, host their beloved bloody Mary brunch at the hotel.
GERMAN & FRENCH
Sothebys and ONE SIR present an art talk in conjunction with the exhibit, Regeneration Series: Anselm Kiefer from the Hall Collection, at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale on February 26. Museum director and chief curator Bonnie Clearwater sits down with art collectors Andy and Christine Hall to hear about their passion for the German artists work. The couple created their foundation for postwar and contemporary art, which also includes Warhol, Ed Ruscha and Joseph Beuys, in 2007; its public museum is housed in a centuries-old castle in Germany, while they also operate an exhibition space on a former dairy farm in Vermont. RSVP here.French artist Jean-Baptiste Bernadets second show, Contrejour, for Michael Jon & Alan gallery opens Saturday night. Works, pictured, are on view through April 1.
One Las Olas Boulevard; 954.525.5500; nsuartmuseum.org. 255 NE 69th Street; 305.521.8520; michaeljonandalan.com
Socials