Beach Buzz: Hundreds expected at May 7 Beach Chamber dinner

More than 800 guests are expected to attend the 94th annual Dinner Gala and Silent Auction hosted by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.

The gala will honor five pillars of the community: Stuart Blumberg, former president and CEO of the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association (City National Bank Hi-Tides Outstanding Achievement); David Edelstein, president, TriStar Capital (Excellence in Tourism); Pierluigi “Pier” Gazzolo and Viacom International Media Networks (Corporate Citizen of the Year); Jonathan Plutzik, owner, The Betsy-South Beach (Jan Pfeiffer Distinguished Service); and Stanley Whitman, chairman emeritus of Whitman Family Development (Leonard A. “Doc” Baker Lifetime Achievement).

Emcees for the evening will be the chamber’s outgoing Chairman Michael S. Goldberg (incoming Chairman Wayne Pathman will be inducted in October) and WPLG Local 10 reporter Erica Rakow, daughter of slain Miami Beach Police Officer Scott Rakow. Erica was just 6 months old when her father died in the line of duty at age 28 on July 1, 1988.

Theme for the event is “The Best is Yet to Come,” recognizing the legacy of Frank Sinatra and his recent centennial birthday (attire is “Rat Pack Chic”). Co-chairs for the gala subcommittee are Robin Jacobs and Sherry Kaplan Roberts.

Gala tickets are $325 each. Event proceeds benefit the Chamber’s Education Foundation, which supports educational initiatives in Miami Beach. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, call 305-674-1300 or visit www.miamibeachchamber.com.

EXPANSE 3.0

Over 150 people braved rainy weather and the remnants of South Beach’s Floatopia on April 16 to attend the opening reception for “Expanse 3.0” at Williams McCall Gallery, 110 Washington Ave. The eclectic evening exhibition featured the works of 12 local artists.

Owned by South Beach residents Gail Williams and Dawn McCall, the gallery opened in February 2012. The partners opened a second Williams McCall Gallery in Coconut Grove this past February.

As for the opening reception: “It was an amazing turnout given everything that was going on. It was a buying crowd,” Williams said.

The works of the 12 local artists will remain on display through May 16. For details, call 786-359-4321 or visit www.williamsmccallgallery.com.

CLAWS FOR KIDS AT JOE’S

Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade will host their fifth annual “Claws for Kids” brunch on Sunday, May 1, at Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach. For the fifth consecutive year, Joe’s will open up just for the fundraiser.

The event kicks off with cocktails at 11:30 a.m., followed by brunch at noon featuring stone crabs, coleslaw, hash browns, creamed spinach and Key lime pie (with main course options available for those who don’t eat stone crabs).

There will be raffle prizes and entertainment by Frank Sinatra impersonator Jeff Grainger. Florida Power & Light Company will receive the “From the Heart Award” for its ongoing support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.

Event chair (for the third time) is Judith Kramer, a retired Miami-Dade County Public Schools executive.

Tickets are $250 each, with proceeds to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s South Beach facility. The newly renovated club, which serves approximately 400 local children, features a teen center, computer lab and teaching kitchen.

For tickets or information, contact Kati Foley at 305-446-9910 ext. 30, or email kfoley@bgcmia.org.

TIDBITS

▪ The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women will hold its monthly general meeting Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Miami Beach Woman’s Club, 2401 Pine Tree Dr. Miami-Dade County residents are encouraged to attend the public forum to learn more about the commission’s advocacy/advisory role and to provide input regarding women’s issues/concerns. Refreshments will be served. To learn more, call 305-375-4967; email CFW@miamidade.gov; or visit www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/women-board-home.asp.

▪ The Miami Beach Jewish Community Center will host Mahjong & Margaritas on Thursday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo, at 8 p.m. The event is open to the public, including groups, singles and novice players. In-house instructor Mia Glick will be on hand to teach those who want to learn. Tickets are $36 (MBJCC members $18). Proceeds benefit MBJCC Arts & Culture and Adult Programming. For information, call 305-534-3206 or register online at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=78ve7pkab&oeidk=a07eci2k3qnb9456085(or at the door).

▪ The 12th South Beach Photomarathon, hosted by Fotomission and Tropicolor, takes place Sunday, May 15, at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Dr. Open to all who enjoy photography, participants will be assigned six topics (kept secret until the event) to photograph on South Beach over six hours. First-, second- and third-place winners will be awarded for each topic, with prizes including cash and large plexi-mounted prints of their images. Cost is $50; Botanical Garden members $40; students $35. Register online by May 9 at www.fotomission.org.

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Beach Buzz: Hundreds expected at May 7 Beach Chamber dinner."