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The greatest party to hit Miami since Ultra Music Festival! The Sunset Music Festival (SMF) in Miami opened Pandora's box and let out its funnest sins from 4pm on Saturday, July 31st until the next morning at 4am. The event was held at the Soho Studios Miami, a large warehouse in the Miami Design District, a perfect locale for what was about to go down.
With an expected attendance of 2,500 party-goers, it was no surprise that parking was a sticky situation, yet it was miraculously simple to find a spot. The streets of Miami's Design District are home to some outstanding artwork and galleries, which made for an enjoyable walk to the event. Music blaring from 5 different stages onto the streets created a melodic path by which to find your way to the doors.
The Sunset Music Festival was like a Dayglow party minus the paint and big bouncers at the door. The dark of night was instead painted with neon pinks & yellow lights, and the staff offered an open-arm welcome to party-goers of all ages. Adults wandered around aimlessly with pacifiers in a pookie head paradise. The panel of the Winter Music Conference would be proud!
Friendly was the theme amidst the smoke machines and laser rays. Miami's youth, girls in bikinis, and shirtless guys ran amok like hippies in a strawberry field. Enthusiastic party people instantly ambushed me, asking for pictures, and complimenting my sweat-drenched outfit. Refuges from all this madness were few and far in between: a shower in the crowd at the main stage, an ice-cold A/C vent in the warehouse space, and the Blue Bird VIP Bus; a hidden gem. The VIP staff at hand made sure everyone was happy, ending the night with a Popsicle giveaway, a sweet treat courtesy of a local vendor!
The SMF came out of nowhere, blindsiding the underground music industry, and rocking Miami to the sounds of heavy bass & electronic melodies. It was an incredibly seamless night of fun with a deep contrast from South Florida's condensed South Beach scene. On the turntables were some of electronic music's best, including Trance God George Acosta, Ralph Falcon, Miami's own Cato K & Sexy House Lab, and loads of other talented DJs!
Moments of awkward laughter were aplenty as a variety of costumed attendees paraded through the sludge, groping and kissing one another. Zombies roamed looking for the next amazing light show to blow their mind as sweaty, sexy South Floridians draped the walls.
In the end, everyone went home with festival feet, covered in a thick crust of dirt and who knows what! The 2010 Sunset Music Festival was a smash hit not soon to be forgotten in Miami's underground electronic music scene. A nostalgic event reminiscent of those days when raves in Miami were all the rave!
-What Miami Review, writer Jen Gray
The 2010 KEVA by Keva J Swimwear Show which took place at Nikki Beach, on Saturday July 17th at 4pm, was heavily inspired by the look of Barbie dolls.
Despite the show being postponed due to the rainy Miami weather - and let's not forget the confusion over the new layout of the runway - Keva still managed to put on a spectacular show! After the Nikki Beach staff scrambled to move the event indoors, the show went off without a hitch. A few technical difficulties will not ruin any great fashion show.
Keva started off the show with a fan dancer, whom stripped down to glitter nipple-covers while performing to a hot trumpet, heavy jazz ballad. It was an enchanting burlesque ballet and a highlight for the entire Swim Week 2010 experience. The swimsuits were fun and flirtatious, very well made, with just enough sass to match the sexy asses.
Barbie was the theme, Lady Gaga was the music, and the models served the audience with a fierce walk. Lots of pinks, purples and yellows were featured throughout the magnificent show. A few nautical theme suits were shown with a creative use of line, color, and fabric. Keva did a superb job and really put on a wonderful show. Kudos!
About KEVA by Keva Johnson: Keva J is a growing company that has begun to flourish, and will definitely leave a mark in the fashion world. She has recently launched a new swimsuit collection and has plans in the works to extend the company's product offering to accessories and handbags, Keva's unadulterated first love! Along with her signature tee's expressing what one ultimately has to wonder..."WHO THE HELL IS KEVA"
The Betsy Moss fashion show at Nikki Beach during the 2010 Mod Miami Swim Week was fabulous. Anchal fromAmerica’s Next Top Model was in attendance. Press and media representation at the event was thick and a little too aggressive. The show took place on Friday, July 16th at 8pm, and flowed very smoothly from start to finish. As to be expected, the most upscale of fashionistas were amongst the crowd. A true gathering of beautiful ladies, dressed to kill!
The straw fedora with the white ¼ length tee, folded sleeves, and knotted down the middle, with red bikini bottoms, was a great look. A nice contrast and beautifully paired with shoes and jewelry. A very stylish outfit which is current with today’s fashion. It was casual yet very well put together - an outfit that would definitely make a nice added touch to any stylish girls's wardrobe!
The ruffled yellow bikini rocked the show. The suit was reminiscent of a bikini from my childhood - very classic, fun, flirtatious, and playful. The blue jumpsuit was very 80’s flash dance. It would have been event more thrilling had it been paired with scrunched socks and a pair of Nikes, or a fierce pair of black spike heels - or even thigh length boots!
Jorge Perez chose to use models with natural breasts, which was a tasteful choice and very reflective of his penchant to please the everyday woman. The closing outfit for the night was a lovely, white, floor length sun-dress with a stunning necklace and beige wedges. The white dress was a lovely palette to jazz up with accessories such as an oversized beach bag!
The Betsy Moss swimwear line will be available in stores and online this summer. Betsy Moss Contemporary and M by Betsy Moss will be available in Fall 2011.
About Betsy Moss: Betsy Moss is a company based on a brother and sister collaboration. It was founded by Creative Director Jorge Perez and designed by Jorge along with his sister, Head Designer Betsy Perez and a group of young, talented individuals. The brand consists of two labels, Betsy Moss, a contemporary clothing and swimwear line and M by Betsy Moss, a maternity line for the fashion-forward mom-to-be. The knowledge that Jorge has gained while working in the fashion industry for over five years combined with Betsy’s love of fashion and knowledge of fitting women’s bodies has propelled them to design these fabulous collections not only for the fashion forward girl, but also the everyday woman.
-What Miami Review, writer Jen Gray
Supercon Miami
What are Super Mario, the Thunder Cats, the original Shaft, and a rave party doing all under one roof? They call it the Florida Supercon - South Florida's largest comics, anime, sci-fi , film and video game convention. Friday, June 18th until Sunday the 20th 2010, The Doubletree Miami Mart Hotel's 125,000 square foot Convention Center played host to a plethora of events, vendors, artists, and just pure fantastical extravaganza like nothing you've seen before.
Now in its fifth year, the Miami Supercon is more popular than ever. The event has grown from an attendance of hundreds in 2005 to thousands in 2010 - with more guest celebrities and artists each year. The Supercon welcomed Bruce Campbell of the cult film Army of Darkness in 2009, and 2010 was not too shabby either. To name just a few, Ska Punk band Less Than Jake rocked out on stage and B-movie celebrities such as Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, Tia Carrere, John Wesley Shipp (The Flash), and even Larry “Soup Nazi” Thomas (Seinfeld) graced the event with their presence!*
At the Florida Supercon, there’s a weapons policy in place for a good reason. Some of its attending fans are carrying an arsenal of massive swords, hammers, guns and shields as part of their uber creative, and downright freaky, cosplay outfits. The Supercon holds 3 days of costume play (aka Cosplay) competitions, with over 100 imaginative cosplayers in participation. Prominent cosplay guests of attendance included Outland Armour(steampunk characters), Miracole Burns and the sexy Yaya Han.
Keeping in with the theme of costumed dementia and video game tributes, the Live Action Smash Brothers 3000 Super Show was your chance to see Mario, Princess Peach, Luigi, Yoshi, Wario, Snake (MGS), Samus, Bowser, and Zelda performing in a tasteful theatrical performance. The extreme Rumble Roses Live featured some of the sexiest female wrestlers in the country, and the loony Supercon Mania had Batman in the ring up against The Joker, Mario Bros, Cobra Commander, the Geico Caveman, and more.
The 3-day Supercon was a journey during which we had the opportunity to meet remarkable comic-land artistssuch as Luis Diaz, who illustrates spoofs on the Garbage Pail Kids, art-nouveau illustrator Echo Chernik (aka Echo-X), and Christopher Darden – an illustrator, filmmaker, and photographer whom may have seen a few two many Tim Burton movies! And since no one gets away from a convention without buying some hot merch,’ we made it out with some wicked t-shirts from Phil Fung – an artist with plenty of political messages.
As children of the 80s, we found ourselves observing old favorite classics reborn with a new spin – and taking in anew understanding of society. The Florida Supercon was reminiscent of a time not so long ago wheniPhones, Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution were only figments of imagination. Those were the nostalgic days of Thundercats, Goldorak, 8-bit Mario, good ol’ Scooby Doo, and cutting-edge Betamax technology – brought back to life!
The 2010 Florida Supercon in Miami was an incredible event, surprising in countless ways, and a welcome twist to the already crazy life & times of South Florida. We all wish an outstanding continuation to the talented and enthralling contributing individuals of this hidden social movement.
-What Miami Review, co-writer Jen Gray
*Other noteworthy media guests at the 2010 Florida Supercon included Rebecca Staab (Desperate Housewives), Joseph Culp (Mad Men), Julie McCullough & Cathy St. George (Playboy Playmates), Cindy Morgan (Tron), Brad Kesten (Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show), Herschell Gordon Lewis & Lloyd Kauffman (filmmaker legends), Paris Themmen (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory), Anthony “These are not the droids we’re looking for” Forrest, Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Robb Demarest & Brandy Green (Ghost Hunters International), plus wrestling superstars Gregg “The Hammer” Valentine, Terri Runnels, Stacy “The Cat” Carter, Traci Brooks, Mia St. John, Sinn Bodhi, Lizzy Valentine, and too many more to list!
What Miami and Transit Lounge came together on November 12th and 13th, 2010 to bring together the What Miami Presents Showcase during the 2010 Miami Music Festival.
The What Miami Presents Showcase was one of more than 45 venues with live entertainment for the 2010 Miami Music Festival. Throughout both nights, a variety of local and out of state bands played at Transit Lounge for a large audience - as MC Holla Monsta announced each band and kept the crowds excited with free prize giveaways all night long!
Bands at the What Miami Presents Showcase included: Arboles Libres, Ryan Stone Music, 2AM Club, Bright Light Social Hour, ArtOfficial, Zane, The Instant Classic, Rug, The Five One, and Stellar Revival. Check out the gallery!