Every year, the winter hit us for surprise. We were all expecting it at some point, wanted to bring out the fuzzy animal hoods, or the scarves or the coats. Like a bad lover it teased us for months, and now that’s here some decided to face it, some to avoid it, and others to welcome it with their most precious cashmere and leather clothes. See below a couple of pictures taken during this tropical winter. A very eclectic mixture of people and moods, each one of them with their own take on the cold weather. Whatever it is, nobody can tell them they are wrong, we are all free to dress or undress however we feel, and we applaud you for it. –Pictures taken during the MIA Art Fair and Wynwood Art Walk. 

Bullets and Lace, an avant-garde accessory line, based out of Miami by stylist and designer, Ace Lethal. If we open the door to this collection, a whole Alice in Wonderland world will fall at our feet. However, I would make Alice a li’l bit older, bleach her hair, and borrow all the pink and blush from the 2006 Marie Antoinette movie. And that’s just scratching the surface.

Bullets & Lace offers hand made, one-of-a-kind pieces, ranging from shoulder pads, to hats, brooches, and body chains, all caked in color, and glitter and glam. The designer, Ace Lethal, uses all types of materials giving each piece enough volume, edge and sensuality. Find in this fashion constellation an array of feathers, pearls, chains, trims, studs and fabrics.

B&L accessories has a very 50s feminine retro feel, however, we can throw in a pinch of 80s punk, 90s grunge and a XXIst century girl-power attitude.

The collection can be found only at bulletsandlace.com, where the designer customizes orders according to your fashion sweet tooth.

A delicious, “wow-factor” collection, as the designer likes to call it,  hot and local.

Yummy!

The Closet Boutique

The closet, a girl’s treasure and magical tiny room, where the night awaits by the door, where the feet get raised into 6 inches of golden happiness by mischievous heels. Where the dress decorates the body and protects it just like a super-heroine-armor. The closet, a women’s way of make life, less mundane and more colorful.

The Closet, Loretta Armada Vengoechea’s boutique on Bird Rd and 63rd St, once a tiny little room in her mom’s apartment, now an established business opening the doors to all Miami’s ladies and super heroines.

Keeping it loyal to her own style and intertwined by her living in the New York era while working for Etro, The Closet Boutique is a splash of color and prints. The silhouettes are loose and flowy, the prints are out of a water-color paint brush, undefined and abstract, yet all the collection is pulled down to earth by her staple basics: solid color tanks, shirts and denim –just like your own closet where you can mix and match, go a little bit more casual or eccentric.

For all of those that like shopping at Nordstrom’s, here’s a similar alternative, were the service is more personal, your needs taken care of, and your feet thankfully. To keep up with her ever-evolving collection, check The Closet Boutique’s facebook page where outfit’s pics are uploaded every week after her weekly shipments.

We met with Loretta last week, amongst some holiday shopping (that ended in her store.) While waiting for her to finish with her customers, we noticed her big smile at all times and her ability to serve her customers and their demanding fashion needs. She finds a solution for everything.

Check out a quick Closet Boutique profile:

WFK: Describe your store in three words:
Loretta: Glitzy, boho, affordable.
What’s the best thing of being located at Bird Rd?
There’s a lot of traffic around us, we are in the center of South Miami and Coral Gables, a very central location.
Fav cities in the world?
Paris because it’s just fabulous, and New York because it made me grow up.
Your fashion icon?
Rachel Zoe
The Closet Boutique’s staple items?
Besides the basic tanks, color jeans, color and prints… leopard, I love leopard!
First brands you thought of when opening the store?
Collective Concepts with its silks, prints and loose tops.
Any Local Designers?
Gold Saturn, and Heartbreak, both local T-shirt companies.
Your motto?
I believe in Karma. What comes around goes around. I just believe in being

nice to my customers, feel happy and make them feel happy as well.
Fav store?
Etro, Missoni.
The Closet Boutique’s New Year’s Fashion Breakdown:
Necklace $40
Pink Clutch $37
Bangles $30
Lush’s Black Blazer with opened back $63
Hot and Delicious sequined Jumper $65

WOOD TAVERN: A BAR MADE FOR WYNWOOD, OPENS.

A bar that re-enforces the need for locals to sip, enjoy and mingle without all the pretense.

 Wood Tavern is Wynwood’s newest bar to join the NW 2^nd block with its grand opening scheduled for Wednesday December 21^st with guest DJS “Lolo” of Sweat Records and Ryan Evans.  With the popularity of Basel preview parties and a few friends and family events the last two weeks, Wood Tavern, presented that knocking on wood, is a good thing.

The 1,300 -square-foot space located at 2531 NW 2^nd Ave, in Wynwood, is the brainchild of entrepreneur Cesar Morales, who designed the bar as a place that is reminiscent of a charming and hip spot in New York or San Francisco. The intimate venue will feature a hand-picked menu of craft beers like Cigar City Jai Alai and Holy Mackerel, a mixologist-driven cocktail menu inspired by old fashioned cocktails, 2 LED flat screens broadcasting cult style Americana eye candy and even highly anticipated sporting events.

Musically the bar will have DJs on the weekend and special events or if in the mood for more of a homegrown music selection, the digital jukebox carries thousands of songs and will also have playlists curated by local scenesters and music aficionados.

“I wanted to build a timeless space for people who appreciated the neighborhood, by staying true to the values of a local haunt; Affordable drinks, good customer service and eclectic music from Pulp to Passion Pit” says Morales. 

Situated on the corner of NW 2^nd Street and NW 25^th, in the heart of Wynwood and across from the Wynwood Walls, Wood’s drink prices mimic a small town bar’s menu with cocktails and craft beers starting at only $5.00. The 80-person space also features an outdoor backyard that will be open as a beer and BBQ garden in the near future.

The interior design is “cozy and vintage,” which encompasses a blend of rustic and classic aesthetics with rock n’ roll accents, such as antique liquor labels and concert photos. Wood Tavern possesses a Chicago style brick and reclaimed wood walls, Edison lighting, four lounge areas and a large vintage style bar with ample seating– a feel that immediately transports you to an old bar in the heart of a northeastern city.  But not all, is a reversion to the past: Wood’s cocktail servers use iTouch’s to process orders promptly and customers in need of some “juice” for their iPhones, will now be able to use the charging stations.

About Wood Tavern:
Wood Tavern is a neighborhood bar packaged at 1,300-square-feet of vintage rustic design, located at 2531 NW 2^nd Ave, in Wynwood, Miami. Wood Tavern is open five days a week Wednesday through Friday from 5:00pm until close, Saturday from 6:00 p.m. until close, Sunday from 12:00 to close. For private bookings and advance reservations, call # 305.748.2828 or visit www.woodtavernmiami.com

www.lonomada.com

Like a Hansel and Gretel house, hidden inside a forest’s heart, painted and decorated with candy, LoNomada, located at the 55^th Station, brings the same kind of attraction and curiosity.  This chic boutique is a giant aluminum-covered caramel caravan, a 1979 Airstream to be more exact. Once inside, the satisfaction candy is for the mouth, LoNomada is for the senses, the smell, the sound, and the eye.

The mobile fashion boutique is like an extremity of owner and fashion wizard Valeria Rivera, a nomad that hasn’t stopped evolving in the art and fashion worlds, getting her hands into any creative project she can. With an extensive curriculum filled with positions like art director, hair and make-up artist, and stylist. The result of her LoNomada art center reflects the many shapes and tastes of the owner. Find in this fashion and art, treasure-chest, vintage and new designer clothes, film, photography, artwork and unthinkable found objects.

Lo Nomada
305.484.5399
55th ST. Station
Miami, FL 33137

The only thing we celebrate, is your individuality. Best people watching, walking-art time, and chaotic hair dos during Art Basel. We couldn’t ask for better.

It is not very common to bump into two beautiful girls whose chemistry is equally magnetizing. When you meet Isabella Acker and Whitney Lykins, smiles bounce back and forward like a ping-pong ball. A conversation with them sparks with the mention of a name, a verb, or even the humming of a song. Names of artists, melodies, venues, and off course Miami, get somehow thrown in there; you end up discovering new events, musicians and with a new set of friends.

As pleasant as it is to meet them, it is even more so to admire what they have accomplished in such a short time (March 2011) when both friends decided to become business partners, giving birth to The Black Key Group, an artist marketing and managing firm. Since then, they’ve been banging on doors, tearing other ones down, but mostly opening a very strong one, the LIVE MUSIC door, where Miami and its underground community can cross through and enjoy the best of the best of the local talent.

Before their Pop-Up Piano nomad installation for Art Basel, WFK was able to sit them put, snap some pics and ask them a few questions.

WFK: I’ve always been very interested in teamwork; the passion becomes solid, the ideas, plans, and the energy forever evolving. However, teams break down into individuals that bring to the table different flavors. What are Isabella’s ingredients, how do they integrate with Whitney’s contributions?
Whitney (TBKG): Izzy brings a powerful dynamic to The Black Key Group fueled by her enthusiasm for creative expression. This particular quality makes the corporate experience an exciting coaster to ride. We both hold a mutual passion for artistic expression whether it is translated through music, art, dance or craft, and the skills we both bring to the table only make this company a stronger platform for artists to rise up.

How and when did such charming souls come together? Where was the line crossed between friendship and business partners?
We met in an international high-school… lab partners to be exact. We traveled one city to the next, living parallel lives without knowing it. From our frustration of Miami’s touristic breast-feeding electronic scene, we joined forces to create a company catered to the rawest of sounds. We crossed the line from which you can never return in March 2011.

Which doors are the Black Key opening?
We are trying to open doors that are bigger than us. We want to bring a cultural shift beyond Miami.

Why the name “Black Key Group”?
Doesn’t it have a good ring to it! Plus it doesn’t hurt to have a similar SEO as The Black Keys.

An essential statement that narrows TBKG down into a few words is “live music.” Name a couple of things that come to your mind when you close your eyes and imagine a live music performance? What does it taste like, what does it feel like?
Pulsating sweat, glitter and caked-on dirt.

Pop Up Piano is coming to Art Basel Miami thanks to you. An idea inspired by a similar event in New York. Can you tell us how does it work? Where can we catch it during Basel?
This past summer we were inspired by a New York City-based,non-profit organization, Sing for Hope. They created a project by the name of Pop-Up Piano which was lead by a team of volunteers that repaired, painted, and installed 88 pianosthroughout the five boroughs of New York. This greatly inspired us, as it was a project created to bring awareness to the local arts and make it interactive for the community. Pop-Up Piano was calling our names! We decided to bring this project down to Miami for Art Basel  2011, and the ball hasn’t stopped rolling for us and the Pop-Up Piano volunteer committee ever since. You can take a look at the local musicians schedule on popuppianomiami.com

Which artistic qualities were you looking for when choosing the artists for Pop Up Piano Miami?
We wanted to choose the musical “personalities” of Miami. An important quality that many performers struggle with is the ability to have a natural interaction with their audience while simultaneously letting their personality shine… as well as being ridiculously awesome on the keys.

Are you musicians yourselves or just music fanatics? When was the music seed planted in you?
We get this question more than you think. Whitney has never lost her love for performing arts but has never pursued it on a professional level. Izzy’s talent lies in email correspondence… which we love her for. We joke that after we launch Jacob Jeffries Band and Suenalo nationally, Whitney will be the next rock star on the roster.

Besides music, is there anything else that brings you two together? What other passion do you share in common?
Spontaneous adventures. When we were stuck at school in Boca (don’t ask), we found ourselves making weekly trips down to Miami, discovering local joints in Calle Ocho, playing volleyball with the Brazillians in Pompano, and getting lost on Thursday nights in The Grove.

Now, to wrap it up. The Black Key Group is for Miami as… Cookies are to the Cookie Monster.

–

Girl Power Quiz 

Miami tastes like?
Lemon juice
Romanticism is necessary for . . . Longevity. It keeps the giddiness of a first crush constant in a long lasting relationship.
I am proud of my . . . Business partner for putting up with my s!*?%
I can’t live with out . . .  Thrift stores. You can create one of a kind ensemble for less than $10.
What is Wasabi?
The spice to life
The best kiss is like . . . Like an Indian buffet. There’s so much flavor in every bite.
Top 5 music wise: ZAZ, The Boom Booms, Bright Light Social Hour, Die Antword, Luisa Maita
A hidden quality: Izzy is ridiculously good with names and faces. Whit is ridiculously awful with names and not too bad with faces
Favorite cartoon character. . . Stewie, he’s determined… although it’s on world domination, at least he’s focused on something, right?

What do you wear to feel sexy?
Izzy – feather earrings. Whitney – Nothing. Simplicity is beautiful.
Freedom in your own words: Windows down. Sun in my face. Wind through my hair. Music that stimulates my ear drums.

–

 More about The Black Key Group: www.theblackkeygroup.com

 Photos taken during November’s Art Walk, and Mamushka’s bar –new underground hub you must check out.

Photos by Pamela Wasabi

An artist cannot be defined by holding a brush and spending hours painting. What really makes an artist earn his title is the ability to visualize the future and head over to catch it on time. There are dreamers out there… and people awake… making their dreams happen. Yuval Ofir  is just that  type of guy,  in love with Miami, with a plan of  action and tools on hand, polishing his artwork day to day : “Bridging creative people with those in need of creativity.” Bringing Miami together.

Yuval, is the man responsible for YO Miami,  to come on this Thursday’s “Won’t you be my Neighnbor?” event, and “Pop-up Piano” Art & Music Installation in collaboration with the ladies of The Black Key Group for Art Basel.

Let’s pick in his mind…

WFK: Let’s start from the beginning. We have all seen you hustle around town wearing your YO Miami shirt and in the heart of the best events, and posting online and spreading the word about what’s going on. But, now that we are one-on-one, who’s behind the YO Miami face?
Yuval Ofir: I think I’m kind of a blend of Larry David, and Seth Rogen:  cynical, analytical, sarcastic and agnostic. I didn’t really come out of my shell until college and had you told high school me what I’d be getting up to down the road, I’d have called you crazy. I tend to want to blaze my own trail rather than sticking to the beaten path, really just because I know the direction I want to go in and say fuck any metaphorical foliage in the way.

Yo Miami is not exactly a publication, or a blog, or a marketing company, but you could think it is… how would you put it for those that still need to hear about it?
A friend of mine recently sat down with me to brainstorm and helped me come up with the answer to that exact question. The goal is for Yo Miami to become a bridge between creative people and people in need of creativity. Basically I see it eventually being a one-stop resource for local artists (whether visual, musical, or other) to get connected with everyone from venue and gallery owners to other artists; they can collaborate on projects with. I also plan on incorporating merchandising opportunities where we’ll pay artists a licensing fee and use their designs for any number of types of products.

I have to throw in one more word: Space. In our previous conversation you mentioned this project was in the works, Yo Space. Can you explain to us what’s the buzz about it?
I’m in the process of renovating a warehouse in Little Haiti that will include 6 studios and a gallery/event space, following the lead of places like Bakehouse. It’s already been put to use for a couple photo shoots and I’m hoping to have it ready for people to move in by January, 2012. I’m excited to have already gotten interest in the space from people from local radio companies, journalists, and of course artists. I like to think of it becoming a hub for all kinds of local scene contributors to connect and collaborate at.

Where does your love for Miami come from? What is it about this city that has you enamored with?
I was fortunate enough to travel around a lot when I was younger:  to  Europe, the Middle East, as well as all over North America, and while I found places that were nice and appealing, I really never saw myself living anywhere but Miami.  I guess because like me, the city is kind of a late bloomer compared to the more established cities like LA and NY; it’s only now coming into its own, and doing so to the beat of its own drum. At the same time it has the potential for greatness in the areas that those other cities are known for, whether it’s fashion and food in NY or music in LA.

YO Miami has been working closely with The Black Key Group; how was this friendship sparked?
In this day and age, of course it starts with Facebook. Isabella and Whitney, the co-founders of The Black Key Group, connected with me on there after the opening of the venue PAX, and by whatever twist of fate we all ended up at Sketchy,  Miami’s first Sketchy Party event. We wound up talking for a bit there and they were super supportive and excited about what I was doing with Yo Miami and vice versa, so it just kind of grew organically from there. It also didn’t hurt that we hung out at the same places and both have an itch for supporting local talent.

Let’s talk business now. Next week on Thursday night:  I’ve heard of a special gathering that involves YO Miami, The Black Key Group, and FOUND, called “Won’t you be my Neighbor?” What’s gonna make this night so special and commemorative for our neighborhood?
It started from an idea I had for Yo Miami’s first “official” event to be something closer to a house party than doing some big shindig at a bar or club. After randomly connecting with the owners of Found through a post I’d done on the Yo Miami facebook page, I immediately knew the venue was the place to make that happen. I had also gone to a few of The Black Key Group’s Unplugged Session events around the same time , and I knew no one would be better to bring on board for the musical side of things; everything else kind of fell in place from there. It truly is for locals by locals, and we’re thrilled at how great everyone involved has been in working with us to make it happen. At the end of the day we’re just a group of locals that all had different things to bring to the table and decided to do just that; kind of feast, prepared for the individuals who make up our amazing local community to enjoy.

And as a born and raised local, can you tell us… what’s your favorite local band, artist, hang-out place, and character of the moment?
This is a really hard question especially since most of my favorite things are local in general. Band: Artofficial, I always refer to them as Miami’s Roots. Venue: it’s  hands down The Vagabond. Artist: Kazilla, who aside from being a really talented artist, is just an amazing all around person. And character: I’ll have to say Buffalo Brown; he’s an amazing guitarist who plays in Elastic Bond and just this huge guy with dreads who’s actually this super friendly guy and I always enjoy running into him randomly around town.
–

WASABI KULTURE QUIZ

What’s missing in Miami?
A single lane of traffic only for me to use.
A hidden quality: 
Quadrilingual (English, French, Hebrew, Spanish, in order of proficiency)
Last gift you gave to yourself:
A Fossil watch, only brand I’ve worn since middle school.
What makes you happy?
The perfect plan coming together perfectly.
What’s Wasabi? Spicy.
Preferred method of communication:
Any form of written communication.
What do you want to be when you grow up:
…As long as I don’t become a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs I’m good.
Where is home? 
Do you have to ask?
Something that you will never wear:
A popped collar
Freedom in your own words:
The ability to pursue your passions without trampling those of others.

 A cultural gathering to celebrate old times as if they were never gone.
Rockabilly, Burlesque and Pin-up styles all under one umbrella, waiting for you to join us in this retro, delicious celebration. 

 41 Vintage Retro and Cherry Rootz fashion houses present “Miami gets Retro… & Dirty” at The Catalina Hotel’s Maxine’s Bistro & Bar. A cultural gathering to welcome the music, fashion and energy of the 1940s with their swing moves, shake o’ hips, their pin-up queens and the incomparable elegance of the burlesque dancers.

One of many events that business partners AnaMaria Fals, stylist and owner of Cherry Rootz, and Nori Garcia, vintage stylist and owner of 41 Vintage Row, plan to bring to their community. “This is our dream, to create a great event for all things retro/pinup/rockabilly and get our community to embrace something new and fall in love with it as much as we are in love with our scene.” Says Nori.

Please join us on Saturday, November 12^th, 2011, for an “All-Retro” bash. As for the evening, there will be cocktail specials, local art and fashion vendors with a participation in a retro fashion show. Also, an outstanding performance by the Cupcake Burlesque dames, and a Pin-up Contest –hair and make-up provided by ULTA. And off course, swinging and shoutin’ all night charged by the spinnin’ on the decks by DJ Halo.

Miami Gets Retro…& Dirty

Location: The Catalina Hotel’s Maxine’s Bistro
1756 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
Date: November 12th, 2011
Doors open at 7pm.

Showtime: Burlesque Show 9pm
Fashion Show 10pm
Pin Up Contest 11pm
Cover: FREE

 “Miami Gets Retro…& Dirty” It’s not a trend it’s a lifestyle!

For Pin Up Contest entries
Please email us at
www.dirtymistressevents.com

This is It, ladies and gents with steaming hot style!

Our creative team got together once again to produce a living fashion sculpture for Halloween. Invited by The Awarehouse, we participated at the Sketchy Party with our glow-in-the-dark galactic muse. Hair and make-up done by Contesta Rock Hair, Lucca Castaldo sculpting the hair, Lymari Veloz orchestrating the neon colors and product provided by Medusa’s Make-up. Geometric mini dress, created by Casa La Marina, leggings by We Love Colors worn by the beautiful Chantel Hover. Art directed by Pamela Wasabi.

Instead of keeping the magic backstage, we decided to bring the team on stage! In between cyber trees, black light stars and glow in the dark art work by UnoTresUno we brought our own forest and the party its own galactic fairy.

 …and our Sketchy Sketch by Brian Butler

Sketchy Halloween happened this past Saturday, live music by The State Of, Arboles Libres, organicArma and Mr.Feathers, live fashion sculpture by Wasabi Fashion Kult, and off course the Sketchy Artists capturing the souls of very brave spirit one drawing at a time. See below some pictures of the night.

*Pictures here, video of fashion sculpture coming soon.

Special thanks to our fashion sponsors and friends, Contesta Rock Hair,
Medusa’s Make-up and Casa La Marina

–

 Pictures taken at Sketchy Halloween
at The Awarehouse
October 29th, 2011

Hey there Miami,

Are you ready for Halloween? Definitely our favorite holiday,–not that we don’t dress colorful enough everyday, but it is so much fun to admire other people’s costume, energy and creativity too!

For this Saturday, and to celebrate our favorite dress-up party we are happy to invite you to “Sketchy Halloween,” brought to you by Sketchy Miami and The Awarehouse.

Special presentation from Wasabi Fashion Kult putting together a fashion sculpture, a glow in the dark beautiful living doll, dressed by Casa La Marina, make-up products provided by Medusa’s Make-up, and hair and make-up done by Contesta Rock Hair. Hair dressers led by Lucca Castaldo, make-up done by Lymari Veloz … This time you’ll get to see the magic as it happens, Contesta will do their trick live! Show starts at 11:30pm.

Remember, this is a Sketchy party, featuring Jason Snyder, Daniel Ortiz, Jeiddy Lopez, Olivier Casse and Brian Butler, artists who will be drawing your portrait on Saturday, so come in wearing your best costume, and you’d have your own sketch and souvenir of your 2011 Halloween!

Also, The Awarehouse has prepared 3 live music acts welcoming Arboles Libres, The State Of and organicArma + DJs, fun and entartainment all night.

Cover +21
$20 = 2 Drinks
$30 = 4 Drinks
$50 = Unlimited drinks

–

WFK Sponsors:

Our sponsors are friends in the business that we like to work with and support 100%. Contesta Rock Hair with more than 10 locations around the world offering the edgiest looks and proffesionalism, check them out on Espanola Way in Miami. Casa La Marina, upcoming Haute Coture fashion house made in Miami, it’s still a hush-hush projects, but when it unveils we will tell you all about it, and finally Medusa’s Make-up, based out of Chicago offering shades, pigments, gloss and make-up all natural. This time providing us with neon eye shadows and product. –Our favorite!

www.ContestaRockHair.com
www.MedusasMakeup.com