It was in 2009 that entrepreneur and nightlife mogul Cy Waits’s three Las Vegas venues and one Los Angeles venue grossed a reported $130 million. The Las Vegas venues included the XS Nightclub at the Encore, the Tryst Nightclub at the Wynn and Drai’s inside Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon along with his Los Angeles venue also named Drai’s.
The nightlife success has now led him to South Florida. It has been reported in the near future, Cy and his fellow Las Vegas partner Cory McCormack are opening the anticipated new venue on South Beach in Club Adoré. The club is set to have a lighting system that has been used at the Super Bowl and the Olympics and a sound system that Cy says will be the best in Miami nightlife. It is located at 2000 Collins Avenue.
Back in July 2012 we met pop music star Christina Milian at the opening event of Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week Swim on South Beach [see here]. Now, some 15 months later, we caught up with the Cuban beauty for her CYInterview.
Last year, the Dip it Low singer launched a Havana Nights swimsuit collection. This year, Ms. Milian came back to Miami, off her recent Dancing with the Stars run, to promote Viva Diva wine.
Recently, we shared with you our overview of the first annual Miami Beach Gay Soiree, held on South Beach [see here]. That evening brought together celebrities and politicians to raise money for the ever growing Miami Beach Gay Pride weekend.
At the evening’s festivities was director/producer Richard Jay–Alexander. He has worked with a who’s who on Broadway and has ongoing working relationships with stars like Barbra Streisand and Kristin Chenoweth. Over the last year, Richard toured the world with Ms. Streisand for her latest set of concerts.
Also at the event was Brazilian model and actor Rodiney Santiago, best known from the TV show A-List: New York on the Logo channel. What started as a CYInterview turned into an industry discussion between these two men as Richard was thinking about career possibilities for Rodiney’s future in show business.
Gabrielle Anwar danced the tango with Al Pacino in the movie Scent of a Woman and, most recently, starred as Fiona Glenanne in the USA Network TV show Burn Notice. In 1994, she was named one of People Magazine’s most beautiful people. Additionally, but no less of note, Ms. Anwar supports philanthropy in Miami. We spoke with the British actress at the 19th annual InterContinental Miami™ Make-A-Wish Ball.
On Monday November 4th, former Governor of Florida, then Republican, Charlie Crist announced his plans to challenge Florida’s current governor, Republican Rick Scott, in the upcoming 2014 election cycle. This time, Mr. Crist will be running as a Democrat.
Two days before his official announcement, Mr. Crist told CYInterview, at the InterContinental Miami™ Make-A-Wish Ball, that he was definitely going to run to be Governor of the Sunshine State again. The former Governor of Florida has taken time off from politics, since losing a race for the U.S. Senate in 2010 against Marco Rubio.
Don King has promoted some of the most compelling boxing matches in history. The controversial promoter is tied to some of the great heavyweight boxers of the latter portion of the 20th century, like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson. Some of his most widely known accomplishments include the “Thrilla in Manila” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and “The Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and past CYInterview guest George Foreman [see here].
We caught up with the outsized boxing personality recently at the InterContinental Miami™ Make-A-Wish Ball, where Don told us what is coming up for him and gave his thoughts on the state of boxing.
Miami’s celebrities and politicians were out in force, recently, for the 19th Annual InterContinental Miami™ Make-A-Wish Ball. The event included CYInterview friends Lea Black of The Real Housewives of Miami, shoe designer Lisa Pliner and PR Powerhouse Tara Solomon.
New acquaintances we made included Jackie Siegel of the newsworthy 2012 documentary film The Queen of Versailles and Miami news anchor and meteorologist Trina Robinson of WTVJ’s NBC 6.
Celebrities and newsmakers we met and CYInterviewed for the first time included legendary boxing promoter Don King, former Governor of Florida Charlie Crist and actress Gabrielle Anwar. You will get to read and hear those conversations in the coming days, here on CYInterview.
The last year has been one adventure after another for Miami entrepreneur /philanthropist/socialite Lea Black. With the expansion of her skincare line, her handbag collection now in stores and a novel slated for publication in 2014, The Real Housewives of Miami star is busier than ever.
From her office in Brickell where we first CYInterviewed her back in January [see here], to our second CYinterview at her home in Coral Gables [see here], to attending The Blacks’ Annual Gala at the Fontainebleau hotel [see here], to being invited back to her home for a private party with country music star John Rich [see here], we have seen the lovely Lea in a host of Miami contexts.
Since its inception in 2009, Miami Beach Gay Pride has grown by the thousands each year and serves as a signature event for the LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender] community to come together. What started as a small circuit happening has now become a global event, with visitors coming from around the world. The event, this past April, brought 80,000 people to Miami Beach.
On the weekend of October 19th, Miami Beach’s political powerhouses and some of South Florida’s most prominent celebrities came together for the first annual Miami Beach Gay Pride VIP Soiree. The event was held at the Gale South Beach and Regent Hotel located on Collins Avenue.
Back in April, at The Blacks’ Annual Gala, we met the fun and down to earth shoe designer Lisa Pliner [see here]. Though we only spoke with her briefly on the red carpet that evening, it was memorable.
Lisa and her husband, shoe mogul Donald J. Pliner, have left their mark on the fashion industry. She is the creative director behind Donald J. Pliner luxury shoes, which caters to both men and women. Their company has stores in six major malls in places like Miami, Las Vegas and Houston.
