It's fitting that a movie star's digs would play host to a party in tribute to one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year. Swanky Villa Azur, owned by French heartthrob Olivier Martinez and partners Michael Martin, Jean Phillipe Bernarda and Bhana Choudhrie, is home to a Great Gatsby-inspired shindig tonight.

So throw on those flapper frocks and head on up to the French dining room for some mint juleps and Roaring Twenties-style fun. Gatsby himself (or maybe DiCaprio) would approve.

See also:
- Best of Miami: Best Service - Villa Azur

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hauteliving.com

Mom's work hard all year round, so why is mother's day only celebrated one day? Whole Foods Market in Coral Gables has decided to show mother's some love early, and begin celebrations tomorrow with a free healthy brunch buffet and make-your-own body care class.

So leave the kids with dad for once and grab your friends, coworkers, and fellow mom's and head over.

See also:
- Best Mother's Day Brunch Deals in Miami
- Martha Stewart on Match.com: Real Life = Great Comedy (Videos)

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Derek GIl

Why bother with a glass?

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day (which is September 16, by the way).

Cinco de Mayo is actually the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, when the Mexican army kicked France's butt May 5,1862. In any event, Cinco de Mayo (or Cinco de Drinko) is celebrated in the United States and parts of Mexico as a day of heritage and pride.

Somehow, it has also turned into a day to consume mass quantities of tacos and tequila -- and we won't argue with that. Want to show your pride? Here are the ten best places to raise a glass and say, ¡Viva México!

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Laine Doss

If you can't make it to Churchill Downs, there are plenty of parties in Miami.

On Saturday, May 4, people from all over the world will flock to Louisville to watch the "most exciting two minutes in sports" as the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby returns to Churchill Downs.

For 20 horses and their riders, this is the culmination of their dreams. Open only to three year-old thoroughbreds, the race gives horses only one shot at the Derby.

For the rest of us it's an excuse to wear outrageous hats, drink mint juleps, and cheer our favorite horse to victory. Post time for the race is 6:24 p.m., but the party (and the bourbon drinking) lasts all day. If you can't get to Churchill Downs this weekend, here are the best places to celebrate the run for the roses in Miami:

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Courtesy of Chef Jah

Chef Jah with Love-a-Fare dinner guests.

With springtime in full bloom, Wynwood favorite Chef Jah will host his second pop-up with the help of Om Nom Nom Cookies and local artists.

The dinner will be composed of four courses and centered around seasonal spring produce. "I consider myself a serious messenger of love," the 28-year-old self-taught toque tells Short Order. "And this is a way I can give back to the community."

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Sujit Kumar

Hey, lionfish. Get in my belly!

Invasive species are destroying our wildlife and local habitats. The biggest reason these transported critters do such damage is that they have no natural predators in our environment, but is that really the case? We can't discount the predator of all predators: Humans! It's time to eat the enemy.

This Tuesday, April 30, Miami's most environmentally conscious will chow down on unwanted critters from out of town. Exotic species on the menu will include lionfish, python, wild boar, and snakehead.

The second annual UnderGROUND Miami event will feature some of Miami's hottest chefs cooking some of our most tenacious invasive species. Best known for its Ladies of Manure calendar, the Fertile Earth Foundation will showcase more of its unique ideas on environmental sustainability during the clever fundraiser.

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All photos by Laine Doss

Aaron Brooks and Todd Erickson pal around before battle.

Miami families came out yesterday to enjoy the Heart of a Chef festival and culinary competition at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

The annual event to benefit the Florida Heart Research Institute offered kids' cooking classes, healthy food tastings from local restaurants and sponsors, interactive exhibits, and winetastings.

Read also:
- Cochon 555 Aaron Brooks, Pigs Win Big
- 29. Aaron Brooks of Edge Steak & Bar
- 26. Todd Erickson of Haven Gastro-Lounge

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Burger Beast via Facebook

Celebrate the frita with Burger Beast.

May may be National Hamburger Month, but Burger Beast Sef Gonzalez doesn't want the burger's Latina cousin to be forgotten amidst all the meaty hoopla.

New York may have a White Castle obsession and Minneapolis might be manic about their Juicy Lucy, but we have our fritas. The frita, a seasoned burger (sometimes mixed with chorizo), cradled on Cuban bread and topped with shoestring potatoes, is a hybrid of Latino and American culture -- much like most of Miami.

Gonzalez is celebrating the frita at his "Late Night Frita Feast" pop-up dinner. He told Short Order, "With the increasing popularity of fritas, I thought it was time to celebrate."

His choice of location is a nod to the home base of popular El Rey de las Fritas, which made a recent appearance on Travel Channel's Burger Land.

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Heart of a Chef

Two chefs. One competition. Lots of heart.

Two of Miami's best chefs will go head-to-head this Sunday at the annual Heart of a Chef festival and culinary competition.

Normally, we'd frown on chefs fighting, but this epic battle is for a good cause. Heart of a Chef is a fundraiser for the Florida Heart Research Institute.

This Sunday, April 28, from 3 to 7 p.m., Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden will host the family-friendly event, which includes interactive displays, food and wine samplings, and a cooking demonstration by Ellen Kanner, vegan chef and author of Feeding the Hungry Ghost: Life, Faith, and What to Eat for Dinner.

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All photos by Laine Doss

Eating House's Giorgio Rapicavoli plays with his chemistry set.

The Miami Science Museum in Coconut Grove turned its focus on food this past weekend as kids and grownups alike got an education in healthful eating and just what it takes to get the food we eat onto our table.

Interactive displays were scattered throughout the museum as visitors touched, tasted, and tested their brains to find out how much iron is really in cereal, discovered that everything (including strawberries) has its own unique DNA, and learned that bees have specific tasks assigned to them in the making of honey.

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