Wolfsonian Prohibition
Cathy Leff
Miami Beach, FL – October 31, 2012 – On Halloween, the iconic Miami Beach estate once owned by notorious mob boss Al Capone transformed into a Halloween extravaganza and fundraiser complete with live entertainment, costumes, cocktails, charity gaming, and a silent auction.
The event, sponsored in part by City National Bank, was held at 93 Palm Avenue, a waterfront estate that once belonged to Al Capone. He allegedly plotted the Valentine’s Day Massacre while living there, and eventually died there in 1947. As a nod to the former crime boss, the fundraiser had a “Prohibition Party” theme, and guests wore attire that echoes the bygone era.
There was a special cocktail reception inside the home called “Gangsters, Gambling, and Greyhounds: Miami Beach Mafia in the 1930’s,” where Wolfsonian Chief Librarian Francis X. Luca gave a talk on prohibition, Al Capone, and other prominent gangsters that once lived in the area.
Event highlights also included live music, cocktails by Bar Lab for Bacardi, food by TIKL Bar & Grill, and cigars by Wynwood Cigar Factory. Guests also tried their hand in the casino area complete with blackjack and roulette as well as a high-stakes poker tournament, with all proceeds benefiting the Wolfsonian–FIU. There was also be a silent auction featuring art, vacation packages, and more from well-known names including Michele Oka Doner and Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Wolfsonian–FIU, located in the heart of Miami Beach, uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of design to tell the story of changes that have transformed our world. The collection is comprised of over 120,000 objects from the period of 1885 to 1945—the height of the Industrial Revolution to the end of the Second World War. Visitors are encouraged to think about the power of art, design, and everyday objects in shaping the past, present, and future.
Neil Flanzraich, Cathy Leff, & Alexander Hurst
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Neil Flanzraich, Leonard Abess, Cathy Leff, & Jayne Abess
Oti Roberts, Peter Corsell, Betsy Cragon, Ashley Melisse Abess, Kelly Gazo, & Gonzalo Acevedo
Harve Mogul, Alesia Mogul, Veronica Lopez-Lopez, Constantin Gorges, & Maria & Willy Gomez
Max Soly, Silvia Barisione, Gaelle Darrigues, & Jon Mogul
Robert Caldwell, Alexandra Lagos, Christos Lagos, Lara Bach, & Marcus Bach
Josh Oberhausen, Aimet Oberhausen, Doug Scott, & Olga Granda-Scott
Hlillary Hertzberg & Robert Fishman
Harve & Alesia Mogul
Cynthia Vasconez & Patsy Rodriguez
Leonard Abess, & Charles & Gayle Nemeroff
Scott Cunningham & Christina Frigo
Elizabeth & Matt Kurzynski
Wade Walker, Tanya Ho-Shue, Mirielle Enlow, & Mike Kiely