Events

A Night of Decadence: Desserts, Duff and Delicious Stories

Published

1 year ago

February 26, 2025

Ian Charles

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This: Duff Goldman, Decadent Desserts, and a Dash of Nostalgia at SOBE Fest.

February 22nd, 2025

The Miami Beach Bandshell was the perfect, intimate location for Duff Goldman‘s singular event. From 9-9:30pm, before Duff took the stage, attendees strolled around sampling drinks and some wonderfully decadent desserts.

Some of the late-night bites were an absolute mastery of blending multi-layered flavors and textures at a high-end level. The best was created by Culinary Director Mercedes Kozlowski from Prime One Twelve (who even saved Duff Goldman with her paring knife as he was having difficulty peeling apples). Her dessert was a coconut custard mixed with a purple Ube purée, complemented by a mango sauce, whipped cream, and an Ube crunch reminiscent of a graham cracker crumble. It was truly next level, as is everything you find at Prime One Twelve.

Mercedes Kozlowski at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman

A close second was literally art on a plate. It was called Sunset Passion and was made by Angelica Lenox from Sweet Guilt. This creation featured a coconut cake infused with passion fruit reduction and St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, then topped with a tiny, perfect gold macaron.

Other notable treats included the Scotch Tiramisu Cake by Cakeology, served in a small jar, the (so good it should be outlawed) Mini Churrocone filled with Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, and Cry Baby Creamery’s S’more Baked Alaska which featured a Graham Cracker sponge cake, milk chocolate ice cream, and a torched meringue on top.

The next two hours were all about Duff Goldman and his ‘One Man Show.’ He spent the time making his Grandma Esther’s (or Mamo’s, as he called her) secret Apple Strudel recipe, while sharing stories of his life and culinary journey. Celebrity Chef Duff Goldman is one of the most beloved personalities on the Food Network. His down-to-earth, humble nature really draws you in like a friend.

It was this stylistic nature (or lack thereof) that set him apart from other one-man shows I had seen before with Alton Brown and Guy Fieri. Duff Goldman just walked onto the amphitheater stage, casually donning a pair of camo shorts and a Lego t-shirt. Even with so many television shows under his belt, like Ace of Cakes, Charm City Cakes, Kids Baking Championship, and Buddy vs Duff, stardom never went to his head like other celebrity chefs. He is just a simple Jewish man who plays bass guitar and loves to bake.

Tonight, he was making his Grandma Esther’s secret Apple Strudel. He went through the process of peeling and cooking down apples, stretching the dough as thin as humanly possible, and adding a little bit of this and that to the mix. This could have been epically boring, but Duff kept the audience entertained through hilarious stories of his life and his Mamo Esther’s.

He recounted a story of how Esther once owned a successful hat shop and opened a second hat shop right across the street from the first one. If a person came into the store and said the hat was too expensive, Esther would tell them to go to the other hat store across the street.

Duff Goldman shared many stories about himself as well. One in particular was about a low-production cooking show that had him strip down to just wearing a mask and a cup as the small audience threw eggs at him. Duff then went through a string of failed cake baking competitions, but the camera loved him, and he built up an extremely talented bunch of artists who were now making cakes.

The Food Network hired Duff Goldman and his crew for the show Ace of Cakes, and the rest was history. Duff told us of one proud record he achieved from the network: he was the first person to ever get bleeped on one of their shows. Duff mentioned that whenever he misbehaved, fellow Food Network judge Nancy Fuller would tell on him, as she was actually a good friend of Duff’s mother.

with Antonia Lofaso at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman

Nancy was there for Duff Goldman’s One Man Show, as was a host of other celebrity chefs to support him and hang out. Some of them included Alex Guarnaschelli, Antonia Lofaso, Aarti Sequeira, Jet Tila and Amanda Freitag. They all stayed until the end and, of course, left with some of his Apple Strudel.

with Alex Guarnaschelli at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman

The event was casually fun, intimate and a great send-off to Saturday night. Sobe Fest is loaded with expensive, formal, packed events, so Duff Goldman’s event was the perfectly placed balance to all of that.

with Aarti Sequeira at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman

Dessert Party with Duff Goldman
Mercedes Kozlowski at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman
with Alex Guarnaschelli at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman
with Antonia Lofaso at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman
Dessert Party with Duff Goldman
Dessert Party with Duff Goldman
with Aarti Sequeira at Dessert Party with Duff Goldman

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Events

Palace Bar Is Turning Up the Volume for Women’s Month and Miami Music Week

Published

3 days ago

March 5, 2026

McKaela Lulic

Ocean Drive landmark Palace Bar celebrates Women’s Month, Miami Music Week, and its 38th year with international DJs, rooftop parties, and a full month of nightlife programming.

March 4, 2026

If there’s one place on Ocean Drive that consistently knows how to throw a party, it’s Palace Bar Miami Beach.

The iconic LGBTQ+ venue at 1052 Ocean Drive is stepping into March with a packed calendar of nightlife events, international DJs, rooftop takeovers, and new programming celebrating Women’s Month and Miami Music Week 2026.

For nearly four decades, Palace has been one of the most recognizable venues in Miami Beach nightlife. Known for its legendary drag brunches, high-energy performances, and rooftop events overlooking Ocean Drive, the venue continues to evolve while staying rooted in the community that helped make it a South Beach institution.

This month, the programming stretches beyond the building itself.

A rooftop launch and beachside hospitality

March begins with Palace stepping directly onto the sand.

On Sunday, March 1, the venue hosted VIP cabanas at the Winter Party Beach Party on 10th Street Beach, bringing premium cocktail and bottle service hospitality directly to the shoreline.

Later that same day, Palace launched AURÉA: Where Day Turns Legendary, a new weekly luxury rooftop Sunday series designed around golden-hour energy and sunset views over Ocean Drive.

The opening event featured DJ Juka from Mexico alongside opening DJ JRNY, setting the tone for what Palace hopes will become a signature weekly rooftop experience.

A new seasonal cocktail collection

A few days later, on Wednesday, March 4, the venue unveiled its Spring and Summer Cocktail Collection.

The seasonal menu introduces fresh flavor profiles, vibrant presentation, and a signature drink designed to define the months ahead. The launch arrives just as Miami’s event season begins heating up ahead of Miami Music Week and the busy spring calendar across South Beach.

Sunset Sapphire launches March 21

The celebrations continue on Saturday, March 21 with the debut of Sunset Sapphire, a new monthly nightlife experience launching during Women’s Month.

Hosted by queer influencer couple Zashia Santiago and Tay Tate, the event blends music, cocktails, movement, and immersive visual moments into a vibrant night celebrating women and their communities.

Set in the heart of the Ocean Drive nightlife district, Sunset Sapphire aims to become one of Miami Beach’s newest signature nightlife gatherings.

Palace becomes a Miami Music Week hub

Later in the month, Miami Music Week arrives and Palace Bar transforms into a multi-day destination for DJs, producers, and music lovers visiting the city from around the world.

From March 26 through March 29, the venue will host four nights of programming across both its rooftop and main space.

The weekend begins Thursday, March 26 with a label-driven showcase presented in partnership with HOTL Records. The event will feature more than fifteen DJs performing across an extended lineup.

On Friday, March 27, the energy moves to the rooftop with “We’re Never Going Home,” a takeover presented alongside Groove Cruise. More than twenty-five DJs will perform across a marathon rooftop and venue experience that runs from afternoon into the early morning hours.

One of the biggest highlights arrives Saturday, March 28 when Younan Music hosts its Miami Music Week showcase at Palace. Running from 12 PM to 4 AM, the event will feature more than fifteen DJs and a lineup of internationally recognized house and electronic artists including Carlo Lio, Juanito, Saeed Younan, Sirus Hood, Vito (UK), Eddie Lopez, Adriano Longi, and Diezel.

The weekend wraps up Sunday, March 29 with a community-focused finale presented by Palace Productions. The closing event will spotlight more than ten local LGBTQ+ DJs and highlight Palace’s continued commitment to uplifting queer artists in Miami’s nightlife scene.

A busy month for a South Beach institution

Alongside the music programming, Palace continues celebrating its 38th year as one of Miami Beach’s most iconic nightlife venues.

Whether guests arrive for rooftop DJs, seasonal cocktails, or simply to soak in the energy of Ocean Drive, the venue remains one of the city’s most recognizable destinations for nightlife and entertainment.

South Florida Insider will also be covering select Palace Bar events throughout the month, including the Sunset Sapphire launch on March 21 and the Younan Music Miami Music Week showcase on March 28.

Additional coverage and highlights from both nights will follow after the events.

March event highlights

Winter Party Beach Party VIP cabanas — March 1
AURÉA rooftop series launch — March 1
Spring and Summer Cocktail Collection debut — March 4
Sunset Sapphire launch — March 21
HOTL Records showcase — March 26
We’re Never Going Home rooftop takeover — March 27
Younan Music Miami Music Week showcase — March 28
Palace Productions community finale — March 29