Events
Florida School Wins Jeffrey Shields Innovation Awards for SeaLab
Bright Minds Win Big: Saint Mark’s Episcopal School Receives NBOA Jeffrey Shields Innovation in School Business Operations Award.
March 14th, 2023
by Miah Huerta
Whether you’re a gardener, scuba diver, or a lover of sea creatures, there’s one thing these passions all have in common…water. It’s the life source that connects all things. Its preservation is also a hot topic of conversation, which begs the question. Who is leading the charge to preserve our most precious resource? Saint Mark’s Episcopal School in Fort Lauderdale is one K-8 school that is shining a new light on H20 with momentous accolades to prove it.
Dedicated to solving water issues, Saint Mark’s Episcopal School continues to grab attention in and out of South Florida, as a new recipient of the 2023 Jeffrey Shields Innovation in School Business Operations Award from the National Business Officers Association (NBOA). As the only national nonprofit membership association focused exclusively on supporting finance and operations professionals in independent PK-12 schools, the award holds prestigious value to schools and their ground-breaking initiatives, including Saint Mark’s development of SeaLab, an engineered 20-by-20-foot tidal pool for immersive STEM experiential learning. “Marine education at our SeaLab is a hands-on learning experience which has shown to exponentially increase students’ critical thinking,” shares Dr. Spencer Taintor, Head of School, Saint Mark’s Episcopal School. Nationally recognized for its efforts, the school is educating and inspiring students to become problem solvers of local water and marine challenges while protecting their community’s way of life.
Recognized among a few select schools that have “shaken up” the industry through new approaches, programs, and practices, Saint Mark’s tackles local challenges and makes an impact with the immersive STEM learning experience aimed to foster awareness and solutions to sea level rise, water quality, marine habitats, hydroelectricity, and identification of microplastics, forever chemicals (PFAS), and other contaminants. “Our Goal with SeaLab was to be creative in our approach to education by taking a simple seawall replacement project and elevating it to an experiential learning lab that sought to solve community problems around Sea Level Rise Microplastics, PFAS and water quality in our waterway.”
Honoring the award’s presentation at the 2023 NBOA Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California, Saint Mark’s looks to remain a top institute with one-of-a-kind learning experiences that continue to inspire the next generation of sustainability leaders. This includes the design of a mechanism to catch microplastics entering our waterway system and marine life. “This will improve the quality of our waters, protect sea life, and limit our exposure to harmful microplastic in our bodies. If we can light that fire to exponentially develop the critical thinking skills of these young students, they can become the leaders we need to find solutions in our lifetime.”
Gale Miami Pairs Skyline Views, Serene Spa Moments and Casa Gianna’s Italian Comfort for a Downtown Mother’s Day Escape.
Morikami Serves a Mother’s Day Worth Savoring with Garden Views, Homemade Flavor and Heart.
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No Chaser Needed as Tequila Town Delivers Straight Shots of Culture, Connection and Cocktails With a Kick in Miami.
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Sips, Sand and Small Bites Set the Tone as SAVOR SoFLO Festival Serves Up a Beachside Tease of What Could Grow Into Something Bigger. (more…)
A Day of Bounce Houses, Pig Shows and Juicy Bites as SoFlo Watermelon Festival Brings Out the Kid in Everyone.
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Pedal Down, Prices Up and Tires Sideways as Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Burns Rubber Into Day One.
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Be Our Guest, Then Hold On Tight as Disney on Ice Sends Pirates, Pixie Dust and Power Moves Flying Across the Ice at Watsco Center April 16th–19th. (more…)
Between flying queens, strong pours, and a room full of Pride week energy, Palace turned Friday night into one of the hottest parties on Ocean Drive.
April 11, 2026
During Miami Beach Pride Week, plenty of venues try to capture the moment, but Palace Bar made Friday night feel like the place everyone wanted to be. The Haus of Gucci Ball brought together drag, fashion, nightlife, and the kind of high energy crowd that made the whole evening feel elevated from the start.
The atmosphere hit immediately. Palace was glowing, the music kept the room alive, and the crowd was fully locked in. It felt vibrant, glamorous, and very Miami Beach. More than just a dinner outing, the night unfolded like a full Pride experience on Ocean Drive.
The clear highlight was a queen whose acrobatic performance completely took over the room. She moved with an incredible mix of strength, control, and confidence, turning the floor into her stage and delivering a routine that felt both dazzling and deeply seductive. At one point, she was flipping around on a man with such effortless precision that the whole crowd seemed to stop at once. It was captivating, sexy, and easily one of the most memorable moments of the night.
The food and drinks absolutely kept up. We had the filet bites and tuna tostones, both perfect for sharing between performances, along with skinny margaritas and lemon drops that were dangerously easy to drink. And yes, Palace was pouring strong, which only added to the fun. The cocktails matched the mood of the night perfectly: bold, smooth, and hard to stop ordering.
What makes Palace Bar work so well during Miami Beach Pride is that the energy never drops. The performers are not just part of the background. They pull the whole room in. The crowd responds, the music keeps moving, and the night keeps building. That kind of momentum is exactly what makes an event feel worth showing up for.
The Haus of Gucci Ball was one part of Palace Bar’s larger Miami Beach Pride Week programming, which has helped make the venue one of the biggest draws on Ocean Drive this week. With events spanning multiple days, Palace has become a go to destination for people looking for drag performances, nightlife, rooftop energy, DJs, and a crowd that wants to celebrate Pride in full.
That is what makes Palace such a fixture during Miami Beach Pride Week. It is not just about location or history. It is about creating nights that actually feel exciting once you are there. Friday night’s Haus of Gucci Ball had the glamour, the chemistry, the performances, and the kind of atmosphere that kept people fully engaged from beginning to end.
If you were at Palace Bar on Friday night, you already know how good it was. If you missed it, this was one of those Miami Beach Pride nights worth hearing about.
Ready for your next night at Palace? Visit Palace South Beach for reservations, menus, and upcoming events, and follow Palace on Instagram for the latest drag shows, Pride weekend moments, and Ocean Drive updates.
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