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Aventura Confidential

Livin’ La Aventura Loca

Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, Benjamin Bratt and Sarah Jessica Parker were all on the auction block, but it was Latin singer Ricky Martin, who raked in the highest amount. 

By Jon Warech
Columnist

How much are you worth? Do you ever think about it? I do, especially after swinging by Chef Allen’s for a charity dinner where one woman dropped $47,200 to dine with Latin pop star Ricky Martin. Who’s loco? Well… it was for a good cause.

Dinner with a Star

The dinner was part of the Godiva Truffle Charity Dinner in which celebrity dinner parties were auctioned off through EBay. Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, Benjamin Bratt and Sarah Jessica Parker were all on the auction block, but it was Latin singer Ricky Martin, who raked in the highest amount. The Apocalypse is officially upon us. The winner, Jody Lang, cashed in Friday night at Chef Allen’s right here in Aventura.

Chef Allen Susser is no stranger to charity work. He and the restaurant are often playing host to a number of charitable events. In the event, he designed the four-course meal around Godiva Horchata Truffle.

The meal, which was complimented with different wines, included Taragon roasted Maine lobster or tangerine and toasted cumin seared rare tuna as a main course. There was also shrimp and avocado ceviche and stone crab cake to start and, of course, a Godiva dessert. Sounds good, huh? It was an exciting evening for winner Jody Lang, 34, who was decked in a red dress and joined by friends and family. She got lugged off during the bidding but made it back with seconds left to walk away a winner.

“It’s a ton of money but it’s a dream come true and an opportunity of a lifetime,” says Lang, a consultant/investor. “For that, I don’t know if you can really put a price on it. He represents so much to me. He’s an international spokesman who works with children. I’m an avid salsa and Latin dancer. I love his music. At his shows, he has a way to bring everyone together no matter what your background. He has this infection power that is just beautiful.”

Money raised from this event will go to the Ricky Martin Foundation, which is then put toward the People for Children Project, the organization that raises awareness on exploitation of children and sex trafficking. It was a great night for Lang, and because of her donation, public service announcements will be set for every country in Latin America.

Moving Up Like the Jeffersons

While there is no reason, charity or no charity, that anyone would drop more than five dollars to have dinner with me, the SunPost has decided that my wit, charm and good looks are worthy of a column in all editions. So, starting next week, I will pen a page-long column on all that is cool and exciting in Miami. While you are spending those long hours at the office, I will go out and have fun for you and tell you all about it every Thursday. I’ll let you know what real celebrities are doing in South Florida as well as keeping tabs on our own local celebs. I will also delve into high society and let you know who is buying what, who is cheating on whom and maybe even who shot J.R. From important business folk to Paris Hilton, if it happens here, it will find its way to my column. I’m pretty excited about the new gig, and when you see it, I know you will be too.

I won’t forget my roots though. Aventura Confidential will always hold a place in my heart, though, as it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship between me and … well, I got my picture in the paper, so that was cool. And not to worry, when something outrageous happens here, it will run in the new column as well. So when some crazy fan pays 50 grand for dinner at Chef Allen’s with Engelbert Humperdinck, we can all laugh together. See you around town….

To Do List

* Children ages 5 – 12 may now be registered for youth soccer, being offered from Jan. 17 through March 19. Registration is $75 for Aventura residents and $90 for non-residents. Registration is now in progress and will end on December 19, 2004. You may register at Founders Park, located at 3105 N.E. 190^th Street or at www.cityofaventura.com. All games will be held on Saturdays and times will vary by age group. Please provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate and proof of residency at the time of registration. If you would like more information on becoming a parent-coach or team parent, call 305-466-8556.
* Check out the Gingerbread Houses Display on now until Saturday, Dec. 17, near Santa’s Magical Village. High school students from all over the country were asked to create a winning holiday gingerbread house and the top ten finalists will be on hand to recreate their houses in this final round.  Johnson & Wales University will provide the dough as the young culinary artists unite imagination with candy and confections as they contend for an academic scholarship to Johnson & Wales and Aventura Mall gift certificates.
Send all comments, questions and news items to JonWarech@aol.com.