For the first time, AARP’s Life@50+ Convention Expo was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It brought experts in Health & Wellness (Medical, Mental, Diet, Exercise, Spiritual, etc.), Money & Work (Savings, Investments, Insurance, etc.), Technology & Innovation including Social Media, Travel & Lifestyle, Arts & Culture, and even a talent show with Celebrity judges.
Of course, when celebrities attend an event, there is a Red Carpet for paparazzi to snap pictures, journalists to take notes, and us (Dena and Stewart) to have a brief conversation with them.
On AARP’s Life@50+ Red Carpet, we spoke with Kenny Loggins (of Loggins & Messina fame) who is now performing with a new band “Blue Sky Riders” (with Hall of Famers Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman);
The very funny Arsenio Hall – who remembered Dena Stewart from the last time they met (see Episode 39);
Emilio Estefan who is very excited about his new Broadway show “On Your Feet” starring his wife, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine;
Ben Stein, who was too tired to walk the red carpet and sat, instead!!!
At another Red Carpet event, the premier of the film “Little Boy”, we talked with child actor Jakob Salvati, who was loving the attention.
At the 93rd Gala of the Miami Beach Chamber, the Red Carpet gave us time to speak with “Lifetime Achievement Award” honoree, Stanley Tate, (former Chairman of the Resolution Trust Corporation, and writer of the Stanley Tate Florida Prepaid College Program); and with Kathryn & Bruce Orosz of ACT Productions (produced the Miami Beach Centennial Celebration Concert), who hinted about ACT Productions’ big July 4th event on the Beach.
Then there was William Pugh, security from AccurateEventGroup.Com, who wouldn’t give us the names of the celebrities he guards, but he stood just off to the side of the Red Carpet keeping them safe from annoying fans.
Episode 58 of “Alive on South Beach” opens with a shout out from Robin Roberts, and closes with a shout out from Chaka Khan.
And … be sure to read: “Inner Peace…It Isn’t Out There!” a novelesque memoire by Dena Stewart, available on Amazon (in print and Kindle), Barnes & Noble (in print and Nook)