Barton G. Weiss (born May 15, 1956) is a Miami-based event designer, producer, restaurateur, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

Barton G. Weiss
BornMay 15, 1956
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, restaurateur, event planner, author
ChildrenTyler & Jadin
Parent(s)Norman and Eleanor Weiss
Websitebartong.com

Early life

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Weiss was born in Philadelphia, on May 15, 1956, the son of Norman and Eleanor Weiss.

Career

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Weiss lived in New York[1] before moving to Miami and founding his eponymous event production business in 1993.[2] Weiss is a former professional ice skater.[3] After his athletic career ended, he moved into costume and set design. His previous clients included Chita Rivera and Cher.[4] In 1993, Weiss moved to Miami to help a friend produce a charity gala,[1] which led him to form his own events production company. His restaurants are recognized as a "Willy Wonka-style" dining experience.[5]

Barton G.

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Barton G. provides events management and production, weddings, off-site catering, destination management, and restaurants.[6] In addition to private clients, the company has created more than 20,000 events for celebrities, Fortune 500 companies, and sports associations, including BMW, Giorgio Armani, NBC, Microsoft, Neiman Marcus, Cartier, the NFL, and PGA.[6]

Barton G. The Restaurant - Miami

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He opened Barton G. The Restaurant (previous Kerry Simon's Starfish) in 2002. It's known for its theatrical, over-the-top presentations.[7] The restaurant has been described as “the Cirque de Soleil meets Ultra Music Festival meets the Indy 500 of the dining world - with the quality and flavors of a Michelin-Starred restaurant.”[8] In 2017, the restaurant was included in OpenTable's list of the country's top 100 "hot spots."[9]

Barton G. The Restaurant - Los Angeles

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Following the success of the Miami location, Weiss opened the second location of Barton G. The Restaurant in Los Angeles in June 2014.[10]

Barton G. The Restaurant - Chicago

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A third Barton G. restaurant opened in Chicago, in February 2019,[11] inside the former Sullivan's Steakhouse on N. Dearborn. It closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other Ventures

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In 2009, Weiss opened Prelude by Barton G. located inside the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.[12] In 2010, he took over operations of the Casa Casuarina Versace Mansion to open The Villa by Barton G., a boutique hotel and restaurant destination.[13]

Media

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Weiss has appeared as a guest judge, and guest blogger for Bravo's Top Chef.[14] He was an inaugural member of Town and Country magazine's Wedding Advisory Board.[15]

Philanthropy

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Weiss co-founded the Barton G. Weiss Kids Hear Now Foundation with Jill Viner (former wife of Cliff Viner) in 2009 when he learned his daughter was born deaf and would require cochlear implants.[4] Partnering with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for the past 20 years, the Cochlear Implant Program has helped restore hearing to more than 1,000 deaf children and adults. The Barton G. Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center, which opened in 2010 and is housed at the UHealth Ear Institute, emphasizes the viability of cochlear implants and auditory verbal therapy as an option for deaf children to become part of the hearing world.[16]

Personal life

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Weiss is divorced from Bobby Alpert; they have two children.[17]

Books

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  • The Big Dish: Recipes to Dazzle and Amaze from America's Most Spectacular Restaurant, ISBN 9780789327208

References

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  1. ^ a b Altman, Riki (15 September 2011). "Barton G. The Restaurant Gets a Facelift". Miami New Times.
  2. ^ Admin, IMSA (5 June 2014). "Barton G. Collaborates With IMSA For Premium TUDOR Paddock Club Hospitality Experience". IMSA.
  3. ^ Cutler, Danielle (1 July 2011). "The Robb Reader: Barton G. Weiss".
  4. ^ a b Cademartori, Lorraine (22 October 2010). "Life In Full". Forbes.
  5. ^ "The Fantastic World Of Barton G". HuffPost. 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  6. ^ a b Bride, Polka Dot (23 April 2012). "What Would They Know? Barton G Weiss". Polka Dot Bride - Inspiring Weddings.
  7. ^ "Insta-Worthy!". VIE Magazine. 3 May 2018.
  8. ^ Almeida-Shore, Dr Mary Jo (19 April 2018). "Barton G. The Restaurant – Now THAT's "Dinnertainement"". Miami's Community News.
  9. ^ "South Florida's Louie Bossi, Kaluz, El Camino ranked among OpenTable's national 'hot spots' - South Florida Business Journal". Archived from the original on 2017-03-22.
  10. ^ "The Kitchen Sink: Flashy Florida restaurateur hits L.A. with Barton G." 17 June 2014.
  11. ^ Selvam, Ashok (13 December 2018). "New River North Restaurant With Lavish Props Will Now Open in February". Eater Chicago.
  12. ^ Klein, Lee (14 January 2010). "Prelude by Barton G. at the Arsht Center is tops". Miami New Times.
  13. ^ "The Villa by Barton G. Reopens at Versace Mansion with Boutique Hotel, Restaurant, Event Space". Miami.com. 17 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Barton G: Guest Blogger". Bravo TV Official Site. 13 July 2007.
  15. ^ "Town & Country Wedding Advisor Board - Tara Guérard Soirée". www.taraguerardsoiree.com.
  16. ^ "Ear Institute - Otolaryngology at Miller School of Medicine". otolaryngology.med.miami.edu. May 2024.
  17. ^ Lambiet, Jose (April 24, 2015). "Insurance Lawsuit". Miami Herald. Bobby Alpert, the ex-boyfriend of 23 years of high-profile Miami Beach restaurateur Barton G. Weiss and the father of their two children...
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