MiamiNights - Miami Night Clubs, Nightlife

When the Miami New Times awarded Government Center the Best Place to People-Watch in Miami, while readers picked the obvious choice of South Beach, I whole-heartedly agreed with the New Times. I ride the Metrorail everyday from Coconut Grove to Brickell and you don't have to tell me that Metro riders are some of the most fascinating people.

From amputated homeless people to baby mommas with way too many baby daddies (I mean, at what point do you realize: "Shit, having all these babies isn't working out for me"). But today I encountered my favorite character. I call him homeless street performer. He travels from car to car always annoucing "I will now perform 'Killing Me Softly' for you." And yes, it's always "Killing Me Softly" and no he isn't a good violin player. I mean I'm no audiophile, but I pretty sure the instrument is out of tune or he really just can't play for shit. After his brief performance he asks everyone for a "donation." This, of course, being Miami, everyone just sort of ignores him, clutching their belongings harder, either pretending to be listening to their iPods or talking on their cellphones.

Yes, homeless street performer, you are my new favorite character. You join crazy meth-addicted crackwhore who rides the Metromover. You don't understand, crackwhore is a skeleton of what once could have been a fine looking woman. She wears a ratty wig that's never put on properly, exposing the first two inches of her real hair and has lipstick smeared all over hear lips and general vicinity as if she hasn't seen a mirror in years. Yep, homeless street performer and meth-addicted crackwhore are a sight to be seen. Oh, maybe I should introduced them!

Maybe its because my family is ultra-liberal, but dammit if the bleeding heart liberal in me doesn't love Al Gore's Current television channel. It's basically a channel where viewers submit content to be aired. A few clips on Miami have made it, but it's painfully obvious there is a lack of interest here compared to other cities. So I guess I'm usually happy or surprised anytime anything about Miami gets the go ahead to air. Past notable videos include one on Miamian's response to Tom Tancredo's racist banter and another on the gentrification of Wynwood. Here is a more lighthearted video on a group of skaterboarders spending 48 hours in Miami. Skaters paradise? Probably.

Clearly, The side effects of basel are yet to be understood. Here is a tire catapult/diety. Found at the empty lot @ 24 st & nw 2ave.

The Herald is reporting that Noels wind field is expanding and will clip South Florida. The weather here at my office in Doral has been pretty grim all day so I'm guessing tonight on the beach will be just as crappy. Expect a wet and windy Halloween...Nice

[photo via Miami Herald]

Things you do not expect to see in Overtown:

1. Library
2. Car with four matching wheels
3. Bicycle (aside from those stolen from crying little girls)
4. Police officers
   
5. Bounce house

I swear I saw some freckle-faced flaxen-haired white kids playing on the bounce house too, but when I came back they were gone, so I'm assuming it was a figment of my overactive imagination. Anyone know what this event was about?

For those who haven't heard yet, I've given up drinking. For now, I suppose. I'm trying to live a healthier lifestyle, and it's bad enough I go out almost every night of the week. Well my new found sobriety now allows me to wake up a decent hour. Hence why I am excited when events like Kraftworks gives me something to do to fill the void now that I no longer sleep until 2 p.m.

This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., everyone's favorite thrift/clothes exchange store Rag Trade Happy Clothing Co. is hosting Kraftworks, an open-air market featuring local artisans and craftspeople. Stephanie, owner of Rag Trade, informed me there will be airbrushing, Mongolian cluster painting (WTF?), a book exchange, a massage table, origami classes and more. You can also peruse around the store which is be having a "hot fire sale" according to Stephanie. And there will be music too, provided by DJs Lolo (Sweat Records/Circa Saturdays), Kentsoundz, Some Jerk, Madame Turk, Rachel Goodrich and Rabbit in the Hat.

And for those who don't know, Rag Trade is located in the Design District at 4600 NE 2nd Ave.