MiamiNights - Miami Night Clubs, Nightlife

We've covered the idiocy of Omni Mall's ownership in the past when they planned to build four high rise condominiums on the site, but it looks like they've finally done something right. The newly-unveiled Omni Offices site plans show much of the north and west side of the building being used as retail, along with office space around the south side where the Art Institute of Miami currently resides. What an amazing, ground breaking concept: using a mall as a mall in an area with few malls. The exterior looks incredible too, and I think the added parking will nicely complement the nearby Performing Arts Center. I'm personally tumescent about this because it means more retail within walking distance of my cavern. Bring it!

All Purpose Dark says Sushi Samba has announced they will be opening an "ultralounge" (god I hate that word) at Midtown Miam, which I imagine means the Shops at Midtown. The place will be called Sugarcane, which one already exists in New York so the concept isn't exactly new. If it is indeed opening at the Shops, I think this is exactly the kind of business the retail location needs. More cafes, bookstores, bars and lounges need to move into the available spaces. It potentially could be a nice alternative to the Washington Avenue strip, or, dare I say it, an alternative to Coconut Grove and CocoWalk (of course in a better, non-douchy kind of way). The place will open around Winter 2009, which I'm guessing is the beginning on 2009 not the end.

And do I think the concept will be a success? Ask the people over at Domo Japones, whose Thursday nights are the talk of the town. I do have one question, will Sugarcane be open during the day/evening serving food?

I'll admit it, I'm a fucking hypocrite. I always preach about sticking it to the man and supporting local business. But fuck me if I can't get enough of Starbucks, so much so that I know who are the best baristas in town. Plus, I'm a fucking pussy because Cuban coffee is just way too strong for me. Well lucky for me a brand new Starbucks opened on Biscayne Boulevard and 30th Street, just four blocks from my new place of a residence. It opened on Saturday, I know because they have a Polaroid picture of their very first customer, which I'll admit I'm a bit jealous it wasn't me.

Downtown dwellers rejoice! Midtown is extremely convenient but discount big box retail shopping is a bore. According to a Midtown press release (warning: PDF), many more stores are in store for this sprawling outdoor mall. Apparently contracts have been inked with Segafredo, the trendy Lincoln Road cafe and super gay meat market; Ocean Drive and the new Ocean Drive Cafe, an upscale and surely douchey eatery; JC Penny, where I buy my discount hosiery; and Sushi Samba, which will now be my go-to place for sushi, since I find Sushi Siam annoyingly remote and expensive.

If all this happens, I think the rest of the spaces will fill very quickly. This will accelerate the already rapid rate of improvement in this neighborhood and make it something close to livable. Awesomeness.

Businesses are finally beginning to fill up the large amount of empty commercial space found on the East Side and around Midtown. Some examples of note:

Futbol Inn brings indoor soccer to the downtown area with their location at 15th street and North Miami Ave. The huge space (inside an old warehouse) offers artificial grass and more. Check out their site here. Must be a big business: this is the second such effort I'm aware of, and I don't even like soccer.

Mario the Baker finally left that terrible, run-down location that we reviewed two years ago. Their new spot, a few blocks up the road in the belly of a newer apartment building, seems to have improved both business and their image. It's sparkling clean and looks like somewhere that you'd get a good meal rather than salmonella.

A generic pet supplies place (PuppyPalace?) has moved in next to Bin18. I hope to get Molly a little noose in case I get weird during WMC and she needs to "escape."

I'm pretty happy. Will the people with jobs will displace the people who poop in the bushes? We shall see. I think we should strive to be like Chicago and their shining example of crack deals being captured on Google Street View.

Update: And in other news from the "unexpectedly happy department": existing home sales rose dramatically in February. I know a few people that are shopping for a place right now, so hopefully this is a national trend we're seeing.

Update 2: How could I forget? The midtown Staples is now open! It smells really sterile and weird, enjoy it while it lasts.