MiamiNights - Miami Night Clubs, Nightlife

Hello, hello Miami Nights. It feels good to call you home.

My name is Carmen, my friends call me "Murphy", my fellow creatures of the night call me "CarStar", and now Miami Nights is calling me "The New Blogger".

I wanted to take this time to introduce myself properly to the family in hopes that they'll keep me around for a while. I'll be keeping you posted on my favorite hot spots and the new ones that have yet to have the pleasure of my judgment. I can be sweet, but I can also be so so cruel, so try to stay on my good side. I like to consider myself the "Where's Waldo'" of the club community -- you never know where I'll be. So unless something amazing is going on, I probably won't tell you about it 'til the next morning (in a drunk haze hopefully). So here's your how-to-find-CarStar* guide:

me in the day.me in the night.

try not to get confused.

So the next time your at the beach-day or night-and theres a girl on the table screaming the lyrics to Journey's Don't Stop Believing join me for the chorus "and for a smile they can share the night!"

I love my bartenders. They keep me happy, get me drunk and even cut me some slack on my tab. One of my favorite bartenders has to be Sarah T. (she's the one on the right), formerly of Studio A, who finished her last week of bartending EVER at The Vagabond last week. She is leaving me for Los Angeles to become a stylist (which she is actually very good at doing). So in celebration of all the drunken times we spent together, we'll be wishing her farewell tonight at Fridays at The Vagabond. Stop by and say goodbye!

I'll miss you Sarah :( 

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?

Oh Miami how you fail to learn from you past mistakes. Cost overuns on this and that, bailouts for PAC centers and now we had the wool pulled over our eyes by some fake cops called Wackenhut's. The company over billed Miami Dade $6.2 millions smakcers over 3 years and we never noticed.

What's worse is that the inquiry took over 3 years to complete and who knows what documents went un-investigated after we found out the top Wackenhut company manager was shredding documents. Welcome to Miami, the finest Banana Republic in the 21st century.

UPDATE: Carlos Miller has a great post on the Wackenhut debacle and thievery. A street theater was conducted with a faux Wackenhut executive carrying a briefcase of our money followed by giant pointing fingers and "eyes". Go check out Carlos Miller's blog for a great set of pics and summary of the scandal.

If you've noticed, our weekly post count has dropped a bit. Well there is a good reason for that: Lackner, B.A.C. and myself are way to busy at the moment that we don't always have the time to post, and things don't seem to be letting up any time soon. So in the spirit of keeping this charade going we are looking for new writers. If you are interested in nightlife, music, art, fashion, culture and politics, e-mail us at miaminightsblog [at] gmail.com. We aren't looking for the next Dave Barry here, just people with a lot of character and strong opinions. Resume and clips not required, but definitely a plus. 

God, if you miss the Wynwood Art Walk this Saturday, you should seriously just shoot yourself because you are such a fucking loser. This Saturday is shaping up to be one of the craziest Second Saturdays since, well, Basel. Add to the list of must-do the Museum Quality exhibition at Bas Fisher Invitational. It's an exhibition of the works of Alvaro Ilizarbe, who is best known as the guy behind Freegums, which if you've ever been to any of Miami's "hipster" parties, you always see a sea of Freegums T-shirts everywhere you turn (you know you are!). I ain't hatin' though, the designs are sweet.

Anyway, this is gonna be one heck of an art/dance party because Chicago Ghettotech DJ Funk will be on hand to provide the sounds while Bronques of LastNightsParty.com will be on hand to snap pictures of all you fuckin' whores out there. Which, let me interject here: I know there are a number of you who go anywhere Bronques goes 'cause you think you aren't shit unless he takes a picture of you. Get over it, you're yesterday's news five hours after he posted up his gallery. Really people!

Back to talking about the event. It should be a blast and the after party it at ze Poplife (I like saying that in a French accent for some odd reason). And yes, camera whores, Bronques will be there as well. I leave you with a viral commercial (?) for Ilizarbe's Freegum brand done by and starring Bronques, of course.

I know, this is more of an event rather than a great user blog post from our sceneboi Ferosh Vernacular discussing something or reviewing an evening but Rock the Bells is a pretty damn big event and if I could avoid writing anything detailed I'm all for it. Click on the link below to check out the event which has a lot of great acts this year!

Click here to Check out the Community Blog/Event post by user ajculture.

So I usually get my hair cut at Contesta Rock Hair on the Beach, but shit if I don't hate having to drive over the causeway, find parking and walk (usually hungover) several blocks to Espanola Way. So when an e-mailed popped up in my inbox from salon owner/stylist Danny Dillon asking us to check out his salon, Shampology, in the Design District I thought "Why not?" I needed a haircut, badly. I had neglected to cut my hair for a while because of all the moving around I had recently done and the new job I started. Plus, it was the Design District, just 5 minutes from where I live and that meant I didn't have to drive to the Beach.

The salon is tucked away in one of the many indoor retail spaces far away from street view that if you didn't know it was located there you'd completely miss it. The salon itself is modern looking yet warm enough that it's inviting, but I couldn't help but notice how empty it was. The salon basically consists of Dillon and his assistant, which I don't mind; I hate loud and busy salons. However, I had to ask Dillon if he is able to get any business this way, but he insist that he works mostly on referral service and faithful clientel.

There is no doubt that Dillon is a talented stylist, he worked for several years at Ego Trip Salon in Miami Beach, often considered one of the best, if not the best salon, in Miami. Normally stylist cut my hair in 10 to 15 minutes, quickly rushing me out of the chair for the next client. I hate feeling of being rushed and so it was great to see that Dillon did not rush the appointment, in fact he took the time to talk to me about exactly what I wanted, cut my hair meticulously and even gave me tips on styling and hair maintenance.

So if you are looking for a great one-on-one consultation and cut, definitely check out Shampology and call 305-576-1530 for an appointment. The salon is located at 180 NE 39th St., Design District, with free valet parking across the street at Brosia -- take that South Beach!

I haven't been this fucking excited for a Wynwood Art Walk since probably Basel. Saturday, Miami Art Space will be hosting Hexagon (a hex is gone), a collective exhibition featuring Friends With You, Bhakti Baster, Jose Mertz, Kiki Valdes, Purvis Young, Phillip Toledano and 1st Ave Machine. Friends With You and Baxter will be doing an interactive dreamworld playground, which if you've NEVER had the chance to play in our of FWY's playground, it's probably the funnest time you'll ever have during an art exhibition.

The exhibition is brough to you by arc. and sponsored by Hennessy, Media Stage, Bawls Energy Drink, Open Zine and Leemer. And in case you don't know where the space is located, it's at 244 NW 35th St., Miami. Also the afterparty is at Poplife at White Room. Can't wait for Saturday!

My favorite new song isn't actually new at all. "It's For You" by the defunct band Out Hud is the perfect mixture of pop glossiness, new wave appeal and house undertones. The song was originally released in 2005 on their Let Us Never Speak of It Again album, but it still sounds pretty shiny and new that it can still match to to today's electro-house craze.

If you must know, Out Hud broke up in 2005 and the band members went on to other successful projects like LCD Soundsystem and !!!. But let us enjoy the brilliance that is "It's For You":

As far as ego and diva behavior goes, Mr. Kanye West takes the cake. Don't get me wrong Kanye, I can't wait for the day that I'm so rich I can afford my very own assistant that I can throw scalding hot coffee on when he or she doesn't get my order right -- that's the day I know I've made it. But Kanye, you've taken so much pride out of being a grade-A asshole, you expect everyone to just coyly say "Oh, that little rascal Kanye is at it again!"

You've got to realize something, you're behavior isn't amussing, in fact, it undermines your work. I'd like you more if you didn't bitch every time someone has something bad to say about you. In fact, had it been me, I'd given you a lower score. Why? I've seen your light show before when it was called the Daft Punk Alive Tour. You probably get off stealing from French electro artists, because you've even extended it to your music videos. You like to call yourself an "artist", saying what you do isn't pop but "pop art." I'm sorry, what? Since when did rapping about expensive cars, how awesome you are and the girls you bang constitute as art? Fact is, as a rapper you are rhymes are pretty weak in comparison to others and in reality you are all about studio wizardry. And I give props where props are due, as a far as music production goes you are definitely strong on that point -- well, except in the case when you castrate one of the best dance songs perhaps ever created.

So when you roll into town tomorrow to perform at the American Airlines Arena, leave your bullshit at the door, 'cause you ain't as great as you think you are. 

If your hankering for some damn good house music then you better be at The Vagabond tonight. Little Louie Vega will be bringing us the housy goodness and if you've ever caught the house music master during WMC you know he is gonna bring what we sorely need here in Miami....good house music DJ'ing.

We are receiving initial reports that Studio A has closed for good. This has been confirmed by staff. More details as they emerge. Watch this space!

UPDATE: The Miami New Times reports that Studio A will stay open at least through all of its already scheduled shows that run until the end of June (yes, this includes Ladytron). After that the future is a little more hazy, but I'm sure if the venue's luck changes the owners might consider keeping the place open. So if you want to see Studio A stay in it for the long haul you know what you need to do: actually stop by there, support shows and spend some money. Also a new stable weekly night probably wouldn't hurt Studio A's chances of staying open.

I had heard rumors that the war on drugs had gone underwater, but I didn't know it had gotten so serious: this article on Fox News describes how the United States Coast Guard has captured 42 drug subs in the past 6 months. That's more than the last five years combined! Since the government can't do anything right, I would imagine that's maybe 1-2% of the total. The war on drugs and the response by organized crime is, to me, the most interesting example of capitalism there is.

So this weekend, if you're one of those people who likes to practice self-directed cosmetic psychopharmacology, turn a dilated eye to the endless expanse of blue-black brackish sea, the endless march of the waves to shore, and remember where it came from. And also buy a Colombian a snorkel.

As an aside, I swear I can hear the whine of a turbo diesel engine toward the end of the video. It makes sense that they would use diesel (after all, most power boats use diesel powerplants, and many race boats use repurposed automobile engines), but it's not exactly what I expect a sub to sound like. I wonder if they are running on waste vegetable oil to save money and not harm the environment.

Is electro going to meld with grindcore deathmetal chaos? This track, brought to my attention by our faithful, well-traveled reader SouthPointE, is quite a surprise:

What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments section!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    New Video directed by Romain Gavras, for  Justice. Just goes to show, if you listen to French house, you will become a ravenous vandal, with a merciless taste for violence and matching gang hoodies. What irked me throughout the vid is the ubiquitous Cross, and all the associations of religion and morality one would normally make with the biggest Christian icon (goodness and non-sinning) totally being thrown on its ass. I've wondered the true reasoning behind Justice's glorious use of the cross.Is it an ironic twist on all the (bad) music associated directly with Christianity? Or a clever marketing ploy to attract an instant, already brainwashed religious demographic ready to jump on anything ever so godly? Both? Maybe more? Any thoughts? 

 

Video via FUBIZ via DYT 

enjoy, and FEAR JESUS! 

I've been a bit discouraged with Miami hiphop of late. Around a year ago everything devolved into the typical d-boy crap with recycled boring beats that didn't really take the art form anywhere in contrast with some earlier 305 music. However, things appear to be picking up: more artists are getting signed, and Rick Ross is flattening the rest of the industry with his new album. One example of this renaissance is this track, Miami by Young Gotti. Take a listen. It goes: "I ain't sold a million records / or won a Grammy / but I've seen a million dollars / worth of nose candy."

Sorry about the abrupt start to the track. I had to trim out Khaled hollering like a retard.

Holler! So today I stopped by the offices of Miami Modern Luxury to pick up their latest issue. "Why?" you ask. Because Jipsy (better known as Nefarious Girl) and myself were featured in an article about Miami nightlife and photography. Now, Jipsy and I rather stay behind the cameras, but I got to say I don't look half bad. Eh? Probably the Photoshop. Anyway, here is the PDF so all you can read how great Miami Nights and Nefarious Girl is. The issue hits newsstands on Tuesday. Pick one up and you can draw funny mustaches on me.

Straight from the Community Blogs, our new favorite sceneboi (why the hell aren't the rest of you doing this?) Ferosh Vernacular recounts his night with friends at the "Quinceanera" party held at Vagabond last night. Poofy shoulders, booty music and pizza delivery and all:

Last night this we headed over to The Vag(abond) for the "Quinceanera" party. While I normally make it a point not to frequent teen nights (18 and over), the music draw had me at hello. So the 3 of us (Gui, Mo, and I) met w/ Thomas (yes- T now I know that "call me when you're close means prior to exiting the highway) and ventured back in time to the time of puffy white dresses, tiaras, and "pop that coochie".

Click here to read the entire, hilarious post

From all accounts, that was a pretty weird party. Very.. authentic. If you don't believe us, check out Chipi's photos on Cooljunkie.

And if you feel the need to express your Miami Nightlife woes, pros, rants, overtly insulting opinion of clubbers you too can blog by signing up using the account control in the top right corner.

Gasp! I know, promoting something at Pawn Shop. Who would have thought? But the people behind the Slutty Cinco de Mayo party are good people who always guarantee you fun times. And with $5 tequila shots, $5 beers and $75 bottles, how can you go wrong? Plus DJ Obi T. and Mike Deuce will be there to get you sweatin'. This is of course is if you don't have Radiohead tickets, but even if you do, stop by afterward, you'll already be out.