So, being that I have a gay best friend it was complete obligation for me to go out to the Miami Beach gay clubs. My adventure was interesting to say the least.
We started off at Score on Lincoln Road and I was shocked to see that Lincoln Road for the most part was dead. Now this was a Saturday night at about 2am. Maybe that's normal for the strip but I certainly didn't expect it to be that way. Anyways, we made our way in after paying an $8.00 cover and the club was divided in two. It had mainly gay guys dancing to house-like techno on the first floor and a "ladies night" on the second floor. Since my friends and I were celebrating my male gay friends birthday we stayed on the first floor and tried to make the best of the situation. But, unfortunately A) there were hardly any people dancing and B) The music was definitely not what I like to get down to. So, we quickly realized that we needed to hit up a new destination.
We decided to drive over to Twist to take our chances before the night was over. This was an extremely motivating idea since for this venue there was no cover. It was great! It was so much fun I am convinced that any gay male would find something to satisfy his every urge. The only bad thing I can say is that in the room where hip hop was supposed to be playing there was none. But, there were many other rooms and many other genres represented including Spanish music and an outdoor area. To top it off in a backroom I came across half naked guys in Speedos with muscles coming out of places I didn't even think was possible rubbing and dancing against potential tippers.. It was thrilling to say the least. I mean these guys were hot. Gay but hot. (straight girl perspective).
Unfortunately, one of the girls we went with didn't feel as comfortable as I felt around all these apparent homo erotic displays so it may not be for everyone. But, I found all the guys to be super friendly, easy going, and out for a good time and it was nice for a change to feel completely free of any potential rapists approaching you with the typical sleazy lines or maybe it was just a false comfort who knows?! What I do know is that I would most definitely return to Twist and get down with the get down. You know what I mean. Score is located at 727 Lincoln Road & Meridian Ave and Twist is located at 1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach.
"My adventure was interesting to say the least."
no, it really wasn't.
The Miami club scene changed for me when I first went to Spiderpussy at Lounge 16 way back when. After that experience, pretty much every club on South Beach seemed lame. The lines, the lists, and the expensive drinks all started to lose their allure once I found out I could have a great time without all the overhead.
As for the token gay clubs, are there any other non-staple gay clubs anyone can name? The only I know off are the two mentioned in the post.
I guess Twilo might have been a gay club, but it was hardly ever open and generally off the radar. Alan T was at the door one night while Lacker and I were staggering home from Studio A. Mr. T. told us to go inside and check it out. The only two things I remember were that the sound and light systems were really awesome, and the shirtless gay guys at the urinals doing bumps of coke (or meth, or MDMA) in the open with complete disregard for discretion.
CarStar*
Yes. Thursday nights.
Twist is a landmark in clubland. What they have done as far as longevity is remarkable. Whether or it's your cup of tea or not, the mere fact that they have survived all the incarnations of South Beach, and are still going strong, says a lot. Score just celebrated its 10 year anniversary, which is also a notable feat in the ever fickle nightlife world. The recipe is sure fire, no cover charge, reasonably priced cocktails, and cater to your crowd (in this case be sure to get hot go-go boys to dance in as little as possible- a good way to achieve this is to get those hot illegal immigrants who don't speak the language. The promise of lots of cash, free drinks, and in-house fellatio goes along way).
The difference between Twist, Score, The Palace Bar, and more recently Halo (which I will say has been a much needed breath of fresh air) is that these are establishments that cater to gay clientele every day of the week which differs entirely from the weekly parties that cater to gay men and women. In layman’s terms- gay bar vs. gay parties like "Simple Life" Thursday at Buck 15, “Fuse” (which is an upscale monthly girl party), "Click" Sunday at Dek 23. While these are great parties that happen once a week, you'd be hard pressed to find a gay south of 8th on any other night of the week (except perhaps on Thursday for "Hot Mess" at BED- which idk if that is still happening, since I rarely go out during mid-week anymore [damn that career]).
As for me, I find that the best parties are geared to the liberally minded individual with no need to put a label on the event. “Back Door Bamby” is the party that perhaps best encapsulates this kind of event, although I hear the “Chat Noir” Monday at Dream has that same bacchanal feel. I wonder though if it was intentional to call the party black cat in homage to the party that set it all off back in the day (also on Mondays) Fat Black Pussycat. Things that make me go hmmm….
On Saturday nights. Now talk about a fun party! Shelly Novak did the door, Abel (aka Rosabel) spinning, Power Infiniti & Co setting everyone free... it was the closest I have ever come to euphoria at a nightclub. The claim to fame was it was the world only weekly circuit party and boy was it. The memories will forever outlast the fact that they turned it into an Office Depot (I'm still recovering from buying toner in the same place where I shared a bottle of champagne with Kristine W).
Sunday night "Anthem"
Simply fabulous!