Girl About Town 1/30

January 30, 2008 7:09 PM
by chipi [email]

Gorgeous weather all week long has made me feel like I'm on permanent vacation. Living in the city with no seasons sometimes has its benefits.

Every night (and day) this past weekend was filled with the return of familiar faces but also with the parting from some friendly ones. It's a tricky beast, but alas, it is the way of the city and what is at once so wonderful and heartbreaking about it.

That being said, last Friday got off to a kicked back start with a visit to the Spiegeltent to hear DHM, Conway and Jay-You do their thing on the decks under the stars. Aquabooty has really turned this Late Night DJ Session into the place to be for Miami's local house music who and who. Name-dropping aside, all of my favorite characters were there and having a great time, enjoying the traveling night club while it still lasts.

On Saturday afternoon, I did something almost unheard of and joined my fellow sports fans in the arena to watch the Heat beat the Pacers....I know, I know, it was only by two points but seriously, details.

Saturday night on the other hand was a flurry of fashion, fabric and all-around ferocity. All of Miami's hipsters, socialites and would-be celebrities descended upon the Stoli Hotel, an imaginary land of half naked models in high heels, battling designers and artists and free Stoli all night long. I'm still not sure if I dreamed this up or not.

The House of Diehl's Style Battle kept a semi-sober audience enthralled in the competition and some audience members went so far as to make certain obscene gestures at judges if their picks weren't made. The VIP rooms were kept extremely well guarded and with good reason. Each one was made to resemble a hotel suite, replete with a bed, chairs, night tables and featured lit display cases filled with bottles of flavored Stolichnaya Vodka.

The afterparty led a herd of thoroughly sloshed and impeccably dressed hipsters to The White Room Bar. The crowd around the door made for an unappetizing hassle and ultimately, my plans for the night required a certain degree of resistance from instant gratification. After stopping off for a quick drink at a dive bar for a friends birthday, I hit the sheets for a disco nap.

After a beat or two had passed I pulled myself out of bed for The Sleaze Show at Space. Every time I walk out onto the terrace I get the same visceral feeling that you just can't find anywhere else. The crowd produces some kind of electricity, the energy in the room is palpable and not to mention, delicious. When I arrived the dance floor was packed and Gervais was slaying on the decks. Everyone in the room was moving.

As if the pure sex in the atmosphere weren't enough, Cedric's Sleaze Show delivered with circus side show style dance numbers, stilt-walkers and little people in clown costume. While some have contended that Gervais' party is a tad too similar in concept to Sven Vath's Ibiza Freak Show, I forgive him any biting trespasses simply for bringing something new to the Terrace and ultimately Miami.

I let slip the dogs of lethargy and stayed in-doors until Tuesday night, saving up my energy to catch the ringleader of Miami folk culture, Jesse Jackson, at his weekly Tuesday night gig at Amendment XXI. This crowd and this vibe is not your regular happy hour hang out. The room is a sweet mix of sophisticated and shabby chic. The design district is the perfect back-drop to the anything goes sensibility and the ambiance is casual and sexy.

After years of playing to engaged and slightly obsessed local fans, Jesse is back with a vengeance and sounding better than I've ever heard him. His feel is a little difficult to define but suffice it to say that if Johnny Cash, Tom Waits and Saddle Creek ever bottled a whiskey, it would taste just like Jesse Jackson. He is a true troubadour and the King of the scene.

Speaking of scene royalty, Miami lost another musical family this week with the departure of Sam Friend and the Melon Cauliflowers. An indie rock prince in his own right, Friend is packing up and dragging his act up and down the West Coast for a few months, making the most of his youth and hopefully returning with a few useful battle scars.

The bands final show went down at Churchill's Pub and featured sets by Raffa and Rainer, Emily Westman, Rachel Goodrich and your's truly in a forgivable open mic ditty.

Though for some the weeks keep dragging on, this pick line up is evidence that Junkie's never have to wait for TGIF.

Weekly Picks

Thursday 1.31 - Nikki Beach Opening in Coconut Grove
And so it starts. Nikki is taking the beach party to the mainland and situating itself in the heart of the Grove. Tonight's White Party celebrates the grand opening and the beginning of what looks to be an offering of Nikki sophistication without the drive to the beach.

Friday 2.1 - Stereo Fridays @ Parkwest
This spot is quickly becoming one of my favorite Downtown hang outs. Smaller than Space but bigger than Rehab, Parkwest follows the Goldilocks standard, juuuuust right. The venue and the vibe is perfect for the good looking and energetic crowd that flood its gates every Friday night, it's not large enough to lose anyone for more than ten minutes and not so small you can't avoid being spotted by someone you'd rather miss.

Saturday 2.2 - GirlTalk @ Studio A AND Danny T @ Suite
If you've never tuned into GirlTalk, now is the time to scavenge a ticket or two to Studio A this Saturday night. This east coast sensation is famous for his innovative mash-ups, pairing tracks like Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" and Notorious B.I.G's "Juicy" to create dance-able genius. Not bad for a biomedical engineer turned DJ. This night should cut out a bit early so once he's stripped down to his undies (which GirlTalk has developed a reputation for), head over to Suite for Danny T and an evening where you can truly "be yourself". After years of flawless gigs, Tenaglia is one of those artists you can't really write about without feeling foolish. Yeah, he is that good.

Sunday 2.3
Morning Pick - Victor Calderone @ Gryphon
Calderone is slated as Saturday night entertainment, but unlike everything else going on this insanely overbooked night, this party goes from 10pm to 10am. I'd still recommend showing up around 2am, you never know when the decks will start to blur together in the DJ's line of sight and this night is sure to be packed, wall to wall.
Evening Revelrie - Chocolate Sundays @ Purdy Lounge
Sundays at Purdy take the cake for laid back beach bar living. With live music, main and back room vibing on different frequencies and not to mention their $5 Happy Meal Special (Jager Shot & a Miller High Life), you can't go wrong after a long weekend of heavy hopping.

Monday 2.4 - Lucky Strike Lanes
Fine dining, an energetic crowd, beach atmosphere and...bowling? Monday night you'll find me and my spent Junkies knocking down the pins at this trendiest of bowling alleys. The space marries a contemporary ambiance with retro accents and modern techy sophistication. It's slammed every week so make sure you claim your lanes early.

I just can't stop spinning...

In my iPod: Cajun Dance Party - Amylase. When Thom Yorke sticks his neck out for a band whose members are still in high school, you know it's worth a listen. Think The Strokes minus a bit of hipster vibe and up a few indie rock notches.

If you're on that local tip: Highrise - So Scandalous. Lately I've been on a bit of a hip hop bender. I'm pining for the days of old school storytelling and lo-fi production. Highrise is a welcome substitute, combining the Jazz and R&B records of old with the cultural sensibility of the nouveau Miami grimy.

On Celluloid...
I haven't been this excited for an adaptation in a while, but the Jury at Sundance has confirmed that Choke is everything I should expect it to be. Based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk (of Fight Club fame), Choke walked away from the film festival with the Special Jury Award for work by an ensemble performance. If this flick is anything like the novel, expect a dark and disheartening look at humanity, society and relationships. I can hardly wait.

You guys know the drill. Let me know where you're hanging out, let me know what you're into. Come over and say hi, ask me to take your picture (buy me a drink), whatever.

peace love and music,

chipi

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