What We're About
The WMC '07 Miami Guide gives an insider's peek at this year's Winter Music Conference, serving up daily event previews, DJ profiles, insider reports, and audio/video clips.
Tips
Rag Trade Happy Clothing Co
| where: | 4600 NE 2nd Ave, Suite 6 |
| links: | www.myspace.com/ragtradeco |
| phone: | 305.573.1478 |
Why buy new clothes when you can trade your old gear for some fresh threads? Rag Trade, located in the heart of the Design District, has the right concept: both ladies and gents can bring in their clothing (in good condition, natch) and offer them up for cash or trade. If vintage isn't your thing, you can also shop new, as this independent boutique boasts an intriguing array of local, environmentally conscious designers.
March 20, 2007, 12:15 PM
Mac's Club Deuce
| where: | 222 14th St, Miami Beach |
| phone: | 305.531.6200 |
A dank, down-and-dirty watering hole in the middle of South Beach, the Deuce is one of those bars that may scare off the uninitiated. But do proceed, as the motley assortment of characters — old regulars grilling the scene with hawk eyes, the occasional drunken celeb, trannies and tanned hardbodies nursing a nightcap after a club spree — promises plenty of trippy eye candy. The drinks are cheap and stiff, just how we like 'em — and although the bar closes at 5am, it reopens three hours later for those of you who are still going strong.
March 20, 2007, 11:29 AM
The Standard
| where: | 40 Island Ave, Miami Beach |
| links: | www.standardhotel.com |
| phone: | 305.673.1717 |
An oasis hidden at one end of the scenic Venetian Causeway, the Standard provides an excellent nearby getaway from the brouhaha on the Beach. This is a spa hotel, so it's the perfect indulgence if too much afterhours action has you in need of mud baths, wall-of-sound showers, or "hydrotherapy" treatments. But if low-key is more your style, a cold cocktail in your private outdoor soaking tub or by the pool watching the crimson sunset should suffice. Be sure to swing by to catch Miambient, the International Convergence of Ambient, Downtempo, and Visual Music, where every afternoon from 6 to 8pm, Don Julio offers free tequila tastings to complement the Tequila Sunset Sessions. And on Saturday, 4pm to midnight, Flavorpill hosts our own Miambient Sessions, featuring surprise guests.
March 16, 2007, 04:21 PM
PS14
| where: | 28 NE 14th St |
| links: | www.ps14.com |
| phone: | 305.358.3600 |
Drink prices around town are getting ludicrous, but PS14 still keeps them reasonable. That also goes for the unpretentious interior here: concrete, some couches, and a pool table will do. DJs and live acts cater to the indie scene, while the outdoor patio often plays host to multimedia events, art shows, and film screenings. Occasionally, when the spirits are at full force, there might even be some dancing within PS14's narrow lounge space.
March 16, 2007, 04:09 PM
Sweat Records
| where: | 5501 NE 2nd Ave |
| links: | www.sweatrecordsmiami.com |
| phone: | 305.758.5862 x5 |
Owned by local DJ, promoter, and overall culture-monger Lauren "Lolo" Reskin, Sweat Records is as crucial to Miami's music scene as the hallowed stage in Churchill's, the bar where the shop is now located. Crate-diggers find a solid, rotating collection of vinyl here, along with a smorgasbord of reasonably priced CDs — plus designer toys, indie magazines, t-shirts, and concert tickets.
March 16, 2007, 03:55 PM
Karu & Y
| where: | 71 NW 14th St |
| links: | www.karu-y.com |
| phone: | 305.403.7850 |
A new and grandiose restaurant/nightlife complex, Karu & Y is a massive temple of hedonism situated in that shady neck of the city where downtown's glimmering beacon meets the urban underbelly. This is as surreal as Miami gets, where cascades deluge the walls at the club's entrance, and deep-pocketed VIPs dine on dishes like oxtail lasagna with foie gras. For our purposes, it may be wisest just to grab a whiskey and lounge outdoors at the Tottem Gardens, a 12,000-square-foot paradise of lush vegetation, rivers, and private cabanas.
March 16, 2007, 03:26 PM
Transit Lounge
| where: | 729 SW 1st Ave |
| links: | www.transitlounge.us |
| phone: | 305.377.4628 |
Fair drink prices, regular bookings for live music, and attentive bartenders — Transit has its formula down pat, period. And really, what more do you need?
March 16, 2007, 03:14 PM
S&S Diner
| where: | 1757 NE 2nd Ave, Downtown |
| phone: | 305.373.4291 |
With all the condos going up in the neighborhood, places like the S&S are struggling for survival. But this historically preserved art-deco structure, built in 1938, hasn't lost its charm or its loyal patrons. It's a great stop for a quick and relatively cheap lunch — meatloaf, stuffed bell peppers, hamburgers, and so on. Grab a seat at the U-shaped counter and eavesdrop on the chit chat between local journalists and politicos to get a grip on the latest news of the day.
March 16, 2007, 02:52 PM
Studio A
| where: | 60 NE 11th St |
| links: | www.studioamiami.com |
| phone: | 305.358.7625 |
Studio A is a bit of an oddity on the 11th Street entertainment corridor. While other spaces here cater to the cheesier end of the club scene, this venue — decked out with chandeliers and multihued lights — has made its name with rock acts like the Walkmen, the Dears, and Art Brut. During WMC, though, it's anything goes, with the week's gigs ranging from drum 'n bass (Metalheadz) to breaks (Craze Bass Sessions) to electro-house and techno (Get Physical Miami, Crosstown Rebels' Get Lost).
March 16, 2007, 02:44 PM
La Sandwicherie
| where: | 229 14th St, Miami Beach |
| links: | www.lasandwicherie.com |
| phone: | 305.532.8934 |
There are many reasons why La Sandwicherie is the best sandwich joint on the Beach. Here, you can make your own concoction at a reasonable price, and all the ingredients, from the baguettes to the cheeses, are consistently fresh and tasty. Service is no hassle; just walk up to the outdoor counter and place your order — although finding an open stool may be a bit trickier. Better yet, on any typically hot Miami day, the light sprinklers overhead will surely help mitigate those sweaty tantrums. And best of all, La Sandwicherie is open till 5am for post-clubbing munchies.
March 16, 2007, 02:32 PM
Purdy Lounge
| where: | 1811 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach |
| links: | www.purdylounge.com |
| phone: | 305.531.4622 |
Purdy's a good spot for the early evening hours. Gear up with a game of pool or hunker down in a comfy sofa for a game of backgammon, while sipping a refreshing Erdinger to cool you down from the sticky heat. Chocolate Sundays are particularly scrumptious, attracting a more cultivated crowd and offering mighty DJ sets courtesy the indomitable Second String Stunnas, performing four on the decks.
March 16, 2007, 02:21 PM
A La Folie
| where: | 516 Espanola Way, Miami Beach |
| links: | www.alafoliecafe.com |
| phone: | 305.538.4484 |
Nestled near an independent movie theater on South Beach's most charming little street, A La Folie is a genuine crêperie that tears a page from France's Brittany region. The crêpes are delicately made of buckwheat — or sarrasin, for you Francophiles — and stuffed with everything under the sun, from classic fillings (ham, egg, and cheese) to guilty pleasures (Nutella and banana). This is also the ideal spot to nurse that hangover over a light brunch and café au lait.
March 09, 2007, 11:46 PM
Buck15
| where: | 707 Lincoln Lane, Miami Beach |
| links: | www.buck15.com |
| phone: | 305.534.5488 |
Jennie Yip's second-floor lounge has kept its NYC street cred mostly alive, especially on Takeout Tuesdays, when DJs drop old-school hip-hop jams that stir instant "I remember when"s from the crowd. Plus the furniture's pretty cool — all collected from local flea markets and thrift shops — and there's always dope street art from Yip's personal collection.
March 09, 2007, 08:05 PM
W Wine Bistro
| where: | 3622 NE 2nd Ave |
| phone: | 305.576.7775 |
Seek out this hidden, 40-seat bistro in the Design District to find one of the city's finest wine selections. Florent Blanchet, the owner and house sommelier, will guide you to the right bottle for the night as you order small noshes — we recommend the polenta with lamb sausage — and lament the overflow from Crane City.
March 09, 2007, 08:00 PM
Garcia's Seafood Grille & Fish Market
| where: | 398 NW North River Dr |
| phone: | 305.375.0765 |
Condo developers have long staked out the land along the Miami River, but Garcia's has steadfastly claimed its territory. If you want seriously fresh fish, this is the place. Walk past the display case of lulled live catches and wait for a table out on the deck. Oysters, grouper chowder, stone crabs, and the restaurant's famous grilled dolphin (really!) sandwich await.
March 09, 2007, 02:51 PM
Zeke's Roadhouse
| where: | 625 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach |
| phone: | 305.672.3118 |
You can't go wrong when all the beers — more than 100 brands — run for a mere three bucks a pop. Not much atmosphere inside, but it's all about getting nice with cold brews and cheap hot dogs at a table on the strip, waving as the beautiful people and their primped chihuahuas stream by. The perfect pre-game drinkery.
March 09, 2007, 02:19 PM
Churchill's Pub
| where: | 5501 NE 2nd Ave |
| links: | www.churchillspub.com |
| phone: | 305.757.1807 |
The Churchill's era is still going strong in Miami. The bands stick tenaciously to the fast/hard/loud formula, the drinks remain cheap, and the city's vital indie-music shop, Sweat Records, has moved into the same raw little complex. Don't miss the jazz jams on Mondays (where talented students and local heavyweights get in on the play), and order a plate of hearty curry or shepherd's pie to refuel for the night out.
March 09, 2007, 02:05 PM
Les Halles
| where: | 2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables |
| links: | www.leshalles.net |
| phone: | 305.461.1099 |
Consider a short trip south to the lush Coral Gables neighborhood, a needed escape from the neon chaos of the Beach. Here, dinner at Les Halles, sister to chef Anthony Bourdain's New York restaurants of the same name, is a reliable bet. Surrounded by rows of Art Nouveau posters and a relaxed, brasserie feel, people feast on French classics, from steak tartare to an Alsace-style choucroute. (Save room for the truly succulent Tarte Tatin, the restaurant's signature caramelized-apple tart.)
March 09, 2007, 01:50 PM
The Pawn Shop
| where: | 1222 NE 2nd Ave, Downtown |
| links: | www.thepawnshoplounge.com |
| phone: | 305.373.3511 |
Located within the downtown grit, just blocks away from the lavish new performing arts center, Pawn Shop attracts a fair mix up of bottle-models, ballin' yuppies, and indie rockers, depending on the night or event. So find out what's going on before you go. Crowd notwithstanding, this club has some of the most inventive decor in town — gutted yellow school bus and Airstream-trailer lounges included.
March 09, 2007, 12:31 PM
Rosinella
| where: | 525 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach |
| phone: | 305.672.8777 |
As you amble past the garish spectacle that is the Lincoln Road strip, steer clear of the tourist traps and get an outdoor table at Rosinella, a pleasant locals' eatery that's been around for a decade now. From there, you can ogle the skin parade while relishing authentic, no-frills Italian fare — without paying inflated prices to be part of the action. After all, this is why you come to Lincoln.
March 09, 2007, 12:29 PM
Circa28
| where: | 2826 N Miami Ave |
| links: | circa28.com |
| phone: | 305.722.1858 |
You know this place is an anomaly 'round these parts since there are diamond-shaped bookcases — filled with real books — inside Circa28. But that's the point. This two-floor lounge in Wynwood is poised to be the scene's new culture catalyst where Miami's underground convenes, live acts romp upstairs, and DJs spin everything from tricked-out Latin and old-school hip-hop to vintage jazz and indie rock.
March 02, 2007, 10:25 PM
A
| where: | 4582 NE 2nd Ave |
| phone: | 305.572.9902 |
Tucked away from the Beach's glitz-blitz, A is the only real bohemian joint in town, spearheaded by maverick restaurateurs Marc and Blue Solomon. Dig the local vibe here on the outskirts of the Design District, where open-minded folk gather to feast on fine organic dishes — pheasant paté, duck breast, and merguez sausages included — all under $15. Plus it's BYOB, so bring your own wine (no corkage fee!) or order one for delivery from the nearby bistro.
March 02, 2007, 10:21 PM
The Room
| where: | 100 Collins Ave, Suite 4 |
| phone: | 305.531.6061 |
Two options: you can go to the Room for a cold Chimay as the sun goes down and take in the cool-cave ambiance of this small, hidden South Pointe bar while mapping out the night's WMC schedule; or you can stop in for a nightcap in the debauched, wee-morning hours, when it's swarming with pretty boys and girls frolicking to a choice soundtrack of damned good rock 'n roll. Either way, the Room's the best bar on the beach.
March 02, 2007, 04:53 PM
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