Weekend in Miami Beach: December 31 to January 3
TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN… Are you ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve? We are! Here is our game plan for December 31 – January 3 including the clubs, the pubs and some great new restaurants to explore in South Florida this weekend.
All eyes are on the Fontainebleau Thursday night where Lady GaGa brings her Poker Face and legions of devoted fans to the pool deck to ring in the New Year in sparkling style. With a reputation for elaborate performances and stunning fashions, everyone is wondering how the pop sensation will turn out for her Big Miami Beach Splash!
The Opium Garden relaunch is making waves with parties hosted by those pretty kids from “Twilight & Gossip Girl” and a number of surprise celebrity guests turning up all week long to celebrate the rise of Klutch. Freshmakers Arno Cost and Stormin’ Norman Doray bring their funky French flair to town and in a bit of Democratic Party trivial pursuit, Vice President Joe Biden’s grandson is spinning for one night only at Bardot.
Speaking of New Year’s revivals, the lovely bayside restaurant Baleen has reopened it’s kitchen as Gibraltar and promises Big Things for 2010 at this romantic destination dining spot in Grove Isle. And speaking of Big Things, Cameo has decided that the best way to lure the party crowd back to it’s dance floor is to pay some hot local muscle boys to take it ALL off and shake their money makers…
We hope you enjoy another HOT New Year’s Weekend in South Florida and tune in next week for the top party line up!
Thursday December 31
Breakfast
News Cafe
800 Ocean Drive
Good News – Following an extensive renovation, South Beach’s favorite 24/7 eatery is open again and eager to make you breakfast. If you’ve been hovering around 8th Street as we have with a hungry look and a hankering for an egg sandwich with ham and cheese on a crispy baguette, your wait is over!
Lunch
Restaurant 660
660 Washington Avenue
After a starter of house-made Andalusian Gazpacho, feast on the Angler Burger, a tender grilled patty topped with applewood smoked bacon, cheddar and crisp veggies. The steak frites and mussels steamed in white wine are also worth sharing if you can tear yourself away from that juicy burger.
Afternoon Action
Miami Children’s Museum
980 MacArthur Causeway
Families vacationing on South Beach may wonder what to do with the tots while the rest of the city shimmies into sequins and readies for the big midnight kiss. Visit the Children’s Museum around 10am for their “Noon Year’s Eve” Bash with games, arts & crafts and family friendly fun until the BIG countdown at noon when there will be a daytime balloon drop that will keep the kids satisfied until it’s time for you to shimmy into your own sequins later on tonight.
Cocktails
Bar 721
721 Lincoln Lane (formerly Laundry Bar)
One of the coolest spots you’ve never heard of is hosting a no cover night of drinks and party favors with a free champagne toast at midnight. Join legendary sax player Leo Casino and DJ Mayner for a fun night out with the locals from 10pm-5am.
Dinner
Eos @ Viceroy
485 Brickell Avenue
Escape the crowds and discover the 16th floor oasis at the Viceroy where Star Chef Michael Psilakis is serving a 6-course prix-fixe dinner with complimentary champagne and preferred admission to Miami’s favorite “Mile High Club,” Club 50. Start with burrata and caviar, a raw seafood flight, a foie gras terrine, a duo of bay scallops, a pork belly herbed salad, black truffle risotto, beef filet, and a Greek orange blossom ice cream dessert. An additional wine pairing with each course is available but you’ll probably be asleep before midnight! Reservations 866-781-9923
Nightlife
Fontainebleau
4441 Collins Avenue
Everyone will be rocking poolside with Lady GaGa tonight so be sure you’re on the scene early or on the list if you’re fashionably late. “The Fame Monster” Gala features sounds by DJ David Berrie and Jus Ske with a premium open bar from 9pm-midnight. For ticket, table and cabana reservations – log onto fontainebleau.com
Friday January 1
Breakfast
Gia
4525 Collins Avenue
Following a brisk walk on the boardwalk that runs along the golden sands of Miami Beach, discover Gia at the newly renovated Eden Roc Hotel where Executive Chef Virgil Brandel is serving breakfast under the sparkling chandeliers in the charming dining room or overlooking the hotel’s infinity pool. Service starts at 6:30am.
Lunch
Kung Fu Chus
1720 Collins Avenue
TV’s Hells Kitchen contestant Chef John Wahler brings his sharpest knives from a stint at Nobu South Beach and Los Angeles to the cool reaches of the Catalina Beach Club where he’ll be showing off his Japanese culinary skills for friends and fans in the New Year. Though he is a Jewish kid from New Jersey, he’s definitely got the resume and street cred to roll some serious maki your way this afternoon.
Evening Action
SoBe Arts Little Stage
2100 Washington Avenue
Celebrate the arts at the revival of this historic 1937 theater with music, performance and multimedia presentations from the 30s and 40s starting at 9pm with tapas and drinks provided by MiMo restaurant Red Light and a champagne reception at 9:30pm. Featuring Montserrat Franco as Betty Boop, Andres Lefevre as Cab Calloway’s Ghost and starring actors Ivette Viñas, Andres Lefevre, Philip de la Cal & Montserrat Franco.
Cocktails
Miami Improv
3390 Mary Street
Florida State University’s funniest class clown Bert Kreischer takes the Improv stage tonight doing two shows at 8:30 and 10:45 recalling his biggest college triumph – being named Rolling Stone’s Number One Party Animal in the Country in 1997. $16 plus a two drink minimum.
Dinner
Gotham Steak
4441 Collins Avenue
Star Chef Alfred Portale opened one of the top restaurants in town last year with a 500-bottle wine list, solid service and super sleek indoor and outdoor seating. Expanding on typical American steakhouse fare, Gotham serves fresh seafood, Colorado lamb, and fork tender veal chops. Paired with vidalia onion rings, Parmesan truffle fries or curried cauliflower, a meal at Gotham Steak is truly unforgettable.
Nightlife
Klutch
136 Collins Avenue
Justjared continues his Mega-New-Year’s Blitz with a live performance by Chicago’s favorite electro rapper Kid Sister who is joining DJ Mr Mauricio in rocking this all night party in the former Opium Garden space. General admission for this event is $40
Saturday January 2
Brunch
Acqua
1435 Brickell Avenue
Breakfast at the Four Seasons offers everything you could desire and more. Enjoy freshly blended juices, bakery warm breads, multi-grain pancakes topped with berries and the best corned beef hash in town. Service from 6:30-11am.
Evening Action
Cameo
1445 Washington Avenue
Miami guys both gay and straight have AMPLE opportunity to hang out in nightclubs and ogle sexy dancers who shake their groove things for fun and profit. Pity the poor ladies who are all dressed up with no place to watch a bunch of oiled-up muscle guys dance for their pleasure… until now. “One Night Stand” is the all new soft-core male strip party Saturdays at the Cameo. The beefy booty shaking starts and 9pm and lasts as long as the screams of delight hold out.
Cocktails
Bardot
3456 North Miami Avenue
Roots reggae band Jahfe perform live in the Design District tonight followed (we are not kidding) by Vice President Joe Biden’s grandson DJ Jamie Biden and DJ Nick Cohen! Wear your flag pin for extra credit.
Dinner
NAOE
175 Sunny Isles Boulevard
Japanese cuisine rises to a level of fine art at Chef Kevin Cory’s tiny temple of omakase delights. Guests must make an advance reservation (via opentable.com) to dine at the 17 seat restaurant where the chef determines the menu after shopping the day boats at the local pier. A bento box is presented to each guest with soup, rice, vegetables and fish in each compartment. The chef’s family sake is available by the bottle and some of the city’s finest sushi is available after the meal.
Nightlife
Mansion
1235 Washington Avenue
Two of France’s biggest producers and DJs – The Freshmakers – Arno Cost and Stormin’ Norman Doray take over the club tonight with an all star set alongside DJ Laurent Simeca. Get your Oooh LaLA on and try to arrive early or risk spending the night cooling your heels on Washington Avenue in the wind.
Sunday January 3
Brunch
Caviar Kaspia
1220 Collins Avenue
Gospel Diva Maryel Epps sings soulfully for diners enjoying the house signature dish, a baked potato covered in fresh chives and cream topped with a selection of pricey caviar or smoked salmon. Traditional brunch items like brioche French toast or filet mignon steak and white truffle eggs also bring smiles to happy diners with gold cards. Service from 11:30 – 4pm
Afternoon Action
LandShark Stadium
2267 Dan Marino Boulevard
Escaping the frozen tundra that is Pittsburgh in January, excited Steeler fans should be bringing their A-Game of crazed football idolatry. Rise to the Fins DE-fense this afternoon and show those black and yellow painted guys how Dol-FANs support their team by showing up late and leaving early. Miami is Mañana Country after all… Our wild card dreams are destined to end today.
Cocktails
Biltmore Hotel
1200 Anastasia Avenue
Coral Gables legendary landmark spices things up with “Tropical Sundays” poolside with free admission, free parking and half price mojitos to sip while Haitian entertainer Jean-Michel Daudier performs Caribbean music from 1-5pm.
Dinner
Gibraltar
4 Grove Isle Drive
Miami diners once loved the tropical ambiance of Baleen, a lavish restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay. Grove Isle has relaunched the prime space as Gibraltar and built their new menu on Chef Jeff O’Neill’s deft hand with fresh local seafood and seasonal produce. For a truly romantic experience in an “only in Miami” setting, book a table on the terrace amid the gauzy curtains and candlelight tonight.
Nightlife
Mansion
1235 Washington Avenue
Billboard Award-Winning R&B singer Mario appears at Mansion tonight for Striptease Sundays alongside resident DJ Affect who spins for a very lucky ladies night of seductive dancers and a sexy fashion show.
Have a Great Weekend!
One Response to “Weekend in Miami Beach: December 31 to January 3”
December 30th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
phantastic recommendations, thanks a lot!