Just Back from Miami for New Years....My Take on the Club Scene

[ukjay43]

What up Vegas CP peeps. I haven't posted here in a while and I really wanted to give you a synopsis of the club vibe in North America right now.

I just got back from Miami and was there for three nights(Friday/Saturday/Sunday night). I wanted to compare and contrast Vegas with Miami based on the experiences of my friend, and my wife and I. We were recently in Vegas the weekend before Thanksgiving and went to Drai's/TAO/Empire over Friday thru Sunday night. We have partied in many cities and venues this year and I feel more than qualified to opine on what we've seen/heard and felt.

The Miami Experience

Friday night we didn't really do the club thing but had a nice dinner at a Zagat rated Argentine restaurant. Excellent food and no drama at the joint.

Saturday night we had the main private NYE VIP table at Metropolis in the House Room. We stayed there until 2:30 when we headed to Space. I thought Metropolis was big but dirty and not the "type of people" I usually come upon in Vegas. The DJ was OK and I checked out the hip hop room to see what that sounded like. Average at best.

I went to Space(admittedly it was my first time)and my expectations were very high. It was packed and there were wall to wall good looking people. I was truly let down by the environment. It's too dark in the main room and the bathrooms and general floors are disgustingly dirty and very uninviting. Probably the biggest letdown(and I'll admit this is a personal opinion)was the music. There just isn't a big enough transition from hard pounding tribal trance/electro to vocal laced downtempo house music. At least not like the sound I hear routinely in Vegas at venues like Drai's/Empire/Foundation/Taboo/Roof of Pure and Ice. For the ladies the transition to melodic tempo vocals is part of the joy of the after hours scene. Especially after dancing for a solid hour or so. It really provides a smooth transition to catch your breath and take a seat.

The Hip Hop room on the 2nd floor was good. The music was new and mixed with Southern Rap and West Coast Beats. When doing the afterhours scene, I'm not really into the hip hop sound, but I liked what I heard for the 25 minutes I was in there.

Clearly the best part of Space is the terrace/patio when the sun comes up. Such a mix of beautiful hard bodied people scantily clad. The problem again is the disgusting floor and VIP areas. The place needs a massive make over. When you pay as much as we did for VIP treatment, you expect better accomodations and inviting lush furniture for your friends and "invitees" to lounge about in comfort and style. Nothing like that at Space. Bare bones music and hard pounding beats that seem to never end. The bartender upstairs(big guy named Frank)was amazing and was catering to me and the people on my tab big time. He was top notch.

The DJ(didn't catch his name--some Italian guy)was on fire but again his sets were just pulse pounding and power driving. No slowdown or downtempo at all. You wear out fast up there in the hot sun and humid temps of Miami. Hard to believe that when we left at 11AM there were still 1000 people strong on the patio dancing their asses off. I definitely ran into some party people I have seen in LA and Vegas at many of the afterhours spots.

We went to Nikki Beach after Space to check it out but were so tired we were only able to stay for about a hour before retiring to the hotel to sleep. Nikkie Beach is a kick ass venue but we were just too tired. Definitely a recommended place to check out when in Miami for Sunday afternoons. Hot people, great music and an overall great place to lounge about and dance.

We then retired to the hotel to sleep until about 8:30PM. We ordered room service and got ready and were in Mansion by 11PM.

Mansion on Sunday night.

We had another VIP table and we fell in love with this place. Clearly this is the best venue(IMO)in Miami. Oscar G/Murk is awesome and it is a great mix of House/Trance music. His new remix of the Dark Beat is off the chain. Off all the places we saw while in Miami Mansion is the cleanest and most inviting for the club heads. Good looking people and well staffed as well. No drama and great music throughout.

Honestly if I had it to do over again, I would have saved the money from Metropolis and just headed to Space at about 8AM. Stayed there until 2PM. Head to Nikki Beach until dinner(5PM)eat, take a Nap and go to Mansion about 1AM and party the night away until 7AM or so. Then fly back to LA late morning. But that's another possibility for another day. WMC anyone? ;-)

So what is my point after this review of Miami? Honestly after traveling to Chicago/NYC and Miami this year for 3 night adventures, and partying at every venue in Seattle/San Fran/LA and San Diego this year, I can honestly say that Vegas has equal if not better night life IMO.

Here are my reasons:

****Cleanliness of Clubs

The Vegas venues especially afterhours are all fabulously clean and filled with people of similar ilk. There is certainly drama at the door at some places but the environments are safe and well lit and in great locations.

****The Music

This goes for House/Dance Music mostly. I can't compare hip hop scenes because I don't have enough personal experience to cite evidence. In Vegas at Pure's Roof/Empire/Taboo/Drai's/Ice the music is better transitioned and in my groups opinion a richer experience because of it. A lot of this probably has something to do with the environments as well and because the Vegas venues are cleaner, it stands to reason that the experience is "better"

****Logistics

The Venues in Vegas are all on or very near the strip. They are all a short cab ride from the airport or your hotel. It's always cool to know in the back of your mind that should you decide to stay later/longer that it's easy to adjust your itinerary to fit. In Miami-- Space/Metropolis/Nocturnel and a couple of other places are downtown away from most of the places people are staying at in South Beach. Outside of Space should you come out at the wrong time it is a sketchy area and if you are unable to flag down a cab you aren't walking back to South Beach. You certainly can walk in Vegas on the strip at most hours without fear for your life or getting accosted. I guess everything being so centrally located plays big in our idea of having fun in a safe and controlled fashion.

Obviously with so many venues now in Vegas to choose from, it's honestly getting closer to Miami/NYC in relation to opportunities to party/attend clubs. I really think the next two years are a tremendous opportunity for Vegas to take over the club/party scene in North America. Only time will tell but in my circles opinion, it's hard to beat right now. Hopefully Jet and the rumored to be coming Crobar will make it even better.

We can't wait to get back for Superbowl weekend. 3rd thru 6th. Hit me up if you are planning on coming.

Holla at ya boy

[lalate]

holllaaaa

[rafaelmendez]

My two cents

Miami - Great music, hot woman, lots of drama

Vegas - Just plane sick, music its Ok, woman are just hot and cool.

But Miami has a Beach so I like Miami better. Just a little bit cause Vegas its insane. I just get tired of the slot machines.

I wonder who has better strip clubs. I went to some in Vegas and had great time. But Ive heard good things about the ones in Miami.

[djfrosty]

I disagree with you about the music in Vegas. Average to below average at best.

Rest on point...

I think Cedric Gervais was spinning the patio at Space by the way.

[Capo]

I like Miami waaaaay better than Vegas. Better looking women, more cutting edge hiphop, more of a true dance vibe at the clubs (not just offbeat nerds jumping around) better year-round weather, the beach, more tropical, prettier, etc.

[djfrosty]

Vegas has it's moments but I agree

Miami better for me. Mainly cuz of the weather and the beach. Miami is the only place where I can't STOP dancing.

In fact, I will be there Jan 12-15 and will post a review.

[vegasguy25]

Miami blows Las Vegas away in pretty much every way possible. There are more and more people who are giving Las Vegas' club scene way more credit than it deserves. There were even some misguided souls last year who were saying our scene is better than NY's. Anyone who thinks that needs their head examined. Las Vegas has potential, but it is not in the big leagues yet.

There is nothing in Las Vegas that is on the level of Space, Crobar or Mansion. I mean come on now. We have nice venues, but that's about it. They are manned by DJs playing radio music back to a crowd that just flew in from Michigan and doesn't know any better.

[ukjay43]

C'mon now.

Did you read what I just wrote?

Miami is nice weather? HA! How many of you people come to the West Coast at this time of the year?

I was walking around in a tank top on Saturday afternoon sweating my ass off in 96% percent humidity. _ _ ck that!

Yes there are hot woman there and yes Mansion and Crobar are nice clubs. But the rest of the venues are dirty and low rent. If you disbelieve that, then you aren't hanging out in the same places I am.

I'm not going to dispute the idea that Vegas has a lot Midwestern tourists "who don't know any beter" but I don't think people who think Miami is the "_ _ it" know any better either---relative to venues/cleanliness of venue/upscale clientele.

Miami surely has its positives but if you aren't from NY or cold weather climes, I just don't realistically think you can say Miami is "much better" weather/club/venue wise.

You just cant. And I must preface my comments with the fact that my group is into House Music much more than the hip hop scene.

It really is just a matter of perspective. I wake up every morning with a sunrise over the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the pacific. Miami has nothing on SoCal. Not even close.

[vegasguy25]

You just cant.

So, you live in LA, but somehow you're qualified to tell me what my opinion should be on the town I've called home for a decade (Las Vegas)? That's funny. Las Vegas' club scene is amateur hour. If you think otherwise, then perhaps you could explain why the best DJs regularly play gigs in LA, SF, NY and Miami while Vegas regularly gets the shaft. This town is fortunate to even get John Digweed this coming Saturday. He just happens to be in the area because he has a gig the night before in San Francisco, and was booked to play Giant Village new years eve in LA. Of course, San Francisco also has Danny Tenaglia playing Saturday night. Las Vegas gets a big name once in awhile, usually on holidays, but we don't have the steady house music scene here, and that's why Las Vegas is far behind those other cities I mentioned. Great house music is legion in those other cities. Las Vegas has amazing venues, but that's really it. We don't have much of anything resembling a scene here. We have people who are trying like hell to change that, but this town, at a fraction of the size of those other cities, has a lot of catching up to do.

[djfrosty]

I would agree with you about Space being dirty. What do you expect it has a 24 hr liquor license? I do give them credit. It is a lot cleaner than the old space. I would never get VIP there. What's the point?

What would you rather do?

Friday night Crobar, Nocturnal afterhours.

Beach

Saturday early - Crobar, Opium, or Mansion

Saturday night afterhours Space - madness.

Nikki Beach Sunday day, early evening- Good atmosphere, great venue, good tunes.

Mansion - am sure is phat on Sunday with Murk spinning. Havnt been but heard good things about the Sunday night party.

Friday - Pure then Drais

Friday day - hang at Mandalay Bay Beach or Casino

Saturday - Taj or Jet then Drai's. Possibly ICE if they have someone good booked.

Sunday - Opm or Body English

I am guessing on things for Vegas. But seriously, what would rather do?

One thing is for certain which is why I like Miami ibetter than Vegas. Miami clubs book the world's best house/trance DJ's every weekend. Vegas doesn't come close in that regards.

As for HIP HOP... I won't even say anything cuz I can't stand hearing it.

[outofthebox]

Well Vegas has better slot machines at least

I think it's so funny how everyone tries to compare Vegas, Miami, NY and LA. It's comparing apples and oranges. Each city caters to the type of people who go and live there. Vegas will never be the house music capital of the country because Vegas attracts people who don't know music.

[Capo]

The cities are all what you make of it. Me, personally, I like the hiphop/latin vibe...so Miami is better. Vegas is mainly comprised of white people. No offense, but mainstream white people I do not really hang out with. Same with women. I date sexy looking dominican and puerto rican women mainly, which Miami has. Vegas has tons of white girls with surgery done (tits, lips, etc) and filipina girls (good looking but go with a guy who has the almighty dollar). I don't mean to offend any of the good people on this board, but these are my honest opinions. I'd rather be in a city where the club is playing fresh hiphop, with a DJ flown down from NYC, with a heavy latin influence, where everyone is wearing something trendy and sexy. In Vegas I see skinny dudes with spikey hair and an untucked white button down shirt and tight jeans. Dime a dozen. Sure Vegas has the glamorous looking nightclubs, but the girls can't hold a flame to the ladies in Miami. I feel like when I'm in Vegas I'm missing out on current and trendy things going on in NYC and Miami...when I am there nobody is asking me much about what Las Vegas is bringing to the table.

And like Vegasguy said...these are my opinions, and I've lived here for almost 3 years.

[ukjay43]

Great replies folks. No offfense to anybody that took some from my comments.

I am a Buff White Dude former fitness model married to a French Vietnamese Girl who is a former fitness model. I am into checking out hot people from all nationalities and cultures. I love Latinas/Asians/Black and some White Girls. No discrimination on my or my groups part.

When we go to a club we are looking to spend for the best experience. I am fortunate enough to be able to do that when I go out. So yes, I will admit that cleanliness of venues and the type of people they attract play a big part. So again personal preference is the ultimate determinant.

We also don't do hip hop and our consumate "house heads".

There are plenty of beautiful people in Vegas and Miami of all nationalities and cultures.

If I was going to Vegas in the summer I would compare this experience with any in Miami....

Friday Night

Pure Rooftop Cabana

Drai's Afterhours

Spearmint Rhino for an hour or two back to room to shower

Saturday

Pool at Rehab or the other summer Pool Party from last year

Saturday night

VIP Table at TAO/Jet

Afterhours at Empire Ballroom-maybe finish at Drai's

Sunday

Go hotel and sleep for 3-5 hours and then to Rehab at Hardrock all Day

Ice for Major DJ at Night VIP Table

Then choose between MGM Grand Euro Golfball Club/Taboo or Drais to finish everything off.

IMO this experience would compete with any in Miami or NYC at the same time period during the year.

Interesting debate.

[lalate]

These type of discussions really dont ever resolve anything for one simple reason .....

... nightlife has MANY different scenes that people partake in for different reasons and different motives. I was just talking to someone...... actually from this board .... about one nye party that virtually ever friend I know will NOT go to, yet its arguably the best NYE party on the westcoast for a particular scene. The reason some people dont like it - its not THEIR scene.

Some of us partake in many different scenes, simulatenously, or in "phases". Some of us are more open minded about certain scenes, some of us have limits, some of us like to discover new jems. It's what makes us unique.

Nevertheless, these discussions offer great reviews about venues that we all have or wish to visit.

[vegasguy25]

These type of discussions really dont ever resolve anything for one simple reason .....

... nightlife has MANY different scenes that people partake in for different reasons and different motives. I was just talking to someone...... actually from this board .... about one nye party that virtually ever friend I know will NOT go to, yet its arguably the best NYE party on the westcoast for a particular scene. The reason some people dont like it - its not THEIR scene.

Some of us partake in many different scenes, simulatenously, or in "phases". Some of us are more open minded about certain scenes, some of us have limits, some of us like to discover new jems. It's what makes us unique.

Nevertheless, these discussions offer great reviews about venues that we all have or wish to visit.

We're not looking to resolve anything dude. We're just comparing and contrasting clubbing experiences in different cities.

[CoPa99]

I hate when you walk out of the club and there are 5 patrol cars waitin right in front of the club when you walk out...This is what I see every other weekend when I walk out of a city club at least in Vegas that is not an issue...

[lalate]

I hate when you walk out of the club and there are 5 patrol cars waitin right in front of the club when you walk out...This is what I see every other weekend when I walk out of a city club at least in Vegas that is not an issue...

5 ? lolllllllllllllllllll

Try like 7, with fire department, parked on both sides of the main exit to many a So Cal club. And dont even starrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt me on certain towns (that I adore) ... down the coast on the water ... that will remain nameless... that are notorious for lying in wait to get people at 4 am for minor offenses. Its a pity. There are some areas that are so wonderful to party in but they turn them into czar's russia between 2 and 4 am. ... oh, and the "you are now entering a non-modified exhaust area" - i mean, come on. Go eat a donut or something.

[outofthebox]

We are VERY fortunate in Vegas that, as a general rule, the authorities don't view the nightclub business as a threat to public safety.

[lalate]

Well said.

[rafaelmendez]

For whoever said that Miami has only 3 good clubs you have got to be kidding me right what about.

Mynt, Opium, Nikki , Nocturnal, Prive, Amika, Blue, All the lounges in the hotels like the Shore Club, Delano, Victor Hotel. There are tones of places in the beach that are just sick and in my opinion the music part, Miami just blows Vegas away. I remember when I walked in to one of the biggest coolest club in Vegas " Rain " to hear the Dj said If you are from California Scream and follows it by My Humps that its it. Miami is better. My two cents.

[rafaelmendez]

I remember going to a club in Miami called Shadow Lounge back in the days I dont know if you guys remember but George Acosta was the resident dj there. Man one of the best nights of my life. Then went to a Club called the Mix Afterhours opened a 3 AM wow that was a fucking blast. I know it was a long time ago but the atmosphere in Miami has not change everybody is there to have a good time.

[vegasguy25]

Clubs in Miami actually give a rat's ass about the music. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about most of our venues here in Vegas. There is so much more that goes into having a "scene" than great venues. Venues alone do not make a scene. A scene is people collaborating to push the music forward. LA has that. SF has that. NY has that, Chicago, Miami, Detroit. Las Vegas, largely, does not.

What we have are club owners who are more than happy to cater to the lowest common denominator because they make truckloads of money doing it. They pay local DJs to spin the same stuff that the tourists hear all week on the radio. At the same time that Tao, Pure, Body English, etc. are playing top 40 hip-hop, Space, Nocturnal and Crobar are flying in some of the world's elite DJs to spin the latest and greatest in electronic music. The only club here that does that is Ice, and sometimes the support for the DJs they bring in is appalling. For example, when Oscar G, one of Miami's finest, was at Ice, the club wasn't anywhere near full. This is one of America's best house DJs folks, and we couldn't even fill Ice, which isn't even big, to support him.

We have some people here who try their best, like the Godspeed crew, Faarsheed, my friend Zee over at Jet, and many more, but to say that our scene overall is on the level of other cities in the US is missing the point of what a scene really is. I guess it comes down to what is more important: the venues, or the music that is played in them. I would love to be able to say that Las Vegas' club scene is on the level of Miami's, believe me. Maybe someday I will. That day is not right now though.

[greenie]

All I can say here is that I met a shitload of serious Miami clubbers over NYE weekend in Vegas. We talked a lot of about clubs in both towns, as well as other cities all over the world.

Bottom line is not one of us could give a rat's ass what city is "better."

Most of them just made their travel plans when Tiesto announced his NYE show, then had more friends jump on board once PVD, Lawler and/or Darey were announced for the weekend. Sure, there'd be great events in Miami, but they wanted a change.

I was surprised when I bumped into a few of them at Body English on Sunday, especially because I had thought they were pure househeads. They said they were for the most part, but they decided at the last second to check out BE. Their thoughts? "We fucking love this place, there's nothing like this in Miami."

That's not to say that BE is better than than any club in Miami, just that it's unique. And more importantly, that it's all about a good time.

People can have a preference, and I totally back UKjay stating his, especially because he qualified his opinion with specific likes and dislikes.

Although waking up beneath the Rockies beats the piss out of those little Cali mountains.

[CoPa99]

Where is "Be" and what kind of crowd is itz?

[lalate]

Where is "Be" and what kind of crowd is itz?

its a new spot opened by Budweiser at the Hard Rock. All the sell is the new B-to-the-E in a can.