While downtown Miami is hardly a bustling, thriving metropolis for social activity, some people are trying to change that. Human beings may not be moving into these condos cum ghost towns, but at least the bars and restaurants are.

Opened last week was the ambitious MIA, which features a restaurant with celebrity chef Gerdy Rodriguez, a lounge and nightclub along the lines of Karu & Y, the very definition of ambition when it opened on the edge of Overtown last year. MIA, however, is located on the less dodgy but no less sleepy-after-5-p.m. corner of Flagler and Biscayne (in the 50 Biscayne condo building) and expects to awaken the neighborhood with its mad scientist-meets-top toque cuisine and cocktails. Foam and nitrogen, anyone? Something's gotta get that area going, right? In addition to apres work happy hours, expect a variety of weekly events featuring DJs, live music and a dizzying assortment of diversions.

A bit north of MIA is yet another downtown diversion, Botequim Carioca Brazilian Bar & Grill, 900 Biscayne Blvd., currently closed on Mondays but open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and until midnight the rest of the week. It offers an enormous Brazilian-themed food and drink menu, but -- most importantly -- an unabridged schedule of soccer matches playing on the flat screens.

If you prefer martial arts, consider the Sunset Rendez Vous at The Setai from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday, where, in addition to a martial arts show (a strange offering in the swanky Setai), you'll be dazzled by an art exhibition, fashion show and live drum show all in one night and in one trendy, tidy package. This monthly fusion of art, fashion, music and, yes, gastronomy (don't forget The Setai's Miami Spice menu) will also feature DJs spinning in the Setai Lounge and in the courtyard until the wee hours. A $10 donation to Soles4Shoes (www.giveshoes.org) is suggested, and in addition to the requirement that you ``dress to impress,'' the color of the month is purple. But we don't think you have to channel Prince to get in. For more information and RSVP, email info@sunsetrdv.com. The next Sunset Rendez Vous is Oct. 10.

More fashion fabulousness takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday, when the Miami International Fashion Week hosts a VIP screening of the acclaimed documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor at the Lincoln Theater. The screening, $25 general admission with preferred and VIP tickets at $75 and $125, is a benefit for the Miami Fashion Week Foundation scholarship fund. Director Matt Tyrnauer will attend and speak. A cocktail reception will precede the screening and an after party will take place at SET. For tickets, go to www.miamifashionweek.com.

Meanwhile, if someone hasn't already made a documentary about Club Space -- and no, we're talking about a feature-length film, not an episode of A&E's Intervention -- they should. Perhaps Saturday night would be a good time to start, during the techno-Disney's Global Sessions: Around the World in 12 Hours, featuring dozens of DJs including Armand Pena, Big World and Dennis the Menace. It all begins at 11 p.m. and ends sometime around 2 p.m. the next day when the sun is shining, and the tint on your glasses is all you have to hide behind. Tickets before midnight are $20 and after 2 a.m. are $30, which is amusing considering most places reduce prices as the night goes on. But this is Space, and it is indeed the final nocturnal frontier. For tickets, go to www.wanttickets.com.

Finally, 944 Magazine is throwing a day of appreciation in celebration of its two years in town. The magazine hosts the once-again clean and sober Scott Weiland, of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, who will present his new fashion line, Weiland for English Laundry, and play with a full band at 10:30 p.m. (allegedly) at Mansion. To RSVP, go to 944.com/ScottWeiland. Congrats to the magazine for sticking around and prevailing in tough times. Maybe it can teach downtown Miami a lesson or two?

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