Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008

The hot mess known as summer is upon us, but don't worry. Sweat is the new black and we'll all be sporting plenty of it in the coming months. Luckily there's the Gansevoort's rooftop Plunge Bar, where ocean breezes mix with the haughty airs of those who think their sweat doesn't stink to create a bizarre cooling effect. Tonight, 944 Magazine celebrates its first anniversary there with Macy Gray as the host, headliner and DJ. According to publisher Alan Roth, the anniversary party, from 8-11 p.m., will also feature a surprise -- well, not so much anymore -- performance from former Fugee Pras, as well as some other ''unannounced celebrity and musical drop-ins.'' The party doesn't exactly end at 11. Apparently 10 VIP hotel suites with various themes will be open from 11 p.m. on -- sort of like an invitation-only slumber party. As for who gets into those, well, your guess is as good as ours.

The Gansevoort Summer Series will offer various themes and deals such as this month's Music and next month's Film and Art. For more info on the overnight themed packages, go to www.gansevoortsouth.com.

From hopeful South Beach icons to actual ones, Lee Schrager, director of special events and media relations at Southern Wine & Spirits and founder and director of the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, will receive the Jan Pfeiffer Distinguished Service Award at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce's 86th (!) annual gala Saturday night at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Schrager joins some other prominent locals at the podium while the rest of us can sit and watch -- or dance to the tunes of DJ Irie and singer Nicole Henry. VIP hosts Belkys Nerey and Louis Aguirre will try to recreate a little Deco Drive magic. Gala starts at 8 p.m. and costs $250 per person. Call 305-695-6834.

Also iconic in its own right is the Wednesday night party at The Forge, which has been going on for more than a decade and still remains hump night's most popular watering hole, thanks to a Dali-esque mix of people, a Star Wars bar where the cast of Dynasty meets the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210, meets the cast of Gossip Girl, and well, you get the picture. That said, some tweaks are taking place. Apparently Elite Entertainment has joined the mix and plans to shake things up a bit. Says Elite's PR and Hotel Relations exec Midia Hasso, ''The Forge will be a mix of the mature Miami Beach class and glamour and the fun and excitement of the new jet set South Beach crowd. . . . This Wednesday Night at The Forge, there is a definite VIP Affair.'' That doesn't tell us exactly what makes this different from the old Wednesday night parties, but it definitely gives us reason to go and check it out.

Changes are also afoot at Table 8, where owner Josh Woodward tells us a new members club-slash-lounge called the Ivory Room, designed by Sam Robin, is under construction and will debut in the fall. Eighty-sixed from Table 8: the Wednesday night dinner party a-go-go, which will be replaced by a new format with DJ Johnny the Boy spinning a sophisticated, eclectic mix of lounge music.

Defining the concept of eclectic mix of music is the Friends of the New World Symphony's Saturday night event, Symphony in the City, at the very hip new bar The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St., Miami. From 8-11 p.m., revelers will be aurally stimulated to the tune of NWS Fellows, who will perform classical, blues, reggae, rock, funk and house music, while viola fellow Dustin Buddish will premiere a string prelude that begins on a classical note and morphs into a hot, house beat as DJ JJ Neil adds his own spin. Jette Kelly will sing while violinist Karen Franken tweaks the strings in what is being described as a musical tango. Then there's singer Fitzroy along with bass player Buffalo and the NWS musicians taking a rootsy turn on classical and hip-hop. Not your typical iTunes mix, is it? The event is free for members of the FONWS, but for those who want to join to experience this musical mash-up, call Stacey Glassman at 305-673-3330, ext. 230.

Forget plain old happy hour. Consider Mary Brickell Village's Abokado, offering a Happier Than an Hour cocktail and sushi social daily from 4-7 p.m. Beer is $3, house martinis and mojitos and wines by the glass are $6. There's also a special bar menu including sushi, Abokado nachos, panko-crusted queso blanco on skewers, and more , all ranging from $5-$7. Not a bad deal!

Finally, for those who want to sweat it out right on the ocean, do so at the Marriott's new Deco Party, on the second floor pool terrace from 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. On the menu: DJ/producer Oren Nizri, well-priced cocktails, light lunch fare and remarkable views that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to appreciate -- at least for a few hours, anyway.