Lesley Abravanel covers nightlife in her weekly column, Velvet Underground, in which she scopes the scene for stars, scandal and social studies. A former wanna-be clubkid in the late 80s NYC club scene heyday, she skipped town for Miami, where she's been since 1990--the so-called halcyon days of South Beach clubdom. While combing the scene definitely calls for lots of vitamins, under eye cream and Red Bull, the key ingredient to Lesley's undying energy is a daily bowl of gossip. In her scant spare time, she enjoys American Idol, karaoke and dive bars. She also writes travel books about the entire state of Florida, day and night. Send Lesley your questions regarding nightlife, rumors and gossip. Non monetary tips and daily rants are greatly appreciated as well. Read more from Lesley about the Scene in the Tropics in her weblog.
Hints and Allegations
Send Lesley your questions regarding nightlife, rumors and gossipMost Recently Answered Questions
Questions 16 - 35 of 2325 (Page 2 of 117)Submitted by Karine from SoBe
Q: Hi Lesley! Amazing work, as always! What to do on a Friday night for 2 girls? We want a place to go before going out, say at around 11:00 and a place for late night! What would you say? Thanks a mill!!!
Answered 08/29/09 09:55:55 by Lesley Abravanel
A: sorry if i missed this yesterday but for next time, consider drinks at the W Hotel's Living Room and then late night at Wall ...or Bella Rose even if you don't want typical sceney...Submitted by AR from Miami
Q: Looking for somewhat less than hugely expensive, reasonabley elegant or at least grown up bars, etc. to make up a night out for women of a certain age--somewhere where we might not necessarily be the oldest folks there within 20 years but not rubbing elbows with the plaid pants set either...Sobe or Upper East side preferred.
Answered 08/28/09 13:23:10 by Lesley Abravanel
A: Ha! Love it. Grown up bars on South Beach---the Living Room at the W Hotel --especially because it's uber dark in there and age is blinded by the lack of light...:) Red the Steakhouse and Clarke's in the south of fifth area have lovely bar scenes...so does Smith and Wollensky...the bar at Sra. Martinez and Michael's in the Design District are great, if not a bit tiny...let me know what you think of my choices so far and we can go from there!Submitted by curious also from Miami
Q: Thank you for your answer and for your birhtday wishes. :) I have one more question. Do you know any good karaoke places in Miami Beach with a nice crowd? Thanks!
Answered 08/24/09 09:08:42 by Lesley Abravanel
A: 8 Oz Burger does karaoke night on Mondays, I believe....Casa Tua used to do them upstairs on Tuesdays...call ahead and check to see they still do it!Submitted by curios also from Miami Beach and Aventura
Q: Hi Leslie, I hope all is well. You have given me good advice in the past so I am coming back for more and I thank you in advance. I am having a birthday celebration and I am loooking for a place to dance to music from the 70s 80s and today and maybe a good restaurant also. Do you know any good places on Saturdays either in Miami, Miami Beach or Aventura not so expensive. Is Buck 15 good? I will be going with several (straight) couples and some single girls. Thank you again.
Answered 08/21/09 12:00:37 by Lesley Abravanel
A: Happy bday! Buck 15 is lots of fun , like partying in someone's smoky basement...it's a pretty young crowd but the camp factor is high and fab.....also check out the new Beer and Burger Joint by Purdy..it rocks...it has an upstairs lounge/bar, cool laid back scene, no rude bottle service nonsense, and a separate sports bar and fab restaurant...it's a one stop night out actually!Submitted by Curious from Miami, FL
Q: Have you heard anything about the Sunday party that the Viceroy is doing? Heard something about a pool party of sorts.
Answered 08/14/09 10:05:49 by Lesley Abravanel
A: yes a brazilian themed party at Club 50..begins at noon...Submitted by Kim from Beverly Hills, Ca
Q: Lesley, Going to Miami for a weekend getaway with my boyfriend (we are in our late 20's) at the end of August for a week. Haven't been to Miami in over a year. Last time we stayed at the Setai. This year we opted for the Ritz on south beach. Do the hotels on South Beach still have a good Bar and pool scene? Does the Ritz have a good bar/pool scene? And please tell me its true there is a Mr. Chow in Miami? Love the Q/A page!
Answered 08/10/09 11:45:17 by Lesley Abravanel
A: Mr. Chow JUST opened at the new W South Beach, which is also a fab hotel with fab bar scene. Hot new pool scene is at Mondrian on Sundays. Ritz South Beach pool is great, too but check out the W for sure and the Fontainebleau as well..Submitted by Esther from New york ny
Q: This evening i saw Kate Hudson checking into the Biltmore Hotel with her son. No sign of a rod but why would she be in coral gables?
Answered 08/08/09 07:35:44 by Lesley Abravanel
A: that's strange..are you sure?Submitted by Boyd from Tampa, FL
Q: Hi Lesley just wondering what to expect if me and a couple of regular dudes wanted to hit Nikki Beach this Saturday. Is it worth it? Assume beach attire is fine?
Answered 08/06/09 17:31:12 by Lesley Abravanel
A: it's been brutally hot out lately so may not be a great scene but worth checking regardless and yes beach attire is best! if it's dead check out the scene at the pool at the hotel victor..Submitted by Mary from Miami
Q: Hey Lesley, What's your recommendation on the weekend pool party scene. Nikki Beach (sans pool) seems a bit tired an attracking a rough crowd. Otherwise, things seem a bit confused: Gannsevort, Sagamore, Raleigh, Shore Club and now the Mondrian. What's up?!
Answered 08/06/09 09:03:51 by Lesley Abravanel
A: well you just named the major ones....the mondrian's sunday pool party is the newest one so you may want to check that one out..gansevoort just restarted its pool party and shore club is, well, shore club. i'd check out mondrianSubmitted by Manny J. from Pittsburgh, PA
Q: Lesley, as a person who has surely seen all that South Beach has to offer since the early 90's, what advice would you give to a young professional moving to South Beach looking to indulge a little in the South Beach scene how does a newcomer break into the social circles and befriend the gatekeepers of the velvet rope?
Answered 08/04/09 17:23:09 by Lesley Abravanel
A: simple: just go out all the time and make friends with the door people, bartenders, promoters and hosts..make the rounds and your efforts should not go unnoticed! good luck and have fun!Submitted by Tito Ponce from Brazil
Q: Lesley, We hear the SOFI (South of Fifth) area is hot as always, even in this down economy. Great restaurants, beaches, etc. We are looking at condos in that area. Any recommendations on good buildings or good deals?
Answered 07/24/09 12:31:29 by Lesley Abravanel
A: You heard right! Email: AleonLLC@gmail.com and tell him I sent you!Submitted by Gaby from NY, NY
Q: ABC’S HIT SHOW, WIFE SWAP, NOW CASTING! Wife Swap is currently casting for our fifth season and we are looking for fun families who are up for an adventure! The premise of Wife Swap is simple: for seven days, two wives from two different families with very different values exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover what it's like to live a different family's life. It's an interesting social experiment and a great way to see your family in a whole new light. It is shot as a documentary series, so NO scripts and no set. It's just a small camera crew that is documenting your life. Families that appear on the show will receive a generous financial honorarium and if you refer a family that appears on the show you would receive $1000. Here at 'Wife Swap' we look for a two-parent home with at least one child between the ages of 7 and 17 living at home full time. If you are interested, please email me your contact information and tell me a little about your family. Or if you would like to refer a family, please email me their contact information and I will be in touch. Thank you! Gaby Wilson Casting Producer Wife Swap gaby.wifeswap@gmail.com
Answered 07/21/09 12:29:18 by Lesley Abravanel
A: Word is out! surely there are plenty of people in Miami who would be into this..Submitted by Rita from Valencia
Q: Hello Lesley, I´m going to miami the 4th August (we are 5 girls) and we need to know which places are trendy for having a drink (the last time we went we really like delano´s). Could you tell us some places and the time we have to go?? we are 37 and we don´t want to be surrounded by teenagers. Thanks a lot!!!
Answered 07/16/09 10:56:09 by Lesley Abravanel
A: new spots: the Mondrian......check it out anytime but Friday nights and anytime around sunset or on Sundays for its new pool party that runs noon till midnight the new W South Beach just opened and they have some great spots for cocktailing, too neither are overly populated by teenagers! another hot spot, the fontainebleau---some of the restaurants and bars there are great for eating and drinking and if you want to brave the masses, check out LIV, the nightclub there. It's also very sceney! Have fun!Submitted by Carly from Anoymous
Q: It's the off season, so any Sergei Fedorov sightings? I think he was in Miami during the NHL all star break back in January (read it somewhere, maybe here, can't remember). Has he been around lately? With anyone? Thanks!
Answered 07/15/09 17:31:07 by Lesley Abravanel
A: none whatsoever! sorry!Submitted by Anonymous
Q: Is Wall opening this weekend or next weekend?
Answered 07/10/09 19:18:37 by Lesley Abravanel
A: now it's next week allegedlySubmitted by Karen from Palmetto Bay, Fl
Q: Someone asked about ballroom dancing in Miami. We are the Miami Ballroom Dance Society. We have 7 black tie ballroom dancing events starting in September. Contact miamiballroomdancesociety@gmail.com
Answered 07/09/09 18:01:03 by Lesley Abravanel
A: excellent. you are all coming out of the woodwork now, thanks!Submitted by KP from Miami Beach, FL
Q: HINT: You know, I'm really into the local music scene. There are some great alternative and pop-rock music in Miami these days, especially coming from this record label called Dying Van Gogh. There's a band called "Ex-Norwegian", whose frontman Roger Houdaille is a well known local musician hailing from Miami Beach.______________________________________________________________________________ The next big band coming from this label is called "Dreaming in Stereo". This band's frontman, Fernando Perdomo, has worked with popular artists like Christian Castro, Paulina Rubio, Mika, and Juanes!_______________ Lesley, if you are interested in real, down to earth Miami rock music, you must check out this great band. You can check Dreaming In Stereo out at their CD release party this month- for FREE -at the ultra cool Kitchen 305! This party is going down on Friday- July 24 at 8:00pm at Kitchen 305 in the Newport Beach Resort which is located at 6701 Collins Avenue/ North Miami Beach, FL. You can check them out at www.myspace.com/dreaminginstereo. Thanks for all the great local tips Lesley!
Answered 07/06/09 08:38:17 by Lesley Abravanel
A: excellent! Thanks for the tip!Submitted by keith from coconut creek
Q: when people ask about ballrm dancng(waltz, foxtrot, rumba, u can refer them 2 Gold Coast ballrm on Sunday evenngs in Coconut Creek, right off the Pike in Broward. It is probably the biggest ballroom in the state, Sunday is the biggest night, 500 -800 peeps
Answered 07/03/09 16:28:14 by Lesley Abravanel
A: yes, finally someone chimes in on this one! Thank you!Submitted by Shirly from SoBe 33139
Q: Do you know of any relaxed bars (not extravagent) for today July 2nd on South Beach? We are starting out at Montys and want to continue the vibe somewhere else where we can dance and hang out. Any help would be appreciated!
Answered 07/02/09 14:43:30 by Lesley Abravanel
A: Hmm, dance , hang out and relaxed? not so much all three...a cool bar scene that's relaxed is at The Room. Clarke's and even the bar at Nemo in South of Fifth area, near Monty's. Later at night you can try Cozy, by Portofino which is claustrophobic but lively and you may even be able to squeeze out a dance or two.Submitted by Thomas from Miami Beach, FL
Q: Lesley, Does Dan from Real World Miami still live in town? I swear I saw him leaving this party I went to on Saturday. Glenn, from "Brooke Knows Best" was there too and the second time in 3 weeks I have seen him out.
Answered 07/01/09 09:59:19 by Lesley Abravanel
A: yes he does. in fact, I think he works for New Times!
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