happy hours

so, it's Friday, and people are like, "man, this has been a tough week, and miami nice hasn't even posted anything in 3 days. I need a drink." So here you go, people. Also, can these places start referring to these as "happy hours"? It's never just one hour.

Tobacco Road (Downtown) - Not only is it the oldest bar in Miami, but their happy hours from 4-8 features 98 cent beer and well drinks. Which is absurd. This place has been a speakeasy, a strip joint, a gay bar, a gambling den, and Al Capone used to go all the time apparently. But he doesn't anymore, so don't be scared, just go there and pay one dollar for a drink and get an annoying 2 pennies back.

Monty's Raw Bar (Coconut Grove) - This place still holds a place in my heart (even though it doubles as a sauna). From 4-8 all their drinks are half off, which just means from 4-8 their drinks are reasonably priced.

Tapas y Tintos (Miami Beach) - I haven't been here, but they refer to their 6-8 drink specials as happy hours! Thank you! 2 for 1 drinks! Live music! Happy hours!

J.Azze

miss pepper

there's lots to say about Miss Pepper boutique in South Miami (what do we think about that whole SoMi thing?), but first things first. I. NEED. THIS. BAG.

You know what they always say, "it's what's inside that counts." Well, with this bag it really is. The perfectly practical tote (which they also carry in black) comes lined in cooler fabric, which makes it not just a great bag, but also a cooler. Take it to the beach, pack a picnic, be the chicest person at a Marlins tailgate this summer, and stop whining about how hot is it because the adorable girls at Miss Pepper found a solution for you to keep (at least your drinks and your outfit) cool. 

Other stuff to know about Miss Pepper, if you friend them on facebook you can get updates like these about what's new in the store (these are House of Harlow, Nicole Richie's brand (I know, I know Nicole Richie is soooo 2003, but the Simple Life was funny and these are more than just wearable they are very cute)). 

I know what you are thinking right now, "But, miami nice, this can't get any better! Awesome Accessories?! A tote bag that is also a cooler?! Come onnnnnn-uhhh." But it does, there's always a Boston Terrier in the store, the store mascot, Pepper. They feature local designers like Romina Heighes who is doing an interview with miami nice this week!  It's right next to Mojitos so you can grab a quick Cafe Bustelo Cool or colada and head over there after checking here every week for a Miss Pepper picks summer accessories ideas our first collaboration with a local store! 

7308 Red Road

South Miami, FL, 33143

artlurker

right after people born and raised in Miami, my second kind of Miamians are people who move from really far away to Miami because they know it's the nicest. Here's one example: Artlurker, a Miami based contemporary art newsletter/blog founded by Brit Thomas Hollingworth. They have local artists and renowned writers write crits, update about events, galleries, and host silent auctions... and they did a caja china at one of the auctions, which makes them very miami nice. 

by Lee Materazzi, Untitled (Clothes on Head) 

Untitles (tennis ball sculpture) by Claire Fontaine

images via artlurker

katch up with kanye

hey, so if you haven't heard, Kanye has put out a new song recently. it's call "Power" and it's great. Hear it here. Then check out the snippet from his song "Monster" featuring our very own boss--Rick Ross. Then put these on your summer playlist and get crazy, go to the club, pop some botellas- the usual.


Jakey

calling all theater geeks

when I get an e-mail that describes their event like this, I have to listen: 
"Gender-bending, lesbian marriage, Cuban theater, queer circus arts, racy humor, laughter, tears and much more." 

Queer circus arts? Curious much (no pun intended). There are student tickets for $20 and available on Ticketmaster and the performances are at the Colony Theater. 
While we're on the theater geek train (give me a break here guys I've been resisting for a while...) there's this YouTube video you absolutely need to watch: 

all posters

don't sign up for the allposters.com email blasts, because for real they will blast your email. Here's all you need to know, right now they are having the most ridiculous sale. I just paid $1.55 (as in one dollar and fifty five cents) for this Coral Gables poster:

They also have Miramar. Represent? 

image via allposters.com

take a hint

male miami nice readers,
Let's put practicality aside, if you're wearing a suit on the reg why not ride a vespa with an orange helmet, a pair of sun-glasses, loafers (no socks) and the best fitting suit you can find (always with a kerchief in the pocket).

If you are looking for other stylespiration pics check out the Sartorialist (girls, relax, I know you know who the Sartorialist is... but I'm giving them the run down for your own good... trust me). The Sartorialist is a cool dude with a hot girlfriend (Garance Dore), and he basically invented street style blogging, he's been around forever and he photographs guys with great style. Check out his site. 

photo via the Sartorialist

artofficial is wussup

local favorites ArtOfficial just released their music video for "Big City, Bright Lights", and on top of it being a good summer jam, it's extra cool cause I was at the recording (or now way less cool). These guys make some great sounds and they're always playing at cool places, like this coming Thursday, July 1st, at Waxy O'Connor's at 8:00 PM.


Here's a pic I snapped that night, when they invited some of their pals on stage to perform their song "Show Me Change"

J.Azze

resort round-up 2

let's get a couple of very serious fashion mistakes out of the way before we move onto this dream world where this kind of fashion is actually applicable to anyone in Miami. Like Julie Andrews says in The Sound of Music (really?... did I just write that?) "let's start at the very beginning."
1.) panty lines are always bad, but they are worse when wearing white jeans, the ultimate summer staple. It should go without saying, even though I'm going to say it anyway, that you also shouldn't wear neon green, pink, blue, red or purple underwear under white pants.
2.) nip slips are always bad. Side boob is sometimes good. (you girls know what I mean... those AA tanks look great with a cool lacy bra, tiny bikini tops are a danger zone)
3.) don't wear boots, chunky scarves (silk are totally allowed), or even jeans on days that it's the Sahara outside. It makes people uncomfortable to look at you.

Do you have more basic fashion rules you feel like people don't follow? Send them in. It would be great to do a reader round-up post.

and now... on to the main event:
Chloe.
If only we could remember to start at the very beginning, wear neutral shades in flattering cuts and designs, use our plain brown sandals with every outfit and dress it up in espadrilles.

You can always count on Valentino for a cute cocktail frock. I personally love Valentino because he loves pugs and the color red, and so do I, but there's more to love than just that, these flower embellished fancy little dresses are divine, skanky and fashion-forward. They're ordered easiest to wear to hardest to wear from right to left.

Chloe Sevigny is the coolest. Not only does she design for Opening Ceremony, but she plays the chicest looking Mormon on television, has shaved her head, is in a ton of indie films and her brother ran the Beatrice Inn in New York. Are you getting the cool vibe yet? If not, maybe you aren't cool (now that wasn't very nice of me). I'm actually not crazy about this look-book because she looked far more stellar in the Chloe perfume ads she did and with those Big Love braids, but check it out for yourself. Leopard mini dress? Puhleeze. 

patron on deck

the hood might be mad at me for posting such an old song (and I know how hood miami nice readers are). This vibin' jam, along the lines of another made-in-Dade classic, Grind Mode's "I'm So High", has somehow eluded me for the past two years. It's amazing and it's all 305. "On Deck" by Unda Surveillance.





Jakey

the cuban gynecologist/car salesman

you know those friends that always have a new YouTube video that they swear is the funniest video ever, and even if you really don't feel like watching one they basically make you? Well have they shown you this?

beer, soccer, wienerschnitzel

here's your big chance to watch soccer and try and say wienerschnitzel with a straight face (giggle). Fritz and Franz in the Gables has become one of the World Cup central sports around town. Here's with it's looking like everyday:

I'm guessing there were probably like a gagillions beers housed there today as Germany spanked England?

Thanks for the pics J. Azze

miami nice fashion

collage by a.valls

tower theater ($5 movies!?)

the Tower Theater opened in 1926, which makes it older than, like anything else in Miami by a million years. Even better than just being old is that the Tower Theater is super cheap. The tickets are five dollars for students, at Sunset Place you're paying what, 12 dollars nowadays? and that is just out of control. Even better than that is that the movies are international independent films mostly, but not the pull my eyes out starving children kind, but the kind that you would pay the full twelve to watch on Lincoln Road (who also plays a decent handful of indie films). Summer is the perfect time to look into seeing something at the Tower because really all those summer movies with the Rock and the bro-mance flicks get old really fast. Perhaps the very best part about the Tower Theater is that it's located smack in the middle of Little Havana on Calle Ocho, so after the movie you can get some pastelitos at Versailles or some sushi at Mr. Yum and people watch in a place more interesting than most anything captured on film.

image via flickr

cafe bustelo. so cool.

you probably grew up with Cafe Bustelo around the house. You abuelita loves it so you should too. Plus, they're doing tons of cool stuff right now (no pun intended....ok, fine... pun intended). Cafe Bustelo Cool, they're canned cold expresso beverages, a la Starbucks, and boy are they delicious. They also just opened their flagship store in the Gansevoort South (remember the place with the shark?). They've done really fun things with their branding lately, let's just say this is no longer your grandma's coffee.

photos via cafebustelo.com

a little miami history for ya'll

one of the first hotels built in Miami, and the first building in Miami with electric lights, elevators, and a swimming pool. The Royal Palm Hotel (super standard name) was built by Henry Flagler in 1897. Also, it was the only place in Miami you can get a drink, because Julia Tuttle included a clause prohibiting alcohol sales in all land deeds (forrealz Julez?), and she owned basically the whole city. The Royal Palm Hotel had an exemption to serve alcohol to its guests for 3 months a year. The hotel was severely damaged by the 1926 hurricane, and torn down in 1930.

Fast forward to 2010, guess what sits there? The Epic Hotel.

images via Hugh Manatee and vagablond.com

J.Azze