Guest blogpost by Steve Deitsch
A bunch of my gay friends are coming in for the weekend, and since I am their tour guide, I want them to experience the paradise that is Miami –i.e. some of the best of Miami style, food and fun. I thought I’d share some of the itinerary with my readers.Since gay men are known for being sophisticated in their tastes, it’s important that they have a well-curated Miami experience. Of course, in this semi-post-gay (i.e. more integrated) world, many of my choices are not exclusively gay – they just appeal to a more refined audience and are at least gay-friendly.
Here are a few highlights:
Eat:
Before dinner, I want to bring my friends to an urban oasis – and one of my best-kept secrets – the outside bar/lounge at the Setai Hotel ,2001 Collins Ave. in South Beach. Sipping on a Chili Passion Martini (my favorite), lounging on pillows by a tranquil pond and seeing the occasional celebrity (we saw Penelope Cruz and her family on a recent visit) is the height of the Miami experience.
After drinks, wander down to the W Hotel, to dine at the fabulous Dutch restaurant ,2201 Collins Ave. in the W Hotel, from James Beard award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini and his team of NYC restaurateurs. The menu is elevated all-American (despite the name) and the ambience is modern, stylish and efficient.
Shop:
My gay friends mostly think of Miami as a small area on South Beach. There is so much more to Miami, and I am going to open their eyes (and their wallets) by bringing them over to the Design District for a little shopping action.
For clothing, this cosmopolitan crowd will dig French fashion brand Dior Homme ,161 NE 40th St., in the Design District, a sleek and stylish line of fashion and accessories for both work and play. Dior’s Creative Director Kris Van Assche favors a more formal and minimal style, and a slimmer silhouette.
Also in the Design District is gay icon and arbiter of modern home style Jonathan Adler , 4040 NE 2nd Ave. in the Design District. This is Jonathan’s only location in Florida. His bold patterns and bright colors are always a welcome addition in the homes of gay men across the country.
Do:
No visit to Miami by a self-respecting gay man would be complete without a visit to the gay beach (the area by 12th and Ocean on South Beach). Bring your six-pack (not the beer kind, honey) and your speedo – this beach is likely to make even the most beautiful men feel inadequate.
After you hit the beach, you may need to forget your self-esteem problems and get a drink at the Palace Bar ,1200 Ocean Drive, South Beach a gay haven for many decades, that still puts on outlandish drag shows and whose slogan is “Because every queen needs a palace.” Say no more.
After you’ve had a few, sashay over to Lincoln Road, the eight-block outdoor shopping promenade (once called “The Fifth Avenue of the South” – but that was before Bal Harbour and the Design District), where there are more than a few gay-friendly shops and restaurants, including Balans, a lively and health-conscious restaurant, bookstore and café Books & Books, Score (a gay nightclub ), Kiehl’s (a gay man’s Sally’s Beauty Supply), etc.
Also, be sure to get over to Wynwood, the arts district to check out the burgeoning hipster scene happening there. After an afternoon of checking out the best of what the galleries have to offer, stop by Wynwood Kitchen ,2550 NW 2nd Ave., for a quick and delicious lunch and then to Panther Coffee,2390 NW 2nd Ave., for an artisanal pick-me-up.
Stay:
The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the LGBT Visitor’s Center have certified certain hotels as gay-friendly, by giving them a “Pink Flamingo” award. For a list of these gay-friendly hotels, check out this link: http://galla.gogaymiami.com/list/category/hotel-75. Some of my favorites include: The Biltmore (1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables), the Dream South Beach ,1111 Collins Ave.), the SLS South Beach ,1701 Collins Ave., and the Standard ,40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach.
After Dark:
Since my crowd is not into the club scene, we’re going to keep it classy for a fun night out.
We’ll start with hand-crafted cocktails and live acts at the recently opened The Cabaret South Beach ,233 12th Street, Miami Beach, where the wait staff and bartenders double as singers and performers.
Then, as the night wears on, we’ll drift over to Mova Lounge,1625 Michigan Avenue at Lincoln Road,, where sexy bartenders serve up special concoctions, the DJ keeps the energy up and the hot crowd gets its groove on.
