Miami Entertainment

  1. Abbey Brewery

    The only brewpub in South Beach is on the untouristed end of South Beach (near Alton Rd). It's friendly and packed with folks listening to the Grateful Dead and, of course, slinging back some excellent homebrew: give the Abbey Brown or Oatmeal Stout a shot.

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  2. Absinthe House Cinematheque

    This art house is a blend of old-fashioned and mod - it has only one screen for independent and foreign films, but a cool lounge serving as an atmospheric snack bar.

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  3. Actors' Playhouse

    Housed within the 1948 deco Miracle Theater, this three-theater venue stages well-known musicals and comedies, children's theater on its kids stage and more avant-garde productions in its small experimental black-box space. Recent productions have included Footloose and The Wizard of Oz for the little ones.

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  4. Adrienne Arsht Center For The Performing Arts

    Skeptics, we're sorry, but it's clear this enormous centerpiece of northern Downtown was worth both the wait and the expense. The magnificent venue manages to both humble and enthrall visitors who can't help but marvel at the split-shell design and the way the Arsht seizes upon and utilizes the most common natural resource in Florida: natural, golden sunlight, which comes crashing through huge plate-glass windows.

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  5. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center

    This huge multipurpose area includes a 300-seat concert hall, dance studio and the Amladozi Gallery, which regularly features the work of African-American, Afro-Caribbean and plain African artists. Call ahead and plan a visit during the frequent concerts and dance recitals held throughout the year.

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  7. Atlantic Casino Miami

    This gaming cruise offers a plethora of slots, video gambling, poker, roulette and blackjack tables, plus an observation deck and full bars.

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  8. Automatic Slim's

    Rockers and rocker wannabes - tattoos are optional - come together at Automatic Slim's a rockabilly-light bar for theme nights and general 'rowdiness'.

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  9. Ballet Gamonet

    Founded by former Miami City Ballet dancers in 1997, this contemporary ballet troupe holds unique world premieres, often using hip musical scores written by the likes of Stuart Copeland, U2 and Dave Brubeck. Check the website or call for a performance schedule.

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  10. Bar

    All in a name, right? Probably the best watering hole in the Gables, The Bar is just what the title says (which is ironic in this neighborhood of extravagant embellishment). If you're in the 'hood on Friday come here for happy hour ( to ), when all the young Gables professionals take their ties off and basically let loose long into the night.

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  11. Bed

    You probably know this drill: someone sets a bunch of beds around a DJ booth. House music ensues. People go crazy. Except the music is really loud, and you have to order bottle service to lounge, so come with cash if you want to lay down (which seems opposed to the whole, 'Let's go dance' thing, but hey).

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  13. Bill Cosford Cinema

    On the University of Miami campus, this renovated art house was launched in memory of the Miami Herald film critic. They do him justice, too, with a great lineup of first-run indie and foreign movies, plus presentations from visiting filmmakers.

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  14. Black Door Dance Ensemble

    Established by the Miami-Dade Community College dance department director, Karen Stewart, Miami's premiere African-American dance company performs modern, neoclassical ballet, traditional African pieces and Afro-Caribbean works at various city venues, usually the Colony Theatre on Lincoln Rd.

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  15. Bond Street Lounge

    After the sushi eaters head home, a new crowd rolls in - one that prefers litchitinis (lychee martinis) over yellowtail. Throw yourself over a white couch or cylindrical white ottoman, order up, sip and stare at the crowd.

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  16. Boteca

    If you're missing Sao Paolo, come to Boteca on Friday evenings to see the biggest Brazilian expat reunion in Miami. Cariocas (Rio natives) and their countrymen flock here to listen to samba and bossa nova and chat each other up over (obviously) the best capirinhas in town.

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  17. Boy Bar

    The North Beach boys (and just about everyone else) flock to this neighborhood cruise bar, where everyone plays pool, chills on the back porch and basically avoids indulging in too much South Beach-style madness. Which isn't to say they don't engage in a little bad behavior…

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  19. Brazarte Dance Company

    The first Brazilian dance company in Florida is based in Coral Gables, and presents lavish, Carmen-Mirandaesque shows of Brazilian dance in many styles - folkloric, capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian dance that incorporates self-defense moves), lambada and samba. Call for show schedules and venues.

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  20. Buck 15

    Located in a loft above Miss Yip, B15 manages to blend everything we like about going out - kinda edgy but not scary graffiti chic, cast-off action figures, consistently awesome DJs (Did they just mix 'Your Love' by the Outfield into 'Low' by Flo-Rida? Oh yes they did), free entry, a good mix of the hip and the hot and the drunk and the folks who just don't care but definitely wave their hands in the air - into one shot of nightlife fun.

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  21. Café Nostalgia

    Come here to drink sangria and watch old-school crooners get melodramatic on a vintage stage. Sure it's cheesy, but that's the point (look at the name of the place).

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  22. Cameo

    This enormous, touristy club, where Gwen Stefani tracks get smooshed into Oakenfold, is where the sexy times are to be had - if by sexy time you mean thumping music, a packed crowd and sweat to slip on. Sunday's gay night (the specific party name frequently changes) is one of the best in town.

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  23. Casa Panza

    They might as well hang out flashing 'Ole!' signs at this kitschy cavern of Spanish stereotypes, where the nightly flamenco entertainment is as good as the food, which includes caldo gallego (white-bean soup with pork sausage) and gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce).

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  25. Casino Princesa

    Docked adjacent to the Hard Rock Café in the Bayside, this floating casino has all the slots and gaming tables.

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  26. Chesterfield Hotel

    Perch on some prime Collins people-watching real estate and get crunk on the hip-hop-and-zebra stripe theme they've got going on here. You'd think this would be a pre-funk kinda place, but the setting's so fly, folks end up stationary, sipping on mad martinis 'til they stumble into their rooms.

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  27. Chopin Foundation Of The United States

    This national organization hosts a treasure trove of performances for Chopin fans - the Chopin Festival, a series of free monthly concerts and the less frequent National Chopin Piano Competition, an international contest held in Miami every five years (next scheduled for 2010).

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  28. Churchill's

    Only in Miami: Churchill's is a Brit-owned East End-style pub in the midst of what could be Port-au-Prince. There's a lot of live music here, mainly punk and indie and more punk. Not insipid modern punk either: think the Ramones meet the Sex Pistols. While everyone's getting their ya-ya's off, Haitian hustlers are lurking outside, waiting to park your car or sidle in and enjoy the gig and a beer with you. Brits, this is the place to watch your sports.

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  29. Circa 28

    Miami can work her magic on anyone, even Wynwood's angst-y artists. Like Cinderella touched by a Fairy Godmother (or very good DJ), they become glamorous club kids in this two-story hepcat hotspot. Circa is as sexy and gorgeous as Miami gets, but with its modish library and (semi)literati clientele, it's also intelligent enough to hold a conversation.

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