From the Desk of King D- Miami Correspondent
Well..well..well…Sizzle and Memorial Day weekend is now over. And the streets and beaches of paradise are a little bit quieter and a little less congested. I know these Cubans have never seen so many punks converge in one area in their life. So, its time for my report card and grade for this past weekend’s Sizzle events and surrounding events in Miami. Let me give Sizzle its’ grade: C-. Many of you may be asking why such a below average grade. And there are many reasons why…one being this was below average party weekend in Miami.
I guess the first clue that this weekend was not going to be everything I hoped it to be; was when Sizzle promoters sent out that wonderful email approximately three weeks ago stating that they had vacancy in the once sold-out host hotel. I guess some of us got smart and had to decide whether to “ buy food” and “drive to work” or party in Miami. A tough decision, but someone had to make it. I had the wonderful privilege of staying in Room 806 in Hyatt to observe the festivities (Thanks Richard for the early birthday gift). A few of my friends and guests stopped by and made a observation that many had noticed. The hotel was not packed-packed, like it has been in the past. I remember last year walking into the lobby of the Hyatt, and not being able to walk three feet without having to say "excuse me" to some phyne man in my path. But honey, this year, I could have done a round-off and back flip through the lobby. It was a different vibe. Same cute boys, but just not an overabundance of them like years past. My boy, Kevin from Lauderdale said, “Maybe Sizzle is losing it’s edge.” Maybe, but I am not so sure.
The weather….I think he had a hurricane come thru on Saturday. Starting at 11am thru the evening it rained and rained and rained. Not a sprinkle but a monsoon. It’s sucked big time! It was definitely not a beach day. I couldn’t tell you how the Sizzle Beach party was Saturday afternoon because it was raining so hard I couldn’t see my car in the parking lot. The event was supposed to go on rain or shine but I was not about to become no one’s wet rag.
The boys…or rather the men, were definitely on point. Or as my boy from Jersey would say “How was the fellas looking like?” And honey the fellas was looking phyne as hell. Did everyone start working out at the beginning of this year? And the answer is yes. Me and my boy always argue about who looks better the boys of New York or the boys of “elsewhere”. And even though we had a lot of boys from Harlem, the Bx, and the NYC in general, the boys of “elsewhere” won this round. Everybody must have been saving up to get those polo shirts, plaid shorts (which unfornately seems to be in style for one more summer), and those bright white Air Force Ones. But you know we still had those queens who wanted to wear their bath robes during the middle of the day in the hotel lobby, looking for who know what? And of course we, still had those boys who look anorexic with the tight, tight jeans who looked like they skipped every meal for the past month. But overall, an A ++ goes to the fellas who came to South Florida, ya’ll bitches were looking good.
The club scene…If you have ever been to Sizzle you know that every night has a different club that is sponsored by Sizzle. I really didn’t hit the clubs hard until later in the weekend but you know I had my scouts out and about. My boy, Kevin went on Thursday night to Elements and he hated it. He said it was not as packed and the drinks were too high. And for this mixed Italian boy who loves black men, love hanging around black men, love sleeping with black men, I know the club was nothing nice for him, to use such strong words.
The club scene…If you have ever been to Sizzle you know that every night has a different club that is sponsored by Sizzle. I really didn’t hit the clubs hard until later in the weekend but you know I had my scouts out and about. My boy, Kevin went on Thursday night to Elements and he hated it. He said it was not as packed and the drinks were too high. And for this mixed Italian boy who loves black men, love hanging around black men, love sleeping with black men, I know the club was nothing nice for him, to use such strong words.
Thursday....While the Rainbow family is partying in downtown Miami, there is another party happening in South Beach called unofficially Urban Beach week. During Memorial weekend, the hip-hop heads and celebrities take over South Beach. Thursday night, I braved the streets of South Beach and chilled with the fellas at Urban Beach Week. And as expected, South Beach was packed with beautiful ladies, thugged out boys, with the trade mixed in between. After walking Washington Ave and Ocean Drive and bumping into some old flames, I headed to Twist nightclub. And when I walked in, I knew I had arrived at the right spot. Caramel, brown-skinned, dark-skinned, red-boned, Hershey-chocolate bruthas everywhere. Twist had turned black for the night and for that weekend I heard. If you ever been to Twist you know it is more racially diverse but this weekend is one of those weekend, where the bruthas give it a lot of flavor. And I got a toothache trying to taste them all. Get ya’ll minds out of the gutter, pervs.
Friday....was Metropolis and it was packed I heard. My scout Joseph said he had a great time. His only complaint was the high-priced drinks.
Saturday....was a lazy day due to the rain. I want to show some love to all the fellas, especially Sam from Atlanta who attended my card party. It was a great time. Tre you need to work on your Spades game, you got whooped too many times, you and your sad partner. Late night Saturday, we all headed to Club Boi in Miami. And as expected we had a great time. The music was good; the strippers were good. Who was the stripper from DC? Damn?!! We didn’t spend an arm and leg for the cover and drinks. And despite the rain it was packed. This is my boy, Keith’s favorite spot. He came down from Atlanta after being “stand-by” all day in Hartsfield. He said, “He was glad to be home”. And Club Boi definitely delivered. I didn’t have a scout in SOHO studio, Sizzle’s club for the night, they were all at Club Boi.
Sunday….this is for that boy I say in downtown Miami who didn’t have no draws on, and was swangin from left to right in his sweats and white tee, with his aviator glasses on. I hope you took that monster of yours and headed to Haulover beach with the rest of us. And YES, the beach was packed! This is the day the weather really improved and it was a great day to be on the beach. I guess everyone was tired of the rain and needed to let it hang loose, especially on the nude beach. Ya’ll girls play too much! Sunday night was the best night of Sizzle. That is because the club for that night is Club Space. It is arguably the best club in South Florida, with multiple rooms, bars and a rooftop terrace. And this club does not close until after the sun comes up. And you are literally dancing under the stars. The drinks are high as hell, but it was good. And the club was packed. Voguing in one room, hip-hop in another, it had something for everyone. What I don’t understand was why there was an incredibly long line at 4am when we left the club. And when I say long, I mean long. It was a great party night though.
Monday…another lazy day. Most of us was partied out. I did venture out to Sizzle’s club, Nocturnal for the night. All I have to say is $14 long ice teas…and I had three….I am over Sizzle! The club is nice though. I used to promote for this club and they usually have a very good clientele. The night started off slow but picked up quickly. My friends and I spent most of the night on the roof top terrace debating why we paid $14 for a drink in a little ass cup!
So that is why Sizzle received a C minus from me. Dwight Powell still has a lot to learn in order to call Sizzle a “premier” event. He does not have the celebrities to call his event premier unlike DC and Atlanta prides. Last year, Fantasia graced the stage in Atlanta during Pride. In years past, Memorial Day weekend in DC brought big names such as Jennifer Hudson and Patti Labelle, and this year Stephanie Mills. And Sizzle brought you Brandon “Bscott”….Hmmmm….no disrespect to him because he is fabulous person, but Sizzle is not of the same caliber as these other long-attended Black prides of the nation when it comes to respect, celebrities and venues. If you didn’t notice you attended some of the same venues you did last year for Sizzle. Sizzle needs to re-invent itself to become competitive with other Prides. And honey Mr. Dwight Powell need to come off his high horse and come back down to earth…$14 for a cocktail. This is just not for Sizzle but also at his club, Sprung. The girls are not going to deal with this much longer, without rebelling back to Club Boi. Nevertheless Dwight Powell has a lot to learn. Point blank.
Well ladies and gentlemen…I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. It was fun-filled one here in Miami. Next…on the agenda….Is Sizzle for the 32” waist and under crowd only? and Orlando Black Gay Pride and Gays Days- I will be there next weekend to bring you the haps.