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12 MONTROSE VOICE/JUNE 13. 1986
Doing America
Miami Shows a Contrast of
Cultures
By Bob Damron
The TV series Miami Vice has
brought a new pride and awareness
to Miami, which had been lacking
for several years. Still, all that glitters is not gold on the fabled sun
coast.
Economics, politics and a soaring
crime rate still erode the good life
and elusive pleasures. Dade County's million or so inhabitants are an
unwieldy combination of local
Southern Baptists, retired sun-
seeking New Yorkers, and transplanted Latino refugees. The
liberated gay person must be
defiant, while still treading very
carefully.
The twin lures of sun and luxury
attract millions of tourists annually, and whether you 're the mink or
bikini type, you'll find your niche
here along Florida's "Gold Coast."
Miami International Airport is
the gateway to Latin America and
the Caribbean serving some 40 or so
foreign countries (not to mention
fabulous Key West). Visitors to the
tropical showcase may here to see
Hialeah Racetrack, Jai-Alai Palace,
Key Largo, Metrozoo, the Orange
Bowl, Seaquairum, Vizcaya, University of Miami or the nearby Everglades National Park. But don't
overlook the laid-back ambiance of
village life in Coconut Grove or the
hunks displaying their sun-tanned
muscular bodies at Virginia Beach.
The Miami gay bar scene has
changed radically over the last few
years. Uncle Charlie's at 3673 Bird
Rd. is the top disco for men, while
Horizons at 2054 N.W. 23rd Ave. is
the late night dance palace that
doesn't even get crowded until the
wee hours of the morning.
The original Karleman's has
closed and has moved into a great
new building, at 1060 N.E. 79th St.
The new name is Club Milord, and it
has disco dancing and entertainment. Other discos are Mixers, at
2490 S.W. 17th Ave., which attracts
both men and women, and the
Waterfront, at 3615 South River Dr.
N.W., which gets a young Latino
crowd.
Downtown Miami's only remaining gay bar is the Double R at 1001
N.E. 2nd Ave., the closest thing to a
macho cruise bar in town. It attracts
whatever Levi and Western jocks
are around, but closes at 1:00 a.m.
on weekdays and 2:00 a.m. on
weekends—much earlier than
many nearby bars which are open
until 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.
Probably the most exciting new
bar in Miami is Cheers, located
about six miles south of downtown
at 5922 S. Dixie Hwy. It has great
video and a Sunday T-dance.
Neighborhood bars include the
Hole (some S&M), Leprechaun (crui-
sey), and Gregory's (a piano bar).
For the first time in number of
Downtown Miami
years, life is stirring again in Miami
Beach. The Boardwalk at 17008 Collins Ave. is a popular show bar,
especially with Cubans. The Sea
Gull is trying to be the super complex that replaced the fabled Marlin
Beach Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale.
They offer cheap rooms, disco,
leather bar, cafe and pool. Good
luck. The beach can use it, if it
makes it.
For gay dining, try the Cactus,
Hattie's Place or Olde Key West. For
excellent, if very expensive
"straight" dining, I like Cafe Chau-
veron, Chez Vendome, Depot,
Forge, Horatio's, Marcella's, Prince
Hamlet and Raimondo.
"Little Havana" has many good
Spanish-styled restaurants such as
Centro Vasco and El Baturro, where
the flavors and aromas tempt your
senses without putting your credit
cards over the limit.
The Club Body Center and Gym
Miami at 2991 Cora!, Way is very
popular. But I usually stay at the
Holiday Inn at2500Brickell.Thisis
just off 1-95 and the Rickenbacker
Causeway, which is about as centrally located as you can get in auto-
oriented Greater Miami.
While here, pick up a copy of The
Weekly News, one of America's best
gay newspapers.
From the glamorous facade of
Miami Beach's faded hotels,
through the Black and Latin ghettos to Millionaire's Row on Key Bis-
cayne, the area is a study in
dramatic contrasts. Miami is a
great city and has the natural
assets and resources to survive
adversity. The Seminoles have an
old saying that "hurricanes pass
quickly, and then the sun comes
shining through."
Here's to a sunny, hot and tranquil Miami.
Damron is the publiahser of the
"Bob Damron Address Book '87,"a
gay travel guide, available at many
gay bars, baths, shops and bookstores, or by mail for $14.00, which
includes packing and shipping,
from Bob Damron Enterprises, P.O.
Box 14077, San Francisco, CA
94114.
(Ebc JExilc
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