Take a chance — with karaoke or poker
This season may be American Idol‘s most uneventful, but thanks to Glee, singing has never been hotter. Which is why you should stop sitting in front of your TV in a soporific stupor and get out and sing at Vinyl & Kai’s Sink or Sing Karaoke. From 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. you can channel your inner [insert your favorite singer here] while women drink free well drinks from 9 until midnight.
If singing isn’t your thing, there’s always Miami Poker Society Wednesdays, where No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments take place from 8:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. Players compete to win bar tabs, mystery prizes, bounty rounds and even earn points toward a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker bracelet event. Of course, there are also drink specials and snacks to help distort or define the poker face.
Even if you don’t like gambling, you can head to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach for several nocturnal options that have nothing to do with horses. Among them: Tonino Lamborghini’s Caffe Corsa in the Village of Gulfstream Park, which just kicked off its new happy hour from 5-8 p.m. seven days a week. Drinks are two-for-one, and there’s also a $2.50 tasting menu that includes beef carpaccio, fried calamari and a chef’s selection of meats, cheeses and vegetables.
Those who like to tap into their more devious sides can consider The Good, the Bad and the Kinky presented by Gerry Kelly and Fritz “e” Romeus in association with Life is Art and Taboo Exchange at MI-VI at Gulfstream on Friday. You are dared to show your true self via dress code. There are a few wardrobe requirements: all white, all black, all red or fetish wear, costume, drag or industrial wardrobe. There’s a fashion show by designer Maria Lepe, a live performance by Sunni Stephens, Azazel Fetish and the Hot Jam Dancers. Oh, and body painting by Troy, too. Free admission before midnight if you are dressed for the part(s). The invitation encourages to you to “just tell the door staff if you are good, bad or kinky with a wink.” If you do so with more than a wink, you may find yourself in some sort of trouble.
You won’t need suggestive winks to admire the twinkling stars at the Vizcayans Evening Under the Stars fundraiser 7:30-11 p.m. Thursday at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The event will feature food and wine tasting, tours, entertainment, DJ and silent auction to benefit the museum. Members pay $65, nonmembers $85. Among the participating restaurants: Area 31, El Scorpion Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar, Gibraltar, Il Grissino, Mercadito, Red, The Steakhouse, Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Wish at The Hotel, Palme d’Or and Crepemaker. We went a few years ago, and it was like Vizcaya’s Halloween party, only minus the masks, drunks and lines (in other words, it was a sophisticated, civilized event of boozers and foodies dressed up like young professionals). For more information, call 305-856-4866 or go to vizcayaunderthestars.com.
And finally, fans of classic pop and rock not mangled by American Idol contestants or yet featured with jazz hands on Glee may want to get their air guitars (and saxes) ready for The Clarence Clemons Classic ! Gala & Auction at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Saturday to benefit Home Safe, an organization that provides care and treatment to abused, neglected and abandoned children. The event will be hosted by the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and will also feature the band’s drummer, Max Weinberg (formerly of Late Night with Conan O’Brien), and guitarist/vocalist/ex Sopranos star Steven Van Zandt, as well as Run DMC, legendary Monkees lead singer Davy Jones and original Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed. The event starts at 6 p.m. and will feature food, drink, celebrity jam sessions and entertainment by Michael Israel and the Rainbow Circus. Tickets are $300 and available at ClarenceClemonsClassic.org.