Nightlife

With all the hype, you'd expect Miami to have long outlived its 15 minutes of fame by now. But you'd be wrong. Miami's nightlife, in South Beach, and, slowly but surely, downtown, is hotter than ever before -- and still getting hotter.

Practically every club in the area has installed closely guarded velvet ropes to create an air of exclusivity. Don't be fooled or intimidated by them -- anyone can go clubbing in the Magic City, and throughout this guide, I've provided tips to ensure you gain entry to the venue you want to go to.

South Beach is certainly Miami's uncontested nocturnal nucleus, but more and more diverse areas, such as the Design District, South Miami, and even Little Havana, are increasingly providing fun alternatives without the ludicrous cover charges, "fashionably late" hours of operation (things don't typically get started on South Beach until after 11pm), the lack of sufficient self-parking, and outrageous drink prices that come standard in South Beach.

And while South Beach dances to a more electronic beat, other parts of Miami dance to a Latin beat -- from salsa and merengue to tango and cha cha. However, if you're looking for a less frenetic good time, Miami's bar scene offers something for everyone, from haute hotel bars to sleek, loungey watering holes.

Parts of downtown Miami, such as the Biscayne Corridor, the Miami River, and the Design District are in the throes of a trendy makeover a la New York City's Meatpacking District, in which, slowly but surely, cool lounges, bars, and clubs are popping up and providing the "in" and arty crowds with another, newer, more urban-chic nocturnal pasture.

But if the possibility of a celebrity sighting in one of the city's lounges, bars, or clubs doesn't fulfill your cultural needs, Miami also offers a variety of first-rate diversions in theater, music, and dance, including a world-class ballet (under the aegis of Edward Villella), a recognized symphony, and a talented opera company. The brand new Cesar Pelli-designed, $446-million Miami Performing Arts Center is the focal point for the arts, created to prove to the world that Miami isn't as shallow and devoid of culture as people once thought.

For up-to-date listing information, and to make sure the club of the moment hasn't expired, check the Miami Herald's "Weekend" section, which runs on Fridays, or the more comprehensive listings in New Times, Miami's free alternative weekly, available each Wednesday, or visit http://miami.citysearch.com online.

Stargazing--The most popular places for celebrity sightings include Mynt, Opium Garden, Skybar, poolside at The Shore Club or the Delano, and, when it comes to J-Lo, somewhere on the beach around 20th street. Miami Heat basketball games are also star magnets.

Rock 'n' Bowl--A new kind of nightlife debuted in South Beach in 2005 in the form of Lucky Strike Lanes, 1691 Michigan Ave., South Beach (tel. 305/532-0307; www.bowlluckystrike.com), which keeps you off the streets, but in the gutters. Low lighting, glow-in-the-dark pins, and loud music keep things rolling day and night from 11am until 2am. If you're not in the mood to bowl, the restaurant and bar are always hopping, too. Games are $4.95 to $7.95 depending on the time you're there or $55 to $75 an hour; shoes are an extra $4. After 9pm, you have to be 21 and older to enter.