Here at Remezcla, we have our own opinions of what was the best of Miami this year, but we also wanted to get a sense what artists, scenesters and regular Miamians thought about the cultural highlights of the year. So we had some of our favorite cool kids who call Miami home weigh in on the hidden gems, new bars, local artists, dance parties and other good stuff that happened in 2013. From what we can gather, Wynwood is the neighborhood to be, Le Sandwicherie has some epic sanduiches, and we really need to check out what “Dive-In” movies are…
Veronica Gessa
Veronica Gessa hosts some of the dopest parties in Downtown Miami and most recently was Associate Producer at newest music and art festival in Miami, III Points.
Best Dance Party – BODEGA Every Saturday @ The GarretBest Restaurant – The District
Best Queer Party – Glitter Box Mondays at KYI
Best Bar – The Regent
Best Venue for Live Music – Bardot
Best Art Exhibit – TM Sisters Prismavolt
Best DJ –Will Buck & Mike Deuce B2B Miguel Milliones
Best Chef – Jose Mendin – Pub Belly
Best Nightlife Personality – Roman Jones’ Sunglasses
Best Food Truck – Boba
Hidden Gem of the Year – Dive-in Movies
Best Music Festival – III POINTS
Best Street Art – AHOL
Best Instagram – @giginow of course
Best Film – C#CK FIGHT
Best New Scene/Neighborhood – Wynwood/Design District
Best Local Band/Singer – Band- Young Deville; Singer- Austin Paul
Best Place to Hook Up – The Standard
Most Inspiring Person/Moment – Person: Esteban Dalpra; Moment : James Murphy RBMA Couch session at Bardot during III POINTS
Best Sandwich – Anything from LA SANDWHICHERIE
Itawe of Locos Por Juana
Itawe is the front man of Locos Por Juana, the 2 time Latin Grammy nominated band that fuses reggae with tropical rhythms. He has worked musically with Juanes, Calle 13, Carlos Vives, Prince, and Pink, amongst others.
Best Dance Party – “La Fiesta Loca” at The StageBest Restaurant – The New Clive’s Location!
Best Bar – All-time favorite, Bardot
Best Venue for Live Music – The Stage
Best Art Exhibit – Lebo’s Magic City All stars Art Exhibit
Best DJ – Mr. Pauer
Best Chef – Chef Alan Hughes
Best Nightlife Personality – Papa “G” Hoover
Best Food Truck – Los Chamos
Hidden Gem of the Year – Tabaqueros
Best Music Festival – Virginia Key Grassroots
Best Street Art – RIP Reefa
Best Instagram – @locosporjuana
Best Film – Plata o Plomo
Best New Scene/Neighborhood – Art Walk
Best Local Band/Singer – Nacho
Best Place to Hook Up – Blackbird Ordinary
Most Inspiring Person/Moment – Lebo
Best Sandwich – Falafel Sandwich from Daily Bread
Chris Montano (Wynwood Map)
Christopher Montano is the co-founder(along with Robert de los Rios) of Wynwood Map, an interactive map meant to catologue the ever-evolving innovative street art popping up in the Wynwood Arts District.
Best Dance Party – Paradise (Hot Creations) during WMCBest Restaurant – Huahua’s on the beach
Best Bar – DRB (new location) – although not really new (relocated) I love the new venue. Way nicer and bigger than the previous one. And better draft selection.
Best Venue for Live Music – Jackie Gleason (The Fillmore) – Oldie but goodie. Great sound and lots of room to dance. If that’s your thing.
Best Art Exhibit – Anything at Robert Fontaine Gallery
Best DJ – Pirate Stereo
Best Food Truck – Ms. Cheezious. Their crabby cheese melt is out of control.
Best Street Art – All of it. Just go to Wynwood. Nuff said.
Best Instagram – @robertskran
Best Film – Miami Connection. Not new, but aired this year at O-Cinema as a re-release. I haven’t laughed that hard in a LONG time.
Best New Scene/Neighborhood – Little River
Best Local Band/Singer – Ketchy Shuby
Best Sandwich – La Sandwicherie. Classic.
Domino Saints
Domino Saints are a Latin urban infused pop act formed after they attended Berklee School of Music. They live in Miami and are signed to Universal Music Latino, and recently dropped their lively new single, “Smile While You Shake It.”
Best Dance Party – Club Mansion on Washington Ave. This place changes a bit from night to night, but its a guaranteed bass drop everynight that will make you consider open heart surgery.Best Restaurant – Jimmy’s Kitchen (Mega Awesome Puerto Rican Fusion Cuisine) The Mofongo is magic, and when the Boricuas are playing Bomba, we feel right at home. Puerto Ricans are tearing up Miami.
Best Bar – Radio on 1st street in Sobe. This spot came up as a pop up and stuck. Free Pool Table, great drinks, good vibes!
Best Venue for Live Music – The Stage. Great Sound everynight and they definately bring in the best live bands.
Best DJ – Local DJ? Mr.Pauer….he is definately holding the Miami banner really high, and his music is a dope mix of Latino culture with feel good beats.
Best Nightlife Personality – Hulk Hogan!! He is always tearing it up at LIV and the funny thing is that his security guards look sooo much smaller than him. Don’t think anyone is gonna mess with him anyway. The guy still has it!
Best Food Truck – Ms Cheezious….Best Grilled Cheese in the Universe.
Hidden Gem of the Year – Wood… Free Taco Tuesdays and an awesome happy hour combined with a great artsy vibe makes this place a hidden gem.
Best Music Festival – Rockers Movement! We absolutely love reggae and the rockers are jamming it up!
Best Street Art – La Pandilla’s Street Art in Wynwood and in South Beach. The whole mutant animal concept rocks.
Best Film – Bad Boys II…This movie is MIAMI. Michael Bay should get paid by the city of Miami for making this place look so awesome. And o fcourse, the classic, Ace Ventura!
Best New Scene/Neighborhood – Everyone loves Wynwood and Midtown. Its growing right now and every day new things open up. South Beach is still South Beach and Sobe holds the special spot in our hearts.
Best Local Band/Singer – Locos Por Juana. Those dudes rock every night and Miami loves them.
Best Place to Hook Up – The beach infront of Nikki Beach at night, although you gotta be careful, it can get sketchy!
Most Inspiring Person/Moment – Pitbull. He has put Latin music on top and killed a lot of stereo types about Hispanics in the country. We kick ass and Pitbull is repping for all us! Props!
Best Sandwich – The Bistec Empanado at Brickell Key Apartments. This condo mom and pop shop owns the sandwich world! Amazing