Swimwear Galore

Miamians, get ready for this year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim happening July 15-19 at the Raleigh Hotel. Although this is an invitation-only event, its nice to know what's going on in Miami every now and then.

Swimweek includes collections from:

• Aqua Di Lara
• Luli Fama (local)
• Poko Pano
• tibi
• True Religion

Check their website for the rest of this year's participating designers and schedule. We will try to update you throughout the upcoming weeks with after parties, swimweek-related events, etc. Stay tuned!

Fireworks!

Is it only us or has this year flown by? I remember (what I can remember from that night) celebrating New Year's and now it's time to celebrate Fourth of July! Since the economy blows, some fireworks displays aren't happening this year (The Biltmore...cough, cough) so we wanted to share with you some old and new fireworks displays. We came across this great guide put together by miami.com that should help you and your family this Fourth of July holiday.

Click here to view the guide.

We also heard about a new Fireworks Display/Pool Party happening at the Viceroy Hotel-Icon Brickell that sounds like a winner. Festivities begin at noon and go well into the night but you must RSVP here to get in.

We will try to keep you updated throughout the week with more display shows and pool parties. In the meantime, send us some suggestions.

Finger Lickin' Good?

Courtesy of my friends in Orlando, BK is now serving fire-grilled ribs. Seriously, WTF? Ribs at a fast food joint? Not so sure about that. Has anyone seen this in Miami?

Best of Miami

Miami New Times' Best of Miami 2009 is out online!

Click here to find out who the winners are. Congrats to all!

Bend it like Beckham in Brickell

Miami's Brickell area is fast becoming an urban-dwellers mecca with everything you need right around the corner:

• Out of milk? Publix is two blocks from your apt.
• Craving Mexican? If its pay-day, you have the option of Rosa....if it's not, you can go to Baja Fresh.
• Bad day at work? sigh, Tobacco Road to the rescue.
• Want to get in a good game of soccer at a state-of-the art facility? Um...wait, can you? Well, yes and like everything else in Brickell, in style! Miami's up and coming urban scene downtown now includes a rooftop soccer field...yes, I said rooftop.

Here's a re-post regarding Brickell Soccer Rooftop from our friends at ThrillList Miami:

Soccer Rooftop
444 Brickell Ave, Brickell; 786.220.4589

Rooftops offer awesomeness: killer parties, a sweet view of topless sunbathing chicks foolish enough to think you're not watching, and sweeter views of the cops pulling up right after you realize she's not as foolish as you thought. Adding the world's game to the list, Soccer Rooftop.

Run by three amigos from Latin America, one of whom played for Mexico in the World Cup, SR's a pair of fenced-in soccer pitches on the mid-level roof of the Rivergate Plaza in Brickell, complete with an indoor lounge and patio, and accommodating adult league play, or anything else you can think up, from corporate events, to birthdays, to wedding receptions for any marriages you desperately want to fail. Fields're standard size for indoor futbol (56'x110'), and're covered in two-tone green artificial turf that meets the highest FIFA rating, thanks to sand and small rubber granules that keep turf blades upright, lending a more earthy feel to the pitch; the standard indoor balls used are less likely to shoot off the roof, as they're smaller and harder -- cruel, but the alternative is them falling to their death. As for games, SR'll throw your squad in a league, let you create an entire league of your own, or put you on a solo waiting list so you can jump in for teams missing a guy or two; games'll kick off any time from midday, to post-work, to 1am for a diehard cadre of valet drivers, cooks, and waiters -- get in, and they'll exercise frustration at your adeptness at calculating 14%. There's full men's and women's locker rooms w/ showers (and a sauna in the men's), a lounge area with free wi-fi, hardwood floors, an L-shaped sofa, plenty of cushy chairs, a flatscreen hi-def for watching professional matches, and an outdoor patio area, where you'll be tempted to go topless, until an onlooker reports the outrage to the cops. See how the balls bounce at SoccerRooftop.com

Bancroft SUPERclub

Time and time again we are all faced with the question, " What is there to do tonight?". It's not that there isn't millions of things to do, its the simple fact that we forget what's around (especially when under pressure). We came across a new nightlife supercenter/bar/restaurant (it's an all-in-one package) today that we hope you remember for next time's question.

The Bancroft Supperclub, opening today in Miami Beach, houses several bars, a restaurant, and outside lounges. This might be the end of your bar-hopping days.

Ms. Vaselina and I will be making a trip over to the beach this weekend to check it out. We encourage you to do the same and let us know what you thought about it.

1501 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach

Rain Delay on Life?

We are at day 21 of rain in what's supposed to be beautiful, sunny Miami. Wet streets and random street canals make it impossible to get anywhere or even make you want to go anywhere. Basically, this "much needed" rain has really turned out to be a major buzz kill. AND, to top it all off...June marks the beginning of mine and strictlyMIA's birthday month...how are we supposed to plan for fab b-day bashes when there seems to be no end in sight to this rain?!?!?

Well, my friends, we'll have to resort to plan B. Aside from catching up on some zZzZz's, here are some indoor activities that don't require any drive time:

• Get to know your neighbors: invite the rude guy from the elevator, and anyone else in your building you don't know over for happy hour. Play a rain-inspired drinking game such as taking a shot every time it thunders or lighting strikes...you'll be drunk in 10 minutes.
• Couch potato it up: stock up on movies from Blockbuster....On-demand/Comcast can't be trusted.
• Be a kid again: go to Toys R' Us and buy some board games! Some of my faves are Mad Gab, Taboo and Cranium. Also, stay active and play some Wii...you could even have a Wii party. WAIT...better yet, play some old school charades. Whatever game you chose, please remember that alcohol is a requirement.
• Snuggle. I do not recommend doing this by yourself as that will just add to your rain-induced depression.
• Lights out: grab a good book and flashlight. I approve of doing by yourself.
• Summer cleaning?? Start a new cleaning tradition...I mean, why not?
• Pop a squat: that is, in a bar. Head out early to good spot like Transit where there is usually a band or two to help you shake your caboose, a variety of games to play (darts, pool, connect four to name a few) and a full bar. A spot like this eliminates the need to bar-hop in the rain.

While the above are good options for a casual weekend, the b-day bash dilemma still weighs upon us so we need your help! Aside from praying to a higher being for clear skies, got any ideas for any fun, b-day extravagances to help us rebel against the rain?? Please do tell....

Oh...and I almost forgot...HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

What are we doing today, Brain?

Well...I'm not Pinky...so obviously not taking over the world. But, if you're on a diet like myself (and every other girl in the MIA...including those that are ALREADY skinny...but like to talk about how pudgy they are)....then trying to have fun while sidelining some calories can seem just as daunting.

No need to worry, Level 25's Skinny Thursdays are here to save the day! According to our friends at DailyCandy, the happy hour festivity offers drinks and snacks under 200 calories (um...almost sounds like the 100 calories packs...but better!), including $7 cocktails like the Skim Rose (Belvedere vodka, fresh cranberry juice, Moët & Chandon, Imperial, and fresh raspberries). So cheap drinks and eats that won't necessarily cancel out calories burned at boxing? Sigh...I've died and gone to a broke, dieters alcohol heaven.

But, WAIT! If you're not worried about the calories, but still want to drink on the cheap while supporting some sort of theme or inner desire, then be sure to check out Level 25's other weekly happy hour offerings, which are part of the bar's "Elevate Your Week" happy hour series. Here's a quick rundown:

• Mojito Monday's: $6 Mojitos, Caipirinhas and Caprioskas to help you say goodbye to the Monday blues!
• Go Green Tuesdays: organic wines and Go Green menu to help chic, tree-huggers sip in style.
• Wine'Down Wednesdays: 50 percent off all glasses/bottles of wine and champagnes AND $5 glasses of wine...um, yeah, perfect for the winos!
• Skinny Thursdays: you know all the deets.
• Elevated Fridays: 50 percent off the entire wine, champagne and cocktail menu....plus, fab music to help you start the weekend all sauced up by 7:30 PM.

So, there you have it. A full week of great happy hour offerings from 5 - 8 PM. God bless this place!

Some details

Location: Level 25 at the Conrad Hotel

Time: 5 - 8 PM

Address: 1395 Brickell Avenue, 25th Floor

Phone: 305-503-6529