In past years, top Miami nightclubs and hotels (remember the Moroccan-themed night at Hotel Victor in 2007, or the sunken living room at the Setai?) have pulled out all the stops for over-the-top entertainment and decor productions on New Year's Eve. However, given the recent economic downturn-and the perceived stigma of a grand affair during a recession-many properties instead turned to big-name celebrities and recent renovations to draw ticket sales.
The recently reopened Fontainebleau hotel had multiple parties on its property, coordinated by the Miami Marketing Group, with Diddy hosting the party inside at newly opened LIV nightclub, Maroon 5 performing on the pool deck (which was decked out with even more lounge chairs and beds from Room Service Furniture and Event Rentals), and Molly Sims at Blade restaurant.
Further down the beach, the Setai, Shore Club, and Delano each brought a celebrity host-or in some cases, more than one-to the forefront. At the Setai, 3B Productions, along with New Image Productions, placed color-changing LED lights in the hotel's courtyard pond and then covered it with staging from Fortrex. Lounge furniture from Room Service was set up on the surrounding walkways and overhead balconies, as well as on top of the pond for additional seating. Grammy winner Macy Gray led the countdown to midnight and performed later in the evening.
Just a few blocks south at the Shore Club, ACT Productions decked out the pool deck with its traditional New Year's decor of blue, pink, and purple lighting, tenting over the smaller pool in the back, and a centrally located stage where Busta Rhymes, Ron Browz, and others performed. A blue "Happy New Year" gobo drenched the back of the hotel, along with a projected clock ticking down to midnight. And over at the Delano, event organizers brought the scale of the event down a notch for the Florida Room while still drawing a sold-out crowd of nearly 300.
"We are thrilled to present a New Year's Eve celebration unlike any other in Miami Beach, with a live, intimate performance by one of the most critically acclaimed bands, the Roots," said Ben Pundole, vice president of entertainment and nightlife for Morgans Hotel Group, upon the announcement of the hotel's New Year's performer. "The Florida Room was designed to host intimate performances."
On a cost-conscious note, the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach also forwent an extravagant affair in favor of a no-cover poolside party for nearly 400 people with a cash bar, DJ, and V.I.P. cabanas for those seeking a bit more opulence.
"The evening affair featured all of the service and elegance the Ritz-Carlton is known for, so guests still had the opportunity to get dressed up for an evening out, but without having to feel the effects in their wallets," said Jennifer Greenspan, public relations manager for the hotel.
Further down the beach, Mango's Tropical Café, the SoBe restaurant/club/lounge known for its flamenco dancers and feathers, hosted a sold-out black-tie affair for more than 1,000. In addition to the café's traditional Latin Connection and Deco bands, hip-hop dance team In Living Colour also performed, as did American Gladiators' Alex Castro. At midnight, the club was ground zero for the 15-minute Ocean Drive fireworks display.
Nightclubs had their own string of both big-name hosts and performers, with John Legend holding ground at Prive, DJ Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan at Mansion, and recognizable Playboy Playmates at the mag's official party at Karu & Y in downtown Miami. A few Opium Group properties were set apart from the rest, though, with SoBe Lifewater branding Set, Louis, and Mansion with jungle-esque atmospheres. Vines, waterfalls, and aerialists painted as lizards-the brand's recognizable mascot-transformed the space.
