16 November 21-27, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Gen Z, Low Key Tired: Partying hard. Wired: Forging connections. BY ISABEL WILDER I n the Magic City, famous for its beautiful beaches, rich mix of cultures, and eccen- tric nightlife, it is assumed that the most recent batch of 21-year-olds would leap at the chance to explore the many night- clubs the city offers. It’s also natural to think that every club in Wynwood, Miami Beach, and Brickell would be crawling with bright- eyed, barely legal young adults trampling one another to order a cocktail at the bar. With the pandemic and worldwide lock- down starting at a pivotal time in the lives of Gen Z, you’d think these kids would be diving into Miami’s nightlife scene. In reality, Gen Z has a reputation for not knowing what happy hour is and suffering from a loneliness epi- demic. That’s not to say that they would rather stay at home, but instead, some Zoom- ers have found a happy medium between staying in and clubbing culture — small brew- eries, lounges, and other relaxed venues. As much as one can appreciate not having to pay cover at most places and club-hopping with the crew, the price you pay for drinks of- ten puts a damper on a night out. For some, moving back to Miami post-graduation has created quite a culture shock when it comes to drink prices. After acclimating to the less painful $6 for a well drink in your small col- lege town, a $20 drink charge — not including tip — can feel as sobering as a slap in the face. For Jabari Broughton, a Florida State Uni- versity graduate, going out includes stopping at places like Gramps (176 NW 24th St., Miami), the longstand- ing Wynwood watering hole, and Brickell cocktail bar and lounge Blackbird Ordinary (729 SW First Ave., Miami). These spots are perfect for Broughton, who values quality time with friends, good drunk food, and reasonable prices. “Clubbing culture is pretty big in college towns. It’s the norm to be 20-something and be out spending money to have fun, but club culture now is a signifi- cantly more transactional expe- rience,” Broughton says. “Rarely will you enjoy a night out for free.” You might be able to justify a pricey night if spending time in good company; however, the fun of dancing can often be reduced to swaying side to side when you’re crammed shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of sweaty strangers. No wonder club culture and illicit drugs often go hand in hand for this reason. For club-goers suffering from social anxiety, drugs allow them to let panic-induc- ing situations like these seem trivial. Mateo Angeles, a 25-year-old who enjoys breweries like Lincoln’s Beard (7360 SW 41st St., Miami) and lounges like Medium Cool (1690 Collins Ave., Miami Beach), nightclubs can elicit a kind of vacuousness he finds un- appealing. “Alcohol, amongst other drugs, can often be a necessity for certain people going out, similar to a form of escape,” he explains. “It strips away freedoms of expression. When the norm is to go to the club, then being high energy draws less attention, and low energy draws more.” Rather than feeling obligated to depend on substances for social lubricant, Gen Z has shifted toward sobriety more than other generations. According to a 2020 study by the University of Michigan, the number of college-age people who prefer to abstain from drinking or drugs has increased in the past decade. Outside of resisting the peer pressure that comes with drinking socially, people want to feel grounded in the moment and decide for themselves if and when they wish to join in. As a usual designated driver, 25-year-old Diana Cristancho enjoys unique places that make for good conversation. Spots like the wine bar and jazz lounge Lagniappe (3425 NE Second Ave., Miami) and Tripping Animals Brewing (2685 NW 105th Ave., Miami) are one of a kind and offer a little bit of something for everyone on a night out. “My ideal Friday or Saturday night is prob- ably going out to a low-key bar or brewery, a kind of place where you can go out, munch on some good food, get a drink if you want a drink, but still be able to converse with friends,” Cristancho says. “I think the thing I like most about these kinds of outings is the ability to talk to my friends about my day or talk about important topics.” Ultimately, what the pan- demic taught Gen Z wasn’t to enjoy every night like it’s your last night out but instead to cher- ish the quality time you spend with friends. They crave inti- mate conversations with close friends and making memories. Twenty-two-year-old Briana Gomez summarizes the pure joy and good energy on a night out anywhere as long as you have your friends with you, from the bar Keg South (10417 S. Dixie Hwy., Pinecrest) to the waterfront venue Regatta Grove (3415 Pan American Dr., Coconut Grove). “I enjoy the simplicity of the bars I usually frequent. There’s no having to talk to a promoter to get in or paying a lot of money for a place infested with weirdos and bad music,” Gomez shares. “I don’t have super hard qualifications to check off for clubs or venues. I just need two things: my friends and good music. Any night will be a good night when we’re all sitting around laughing about the latest gossip while playing cards to good music.” [email protected] ▼ Music Medium Cool provides a relaxing environment to converse with friends and enjoy music. Regatta Grove usually doesn’t charge a cover to enjoy its waterfront space. Medium Cool photo Regatta Grove photo
