Entertainment Arts & with drag, photo-ops, and DJs spinning non- stop cyberpop, burlesque, and reggaeton bops. If dancing isn’t your thing, you can chill in another one of the warehouse’s various in- door/outdoor spaces with lavish furniture and ritzy décor. Plus, no need to find a room at this sexually liberating experience whose themes range from “Guilty Pleasure” to “La Putivuelta Perreo.” You might just walk by legendary queer bombshells like Amanda Lepore, Violet Chachki, and Kandy Muse — to name just a few who frequent the parties. BES T DRAG PERF ORMER Nicky Monet @NICKYMONET (INSTAGRAM) Nicky Monet might have been born a star. Raised in Florida, she entered the entertain- ment industry at an early age, appearing on Nickelodeon as a backup dancer for ’Nsync. A sojourn in Los Angeles saw her become a re- ality-TV fixture,– appearing on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Slag Wars, Iconic Jus- tice, and Hot Haus. Now she’s come full circle: It’s our luck that she can now be found per- forming all over town — at the Palace in South Beach, at bars in Fort Lauderdale, and at Dou- ble Stubble at Gramps in Wynwood, to name just a few. A trans model, drag queen, and burlesque artist, Monet captivates with her command of the stage — she must be seen to be believed. She’s seductive and powerful, hi- larious and candid. Her electric energy pul- sates each and every time she takes the stage. BES T DRAG PERF ORMER T O RETIRE IN THE P A S T YEAR King Femme @KINGFEMME (INSTAGRAM) If you haven’t seen King Femme live, you’re missing out. (And frankly, we’re concerned.) The nonbinary drag king began performing in 2017, flaunting a fierce makeup mustache, occasional lace-front wigs, and the smooth vibe of a ’50s jazz bar. In short, they brought the queer, Black, androgynous representation Miami’s drag scene desperately needed. From cowboy chic to leather angel, King served as a heroic symbol, especially for gen- der-diverse people of color. You automati- cally knew it was a party with King Femme on the lineup. But their drag persona was just half of the craze. King (who goes by Eli Sage Rosenberg out of drag) fundraised and do- nated free chest binders, publicly docu- mented his medical transition journey, and now educates about mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion — all in order to encour- age others to embrace their authentic selves. BES T FES TIVAL 24 24 O, Miami Poetry Festival OMIAMI.ORG/POETRY-FESTIVAL Poetry might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Miami’s creative scenes. But the O, Miami Poetry Festival con- tinues to challenge that stereotype with its engaging and inventive programming. Held annually with the mission that each person in Miami-Dade will encounter at least one poem during the month of April, O, Miami is a powerful lesson in nonprofit arts program- ming. Engineered all year long and ranging from large-scale to intimate projects, with ideas sourced from locals, the festival is a tes- tament to community building through the arts. The festival spotlights the poetics of cin- ema, music, performance, art, and technol- ogy. Its dedicated and adventurous staff works tirelessly to create an event that’s ac- cessible, equitable, and inclusive. A wonder- fully unique and evolving entity, O, Miami Poetry Festival remains one of the city’s most imaginative and disarming festivals. BES T MUSIC FES TIVAL III Points MANA WYNWOOD 318 NW 23RD STREET MIAMI, 33127 IIIPOINTS.COM In today’s cutthroat festival world, everything has to go perfect before making it to year two. Yet III Points has always thrived on adversity, which may be its secret sauce. The latest test, aside from COVID-19, was condensing to two days from its habitual three-day roaster. No biggie. With a restless lineup of purebred talent and a seismic crowd, the festival made up for lost time. III Points brought the Strokes back to Miami from a lengthy hiatus, wooed the crowd with Rüfüs Du Sol, and pushed the limits of one stage with Peggy Gou. Presale tickets for 2022 are on sale and they’ve already started teasing the lineup by announcing its first headliner: Rosalía. III Points 2022 is scheduled for Friday, October 21, and Saturday, October 22. BES T LIVE MUSIC VENUE The Fillmore Miami Beach 1700 WASHINGTON AVENUE MIAMI BEACH, 33139 305-673-7300 FILLMOREMB.COM Sixty-plus years into its Miami Beach journey, the Fillmore continues to strike the perfect balance. There’s so much to love about this 2,500-ish-capacity room, which occupies a sweet spot between mega-venue and teeny-tiny club — its Art Deco allure, its South Beach proximity to post-concert shenanigans, the steady flow of big names rocking its fully equipped confines. Among those to grace its stage in recent years: Madonna, New Order, the Kid Laroi, and Death Cab for Cutie. All of which makes it nearly incomprehensible to imagine living without the place — something we’re going to have to do for the next 12 months as construction commences on Miami Beach’s new, 800-room Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel right next door. It’s going to be a long year. BES T INTIMATE MUSIC VENUE The Anderson 709 NE 79TH STREET MIAMI, 33138 786-401-6330 THEANDERSONMIAMI.COM Sure, Miami has an endless supply of opulent nightclubs and no shortage of DJs, but if you’re a denizen looking for a break from the tiki-tiki sounds of Miami Beach, head to the Anderson. Housed in the former Magnum Lounge, the Anderson continues its prede- cessor’s legacy with nightly entertainment ranging from Latin jazz to reggae, rock ‘n’ roll, and everything in between. Once inside, you’ll time-travel to an analog age courtesy of the venue’s retro motif. Grab a seat under- neath the glistening disco ball and indulge your ears with the sounds of some of Miami’s greatest local acts. BES T VENUE F OR LOCAL A CT S Gramps 176 NW 24TH STREET MIAMI, 33127 305-699-2669 GRAMPS.COM While the pandemic forced many local-music institutions to unplug the soundboards, Wyn- wood’s granddaddy of bars, Gramps, has con- tinued to amplify the best acts the South Florida scenes have to offer. The venue has consistently given local acts priority for a variety of expo- sure — from record-release parties to DJ sets to booking them as openers for nationally touring artists — building a deserved reputation as the place to check the pulse of Miami’s native sound. The outdoor stage allows for a larger crowd to dance to the beats or nod along as they chow pizza and slurp beer. And the Shirley, Gramps’ more intimate back room, has become a refuge for occasional jazz jams. BES T L ATIN CL UB Flamingo Theater Bar 905 BRICKELL BAY DRIVE (IN THE FOUR AMBASSADORS) MIAMI, 33131 786-803-8194 FLAMINGOTHEATERBAR.COM Okay, the Flamingo Theater Bar at the Four Ambassadors is not a “club,” per se — but it regularly books some of the best Latin music- centered shows in the city. The theater, along with its sister venue, La Scala de Miami (also located in the Four Ambassadors), has artists from Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, and Puerto Rico grace its stage, keeping Mi- ami’s diasporic communities connected to their cultures. ChocQuibTown, Jacob For- ever, Carlos Varela, Julio Iglesias, Jr., Los Amigos Invisibles, and Daniela Darcourt have all performed here. And while it’s not a night- club, that doesn’t stop people from getting up and dancing at shows. Tickets are typically priced in the $50 to $60 range but be aware that you usually have to spring for a whole ta- ble. (Some tables are two-seaters.) BES T DANCE CL UB Club Space 34 NE 11TH STREET MIAMI, 33132 786-357-6456 CLUBSPACE.COM It is hard to believe that only five years ago, applicable adjectives to associate with Club Space would have included “seedy” and “grimy” –– in other words, flat-out unwel- coming. But ever since new owners took the reins, the club has dusted off the curtains and let the sun shine through to the terrace. Disco balls and lasers, hanging foliage and a cigarette-free environment, plus star-stud- ded lineups that rival Ibiza? Who’s to quib- ble? Space ushered in a residency with Macro Carola, and brought Ricardo Villalo- bos (twice) and the legendary Carl Cox. The twin tricks to the club’s success: collabora- tion and investing wisely. 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