Pharrell Williams Speaks at Design Miami

Celebrities head out to VOTE!!!

ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL adds extra weekend, a la Coachella, to celebrate 15th anniversary

ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL has now confirmed it will hold the 15th annual edition of its gargantuan event over two three-day weekends March 15, 16 & 17 and March 22, 23 and 24, 2013 in Miami, FL. This marks the first time ever for a major electronic dance music (EDM) festival to do so anywhere.

Having teased the world with a provocative countdown clock on its YouTube channel just days ago, ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL has today, October 15, shocked fans by revealing this extraordinary news right at the end of an exclusive video on UMF TV, titled “RELIVE THE ULTRA 2012 EXPERIENCE.”

The video, created and directed by Final Kid’s Charly Friedrichs –director of the ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL experience film “CAN U FEEL IT”–“RELIVE THE ULTRA 2012 EXPERIENCE”--showcases 14 minutes of the very finest moments from this past year’s event and exclusively previews the double-delight that’s in store for March 2013.

Following a long weekend of speculation after the world’s premier electronic music festival launched a LIVE countdown movie on its UMFTV channel on Friday, October 12, fans can now plan ahead for what will be two truly historic weekends in the festival’s history.

Shrouded in secrecy for months, the team behind ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL--which last year drew over 165,000 fans—is excited to unveil this news. Russell Faibisch, Co-Founder, President and CEO of the 15-year-old event says, "After an extremely successful 2012 edition of ULTRA in Miami, and the continuous overwhelming demand by disappointed fans that were unable to attend because of the early sell-out, we've decided to do what ULTRA has always consistently done throughout the years--pioneer and push the EDM movement forward. So we are adding a second weekend of ULTRA. This is a unique concept from anything ever done before in our space, as it will be two weekends...two unique experiences. There are A LOT of incredible plans and surprises lined up for everyone attending our 15th Year Anniversary!"

Adam Russakoff, Executive Producer, Talent Buyer and Director of Business Affairs, adds, "Being the first-ever EDM leaning festival to go two weekends just supports our position as being the preeminent forward-thinking brand in electronica. Although we are already known as having the best and most relevant talent at our events, two weekends allows us to present even more and create two separate and distinct highly unique experiences for our attendees, let alone the impact this will have on the economy in terms of jobs and other ancillary industries like hotels and transportation."

Following a recent study commissioned by ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL and carried out by the Washington Economics Group, which revealed the extent to which the festival boosts the city’s yearly economy, news of the double header weekend won’t solely be music to the ears of electronica fans. In fact, in 2012 alone, the three-day event injected upward of $40 million directly into the Miami-Dale economy ($79 million if factoring in indirect and induced spending). With over 60% of visitors hailing from outside Miami-Dade, the local fiscal benefits that this news brings will be unprecedented.

Tickets for both weekends go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, October 17, exclusively from www.ULTRAmusicfestival.com.

"Oh man.....Let's Get This Done!" the late Tony Goldman said about Miami Marine Stadium

We've been fans of great come backs of our city and are addicted to renderings of proposed projects that in one way or another enhance the Magic City.  With that said, the late Tony Goldman was one of those visionaries that had those renderings in his head and made it happened as he did on Miami Beach and Wynwood.

Those days of fabulous concerts, boat races, and 4th of July celebrations will return soon to the Miami Marine Stadium, as it keeps jumping important hurdles of bureaucracy, fundraising and goals.  In the end, The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium and the public will have another piece of saved history to be enjoyed by all.

Please support the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium.

Check out some proposed renderings below:

Some of the proposed ideas for the stadium is to bring back the events in had decades ago like boxing, concerts, theater, and even community based events like graduations and Sunday services.

The venue hosted concerts with the Boston Pops, Queen, The Beach Boys, Ray Charles, and Jimmy Buffett.

The new ideas is to showcase the architecture with lighting, add a spectacular entrance and parking for the 6,566 seat stadium that was designed by the original architect Hilario Candela.

To the west of the stadium,  a proposed "commercialspace/Maritime Center" which will help support the operations of the Stadium.

To the east of the Marine stadium a proposed water element and green space could be implemented.  Many other ideas have been floating around like adding a restaurant and a contest driven street art wall.

No one could of said better than Tony Goldman.  See the video when he toured the run down stadium in November 2009.

The Bangles coming to Magic City Casino

Eighties mega girl band The Bangles are coming to the Magic City Casino to perform their hits "Walk Like An Egyptian," "Eternal Flame," "Manic Monday", to name a few.

The group now consist of the three original members: Susanna Hoffs and sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson currently on tour and also promoting their most recent SWEETHEART OF THE SUN, which pays homage to the band's shared love of 60's-era music.

The Bangles perform on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. at STAGE 305 at Magic City Casino, 888-56-MAGIC, 450 NW 37th Avenue. MAP IT

"Manic Monday" by The Bangles at House of Blues

Local Artists at Affordable Prices Tonight at Cafeina in Wynwood

Kerry McLaney, aka the honorary Mayor of Wynwood, knows her local artists and is constantly promoting them.

Tonight, as part of the Miami's Independent Thinkers "Small Works" event series presents local artists: JeanPaul Mallozzi, Alfredo Perez, Ahol Sniffs Glue, Juan Erman Gonzalez, Jel Martinez, and Denise Diaz.

Come check out art, photography and sculpture pieces under $1,000 and support the local art scene. Show runs tonight thru October 3 at Cafeina, 297 NW 23rd Street. MAP IT

Hypnotic light show at AMIN TOBIN at Fillmore Miami Beach...SPECTACULAR!!

MANNY HERNANDEZ PHOTOS

DJ music master Amin Tobin brought his ISAM Live 2.0 tour to Miami Beach's Fillmore theater. Amin's tour is beyond a thumping session of 808 beats, but a carefully choreographed, mesmerizing light show that keeps you hypnotized for two hours.

If you missed his show in past week in Miami, make sure to catch him when he returns to Ultra next year. Check out below a video from a past Amin show.

Wicked Games singer Chris Isaak tour at the Fillmore

Photo by MANNY HERNANDEZ

Singer and actor Chris Isaak brought his "Beyond the Sun" tour to Miami Beach's Fillmore theater. Best known for his 1989 hit, Wicked Games, Chris aside from a musician is also an accomplished actor with roles in "Married to the Mob", "Silence of the Lambs" and "A Dirty Shame". "Hey Miami...Don't worry we'll play the two hits you know and then if we run out of songs, maybe we'll play some Blue Oaster Cult" Isaak told the crowd.