Ultra Music Festival

I had to really contemplate writing a blog about this event, because in all honesty I am mind blown and don’t really have words… or a voice for that matter. Anyways, the weekend we’ve all been waiting for hit Miami this weekend—Ultra Music Festival. It’s the dance party of all dance parties, with so many great DJ’s you have to split all of their set times just to see them all.

After their two-weekend extravaganza last year, Ultra cut it back to a one weekend overload. And by overload I also mean it left me feeling like I had a hole in my wallet. Many people (especially veteran Ultra fans) have been complaining about the ticket hike this year. Tickets were close to $500 a pop if you were an unfortunate soul like me who missed the early bird special.

“This is an event so deeply loved by the people of Miami, that I have a distinct memory of being on a bus to a UM Football game when Ultra sent a mass e-mail about Early Bird tickets coming out within the hour. This was in October… UM students were frantically on their phones, calling their parents at home and freaking out to make sure they snagged one of the few rare gems that is an early bird ticket, that’s over $100 cheaper,” said UM student Shirin Galal. “I mean its obvious, Ultra is a BIG deal.”

This year, major headlines on the Main Stage included Zedd, Kaskade, Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, Krewella, Alesso, Armin Van Buuren, Afrojack, Steve Angello, David Guetta, Hardwell and many, many more. See the full list here: http://www.ultramusicfestival.com/lineup

As always there were many stages including a Live Stage in the Bayfront Amphitheater and a Worldwide Stage. My favorite sets of the weekend were definitely Kaskade (he #meltedmyfaceoff), Steve Angello and Alesso. But honestly, everyone at the Main Stage was awesome. The stage was like a vortex of blinding colors and lights. It is so entrancing, once you go to that stage it’s hard to leave. The stages keep getting better and better every year. Each festival one-ups the last. There were a few DJ’s that weren’t on the lineup I was a bit upset about, including Tommy Trash and always my personal favorite, R3hab. (Thank god I saw him during MMW at Story for the third time this year…)

'Murica, Miami and Kaskade.

Despite the controversy surrounding the lack of security after the accident this year, Ultra – you have 100% of my support! Hand over the petition and let’s #SAVEULTRA.

The closing set of the weekend had a lot to live up to considering last year’s farewell set from the world renowned Swedish House Mafia. The closing set had pretty big shoes to fill but Hardwell killed it and the crowd went wild. I don’t know where the wind will take me next year, but whether or not I’m still in Miami, you can count on me being at Ultra 2015. Early Bird freak out… here I come.

^^ Because did you really go to Ultra if you don't have a pic on someone's shoulders?

Steve Aoki and Friends at Story - Miami Music Week

LET THEM EAT CAKE. Normally when I’m dressed in a tight South Beach dress, high heels and a full face of make-up, I get pissed off even if I spill a splash of vodka soda on me. But not this night. Not Aoki. I was determined to get caked… as was every other girl in the nightclub.

            Steve Aoki is an American EDM Grammy nominated DJ and producer. He also founded Dim Mak records. He probably lives by the motto “long hair, don’t care” considering the length and distinct brand of his luscious locks. Aoki is known to spray the crowd in champagne showers, and more specifically – cake people. Here’s pictures below:

Pictures from World Red Eye.

“I will do anything to get caked,” said senior, Lauren. “I’ve seen Steve Aoki a few times now at Ultra, but I’ve never been close enough to be in cake range.. but tonight it’s happening.”

Lauren’s friend Savannah agreed with her. “I’d prefer the champagne showers. Or even the vodka shots out of the bottle from Dmitri Vegas and Like Mike.

Among Steve Aoki’s friends included major big name DJ’s such as Afrojack, Laidback Luke, Borgore, Carnage, Dmitri Vegas and Like Mike, R3hab, The Chainsmokers and Benny Benassi. I was so excited I couldn’t stop screaming like a 13-year-old girl seeing Justin Bieber at a Starbucks.

Again, how many EDM rockstars can you get in one place to kick off what everyone’s been waiting for all week – ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Martin Garrix at LIV - Miami Music Week

After an insanely chaotic and outrageous Miami Music Week, I can easily say these blogs are long over due considering the recovery time needed after such crazy events. The first I’d love to recap was Martin Garrix at LIV Nightclub, who kicked off the week on Monday night, March 24.

            LIV is continuously ranked one of the nation’s best nightclubs, and it’s here right in the heart of South Beach at our fingertips. You can’t talk about taking a trip to Miami without saying you’ve been to some random promoter’s table and had unlimited bottle service all night. And it goes without saying that anyone who’s anyone tries to make it into the DJ booth to take a selfie with the DJ.

            Speaking of DJ’s, the Dutch DJ/producer Martin Garrix has hit the EDM scene with a bang. The 17-year-old EDM superstar created the hit song “Animals,” that has been consistently played all over the radio and was a top ten hit in ten different countries.

            “I was so excited for Martin Garrix to be at LIV I actually asked my Dad to buy a table for me and my friends,” said fan Kristin Schulz. “Needless to say #weareanimals.”

            My personal favorite part of the night was when fellow Dutch DJ Sander van Doorn joined the stage, followed by Afrojack and Jay Hardway. How many Dutch EDM producers does it take to kick of Miami Music Week at LIV? I don’t know, but keep them coming!

#Animalz

The Chainsmokers at Blackbird

Y100 put on a #SELFIE party at Blackbird Ordinary with The Chainsmokers and Cash Cash. I got to talk to the promotions coordinator and even better - Drew from The Chainsmokers!

Mr. Moe's Dollar Drinks $$$

Coconut Grove is the home to many bars which can either be considered the college bars, or the local bars. The way I see it (and have heard from locals and Miami students), is that Tuesday’s are a big Greek Life night, Wednesday’s and Friday’s are local nights, and Thursday is the big Miami college night.

Tuesday’s are a personal favorite of mine, so I figured it was time to spotlight one of the best part about Tuesday nights in the Grove – the dollar drinks special at Mr. Moe’s.

            Mr. Moe’s (Moe’s for short), is the one bar in the grove that blatantly sticks out from the rest. Sandbar, Fat Tuesday, Barracuda’s all have a beachy, tropical, Miami feel to them. If you walk around the corner to Mr. Moe’s it feels like you’ve left the sandy shores of South Beach and headed into a wilderness explorers cabin in upstate Maine.

            It’s sometimes hard to notice in the dark bar at night, but if you ever walk in during the daytime you’ll be shocked at what you see. The inside has a lot of taxidermied animals including a large bear that you can’t miss.

            Despite the interesting look and feel of the bar, Tuesday’s are still a major win in my book. If you get to Moe’s before midnight, all drinks are $1. You can get any type of well drink, beer and even their famous “Moose Juice,” or “Cabin Fever.”

            Frequent dollar drinker Jen Talarico said it’s her absolute favorite night of the week. “Dollar drinks sounds like it can get pretty crazy, which it kind of has grown into. But I’ve been coming to dollar drinks for awhile now, and I loved when it first started and you could just come with a small group of friends and sit at a table for hours,” she said.

“You also can’t beat the karaoke and the bull!”

If dollar drinks isn’t good enough, then the best is yet to come. Moe’s on Tuesdays is also karaoke night where everyone loves a good throwback tune or the fan favorite -  “Wagon Wheel.” There is also a mechanical bull which is hidden in the back, and only the bravest of dollar drink souls dare to take a spin on it.

After all of the times I’ve been to dollar drinks and rode the bull, I’m proud to say I conquered it ONCE. If you’re looking for a different feel than the high end South Beach scene, and just want to throw on a pair of shorts and flip flops – check out dollar drinks for a great karaoke, bull-riding time.

Monty's is always the move

The one place every University of Miami student can plan on seeing everyone they know is Monty’s in Coconut Grove on a Friday night between 4:00pm and 8:00pm – aka: happy hour. Monty’s is a mostly outdoor restaurant with raw bar and a great menu with a variety of foods. The straw huts outside that cover the picnic tables give it a tropical feel.

Monty’s on a Friday during happy hour is the place to be. It’s a place to mingle, meet up with friends, get half price drinks and make plans for the weekend. The most well-known drink that everyone always gets is the Pain Remover 3; known to all the regulars as a PK-3. This drink is so strong it could make Big Foot pass out after two drinks. But how can anyone resist? It’s just so delicious.

University of Miami student Karolina Loredo says it’s a big night for Greek Life. “We all come together with our sisters, and we love to dress up a little bit because we know we’re going to see a million people we know here,” she said.

“My favorite drink is the PK-3, but honestly if I’m trying to make it out later that night I go for the Miami Vice.”

And that is the Monty’s struggle – everyone has so much fun at happy hour, it’s hard to recover after. @UMPains on Twitter recently posted a tweet that said, “I will not pass out after Monty’s, I will not pass out after Monty’s, I will not pass out after Monty’s.” The struggle is real. Monty’s is such a chill, fun environment that people tend to stay later than happy hour.

Monty’s has been on of my personal favorite places to go in Miami since being down here. You don’t get more of a beachy, Miami feel than going to happy hour at Monty’s. If you’re visiting Miami there is one in Coconut Grove as well as in South Beach. Friday Happy Hour is something you definitely don’t want to miss!