Into the Night

They're baaaack! That bastion of big hair, Button South (100 Ansin Blvd., Hallandale, 954-454-3301), returns this and every Friday night, with all the music and mayhem that made it famous. Back are the bands, with Shad, Beggar's Opera, and Motor scheduled to take the stage this Friday. Back also are the big-name, pack-it-in concerts. And back is DJ Neal Z, spinning rockin' tunes for all the super-coiffed. The club opens its doors at 9:00 p.m. and doesn't kick the last mover and shaker out until 9:00 a.m. Lucky for us, food is served throughout the long haul, enabling even the most weary-eyed to gobble up enough energy to get through the night. Friday also heats up in suburbia -- Kendall -- when Marsbar gets swept into a happy hour frenzy with the Red Planet Disco presenting the Bovine Sex Club. Get away from the grind and unwind with half-dollar cocktails from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m., as well as special prices on grill-master Shark's specialties, supplemented, of course, by other tasty treats from those people on the Red Planet -- something to help wash down the two-dollar Bovine Sex Shots. Fun retro hits guide you through the early evening, with down-and-dirty house and alternative rhythms kicking in as the night wears on. Heating things up further, the weekly cage girl competition takes center stage high above the dance floor as rhythmically inclined girls twist and turn for cash and prizes. Reach the Planet by 9:00 p.m. to get in for free; the cover charge is only $5 after that. A small price to pay for food, fun, and some great moo-sic (sorry!). This weekend, the fourth annual How Can I Be Down urban music conference and schmooze fest also rolls into town, with music label execs, artists, entrepreneurs, and celebrities converging at the Shore Club Hotel on South Beach for a weekend chock full of informative music seminars, cocktail parties, and countless artist showcases. This year's summit includes performances by mega artists Notorious B.I.G., Monifa, Ice Cube, Lenchmob and many others. For complete details, see "Reverb" on page 85.

Thursday
Fat Tuesday, "Cigar Night." Once a month, cigars dangle from every mouth in town as smoke enthusiasts gather for complimentary appetizers, drink specials, and some happy-hour huffing and puffing. 3015 Grand Ave. (CocoWalk), Coconut Grove, 445-0278.

821, "Thursday Cabaret." Mary D.'s Sappho-esque love riot of dancing, drinking, and cruising -- a juicy wallow at a louche refuge. 821 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, 534-0087.

Squeeze, "Ladies Night." DJ Guy spins the best in progressive and alternative dance songs for everyone from yuppies and clean-cut college kids to the tattooed and pierced fetish fanatics. 2 S. New River Dr., Fort Lauderdale, 954-522-2151.

Friday
Niva, "After Hours." The party starts at 4:00 a.m. when dancemaster DJ Charlie Mercado spins energetic dance tunes for the dancing and drinking crowd until the very, very wee hours. 643 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 538-0230.

Cameo Theatre. Twisted pleasures, solidly in the tradition of the Cameo's dance-till-we-drop crowd. 1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 532-0922.

Virtua Cafe, "Cybersex." Move to an erotic groove with sexy interactive multimedia fun and games and cybergasmic tunes by DJ Shannon. It's sex on the beach without the sand at the cutting-edge club with a twist. 1309 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 532-0234.

Greenwich Cafe. Stay downtown and warm up for the weekend with a cocktail-hour buffet and the company of fellow drones as a DJ keeps you jumping. 901 S. Miami Ave., 374-1445.

Saturday
Salvation. Revolving party themes keep you guessing as the largest party for men who love men takes over with an open bar from 10:00 to midnight and dancemaster DJ Abel at the wheels of steel. 1771 West Ave., Miami Beach, 673-6508.

Kitchen Club, "Berlin." The haven for the perpetually black-clad crowd brings back its retro night, this time with a more alternative twist. 3701 NE Second Ave., 754-0777.

Liquid, "The Bitch Is Back!" Get wet with the sweat of hundreds of gorgeous bodies as DJ Waxman spins new house tunes. Later, cool off in the Situation Room with DJ Mark Leventhal. 1439 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 532-9154.

Sunday
La Covacha, "La Carcel." A Cuban country roadhouse packed with patrons dancing to Latin rock. The club where a good time is always the first priority. 10730 NW 25th St., West Dade, 594-3717.

Bermuda Bar, "Surfin' Safari." All the necessary ingredients for a beach bash are in place -- free beer from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. and a late night bikini contest. 3509 NE 163rd St., North Miami Beach, 945-0196.

Monday
Lua, "Back-Door Bamby." DJ Gigi spins a sexy blend of deep house mood music for an evening of erotic and not particularly subtle pleasures. 409 Espanola Way, Miami Beach, 672-8351.

Cafe Iguana, "Monday-Night Boxing." Hinterland amusements for the masses with rough-and-tumble challenge bouts, a carnival set in a club/restaurant that runs like a well-oiled machine. 8505 Mills Dr., Town & Country Center, Kendall, 274-4948.

Tuesday
Moe's Cantina, "Tequila Tuesday." Host Larry Vickers makes it a girls' night out with Tex-Mex treasures and drink specials for the ladies. 616 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 532-6637.

Ready Bar, "Home Cookin'." DJ Mark Leventhal serves up a host of special flavors for a laid-back-locals kind of crowd. 560 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 534-8847.

Wednesday
Swirl, "Booty." Bump and grind to old-school phat funk and rare grooves from DJ Shannon; hosted by drag impressario Bridgette Buttercup. 1049 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 534-2060.

Alcazaba, "Ladies night." The upwardly mobile and utterly sophisticated Latin crowd converge for dancing, drinks, and socializing. 50 Alhambra Plaza (Hyatt Regency), Coral Gables, 441-1234.

-- By Liz Martinez

Send information regarding special "one-nighters" to "Into the Night." Fax material to 372-3446 or call 579-1572.