Miami Feels the Heat

Who says Memorial Day weekend in Miami has to be all about swaggering thugs? South Beach will transform into a gangsta’s paradise this weekend, complete with aspiring ballers leaning on every available inch of wall space along Washington Avenue, and thong-clad hoochies strutting down Collins Avenue. But the macho guys better make way. This weekend also belongs to Sizzle Miami, the biggest black gay event in the country.

The event began in 2002. “A lot of people were going to Miami for the hip-hop weekend, but the climate wasn’t there for our demographic to party in large numbers. The acceptance level wasn’t there. So we’ve moved our event to downtown, because it’s much too crowded on the beach,” explains Dwight Powell, the creator and owner of Sizzle Miami. He’s seen his vision grow from a one-day bash into five fabulous days of fun in the sun. This year’s celebration kicks off on Thursday, May 24. Today there’ll be escapades on the high seas when the booze cruise sets sail. The True Queens of Comedy will take the stage at the University of Miami Ashe Auditorium at the Hyatt Regency Miami from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. There are lots of fun and informative events taking place over the long weekend, including Sunday’s safe sex Naked/A Candid Discussion event at the Hyatt Regency, and the Bring It Ball, which will put drag ballroom culture in the local spotlight where it belongs. Monday night’s Meat Market African Heat party at Bricks nightclub (66 SW Sixth St., Miami) is expected to draw a huge crowd of hot dudes to end the event. Visit www.sizzlemiami.com for a complete schedule.
May 24-28