In Clubland

Are you sick of going out to the Grove or South Beach? Why can't the party atmosphere in Miami feel like a real city? Sure we have the Wallflower Gallery downtown. It's a cool space and it features great bands, but the strongest thing to drink in there is coffee. Perhaps Club Space (142 NE Eleventh St.; 305-372-9378) will solve the problem. Opening on Friday, Space is located downtown, a few blocks northwest of the American Airlines Arena. The club is a combination of several warehouses and, surrounded as it is by tall buildings, grimy concrete, and homeless people, it may seem like an urban adventure. On Saturday the place will host a gay night, and if you have an invitation or RSVP, there's no cover for either party this weekend (otherwise it costs $20). Doors open at 11:00 p.m. on Friday and 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Back on the Beach, the ever-vicious live-music cycle apparently is on an upswing. This week both V-Lounge (737 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-674-0048) and Level (1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-532-1525) are giving it a go. V-Lounge, in conjunction with New York's CBGB, hopefully will offer a couple of events each month: one all-ages, and an over-21 show, plus occasional national acts. Starting the series off is an all-ages show on Sunday, featuring the Groovenics, Further Seems for Ever, Enemy Against Enemy, Sixo, and Behind the Green Door. The first band goes on at 2:00 p.m., and cover charge is $8. If you want to catch live music on Mondays, Level offers an alternative to Señor Frogs. Beginning this week the club will feature a local band in its Boiler Room. Miami rockers Maria kick off the weekly party. Doors open at 10:00 p.m. and there's no cover.

Definitely worth a drive north: Thursday good-ol'-boy (and girl) band Southern Culture on the Skids with openers Countdown Quartet are at FuBar (909 E Cypress Creek Rd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-776-0660), and funksters Parliament at Alligator Alley (2079 N University Dr., Sunrise; 954-742-6874). Doors open for the Southern Culture show at 9:00 p.m., and cover charge is $10. The doors for the Parliament show also open at 9:00 p.m., and cover charge is $25. Other out-of-towners playing closer to home are Tinsley Ellis on Saturday, and former Smithereen Pat DiNizio on Tuesday, both at Tobacco Road (626 S. Miami Ave.; 305-374-1198). The Ellis show begins at 10:45 p.m. and cover is $5; DiNizio goes on at 10:00 p.m. Call for cover.