Mixing a bloody mary sounds easy. Just some vodka with tomato juice, rightç But it takes some serious skill to make a good one. A bad one may taste like ketchup and Skol, or bitter shrimp cocktail sauce. Some bartenders make it so spicy that your lips will burn. The perfect bloody mary can be found on the seventh floor of the Four Seasons hotel, in the heart of Miami's financial district. The hotel's upscale and classy bar is called 14-Thirty-Five, and its bloody mary is intensely refreshing. The bartender uses Absolut Peppar, a vodka made specifically for a bloody mary. The Absolut is mixed with a unique blend of tomato juice, horseradish, basil, rosemary, and pepper. Order it on the rocks, add the twist of lime, and there you go. Not too spicy, but just enough to clear the sinuses. Outside the bar area, there's a stunning view. Enjoy.

When it comes to cocktails and the places that serve them, details matter. Dirty martinis require just the right amount of vermouth and olive juice, while decent bars thrive on atmosphere and quality service. All things considered, Cielo has the right ingredients to make it the ideal place for relaxing with your drink of choice. Beads hang from the windows, creating the illusion of a sparkly blue waterfall trickling over diners and drinkers. Suede barstools and white contemporary sofas look as if they were inspired by the creamy softness of a white Russian. The clientele and ambiance scream wealth, but rest assured that at $9 for well drinks and $12 for premium cocktails, you're getting your money's worth — the staff is both attentive and well versed in the art of mixing drinks. Live Latin acts take the stage most nights, but a quieter experience is still available with a simple reservation. In the wine room, patrons can dine and drink in a glass-enclosed area supplied with wine racks and a high-def i. Those who opt to chill at the bar or in the lounge area will quickly see that the patrons at Cielo are as pretty as the décor — and remember, the only thing that makes a good cocktail better is the environment in which it's enjoyed.

It's you on the stage, kickin' verses about your life. Just you, the band, a microphone ...oh yeah, and those hot-ass lights. You peer out into the crowd and the faces staring back seem to be standing at attention. Oh, this place is fly. The mood is right, they dim the lights. And the stiff drinks help to ease your tension. You've been working on this sonnet, this haiku, that rhymeYou punked out last week,But the ever-vivacious Ingrid B pulled you out of your shell this time.And here you are.Listed under your nom de plume.It must be Wednesday NightOpen mike nightAt the Bohemia Room.

Miami's nightlife scene is undeniably fickle. Just think of all those clubs closing and opening like the legs of a pantyless celeb caught on camera. Wait, that's not right — there's nothing fickle about Paris, Lindsay, and Britney's ho antics. That stuff is permanent. But seriously, the one thing you can always count on (at least in Miami) is variety. And with so many options, why stay in one club all nightç The biggest nightlife destinations around 305 tend to cluster in proximity to each other, making it easy to hop from one place to the next. If you're downtown, you can start the night off chill at PS 14 (28 NE Fourteenth St.) and then take it up a notch by heading two blocks south to Pawn Shop (1222 NE Second Ave.) or one more street down to Twilo (30 NE Eleventh St.). On the beach, Mansion (1235 Washington Ave.) and Cameo (1445 Washington Ave.) are within walking distance, while the chic Nikki Beach (1 Ocean Drive) and elite Privé (136 Collins Ave.) are just a short cab ride away. If partygoers still have fuel (or drugs) to burn at 5:00 a.m., Space (34 NE Eleventh St.), Nocturnal (50 NE Eleventh St.), and Cafeteria (546 Lincoln Road) are just some of the clubs on the after-hours sampler platter — and it won't cost you even a gallon of unleaded.

Long live Jazid, the bastion of live music on Miami Beach — perhaps the only venue that assures a live performance every night. Once upon a time, there was a variety of venues at which reggae fanatics could find live vibrations at least one night a week. Now Kulcha Shok Reggae Sunday nights at Jazid keeps the heartical flame burning. The weekly jamdown is put together by cool-dude-about-town DJ Lance-O, who mans the ones and twos in the club's upstairs lounge. The Kulcha Shok crew, rounded out by Jr. Lee and Mello D, keep the crowd happy with classic boom shots from Barrington Levy, Dennis Brown, and Jacob "Killer" Miller, all while keeping things fresh with the latest from Cham, Collie Buddz, and Niyorah. Downstairs you'll always find a skilled live band enthralling a writhing audience. Starting weekly at 11:00 p.m., 4th Dimension, Sweetbone, and the ever-energetic Fitzroy fling their dreadlocks and share progressive, bass-heavy riddims that transport fans back into the work week. The crowd is diverse and friendly, the vibes are irie, and admission is free. It really can't be beat.

Yeah, yeah, Churchill's is a great place to drink beer, shoot pool, smoke cigs, look surly, and show off your lousy acting talent — but it's also got one hell of a jazz jam. Monday nights are what you want. The music starts around 9:00 p.m. and includes a performance by a band, followed by a couple numbers on the keys from "Piano Bob." Then, 'round midnight, it's the after-hours jazz jam, hosted by bassist Mike Wood, who's led the event for the last five years. Whether you bring an instrument or go just to listen, it's a lively scene with lots of energy, an appreciative audience, and some primo music.

Nowadays, when it seems like even the corner bodegas in South Beach demand a cover charge, it's reassuring to find a hangout that caters to low-rent locals. And it's even better when said spot has a kick-ass karaoke night. Thanks to Felt, the friendly and nonpretentious billiards bar on Washington Avenue, the community's would-be singers have a karaoke night to call their own. Every Tuesday evening, Felt hosts a no-holds-barred sing-your-heart-out night. You won't find any velvet rope attitude here, but you will certainly run into plenty of jukebox heroes willing to rock out to their favorite songs. But be forewarned: You never know who's going to strut in and treat you to a round of covers. Just two months ago Vince Neil (lead singer of Motley Crue) got down to Journey's megacheese classic "Loving Touching Squeezing," and, you guessed it, sang an alcohol-fueled karaoke rendition of what else but "Girls, Girls Girls," his band's heartfelt paean to South Florida strippers. What more could you ask of a karaoke nightç Well, drink specials start at five dollars and there's no cover. However you better be able to hold a tune. These regulars take their karaoke seriously.

You might be wondering: Is it a gas station, a restaurant, or a barç It's really a combination of all three. This former Texaco station has been converted into an elegant Middle Eastern eatery that specializes in alfresco dining, an experience formerly unheard of on bustling Kendall Drive. You can indulge in all of the traditional cuisine of the region — we recommend the beef shawarma platter, which costs a mere $11.99 and comes with delicious roasted meat, lentil rice, hummus, pita, and a salad. Although Michael's is a cafe, it functions just fine as a bar. The restaurant's owner, Michael Touma, made the most of the gas station's built-in glass-door fridges. Now Michael's offers what may be the finest beer selection of any Middle Eastern restaurant in the region. A sixteen-ounce Tucher costs a mere $3. Every night is hookah night, and on Fridays and Saturdays the typically calm scene is transformed into a live music and bellydancing haven, with a bevy of damsels in spangled clothes spinning and gyrating around the tables where gas pumps used to be.

Only in South Beach does a nightclub experience a short-lived revival during Winter Music Conference. Such is the case with Shine at the Shelborne Hotel. It opened in late 2005 under the helm of nightlife veteran Gerry Kelly and techno music extraordinaire Jonathan Cowan. The place was divided into four environments, from a swanky lounge with handcrafted rock walls; to the ballroom where the hard-pounding house was played; to the "Terrace Café"; to the poolside retreat, complete with beds, hammocks, and torch lights. But the club had a contentious existence as condo residents hammered the city to shut down Shine's weekend parties. In April of last year, Shine held its closing party and Kelly moved on to another nightclub venture. Yet during the halcyon days of WMC 2007, Cowan resuscitated Shine for some of the most outstanding electronic performances in town. Greats like Todd Terry, Kenny Dope, Miguel Migs, Frankie Knuckles, and Satoshi Tomiie took to the decks that, for at least seven days, brought the Shine back to Collins Avenue.