When concert-production company Live Nation announced a rebranding of several storied music venues across the country, to be named after San Francisco's historic Fillmore, more than a few eyebrows raised. But Miami was one of the cities to benefit most from the retooling, with the company's takeover of the Jackie Gleason Theater. Sure, it boasted a star-studded past, but in recent years it had become a stale, moribund, pastel hulk used only intermittently. After several months of construction, the venue emerged, butterfly-style, a completely different being. With a cozy interior of dark colors and low lighting, tons of bars, and a revamped stage complete with stylish red velvet curtains, finally, here was a place where you'd actually want to hang out. And with a flexible capacity of several hundred up to a couple thousand, it fills in a much-needed venue gap in South Florida for bands that are too big for clubs but want to play a more intimate spot than an arena. The eclectic lineup has included everyone from Ricky Martin on opening night, to prog-futurists The Mars Volta, to no less than Jay-Z, in a pre-arena-gig "dress rehearsal." In short, it's a coup for both live-music-starved South Beach and for music fans who are now spared the drive to Broward and beyond.

You couldn't turn up your iPod loud enough to replicate the groove you'll find at Miami Live. Sure, you could fork over some of your hard-earned bucks to Ticketmaster, but even then you probably couldn't get closer than 100 feet to the artist; at Santo, no one is farther than that from the stage. Each Wednesday, locals and tourists mix with A-list sports, music, and movie stars for a night of live music and surprise performances. Walk through the doors of this chic restaurant not knowing what to expect, and you just might become incapacitated by the sheer grandness of it all: people dressed to the nines, an amazing band, and performances from the likes of John Legend, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and many others from your favorite playlists. The night begins with the "L.I.V.E." Loves the Ladies dinner party and ends with you texting your friends: "Guess who I just saw onstage?" And if you don't believe us, ask the folks who fly into MIA for the night just to see what the hell everyone is raving about.

The term florist just doesn't cover this gem, which moved to its current location in time to be covered by construction dust from Miami Shores' downtown renovation. Not only does Flower Bar deliver some of the most stunning arrangements you'll ever see, but also it's an art gallery. And a tearoom. Plus, you'll be able to buy gourmet sweets there pretty soon. Finally, don't forget the greeting cards and fragrances. Started as an art gallery in a seedier neighborhood by a guy named Alex Rodriguez (not the baseball player, you ninny), it moved to its latest spot last fall. The place has garnered some of the classiest jobs in South Beach, providing flowers for the Tides hotel and Table 8 restaurant. Our favorite service is the flower cantina: For $125 a month ($275 for three months), you get a small but hugely creative floral delight. Or if you want to show your lady you really love her, try an orchid a month for three months at $160. And everything is delivered right to your doorstep, so you don't have to drive through the Shores' improvement mess. "That's the way Miami is," says 74-year-old part-time employee Donald Englert. "There will always be construction."