That's why I've come to love Peachfuzz so much, the weekly-turned-monthly Friday-night function that brings people of all tastes, styles, and eras together under one roof. It's a place without pretension yet full of acumen. It's never
That's something that worried me when Peachfuzz lost its spot at the Garret. Grand Central's former loft space was the perfect place to throw an admission-free night with house-party feels. It was dark and intimate. The dance floor was just big enough to bust a move while the whole club was tight enough that a packed house meant basically every square foot became part of that dance floor. Few Miami developers understand the importance of a grass-roots vibe in our local venues. Peachfuzz threw its final party at Grand Central last September, and though that final hurrah with Trick Daddy was some kind of magical, it left all us Fuzz fans wondering if we'd ever get that magic back.
But you can't kill a party like Peachfuzz that easily. It's too successful, too niche. Miami needs every down-and-dirty party it's got, and when news broke that the rowdy rap gathering was to be reinstated at the Thompson Hotel, I'll admit, I got a little nervous.
I wondered: How is South Beach going to sustain these kinds of party waves? Especially at a place like the Thompson?
After all, this is the same hotel where Michelle Bernstein serves stuffed squash blossoms veiled in foam – not that I'm knocking foam. Foam is a light and airy way to elevate any dish to new heights. Shoutout to foam. And shoutout to Seagrape, the Thompson's restaurant. It's delicious, foam and all — but it's just not the kind of place you imagine sweaty stoners converging for a DMX sing-along.
But my curiosity got the better of me, and I arrived at the Thompson's inaugural Peachfuzz bash in January to see the scene for myself. For better or worse, there was no way I'd miss the first Peachfuzz postmove. I arrived just as doors opened, free of charge as always, and as I stood by the bar, greeting friendly faces and watching the dance floor gradually fill, my worries all began to melt away. Come 2 a.m., the place was hot and packed. Everyone was dancing up on one another, standing on the couches, lighting joints. By the time
I can't tell you how that night ended, but I'm confident I had fun. I'm pretty sure I was running from group to group, scrubbing the ground and yelling too loudly in people's faces. I may or may not have begun to pass out at my table, but that's neither here nor there. What matters is that Peachfuzz retained its majesty, proving once and for all that a good party, a really good party, isn't about the venue. It's about the people, it's about the music, and it's about the culture. Peachfuzz certainly has a culture all its own, and you, him, her, them, y'all, and your girl are welcome on the last Friday of every month.
Peachfuzz with DZA, DJ Jubilee, and Thando. 11 p.m. Friday, March 24, at the Thompson Miami Beach, 4041 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-605-4041; thompsonhotels.com. Admission is free.
