CP NEWS: Plead the Fifth: New Hotspot in Miami

[ddm-news]

-Elliot Kotlyar

Drawing in the support and acclaim of a fickle client is never easy. Especially in Miami’s ever-changing club scene. In a world where parties are cultural affairs, each week brings yet another “must-see” that’s set to be the party of the year. So SoBe’s latest incarnation had lots to go up against.

All of Miami’s glitterati turned up for The Fifth’s grand opening on Saturday night. From designers, writers, wealthy art benefactors, philanthropists, and important club figures, it seemed that no one’s name was left off the invitation list. (Because I’m no starf*cker, I won’t list them by name. But I will say what a surprise not to see Ingrid Casares among the attendees, who’s usually a sucker for these sorts of scenes.)

Part of what was so unique about the night was the diverse guestlist – homos, heteros, and even a few androgynous characters showed up. The theme of the night was glamour, masquerade and carnival, hence some of the more outlandish get-ups. Guests were really dressed to the nines. There were more sequins-on-lapels and crystals-on-dresses than the grandmothers at a typical South Florida bar mitzvah!

Speaking of old Barbie dolls, another great draw was to see so many older SoBe alums up way past their bedtimes. Plastic surgery hid wrinkles well and bleach-blonde sixty-somethings didn’t seem to stand out all that much against the backdrop of such an eclectic guest list. It was a page from classic South Beach where it was all about the party and the special guest of honor.

Most of the generated attention was for the birthday of the club’s marketing director, Gerry Kelly. A figure in South Beach nightlife since the nineties, his name has been attached to Madonna, Naomi Campbell, and a few Versaces. Teamed with the notorious Chris Paciello, their parties were some of the most legendary of the classic South Beach-era. Kelly’s birthdays are especially known for showcasing Miami-style extravagance.

The night would follow suit. The venue’s ample open space reminds of a giant loft. With plenty of couches around the main floor for bottle-service and four bars, there’s sure to be no shortage of drinks to go around. A huge projection screen hangs on the wall with changing images while models pose for the guests. Each week the models showcase a different theme. The women on parade were wrapped in flowers while others modeled the carnivalesque while strewn on giant spheres and swayed to Turkish-infused beats. Miami and New York-based DJ Frank Delour played both popular and funky house music as the night went on so people had little to bitch about.

Shaking things up was the grand-entrance of the birthday boy himself, Gerry Kelly. At around midnight, this huge crowd appeared with bottles and bottles of champagne to toast his arrival. That’s when the bling converged and the wildest guests appeared out of the woodwork. From all sides, local celebrities and adoring fans clamored to get a minute with the night’s prominent host.

Dressed in a white sequined tuxedo, Kelly commanded the attention of camera crews as he greeted his friends. I took the opportunity to introduce myself to Kelly and wish him a happy birthday. When I asked him if we could talk for a minute, he coolly proposed we talk over a drink. He grabbed me and took me up to his VIP room where I met his closest amigos and main entourage. As he stopped to greet many more friends I spoke to the VIP posse about what made this man’s parties so great.

Now, when three gussied-up gals start shouting adjectives at me, I know that I’ve got to tread carefully. Throwing around words like, “genius,” “artist,” and “innovator”, I quickly realized that I was dealing with more than just another party promoter. I wanted to know more from Kelly himself.

When he got back to the room, he gave me a bit of insight into his plans for The Fifth and today’s ever-changing South Beach club scene. In just a few words, he showed that he really does understand exactly what Miami needs right now, “Culture will always change. Music and fashion [in Miami] have changed to become urban culture. But if you can get [all these people] out on a Saturday night, it’s because they want a haven away from all of that. It’s time for entertainment and change.”

And that’s what Saturday’s celebration was all about. Away from the bytes of hip-hop and electro-infused bass, partygoers will come to The Fifth for its classic brand of South Beach. When I asked Kelly what surprises to expect with him at the helm, he promised, “Oh, there’ll be much more to come…” Where carousel horses hang from the ceiling and opera singers serenade guests mid-evening, Kelly’s imagination is sure to capture all sorts of attention for a whole new generation of Miami’s finest. With that sort of outlook, I have a strong hunch that The Fifth will be the coolest place to be for quite a while.

Link To Original Article