And to note, this is NOT the Mexican Independence Day, as many Americans believe.  But that is not much of a concern to most, as Cino de Mayo in the U.S. is used by many Americans as an excuse to  drink tequila and wear a sombrero!

Need places to go? No problem! Cinco de Mayo in Miami leaves you with plenty of options.  Check out Senor Frogs in Coconut Grove or in South Beach, or just head down to Ocean Drive in Miami.  You will not find a venue or restaurant along this strip today that is not serving up a Mexican treat!

This will be one of the biggest street parties you will ever be a part of, as you walk the street filled with vendors offering Latin foods of every flavor, musical performances on every block, children’s activities, and even some freebies along the way!  Musical performances are nearly every block from 11th Avenue, all the way to 27th Avenue, and include huge stars like Pitbull, Fat Joe, Brook Hogan, Shaggy, Eddy Lover, and many, many more!

Calla Ocho 2009 will be held this Sunday, March 15th, from 11am-7pm, giving you plenty of time to party in the street with thousands of others from Miami, South Florida, and across the world!

Club Mansion of Miami will be featuring Lindsay Lohan as their host as they count down to the year 2009. This New Years South Beach Miami celebration will be one of the hottest events on the beach, sporting a jungle themed atmosphere with green vines, lizard-like body painted dancers, and exotic floral decorations. Samantha Ronson will be spinning live at this event, and partying alongside with Linsday all night long!

General admission is $200, which includes an open bar all night, and VIP entrance into Mansion.  The Opium Group is also offering an upgraded All Access ticket, for $300, which gives you  VIP access to Mansion, Opium Garden and Prive.  It includes open bar at all venues, as well as entrance to the Louis Bar Lounge at Gansevoort, for a champagne toast at midnight!

Several VIP table and bottle packages will also be available.

Harry Baum, president of the South Florida Single Living, contemplated this question over 22 years ago, and came up with the Mazel Tov Ball!  Catering to the large population of young single Jewish people in the area, this event has grown in numbers to over 1,000 attendants each year.

This year, the event will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, at the Gryphon and Pangaea clubs. The event will begin at 8pm and run until 4am.  The event takes place on December 24th. Admission at the door is $25, however, if you buy tickets online they are $20.

Chef Todd English is opening up his new restaurant, da Campo Osteria, this Thursday. The restaurant features authentic Northern Italian cuisine. The restaurant will be located in the il Lugano Hotel and Residences. The address is 3333 NE 32nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale. You can call 954-564-4400 for more information.

Chef English established himself in 1989 with the opening of his restaurant Olives in Massechusettes.  He’s opened up many more restaurants throughout the year and has published three cook books.

Chef Johnny Vinczencz of Ft. Lauderdale’s Johnny V is scheduled to open up his new restaurant, Smith & Jones Bar and Grill on Wednesday.  Why the name? The chef says he thought of obvious American names for the restaurant. Smith & Jones will be located at 1313 E. Las Olas Boulevard in the old Louie Louie spot. The restaurant offers American comfort food at not more than $20 a plate.

Ft. Lauderdale is proof that you don’t have to drive far to get the best food at an inexpensive price!

No one is more excited than I am about the culmination of this Presidential election, and not for the reasons you think. After several months of harsh political commercials, finger pointing and uncomfortable conversations, the end has finally arrived. Tonight we will find out who has clawed their way to the top, and the rest of us can get back to our hum drum lives.

Several local hot spots share the climate of excitement and anticipation many voters have been exhibiting, and have decided to do something about it. In true South Florida fashion, the Sun-Sentinel has comprised a list of local hot spots hosting election parties for tonight’s monumental event.

Starting at 7 p.m. Cinema Paradiso will be hosting an election night bash like no other. Democratic and Republican themed hors d’oeuvres and drink specials will be available for those wishing to have a little fun while waiting for those election results. The Himmarshee Bar & Grille will also be hosting an election fete starting at 7 p.m. Enjoy a red or blue cocktail, appetizers and lots of fun! Last but not least, head over to the 6-10 p.m. “Election Escape Soiree” at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Enjoy drink specials, exquisite ambiance and signature dishes from each candidate’s hometown.

After two years of campaigning, mudslinging and peek-a-boo appearances from our current President, tonight we’ll find out who will fix our current economical mess. Whether you voted Republican, Democrat or didn’t vote at all, you’re sure to want a drink and some laughs to wash the news down.  If you’re choosing to stay home, try the Sun-Sentinel drinking game. Win or lose, blue or red you’re sure to be a happy camper regardless of tonight’s outcome.

For those who, like me, enjoy a little magic and illusion, check out the Ghoulish Comedy Magic and Frightful Illusion Show at the Willow Theater.  The theater can be found in Sugar Sand Park; one of the Boca Raton parks on South Military Trail.  Master illusionist Gary Goodman will thrill the whole family with magic, special effects, and illusions set to spooky music.  Adult tickets are $9 apiece and children tickets are just $7 a piece.  It’s less than the cost to see a movie, and you’re getting a lot more out of it!  The shows are at 3:00pm today (Saturday the 25th) and 11:00am tomorrow.

Greenacres brings a haunted forest and graveyard experience at Halloween at Hoffman’s.  Be warned that the show may just be too scary for children under the age of 12!  The event takes place today from 7:00 to 11:00pm and tomorrow from 7:00 to 10:00pm.  Hoffman’s Chocolate Gardens on Lake Worth Road plays hosts.  Tickets are only $5.

For a touch of culture mixed in with your Halloween experience, visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens on Morikami Park Road in Delray Beach.  The venue is hosting a Family Fun Program:  Halloween Pumpkin today from 11:00am to 4:00pm.  Come to learn more about Japanese culture through arts and crafts.  Prices range from $6 to $10.

If you just can’t stand to leave your furry family member home while you go out and have fun, then travel to Crane’s BeachHouse & Tiki Bar on Gleason Street in Delray Beach.  Enjoy a Halloween Costume Party for Animals from 6:00 to 8:00pm tonight.  Dress up your small dog and try for the prize!  Entrance costs $15 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Tri-County Humane Society.

Delray Beach is also a great source for a Halloween Parade and Downtown Trick-or-Treating event.  The trick-or-treating occurs from 11:30am to 1:00pm along Atlantic Avenue and the parade starts at 1:30pm from Old School Square to Veterans Park.

Another free Halloween event is found in West Palm Beach on Clematis Street.  This Moonfest starts at 4:00pm and runs until 1:00am.   It is a Halloween-themed street party which encourages costumes and offers great entertainment.

Spookyville in West Palm Beach offers trick-or-treating at historic buildings, a costume contest, parade, vendors, activities, and more.  The event is at the South Florida Fair Grounds on Southern Boulevard and runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm today and tomorrow.  Tickets are $5 dollars for most and children 2 and under can get in for free.

If it is too late to do anything today, clear the evening tomorrow.  A Ghouls and Goblins Community Concert starts at 6:00pm at the Old School Square Entertainment Pavilion on Swinton Avenue.  It is presented by the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County.

Finally, Trunk or Treating at the Faith United Methodist Church on Boynton Beach Boulevard in Boynton Beach takes places from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.  This annual event features a hayride, games, petting zoo, treats, and of course a costume contest.  People are invited to bring snacks or finger food to share.

There, now Palm Beach County won’t have to feel left out and you’ll have something to do this weekend!  Less than a week to Halloween my friends!  Enjoy!

For about $50 bucks a pop you and a bunch of friends can see Common and N.E.R.D. perform at the Filmore. The concert starts at 8:00 pm and tickets can be found at Live Nation’s website. If you’re not into Hip-Hop but love R&B, Mary J. Blige and Robin Thicke are performing at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. With tickets starting at only $50, this 7:00 p.m. show will showcase the best of both artists. And if you’re jonesing for more Robin Thicke after the concert, head over to Spirits Nightclub in Hollywood for the Official Afterparty.

Addicted to Project Runaway, America’s Next Top Model and other fashion programming? Well for about $30 you can hob knob with fashion glitterati at tonight’s Rock the Fashion event. Hosted on the sands of Nikki Beach, guests can expect music, cocktails and some of the hottest fashions by local designer Marilyn Rumbaut. The proceeds for this event go to the St. Thomas University School of Law. And the best part? Students with a school id knock $10 off the cover price!

Don’t stay home this Friday night! South Florida is jam-packed with fun things to do.

Goodbye September and hello October!  You know what that means?  Time to turn your mind to all things spooky, haunted, scary, and just plain creepy.  Don’t let Halloween sneak up on you and drive you batty this year…why not plan ahead and start early?  This holiday is, after all, the most fun for the sake of fun holiday of them all!  (Please excuse my excitement, a birthday near Halloween does that to a person)

First things first, you need costumes.  I’ll list for you a few spooktacular costume shops in Miami, certain to provide you with every thing you need.  Dixon Costumes, found at NW 72nd Avenue, has been around since 1926!  This store offers over 20,000 costumes to rent, 200 to purchase, as well your basic wigs, makeup, and masks.  Miami Twice, located at SW 40th Street, offers quality vintage duds and new items.  This place is great for shoppers looking for unique costumes.  Looking for something more mainstreamed?  Party City at North Kendall Drive, has a great selection of costumes, accessories, and decorations.

Now that you are dressed for the occasion, let’s take a look at some events guaranteed to be a scream!  For families with children, there are great events you can bring your kids to before the inevitable Trick’or’Treating.

The Miami Metropolitan Zoo offers candy stations, craft workshops, and themed animal performances.  Free with admission on October 27-28, 11:00am-4:00pm.  The Gold Coast Railroad Museum will be ideal for young train lovers with a ride through a spooky forest, rail-realted crafts, and halloween storytelling.  This event is open on October 27-28 5:30pm-9:00pm.  Wonderful Jungle Island will give visitors the chance to enjoy creepy cookie decorating, a goblin pie eating contest, magical arts and witch crafts, a bounce house, DJ, games, Wii tournament (presented by Best Buy), and even more.  There is even a costume contest at the Garden Outpost from 12:00pm-3:00pm where you can win great prizes.  And let’s not forget the opportunity to see some amazing animals!  The event occurs on October 25-26.  Bring a Sierra Mist can to receive a $6.00 discount on general admission.  The Miami Children’s Museum will also offer Halloween decoration workshops and costume events.

No kids?  Then perhaps you find these events more appealing.  The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens will be holding a fancy soiree at the estate on October 27 from 8:00pm to 1:00am.  Guests are expected to come in costume.  Tickets cost $125.  Or how about the AAA Ghost Hunt & Tour in Fort Lauderdale?  You will be led on creepy tour, complete with scary stories, of downtown’s haunted attractions.  Spirits Nightclub in Hollywood is another option.  The danceclub will be having a costume contest Halloween night starting at 10:00pm.  The price will be $20.  Or if you are looking for something a little less structured, check out the Lincoln Road Mall in Miami Beach which is bound to come alive at night with outlandish sights and sounds.

Be aware that this is only a small number of the available activities and costume shops in Miami, or in South Florida in general.  No matter what you decide to do, or wear, make sure you relax and have some fun!

With the success of the infamous Nikki Beach club in South Beach, it was a natural decision on behalf of the suits to expand. Nikki Coconut Grove opened in the city’s Sonesta Bayfront hotel on January 31, 2008 with a lavish White Party. Apparently, the glitz, glamour, and popularity did not transfer from its founding sister club.

With aspirations of becoming one of the Grove’s most exclusive night clubs, Nikki Coconut Grove simply didn’t attract the crowds it had desired or projected. An executive at the hotel hopes to have a new client by November. Though the luxurious restaurant and bar was ideally located and the name was well-known, this is one bar that may want to decide to remain content with the sole location in which it is infamously associated.