Photo: Tomas Loewy
Velvet underground: May 8-14
By Lesley Abravanel
Summer is upon us, but don't worry. Sweat is the new black and we'll all be sporting plenty of it in the coming months.
Luckily there's the Gansevoort's rooftop Plunge Bar. Friday, 944 Magazine celebrates its first anniversary there with Macy Gray as the host, headliner and DJ. According to publisher Alan Roth, the anniversary party, from 8-11 p.m., will also feature a performance by former Fugee Pras, as well as some other ''unannounced celebrity and musical drop-ins." The party doesn't exactly end at 11. Apparently 10 VIP hotel suites with various themes will be open from 11 p.m. on -- sort of like an invitation-only slumber party. As for who gets into those, well, your guess is as good as ours.
The Gansevoort Summer Series will offer various themes and deals such as this month's Music and next month's Film and Art. For more info on the overnight themed packages, go to gansevoortsouth.com.
Defining the concept of eclectic mix of music is the Friends of the New World Symphony's Saturday night event, Symphony in the City, at the very hip new bar The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St., Miami. From 8-11 p.m., revelers will be aurally stimulated to the tune of NWS Fellows, who will perform classical, blues, reggae, rock, funk and house music, while viola fellow Dustin Buddish will premiere a string prelude that begins on a classical note and morphs into a hot house beat as DJ JJ Neil adds his own spin. Jette Kelly will sing while violinist Karen Franken tweaks the strings in what is being described as a musical tango. Then there's singer Fitzroy along with bass player Buffalo and the NWS musicians taking a rootsy turn on classical and hip-hop. The event is free for members of the FONWS, but for those who want to join to experience this musical mash-up, call Stacey Glassman at 305-673-3330, ext. 230.
Forget plain old happy hour. Consider Mary Brickell Village's Abokado, offering a Happier Than an Hour cocktail and sushi social daily from 4-7 p.m. Beer is $3, house martinis and mojitos and wines by the glass are $6. There's also a special bar menu including various sushi, Abo-kado nachos, panko-crusted queso blanco on skewers, and more, all ranging from $5-$7.
Finally, for those who want to sweat it out right on the ocean on Fridays and Saturdays, do so at the Marriott's new Deco Party on the second floor pool terrace from 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. On the menu: DJ/producer Oren Nizri, well-priced cocktails, light lunch fare and remarkable views that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to appreciate -- at least for a few hours, anyway.