Vlada’s interiors feature gorgeous hardwood panels, leather bankettes, and stylish furniture. (Photo courtesy of Vlada Lounge)
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By JUSTIN THOMPSON
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Vlada Von Shute is on the brink of opening the Miami Design District's first full-time gay bar: her eponymous New York lounge, Vlada, is slated to open its second location here in south Florida, at a spot on the corner of 32nd and NE 2nd Ave.
But after leasing the space and paying for all the necessary permits, the city commission has denied her request to open for business, based on worries that the lounge will bring a “bad element” to the neighborhood.
The commission citied a resident of the neighborhood, who complained there were too many nightclubs in the area, and because of them he could no longer feel comfortable walking with his family down the street.
According to Von Shute, the City had not raised any objections with the opening of the lounge as she filed for her various permits; she believes the complaining resident learned that Vlada Lounge in New York is a gay bar, and he knew the Miami location would be the same.
It's hard to understand how gentrification of the Design has made the area less safe for families, considering how crime-infested the neighborhood was just a few years ago. And the argument that Vlada Lounge will bring a "bad element" to the neighborhood is, of course, ridiculous—Vlada Lounge in Midtown Manhattan is one of the premier bars in the city, popular with a very upscale clientelle, and it was voted “Best New Bar” of 2006 by HX magazine. The lounge features gorgeous interiors and serving organic infused vodkas, which she creates on-property. Von Shute says the Miami location will be a replica of the New York version, catering to the trendy clientele of our Midtown.
"The Commission didn't do their research," Von Shute said in responseto the Commission's decision. "They just heard it was a bar, and theymade up their minds without knowing what it was. There is nothing onthat corner right now, but when I move in there the area will blow up."
Von Shute returns to the courts for an appeal on May 22, and she is circulating a petition of support from members of the community. For more information go to www.vladabar.com.
Wilton Manors will soon welcome its newest addition to the bar scene, when “Matty’s” opens on Wilton Drive in the next few weeks--and it will join The Depot as the only non-smoking bars in the area.
Matt Auslander, a former manager of George’s Alibi, along with his partner Ed Gonzales, will open the bar in a spot south of Five Points, next to lesbian hangout New Moon.
In the face of growing restrictions against smoking in public establishments, Matty’s will restrict smoking to designated areas outdoors; The Depot enacted a similar policy when it recently re-opened at its current location (1243 NE 11th Ave), after complaints that its former location was too smoky.
Like The Depot, Matty’s also promises to support eco-friendly measures such as recycling glass bottles and plastic containers. Most other bars in the area do not recycle items like bottles for water and beer, with customers pitching their containers into the trash. The motivation behind their environmental initiatives? Says Rod at The Depot: “It’s just something we decided to do.” Stupendous!
Long-standing gay watering hole Twist is remodeling once again.
Calls to management about the specifics of the remodel received replies of nothing more than “It’s a surprise,” but our sources tell us the bar is closing each room one-by-one through the construction phase, and will feature a two-story cascading waterfall in the front entrance when complete. In a perfect world, they would raise the roof on the back cabana to give the dancers a little more wiggle room--as well as add some private areas for one-on-one time--but no word yet on plans for that area.
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