two weeks ago, i was fortunate enough to go on a summer excursion to miami beach. my friend nicole (who i've previously praised here) was debuting her swimwear line during fashion week and needed a right-hand lady friend to help her in the booth. being the tradeshow veteran/miami virgin that i am, i happily obliged. the weekend was a whirlwind of fashion shows, cocktail parties, and humidity. lots of humidity. my trip went something like this:
day 1: get to the airport at the crack of dawn. watch everyone on my flight giggle at my outfit (neon yellow off-the-shoulder tee, cutoff denim shorts, gladiator sandals, and straw fedora). yes, i'm going to miami, bitchhhhesss! land in houston, texas and make friends while i wait for my connecting flight. lucky enough to sit next to them on the plane. finally land in miami, and get smacked in the face with dampness once i get outside. not cute. thank God for fedora. get picked up my nicole and her mom in a snazzy rental SUV. now this is service.
night 1: get to the shore club. our room is minimilism personified: white on white with concrete floors and gauzy linens. so fresh and so clean. unpack and talk a walk along the beach behind our hotel. come back and get dolled up for dinner. meet up with nicole's parents and uncle john at the prime 112 steakhouse in south beach. waiter does a fancy wine-pouring trick that blows my mind. take a cab to the w for the shay todd fashion show. thunderstorm ensues. wait in line for-fucking-ever because the show may be cancelled due to the rain. sweat balls. finally get let in and shown to our seats. spot dina from the real housewives of new jersey seated across the runway from us. squeal with delight, then resolve to get a photo taken with her. tara reid and her ratty extensions sit in front of us. show starts. awesome bathing suits on bangin' bodies. show ends. grab swag bag, then grab dina and pose for photos. nicole and i run away, giggling. head back to hotel. shower and pass out.
day 2: time change has me all twist-turned upside down. get ready and head to the miami convention center. need coffee. hang out in the tavik booth. annoy neighbors with loud music and impromptu dance parties. meet tons of cool magazine editors, and a few cute boys. attend show-sponsored cocktail party and drink out of shot-size baby wine glasses. gets the job done.
night 2: head back to the hotel and get dolled up. eat an amazing meal of seafood salad, linguini, and white wine at ago. walk to the setai for the miami swim show cocktail party. have some drinks, socialize, and take in another fashion show, this time for yoga wear. guy at bar buys us drinks, excuses himself, and comes back with a suspicious white powdery substance around his nostril. we leave.
day 3: another show day. morning starts a little slower than the last, seeing as this time, there are hangovers involved. head to the booth and begin setting up. cue loud music and dancing in the aisle. lunchtime rolls around. i stand in line at a chinese food counter where five black guys are cooking in woks. think to myself, you don't see this every day.
night 3: head to the miami swimshow fashion show. nicole's suit is by far the hottest one, on the hottest girl. we meet up with mom, dad, and john for dinner at grillfish. stuff myself on sauteed scallops and mushrooms. walk around for a bit down washington -- tons of awesome little restaurants and street vendors. head to back to hotel, shower, and pass out. long and amazing coupla days.
day 4: nicole wakes up early and heads to the show. i'm lucky enough to sleep in, as my work here is now done. wake up around 11 to sun streaming in. order room service -- i missed the breakfast cutoff so i order a mozzarella and tomato basil panini. change into requisite gold silk brazilian-cut bikini. grab magazines and head to the pool. keep things super cheesy and order a pina colada. fully relaxed, cellulite be damned. this is the life. ponder making a move to miami as rain clouds start to emerge. pack it up and head inside. watch a few episodes of daisy of love and doze off. wake up. get bored waiting for nicole to get back, so i start getting ready for dinner.
night 4: meet up with nic's florida sales rep, also named nicole, at her hotel across the street. consider getting a drink at the bar, but decide to keep it moving. walk to sushi samba. the decor always makes me so happy. order beer, sake, and about 73 rolls of sushi. tell stories and jokes, pig out, then head back onto the street. stop into a souvenir shop and purchase damn near every "i'm in miami bitch!" t-shirt they have. our friends and family won't be half as amused as we are. drop nicole off at her hotel, then mosey on back to the shore club. humidity still working overtime. nicole is pooped, so we call it a night. take advantage of the time difference and drunk-text some friends and lovers. pass out shortly thereafter.
day 5: wake up and immediately call room service. order the pineapple belgian waffle that i was too late for yesterday. devour that baby. too overcast to head to the pool, so i get changed and walk around the hotel for a bit. so sad to leave. get back to the room and start packing. before i know it, nicole's parents come to take me to the airport. miami trip is fin; and i had nothing but fun.
mood music: little boots - new in town
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