Fact or Fiction?

South Beach Star is a fictional memoir. While the characters and the story are pure fiction, it's based on real events and the book is populated with some of the real people who helped make South Beach's nightlife scene so incredible. Some of the people mentioned incclude Elaine Lancaster, Andrew Delaplaine, Gilbert Stafford, Mykel Stevens, Madonna, Chris Paciello, Prince, Adora, DJ David Knapp, Louis Canales, Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, Mickey Rourke, Jose Antonio, Peter Estrada, George Tamsitt, Rupert Everett, Christopher Ciccone, Gloria Estefan, Aaron Von Powell, Curtis DeWitz, Egon Von Furstenburg, Attila Lakatoush, Debbie Harry, Taffy Lynn, Damien Devine, Donald Trump, Shareef Malnik, Sofia Vergara, David Rohn, Eric Newill, Glenn Albin, Joe Bon, Kevin Crawford, Susan Garfinkle, Brian Antoni, Crispy, Larry Callendar, Peter Page, Nayib Estefan, Jason Binn, Merle & Danny Weiss, Manny Hernandez, Gerry Kelly, Sylvester Stallone, Tara Solomon, The Scull Sisters, and the list goes on.

Photo: Another version of the cover...we're still working.

South Beach Star Cover

I'm working with the designer on the cover for South Beach Star and this is our working cover. I'd love to get some feedback. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.

Raves for South Beach Star

Today I'm working with the designer on the cover of South Beach Star. I have sent the galley copy out to be read by writers/editors for reviews. Here are some so far:

"Glitz, glamour, and scandalous celeb debauchery have made South Beach one of the sexiest destinations in the world, and James Cubby does a fantastic job of showcasing the salacious side of all that glitters in SoBe! South Beach Star is a must-read for star chasers, lovers, and aficionados!"

-Thomas Barker-Publisher & Executive Editor Wire Magazine

"South Beach Star is a must-read about a South Beach newspaper. Gives you rare insider insight into the South Beach scene."

-Irene Moore, Editor Where South Florida

"James Cubby serves up a delectable froth of fact and fiction in this affectionate homage to the crazy South Beach scene that once was - and in some ways still is. South Beach Star is required reading for those who love South Beach, those who plan to visit, and for locals, who'll be playing a delicious game of who's who for days - or minutes - this is South Beach after all."

-Charlotte Libov, author and former New York Times contributor

PHOTO: Copy of Nightlife Photos from Wire 1997

Kaboom at Miami Beach Cinematheque

Nightlife still thrives on South Beach but during the nineties it was the lifeblood of many locals. South Beach Star tells the story of a group of locals who made their living in and off the nightlife scene. South Beach's nightlife scene has changed radically since the nineties but many of the changes are for the better. Take the new location of the Miami Beach Cinematheque now located in Old City Hall on Washington Avenue. It's a beautiful new venue complete with a film book library, a museum, and an art gallery. Last night I saw a screening of Gregg Araki's new film Kaboom. It's one of the many films on the schedule now. Check out the film schedule by visiting http://www.mbcinema.com/.

South Beach Star: A Night to Fall In Love

The publishing of my novel, South Beach Star, is becoming a reality. Now we're working on choosing a cover photo and design for South Beach Star. I have several people reading the gallies to give me quotes to put on the back cover. It's exciting to think it will finally be printed. I had issues with my computer today and couldn't even open Word to do any work. I needed a break anyway. I have an appointment with the computer doctor at 9 a.m. tomorrow so hopefully everything will be fixed. Yes, I am a slave to my computer.

In South Beach Star, the main character, Kidd, is a nightlife writer and there are several of his columns printed in the book. The columns are fictional but there are real places and names mentioned to give it a more sense of reality. Here is an exerpt from one such column.

ROMANCE AT KREMLIN: It was a night to fall in love...and I did, several times. KREMLIN, the fabulous Lincoln Road gay club known for its hot-hot male dancers, was decked out with a romantic celluloid theme and filled with lots of men ready to be romantic-at least for a night. DJ David Knapp kept the music pumping for the shirtless dancing men who were already pumped. The "if I was any closer I'd be on the other side of you crowd" included legendary South Beach icon Louis Canales, actor Rupert Everett, designer George Tamsitt, the fabulous drag divas Adora (no one has bigger hair), Taffy Lynn, & Damien Devine (no one has bigger lips), Peter Estrada (Kremlin's owner), photographer Jose Antonio, designer Calvin Klein (with an entourage of pretty boys), makeup legend Kevyn Aucoin, socialite Curtis DeWitz, Nikki Haskell (diet queen to the stars), artist Aaron Von Powell, photographer Dimitri, and Rubio & Kidd Madonny (doing an obscene dance under a white veit in the upstairs performance area).

Just a taste of South Beach Star.

Photo: Kremlin bartender Ricardo

More Memories & Photos

My novel, South Beach Star, is set in a special time of South Beach history. Working on finalizing the cover now so South Beach Star should be out in a month or so. It is set in the mid-nineties when nightlife was fun, everyone dressed to go out, and it was one big happy family. Going through my old photos is like seeing old family members again. Here are a few photos from that time.

PHOTOS: TOP- Kevin Crawford & Christopher Ciccone

Bottom-Gilbert Stafford & Flavio Nisti

Plum Magazine Launch Party

The Friday night party at The Raleigh Hotel for the launch of Plum Magazine reminded me of the old days. It was an incredible party with lots of performers, great music by DJ Irie, an over-the-top fireworks display, and great people. Ran into Glenn Albin (editor of Plum Magazine), Bibi Andrade (The Adventures of Bibi & Friends), Publicist Brigitte Grosjean, Mary Jo of Miami Socialholic, Zoltan (the photographer), Eric Milon, Tara Solomon, Nick D'Annunzio, Crispy Soloperto, James Brown (Perry Ellis), Bryan Gorman (Lords Hotel), Lauren Foster, Michael Gongora, Merle & Danny Weiss, Dr. Julio Gallo, Michael Paul Drieling, Daisy Olivera, The Tara Ink crew, and Heather Davis. The rain didn't stop this crowd from having a great time and it was a great magazine launch.