Up Late
by Suzy Buckley

If you only have time to nurture the bond with a single nightlife impresario, concentrate your efforts on Michael Capponi. Besides hosting hot South Beach one-nighters such as the longstanding Wednesdays at B.E.D. and Fridays at Privé, he authors the guest lists for some of the city's most over-the-top special events. He attracted Tara Reid and boyfriend Wayne Boich, Miami mayor Manny Diaz, Shalim, Shareef Malnik, Yahima Giro, Thomas Kramer, Mario Lopez, Andy Dick, Miami Heat player Brian Grant and Girls Gone Wild founder Joseph Francis to last month's glamorous affair at Ten Museum Park, the impending 50-story luxury condominium project by Chad Oppenheim and Gregg Covin, for which he was just named co-developer and ambassador of residential services? And, he's mere weeks away from announcing his next big venture, a serious coup with a mammoth hospitality firm sure to be a regular bold-faced venue in no time.

Nightlife Guide 2004

B.E.D.

Michael Capponi's Wednesday night bash baits Miami's successful nine-to-five types blowing off hump-day steam, as well as the usual A-list suspects showing their visiting New Yorker friends the town.
Why: After four years, it's still an interesting, unconventional nightlife setting: The absence of bar stools and banquettes forces patrons to mingle, dance or make friends with diners sitting at one of the 17 oversized beds (i.e. dinner tables).
Claim to fame: World Series star pitcher and most valuable player Josh Beckett partied here until 5 a.m. the morning he won a major playoff game for the Marlins.
Aural stimulation: Fat Joe, Nas and R. Kelly (Mondays); Deepest Blue, Dido, Kosheen (Wednesdays)
Names to drop: Oliver Hoyos (owner), Menny Salaman (Monday doorman), Fabrizio Brienza (Wednesday doorman)
Insider tip: The true VIP room is owner Oliver Hoyos' office, located behind the kitchen, where drinks are free and you can watch all the action: A wall of video cameras showcases the scene at the door and behind every bar.
Cocktail fodder "Do you think these beds are subject to mattress mites?"
Don't: make an antiquated joke about how you "went to BED. with six people last night." This line hasn't received a genuine laugh since 2001.

PRIVE

Who goes: Besides a consistent weekly slew of the biggest rock stars, jet-setting socialites, hip hop moguls, fashion designers and Latin pop icons, you'll find Fridays packed with friends and followers of powerhouse promoters: Ingrid Casares reels in the statuesque model boys and sinewy starlets Page Six will be talking about next month, Michael Capponi attracts a loyal clan of local, designer-clad A-listers and Antonio Misuraca lures sexy, cleavage-touting gaggles of eye candy galore.

Why: Unless you're a bona fide VIP (you know who you are), a lucky night here could very well be your closest brush with superstardom.

Claim to fame: You'll end up at nights like this: Kid Rock DJs as Run DMC freestyles with one of the Beastie Boys, as Liev Schreiber, Ryan Seacrest, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Tara Reid, Fisher Stevens, Victoria Silvstedt and Tweet mingle with locals and dance the night away.
Aural stimulation: Outkast, Duran Duran, Paul Oakenfold
Names to drop: Eric and Francis Milon (owners), Dave Grutman (marketing manager) Michael Capponi, Ingrid Casares and Antonio Misuraca (promoters).

Insider tip: On extremely busy nights, when the line at the door is packed like sardines, you can always attempt to enter via the north door at adjacent restaurant La Factoria and hope the security team turns a blind eye.

Cocktail fodder: "1 used to steal the cool logo-laden tumblers from this bar back in the mid-'90s, when it was Amnesia's VIP room. We'd stuff a couple in our little Prada backpacks every night we came until we had about a dozen. Today, they're collectors' items worth selling on ebay."

Don't: under any circumstances, pronounce this club as a one syllable word rhyming with "jive": Its name is French (translates to "private") and the accent is placed atop the "e" for a reason.