It was 8:30 on the Saturday night of White Party weekend and my partner still had nothing white to wear to the crown jewel of White Party Week in Miami, the White Party itself. I’d waited 28 years to get to the biggest and the best gay party on the planet and nothing was standing in my way. “I saw a cute store on Española Way with an all-white window display,” I said, half hoping he’d take me seriously and do a one-stop shop there if they were still open. Convinced, I dragged him out into the cool Miami night on a mission.
The store, Blanc de Nil, took us seriously indeed, as everything sold in the store is white, and after a once around the place we snagged some comfy cargo pants with a promise of having them hemmed in an hour. On a busy LGBT event weekend in Miami Beach, this was practically a miracle, and let me just say it here and now – this kind of service sets the South Beach retailers apart. After paying, we raced over to Vernissac, a trendy boutique on the Washington Avenue commercial strip that specializes in cool shirts for dudes who’ve forgotten to pack the party gear before heading for fun and sun (yeah, in that order). It took no time at all to complete the SoBe look, a white sport shirt with alternating sheer and solid stripes for maximum sexy; perfect for a guy who’s really not ready to go back to disco duds. Afterward we had a few minutes to relax with some vino and a little pasta then rushed back to dress, wondering what the infamous White Party experience would be like.
Why infamous, you ask? Well, after 27 years of going strong, you’d had to have gained a little notoriety, right? With past performances by Jennifer Lopez, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, it ranks right up there with Rio’s Carnaval as the crème de la crème of the LGBT calendar of must do’s every year. Nearly 12,000 people converge on party central Miami Beach during this Thanksgiving Week when the glitzy town erupts in a weekend of round the clock pool parties, fashion shows, club events, elaborate performances and after hours celebrations. Let’s just say there’s not much time for sleeping, ok? But it’s not only seven days of dancing and entertainment; it’s also to raise funds for a great cause, Care Resource, which services the Miami/Broward LGBT communities with HIV/AIDS support services and assistance. Care Resource takes the funds raised from the White Party and gives them back in the form of medical services, dental care, testing, home-delivered meals and more, playing a vital role in helping those living in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area, two of the hardest hit cities for new HIV infections.
This 28th year of partying for a cause was unlike no other primarily due to the shrewdness of the mastermind behind this year’s theme, RESET. According to Joe DePiro, Care Resource’s Marketing and Public Relations Manager, the theme was not about reinvention but referenced new trends in HIV/AIDS … “a paradigm shift from what was once a white, gay male demographic to one that is much more diverse.” Diversity is the new kid on the block these days if you’ve been checking-in regularly on the nightlife scene and the renewed and revamped White Party made a conscious decision to “move with the times.” “What began as a white themed cocktail affair among a circle of close gay friends reacting to the AIDS crisis is now a major international event.” Let’s toast to evolution, Joe! With a line-up of “circuit” DJ’s from around the globe that kept us dance music hounds bumpin’ our booties and the decision to transport the main event to Soho Studios in the “white” hot Wynnwood Arts district, Miami’s cultural epicenter, I’d say that the White Party is sure keeping its finger on the pulse and is looking pretty good for 28! They even recognized the all-important point of making that entrance and invited designers from the Miami International University of Art & Design to showcase their talent in an exclusive high energy fashion show for VIP guests that kicked off Saturday night’s dance party.
But the bar was raised even higher when diva Crystal Waters, famous in the world of dance music for her 1991 mega hit, Gypsy Woman (familiar to everyone as She’s Homeless) stormed the stage ‘round midnight with two high energy male back-up dancers and brought down the house performing the extended remix as well as her new single. Not a one of us in the sea of white wasn’t flashing a smile or wiping a tear as we sang along…
“but she’s homeless, she’s homeless
As she stands there singing for money.
La da dee la dee da
La da dee la dee da”
Crystal “peaked” the White Party and from there it just got better thanks to the open bar all night long. The evening won’t soon be forgotten but I’ll let Joe have the last words … “After a busy, crazy and hectic year, we all need time to rest, recharge and reboot,” he said. I know I certainly did after the long weekend of celebrating the incredible solidarity of this amazing group of partygoers and yes, the spirituality that came with having experienced the iconic White Party at last. Mission accomplished and ready for next year!
*White Party went the distance in 2012 and operated a complementary shuttle service that ran continually from Soho Studios to points in Miami Beach until 5 am. Now that’s doing things right, people.