The happening place at Miami right now was the private beach behind the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Every Friday night, the Barefoot at Oasis party attracts more than a thousand people. You would not miss this place as you would see the giant red lantern erecting on the beach from across the river.
It was only 8pm, but the place was already packed with want-to-be-seen young men and women who were a bit more mature and well-behaved than the South Beach crowd.
The first rule to join the party was to take off your shoes, check them at the door, or else you would be struggling to keep your balance on the sand. The second rule was to find a spot at one of the sunbeds covered with Oriental fabric, lean against the velour pillows, and enjoy. There was no cover charge, but a cocktail was about $15 and a beer was about $10.
The development of this beach came with a price. My friend who lives at a condo nearby said this beach used to be a recreational area where she practiced tai chi. Now she had to retreat to an indoor gym for her lesson.