Greetings From Miami!!!

The name of this blog IS ¿Que Pasa 305? so it's only right to post some cool stuff about our little "American Riviera" once in a while. Here's a bunch of Miami related videos, songs, and random facts guaranteed to open your eyes to the coolness and tackiness of our city throughout the decades. Enjoy:


"Miami Modernist Architecture originated in the 1950s and 60s as a resort vernacular unique to Miami and Miami Beach. It was a popular response to the various modernist and post world war architectural movements that were taking place in other parts of the world, adding glamour, fun, and material excess to otherwise stark, minimalist, and efficient styles. Miami Modernism was heavily concentrated in Middle and Upper Miami Beach along Collins Avenue, as well as, but to a slightly lesser extent, the Biscayne Boulevard corridor in the city of Miami." (Wiki)
Here's a cool website about Mimo Architecture


In 1958 "the first domestic jet-airline passenger service is begun by National Airlines between New York City and Miami." (fiftiesweb.com)

Here's an audio clip by Lenny Bruce (who "was a controversial American Stand-up comedian social critic and satirist of the 1950s and 1960s.") describing his trip to Miami. (Wiki)
Lenny Bruce- My Trip to Miami


Criteria Studios is a music studio in Miami, Florida started in 1958 by Mack Emerman. Artists such as the Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Derek and the Dominos, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, David Bowie,Bob Marley, 2 Live Crew, The Eagles, Dr.Dre, Fleetwood Mac, and Bob Dylan have recorded singles and albums here. (Wiki)


In 1964 the film "Flipper" about a boy and his dolphin is shot at Greenwich Studios, 12100 Ivan Tors Boulevard, Miami and in Grassy Key, Florida... Both under the 305 area code. The Movie would later inspire a TV series in 1968.


In 1967 the film 'Clambake' was released starring Elvis himself! He plays the role of a water ski instructor at a swanky resort down here somewhere.... But..." Although this film is set in Miami, Elvis Presley's scenes were all shot in and around Los Angeles." (imdb.com)
Download Original Elvis Collection 50CD (Vol 2 of 5) which includes songs from the movie.


Don't forget the Bee-Gees... "At Eric Clapton's suggestion, the brothers relocated to Miami, Florida, early in 1975 to record."
Download bee gees - you should be dancin'


"¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.? was America's first bilingual situation comedy, and the first sitcom to be produced for PBS. It was produced and taped in front of a live studio audience at PBS member station WPBT in Miami, Florida and aired on PBS member stations nationwide." (Wiki)........The show was filmed from 1977-1979.


"With Estefan on vocals, The Miami Sound Machine had its first English-language hit with “Dr. Beat,” which topped the dance charts across Europe and went Top 10 in the UK and Australia, from the album Eyes of Innocence, in 1984" (Wiki)
Listen to Mylo vs. Miami Sound Machine - dr. pressure


"Miami Vice was a popular and innovative television series (five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989) starring Don Johnson (James "Sonny" Crockett) and Philip Michael Tomas (Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs) as two Miami police detectives working undercover." (Wiki)
Listen to a sample from Jan Hammer's - Miami Vice Theme


1986- The Release of "Is What We Are" - the first 2 Live Crew album.
Richard Cheese- Me So Horny (2 Live Crew Cover)


"In April of 1987, three gentlemen opened what soon became the legendary Hot Wheels Skating Center in south west Miami. This facility introduced fog to the incredible array of lighting and total entertainment DJ's with live concerts by top artist." (skatingcenters.com)

... I know most of you got in to freestyle at this place....

"Freestyle is also sometimes referred to (sometimes pejoratively) as "rollerskating music" due to its prevalence in roller rinks. In Miami (where Freestyle is largely prevalent), Freestyle is sometimes called Hot Wheels music after the Hot Wheels roller rink in Miami that was popular for playing Freestyle (the rink is now called Super Wheels)." (answers.com)
Download Expose - Point of no Return
Listen to Shannon - Let the Music Play



Check in later for more fun and Random Miami Stuff.