On any given Friday night, a handful of men in suits quietly stand near the front entrance of one of Miami's oldest and most esteemed establishments — the Forge.
For more than 40 years, the Mid-Beach eatery has lured glitz and glamour into its opulent, over-the-top dining room and bar space. Actor Richard Burton, President Richard Nixon, and director Brian De Palma were just some of the faces typically seen on an evening out.
In the '90s, the Forge's Fellini-esque Wednesday-night dinner disco was the spot where the most fashionable locals and out-of-towners would converge for an eventide of steak, bubbly, and tunes. More than 20 years later, the weekday soiree has transitioned to Fridays in the form of a lavish happy hour. Think $50 bottles of Veuve Clicqout, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, dim lights, and sultry beats.
Lancaster DJs their Friday-night happy hour once or twice a month. A longtime lover of the Forge, she says it's the place to be.
"It's an eclectic group," she says. "There's all ages and demographics who come. The girls dress up, and the guys look handsome. It's an experience."
Happy hour begins at 6 p.m., but as the evening progresses, the vibe slowly transforms into a swank, laid-back, and club-like atmosphere.
"The music is fun," she says. "It's not too hard-core. What's really nice is people stick around for the entire evening. They have appetizers that are put out on the bar. It's just overall a really fun place.
