Sip, Dip, Drop your Hip

There’s a trick to surviving Winter Music Conference -- a little thing we like to call Home Base. To be a godsend, Home Base has to have the right mix of lounging areas, fabulous friends that you haven’t yet met, cocktails, and, of course, great music. You have to be able to come and go freely, and know that it’s there for you when you can’t stand the club chaos for even another moment. On Sunday that magical local is the Old School Pool Party at the Shelborne Miami Beach Hotel and Resort (1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach). Kicking off at noon and powering on until 10:30 p.m., this luxurious poolside setting is where you’ll rub wings with Biz Markie, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Irie, King Britt, and the night’s emcee, Common -- all while baking out your Saturday night’s hangover with trusty Vitamin Sunshine.

Tickets are a steal at $50, and some proceeds kick back to Keep a Child Alive, a charity that supplies lifesaving AIDS pharmaceuticals for children in Africa. Make sure that you reconvene poolside by early evening -- you don’t want to miss a live performance by Common. Buy tickets in advance at www.wantickets.com/shelborne.
Sun., March 30, 2008