Ten Memorial Day Parties to Kick Off Summer in Broward and Palm Beach

Many spend the days leading into Memorial Day weekend securing sunscreen with just the right amount of SPF, nailing down out-of-town hotel reservations, or procuring enough Bubba Burgers to keep the guests at our megagrillout at bay.

But for others, the prospect of having an extra day off doesn't consist entirely of beaches, babes, and hot dogs. Some of us want to rock out, cut the rug, and dig on some cool vibes late into the night. We're psyched about that extra little time to cure our ugly holiday hangovers but know we need to weigh our entertainment options wisely. Opportunities like this come around only a few times a year, after all.

The melee of South Beach seems a bit daunting, so we've done the research on the best things to do this weekend to kick off summer the right way in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

10. The 8th Ever '80s Prom

9 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at Respectable Street, 518 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. No cover. Call 561-832-9999, or visit respectablestreet.com.

Grab the Aqua Net and adjust your cummerbunds. The venerable West Palm Beach punk-rock institution Respectable Street invites you to revisit the '80s in what's now become a time-honored tradition on Clematis Street. Spiked punch will flow during the eighth-annual prom, and prizes for the best prom king and queen will be provided. It's like high school only with a much better crowd, a cooler venue, and a John Hughes theme. Don't miss the "cheesy" prom pics taken under the ballroom's covered archway.

9. Mr. Beefcake South Florida Competition

9 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Bill's Filling Station, 2209 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. Call 954-567-5978, or visit billsfillingstation.com.

You don't have to drive all the way to North Carolina to check out some bears this long weekend. Why not spend the night at Bill's Filling Station, where hairy, heavyset gentlemen abound. Expect an abundance of cuddly, hirsute men dancing to the sounds of DJ Kurt Jo. And for the crowned king of beefcakes, there's a $100 prize. Growl!

8. The Digitour: O2L

7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Revolution Live, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $23 in advance plus fees, $25 the day of the show. Call 954-449-1025, or visit jointherevolution.net.

Haven't heard about Our2ndLife? You must be living under an old-man rock. Rest assured, your little sister knows all about this six-boy troupe of YouTube vlogging pranksters. They are the biggest thing to hit social media since cute cats. Join them this one night only as they partake in their usual shenanigans with comedy sketches and audience participation.

7. Great American Beach Party

10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Fort Lauderdale Beach, A1A and Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. No cover. Call 954-828-7275, or visit fortlauderdale.gov/GABP.

The fifth-annual Great American Beach Party comes with everything summer you could dream up: There's surf, sand, booze, bands, and sand castles. You can't forget about the sand castles, right? There will certainly be plenty of those awe-inspiring structures at the best sand castle contest, along with six live acts on two stages, a classic-car show, face-painting for the kids, and a military parachute jump in tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces. What could be more American than that?

6. Tattoo Mania West Palm Beach 2014

5 p.m to midnight, Friday, May 23; noon to midnight, Saturday, May 24; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets cost $20 for a one-day pass or $40 for all three days. Call 561-444-8218, or visit tattoomaniawpb.com.

Ink lovers, spend your holiday reveling in the beauty of body art at Tattoo Mania in West Palm Beach. With an expected 20,000 attendees, you will not be alone in your love of tats. Expect more than 500 industry-renowned tattoo artists, with our top-tier local shops represented and nationally respected parlors in attendance as well. There will be live music, a fashion show, and Ms. Tattoo Mania pageant with a $250 cash prize. Friday night, things kick off with the unveiling of artist-created autism canvas puzzle pieces that will be auctioned off Sunday. One hundred percent of those proceeds benefits the autism community.

5. Boris, with Lost Pieces

11 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Gryphon Nightclub, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood. General admission is $20. Call 954-581-5454, or visit gryphon-club.com.

If you are more a bottle-service, slick-DJ-behind-the-one-and-twos-type person, then Gryphon is your best bet this Saturday night. Boris will represent. You may have caught him before at Miami's Club Space or top international nightlife destinations like Pacha and Crobar. EDM fans know they are in good hands with this guy. He's set to effuse four-on-the-floor magic on Memorial Day with Donnie Lowe, AKA Lost Pieces, by his side presenting smooth dance-floor bangers.

See also: DJ Boris: "There's More DJs Than Doctors, Lawyers, Police, and Firemen Combined"

4. Indie Craft Bazaar: Spring Creative

Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Revolution Live, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Admission of $5 comes with a free gift bag for the first 100 guests. Call 954-785-7475, or visit getupandcraft.com.

A pop-up craft fair that'll tickle every quirky craft-lovers' fancy. The Indie Craft Bazaar is not your grandma's macrame fair. Join more than 65 independent artists, designers, and stylists selling original artwork and handmade items. Also don't miss the $3 mimosas at the stocked cash bar. Gourmet sweets, including vegan and gluten-free options, will be for sale for those in the mood to gorge.

3. Castle, with Orbweaver, Beastplague, Moirae, Kief Demon, and the Melograv Device

6 p.m. Monday, May 26, at the Talent Farm, 20911 Johnson St., Suite 111, Pembroke Pines. Tickets cost $10. All ages. Call 954-438-3488, or visit thetalentfarm.com.

If you'd rather end the long weekend knee-deep in a bevy of punishing riffs, then look no further than this performance by San Francisco doom-rock provocateurs Castle. The duo specializes in melodic, progressive, heavy-hitting numbers dealing with death and the occult. It's about as far removed from a sunny-day layabout as one can get. Also, this is a good opportunity to check out some of our finest local acts like the psychedelic metal outfit Orbweaver and the mind-melting grindcore of Beastplague.

2. Astrea Corporation Vinyl Release Show

5 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Radio-Active Records, 845 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. No cover. Call 954-762-9488, or visit radio-active-records.tumblr.com.

Celebrate the latest release of electronic trip-hoppers Astrea Corporation with free pizza and an in-store performance at Radio-Active Records. The group will perform a set to promote its limited-edition seven-inch. Each single is hand-cut into a piece of plexiglass, hand-numbered, and etched with the band's logo in the center. Only 20 of these rarities will be available for sale that day with another batch for purchase on the group's Bandcamp. This a precursor to the group's June 10 release of its EP on start-up West Palm Beach label Decades Records. Other performances by Iron Ora and Shark Anthony with DJs Sensitive Side and Lumin will enhance the aural experience.

1. Roadkill Ghost Choir

9 p.m. Friday, May 23, at Bamboo Room, 5 S. J St., Lake Worth. Presale tickets cost $15, $20 the day of the show. Call 561-585-2583, or visit bambooroomblues.com.

Described as Tom Petty by way of Radiohead, Deland's Roadkill Ghost Choir may be the best thing to come out of Central Florida since Mickey Mouse and orange juice. The group is fresh off a performance on the Late Show With David Letterman and is set to take the stage at such major music festivals as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. It's a great opportunity to catch this rising indie folk act in the intimate confines of the Bamboo Room.

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