Miami Beach's reality TV-themed promo forewarns spring breakers as curfews, rules return
Miami Beach may not be a desired destination next month as city officials shared a reality TV-themed promo on Tuesday aimed at steering away spring breakers.
The minute and 30-second promo is part of the city's "Spring Break Reality Check" campaign, according to a memo written by Miami Beach City Manager Eric Carpenter.
"The Office of Marketing & Communications, in close collaboration with the (Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau) and their agency of record VML, will launch a marketing campaign aimed at notifying potential spring breakers that Miami Beach is not interested in being a party destination and will not tolerate disorderly behavior," the memo reads.
The memo outlines several precautions and safety measures that will be put in place ahead of March 13-16 and March 20-23, which are periods the city believes will generate the largest spring break crowds this year based on college schedules.
The city created and pushed a 'breakup' campaign last year, which Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones credited for limiting crowd sizes and creating a safer environment. Jones added that arrests citywide went down 8% by March 17, 2024, compared to that time in 2023.
While the city saw last year's campaign as a success, some businesses said the measures went too far when the midnight curfew was issued. M2, a nightclub in Miami Beach, reported half a million dollars in revenue loss during this period, according to WSVN.
'Spring Break and Miami Beach don't mix'
The city of Miami Beach shared the video in an X post on Tuesday with the caption, "Consider this your reality check. Spring Break and Miami Beach don't mix."
The video begins with a group of college-aged people driving to Miami Beach for what one girl says will be "the best spring break ever." About 15 seconds into the promo, another girl says, "Once we got to Miami Beach, things went downhill fast."
The video continues with Miami Beach police officers telling the group that they cannot drink in public or play loud music.
"Apparently the only thing that wasn't contraband was the grapes and the cheese," a girl says in the video.
The group then begins to argue about Miami Beach's curfew in the promo, which in 2024 was at midnight, former Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak told ABC News. It is unclear what the curfew will be this year.
The video ends with one of the girls listing some of the safety measures put in place by the city, including DUI sobriety checkpoints, increased police presence and $100 paid parking.
What other measures is Miami Beach implementing?
In addition to the DUI sobriety checkpoints, increased police and a $100 flat fee parking rate, according to the memo, Miami Beach officials plan to:
Close all parking garages and surface lots south of 23rd Street. The $100 flat rate will be imposed at garages in Sunset Harbour and on 42nd Street. The closures and rates won't apply to city residents and employees.
Close sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive.
Implement license plate readers on the Julia Tuttle and MacArthur causeways heading to Miami Beach, as well as a DUI checkpoint along Fifth Street.
Suspend rentals of motorized vehicles, such as 'Slingshots," golf carts, scooters and mopeds.
Allow vehicles only to enter Ocean Drive from the northern end of the street, and make them exit at Fifth Street. Barricades will line the west side of the strip.
Enforce a nonresident towing rate of $516, which is double the regular rate for vehicles towed in South Beach.
Make packaged liquor stores in the Entertainment District adhere to an 8 p.m. regular closing time.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
From festivals to weddings: Why drone shows are booming
The wedding ceremony was almost over when newlywed Bobby Underwood stepped on a napkin-covered glass to break it, as is Jewish tradition, and everyone shouted "Mazel Tov!". But as he and his new wife Siobhan turned to walk back down the aisle, their wedding officiants said, "Wait." There was a surprise. "All of these drones started rising up," recalls Mrs Underwood. "It was honestly remarkable, very overwhelming – and incredibly emotional for us." She estimates that between 100 and 150 drones appeared in the night sky, displaying lights of various colours, and forming images chosen to represent the bridge and groom. These included a baseball player hitting a ball – as Mr Underwood is a big baseball fan – and a diamond ring being placed on a finger. The couple were married on New Year's Eve 2024, in New York State. Mrs Underwood's mother had arranged the surprise drone show with help from the couple's wedding planner – who had suggested it as a "wow factor" component of the day. It seemed to have the desired effect. "It was kind of just shock – 'Is this really happening right now?'," says Mrs Underwood. "I can't believe my mom did this for us." Drone shows are becoming ever more popular. Once rarities, they are now appearing at occasions ranging from birthday parties and weddings, to major sporting events. Some theme parks even have resident drone shows that take place multiple nights in a row. Glastonbury music festival had its first drone show in 2024. And record-breaking displays are pushing the technology to its limits – the biggest drone show in history took place in China last October. It featured a total of 10,200 drones and broke a record set only the previous month. So, does all this spell the end for fireworks? "They are really beautiful – they are art," says Sally French, a US-based drone industry commentator known as The Drone Girl. She says that drone shows have appeared at baseball games, corporate conferences, and even at ports, to celebrate the launch of cruises. Drone displays are becoming highly sophisticated, she explains, with some drone shows featuring thousands of flying devices, allowing them to animate figures or patterns in incredible detail. "I saw a Star Wars-themed drone show where there was a full-on lightsabre battle," adds Ms French. One barrier might be the price tag, however, with the cost per drone at around $300 (£220) in the UK, says Ms French, citing industry data from market research firm SPH Engineering: "A 500 drone show would be over $150,000." Mrs Underwood does not have an exact figure, but estimates that her wedding drone show cost tens of thousands of dollars. The sky's the limit, actually. Skymagic, one of the world's largest drone show companies, has put on major displays that cost north of $1m says Patrick O'Mahony, co-founder and creative director. Skymagic's shows have taken place in various countries – including the 2023 Coachella music festival in California. The company has also performed drone shows in the UK, including as part of the King's Coronation concert, which was broadcast by the BBC. Mr O'Mahony has experience in designing fireworks displays and other, similar events. But drones have revolutionised outdoor public displays, he says. His company has a fleet of 6,000 custom-designed drones. Each one can reach speeds of up to 10 meters per second. The drones sport LED lights and have batteries that allow for 25 minutes of flight time. To make them easier to transport, the drones are stored in flight cases and unpacked at venues in a giant marquee before they are laid out in the take-off area, half a metre apart, in a grid pattern. "Once the drones have received their 'go' command [they] fly the entire show," adds Mr O'Mahony, explaining that a single human pilot on the ground controls thousands of the devices at once. The drones are geo-fenced, based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data, which prevents them from straying beyond the allotted flight area. In windy conditions, though, they can get blown off course. In such cases, they automatically return to a landing spot on the ground, says Mr O'Mahony. Fireworks have a "boom" factor that drones generally don't, notes Ms French. However, Bill Ray, an analyst at market research firm Gartner, says that some drones can now launch pyrotechnics, for a firework-like effect. For instance, a stream of sparks raining down from the lower portion of an image created by a group of drones. Plus, Mr Ray says it is much easier to accurately synchronise drone movements with music during a show, which could be another reason behind their appeal. But the cost of shows remains prohibitive to some, and in part comes down to the fact that laying out the devices and gathering them all up again after the performance is still a relatively slow, manual process, adds Mr Ray. Pedro Rosário is chief executive of Drone Show Animations, a company that designs drone show performances for other companies that supply the drones themselves. Mr Rosário says that one challenging aspect of his work is in coming up with displays that adhere to various regulations applying to drone flights, since these rules differ from country to country. England has stricter regulations than countries in the Middle East, for example, he says. Mr Rosário adds that drone shows, which might be paired with pyrotechnics, traditional fireworks or even lasers, allow for a huge degree of creative freedom: "You can really build something that has emotional value, it can tell a story." In Mrs Underwood's case, that seems to have worked. Her guests enjoyed the spectacle too, she adds: "We've heard compliments about our wedding in general – but, consistently, the drone show is something people bring up as something they never expected to see." The people refusing to use AI Who will win the race to develop a humanoid robot? Do we need cocoa-free chocolate and is it nice?


Digital Trends
14 hours ago
- Digital Trends
Save $200 on Amazon's 'best yet' Fire TV and matching soundbar
Getting a TV can actually be a stressor if you're not the type that likes to tinker with things. Since the vast majority of TVs today don't produce great sound, you'll have to go through the hassle of choosing a soundbar. But that's not all! You also have to connect your soundbar to your TV, which isn't always trivial. That's why we like this deal that saves you $200 on a QLED TV and gives you a matching soundbar that you know will work with it and be easy to assemble. Normally the 50-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni and Fire TV Soundbar bundle would cost $600, but right now you can get it for an impressively affordable $400. Tap the button below to see the deal. Then, keep reading below to get our take on this bundle's components. Why you should buy the 50-inch Amazon Fire TV and soundbar bundle The primary ingredient of the bundle is naturally the TV, and it's a pretty great place to start, considering we named it one of the best Amazon Fire TV devices in its own right. When we did our Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review, we said that it was the 'best Fire TV experience yet.' One reason for this was its hyper-convenient voice assistant feature, while another was its ability to be a smart home hub, quickly connecting to Ring devices and other Amazon-affiliated smart home wares. It has a fantastic screen too, with a solid 4K resolution and HDR 10. This is an approachable TV that anybody can love. And then there's the soundbar. Our Amazon Fire TV Soundbar review said two things about it that anybody interested in this bundle need to consider. Firstly, 'It doesn't get much simpler than the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar.' If you're intimidated or just can't be bothered to get into the weeds of proper wiring, sound balancing, and the other trappings of advanced home theater creations, this should be music to your ears. This is plug-and-play, that's it. Secondly, our reviewer said that the bar is 'surprisingly immersive' due to its deeper-than-expected bass and emphasis on frequencies with the human voice spectrum, making dialogue sound great. When combined together, this makes a killer kit at $600. This deal nets you $200 off, making the bundle just $400. It's a steal for anyone wanting a great experience with almost no hassle.


USA Today
15 hours ago
- USA Today
What do you get with a Hulu + Live TV subscribtion? Here's what you need to know
What do you get with a Hulu + Live TV subscribtion? Here's what you need to know As more households cut the cord on traditional cable, the number of streaming services available continues to grow—along with the monthly costs. If you're juggling multiple subscriptions, you might find yourself paying just as much (or more) than you did for cable. That's where Hulu + Live TV comes in as an alternative to cable and a great way to cut down on costs for your favorite entertainment. Hulu is an on-demand streaming platform, with an impressive library of hit television shows and blockbuster movies. The biggest difference between Hulu and other streaming apps is that it airs the newest episodes of TV shows that are currently airing without the need for a DVR. Most new episodes will be available to stream on the Hulu app the day after they air on traditional cable networks. Hulu also has an expansive library of original content and offers Live TV in select packages. Here's a breakdown of the Hulu + Live TV packages: Hulu + Live TV cost, channels and packages What is Hulu + Live TV? Hulu + Live TV is a streaming and live television combo that rivals cable packages. However, there are no hidden charges like typical cable box fees, satellite costs or anything else. There is no installation and all you need is an internet connection and a TV with access to an app store either through an extension or a smart TV. Hulu + Live TV allows you to surf over 100 channels of TV, news, live sports and entertainment. Plus, you have access to the entire streaming library, including original content, available with a Hulu streaming subscription. Hulu + Live TV : This is the basic package, with no bundle. It starts at $81.99 per month. : This is the basic package, with no bundle. It starts at $81.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV with ESPN+ and Disney+ (with ads) : This package is $82.99 per month, but you can test it out with a 3-day free trial before your subscription starts. : This package is $82.99 per month, but you can test it out with a 3-day free trial before your subscription starts. Hulu + Live TV with ESPN+ and Disney+ (without ads): This package is $95.99 per month. There is no free trial associated with this subscription. STREAMING GUIDE: Deals, bundles and free trials on Disney+, Peacock, Sling TV Hulu + Live TV packages offer over 100 channels of live TV, news, sports, entertainment and more. Some channels will depend on your local market. Here's a look at some of the top channels Hulu + Live TV offers: Local networks : ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC : ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC News stations: ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC Sports channels: ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, SEC Network, BTN and ACCN ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, SEC Network, BTN and ACCN Popular entertainment channels: Comedy Central, FX, Food Network, Discovery Channel, HGTV, The History Channel, Lifetime, MTV and Nickelodeon Comedy Central, FX, Food Network, Discovery Channel, HGTV, The History Channel, Lifetime, MTV and Nickelodeon Other channels: A&E, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CNBC, CNN International, Fox Business, Freeform, FYI, Gameshow Network, Hallmark, National Geographic, NBC News Now, NewsNation, OWN, Oxygen, PBS, Syfy, TBS, TNT and TruTV. This package includes access to Disney+ and ESPN+. Disney+ is typically $9.99 per month with ads and ESPN+ is typically $11.99/month. Plus, you get over 100 of the top national and local channels with your favorite live sports, news and events, not to mention the entire Hulu library (which is typically $9.99 per month). The Hulu + Live TV with ads package includes unlimited DVR to store live TV recordings for up to nine months and fast-forward through your favorite TV content. It also includes a live TV guide to navigate channels. Get Hulu + Live TV (with ads) Hulu + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+ (without ads) This package gives you all the benefits of Hulu + Live TV without ads for streaming content. You still get over 100 of the top national and local channels with your favorite live sports, news and events, which may have ads, but you can stream all of favorite movies and TV shows in the Hulu library without ads. Hulu typically airs new episodes for streaming the day after they air on live TV. Plus, you get access to Disney+ and ESPN+. Disney+ is typically $9.99 per month with ads and ESPN+ is typically $11.99 per month. ESPN+ content will appear directly in the Hulu app. However, ads will still be served in select live and linear content on Disney+. Get Hulu + Live TV (without ads) Can I customize my Hulu + Live TV packages? Yes! There are several add-ons that you can choose for your Hulu + Live TV package. They are available at an additional cost after you sign up for the service. Here's a look at Hulu's add-on options: Max Cinemax Paramount+ with Showtime Unlimited screens Entertainment add-on Español add-on Sports add-on Is an Amazon Prime membership worth it? Here's what you need to know