MMemorial Day weekend (or MDW as people seem to call it these days) marks the start of summer.  Like any three-day weekend, or maybe more so because of the warm weather appeal, it has become a great excuse to party.  Each of the major party hubs of the U.S. has a different approach to MDW festivities.

New York has never been a city that feels the need to do anything special to remind people that it is the nightlife capital of the world.  MDW is when the Hamptons season officially kicks off, so many of the nightlife set head to the beach to get things rolling out on Long Island for the summer.   Revel in Atlantic City is trying to get in on the tri-state area madness with a Las Vegas-style pool party.  Las Vegas is doing what it always does – taking partying to a new level with 24 hours of parties helmed by a dizzying array of performers.  Miami gets ratchet on MDW with its annual hip-hop weekend.  For those still sorting out the weekend’s activities, here are each city’s Memorial Day weekend party plans.  Who do you think has mastered the right formula?

New York
Nothing all that special actually happens in NYC during MDW.  If the weather is good, people flock to rooftop bars to drink rosé and hash out summer escapades.  There are a lot of tourists in town so the nightlife scene is underwhelming.  Many of the people that make NYC nightlife tick bolt.  The Hamptons season kicks off on MDW, so many head out that way.  BBQs, late nights at SL East, al fresco drinks at Surf Lodge and Sunday nights at Sunset Beach are all high on people’s itineraries.  There is also the annual ritual of checking out share housemates and determining suitable hook-up targets.

MDW in the Hamptons can feel a bit amateurish.  Most years, it is too cold for the beach and everyone is trying to justify the absurd amount they spent on their share by pushing themselves too hard to have fun.  Purchasing an outdoor table at SL East for $2,000 when it’s 45 degrees at night is not ballin’.  If that doesn’t sound fun, maybe you can check out this guy’s party.  Some savvy New Yorkers do the staycation thing and use the opportunity to check out the new hot restaurant with a normally impossible reservation policy and enjoy a less hectic weekend in the city.

Enter another tri-state area Memorial Day Weekend party scene contender – Revel Resort in Atlantic City.  As discussed here, Revel is trying to succeed by attracting New Yorkers for a weekend of partying.  On MDW, they are launching HQ Beach Club – an extension of their HQ nightclub.  Angel Management Group (operators of Las Vegas nightclubs Hakkasan, Pure and Chateau to name a few) and EMM group (a dominant NYC hospitality management company that brought the world Tenjune, SL, Catch and Finale) are leading the HQ Beach Club charge.

The jury is still out on whether the beach club extension will work but kudos to Angel and EMM for trying to bring the Las Vegas pool party back east.  In typical Las Vegas style, they are going big on MDW with the world’s #1 DJ Armin van Buuren, EC Twins and Manufactured Superstars.  Safe to say the folks at Revel are praying for some good weather.

Miami
Urban Dictionary defines the term “ratchet” as: “a person (or activity) that is in general, over the top, out of control hood/ghetto, gritty, and unapologetically so.”

Miami’s Urban Beach Week has been going strong since 2001 and is a difficult to describe spectacle, but “ratchet” comes pretty close to doing the trick.  The hip-hop world (last year, about 300,000 people) descends on South Beach for a weekend of Twerking, poppin’ bottles, Twerking, hoopties and Twerking.  2013’s parties will be hosted by the likes of Lil Wayne, Birdman, DJ Khaled and Trinidad James.  EDM meccas LIV and Mansion pretty much shut down; MDW is hip-hop club Cameo’s time to shine.  Here is a little taste of Urban Beach Week from 2012.

If that isn’t enough to give you a feel for the weekend, ADANAI has obtained letters from The Setai and The Portofino – two of the most exclusive condominiums in South Beach – warning their residents of the craziness to come.  Want to see how to say,  “Watch for the urban nuttiness to come” in a politically correct manner?  Here is a quote from the Portofino letter: “The City of Miami Beach has been planning diligently to implement a comprehensive and coordinated Major Events Plan (MEP) and will be enhancing staffing from Thursday, May 23 through Tuesday, May 28 to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the city and to see cooperation with respect to the City’s quality of life issues.”  The Setai warning is pretty much the same although they do make mention of the historical uptick in crime rate during Urban Beach Week.

Is your inner ratchet calling?  Looking to show off your Twerking skills? Everyone is doing it – check out the Twerking skills of Miley Cyrus. Well, Miami on MDW is the place for you.  That being said, for hip-hop fans, nothing else compares.

Las Vegas
Saving the best for last, Las Vegas only knows one speed – fast.  MDW is the official kick-off of pool party season in Las Vegas and the number of amazing events is unprecedented.  Maybe the best way to demonstrate the magnitude is to list all of the DJs/performers who are playing in Sin City over MDW.

In alphabetical order: 

Above and Beyond
Afrojack
Armin van Buuren
ATB
Avicii
Axwell
Baauer
Benny Benassi
Big Sean
Busta Rhymes
Calvin Harris
Cedric Gervais
Chris Brown
Chuckie
Cosmic Gate
Dash Berlin
David Guetta
De La Soul
Deadmau5
Diddy
Dirty South
DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Pauly D
DJ Whoo Kid
Eric Prydz
Flo Rida
Future
Gareth Emery
Hardwell
Ice Cube
J. Cole
Kaskade
Laidback Luke
Lil Jon
LL Cool J
Lloyd Banks
Nas
Nicky Romero
Porter Robinson
Public Enemy
Pusha T
R3Hab
Sander van Doorn
Sebastian Ingrosso
Snoop Dogg
Skrillex
Steve Angello
Steve Aoki
Tiesto
Tommy Trash
Vice
Warren G
Wiz Khalifa
Zedd

Seriously? Share the wealth Vegas! Leave some talent for the rest of the country.

How would one even begin to pick and choose from that lengthy list?  While there are hundreds of permutations, ADANAI offers this pretty sick itinerary:

Thursday night – ATB at Tao
Friday pool – Wiz Khalifa at The Palms
Friday early evening – LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Public Enemy and De La Soul in concert at the Hard Rock
Friday night – Armin van Buuren at Marquee (although after that hip-hop concert it would be hard to skip Nas at Tao)
Saturday pool – Tiesto at Wet Republic
Saturday night – Calvin Harris at Hakkasan (Lil Jon at Tryst is a sleeper – for those that know)
Sunday pool – Avicii at Encore Beach Club
Sunday night – David Guetta at XS
Monday pool – Deadmau5 at Wet Republic
Monday night – Steve Angello and Afrojack at XS

Money, a liver, a voice and the ability to hear would all be things sacrificed during this weekend of craziness, but wouldn’t it be worth it?  Someone should approach 5-hour Energy and get them to sponsor one person’s attempt to make it through this itinerary.  The over/under on the number of 5-hour Energies consumed during this party marathon? Easily 6.5.

So where to for Memorial Day weekend? Clearly it depends on individual preference, but suffice it to say, there is no shortage of Memorial Day weekend party options for those inclined to get after it.

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