Make a wish! Miami’s wildest nightclub, E11EVEN, is turning 11 this week. Once a tattered warehouse on the corner of Northeast 11th Street, the downtown mecca has drawn international fame and A-list celebrity fans for its unique “ultraclub,” a magic potion brewed with the spectacle of theater, the scandal of cabaret, and the glamorous debauchery of Vegas—with an over-the-top attitude that can only be Miami.
Ahead of their birthday bacchanal, we spoke with the founders of E11EVEN and teams behind the scenes for the craziest, jaw-dropping moments of the last 11 years. Take a trip down memory lane, and join the celebrations from January 30th to February 2nd for performances by Lunay, Marshmello, and more surprise acts to be announced.
Playboi Carti finds himself in a cage
“Hands down, the biggest moment for me was when Playboi Carti performed in July 2023,” says Carolina Joaquinez, Show Producer for Theatrics and Costuming. “A massive cage was built on stage, which we managed to set up in a matter of minutes. He started his performance inside of the cage, but the whole atmosphere shifted when Playboi Carti went on top of the cage…The crowd went absolutely wild.”
A shoe-less Kanye West shows up to the party
“During Art Basel 2023, the night Lil Wayne was performing, perhaps one of the strangest moments [at E11EVEN] was when Kanye West arrived unannounced, wearing socks but no shoes,” says Daniel Solomon, the club’s Operating Partner.
“With a white scarf around his face, he tried to walk into the club through the exit, but the security guard didn’t recognize him and told Kanye he couldn’t enter that way. Finally, someone recognized him, welcomed him, and escorted him in.”
Nicky Jam introduces an unexpected surprise guest
“I’ll always remember when Nicky Jam performed for the Billboard Latin Music Awards after-party in April 2017,” recalls Dennis DeGori, Co-Founder and Concept Creator of E11EVEN. “Out of nowhere, in the middle of Nicky Jam’s performance, Vin Diesel jumped on center stage. The crowd went crazy.”
Post Malone blows $50,000—twice
“Post Malone was hands down my favorite performance,” says Zach Bouch, Director of Guest Development at E11EVEN. “Post’s stage presence is something I’ll remember forever because the crowd was in awe, and so focused on him. Barely any phones were recording. Our venue has such an intimate feel when the crowd is locked in that you lose the sense of time, and really feel the power of a good performer. He nailed his performance that night.”
Later that night, the Grammy-nominated artist purchased $50,000 in singles to make it rain on center stage, and did it again in 2020 at the club’s Super Bowl LIV after-party.
Drake takes center stage and sets a new precedent
On December 31, 2015, operating partner Gino LoPinto was gearing up for a midday sound check with Drake ahead of his New Year’s Eve performance that night. “Drake and I started taking [Don Julio] 1942 shots when he asked me, ‘Where do artists usually perform?’ I pointed up at the go-go dancers' box and the DJ booth. Drake pointed at center stage and said, ‘That’s where I’m going to perform.’”
And so he did, forever changing the course of live music at E11EVEN.
“Drake set the standard for all future shows,” says Rob Crosoli, Director of VIP Services. “[He] was our very first center stage performance…and what made it even more special was that it’s the only show I can recall where the entire E11EVEN team stood together stateside to take in the performance.”
Doja Cat falls on stage—really
“Doja Cat was starting to take off, and she performed for almost an hour straight at E11EVEN,” recalls Eddie Franco, the brand’s Director of Marketing. “Suddenly, she slipped on stage, and the way she kind of just gracefully fell, she didn’t miss a beat. She hopped right back up and kept singing. The next day, she posted on her social media asking people for videos of her falling because she has this hilarious, down-to-earth personality.” (Psst…here’s that video.)
The wedding dress moment
If you’ve ever been to E11EVEN, chances are you’ve witnessed the awesome athleticism of Milena Straczynski, the club’s resident aerialist. And if you’re lucky, you’ve been there for the wedding dress.
“We’ve only done it a handful of times, which makes it even more special,” explains Franco. “Basically, Milena is slowly hoisted up above the center stage while wearing a white dress. As she’s lifted higher, the dress fans out and envelops the entire room. While that’s happening, her ‘bridesmaids’ are on the stage below doing a synchronized dance, and everyone in the club participates by helping to fan out the wedding dress train. It’s really a spectacular and unique show.”
For Milena, the show on November 11, 2024, was extra spectacular. “That was the date that E11EVEN announced the club’s upcoming 11th-anniversary celebration, and it was my wedding anniversary with my aerialist partner, Hampus Jansson. That night we performed our aerial duo straps to the track 'Where You Are' by John Summit and Hayla…We did a special wedding version of the act, which made the entire night feel like a fairytale.”
The time an actual boxing match occurred
A boxing ring in the middle of the club? Only at E11EVEN, says co-founder Marc Roberts.
“In November 2024, we hosted the first-ever sanctioned World Boxing Council fight inside of a nightclub. We turned the center of the club into a boxing ring. Then-Mayor Suarez presented the belt to the winner.”
The world's best DJs manning a single booth
Millennials lost their minds in May 2022 when five superstar DJs joined forces at E11EVEN.
“During Miami’s inaugural F1 Grand Prix, we witnessed an incredible moment as Kygo, Tiesto, David Guetta, and Alesso joined Martin Garrix behind the DJ booth during his set,” says Daniel Solomon, Operating Partner at E11EVEN.
Passing around the Stanley Cup filled with vodka
Ever seen a panther out in the wild? How about an entire pride? On June 26, 2024, the Florida Panthers celebrated their first-ever Stanley Cup victory at E11EVEN with champagne sprays and lots of trophy kisses.
Gino LoPinto was there for the party. “When the club played 'We Are The Champions,' the entire team gathered on center stage to sing along while passing around the Stanley Cup and drinking E11EVEN Vodka out of it.”
Athletes going balls to the wall
Many champion athletes have partied at E11EVEN, including local MVPs.
“In February 2020, we hosted the after-party for Dwayne Wayne’s Miami Heat jersey retirement. We even recreated the hoisting of his jersey on center stage. It was a big moment for everyone,” says co-founder Michael Simkins. “We also hosted Shaq’s official Miami Heat retirement after-party in December 2016. Since then, he has DJed multiple times at E11EVEN under his alias, DJ Diesel. We love our Miami Heat!”
