Uncle Charlies

First to clear up some confusion. The address above is the old downtown UC's. But it moved to 3673 Bird Rd where most of us remember it being. Just east of Douglas, north side of Bird Road, across from Goodyear. On a busy night we had to park as far as Metrorail. The building was torn down and now there's a VW dealership there.

Wow, this was home. Once did 14 days in a row there. Thursdays were free drinks for members. Members all carried our green cards with our names embossed. Sergio at the door would always check them. "You know me but Sergio doesn't. That's why I carry this..."

We had a really tight group there that did things like trips to Key West, Naples and Orlando and the Sunday volleyball at Brian's house. Christmas and other parties at Michael's house And john, if you're John S, we spent many a night talking at the front door. But UCs was OUR club, our place to spend time with our friends. Laughs, fun, drama, and sometimes new guys to distract us. So many classic characters.

So many acts performed there. Two Tons of Fun (before they became the Weather Girls). Lime. Michael St. Laurent, so many others I'm forgetting right now. Most performers did a couple straight clubs, then hit UC's last where they really had fun with the crowd. The DJs at UCs were great. The dance floor was up a couple steps, so you had to sort of commit to dance, not just hang out on the sides. But they knew how to play the right song at the right time to flood the floor.

Competition was always tight between UCs and Cheers. Each had their strong night of the week. Bob S. owner of UC also owned Fusion, the club to go to after UCs some nights. Old run down building downtown, but more great music. Sure, there was Copa and Backstreet in Ft. Lauderdale on the weekends, but UCs was home. You didn't have to call friends to see if they were going to UCs.... at least some of them would be there. You could count on it, on them.

This article explains how it all ended. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1992-01-22/news/pull-the-plug-bolt-the-door-and-kiss-your-club-goodbye/

I hope a lot of us reconnect on here. I know there are a lot out there. A lot have passed. But if you called Uncle Charlies 'home', speak up.

Oh, man Carlos Las Lechuzas takes me back too. Little Jorge I think we may have uh, daced together (LOL) and John I think I recall you! Those were some amazing simple times. The Hayloft and then UC in downtown. I just went to Miami and MAN, has it changed.

I miss this club more than you can imagine. I came out at UC's and after a few years, worked as security for 3 years. The staff was a great family to work with and the members were the best. I was actually proud of the other gay men and women I met over the years and made the best friends of my life there. I was 19 and part of a huge group of guys that met thereand played volleyball every Sunday.Happy hour on Friday, Thursday "Member's night" and Sunday "Tea dance" were awesome. Nothing like it exists now.

Wow. Uncle Charlies. Yeah. Had the best time. Probably played Backgammon with Mercedes too. I used to love the happy hours, the flirting the dancing. Oh, how I miss what Miami was. Mario Sosa-Mario Soca. Joe. Piloto. Mi Coz. Fernando.

My first time was in 1976, it was a great place to go, then after I met my partner we started going together, now
we have been together for almost 33 years. We met at a lesbian bar in Miami
Beach it as called Las Lechusas behind
Miami City Ballet, that was in 1978.

In 1989-1991, Charlies was "our" bar. Me and my friends were only 19 but Charlies had these membership cards and we managed to get our own. We lived in Kendall/Cutler Ridge and this was pretty close. Many, many, many crazy wild nights in Charlies. Strong drinks, hot latin men and good music made for some really fun times. We still bring it up when we talk old times or get together. Oh yeah, I got in my one and only bar fight in Charlies and i remember the big blond mgr, I think his name was Tim bought me a drink and calmed me down and threw the other guy out cause he knew what was the deal. Of course he did, it was his bar! LOL OH yeah, and one more funny thing, when you went out to your car you would have to duck bottles being thrown at you from passing cars from time to time. Good times, good times!! LOL

I came out here I was 15 and always got in to the club IT WAS AWSOME! Best friday happy hours

I spent every Monday night at Uncle Charlies as it was 2-4-1 drinks. Long Island Ice teas were always on the menu as were a few rounds of backgammon between discoing down. I remember I had my purse stolen by a girl and she called me wanting to get to know me better. :-)

I also sprained my ankle after one too many Iced Teas, was coming off the dancefloor heading to the little alcove, saw my very tall friend Robert heading and and literally rant to meet him. I was so buzzed I danced for another three hours before I realized I had sprained it - memories - luckily we have our memories!