Honey for the Bears

Sounds like a whole lotta blowski...was in my early teens, couldn't get passed the doorman and even if I did, my 20 spot wouldn't have gone too far.
Great disco town indeed.
Happy Holidays!

Mel and bill berg had a brother his name was auctally jim sanders,my dad i remember all even though i was young i have many storys

Bo - At first I thought the last photo - (with the hat) was me, but don't think it is! Did you find any photos of me?

Bill and Mel Berg the owners went on to open Nikkis Cabaret in the Dadeland Towers in the 80's and many of the Honeys crowd went there. Wayne Cochran performed there for a few years and I tended bar with Quazar the bar back from Honeys for two years. I ended up marrying Wayne's daughter one of the back up singers in his band which only lasted a year. She has since passed away with Lou Gehrigs disease a few years back. Wayne has a church in North Miami which has become successful.

Tony P.

Hi Guys,
Its Tony from the Honey for the Bears kitchen. My father Tom Plisko was the GM for a while. What a wild club and I was right out of high school in the heart of it all. Steve Beatie at the front door bashing heads and Joey Lamatta hanging out in the kitchen doing you know what. I remember you Bo who made the club what it was with your great music format. Tom and my mother are both gone now, but the memories I got to spent with him there will live on forever. Thanks for this web page.
Tony

I I KNOW THERE MUST BE A LOT OF SLIDES OF THOSE DAYS AT THE HONEYS BECAUSE I REMEMBER THEY SHOWED THEM EVERY FRIDAY AND THEY WERE ALWAYS TAKING PICS.I HOPE SOMEBODY KEPT THEM I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM.I REMEMBER THE BOUNCER AT THE WIDOW ...I THING HIS NAME WAS CLIFF AND THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE VERY HANSOME DARK HAIR ,CUBAN, I USED TO FLIRT WITH A LOT.ANY ONE REMEMBER THEM?

I REMEMBER WELL I WAS ONE OF THE CUBANITAS THAT WENT THERE ALL THE TIME AND SAT ON THE SOFA UPSTAIRS LOOKIG DOWN ON THE DANCE FLOOR.ONE OF THE MOST UNFORGETABLE MEMORIES I HAVE OF THAT TIME WAS THIS COUPLE DANCING ,THEY WERE INCREDIBLE ,IT SEEMED THEY WERE FLOATING ON THE DANCE FLOOR,AND THE STAMINA ON THOSE TWO ...THEY DID NOT STOP THE ENTIRE NIGHT...HURRAY FOR COKA AND SPEED,WHAT A GREAT ERA THAT WAS ,WE WILL NEVER SEE TIMES LIKE THAT AGAIN WE WERE FEARLESS ,WE LIVED OUR LIVE TO THE FULLEST.THE THREE PIECE SUITS THE GIRLS DRESSES THE MUSIC.....LONG LIVE OUR MEMORIES

Hi Disco Larry,

The song you're referring to is "Moody's Mood for Love" by King Pleasure, a jazz reinterpretation of "I'm In the Mood for Love". Carlos Nodal probably played that at the end of the night.

Nights when I was spinning at Honey's I'd usually end with Johnny Bristol's "Hang on in There Baby" or "To Be With You" by the Joe Cuba Sextet and then segue into the "Original Mickey Mouse Club Theme Song" as the lights came up. And yes, it still seems like yesterday.

Bo Crane

1977 and 1978 were SUPER...my buddy Hugo ( now a prominent MD) and I got a
Membership and we thought we were the kings of Miami...we were 19 and 20 years old. Widow's closed at 1am so everyone headed to honey's after.
I had the time of my life. blew lots of $$$$$ but what the heck, you only live ONCE.
Widow's : At the end of the night the last song played was "I am in the mood for love" There I go, there I go, there I go....
Priceless Times and to think that it seems like yesterday.
DISCO LARRY

Sheesh, I was sure that it was Mel also but too many years have passed and I could no longer be sure. I'm pretty sure it was Mel who had that very cool condo on Snapper Creek. The one with that all white super long nap carpet. What a party place!

You know what Jamie - Bill did have a brother Mel, Jim was the younger brother - they were all in and out! -s

Yeah, my bad it was Jim Burg' I'm not sure where I got Mal from. Thanks for the correction.

Owners were: Bill Berg, Angus Stephens, Jim Berg

Bo, in the bottom pic the girl looking in at the receptionist looks very much like she might be my ex wife Ellie. How strange is that?

OMG - memories - look forward to seeing more photos.

Bo,it has been decades but how very special to see you blogging at this site. Am so looking forward to your pics. I'm glad to see you are still among the living. As I recall we worked the Widow together as well as Honey For The Bears. You left the Widow and I think at one time soon after Tony Cardosa (Who no one has mentioned) spun records there for over a year with record crowds clamoring to get in. We owed it all to you.

Of course I remember you, Stephanie. I'll be digging out some old pictures of Honeys one of these days and I seem to recall that you're in one or two of them. Get ready for culture shock!

Bo - you made it! Do you remember me - Angus' daughter - Stephanie - worked the door - I knew you'd show up! :-)

Hi! This is Bo Crane, DJ at Honey for the Bears. For the record I was the second DJ at Honeys. The first was some young rock guy who was a nephew of one of the owners or investors. His music was terrible and he couldn't mix. I was spinning at both the Mutiny and Widow McCoy at the time and Honeys offered me more money so I took the offer.

After awhile I asked my friend and partner-in-crime, Carlos "no show" Nodal to sub for me on certain days of the week b/c I was running the Florida Record Pool in the daytime and spinning 6 nights a week. We had some great times in those days in the Grove. I plan on posting some pics from Honey for the Bears on this site. Stay tuned.

Where was HFTB located? I left S.Fl. in '85, and never went to any clubs when I would visit It was always family time only as my Gran was in her 80s and in poor health, and I wanted to spend every minute I could with her. Wasn't "Honey" around Coral Way? I'm having a middle-age moment and can't remember s**t - lol.

I do remember Bobby Salter but knew him from even earlier times when I worked for Burton at the Widow. I have to admit I was smitten with a very pretty girl that was a hostess at the Mutiny in those days. Bobby bless his crazy soul managed to scoop her up and take her away from me. He was another very tough guy that I considered a friend of mine and still do despite all these years between us. I am just great! Live over in Fort Myers. Have a lovely five year old grandson. And wake up some mornings incredulous that I'm still alive and can enjoy watching him grow. You're right those were special times. I don't do it much anymore (time has stretched the memory thin) but every once and awhile I think of your dad he was my favorite. I've been writing on and off for years a novel Named "Rabo Encendido" a romance built around those powerful days that changed the social fabric everywhere. If you get the chance friend me on facebook. It is sterling to chat with you!!!

I WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH EMILY AND MONICA, CARLOS NODAL'S X-WIFE AND DAUGHTER. I WAS FRIENDS WITH EMILY BACK IN THE DAY OF WEST NEW YORK / UNION CITY NEW JERSEY. HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HER OVER 25 YEARS....PLEASE ANYONE THAT KNOWS SOMETHING LET ME KNOW.... THANKS !!

Yes - Bo Crane was the first DJ. Remember the Bobby Salter - the head bartender (originally from the Mutiny). It was an amazing club, amazing times - the memories are book worthy.

This is so fun- Hi, I am Stephanie, Angus' daughter. These are amazing memories and the tip of the iceberg. Hi Jamie - How are you? Those were the days!

No, I never dated Raul from Hansel y Raul. Poor guy, was it he or Raul that had the bad luck streak and went to prison ? They made awesome latin salsa music, I know that much for sure.... :)
Marisa, you are referring to Carlito the dj? right? if so, there was someone earlier that wrote that even though Carlito had passed away, she knew how to get in touch her Carlito's daughter. Check out all the people that have left messages here. Sorry I couldn't help you.

Marisa Perez: Would you know anything about Carlos Nodal's daughter Monica.... ?

Mercy La Flaca- did you date or marry Raul from Hansel and Raul... ??

Hey guys, wouldn't it be funny if we all knew each other ??? Since at that time we all had nicknames and now we come to this site and talk about the old clubs and times and oh my heavens.... hehehe

Oh my gosh... those were the best times EVER !!!! me and my 2 friends (Ana and Vivian) used to go bar hopping. Starting at Honey's and ending up at the beach. From Mutiny,Widow McCoy, Top Drawer, Big Daddy,Scaramouche, Limelite, the Forge, Mix 2 where Jorge the owner was shot and killed, The Climax. Oh my gosh what memories. Yes they were, both Carlito and Jimmy were "The Best EVER". Hey, Orlando (Landy) and vyniljunkie true it was the cocaine era but let's not forget the Quaaludes, Tuinals and Black Beauties. Oh!!! Stonewall Yes, also but then that one was a gay disco. They played awesome music though.

the first discotheque in miami was le disc 1971 in north bay village (the seafood rest next to channel 7 ) and climax in nw 27 ave 119 st then came stonewall in miami beach and picadillys in 20 st miami beach thats was carlos nodal first dj job in florida 1972.

This place was the best.... I think in today's music phase a revived lub as this one would be a hit. Dress codes may not be the same; but the music would kick in a full dance floor.

Hi everyone if you would like to kmow about the last 10 years of Calos life let me know my mom was his girlfiend and the one that took care of him they where together on and off for 20 years well just let me know ok thanks for all the nice thing you guys have to say about him made me cry he was a GREAT step father and he was GREAT wilh my son my son was 5 when he past and he still remembers him and loves him alot he was good

The best of the best - the best times of my life - Mutiny, Cats, Honey's, anyone remember Moreys Meat Market ?

I worked as the floor manager for Angus Stevens, the Burgs(Mal & Bill) at Honey For The Bears. Tom Plisco managed, Bo Crane was the DJ. The Hernandez brothers (Joe, the linebacker & Billy) bartended. I was insturmental in hiring at another disco (The Widow McCoy) Steve Beaty, the doorman who later murdered three people at his health club. I also managed for the Polasars, Rose, Sammy, & Steve Sammy's Eastside over in Normandy Isle. Check it out. Jamie H.

Jimmy Yu from Honey's,Widow's McCoy & The Mutiny is being honored on the Miami Dance Music awards event in Miami on March 28th and will be spinning a set!

Also at the event will be Joe Lenders of Scaramouche Lewis Martinee of The Limelight,Charlie Solana from Nephentez and much more.

Check out www.305Disco.com for full details.

Landy, go to the SAMMY'S page on this site. Read a little, and laugh out loud!!

hwy there Vyniljunkie, I know that use togo to Sammy's, but I am trying to place it in my mind, those days were burned out days, was an after hour.

Landy, did you ever make it to SAMMY'S East Side in Miami Beach? Read my new posting about that place, it will give you a chuckle.

LANDY, today the HONEY FOR THE BEARS location looks exactly the same except for the name LAS CULEBRAS, a Spanish/TAPAS/ Cuban restaurant. Remove the tables, and we are ready to go!!

what kind of business is in the now.

Funny thing, is that this building still looks the same from the outside, and if you remove the tables that are now on the old dance floor, put up the lights and speakers; you wouldn't notice a difference. It still sucks to find a parking space!!

very true vyniljunkie, HONEY FOR THE BEARS was the original and Carlos Nodal was one of the best, and yes when Coke exploded in Miami it was all over that club, that is why it was so private.

What HONEY FOR THE BEARS meant to the MIAMI market was of a monumental proportion. It put MIAMI on the national Disco scene. It was talked about, mostly because my friend CARLOS NODAL, also originally from Jersey, was the master of the cut at this early seventies true DISCO. Everyone wanted to go there, just to say they were there. The first real DISCO in Miami, and BO CRANE installed CARLOS NODAL as its DJ. It took off, and Miami can be thankful for that. Excellent sound system, adequate light show, great location. There were the prettiest cubanitas in town. When the cocaine snow storm landed on the shores of Miami, this was one of the first places rocked by its first wave. On a scale of 1 to 10, easily a TEN!!!

I remember Friday nights at the Forest. The best teen Disco in town until the 'breakers' turned it into Strawberries and the rest is history. I recall watching Bernie take over the dance floor with his awesome dance moves. Best song at the time; Jade, "I'm Gonna Get Your Love." Maybe some of you remember the $.50 cups of Coke and Sprite sold at the entrance.

I had come to South Fl. from Ashland, Oregon, where I'd been working a country radio station. Couldn't get arrested til someone told me Bo Crane was looking for cruise ship djs. Did my interview with Bo at HFB where he held court...He was the man, and HFB was the place!!!

Truly.... The Best DJ Miami has produced! There will never be another. We'll never forget you Carlito...

I remember Honey for the Bears real well, my friends & I used to go there every Fri. night, I remember Steve- the bouncer- who used to let us in when we were waiting in line to get in. We used to get our pictures on the wall in the disco that would be in a slide show during the party.

this was a very private club, that is wear i met Carlos Nodal the DJ, these where good old days with alot of money being throuwn around.

Honey For The Bears was first later Top Drawer came along. I was an interim DJ both at the Forest Teen Disco and Club Casanovas.

WHAT CAME FIRST, HONEY 4 D BEARS OR TOP DRAWER?

The speakers that were used at Honey for the Bears were Belle-Klipsch Speakers.

Does any one remember the original speakers @ honeys that where covered by mirror and later jimmy elias of jimmie e disco bought them and took them to an open house @ club de las americas .what a great time the disco miami scene was .peace you survivors.

One of Miami’s truly legendary early private clubs with a strict door policy and over 21 clientele, I believe Bo Crane who was the founder of The Florida Record Pool Association was the first resident DeeJay there with the late great Carlos Nodal taking over DeeJay duties until the club’s closing in the early 80’s.