As one of the few native Flordians—who was also the first openly-gay commission in Miami Beach, and the first openly-gay Hispanic elected into office in the entire state—Commissioner Michael Gongora has seen many things come and go in Miami Dade over the years, not the least of which were the legendary Versace-era clubs of the 1990s.
Where did you grow up? I was born in Coral Gables, but I grew up in Miami. I moved to Miami Beach in 1992 right after Hurricane Andrew. How long have you lived in South Florida? I’ve lived here my whole life except for high school, when I lived in St. Pete. Where do you live now? In Miami Beach. What do you like most about living here? I like the weather, the great mix of people, and all of the special events that are here. It also helps that most of my friends and family live here, too. What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? Warsaw will always be magical in my memories. I miss many of the classic Lincoln Road venues including bars—Score and MOVA; also, 721, if you count Lincoln Lane—the Lincoln Road Art Center, and many unique, small businesses such as Pink Palm, Fly Boutique and Lupa di Roma. Where do you hang out in South Florida? I hang out mostly in Miami Beach. I still spend time on Lincoln Road. I also enjoy the Sunset Harbour Shops, a lot of the restaurants in North Beach—especially Prima Pasta and George’s Italian—and O Cinema.
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What place is a hidden gem in Miami Beach? The happy hour at Doraku on Lincoln Road is an amazingly good deal. I’m surprised that more people don’t take advantage of it. What was the best event that you went to in South Florida? If we’re talking “ever,” then this is a tough one. The White Party at Vizcaya in the 1990s was for sure one of the best events. Back then everybody used to get dressed up, and the best way to arrive was by yacht. Many celebs attended, including Madonna. You could also spot her dancing at Warsaw back then, too! My 24th surprise birthday party at Amnesia in the VIP room was pretty special, too, and a great memory. Which award are you proudest of? I’ve been fortunate to receive many distinctions over the years, but two stand out. In 2013, the three premier Latin organizations—the Miami Beach Latin Chamber of Commerce, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and CAMACOL—collectively gave me the “Hispanic Leader of the Year” award. And in 2014, I was selected by popular vote at the Pink Flamingo Awards as the first ever “Favorite Local Hero.”
What’s the best place that you’ve visited? The Amalfi Coast in Italy and the isle of Capri. They’re breathtakingly beautiful, the food is delicious there, and I love Italians. What’s the last thing that you watched on TV? Big Little Lies on HBO. I’m catching up before Season 2 comes out. What’s the craziest thing that you ever did? Personally, probably flying out to Rhode Island when I was in college with very little money, no credit cards, no cell phone—they didn’t exist then—and hoping someone I barely knew would be there to pick me at the airport. It somehow all worked out. Politically, filing to run at the very last moment for state senator in 2016 in an un-winnable election. What’s your favorite book? I have many. Back in 1997, I really loved Memoirs of a Geisha. More recently, I enjoyed Gone Girl. I also loved The Southern Vampire Mysteries—I read them all. What’s the best concert that you ever went to? Every Madonna concert has been amazing, but I will never forget the first one, The Virgin Tour, because I was so excited to see her. I’m also a big fan of Whitney Houston, and I went to see The Bodyguard World Tour twice. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To fully fund my 401(k). What did you learn from your parents? The value of being loved unconditionally.
What public figure do you respect? Oprah Winfrey. She’s a completely self-made billionaire who impacted so many people’s lives for the better through her television show and financial generosity. What’s your best characteristic? Loyalty. How do you enjoy spending your time? Surrounded by people I love, or, if alone, getting a deep-tissue massage. What celebrity do you have a crush on? Channing Tatum and just about every actor in the Magic Mike cast. Who do you admire? My grandparents for having the courage to leave Cuba and leave everything behind to start over again from scratch in their 40s in a country where they didn’t speak the language. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? My grandmother. I miss her every day. Where would you go in a time machine? To the French court under Louis XIV. I’d also like to be able to time travel to the 1970s disco era and visit Studio 54 and all the other hotspots of that era. What would your last meal be? A zarzuela de mariscos with lobster and shrimp, a bottle of a good-quality Falanghina wine, and a chocolate soufflé for dessert. What do you worry about? Not being able to maintain my current lifestyle financially. It gets me out of bed every morning.
What are you afraid of? Illness. I’m not so afraid of death, but living with poor quality of life petrifies me. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A flute. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf in sheep’s clothing. Who depends on you, and for what? My parents, and for emotional support. Who are you closest with? My parents, and my tight-knit circle of close friends. They know who they are. What would your autobiography be called? Prisoner in the VIP. What music do you listen to when you’re upset? Chaka Khan and Whitney Houston—they’re both amazing vocalists. What’s on your bucket list? An African safari, and a trip to Southeast Asia, especially Thailand. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not getting in on the real-estate market before it exploded. What’s something that you never told anyone else? If I told you, I would have to kill you. Where can we see you? Everywhere. At Miami Beach commission meetings, on Facebook, through my email blasts, at a concert, or walking down Lincoln Road!