Ricky-mania has Miami at its mercy

MIAMI -- Day 2 at "ground zero," for fans of Ricky Martin, who have gathered in this swanky, coastal city for the launch of his North American tour, saw plenty of Ricky-related activity.

 The "Hispanic Elvis," as Martin has been dubbed, completed a two-night stand at Miami Arena last night and wowed the audience again with a fast-paced, multi-media performance that fared best when he stuck to high-energy Latin dance tunes and, frankly, shook his hips and behind.

 Martin has since moved inland to Tampa for a show tonight.

 But yesterday afternoon, Casa Salsa -- the trendy restaurant Martin owns on Ocean Drive -- was preparing for the onslaught of Martin maniacs.

 "The girls smell that he's in town and immediately start coming in," said Manolo Benitez, one of seven owners of Casa Salsa along with Martin. "They get on their cellulars and say, 'Ricky's here!' "

 While TV monitors throughout the restaurant broadcast Martin videos, Benitez and his staff were setting up a special $50 pre-concert buffet, consisting of such typical Puerto Rican food as rice, beans and plantain.

 Along the walls of the restaurant were framed copies of Martin's various platinum awards and magazine covers, including TIME, and I got to sit at Martin's reserved table in the corner while interviewing Benitez.

 Normally, a sign that reads, "Reserved for Ricky" sits on the table, but Benitez said he has been having a hard time keeping it in stock.

 "They stole it -- the fans," he said with a sigh. "Because we keep buying it today and it's not here tomorrow."

 Martin has made fewer appearances at the restaurant since he wowed the Grammys crowd earlier this year, and he will make even fewer now that he's on tour.

 But Benitez says whenever Martin, who lives in a gated community in the Miami Beach area, does come in to say hello or have dinner, his favourite is mofongos de pollo -- fried and mashed plantain with garlic and olive oil and stuffed with chicken ($19.95). Once he has finished eating, he'll even meet fans.

 Martin wasn't expected to show up after his gig last night, especially since there was talk he would be headed over to Bar Room, the latest club -- actually a converted theatre -- to be run by Ingrid Casaras, Madonna's best friend.

 Meanwhile, the local papers were caught up in Ricky-mania yesterday.

 The Sun-Sentinel, a daily which serves Southern Florida, said of Wednesday night's tour launch that "Martin was best working that high-energy seam, like an updated Bobby Darin -- lean, limber and confident." Pop music critic Sean Piccoli, however, compared Martin's staging to "a Rowan-and-Martin production number."

 The Miami Herald was slightly more critical, saying Martin "lacks the vocal range and strength to convince in pop ballads," but at the same time called the evening "the best set that money can buy."

 Whatever the critics are saying -- I gave it four out of five sunbursts in yesterday's Sun -- there's no denying Martin, who rode a huge wave of hype in English-speaking North America following his Grammy performance of The Cup Of Life, has enduring star power.

 His 15 minutes of fame clearly are not even close to being over.