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Sometimes the best place is no particular place. There’s even a classic rock and roll song that celebrates the idea, though admittedly the lyrics put a specific spin on having “no particular place to go.” But the thought, and the feeling, are the same in any context. Somehow there’s a sense of freedom when you have nowhere you’ve got to be and no one you’ve got to meet. That was how my weekend felt – and it was nice. I spent time with friends both days, but much of Saturday and Sunday afternoons were taken up with wandering by myself around Fort Lauderdale, going wherever I felt like going.

On Saturday I was just driving wherever, slowly making my way north toward a friend’s condo in Lighthouse Point for the evening, when I turned into the Galleria Mall on a whim. I managed to motor around with my top down most of the weekend, despite unusual off-and-on October rains that came as part of some weird weather system. When I was on the road, the skies usually were at least partly sunny. So I parked my convertible and sort of sauntered through the mall at a leisurely pace. Other than a double macchiato (and two Godiva pumpkin chocolates for dessert that night), I bought nothing. But the mall was busy and so the people-watching was fun. Then I hopped back in the car and dropped into a Barnes and Noble bookstore to browse for a while before continuing to Lighthouse Point. It all made for a pleasant day.

On Sunday, I had my convertible top opened up again when I drove downtown to Stork’s for an iced coffee and some squash soup. I love seasonal foods and this soup was terrific with nice sourdough bread on the side. I just lazed around, chatted on the phone a bit, then strolled a long ways up and down Las Olas, enjoying the boat show tourists who were eagerly snapping pictures of Fort Lauderdale’s wild parrots. Walking back to my car, I noticed the sidewalk under my feet was strewn with purple bougainvillea blossoms, like a carpet of flowers laid down to add color to the day. A short time later, I found myself at Maguire’s Irish pub to meet a couple friends, sip an Irish coffee and have a few laughs. There were plenty of people sitting at the bar and in the booths, relaxing and watching football and knocking back pints of Guinness. It just felt very comfortable to be part of it. And on my way home I thought about how I’d really done nothing special all weekend. And how nothing special, on certain days and certain weekends, can be the most special thing to do.

Sometimes it’s all in how you get there. I mean, you can hop in your ’89 Honda Civic and drive to Chicago and arrive in three days – and probably even make it in one piece. Or you can fold yourself into the leather seats of a new Ferrari and make the same drive. Probably in two days. And probably with a half dozen traffic tickets. But you catch my drift. There is driving. Then there is driving! The same is true of boating. You can float out on the sea in a modified dinghy and likely make it to Bimini intact. Or you can float there in a 200-foot superyacht. This weekend is all about the best way to do your floating.

The 48th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show opens today and runs through Monday, spread throughout several venues from the 17th Street Causeway to the Las Olas Marina. For 43 hours, the public can oooooh and aaaaah over some of the most amazing vessels anywhere on earth. And why not? As I pointed out in my blog earlier this week, Fort Lauderdale is a world-renowned boating capital for good reason. We have the ocean and the Intracoastal and the canals, all under sunny skies with warm temps. It doesn’t get much better for boaters.

The boaters are here now. In full force. So are the boats. Yesterday, I drove over the Las Olas drawbridge and was impressed by the yachts and megayachts lined up as far south as I could see. Already, the tents were in place and the traffic on A1A was moving slowly around lines of trucks unloading equipment. Groups of folks working the boat show bustled around wearing their security badges. All the excitement, all the big-event atmosphere was obvious some 24 hours before this thing even started. Of course, I’ve been to the boat show before and really just thoroughly enjoyed it. Getting there is fairly easy, but you do need to know where you’re going. For that info, click here: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort_lauderdale_international_boat_florida/event/transportation/. This will give you the official details about parking and shuttles. Then go, gawk, mingle with the high-rollers who can afford those 200-footers. Who knows? Maybe you can persuade one of them to take you on an ultra-luxury float. If you’re going to get on the water this weekend, you may as well try to get there in style.

Returned to Le Bistro with friends. It was more crowded but same great menu. Next was Trina at the Atlantic Resort and Spa. Fab Greek avgolomeno lemon chicken soup and salad with beets started the evening. The ambience is modern yet warm. You can sit inside or outside across from the beach. The snapper piccata was delish, the Moroccan chicken tajine was tasty and the gnocchi was my favorite. The chef brought out a lamb flatbread which made us want to return just for that. The ending was mango sorbet in a tasy tuile flower--- the perfect dessert. The cheesecake was light too. Fish on 17th Street, on Sunday was another winner with lobster bisque and caesar salad in a ring of cucumber and some calamari. The jumbo shrimp in curry was spicy and the ribeye was smothered in onion confit and brie on top. The trio of sorbets chocolate, lemon and trio of mini cakes included key lime, chocolate layer and lemon. And then it was a special evening with Polynesian Revue at the long time favorite Mai Kai. Make sure to ask for the special Dine Out lauderdale menu. We enjoyed the goat cheese salad, glazed roasted duck and key lime pie. With lush gardens, energetic show complete with hula and fire dance and speciality drinks unlike anything you've seen before, the Mai Kai is the perfect place for a celebratory night out.
I did not make it to cafe Maxx or hi life yet but the feedback from friends was great. The Hi Life chess cake is a secret recipe.
Get dining!

I guess nearly everyone remotely familiar with boats, or Florida, knows that Fort Lauderdale is a big time boating center. With the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and many more miles of canals than Venice, Italy, this community is one of the best places anywhere to be a boat owner. Or boat rider. But you have to try it for yourself to appreciate how wonderful the boating really is. You’ve got to get yourself onto the water for some sightseeing from a different perspective and maybe a few thrills along the way.

I had that chance again on Sunday when a close buddy asked me to join him on his speedy Sea-Doo Sportster jet boat – basically a small cigarette boat. This compact, maneuverable watercraft holds four people and can hit speeds up to about 60 mph. So Brad launched the thing in the Intracoastal at the Hollywood Marina on a pleasant, sunny afternoon, a great day for boating with a nice breeze and some puffy cloud cover to keep things cool. I hopped aboard and we putted through a no-wake zone for a little while.

But before long, we reached a section of the waterway where we could at least partially open things up. Brad shoved the throttle forward and we lurched ahead suddenly, salt spray splattering over us as the Sportster hit wakes, went airborne and crashed down hard in the trough between waves. It was jarring, right from my rear end up through my teeth. And it was a blast! He even let me drive. So I took the boat up to about the same speeds we’d been going, bombing over the big wakes just as my friend had done. And learning that the ride is a lot smoother when you’re driving the boat rather than sitting as a passenger, for some reason. Back in no-wake areas, we floated past million dollar, and multi-million dollar, homes lining the canals and bays off the Intracoastal. The whole thing made for an excellent afternoon. And a reminder about why Fort Lauderdale is such a boating capital. Coincidentally enough, our outing came only four days before the opening of the world’s largest boat show, October 25 – 29, right here in town. Later in the week, I’ll tell you more about that annual event, which really is a lot of fun. Meanwhile, I’m going to check my teeth to see if I lost any fillings during those watery crash landings. Hey, whatever – even if I did, it was worth it.

I don’t consider myself a terribly materialistic person. If I was, believe me, I’d be doing something else for a living. But I like to think that I have – how shall I put it? Good taste. I drive a new convertible PT Cruiser in a shade of blue that often draws admiring comments. And I have some interesting things around my condo. Paintings I bought on trips to Estonia, Peru, Malaysia, Haiti. Masks I picked up in some of those places as well as in Bangkok, Thailand and Venice, Italy, in Athens, Greece and St. Petersburg, Russia. You get the idea. A friend recently looked around my place and said, "This looks really very tasteful!" I thought that was nice. It’s not that I’m trying to impress anyone. It’s only that I want my home to feel interesting and comfortable. I want it to be somewhere I really enjoy living and friends enjoy visiting.

So my curiosity was piqued this week by a store opening that has attracted enormous media attention. I’m not sure I can recall so much press for the start-up of a single South Florida store in the past. IKEA swung wide its doors on Wednesday in Sunrise, not far from the massive Sawgrass Mills mall. The home furnishing retailer picked greater Fort Lauderdale for its first store, not just in South Florida, but in this entire state. And they expect to draw lots of shoppers from Miami and West Palm Beach, as well as spots as far away as Naples and Fort Myers. People actually began to line up for the grand opening 48 hours before they could buy the first chair.

I haven’t been to this store yet – or to any IKEA, for that matter. But I’ve heard about IKEA for some time now from folks whose good taste I trust. They keep using words like, "amazing" and "incredible." And they assure me that I’ll love the store. So I’m looking forward to heading there before long to check it out for myself. IKEA has just about everything you could want for your home, apparently. And some terrific food such as Swedish meatballs too. By all accounts, it’s not so much a retail outlet as an experience. A huge store of tasteful, interesting, comfortable stuff, all at bargain basement prices. Sounds like my kind of place. Besides, I still have some empty wall space and a couple of nooks around my condo that could use something. Maybe IKEA’s the store I’ve been waiting for to fill those spots. With something tasteful, of course.

Work, Pray, and Play: Women Ministers of Color Visit Greater Fort Lauderdale
It’s their time, they say.

They spend most of the year as encouragers and spiritual guides for others struggling to survive in a challenging world. They are church leaders, first, and some are also mothers and wives.
But, it’s their time, now.

Five days, oceanside, on sunny, tropical Fort Lauderdale Beach. Afternoons shopping and perusing exhibits at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. Sipping iced cappuccinos at a sidewalk café, or just relaxing by the pool. Evenings lazily cruising the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, perhaps catching a show, or enjoying some of the area’s spicy multicultural cuisine. Worship services at one of over 100 culturally diverse churches – from traditional to New Thought – which dot Broward County. Choices abound. That’s why the third annual Women in Ministry International Conference chose Greater Fort Lauderdale, and the group is already planning more permanent ties to the area.

More than 400 attendees convene this month at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for renewal, restoration, and sisterhood, coming from around the U.S., parts of Africa, England, Canada, and the Caribbean. The conference is hosted by Reverend Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, an accomplished author and senior pastor at the Believers Christian Fellowship in New York City. An influential religious leader, educator, and presidential advisor, Dr. Cook officiated at the funeral of Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"We’re privileged to host such a prominent gathering of minority women of faith here October 20-24," says Albert Tucker, vice president of multicultural business development for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Greater Fort Lauderdale is an attractive destination for persons of faith and color."

Greater Fort Lauderdale is a major site for African American tourism, family reunions, and big-name minority meetings and conferences. The area will also be the home of the planned Gospel Complex for Education and Preservation, spearheaded by internationally-known musical director and TV personality Dr. Bobby Jones. Women in Ministry (WIMIN) plans to establish a headquarters and permanent home at the complex.
WIMIN is an advocacy, mentoring and congregation placement movement for Black, Latina and Native American religious leaders. At their meetings, women in church stewardship from around the world share experiences and learn from each other through forums, group discussions, and presentations from experienced women of faith.

The theme of this year’s International Conference is "Sisters Soaring to Success."
Right now, it’s their turn.

-Kitty Oliver

Some of you may remember the phrase, “Open sesame.” It comes from the tale of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, an English translation of Arabic words used in the story to open the mouth of a magic cave. I haven’t heard it spoken in a while but that phrase seemed to float through the popular culture commonly when I was a kid. Back then, it never made sense to me. So I interpreted it for myself, believing people were saying, “Open! Says me!” I liked that command better. All this came to mind after this weekend’s weather allowed me to do something I haven’t done in about five months: open the windows in my condo.

I love being outdoors, which is one reason I enjoy South Florida so much. Even in the hottest months, I can eat outside regularly and I rarely have to consider the climate when making plans to do something. But in the cooler season, the weather turns from sultry tropical to refreshing temperate. Usually from sometime in late October until around May, I can pretty much put my air conditioner into a long hibernation. I always look forward to that.

So to me, the first window opening of the fresh-weather season really does feel almost magical. It’s the flip side of springtime up north, when residents finally get to open their homes after a cold winter. On Saturday here in the Fort Lauderdale area, the breeze was blowing robustly, with enough clouds to keep the sunshine from heating things up too much. And the humidity felt lower than it’s been. Low enough that I stepped outside on my patio and thought, “This feels good. In fact, this feels so good that I’m opening up!” I didn’t say, “Open! Says me!” but I might have. I slid back the glass patio door with real satisfaction. Then I walked through the condo, unlocking and raising or cranking open the windows in every room. It was great. I was inhaling air with the scent of ocean salt and grass on it and feeling the flow of free wind on my skin as I sat indoors. It was still a bit too early to sleep with the windows open, though, so I closed everything up by late Saturday night and turned on the a.c. But it won’t be long now until I can raise the windows again – and keep them that way until next year. And I won’t even require any magic phrases to make it happen.

Over the weekend, I tried to get in shape for another week of fine dining. Two restaurants on Las Olas started off the week. First night we enjoyed Mark’s Las Olas. Chef Mark Militello was in the house. We shared the starters which included the goat cheese potato tart, mussels and Caesar salad. You can tell that the freshest ingredients were used for all the dishes. The lovely amber vase filled with bread was excellent with the olive oil on the table. The main course choices of snapper in broth, chicken paillard and panko encrusted flounder with curry fried rice were slightly different from the ones posted online. The flounder was the tastiest dish. And the desserts, crème brulee with fresh berries and the icky sticky carrot cake with cream cheese ice cream were both winners. And while not participating this year in Dine Out, a new restaurant across from Mark’s, Tommy’s Las Olas, is generating some great buzz too. Stop in for lunch or a drink and say hello to Tommy from NYC. Tell him Francine sent you.

Wednesday, right after work we headed over to The Grill Room at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas. Stopped into the Golden Lyon first to unwind with a glass of wine. Then we moved on to the lovely dining room. A piano player warmed up the room. The very professional service features silver domes over all plates, and an informed friendly wait staff and sommelier added to the elegance. The traditional continental meal started with a delightful amuse bouche of tuna sushi over crunchy green papaya and cilantro. The appetizers of escargot in puffed pastry and the lobster bisque with large pieces of lobster were unbeatable. And the filet mignon with vegetables was delicious. Although I am usually not a dessert person, the gushy chocolate torte with vanilla ice cream was dreamy. The room filled up with a mature crowd by 7:30. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the great food at a great value.

Each Dine Out Lauderdale dining experience is different. Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point (just north of Sample Road on Federal Highway) was the next stop. You really feel the great care that has been taken to put their menu together. This intimate bistro serves up an unusual five course meal with a lychee granite intermezzo. The curry bean dip for the crostini was delish. And the homemade wheat bread was a nice touch. The waiter, Michael, is quite helpful. He knows each dish and the wines quite well. He brings the Pinot Noir as requested as well as his recommended special shiraz. After tasting both, we agree that the recommended Woop Woop Shiraz is the way to go. An amuse bouche with cheese started off the leisurely meal. For the first course we enjoyed a trio of fish--crab cake, tuna sashimi, cured Scottish salmon. The second course is a duo of soups---lobster bisque & minestrone served in espresso cups or the pumpkin ravioli which is divine. And that is the opinion of my very discerning Italian dining partner, Marie. The osso bucco, slow braised veal shank with Bistro homemade pasta reminded Marie of her favorite family meals. The melt in your mouth Dover Sole had slices of tender white calamari (I thought they were portabella mushrooms but Michael explains how these are sliced and cooked). I enjoyed the Swiss chocolate mousse but could not finish. And the crème brulee was perfectly made. Coffee and tea is also included in the Dine Out menu. For the grand finale, Michael brings out a taste of ruby Port and homemade chocolate truffles. The table behind us tells Michael that they saw the ad for Dine Out in a travel magazine. The lovely couple is from Massachusetts and they are celebrating her birthday. She whips out the ad from Frommer's Budget Traveler. And the good news is that Le Bistro is now offering Dine Out Lauderdale Tuesday through Sunday, including Saturday and including Boat Show week. Make reservations soon as the word is getting out.
My pants are bursting. Time for some more exercise.

-Francine Mason

This is a blog in praise of Alvin. And waiters and waitresses like him. I don’t know Alvin from Adam. I’d never met him before he served me dinner on Tuesday evening at the gorgeous new St.Regis hotel. But he helped make an exceptional meal something more than just delicious – he made it comfortable. I ate with my girlfriend at Cero, the hotel restaurant, as part of the Dine Out Lauderdale promotion going on through mid-November. It’s an amazing deal. We figured our meal would have cost us in the range of $200 without the Dine Out menu. With it, I paid $70, plus tax and tip for two dinners.

The food was, as I expected, excellent. We shared sirloin carpaccio and leek soup with trout caviar for the first course. Then we moved on to diver scallops and seared bass for entrees and key lime lollypops and chocolate marquise for dessert. Just $35 per person. My friend Francine, is doing a wonderful job in her blogs of describing the many Dine Out meals she’s enjoying around town, at Cero and elsewhere. So I won’t go into a lot more detail about the food or atmosphere for now. We had a great candlelight meal sitting outdoors by the roaring waves of the sea – enough said. But Alvin, our waiter, allowed us to relax and truly enjoy it all.

After introducing himself, Alvin asked what we wanted to drink in a way that did not suggest we would be cheap by declining cocktails, which we did. Alvin handled our request for water in the same way. There was no pressure to buy expensive bottled water. We opted for good old, environmentally friendly Fort Lauderdale tap water, which he served us repeatedly with a smile. Alvin must have filled our glasses six or seven times at least. Though we were ordering off the less pricey Dine Out menu, you wouldn’t have known it from Alvin’s treatment of us during the meal. He was consistently attentive, respectful of our privacy and genuinely friendly. To me, this is the mark of a first class wait person – and a first class restaurant. We were there to sample the food without breaking the bank, using a special promotion. No one wants a waiter to make them feel cheap for doing that. Alvin didn’t. Just the opposite, in fact. That says a lot about Alvin. And something about the St. Regis. And something about Dine Out Lauderdale too. Go out, relax and savor your bargain meal. You’re not being cheap by taking advantage of these great prices. You’re being smart. And Alvin was smart enough to know that.

I had a wonderful afternoon on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale. The Las Olas Art Fair was in full swing and the street was packed. Parking was a small challenge but I found a free space at a secret location I know about near downtown. And no, sorry, I won’t tell you where it is. I walked up from the water a few blocks (ok, that’s a hint about the parking spot) to Stork’s, where I met a couple of good friends for lunch. Despite the crowds, we got a nice table by the canal and sat and ate and talked for about two hours. It was a sunny afternoon. Hot, but with an enjoyable breeze that made sitting outside delightful.

From there, we joined another friend on Las Olas and wandered past the artist booths on our way to O’Hara’s for some afternoon music. A good quintet was performing, with a harmonica player who could belt out both blues and jazz. I hung with my friends at the club for a while, then eventually drifted onto the street to browse through the exhibits at the art fair. The event stretched for several blocks, with everything from metal sculptures to jewelry, oil paintings to photography. It was fun to see the variety of materials and styles and just to be around lots of people who do something creative for a living.

Somewhere along the slow, lingering walk back to my car, which was parked near a grassy area (and that’s my final parking hint), I began thinking about the art festival. And all the other festivals planned for the coming months in and around Fort Lauderdale. This past weekend really was the unofficial kickoff of the festival season around here. Across town, the Broward Caribbean Carnival drew something like 20,000 partiers on Sunday afternoon. From now until spring, you can pretty much find some kind of celebration or fair or fiesta every weekend. Most of these are free and everyone is invited. But they’re also very popular. So be prepared to pay a few bucks for parking and to wait patiently in a line of cars. Of course, you can always try to find a secret parking space of your own. But face it – these things don’t come along every day. And I’m afraid I’ve said all I plan to say about my spot.

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THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

100 East Broward Boulevard, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 (954) 765-4466 (800) 22-SUNNY

LauderBlog

Oct 30: No Particular Place

Oct 28: The Float Show

Oct 24: DINE OUT LAUDERDALE, Week Three

Oct 23: Sunday Boating

Oct 19: Now I Can IKEA

Oct 18: Work, Pray and Play

Oct 16: Open and Shut

Oct 12: DINE OUT LAUDERDALE, Week Two

Oct 12: Praising Alvin

Oct 9: Festive Times