LauderBlog
June 29: A Graceful Cafe
Posted On: June 28, 2007 5:48 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I love any place that’s different from the usual thing. Grace Café & Gallery is one of those places. Clare Vickery, the owner, has created an inviting environment. An “arty” ambience, in the best sense. I discovered Grace Café not too long ago. Now that I live in Dania Beach, within walking distance of this lovely gallery and restaurant, I’m starting to become a more regular visitor. If you’ve never been there, this weekend is a good time to get acquainted.
Starting Friday night, the gallery’s 2007 summer art exhibition officially opens for the season. It’s a wonderful opportunity to browse and buy art, sample café foods and basically just check out this delightful space. And I do mean space, as in spacious. Grace Café & Gallery has 7,000 square feet on two floors. The shop opens into whole rooms of antiques, sculptures, paintings. There are glass cases crowded with vintage jewelry. Grace Café & Gallery also offers year round art and dance classes in the upstairs studio. It’s not just another static art gallery. That is what makes this place so different. It feels alive and vital and creative. When I stopped by this week, Haitian artist Eric Jean-Louis was busy painting an original piece on a multi-paneled room divider. It was beautiful. He was working just a few feet from the café tables and willing to chat with anyone who felt like engaging him in conversation. That’s the kind of gallery this is. Artists and art buyers come and go. Painters don’t just sell their canvases there. Sometimes they create them there too.
The renowned Overtown artist, Purvis Young, has an extensive collection for sale at Grace Café & Gallery. So do Jean-Louis and other Haitian artists such as Louis Rosemond. Huge animal sculptures by Felix Gonzalez sit near the front entrance, towering over everyone who walks in the door. Friday’s exhibition opening runs from 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., with some of the artists in attendance. Reservations are required. On Saturday, the gallery welcomes anyone who cares to wander by, offering free barbecue, art classes, music, dancing and games for all ages from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For Friday night reservations or more information, call 954-921-1231. Grace Café & Gallery is located at 49 North Federal Highway, Dania Beach, between Griffin and Stirling roads. For art and antique lovers, it’s a find – a gallery that really is different. And utterly charming.
Starting Friday night, the gallery’s 2007 summer art exhibition officially opens for the season. It’s a wonderful opportunity to browse and buy art, sample café foods and basically just check out this delightful space. And I do mean space, as in spacious. Grace Café & Gallery has 7,000 square feet on two floors. The shop opens into whole rooms of antiques, sculptures, paintings. There are glass cases crowded with vintage jewelry. Grace Café & Gallery also offers year round art and dance classes in the upstairs studio. It’s not just another static art gallery. That is what makes this place so different. It feels alive and vital and creative. When I stopped by this week, Haitian artist Eric Jean-Louis was busy painting an original piece on a multi-paneled room divider. It was beautiful. He was working just a few feet from the café tables and willing to chat with anyone who felt like engaging him in conversation. That’s the kind of gallery this is. Artists and art buyers come and go. Painters don’t just sell their canvases there. Sometimes they create them there too.
The renowned Overtown artist, Purvis Young, has an extensive collection for sale at Grace Café & Gallery. So do Jean-Louis and other Haitian artists such as Louis Rosemond. Huge animal sculptures by Felix Gonzalez sit near the front entrance, towering over everyone who walks in the door. Friday’s exhibition opening runs from 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., with some of the artists in attendance. Reservations are required. On Saturday, the gallery welcomes anyone who cares to wander by, offering free barbecue, art classes, music, dancing and games for all ages from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For Friday night reservations or more information, call 954-921-1231. Grace Café & Gallery is located at 49 North Federal Highway, Dania Beach, between Griffin and Stirling roads. For art and antique lovers, it’s a find – a gallery that really is different. And utterly charming.
RSSJune 26: Margaritas on the Beach
Posted On: June 25, 2007 2:49 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
On Sunday, I enjoyed margaritas on the beach. Eventually. Drinking the margaritas was easy. Getting to some place where I could drink margaritas was more of a challenge. Why? Because it was so busy at the Fort Lauderdale beach on Sunday. It seems to be gettier busier down there as the summer goes along, not slower. That’s sure how it looked this beautifully clear weekend.
By the time we left for the beach, it was about 3:30 or so. Sunny and warm, of course. I was driving my convertible with the top down, listening to some nice tunes. My girlfriend, Gwendolyn, and I were planning to catch a boat ride up to Shooter’s on the Intracoastal, but that didn’t work out for reasons I won’t bore you with. So we hopped back into the car and rolled our way up A1A. I tried to pull into my usual parking spot, the lot at Fort Lauderdale’s South Beach, but a line of cars already idled ahead of me. The lot looked nearly full anyway so, we drove on. People were everywhere. Spread out all over the sand and all over the sidewalks. Bars and restaurants were packed. Throngs of folks were bunched under beach umbrellas. We couldn’t believe it.
After passing the mass of beachgoers around Las Olas, we kept driving north for a ways until the crowd thinned out a bit. I found a parking space at a meter. But even a block from A1A, there weren’t many spaces left. We ended up at Trina, the bar and restaurant at The Atlantic hotel. By now, we were dying for those margaritas, but also for some salsa and chips to go with the drinks. The bartender went out of his way to accommodate us. “We usually only serve these at the pool,” he explained, setting down the salsa and chips at our oceanside table. “But I pulled a few strings!” We were glad he did. The drinks were excellent and the food seemed like just the right salty, spicy accent on a hot day. We lingered for quite a while on The Atlantic’s front patio, watching the languid jade sea. It was all a very pleasant Sunday afternoon, sipping cocktails and munching chips and taking in the beach on a late June weekend. We just had a lot more company than we’d expected.
By the time we left for the beach, it was about 3:30 or so. Sunny and warm, of course. I was driving my convertible with the top down, listening to some nice tunes. My girlfriend, Gwendolyn, and I were planning to catch a boat ride up to Shooter’s on the Intracoastal, but that didn’t work out for reasons I won’t bore you with. So we hopped back into the car and rolled our way up A1A. I tried to pull into my usual parking spot, the lot at Fort Lauderdale’s South Beach, but a line of cars already idled ahead of me. The lot looked nearly full anyway so, we drove on. People were everywhere. Spread out all over the sand and all over the sidewalks. Bars and restaurants were packed. Throngs of folks were bunched under beach umbrellas. We couldn’t believe it.
After passing the mass of beachgoers around Las Olas, we kept driving north for a ways until the crowd thinned out a bit. I found a parking space at a meter. But even a block from A1A, there weren’t many spaces left. We ended up at Trina, the bar and restaurant at The Atlantic hotel. By now, we were dying for those margaritas, but also for some salsa and chips to go with the drinks. The bartender went out of his way to accommodate us. “We usually only serve these at the pool,” he explained, setting down the salsa and chips at our oceanside table. “But I pulled a few strings!” We were glad he did. The drinks were excellent and the food seemed like just the right salty, spicy accent on a hot day. We lingered for quite a while on The Atlantic’s front patio, watching the languid jade sea. It was all a very pleasant Sunday afternoon, sipping cocktails and munching chips and taking in the beach on a late June weekend. We just had a lot more company than we’d expected.
June 22: Natural Moments
Posted On: June 21, 2007 12:29 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
It’s easy to forget about nature when you live in an urban environment. Nature can seem like something you visit on vacations to national parks. Or something you watch on Animal Planet. But even in the biggest cities, nature is a real presence. You don’t have to go to Central Park to find nature in New York, one of my favorite cities in the world. New York is filled with trees and birds and squirrels. And every now and then, a snowstorm shuts the place down, just to emphasize who's the real boss.
For an urbanized area, South Florida has an unusually active natural world quite apart from the Everglades. I was thinking about that because last night I experienced my first turtle walk. At John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach, we went looking for one of the many sea turtles that come out of the ocean to lay their eggs on our shores. South Florida is a key breeding ground for sea turtles, which arrive here each year at this time by the hundreds. The night before at the same park, seven sea turtles were spotted. And last night? Exactly no sea turtles were spotted. Bummer. But we did learn a lot about these creatures from a video shown to our group on the beach. And we did get to see some turtle nests. And it was a lovely night to stand around the seashore, scouring the waves for huge turtles. I suspected that all the turtles were watching us from the water, waiting for the tourists to leave before trudging on land. Some kind of Far Side cartoon brought to life.
It didn’t really matter. The evening was fun anyway. And it made me think. Those of us who live in a busy metropolis like greater Fort Lauderdale tend to feel as if nature has been tamed somehow. Minimized and shoved into the background. But look around. Our front lawns are filled with ibis pecking for bugs. Our canals are teeming with tarpon. Our coastline remains a refuge for gulls and pelicans and our ocean is still a playground for schools of dolphin. Just this morning, I watched an iguana climb a coconut palm outside my patio. Nature is everywhere in South Florida. Real, untamed nature. To me, that is one of this region’s charms. Even if that means the sea turtles don’t show up on cue to please curious visitors. As one park ranger told me, “This isn’t Disney World.” Thank goodness for that. I’ve never liked Orlando all that much.
For an urbanized area, South Florida has an unusually active natural world quite apart from the Everglades. I was thinking about that because last night I experienced my first turtle walk. At John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach, we went looking for one of the many sea turtles that come out of the ocean to lay their eggs on our shores. South Florida is a key breeding ground for sea turtles, which arrive here each year at this time by the hundreds. The night before at the same park, seven sea turtles were spotted. And last night? Exactly no sea turtles were spotted. Bummer. But we did learn a lot about these creatures from a video shown to our group on the beach. And we did get to see some turtle nests. And it was a lovely night to stand around the seashore, scouring the waves for huge turtles. I suspected that all the turtles were watching us from the water, waiting for the tourists to leave before trudging on land. Some kind of Far Side cartoon brought to life.
It didn’t really matter. The evening was fun anyway. And it made me think. Those of us who live in a busy metropolis like greater Fort Lauderdale tend to feel as if nature has been tamed somehow. Minimized and shoved into the background. But look around. Our front lawns are filled with ibis pecking for bugs. Our canals are teeming with tarpon. Our coastline remains a refuge for gulls and pelicans and our ocean is still a playground for schools of dolphin. Just this morning, I watched an iguana climb a coconut palm outside my patio. Nature is everywhere in South Florida. Real, untamed nature. To me, that is one of this region’s charms. Even if that means the sea turtles don’t show up on cue to please curious visitors. As one park ranger told me, “This isn’t Disney World.” Thank goodness for that. I’ve never liked Orlando all that much.
June 19: Hollywood Hangin'
Posted On: June 19, 2007 9:43 AM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
Well, I went to the big Hukilau tiki convention this past weekend, as promised in my last blog. Hope you made it too. What a total hoot! I caught some great music. And those mermaid swimmers at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper’s Wreck Bar were so 60s retro that they seemed hip. Actually, I learned that the Wreck Bar hosts similar mermaid shows each Friday at Happy Hour, starting about 5:15. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re around the Fort Lauderdale beach after a hard week at work. That part of town has been one of my regular haunts for years – and it continues to be now. I love it and, fortunately, I live only a few miles south of there. But lately, since moving to Dania Beach several weeks ago, I’ve been hanging out in some new places too. Especially in Hollywood. And I like what I’m finding.
Of course, I’ve spent lots of time in Hollywood over the years. From fun nights listening to live music at O’Hara’s to romantic evenings curled up on a couch at the Now Art Café to long walks on the Broadwalk with a stop at Nick’s for lunch – I’ve always enjoyed my Hollywood outings. But now that I’m dropping by more frequently as a neighbor, I’m discovering a vibe I hadn’t felt before. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s the evolution of this community. I’m not sure. But it feels different. And it’s keeping me coming back over and over.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, for instance, I took a drive into downtown Hollywood, just to see what was going on. There was a wonderful live band on Hollywood Boulevard, a couple blocks west of Young Circle, playing blues and jazz outside. I stopped for coffee and hung out to listen for maybe a half hour or so, then wandered up and down the street looking in the shops. There are some very cool stores along both Hollywood Boulevard and Harrison Street. And Young Circle has been transformed into a charming arts park, with great expanses of lawn dotted by pretty trees and sculptures. There’s even some tranquil music that greets you on the west side of the park, somehow piped in through a large banyan tree, though I could never spot a speaker anywhere. Hollywood feels alive, exciting, inviting to me in a way it never quite has before. I like it – a lot. And I intend to keep exploring it in the weeks ahead, writing here about my experiences from time to time. Stay tuned.
Of course, I’ve spent lots of time in Hollywood over the years. From fun nights listening to live music at O’Hara’s to romantic evenings curled up on a couch at the Now Art Café to long walks on the Broadwalk with a stop at Nick’s for lunch – I’ve always enjoyed my Hollywood outings. But now that I’m dropping by more frequently as a neighbor, I’m discovering a vibe I hadn’t felt before. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s the evolution of this community. I’m not sure. But it feels different. And it’s keeping me coming back over and over.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, for instance, I took a drive into downtown Hollywood, just to see what was going on. There was a wonderful live band on Hollywood Boulevard, a couple blocks west of Young Circle, playing blues and jazz outside. I stopped for coffee and hung out to listen for maybe a half hour or so, then wandered up and down the street looking in the shops. There are some very cool stores along both Hollywood Boulevard and Harrison Street. And Young Circle has been transformed into a charming arts park, with great expanses of lawn dotted by pretty trees and sculptures. There’s even some tranquil music that greets you on the west side of the park, somehow piped in through a large banyan tree, though I could never spot a speaker anywhere. Hollywood feels alive, exciting, inviting to me in a way it never quite has before. I like it – a lot. And I intend to keep exploring it in the weeks ahead, writing here about my experiences from time to time. Stay tuned.
June 15: Hooked on Hukilau
Posted On: June 15, 2007 11:31 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I am a fan of all things tropical. Regular blog readers know that I can get fairly passionate about palm trees and sultry mornings sipping iced coffee near the sea. There’s a tropical subculture that I find fascinating – they call it “tiki culture.” Here in Fort Lauderdale, the best example of the tiki culture is our famous Mai-Kai restaurant. It’s been an institution for a half century and is still going strong. If you’re a local in need of a one-night vacation, or a visitor who wants a memorable evening, the Mai-Kai is the place to go. The potent exotic drinks, dimly lit romantic atmosphere and Polynesian dancers quickly make you feel as if you’ve traveled to somewhere far away, welcoming and very soothing.
But this weekend, the tiki culture comes to town in a big way. The Hukilau is North America’s biggest tiki convention. Running through Sunday, this is the sixth annual edition of an event that celebrates everything about the world of tiki. That means tiki totems and Aloha shirts. That means South Pacific drums and cocktails with coconut milk. That means relaxation and fun.
You can learn about the history of tiki culture, which includes a discussion of Polynesia – the inspiration for tiki. You can listen to tiki comedy, believe it or not. You can hear about Disney’s use of tiki culture. You can take in a tiki fashion show and even watch live mermaid performances. Does this sound like a wacky, totally interesting weekend or what? Most events are taking place at the Mai-Kai or at the convention hotel, the Sheraton Yankee Clipper. Ticket prices are very reasonable, just $5 for a one-day pass or $60 for an all-access pass. There’s a lot more to find out about Hukilau at the official website: www.thehukilau.com. Or you can call 954-243-7709. I plan to head to this event sometime over the weekend for sure. I mean, come on – a mermaid show at the Yankee Clipper’s Wreck Bar? This place has underwater windows looking directly into the pool for that Jacques Cousteau kind of view. It’s great anytime, but with mermaids? Who could pass that up? Not me.
But this weekend, the tiki culture comes to town in a big way. The Hukilau is North America’s biggest tiki convention. Running through Sunday, this is the sixth annual edition of an event that celebrates everything about the world of tiki. That means tiki totems and Aloha shirts. That means South Pacific drums and cocktails with coconut milk. That means relaxation and fun.
You can learn about the history of tiki culture, which includes a discussion of Polynesia – the inspiration for tiki. You can listen to tiki comedy, believe it or not. You can hear about Disney’s use of tiki culture. You can take in a tiki fashion show and even watch live mermaid performances. Does this sound like a wacky, totally interesting weekend or what? Most events are taking place at the Mai-Kai or at the convention hotel, the Sheraton Yankee Clipper. Ticket prices are very reasonable, just $5 for a one-day pass or $60 for an all-access pass. There’s a lot more to find out about Hukilau at the official website: www.thehukilau.com. Or you can call 954-243-7709. I plan to head to this event sometime over the weekend for sure. I mean, come on – a mermaid show at the Yankee Clipper’s Wreck Bar? This place has underwater windows looking directly into the pool for that Jacques Cousteau kind of view. It’s great anytime, but with mermaids? Who could pass that up? Not me.
June 12: A Freestyle Sunburn
Posted On: June 12, 2007 11:22 AM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I now can jump into one of those pretty South Florida swimming pools anytime I want. You know, the kind you see in brochures. My new condo building has a large L-shaped pool, but during my first month here I had been too busy settling in, working and traveling to even try it out. This past weekend, though, the weather was just beautiful. Sunny. Light breeze, reasonable humidity. So on Saturday, I decided it finally was a perfect day for a swim in that pool. I enjoyed it immensely.
In my first few years after moving to greater Fort Lauderdale, my apartment complex had two pools and I went swimming in them fairly often. But since then, I’ve only had the chance to swim in pools when on vacation, whether in Florida or elsewhere. I mean, I don’t even have friends around here with a pool. Early Saturday afternoon, I gobbed sunscreen nearly everywhere on my body. Well, everywhere I could reach, including my back. That’s what I thought anyway. I sat in a deck chair for a while, soaking up the sun and baking myself to what I hoped would be a light tan. After 20 minutes, I laid down on my stomach to catch rays on my back. Let’s just say I learned later that I’d missed more than a couple of spots with the sunscreen. I had a large hot red patch on my back that night. Ouch. It was the worst sunburn I’ve had in years.
But this morning, I jumped into that pool again. I went early and paid attention to how much sun I was getting. It was a wonderful way to start my day. Of course, I still love going to the ocean whenever I can – there’s nothing like the sound of the surf and the vista of that wide sea. But my move into this condo has helped me to appreciate all over again how much South Florida is just made for swimming pools. Surrounded by graceful palm trees, the crystal blue water shimmering in the sunlight, the suggestion of pina coladas and pure relaxation in the sun. A pool carries a certain image in our minds, which is why everyone who buys a house in South Florida wants a pool – whether they’ll use it or not. And it’s why tourists want a pool at their hotel, even if they spend a lot of time at the beach. Pools really are a part of this area as much as all those palm trees and all that sunshine and that wide expanse of ocean. I’m glad I can enjoy the poolside lifestyle once more whenever the mood strikes me. Even if it does cost me a fortune in sunscreen.
In my first few years after moving to greater Fort Lauderdale, my apartment complex had two pools and I went swimming in them fairly often. But since then, I’ve only had the chance to swim in pools when on vacation, whether in Florida or elsewhere. I mean, I don’t even have friends around here with a pool. Early Saturday afternoon, I gobbed sunscreen nearly everywhere on my body. Well, everywhere I could reach, including my back. That’s what I thought anyway. I sat in a deck chair for a while, soaking up the sun and baking myself to what I hoped would be a light tan. After 20 minutes, I laid down on my stomach to catch rays on my back. Let’s just say I learned later that I’d missed more than a couple of spots with the sunscreen. I had a large hot red patch on my back that night. Ouch. It was the worst sunburn I’ve had in years.
But this morning, I jumped into that pool again. I went early and paid attention to how much sun I was getting. It was a wonderful way to start my day. Of course, I still love going to the ocean whenever I can – there’s nothing like the sound of the surf and the vista of that wide sea. But my move into this condo has helped me to appreciate all over again how much South Florida is just made for swimming pools. Surrounded by graceful palm trees, the crystal blue water shimmering in the sunlight, the suggestion of pina coladas and pure relaxation in the sun. A pool carries a certain image in our minds, which is why everyone who buys a house in South Florida wants a pool – whether they’ll use it or not. And it’s why tourists want a pool at their hotel, even if they spend a lot of time at the beach. Pools really are a part of this area as much as all those palm trees and all that sunshine and that wide expanse of ocean. I’m glad I can enjoy the poolside lifestyle once more whenever the mood strikes me. Even if it does cost me a fortune in sunscreen.
June 8: Busy Beach
Posted On: June 8, 2007 11:11 AM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I’ve been thinking about the beach a lot lately for some reason. Maybe it’s at least partly because I also write a kids blog for this website. Right now, that blog’s action is taking place on the famous Fort Lauderdale beach. (If you haven’t seen this new blog, you might want to check it out. Both adults and kids seem to enjoy these short, fun tales about South Florida adventures. Just click on http://www.sunny.org/lauderkids to start reading – with the first blog at the bottom of the page, obviously.) Anyway, this story’s young heroine is savoring the pleasures of a visit to the sea. But so are lots of other folks these days. Real live adults, locals and vacationers alike.
I’ve been surprised how truly busy the beach seems just now. Summer is the time when life is supposed to slow down around here, pleasantly so. It’s never dull of course. Far from it. But the pace eases off a bit and you can almost feel residents let out a collective sigh, as if to say, “Ok, fine. The winter season is over. Now let’s catch our breath for a couple months.” The summer beach is active, yes, but not lounge-chair-to-lounge-chair jammed on the sand or every-table busy in the beachside restaurants.
But here it is, the first week of June. I’ve been to the beach several times in the past few days. In the morning, afternoon and evening. On the weekend and on weekdays. And honestly, it is busy! Really busy! I’ve wondered if it has anything to do with the recent opening of two of the major new beach hotels. Both the Hilton and the St. Regis are going strong, from the look of things. Maybe they’re bringing in more summer visitors. Or maybe all those Summer of Discovery two-for-one special bargains are attracting people who might not have come here otherwise. I don’t know. But I do know that the beach seems strangely crowded for this hot-weather season. That’s great for business, of course. And it’s making me think – hmm, perhaps I should take my own short vacation, right here at one of the local hotels. It’s the old, “If you can’t beat them, join them” approach. If the crowds won’t leave, I’ll just join the crowds. Besides, I have to confess that a relaxing local getaway is sounding very, very tempting right about now. There’s more than one way to catch your breath during the summer.
I’ve been surprised how truly busy the beach seems just now. Summer is the time when life is supposed to slow down around here, pleasantly so. It’s never dull of course. Far from it. But the pace eases off a bit and you can almost feel residents let out a collective sigh, as if to say, “Ok, fine. The winter season is over. Now let’s catch our breath for a couple months.” The summer beach is active, yes, but not lounge-chair-to-lounge-chair jammed on the sand or every-table busy in the beachside restaurants.
But here it is, the first week of June. I’ve been to the beach several times in the past few days. In the morning, afternoon and evening. On the weekend and on weekdays. And honestly, it is busy! Really busy! I’ve wondered if it has anything to do with the recent opening of two of the major new beach hotels. Both the Hilton and the St. Regis are going strong, from the look of things. Maybe they’re bringing in more summer visitors. Or maybe all those Summer of Discovery two-for-one special bargains are attracting people who might not have come here otherwise. I don’t know. But I do know that the beach seems strangely crowded for this hot-weather season. That’s great for business, of course. And it’s making me think – hmm, perhaps I should take my own short vacation, right here at one of the local hotels. It’s the old, “If you can’t beat them, join them” approach. If the crowds won’t leave, I’ll just join the crowds. Besides, I have to confess that a relaxing local getaway is sounding very, very tempting right about now. There’s more than one way to catch your breath during the summer.
June 4: Safe Landing
Posted On: June 4, 2007 2:58 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I was just at a big family reunion in Chicago and returned with a couple of unexpected thoughts in my head. Unexpected after a family reunion anyway. The first was about the extraordinary safety of this country’s airline system. The second was about how good home can look when you get off a plane. All this came to mind after I experienced the first emergency aircraft landing of my life – and hopefully the last. My girlfriend, Gwendolyn, and I were flying back from O’Hare airport just after noon. We should have been in Fort Lauderdale by 4:30. We weren’t.
As the jet took off from Chicago, all of us in the rear instantly smelled an acrid smoke. A man behind me said, too loudly, “Something’s burning!” Gwen kept reading and I said nothing. What can you do? But being an imaginative writer sort of guy, my mind conjured images you don’t want to conjure inside a plane. Fire somewhere, sparks, jet fuel – you get the idea. Still, everyone stayed calm. Until, in mid-climb, we all knew something definitely was seriously strange. This large jet banked to the right so hard that we began to pull G forces. I’d never felt that in a commercial plane before. Someone a couple rows behind me said, “I think I see ORD,” the code letters for O’Hare. We all hoped so. All I could see out the window were Chicago warehouses and freeways.
Now we began to descend. Fast. This pilot wanted our plane on the ground as quickly as possible. That was obvious. I said quietly to Gwendolyn, “We’re in some trouble.” Some people were praying. We heard the wheels lock down and the plane was coming in very quickly – but to what or where, we weren’t sure. We waited for the landing in silence, as everyone else did too. Luckily, O’Hare’s runways were below us. We landed hard but safely, then rapidly taxied to a remote section of tarmac before fire trucks and firefighters arrived. The pilot explained he’d seen some indicator light and, coupled with the smell, didn’t want to take chances. I never learned what, if anything, was really wrong. Maybe nothing serious. But as I reflected on the experience, I was struck by how rare such events are in a nation where thousands of passenger jets take off daily. One fellow on our plane said he’s flown 150 times annually for ten years and never been through an emergency landing before. And the swift, decisive reaction of our pilot only reassures me further about the great training of today’s air crews. If they sense any possible risk, they take action. Now. After Gwendolyn and I finally got another flight back, one more thing came to mind when we touched down to passenger applause in Fort Lauderdale. I thought about how much I love to travel. But also how amazing it always seems when I come home to the palm trees and warmth of South Florida. On this night, maybe, South Florida felt even more amazing to me than usual.
As the jet took off from Chicago, all of us in the rear instantly smelled an acrid smoke. A man behind me said, too loudly, “Something’s burning!” Gwen kept reading and I said nothing. What can you do? But being an imaginative writer sort of guy, my mind conjured images you don’t want to conjure inside a plane. Fire somewhere, sparks, jet fuel – you get the idea. Still, everyone stayed calm. Until, in mid-climb, we all knew something definitely was seriously strange. This large jet banked to the right so hard that we began to pull G forces. I’d never felt that in a commercial plane before. Someone a couple rows behind me said, “I think I see ORD,” the code letters for O’Hare. We all hoped so. All I could see out the window were Chicago warehouses and freeways.
Now we began to descend. Fast. This pilot wanted our plane on the ground as quickly as possible. That was obvious. I said quietly to Gwendolyn, “We’re in some trouble.” Some people were praying. We heard the wheels lock down and the plane was coming in very quickly – but to what or where, we weren’t sure. We waited for the landing in silence, as everyone else did too. Luckily, O’Hare’s runways were below us. We landed hard but safely, then rapidly taxied to a remote section of tarmac before fire trucks and firefighters arrived. The pilot explained he’d seen some indicator light and, coupled with the smell, didn’t want to take chances. I never learned what, if anything, was really wrong. Maybe nothing serious. But as I reflected on the experience, I was struck by how rare such events are in a nation where thousands of passenger jets take off daily. One fellow on our plane said he’s flown 150 times annually for ten years and never been through an emergency landing before. And the swift, decisive reaction of our pilot only reassures me further about the great training of today’s air crews. If they sense any possible risk, they take action. Now. After Gwendolyn and I finally got another flight back, one more thing came to mind when we touched down to passenger applause in Fort Lauderdale. I thought about how much I love to travel. But also how amazing it always seems when I come home to the palm trees and warmth of South Florida. On this night, maybe, South Florida felt even more amazing to me than usual.
June 1: FLL Going Global
Posted On: June 1, 2007 9:39 AM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
Did you know that FLL now welcomes more international passengers than Orlando, Tampa, and Palm Beach and is the second largest international airport, in terms of international travelers, in the State of Florida?
FLL announced new service to many new destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Spirit Airlines, our hometown airline, recently started service to San Jose, Costa Rica; St. Marteen; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; and Guatemala City. And coming this June, Spirit will start service from Lima, Peru, San Pedro Sula, Honduras in July, and Managua, Nicaragua in August. Delta Airlines will begin new service from Santo Domingo in June. And in July, Air Jamaica begins new service to Bridgetown, Barbados.
International flights are important business for the airport and the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. Each flight represents 200 passengers……100 in and 100 out. The numbers add up in a hurry.
And on the domestic side, FLL welcomes new service by Skybus from Columbus, Ohio for as little as $40 each way this summer. That’s less than a tank of gas for my car. Check www.skybus.com for dates.
FLL announced new service to many new destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Spirit Airlines, our hometown airline, recently started service to San Jose, Costa Rica; St. Marteen; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; and Guatemala City. And coming this June, Spirit will start service from Lima, Peru, San Pedro Sula, Honduras in July, and Managua, Nicaragua in August. Delta Airlines will begin new service from Santo Domingo in June. And in July, Air Jamaica begins new service to Bridgetown, Barbados.
International flights are important business for the airport and the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. Each flight represents 200 passengers……100 in and 100 out. The numbers add up in a hurry.
And on the domestic side, FLL welcomes new service by Skybus from Columbus, Ohio for as little as $40 each way this summer. That’s less than a tank of gas for my car. Check www.skybus.com for dates.
