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If you read my last blog, you won't believe this. I'm going to the Pro Bowl on Sunday. How cool is that? And if you didn't see the previous blog, you may want to check it out for grins. If nothing else it shows that surprising, good things sometimes happen when you least expect them. I won't bore you with the details about my two free tickets except to say that I won them through a very cool lady I'm lucky enough to know. And that I'm grateful for the chance to go. So yes, all this means that I'm rounding up a friend and heading off to the big South Florida game late Sunday afternoon.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 so I figure a good time to drive south to Sun Life Stadium might be 5:30 or so. That should allow plenty of breathing room to find parking and enjoy the pre-game hoopla. I read that the Super Bowl quarterbacks will both be there watching the game and plan to wave hello to the crowd - obviously, they can't risk injury with the Super Bowl just one week away. But it'll be cool to see them anyway.

As you may know, this is the first time the Pro Bowl has been played before the Super Bowl. And it's also the first time since 1979 that the NFL all-star game has taken place outside Honolulu. I think it's great that they picked South Florida for the big experiment. It seems to be working, at least in one way. I saw online that they're expecting a sellout crowd of more than 70,000 fans. That would be the largest turnout for a Pro Bowl since the 1959 game in Los Angeles. I'm bracing for the packed house, which will make the parking lot challenging but the game itself a blast. This is my first opportunity to see some terrific players in person, including 11-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. He was quoted as saying, "It's one of the greatest accomplishments you can have outside of the Super Bowl. Whether it's your first time or your 11^th time, it's the same reward." That's a lot of enthusiasm from someone with so much Pro Bowl experience. As for me, I have no Pro Bowl experience. Of any kind. But in just a few days, that'll change. And I can't wait.

by Mike Richard 

I left the hustle of sunny, downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida almost two decades - a full twenty years - ago. It's where I spent most of my formative years. It's my second home of sorts. But I was just a boy then and that feels like a lifetime ago. So much time has passed and I've changed.

Fortunately, Fort Lauderdale has too. From its former alcohol-induced stupor has sprouted a refined, dare I say cosmopolitan, beach city. To be sure, it's not South Beach. And it doesn't pretend to be.

To read on click here.

I've never been to a Super Bowl. But I'd love to go. Never been to a Pro Bowl either. But I'd really like to attend one of the NFL's all-star games too. So what do imagine the odds are for me to nab a ticket in the next couple weeks to one of these big games? I mean, they both will be played right here in South Florida after all. And, like, I'm in the media and everything and I've written lots of sports articles over the years for such publications as Sports Illustrated, Inside Sports and USA Weekend. You'd think I'd have connections to score a freebie, right? You'd think my odds would be ... well, better than average, wouldn't you? Yeah, sure. No such luck. Since I'm not covering the game for anyone, nobody is exactly calling me up with free tickets.

One part of this Pro Bowl/Super Bowl fortnight is free to the public, though. They'll even let in dubious types like writers. Fans can come out from 11am-5:30pm next Sunday to watch the final Pro Bowl practice sessions at Sun Life Stadium, where both games will be played. Really, there's no charge.

I'm not totally sure what's involved, honestly, but the NFL is calling this an "interactive football experience." There will be entertainment and giveaways and concessions as well. Should be fun. Or you can catch some other football hoopla for free around Greater Fort Lauderdale. One event takes place in Hollywood, where "Super Saturday in the Street" will offer complimentary food samples from local restaurants - and the chance to vote on your own favorite. "Extreme tailgating," they're calling this one. They'll be handing out the food from noon to 6pm next Saturday in downtown Hollywood. There's also lots of other stuff going on. Everything from Helmets for Homes Build Day, where the public can help build a house for a needy family, to a Rock ‘N Soul Party with sports agent Drew Rosenhaus, to the NFL Alumni Super Bowl of Golf Showcase. The golf tournament will be held at Grand Oaks Golf Club in Davie and you can participate. The cost? Only $5,000 per foursome. I assume that includes a cart. You can find more details about these and many other Super Bowl-related events right on this same website: http://www.sunny.org/superbowl/ As for me, I'm not sure what I plan to do during this next two weeks of football frenzy around here. But hey, if you're stuck with an extra ticket to one of the games, I'm available.

Have you ever been to a ship christening? I hadn't - until today. As I write this on Thursday afternoon, I'm just back from an overnight stay on the latest new ship to grace Port Everglades. The flagship of Silversea Cruises, called Silver Spirit, sailed to Fort Lauderdale from Europe for its official inauguration. Last night, I put on my tuxedo for the big pre-christening gala, with renowned singer Michael Feinstein providing the entertainment before an intimate audience. His performance was outstanding and the evening delightful, including my late night stop at the ship's Stars Supper Club. Because Silver Spirit is larger than Silversea's other ships, it can accommodate some lovely amenities such as this Manhattan-style nightclub. I stayed there talking and drinking with friends until about 1:30 this morning.

Five hours later, I was up for an early breakfast. Then we all got off for the christening ceremony. It was elegant, and very Silversea. This Italian cruise line had assembled a chamber ensemble made of musicians who had performed with such orchestras as the San Francisco Symphony and New York Philharmonic. They offered enthusiastic renderings of brass fanfares, string quartet music and a song with two opera singers joining in. It was excellent.

A costumed color guard marched Italian banners to the stage before some brief, tasteful speeches by Silversea's top execs followed by a priest's blessing on the ship. And then, yes, the smashing of a champagne bottle against the hull. Well done, I thought, the whole ceremony. After the christening, I had the chance to explore a bit more of this beautiful ship. Rich dark wood is used throughout, in stairwells and hallways, in restaurants and bars and clubs. Silver Spirit also has a much larger spa than its other ships and six dining venues. I found it all impressive, very much a floating Ritz-Carlton. Which, I guess, makes this ship an appropriate guest at a port that's just minutes away from a real Ritz-Carlton and a growing array of other top-end hotels such as the Hilton and W Fort Lauderdale. Silver Spirit now leaves on a 91-day voyage around South America, then heads back to Fort Lauderdale. I can see why so many cruise lines schedule voyages through Port Everglades, which is poised to soon become the world's busiest cruise port. Easy access by both ships and cars, with lots of parking - and an exciting city just beyond the port's boundaries for passengers to enjoy before or after their cruises. All I know is that everyone I met onboard Silver Spirit seemed happy to be here, in our warm tropical sunshine. For those passengers lucky enough to leave on a three-month sea journey, this memorable christening seemed to me a very good way to begin.

Port Everglades has an exciting guest this week. The first new ship to dock in 2010 at Fort Lauderdale's busy cruise port is also among the most elegant in the world. Silversea Cruises' flagship, Silver Spirit, has just arrived to a fanfare of water cannons after her maiden Atlantic crossing and now is preparing for her christening at the port this week. I feel very fortunate that I'll be among the folks at that ceremony, which officially brings yet another high-end travel option to Fort Lauderdale. I'm even luckier to have been asked to stay on the Silver Spirit overnight for the big inaugural gala. It's a black tie event with a small, invitation-only guest list - and acclaimed cabaret singer Michael Feinstein as the entertainment. All this should offer a memorable beginning for what appears to be a very beautiful and very luxurious ship.

For many years, Silversea's fleet routinely has been voted the world's best small cruise ships by one important travel publication or another. Having sailed on the line several times as a travel writer, I know why they win all these awards. I've stayed in some of the world's finest hotels, but I have never experienced anything quite like a Silversea cruise.

I also think it's impressive that this ultra-luxury cruise company has such strong ties to Fort Lauderdale. Along with the headquarters in Monaco, Silversea's Fort Lauderdale office is one of its main operations. The line has launched world cruises from Port Everglades. And Silver Spirit will leave on a 91-day voyage around South America from the port right after Thursday's christening. I'm really looking forward to both that ceremony and the gala, of course. For all my cruise experience, I've never been to a ship christening before. And I've never stepped aboard a ship quite like Silver Spirit either. Much larger ships, yes, and much smaller ships. But this - well, it's something different. The Spirit carries 540 guests and 376 crew, with six dining rooms and a jazz club and other amenities Silversea's more compact ships can't accommodate. I'm told this is a gorgeous vessel and the photos suggest it's true. Later this week, though, I'll be able to give you a first-hand report about the grand new addition to Port Everglades' growing cruise fleet. Recently, the world's largest cruise ship made its home port here. Now one of the world's most luxurious ships has tied up. I guess Fort Lauderdale must be doing something right, huh?

South Florida really does have a heart. In this land of sun-baked beautiful beaches and sun-tanned beautiful people, it's sometimes easy to forget that. All of us, residents and tourists alike, tend to think of Greater Fort Lauderdale as a playground. And it is, of course. But it's much more too. I'm always amazed at the number of important charitable causes this community supports. Hundreds of nonprofit groups work each day to improve life for people in this area and all over the world. I founded my own nonprofit organization, the Humanity Project, here in Fort Lauderdale and I've learned that many folks genuinely want to help our cause. I mention all this now because South Florida's heart is on its sleeve again in the aftermath of the horrendous Haitian earthquake. With a tragedy of massive proportions just off our shores, everyone here seems eager to give.

Fort Lauderdale is close to Haiti. In many ways. We're only several hundred miles away geographically, but in truth we're much more intimately linked than the mileage suggests. My former neighborhood in Oakland Park was home to many Haitians, for instance. Among the wild variety of ethnic groups living in South Florida, Haitians are a significant minority. We interact with Haitian neighbors and friends and workers and colleagues all the time.

So it's not surprising that Greater Fort Lauderdale, all of South Florida really, is responding quickly to do what we can to help those caught up in the calamity. Drives are going on to bring in much-needed money along with donations of food and other vital supplies. TV stations, newspapers, nonprofits, individuals -- all these and more are launching collection efforts in one way or another. I read an account just today about a homeless man who panhandled $2 for a Haitian neighborhood center and explained that the Haitians had always been good to him. That's the feeling down here at this moment. I've been to Haiti twice, own a number of Haitian artworks and have a genuine respect for the country's rich culture. I find that the Haitian people often emanate some kind of dignity and pride in their bearing, even the poorest among them. They seem to refuse to let their struggles break their will. So yes, like all of us, I'm looking for meaningful ways to contribute to Haiti's relief. One simple way is to text the word HAITI to the Red Cross by dialing 90999. Your phone bill will reflect the $10 automatic donation. I know a lot of us in the Fort Lauderdale area are doing that. And trying to do much more as well. We may be sun-tanned and our beaches may be sun-drenched and we may live in a playground. That's all wonderful. But when a neighbor truly needs our help, we're there.  

The Super Bowl countdown has begun. It started this past weekend with the wild card playoffs and some surprising results. New England gone already? And after playing so poorly against Baltimore? Wow. It's going to be an interesting playoff season for the next few weeks, leading right up to the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl here in South Florida. I'm not sure why exactly, but for some reason I've been more into football this year than any time since my childhood. Usually, I'm a baseball kinda guy. Baseball and other obscure sports most Americans know little about. Formula 1 auto racing anyone? World Cup ski racing? Ok, you see what I mean. I've done some auto racing in the recent past and some ski racing in high school so that's my explanation, I guess.

Anyway, I have definitely rediscovered football after an adulthood where I watched the Super Bowl and maybe some Thanksgiving Day games and that was about it. As I mentioned, I'm not absolutely sure of the reason for this. I think it has something to do with a greater appreciation for sports that require the full team to do its part on each play. Those other sports I mentioned, including baseball, really focus on individual effort.

Ahem. Sorry, but I couldn't help trying to offer some sensible thoughts on my sudden fascination with football - the most exclusively American of sports. Yes there's Canadian football but I'm not even sure how avid the following is up there, much less down here. NFL football, though, is seen all over the world, at least during the Super Bowl. Two years ago, I watched a great Super Bowl while sailing on a small luxury cruise ship toward the Solomon Islands in the Coral Sea. I caught the game with maybe another 75 Americans and some Brits and other nationalities mixed in. It's a special memory. And despite my previous indifference to football, I remember other wonderful Super Bowl parties and games too. So as Super Bowl XLIV makes its way to my South Florida backyard, I'm getting kind of excited. There's always a momentum to the event that you notice as a resident. You see fans with team flags flapping from their rental car windows and Super Bowl banners on light posts and then all the limos start to make their appearance. And you hear about all the pre-game activities, this year including a Pro Bowl practice in Fort Lauderdale that's open to the public. It's a good time to be in this part of the world if you're a football fan. Even if you're a relatively new football fan.

We each have our favorite foods. Tastes that we especially love - and crave. Mine are varied but among these personal faves are the tastes of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Well, I've discovered an excellent new restaurant in Fort Lauderdale that offers both types of cuisine and does each very well. Taza Mediterranean Kitchen & Lounge is a find. A good friend recently took me there for dinner because he'd already tried it and loved the place. A Taza experience starts with the delightful décor, a cross between Middle Eastern and aquatic. You know, like the Mediterranean Sea blended with the Arabian peninsula.  It sounds curious but it works. There's an ornate grand fountain that's maybe six feet tall as a centerpiece along with hookahs and a large aquarium and flat screen televisions that play undersea scenes.

The service and food are the real treats, though. Taza is owned by the charming Miranda Barazi and her brother - I've not had the chance to meet him yet. Miranda went out of her way to accommodate my friend, Hal, who's an old jazz musician and fussy about ambient sounds. And fussy about food too. She was more than happy to change tables, lower the music, whatever it took, and all with a lovely smile.

Hal and I split an order of lamb grape leaves and I also got Taza's homemade crushed lentil soup and a chicken kabob. He decided on tri-color pappardelle for an entrée. Both of us thought the food was superior, pasta and Middle Eastern fare alike. The menu is extensive, including brick-oven pizzas and escargot and falafel and broiled snapper and even a Mediterranean burger wrap. Lots and lots to choose from. Taza also has a weekday Happy Hour special from 4 - 7 pm, with two-for-one drinks and complimentary appetizers. On Saturday evenings, there's a belly dancing show at 8:15 and 9:30. Prices are very affordable too, everything from $8 sandwiches to $14 kabobs to $27 lamb chops. Plus there's a big dessert selection. You'll find Taza at 1430 SE 17^th Street in Fort Lauderdale in the strip shopping center just east of Cordova Road on the south side. The phone number is 954-530-7064 and their website is at www.tazamediterranean.com. If you google Taza, you'll see that this four-month-old restaurant has quickly earned some glowing customer reviews. Well-deserved, I'd say. It's a place that deserves to stay around for a while. Trust me, any restaurant that can please Hal this much definitely has something good going for it.

So it was almost the New Year when I was driving north on Federal Highway. I looked up at a billboard. And what did I see? A big promo for Fort Lauderdale tourism. As you might imagine, this is not the norm when you actually live in Fort Lauderdale. On the streets of wintry New York City right now, sure - there you expect to see a promotion for Fort Lauderdale tourism. Or in some equally cold place in January. The billboard on Federal Highway caught my eye, obviously, and a closer look showed me why this sign about this place was in this place. Because the folks who operate http://www.sunny.org/ have come up with a new way to help tourists enjoy their stay here. And maybe to help locals find what they're looking for too.

Called iVisitLauderdale, a new iPhone app now puts some of this area's places to go and things to do and spots to eat within index finger range of iPhone users. I think it's a clever idea: a sunny tourist destination with constantly updated info available easily for people on the go.

And it's totally free. Just head to the http://www.sunny.org/ homepage and look toward the upper right hand side, a little above the tab for this blog. It says, "New FREE iVisitLauderdale app." Click there and you'll see another page that allows you to learn more as well as to download the application. Simple. Ok, so what do you get on your iPhone once you've loaded iVisitLauderdale? Lots of stuff. Fairly useful stuff like GPS maps and driving directions to hotels, restaurants, attractions, spas. Pretty much whatever you're likely to want to find, it seems. Users can narrow their searches too, by name, price, location, type. Updates in real time give retail specials and store hours. And restaurant search categories include type of cuisine and proximity, meaning you won't have to go far to scarf down that Thai food you're craving. Another section called "Explore" centers on top points of interest along with directions, cost, hours and more. And the ‘iGuide" is an overview of Greater Fort Lauderdale beaches and many other ways to have fun around here. The iGuide also lets you check weather updates and transportation information among the news you can use. On top of these features, you can personalize your new application. So what the heck? It's free, right? If you have an iPhone and are coming to Fort Lauderdale, you may as well get the app for your visit. When you're walking along the beach some evening with a huge craving for Thai food, you'll thank me.