LauderBlog

Ever try jousting? No, me neither. Probably never will. But I've seen jousting. Frankly, that was plenty for me. I actually do enjoy riding horses when I get a chance to do that. But I'm not keen on the idea of sitting atop a galloping steed with a lance in my hands, charging toward some other dude - a dude who, I have noticed, also has a lance in his hands. A dude who's trying to knock me off my galloping steed. I mention all this because the Florida Renaissance Festival is in its own full gallop right now. For the next three weekends, through March 14, you can catch jousting tournaments and earthy wenches, court jesters and giant chess pieces. Or how about washing down a humongous turkey leg with a flagon of mead?

It's a fun outing, honestly. Wacky for sure. But fun. You just have to get into the spirit. I've been to this twice over the years and enjoyed myself both times. Prepare yourself for a crowd, though. The Florida Renaissance Festival seems to get more popular every year. But once you've parked your car, there's more than enough space to move around the grounds comfortably and find a spot to dive into that turkey leg.

It always seems to me that the Renaissance Festival has its history slightly mixed. It looks more like the Medieval & Renaissance Festival, from what I see. Hey, I'm no historian or anything. But whatever the century, this party certainly isn't short on things to do. For kids, they've got bounce houses and face painting and arts and crafts. Just about everything at the festival is kid-friendly, judging by my experiences. It makes a great family-day kind of thing. There's the "world's largest rocking horse" - maybe it really is the world's largest for all I know. And there's the sword fights and magic acts and this year there's even a "Musical Macbeth." No kidding. This deal is a Broadway style adaptation of Shakespeare's classic. Should be a hoot. All in all, you'll find 12 stages with some kind of entertainment happening pretty much nonstop, along with more than 100 performers walking around in costumes. Tight bodices, flouncy sleeves, floppy hats, that sort of stuff. Ticket prices are very reasonable. For adults $20, for kids 6 - 11-years-old just $7. If you want to know more about the Florida Renaissance Festival, you can call 954-776-1642 or go to their website at http://www.ren-fest.com/. You may not get a chance to joust. But there's nothing to stop you from buying your own jester hat and blending right in with the rest of the wackiness.

So I got myself into the A1A Marathon this weekend. I made very good time too, averaging somewhere around seven miles an hour. And I even stopped along the way for coffee. And a doughnut. Oh yeah, one other detail I perhaps should mention. I was driving. Hey, what law says you actually have to run these things? The funny part of this whole deal was that I didn't know the event was taking place until I was in it. "In it," of course, being a relative term. I joined a long line of cars while motoring home from Lighthouse Point - and I'm thinking, like, what is going on here? I mean, vehicles were backed up bigtime. Then I saw the traffic cones and cop cruisers and water stands on the route. And the signs saying things like, "Mile 18." Hmm, ok. It's a marathon. And for some reason, I just kept driving "in it" rather than cutting over to Federal Highway. Running my own marathon on gasoline. And sunshine.

The weather was totally, absolutely perfect for this event. Or any event. Perfect for anything else, really. Clear sky, clear sun, clear sea. The gorgeous day helped motivate me to keep on keepin' on, just as it likely also helped motivate all those runners to keep running.

Admittedly, my marathon was somewhat easier than their marathon. But listen, you think I didn't struggle too? There I was at Commercial Boulevard and A1A, with a smooth drive home on Federal Highway waiting just over the Intracoastal bridge. It was calling out to me. But did I take the easy road? Did did I bail out? Nope. And then again at Oakland Park Boulevard, where the traffic really got jammed. And on down the runners' route, heading south past Sunrise and Las Olas. At any of those spots I easily could have said, "Enough!" But I never quit. Not for one second. I managed to enjoy my marathon thoroughly, breathing in the warm rays through my opened sunroof and breathing in the fresh sea through my opened windows, watching the crowds in the restaurants and hotels and on the sidewalks and sand along the Fort Lauderdale beach. While completing my marathon, I even found time to scan the Bonnet House trees for wild monkeys. That's how slow the traffic was moving. Didn't see any monkeys. But it was a truly lovely morning and I finished my marathon none the worse for wear. Go ahead and laugh at me if you want to. All I know is that this race was only one of many outdoor events happening around Greater Fort Lauderdale in the weeks just ahead, as the perfect weather settles in. So I figure it's wise to pace myself a bit, you know? That's all I'm saying. And if that means running a seaside marathon in my Mini Cooper, so be it.

One of the world's great moral leaders will be in Fort Lauderdale next week. Actually, two of them. The Dalai Lama will speak to the public on February 23 at Nova Southeastern University. And Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will do the same on February 26. The very cool thing is that I'll be going to both events. The even cooler thing is that NSU is hosting an increasingly impressive roster of speakers these days. This university seems to be growing up quickly, becoming an integral part of the fabric of South Florida. Over and over lately, I've been reading news accounts about great speakers who are coming to Nova Southeastern University or great speakers who were just there. I think NSU's speakers series makes a wonderful addition to our community's many cultural offerings.

I recall years ago when I first was aware of NSU. Quite honestly, it seemed to me like a university that resembled a community college in some ways, a minor presence in Fort Lauderdale. But my impression has changed, especially during the past few years. I'm always coming across something about NSU's plays and concerts and speakers. The school's academic quality is maturing as well, with degree programs that attract international Fulbright scholars now. NSU definitely is on my personal radar screen and I suspect many other folks around here feel the same.

These latest NSU guests are a case in point. For sheer star power among this planet's roster of speakers, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu would have to be near the very top. As I write my blog, the Dalai Lama just met at the White House with President Obama - like, an hour ago maybe. He has long been a powerful force for compassion and nonviolence in our world, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. (Lest we imagine he's entirely above earthly concerns, though, I should note that his official website already has posted a picture of His Holiness with the prez today. He may enjoy a higher level of personal consciousness but he also knows how to get out his message.) Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize five years earlier. Like the Dalai Lama, Tutu is seen as an important voice of moral authority, a religious person who's working to abolish poverty and human rights abuses just as he once fought to end apartheid. I'm very grateful to Nova Southeastern University for bringing these great men to our area. And all the other speakers in this ongoing series. Everyone already knows Fort Lauderdale is a world-class place to party. The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu are evidence that it's more than that too.

There is a new way to dine oceanside, a spot both upscale and casual. It's called Sea Level Restaurant and Ocean Bar, located behind the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. This place is a wonderful addition to our waterfront restaurant options. I've long believed that one of the best things Greater Fort Lauderdale offers is the opportunity to eat, drink and party close to the water. This is much truer here than of Miami or South Beach. If you've never been there, you might be surprised - the restaurants along Ocean Drive in South Beach are a long, long way from the ocean, something like the length of three football fields from the water's edge. In Fort Lauderdale, you actually can hear the surf as you cut into your surf ‘n turf. The sea is that close.

At Sea Level Restaurant and Ocean Bar, you're sitting along a lovely stretch of beach with nothing but sand between you and the ocean. Sea Level looks like an elegant cabana restaurant, completely open-air to catch all the sea breezes but with a covered bar and umbrella tables for those times when you prefer some shade.

This new restaurant is very new indeed. The ribbon cutting only happened at the end of last month, attracting some top Marriott execs as well as a Fort Lauderdale city commissioner and lots of other folks. Judging by the picture, it looks as if they were all having a good time. Sea Level seems like that kind of restaurant and bar combo. Somewhere you can just kick back, relax with a quality cocktail and savor a good meal. I've not had the chance to eat there yet but I'm told very reliably that the food really is tasty, including some excellent burgers, salads and quesadillas. Mmmm. All salted by the scent of the sea. And really, what else does anyone in Fort Lauderdale want on a lovely tropical day? For my money, things don't get much better around here than lounging at a great waterside table with a good friend. In the summer, ocean winds keep you cool. In the winter, sunshine keeps you warm. And you honestly can see, hear and smell the Atlantic Ocean as you sip and munch and talk and laugh. Alfresco waterside dining and drinking are important parts of any real South Florida experience, as far as I'm concerned. And if you're going to do those things, I think, you may as well do them where the sea practically sits at your table with you.

Groundwork has been laid for the Complex to be built in the city of Lauderhill just west of downtown Fort Lauderdale as part of an entertainment district under-development.  The African American heritage music will be featured in archives and exhibits that highlight the history and artists of significance, and an educational program in partnership with the school district will train students in the range of career opportunities in music beyond performance, such as technical and business areas. 

A national push to involve churches at the grassroots level has gained momentum as the result of a tie-in with the efforts of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee of Houston to gain passage of a bill in Congress to officially designate September as Gospel Music Month, says Albert Tucker, Vice President for Multicultural Business Development for the CVB.  "Some churches are pledging to show support for the Complex by giving benevolent offerings on the fourth Sunday of the month in September," says Tucker.

The movement for passage of HR 92 is picking up steam and the Congresswoman is a supporter of the Gospel Complex.  Click Rep. Jackson and Albert Tucker to listen to the podcasts.

Kitty Oliver, Ph. D.
Oral Historian

At the recent mid-winter conference of the Association of Executives of the National Urban League over 100 select top leaders from the national office and local affiliates, including Broward County's 35-year-old chapter, returned to Greater Fort Lauderdale to re-energize and  strategize around key organizational concerns and economic and social issues facing Black communities in the U.S. today. Click here for Albert Tucker on the Urban League.

The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is crafting its most ambitious meeting to date during a first time stop in Fort Lauderdale in June, 2010.  International members are coming from as near as Caribbean and as far away as Europe to the 24^th annual conference which will focus on expansion of the group's global education, mentoring, and empowerment programs for African American males.  In addition, members will also give back to the community by participating in local projects that will leave a lasting impact on the Fort Lauderdale area.

Chairman Albert Dotson credits the organization's partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau with making plans for this year's conference a communitywide effort one of the most exciting ever.  According to CVB President Nicki Grossman, "This is one of the most valuable investments we have ever made." Click here for Albert Tucker on 100 Black Men.

Kitty Oliver, Ph D
Oral Historian

Most of us crave sunshine, don't we? I know that I do. And sometimes that surprises me. You'd think that living in sunny South Florida would make sunlight into something I take for granted. But the sun doesn't ever seem to get old somehow. This sunseeking assumes many forms in my life. Throwing open blinds to welcome afternoon sun at home, choosing sun-warmed tables at cafes - even picking an automobile in part for its ability to bring the sun and me together. I just bought a new car, actually, after the lease on my PT Cruiser expired. The Cruiser was a jazzy convertible and I loved it. Now I have an even jazzier, more earth-friendly car that I already love more than the Chrysler. And it has, yep, a sunroof.

This time around I was able to buy a new Mini Cooper. The car is a lovely sky blue with racing stripes. I got a very good deal, which included the sunroof that I insisted upon. I'd thought about another convertible but decided that this particular model worked better for me with a big sunroof instead. So far, all I can say is that it's great!

Just this morning I took a long drive by the ocean, parking to watch the waves through my windows and the brilliant blue sky and palm fronds through my sunroof. The sea was brilliant too, about the same color as both the sky and my car. I turned off my satellite radio so I could listen to the waves break and roll onto the sand. Then I drove to a pretty café and sat with a cup of coffee at an outside table - a table directly in the sunshine. The morning air was crisp by Fort Lauderdale standards, so the coffee and the sun helped to warm me. Other folks sat outside as well, finding their own patches of sun and soaking up the beautiful day. This season of the year is prime time for all of us sunseekers in Florida, the perfect period for doing all the ray-catching we want. Not that I like the sun any less during our hot summers, mind you. If we go a rare three days in a row without it, I find myself wishing for its return despite the heat. But in the summertime, we tend to look for shady spots much more often, something to protect us in between our sweaty outings along the beach or wherever. Not now. Now we can sit for an hour at a sunny table or throw open the sunroof and just let South Florida shine on us. That's why we came here after all. Even after living in Fort Lauderdale for many years, we still crave sunshine.

I took a little drive along the Fort Lauderdale beach today. Workers continue to clean up from the huge band-on-the-sand Super Bowl party held there this weekend. But lots of Super Bowl tourists clearly are still in town, soaking up the warm temperatures and sunshine. I know this in part because of all the football stuff they're wearing - like some loyal folks in Peyton Manning jerseys. And who can blame any of these people for not hurrying home? I'd linger here too if I was living anywhere much north of Atlanta. Wow, what a storm in the Mid-Atlantic region, huh? I mean, when the president of the United States is calling it "snowmageddon," this should tell us how nasty it really is. No thanks. As an ex-northerner, I've been through it many times and don't miss that mess one bit.

Think about it. The federal government shut down. And airports shut down too. And all the schools. I read that the weather experts recorded 18 inches of snow at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC and 32 inches not far away at Dulles International Airport. That's serious snow anywhere, but in Washington? Like the prez said, "snowmageddon."

Oh and down here, how's our weather you ask? Is it warm in Super Bowl land? Well, you may have noticed some fans sitting in shortsleeves last night during the game. According to my car's temperature gauge just now, the outside air was 68 degrees and climbing. I hate to say this if you're living up in the big storm somewhere, but even that mild temperature feels slightly nippy to those of us who live in South Florida. I'm wearing a winter shirt and jacket when the tourists are walking around in tank tops. But it's a lovely day and I had my car windows open as I drove south on A1A, past the Fort Lauderdale hotel where the NFL Headquarters was located and past the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center that served as the home for all the Super Bowl media. The game's over but our great weather is just getting revved up. From this point on for the next few months, South Florida should enjoy its most pleasant temperatures of the year. The high today is supposed to be around 73 degrees. Tomorrow, it goes up to nearly 80. That'll be nice - I can finally get out of these winter clothes.

Hard Rock is rockin' hard this week. Well, sure, it rocks hard pretty much every week, if you want the truth. But with the Super Bowl frenzy kicking into high gear around here, Seminole Hard Rock is among Greater Fort Lauderdale's party centers for the game. And that got me thinking about the evolution of this entertainment complex. Or I should say, more accurately, that got me thinking about the evolution of my own attitude about Hard Rock. When the Seminole Tribe constructed the first buildings I kind of thought, "Ok, cool. We'll have a nice new gambling destination for locals. Oh yeah, and some tourists too. Probably." And if memory serves, that's sorta the way it went. For a while. But only a short while. Because soon, the Hard Rock complex began to expand.

And as it grew, it attracted more and more of those upscale tourists, as well as the local gambling crowd. Then it started to host better and better concerts until the top names in show biz were arriving, one after another. I'd never seen Tony Bennett live, for instance, until he came to Hard Rock. The tribe made another small purchase somewhere along the way: they bought the entire Hard Rock company. Around this time, I began to see Seminole Hard Rock very differently after another visit. "Wow this place is, like, amazing! When did that happen?"

Not long after this, it seems to me, South Florida's Hard Rock complex really began to take off. As of now, there's a quality 500-room hotel along with 18 nightclubs and a dozen restaurants. That's some serious entertainment, right? I mean, you're not exactly going to run out of things to do around there. The Super Bowl folks seem to know how cool this complex has become - they've scheduled 17 events for the Seminole Hard Rock. These include tonight's 2010 Hall of Fame Players Jamie Foxx Party at Passion Nightclub. The Academy Award-winning actor throws a big bash before each Super Bowl, complete with fellow celebs and a red carpet. This year, Foxx picked Hard Rock for his event. And then famed NFL player Jerry Rice is giving his own wingding on Thursday night at the Hard Rock hotel and casino, with major football stars of the past expected to attend. Par-tay! Remember, these events are just on a single night. So I find that my attitude about Hard Rock continues to evolve, changing to the point where I now recognize that it's giving over-hyped South Beach a run for its star-studded money. Personally, I'm glad to see it. As far as I'm concerned, somebody has needed to teach that fairly snooty crowd down there some kind of lesson for a long time. I don't know for sure, but maybe Jamie Foxx feels the same way.

I can't seem to get away from blogging about football lately, can I? With very good reason of course. When both the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl are being played in your community within a week of each other, football tends to be a major topic of local discussion. And when you just attended the first Pro Bowl of your life, as I did last night, football is pretty darned fresh in your personal thoughts. I was really glad for the experience - this was quite the football extravaganza from the moment I arrived. The sellout crowd was in a mood to party and that's what we did, more than 70,000 of us. The whole thing felt like a big, over-the-top NFL bash. But I confess that one aspect of this Pro Bowl/Super Bowl doubleheader irks me just a tad: in interviews, the players often are talking about coming to "Miami" for the big games.

First of all, the games aren't in Miami. Sun Life Stadium essentially straddles the county line between Miami-Dade County and Broward County, roughly halfway between downtown Miami and downtown Fort Lauderdale. Also, it just happens that the NFL Headquarters for the games is in ... you guessed it. Fort Lauderdale. Yep, it's right here. Not Miami.

We have NFL banners all over the lightposts around town and big flashing traffic signs saying things like, "NFL Guests .... Turn Right on SE 17^th Street." Believe me, if you've tried to make that turn in the past week, you've quickly realized that a whole lot of NFL guests are doing a whole lot of turning there. But do you hear the players saying, "It's great to come down here to Fort Lauderdale for the game!" Not many, even though they were practicing for the Pro Bowl in ... Fort Lauderdale. To me, this is a problem more of perception than of reality. Fort Lauderdale's image still hasn't quite caught up with all it has to offer these days. At least that's true in this country, I think. Overseas, in places such as Sweden and England and wherever else, they know Fort Lauderdale much better and plan their vacations accordingly. So I'm hoping one of these athletes will surprise me in the days leading up to Super Bowl XLIV. Yeah, I'm hoping Peyton Manning or somebody finally will say, "It's great to come down here to Fort Lauderdale for the game!" I don't know if any of these guys will realize where the true center of the football world is this week. But they should.