May 26: Boys and Girls

Sometimes you have to look back to move ahead. This weekend Fort Lauderdale is doing just that. Once upon a time, lots of young boys came here each spring. Predictably, lots of girls came too. They called this "spring break" - and it was good. For a while. You must know by now that Fort Lauderdale has moved well beyond those days. Spring break as annual ritual is broken. But it's also a part of our past, something that happened sometime after the Seminole Wars and sometime before the first ultra-lux hotel on the Fort Lauderdale beach. And so this weekend, well, it's a time to remember those good ol', bad ol' days of spring breakers and schoolgirl crushes. "Where The Boys Are" is returning for a short visit. And so is Connie Francis.

If you remember those bad/good days, or even just read about them, then you may also remember Connie Francis. She was a very big singing star, Ms. Francis was. Very big. And she starred in a movie as well, a little flick called "Where The Boys Are." You may have heard about it.

As it happens, this is the 50^th anniversary of that particular picture. And that's a big deal in Fort Lauderdale, as it should be. The film helped to make this city into a nationally known tourist destination. We became THE place to be around March each year for those of a certain age. A certain barely legal age at the time. That would be our parents and grandparents we're talking about. So indeed Ms. Francis is making a sentimental journey to our famous beach for a sentimental showing of - well, really, what other movie would they show? The best part is that you can make that journey with her. Just head to A1A and Las Olas this Saturday, May 29, anytime after 11:30 in the morning for the "Great American Beach Party." A stretch of Fort Lauderdale's lovely beach will briefly return to Spring Break 1960. (The film is planned for about 8pm and no doubt Ms. Francis will address the crowd just before the projector rolls.) You can get in on the general wackiness by joining some generally wacky contests if you like. Hula hooping, anyone? How about trying the limbo again - or maybe a hot game of Twister? There will be a water balloon toss, even a sand castle building competition. Heh-heh. It's all free and it all sounds like just "the most." Wasn't that the term back then? Anyway, have fun and enjoy the nostalgia while it lasts. Next week, the Fort Lauderdale beach goes right back to what it is today. The spring breakers are gone now, replaced by something much, much better.