Jan 4: Friendly Suggestions

Everyone makes New Year's resolutions, right? Well, not everyone. I don't. But ok, let's just say that almost everyone makes New Year's resolutions. So why shouldn't cities make resolutions for a better 2012 too? They should - at least I think so. Therefore as the public-spirited chap I am, I've decided to pick a few great cities and offer each of them one simple idea for the New Year. No charge. I've selected places that send Greater Fort Lauderdale a lot of tourists annually, mind you. Folks up there obviously like it down here. I can offer these northern cities a South Floridian's viewpoint about the single thing they need to compete with Greater Fort Lauderdale for those precious discretionary dollars. Let's start with the great metropolis of Detroit. I'm from Detroit originally, still root for their sports teams (Go Lions!) and really love the people there.

And so what does Detroit need that South Florida already has? Palm trees, of course. Palm trees would add a touch of romance to Woodward Avenue like nothing else. Look what they do for us. A moonlight stroll along the beach in Fort Lauderdale to the gentle hiss of swaying palm fronds - there's no experience quite like it. Maybe the same would work along the Detroit River, with a romantic view of Windsor, Ontario over the water. Hey, I'm just saying.

Then there's Chicago, another city I know and love. My mother and other family members live in Chicago as do some of my very best friends. But compared to Greater Fort Lauderdale, Chicago is missing the boat in at least one important way. So for 2012, I'm suggesting that Chicago should make a pitch to attract lots of boats - cruise ships, I mean. I'm talking about major cruise ships, the huge liners like we have here. Listen, you Chicago guys already have a lake. True, it's not the Atlantic Ocean but it's big. Very very big. And grand-scale cruise ships have worked wonderfully in Fort Lauderdale, as you know. They attract thousands and thousands of passengers each year to Port Everglades, which is fast growing into the largest cruise port on earth. Maybe a nice big cruise terminal somewhere around the Navy Pier?  It's sure one way to sell more hot dogs.

Finally, I want to offer my freebie business plan to the delightful city of Toronto. I've spent a great deal of time there and always enjoyed myself. An amazing place with gentle people. But there's one important thing that Greater Fort Lauderdale has and Toronto doesn't. Sunshine. I admit that this is a tougher nut to crack. I really can't offer much by way of specifics, I'm afraid, and you may have to settle for something less in the end. Overhead sunlamps up and down Bay Street? City-owned and operated tanning parlors? Hmm. Well, if you folks do figure it out, please give me a call so I can arrange another visit. All you need is more sunshine and I'll hurry right back to say hi. Meantime, I guess I'll hang in Greater Fort Lauderdale for the winter. I'll be able to see sunlight pouring through the palm trees today as I drive past the cruise ships docked at Port Everglades. Now that I think about it, I suppose no other city can quite match that, can it?