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Thursday, May 31, 2007
June 1: Turtle Crawl: Part Two
I just made my own reservation. I’m going on a turtle crawl next month. I’ll head with a friend to the beach on June 20. And with any luck, I’ll witness firsthand one of nature’s amazing spectacles: the nesting of sea turtles, among the oldest creatures on earth. This is something I’ve wanted to see for years but somehow never have. It’s one of those great only-in-summer things to do around the Fort Lauderdale area. In my last blog, I told you about the turtles and their endangered status, stressing the importance of observing them on guided tours. Now I’ll tell you how to find those tours.
Though the loggerhead, leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles nest on our beaches from March through September, the organized tours operate in June and July. So you’ll have to make a jaunt to South Florida during the warmer weather. It’s pleasant here if you hang out near the water, where the breezes blow most of the time. (And you can get all those two-for-one Summer of Discovery deals on this website.) Again, you must take an organized tour if you care about the future of this protected species. Independent turtle-seeking excursions risk causing serious harm to these animals.
To book a tour just call either the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale or John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach. Here’s what to expect. The museum tours begin with a slide show and lecture that runs from 9 p.m. to about 10:45. Plan to be on the beach from 11 to 1 a.m. You can go Tuesday-Thursday during most of June (the schedule skips a day the last week of the month) and on July 10 and 11. The cost is $16 per person for non-members, $14 for members. John U. Lloyd Beach State Park’s tours run on Wednesday and Friday evenings in June and July, beginning with an 8:30 p.m. slide and lecture presentation. Then you head off to the beach looking for turtles. The turtle walk lasts until about 11 p.m and costs the regular park entrance fees -- $3 for one person, $5 for two to eight people. Both the park and museum stress they can’t absolutely guarantee you’ll find a turtle, but the odds are good. For reservations or more information, call the Museum of Discovery and Science at 954-713-0930, or John U. Lloyd Beach State Park at 954-923-2833. Go, look and wonder at these creatures. As for me, I’ll tell you about my experience later this month when I go on my first turtle crawl. I can’t wait!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
May 29: Turtle Crawl: Part One
We live in a time when the environment appears threatened from many directions. But it’s also a time when people increasingly are paying attention to how they can protect the natural world. Residents and visitors in greater Fort Lauderdale have the opportunity to help in a highly unusual way – and at the same time, to experience something most folks see only on an Animal Planet documentary. From March through September, sea turtles nest on beaches up and down Broward County in an annual ritual that’s very important to the survival of this endangered species. Florida’s central and lower east coast is considered the second most vital nesting area in the world for loggerhead turtles. Leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles also lay their eggs on the sands around Fort Lauderdale.
It’s possible to take a late-night excursion to witness the sea turtles’ nesting behavior. In my next blog, I’ll tell you where to go and how to do this so you don’t harm the animals. It’s essential that none of us just blunder on to the beaches at night looking for the closest turtle’s nest. We can prevent mother turtles from laying their eggs and confuse newborn turtles to the point where they never find the water. The experts tell us that bright lights and flash photography disorient hatchlings, for example. It turns out that baby turtles need all the help they can get. If they make it from their nests out to sea, scientists estimate, only one out of 1,000 will survive to adulthood.
Sea turtles have somehow endured the changes on earth since the age of dinosaurs. They’ve even handled our human population boom, our condos and street lights and automobiles, but they are threatened. Leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles are on the endangered species list and loggerheads are under serious threat. All of them are protected by both Florida and federal statutes. Violators can be punished with fines as high as $100,000 and up to a year in prison. I’m telling you all this because I feel it’s important to understand how fragile these creatures are. And how seriously the authorities take the turtles’ protection. But there are environmentally sensitive ways to enjoy the turtles too. On Friday, I’ll have all the details about how you can do that this summer.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
May 25: Florida Florals
South Florida is often called a paradise. It isn’t, of course. No place is, at least not on this planet. To me, South Florida is far more interesting than any supposed paradise could be anyway, with a wild blend of cultures and characters. But what gives the impression of some kind of heaven on earth is our look and feel. Palm fronds and sunshine, bougainvillea and seashore. Warmth in the midst of winter. Ocean breezes to cool the summer heat. This may not be paradise but it’s a pretty great place to hang out for a while, whether for just a week or for 18 years. That’s how long I’ve resided in paradise so far.
I’ve never gotten over the tropical vegetation here. It still feels exotic, romantic, sexy. But among all the lush foliage and greenery, one thing especially grabs my attention. South Florida’s flowering trees. I don’t know what it is about them but somehow I’m always amazed that we have trees in bloom pretty much year round. More than anything else, flowering trees suggest an earthly paradise to me.
I’ve been noticing that many different trees are blooming right about now, despite our drought. I’m no expert on these things. Well, actually I’m pretty far from an expert. After living in Vermont for many years, I still barely know what an oak tree looks like. But others much more knowledgeable than I am tell me that bottle brush trees are in bloom all around the Fort Lauderdale area. These are pretty, lacy tropical trees with long red flowers that look like fuzzy brushes. I do recognize those when I make the effort, honestly. I’m also told that I have a Hong Kong orchid tree in the yard outside my new condo. It’s a very sturdy tree with silvery bark and fan-shaped leaves, all covered in purple flowers. The hibiscus are out now too, in their multitude of colors. And the bougainvillea are always spectacular, purple and red and yellow. There was a good reason the explorers named this state Florida. It came from the Spanish, Pascua Florida. That means, “feast of flowers.” Come to think of it, maybe this is a kind of paradise after all.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
May 23: Airport food, Lauderdale-style
Who says airport food is boring and stale? Certainly not me. As a matter of fact, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is full of pleasant surprises for our travelers, with a wide variety of fresh and healthy on-the-go meals available. Let me take you on a food tour of the airport.
One of the most delicious salads I have ever tasted comes from Spinaci’s restaurant in Terminal 1. It is a seared tuna salad, marinated in hoisin sauce and sesame oil, lightly grilled, and served over mixed greens. You can also get fresh salmon served over a pasta salad and sprinkled with pesto sauce.
In Terminal 2, The Bakery features an unbelievable grilled-to-order Cuban sandwich and a vegetarian anini served on fresh herbed focaccia bread. At La Cucina, a few feet away, you can get made-to-order pasta dishes and tasty gourmet pizza.
Next up, Terminal 3. As you already know from my last blog, Chili’s serves the best spicy black bean burger in town. They also have several new menu items which have become very popular including mesquite chicken salad, chicken club tacos, and a chipotle bleu cheese bacon burger. Their chips and salsa are freshly made on location daily. For sushi fans, fresh sushi is prepared daily at the Crazy Fish Sushi Company, located next to Chili’s.
Rounding out the tour is Terminal 4. Another one of my favorites is the Friday fresh salmon special featured at Sbarro, followed by a latte at Dunkin Donuts. If you need a little extra kick, you can get a turbo coffee, includes a shot of espresso! For a real treat, try the dulce de leche ice cream at Edy’s.
Don’t miss Nana’s Salad at Vitto’s located in all the terminals – with fresh chicken, organic mixed greens, pears, dry cranberry, pecans, and Feta cheese.
That concludes our tour. Wishing you safe travels and happy taste buds,
Steve
Monday, May 21, 2007
May 21: Spontaneous Consumption
I stopped for breakfast this morning. Alone by the sea. On a whim. It was wonderful and seems to have set the tone for my whole day. I sometimes think we allow spontaneity into our lives too rarely – just doing something because we feel like it right now. Unplanned and unforced. Whenever I do this, I’m usually glad I did. This morning was one of those times.
I left my girlfriend’s place in Lighthouse Point at about 9 a.m. and really needed to get home. I had a lot of work ahead of me. I “should” have taken I-95, which would have planted me in my desk chair within 25 minutes. Instead, I thought, “Hmmm, maybe I’ll drive home on Federal Highway with my convertible top down.” I had a great Sirius satellite radio station playing on my stereo, probably loud enough to annoy other drivers at stoplights. When I got to a street that goes to the beach, I thought, “It’s such a gorgeous day! Hmmm, maybe I’ll drive down A1A.” So I cut over to that seaside road, but with every intention of making my way straight home. As I drove along, though, my plans evolved. It seemed too beautiful outside to just tuck myself indoors all day. And anyway, I was hungry. And one of my favorite breakfast places was only a couple of miles farther south on A1A. Hmmm, maybe I would just stop and eat. Why not?
So I did. I found an oceanside table, looking out over a sparkling mid-morning Atlantic. The shallow water closer to shore was jade green, with the strong breeze whipping up breakers that tumbled onto the sand. Farther out, the deep water was darker, a soft gray with a glossy sunlight sheen. Sometimes, the sheen faded as wads of thick white clouds covered the sun for a few moments, then drifted away to brighten the sea again. I ordered eggs, home fries and bacon with coffee. Watching the joggers and roller bladers and dog walkers, I felt some unusual sense of freedom because of this small change of plans. My life seemed less orderly, less routine, less pre-packaged. And more fun. Yes, I had a lot of work to do. But I was going to enjoy this lovely South Florida day. I’m back home now, sitting here at my computer, and I’m still not sure exactly how I’ll do all this enjoying later on. Hmmm, maybe I’ll just wait and it figure out as the day goes along.
Friday, May 18, 2007
May 18: Weathering May
It’s beautiful outside today as I write this blog. I don’t mean to be smug about it or anything but I did mention something on this subject a few weeks ago. That is, about May weather and how nice it can be in South Florida. All I know is that I’ve been in my new condo for more than two weeks and have slept with the windows open nearly every night. I get a great breeze here, about one mile from the ocean. I’ve even been leaving the windows open during the daytime. That’s how pleasant the temperature has been so far this month.
Right now, there’s a beautiful cooling wind blowing from my patio through the living room into my office. Windows on both the south and west sides of my office help create a great cross-draft. It’s sunny today and not too humid, temperature around 80 or so. There are some large puffy cloudbanks around the horizon and it’s possible we’ll have a shower later. But the rains usually come and go quickly this time of year.
So why am I giving you this weather report? Because I think May is often an underappreciated month down here. The snowbirds typically pack up for their northern nests about Easter, though some are still around. The beach is relatively uncrowded in May, with fewer tourists lying on the sand. The restaurants and bars are much easier to get into these days. A whole lot of people are missing a whole lot of gorgeous weather by going home so early – or by failing to plan a trip to the Fort Lauderdale area during this period. It’s true that this is the start of our summer weather pattern. That means our skies are somewhat more unpredictable. But it would be a very rare May without sunshine most of the time. That really holds true for the entire summer. It’s usually like: “sunshinesunshinesunshinerainsunshinesunshine.” Besides, I always think a little tropical rainstorm is fun in the weather mix. But that’s a discussion for another blog. For now, I just wanted to say that I’m having a lovely South Florida day. Wish you were here.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
May 15: FLL Hidden Treasures
On my daily rounds around the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport, I always stop by the Southwest ticket counter near Concourse B to marvel at Guy Harvey’s 60 ft tall mural. Called the “Sunken Treasure”, it took 2 years to construct and depicts off shore marine life and the city skyline. Passengers going down the escalator to the security check point always comment on it.
After Terminal 1, I usually stroll through Terminal 3 which features the Las Olas/Hollywood Boulevard Streetscape. This project is a beautiful combination of storefronts that feature the wares of restaurants and businesses located on Las Olas Blvd. and Downtown Hollywood. It brings the outside, in. If it’s lunch time, Chili’s is right there, and I sometimes grab a “Spicy Black Bean Veggie Burger” to take back to the office.
We do a lot of tours at the airport, and I always bring the group to the new Rental Car Center located in the bottom half of the Cypress Garage. It looks more like an art museum than a rental car building. The three levels of beautiful terrazzo floors feature numerous marine creatures and several entrance vestibules, called ‘Luminous Portals,” that change color as you enter and exit the building. The glass walls and spiral staircase enhance the magical feeling.
From the Rental Car Center, I take tour groups up in the elevator to the roof of the Cypress Garage. This is one of the highest structures at the airport and you can see for miles. You can see cruise ships at Port Everglades and you can see the downtown skyline. You can see runways, taxiways, and airplanes taking off and landing.
Up on the roof, you get a sense of the history of the airport. Where we were and the vision it took to get us where we are. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport traces its beginning back to 1928 when the airfield was created to honor the memory of pioneer Fort Lauderdale aviator, Merle Fogg. The airport turns 79 this year, but the old gal looks better than ever. Merle would be proud.
In the past few years, she has gotten quite a facelift. The latest terminal addition, Terminal 1, is truly amazing.The feeling is always the same whenever I walk around the terminals and it never ceases to amaze me. I’m really proud of our airport.-Steve Belleme, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport
May 14: Our Past Remembered
On Mother’s Day, I had the chance to talk with a rare woman. The friend of an older friend I visited Sunday afternoon, she was just “Julie” to me. I never learned her last name. But this senior citizen was engaged, spry and charming. And she has a personal memory of Broward County that’s far longer than anyone I’ve met in all my years of living here. To me, Julie was a reminder about the rugged frontier history of this area – and how recent that history really is by American standards. She served as a reminder, too, about the remarkable transformation from subtropical wilderness to chic tourist destination that continues to this day. That exotic past, I believe, is part of the underlying reason for South Florida’s appeal, both to locals and visitors.
Julie is a fourth generation Floridian, born in the Gainesville area. She moved to Broward in 1931, at age seven. “There was just nothing here,” she told me. “I remember the farms that were east of Federal Highway, between about Atlantic and Oakland Park boulevards. EAST of Federal Highway! There were only a few bridges across the Intracoastal Waterway back then. One of them was on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale.” The two main highways were Federal and Dixie. There wasn’t much between them – and only the Everglades beyond. “We had lots of pine trees and palmettos all around us. Kids used to dig tunnels in the stretch between Dixie and Federal – ya know, just for something to do,” Julie said.
What about the heat and insects in that pre-air conditioner, pre-bug spray era? Today, everything is cool and clean, modern and upscale. Tourists come because it feels and looks like paradise to them. But what was it like 75 years ago? “True, there wasn’t air conditioning. But there weren’t high rises and other buildings either,” Julie explained. “We didn’t live by the ocean but we got a wonderful sea breeze year round. It was often hotter in Chicago and New York than it was here. And we had screens in our windows. My father used to put a substance on the screens sometimes to keep out the no-see-ums.” Her relatives also hunted right here in Broward for quail, doves. Even rattlesnakes. Those days are long gone, of course, the dangerous snakes replaced by pretty wild parrots, the farms replaced by luxury condos and hotels. But someone like Julie – and there aren’t many like her left – helps us remember that South Florida wasn’t always a vacation paradise. There were people living here who loved this place, even before it was.
NOTE: There are many attractions for visitors that offer glimpses into South Florida’s history. Right in the midst of downtown Fort Lauderdale, you can visit Stranahan House and the Fort Lauderdale Museum of History. And just off the beach on Sunrise Boulevard, is the Bonnet House and Gardens.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
May 10: A Cool Cabana
I remember when I first moved to the Fort Lauderdale area. Everyone I knew suddenly was just dying to visit me. It’s amazing how popular you become once you live in South Florida. So I naturally had to figure out the best places to bring all these tourist-friends. That was nearly 18 years ago. But some things don’t change. Because one of my first “favorite places” to take guests is still one of the best spots around to experience the local lifestyle.
Bahia Cabana really is a Fort Lauderdale institution. It’s been here for I don’t know how long – and it seems as if some of the regulars have been bellying up to it’s square bar for most of that time. This outdoor restaurant has a great view of the grand yachts tied up at Bahia Mar. The Jungle Queen comes and goes from that same area and so do water taxis. There’s also a beautiful perspective on the downtown skyline from the many canalside tables. The food is terrific – that funky, beachy cuisine of conch chowder and burgers and fish kind of thing. Many places offer the same items on their menu. Few do it as well for such a reasonable price. I’ve always thought Bahia Cabana serves among the best conch chowder I’ve had anywhere.
But aside from the view and food, the best part of the place is its atmosphere. Laidback doesn’t quite describe it. At Bahia Cabana, laidback would seem stressed out. It’s totally casual, totally relaxed. People tend to be chatty and friendly at the bar, whether tourists or locals. The evening bartender, Lisa, is always welcoming – fun and attentive and sexy. And Bahia Cabana has some wonderful music at night too. Check out Nancy Hartline on Wednesdays. She’s a very talented, lovely musician who sings and writes her own tunes. Nancy’s pretty friend, Jennifer Batchelor, sometimes sits in for a few numbers, belting out songs in a strong, clear voice. If you’re visiting town, it’s one stop you really should put on your list. If you’re a resident entertaining house guests, Bahia Cabana always seems to make an impression. And hey, if you’re just hanging out, looking for that beyond-laidback vibe – well, it’s hard to think of anywhere much better.
Monday, May 07, 2007
May 7: A Salute Returned
This time, I went. As promised in an earlier blog. And I was impressed. On Saturday, I attended the 13th McDonald’s Air & Sea Show at the Fort Lauderdale beach. Along with hundreds of thousands of others. I had never gone to the event before and this was the busiest I’ve ever seen the beach, by far. All those locals and tourists piled out of bus after bus at the Galleria Mall for the trek over the Intracoastal bridge and down to the sand where they could see our American military in action. No one seemed to mind the long walk. I know that I didn’t. The weather was just about perfect, with the sun hanging against a nearly cloudless sky. The temperature was in the low 80s and a pleasant breeze blew in off the sea to keep things comfortable. And the turquoise Atlantic waters were clear and comfortable. Those who went to the show on Sunday enjoyed the same conditions. What more could any of us have asked?
Of course, we weren’t going for just any day at the beach. The Air & Sea Show is billed as a public salute to the men and women in the armed forces, a display of support. If the public was saluting, the military returned that salute with style. I’d never watched a mock amphibious landing by the Marines, or stunt maneuvers by Army helicopters, or skydiving teams plummeting in long free falls before opening their chutes to land with pinpoint accuracy. I watched all of these and more on Saturday afternoon. Of course, there was some amazing flying by both military and civilian pilots. I’ve flown in an F-4 supersonic Air Force jet and so I have some appreciation for the stresses these aerial maneuvers create for the aircraft and those inside them. I was in awe at the skills of these pilots.
I also spent a lot of time watching the crowd at the show. There was a surprising diversity of people there, from small babies to the very elderly, folks of all races, a total mix of women and men. They included many spectators I wouldn’t have expected at this event, especially some of the young women who appeared as enthusiastic as their boyfriends. I suppose this shouldn’t have seemed unusual. After all, two of the six Air Force Thunderbird pilots in the show were women. Male or female, young or old, the wide array of humanity on the beach was pointing and smiling and saying “wow” a lot. From what I could see, everyone was having a good time. In that way, the Fort Lauderdale beach was doing what it does best year round – offering a wonderful place to play in the sunshine. Last weekend's beachgoers had some fairly remarkable company.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
May 3: Military Salute
This time, I’m going. As in actually going to the Fort Lauderdale beach to see all of the action close up at the McDonald’s Air & Sea Show. The big event is in its 13th year now and I’ve enjoyed the aerial stunts and precision flying in the past. But always at a distance. That means I’ve missed things such as the mock amphibious assault and the Golden Knights parachute team. And I’ve only been able to see a small part of the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels roaring overhead in their spectacular, dangerous maneuvers. Not this time, though. This time, yes, I’m going.
It’s hardly necessary to point out that the United States military is enduring a very tough period right now. No matter how any of us may or may not feel about the Iraq War, the men and women in uniform are busy doing their job every day. It’s a job that someone must do, but most of us don’t want to do ourselves. Often it’s a totally thankless job without many rewards. My point is that you don’t have to agree with our current foreign policy in order to appreciate the efforts of our soldiers, sailors, air men and women and other members of the U.S. military. The Air & Sea Show celebrates them.
The 2007 edition kicks off early next week with some pre-show events. But the actual Air & Sea Show gets rolling at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 5 and continues right through 5 p.m. On Sunday, May 6, the military demonstrations begin and end at those same times. The show includes some incredible flying by the Air Force Thunderbirds, which alternate years here with the Navy’s Blue Angels. The Navy parachute team, called the Leapfrogs, will appear and so will the Army’s Golden Knights. There’s a Stealth bomber flyover, a Coast Guard rescue demo and also that huge amphibious landing on the beach. And a lot more, including many great civilian pilots putting their stunt planes through daring dives and rolls. It should make for a fun, exciting weekend. And perhaps it’s also an opportunity to take a moment to appreciate the hardships faced by our military just now – and to hope that they all come home safely soon.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
May 2: Gospel is Getting a Permanent Place
When Thomas Dorsey began composing his new music in the 1930s, the man hailed as the father of gospel nearly lost faith because of the negative reaction to the new form of African American praise music. He had difficulty finding a place to allow him to perform even one of the songs. But times have certainly changed. The scared music which offers testimonies of defiance over despair and good news and celebration has become an integral part of the fabric of American cultural history. And now, gospel is getting a permanent place - a Greater Fort Lauderdale home.
Detailed plans have been unveiled for the $50 million Gospel Complex for Education and Preservation in the city of Lauderhill, under the direction of famed gospel producer Dr. Bobby Jones. The Convention & Visitors Bureau has been joined by partners including the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the Broward County Schools, and Bank of America, the national board of directors for the complex, and major local community leaders in support of what is predicted to become one of the country’s premiere multicultural attractions.
A stylish fountain, curved ceilings, and covered walkways will welcome an estimated 50,000 people a year and generate about $5 million alone from visitors, and $25 million from their ripple effect on the community. The Gospel Complex is part of a $400 million revitalization and development project in Lauderhill, west of central Fort Lauderdale, which will feature a one-half square mile pedestrian-friendly area with residences, sports and recreation, entertainment and retail businesses, and artists’ spaces, all geared towards the large and growing Caribbean demographic of South Florida.
The centerpiece, however, will be the Gospel Complex which will be used to build an inland destination. “You don’t often find the CVB so involved in business development,” says Albert Tucker, Vice President of Multicultural Business Development. “The vision is to create a multifunctional destination for performers and lovers of gospel music. We’re telling people to start planning now, in advance, knowing that we have more alternatives than the beaches.”
For Convention &Visitors Bureau President Nicki Grossman, this new attraction is further testimony to the bureau’s continuous commitment to the multicultural market, which has become one of the biggest success stories in the industry. “In 1990, we published the first African American Visitor’s Guide and it was the first in the country,” she points out. “Now, in our Multicultural Guide, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are spotlighted, and we have a full-service multicultural business development component which makes all of us proud.”
When the Gospel Complex is completed it will feature recording and video facilities for Dr. Jones’s internationally-syndicated television show and visiting artists as well as a Hall of Fame displaying the history and artifacts of gospel music’s history in the U.S. And, certainly Thomas Dorsey, the father of gospel music, will have a place there as well.
Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale’s gospel connection continues to strengthen. Through 2009, the area will host the Gospel Industry Retreat twice a year, led by Dr. Jones, which features tapings of his television show that are open to the public. The next retreat will be held May 27-29 at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, FL with performers such as Jim Brown, Bernadette Standers (of TV’s “Good Times”) and singer Florence LaRue (of the Fifth Dimension). An opening reception and taping will be held May 27 at First Baptist Church in downtown Fort Lauderdale with a performance of the musical “Godspell.”
Dr. Mack King Carter, senior minister of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church, has an enthusiastic prediction. “Nashville and Memphis make their claims as centers of American music, but for gospel, Fort Lauderdale is going to be the ‘Magic City.’”
Kitty Oliver
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
May 1: A Fresh Perspective
Since I’ve been asked by people about my local move, I wanted to let you know that I’ve found a nice place. And I’m moving in today. It’s a third-floor condo in Dania Beach, a corner unit facing one of those manmade lakes with the fountain in the middle. I’m renting from two very nice people, Jerry and Mariana, who manage the condo for Mariana’s sister, Maria. The condo has been attractively renovated inside. I have tile throughout, a beautiful new kitchen with a glasstop stove and tiled bar, a screened-in patio and two pleasant bedrooms, one of them perfect for a sunny office. This will be where I write my blogs and other works starting later this week. It also will become the official headquarters for my tax-exempt nonprofit group, The Humanity Project.
I’m pleased because my new home will be even closer to the ocean than my current house. I’ll be about one mile from the sea as the crow flies. That means I’ll be able to add the seashore at Dania Beach to my repertoire of frequently visited spots, right along with Fort Lauderdale beach. There’s a brand-new upscale restaurant on the Dania Beach pier that I want to try soon. And there are many good spots in and around Dania that I’ve yet to sample, including Jimmie’s Chocolates. That particular establishment happens to be within walking distance of my condo – not that this affected my decision to move there or anything.
I’m even happier because my new location is only four miles from where I’m living now. I love the 17th Street area and downtown – and the Dania condo means I’ll still be close to both. But I also will be that much nearer to Hollywood. I’ve spent considerable time in Hollywood over the years and always enjoy it. But I’ve never lived as far south as Dania Beach and I suspect I’ll visit Hollywood more often, both the beach and the active, energetic streets just west of Young Circle. I am optimistic that my new condo will work out well, personally and professionally. Dania Beach can offer a fresh perspective for me to view greater Fort Lauderdale. I’m looking forward to the change.
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