As I'm sure you can imagine, my inbox is flooded with encouraging e-mails telling me that I'm the most talented writer since Shakespeare. But once I scroll past the e-mails from my mother, I find actual questions from readers. A common query is: ''Can you suggest a few local musicians I should check out?'' I'm dedicating this column to providing an answer.
Fireworks: check. American flags: check. Red, white and blue face paint: check. Shots of ouzo: What? Ouzo, a potent Greek liqueur, may not be traditionally American, but if you really want to celebrate your independence this Fourth of July weekend, pass on the picnics, barbecues and baseball games and try this multicultural barhop.
I'm not the type of guy who falls in love easily, but I may have swooned the other night at Rock N' Hookah, a chic Middle Eastern lounge perfectly positioned near the entrance of Seminole Paradise at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood).
The last time I visited The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, I had dinner with my grandma at nearby Century Village first and was caught in the ruthless clutches of a neighbor who forced me to eat low-salt, no-sugar-added cookies. This time, I escaped that horrifying excuse of a dessert and took a seat at Brimstone Woodfire Grill in The Shops.
Once again, sinister storm clouds filled the sky, so I forfeited my seats to the Matisyahu/Claypool concert at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater. Instead, I headed over to Darrel & Oliver's Café Maxx at 2601 E. Atlantic Blvd.
If you're thinking about taking the plunge into Internet dating, I'm going to share a secret: Just about everyone online is lying. Lying about their height, weight, income, marital status, intentions, interests, drinking frequency, smoking status, child status and if they have hair under that baseball hat or not. I once met a young lady who said in her profile that she was a dead ringer for Marilyn Monroe. Upon meeting, I learned her words ''dead ringer'' must have referred to what the blonde bombshell...
Who will make it to the NBA Finals? In the West, will it be Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers or that other team? And in the East will it be LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers or that other team? Whether you're a completely casual fan like me or a hard-core hoops fanatic and actually know the names of the other two playoff teams (Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic -- I just looked it up online), you'll fit in at The Red Zone Café & Sports Theatre, at 1804 Cordova Rd. in Fort...
I thought about starting this column borrowing an idea from Sesame Street: 'This column has been brought to you by the letter 'W'. '' But that was before I visited the W Hotel, which opened just two weeks ago on Fort Lauderdale beach (401 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd). The W is far too stunning for a Snuffleupagus or Oscar reference.
Why did your mom always tell you not to talk to strangers? Could she have been a worse role model? Did you ever see her walk into a bank or grocery store and not tell at least one person her life story?
The Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo. They both deserve my attention, but both festivities take place this week. Which shall I write about?
Vitamin C. Echinacea. Lots of liquids. Plenty of rest. It's all bogus. If I catch a killer cold, these age-old remedies are just about useless. I drink gallons of orange juice and pots of tea. I hibernate like a bear but my head continues to swim.
I was driving to my aunt's house for Passover when she called to ask if I would stop at Publix to pick up a few things. Her house is near the University of Miami and I was planning on walking around the campus for the 30 minutes I needed to kill before dinner started. I decided to allow 15 minutes for nostalgia at my alma mater and 15 minutes for the Publix run.
When I was being considered for the nightlife columnist job, an editor asked me, ``Do you know enough about the Broward nightlife scene to sustain a weekly column?''
Slurred speech. Double vision. Unsteadiness. Rowdiness. Memory loss. Uninhibited behavior that may lead to going home with strangers. And these are just the positive consequences of drinking alcohol. There are a few, so I've been told, negative outcomes as well.
I have something in common with President Barack Obama. Columbia University undergrad. Harvard Law School grad. President of Harvard Law Review.
Back in the '80s, Fort Lauderdale would host a few hundred thousand spring breakers, but these days the city is only expecting 15,000.
Isn't it time to stop getting gaga over green beer? I suggest we boycott the traditional festivities of St. Patrick's Day and meet for milk and frosted-green cookies at a bookstore. We'll be in bed by 10 and awaken bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for a productive day at our jobs! Just joshing. You'll spot me at a few (or maybe all) of the following St. Paddy's Day parties:
Me: What should we do tonight? My friend: I don't know. What are you in the mood for? Me: I'm not sure. What about you? We go back and forth like this for at least 15 minutes. I'll mention a couple of bars, my friend will rattle off the names of a few movies and we'll simultaneously reject the option of going bowling. And in the end, we'll invariably end up wasting the night in front of the TV with a bag of stale Chex Mix.
Don't you just hate that guy who only listens to bands you've never heard of? It's the same guy who rolls his eyes in disdain when you tell him that you love the old standbys like Journey, Boston, ABBA, the Eagles, Meatloaf . . .
My good friend Charles is a nightlife know-it-all. Regardless if you're headed to New York or New Zealand, he'll supply you with the inside scoop on local lounges, dark dance halls and corner cafés. Unfortunately, his computer-like mind needs to be defragged because he can't seem to remember what I do for a living.
With regards to Valentine's Day, men are from Mars and women are from a galaxy far, far away. This may not be breaking news, but men have very little interest in celebrating it. To be blunt, most of us wouldn't mind if Feb. 14 was permanently removed from the calendar. But alas, in the tradition of April 15, Valentine's Day doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
My column next week will suggest last-minute Valentine's Day venues for those of us who procrastinate. Aside from its literary merit, however (or lack thereof), the column will be useless to you if you've been flying solo lately.
The Pittsburgh Pelicans are playing the Arizona Jawbones this Sunday in Super Bowl MMXVII. OK, I'm not much of a football buff. For the first third of my life, I honestly thought people were talking about something called the Super Ball (which still makes more sense to me).
``And I can rest to show you that love will always cure you. No matter what your sickness is. No matter what hurts you. So give love. It's the only thing that cures you. We all need a little healing. And if you give it, I have learned it'll all be returned.''
True or false? My parents have fled New York for the winter. True: For the fifth year in a row, they are renting a place in sunny South Florida.
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