AFTER DARK

Dress for the occasion -- at least for one night

If I were king, people would be required to wear costumes every day of the year. But as I'm not in charge (yet), you'll have to settle for wearing ghostly getups for Halloween on Saturday.

AFTER DARK

You'll light up at opulence of Florida Cigar Lounge

I thought I was a nightlife know-it-all but realized I was just a novice when I discovered the Florida Cigar Co. Lounge & Bar.

AFTER DARK

Going with the flow at Hollywood's Lava Bar

Itook a few pics with my cellphone cam while sitting at the Lava Tiki Bar & Grille. I sent them to my New York friends and attached a subject line that read ''This is why.''

AFTER DARK

Drink in Oktoberfest at the Old Heidelberg

Even though I waited until the second week of Oktoberfest to visit the authentic German restaurant Old Heidelberg, the bratwurst brigade was still in full force when I walked into the lobby.

AFTER DARK

Rock around the clock at these watering holes

Most bars stay open until 2 a.m. Others don't close the doors until 4. But the most nocturnal night owls know they can belly up to the bar at Andy's Lounge until 8 in the morning.

AFTER DARK

Hang on for a wild night at Boomers

As soon as I opened my car door at Boomers, I was hit with that typical amusement park music -- a hit from more than a year ago, tinny and completely devoid of bass. This time is was John Mayer's Waiting on the World to Change. Could have been worse.

AFTER DARK

Cheers to the survivors at Beach Place

Spring break or not, people used to party seven nights a week at Beach Place in Fort Lauderdale as if they were college kids out on the loose. I traded this scene for a more mellow one but have recently been itching for some wilder times. So after applying an extra coat of hair gel, I headed out to this beachfront bash at 17 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

AFTER DARK

Big daddy of sports bars gets Weston touch

Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill recently celebrated its 50th year in business, so I stopped by the Weston location (2460 Weston Rd.) in acknowledgment of the golden anniversary.

AFTER DARK

Some sure bets for the long weekend

Don't waste a minute of this three-day weekend laboring over what to do. Refer instead to the following list of scenic settings, noteworthy nightspots and island adventures.

AFTER DARK

Feeling crabby? Rustic Inn's got the cure

After being sandwiched for three hours on a plane between a snotty 11-year-old girl and a middle-aged man who smelled like soup, I needed a cocktail. So when my flight landed in Fort Lauderdale, I hightailed out of the long-term parking lot and was sitting at the Rustic Inn's bar within five minutes.

AFTER DARK

Put your game face on and kick off the weekend

I'm not on NASA's payroll, but you can trust me when I tell you the Earth is revolving around the sun faster than it used to. I was having dinner at the Red Zone Café & Sports Theatre last week and was shocked to see a preseason football game on TV. Didn't I just see the Super Bowl?

AFTER DARK

Jai-alai's just one of the games in Dania

Thanks to a gentleman named Ralph, who gave me the tip (and who made sure to tell me he's from Brooklyn), I won the first bet I ever placed on a simulcast horse race. I was sitting next to him at the Sports Bar on the second floor of Dania Jai-Alai at 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd. in, believe it or not, Dania Beach.

AFTER DARK

Inspired to try out some Shenanigans

I often turn to my favorite movies for inspiration. Recently I watched Juno, and as soon as I heard Ellen Page's character say the word ''shenanigans,'' I grabbed my car keys and headed out to Hollywood's Shenanigans Eastside Pub , 1300 S. Federal Hwy.

AFTER DARK

The Trove's a Lauderdale beachside treasure

For those of you who require a respite from the excessive drinking and loud music typically associated with a night out in South Florida, I occasionally write a review about an artsy java joint, arcade, bowling alley, miniature golf course, go-kart facility or pottery studio.

AFTER DARK

If romance is an art, this is the place

Date no. 1: Starbucks. Although a bit cliché, it's a safe bet. If things don't work out, you're out of there in 15 minutes.

Date no. 2: Dinner and movie. traditional and wholesome.

Date no. 3: This is where things get a bit tricky.

AFTER DARK

Even non-gamblers find Hard Rock a good bet

Armed only with unshakable confidence, big dreams and a wad of cash, I hit the blackjack tables at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Twenty minutes later, armed only with a credit card, I swapped my seat at the card table for a bar stool at the Hard Rock Café and ordered a Southern Rock, a blend of Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur, Smirnoff Vodka, sweet and sour mix and Sierra Mist.

AFTER DARK

Local talent rocks at Broward nightspots

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.

AFTER DARK

An international Independence Day celebration

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.

AFTER DARK

Middle Eastern bar shakes up the Hard Rock

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).

AFTER DARK

Lots more than shops at Shops at Pembroke

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.

AFTER DARK

If you want to impress, land at the Pelican

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...

AFTER DARK

Score a seat at the bar at Lauderdale's Red Zone

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...

AFTER DARK

Lauderdale's W Hotel ultra hip, but welcoming

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.