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 would look like after being exhumed.

In light of this revelation, don't fret about finding the perfect first date destination. If an initial spark is in the cards, it doesn't matter if it ignites at a fancy French restaurant or over slushies at the concession stand in Target. However, you'd be wise to carefully consider the venue for the all-important second date. A successful second date will keep the ball rolling or stop it dead in its tracks.

Here's another secret I'm going to share: One of my favorite post-first date places is Pelican Landing, in the Pier 66 Marina at 2301 SE 17th Cswy., Fort Lauderdale. I usually don't take on the role of Mr. Mapquest, but since it's your second date, and since Pelican Landing is hard to find, follow these directions for smooth sailing: From the 17th Street Causeway, pull into the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 parking lot and hang a quick left. Park your car toward the end of the lot near the water. Under the moonlight, walk to the end of the dock and make a right down the perpendicular dock.

As if you're in a Bond flick, you'll pass a fleet of gazillion-dollar yachts, one more extravagant than the next. You'll eventually come to a flight of stairs, which leads to the nightlife nirvana of Pelican Landing.

From a table on this second-story outdoor deck, you'll appreciate the stunning bird's-eye view of the Intracoastal, the lighted Causeway Bridge and downtown Fort Lauderdale. The inside bar is modestly decorated but exudes refinement. The counter is covered in a light mahogany and the stools are padded with navy blue cushions. Bottles of 10 Cane Rum (makes a killer mojito) are backlit behind the bar and two moderate-size flat screen TVs are tuned to sports.

The reggae band Wildfire performs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and, while grooving along with them, I suggest ordering a Pelican Guru. It's a delicious mix of Absolut Peach, Grand Marnier, Chambord, Midori Melon, Malibu rum, Disaronno, cranberry and pineapple juices.

Patrons at Pelican Landing, mere strangers moments before, interact amiably as if they're temporary members of a secret treehouse club and the bartenders accommodate accordingly. You can't help but feel special here.

If you lovebirds progress to a third date, look no further than Grille 66 & Bar. Simply retrace your steps but instead of turning right down the perpendicular dock, turn left. This stunning spot is the epitome of fine dining but it attracts a healthy bar crowd as well.

I asked the extraordinarily skilled bartender Tomi Zito to hand me the wine list and she placed a leather-bound document as thick as a script to Pulp Fiction on the black granite bar counter. You'll have a choice of 600 selections, a selection full-time sommelier Steve Brown says wins awards from Wine Spectator every year. We chatted for nearly 10 minutes but since I know as much about astrophysics (nothing) as I do about wine, I only understood about seven words of the conversation.

But to summarize, he has catered to tighter budgets by substituting more affordable but still superior wines. Flipping through the tome, I saw a bevy of bottles in the mid-$30-$50 range. But if you're still willing to part with the big bucks, the Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is, ''firmly structured and tightly wound . . . with tight tannins'' and will set you back $1,250.

Grille 66 looks ready to be photographed for a magazine feature. The floor-to-ceiling windows facing the marina are squeaky clean, the flowers are meticulously arranged, the tables are beautifully set and the bottles behind the bar are polished to a shine.

While elegant, the atmosphere isn't stuffy. You'll find yourself sitting between the owners of those James Bond yachts and the crew that tends to them. And if you lied about owning one of these ocean liners on your online profile, try to remember the difference between the bow and the stern in case you get called on it (front and back, respectively).

COMING UP

• Hard-rocking Phat Munky plays at 10 tonight at Automatic Slims at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Hollywood; no cover.

• On Saturday, the super smooth String Theory plays at 10 p.m. at the Kahuna Bar & Grill, 249 NE 21st Ave., Deerfield Beach; no cover.

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