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.

The Cove Restaurant and Marina , 1754 SE Third Ct., Deerfield Beach: Ask classic rock aficionados about their favorite band, and nine times out of 10 they'll say, ``You mean besides the Beatles?'' Ask nightlife know-it-alls where they go for happy hour on Friday, the answer usually is, ``You mean besides The Cove?''

Happy hour runs from 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday here, and judging by the size of the crowd on Fridays, you might think Paul and Ringo were guest-bartending. Unsure how to break the ice with that guy or gal you have your eye on? Here are a few apropos opening lines: ``Excuse me.'' ``Pardon me.'' ``I'm sorry.'' Although this place is huge, you'll eventually bump into anyone you might want to meet because it's jam-packed with professional singles on the prowl. The Cove is on the Intracoastal so you can pull up on

Revolutionize your nightlife in Lauderdale

Looking for a little independence from the same old mundane nightlife? A little freedom from the Pavlovian ritual of going to the same places on the same nights, seeing the same people and having the same conversations? You're in luck. Invest in some gasoline and head up to Fort Lauderdale to check out the new W Hotel's Wet Pool Lounge and Whiskey Blue, the site of Salvation Sundays . Up on the fifth floor, where views of the ocean rival those of the scantily clad bathing beauties, the Wet pool deck features the usual creature comforts of hipsterdom: VIP cabanas, bars, lounges and a fire pit (the temperatures may be high, but a fire pit is always a novel prop in Florida).

A much classier version of the skanky Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas, Salvation Sundays will also provide fresh-spun ear candy. And if you dare exhale and hunger for sustenance, the hotel's restaurant Steak 954 will feed you poolside while official vodka Grey Goose quenches your thirst. The party takes place every Sunday from

Bag the belt, grab the snacks: Tips for holiday flying

Flying this holiday season? Here's what you need to know:

Many airlines charge for each checked bag. Check with yours to find out about fees.

Airlines have also become much stricter about the weight of the bags you check and the size of your carry-ons. Weigh or measure your bags before you head to the airport.

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 Lauderdale.

The Red Zone is not the type of place where you'll have to contend with years of spilled beer on the bar counter, repugnant bathrooms and cigarette butts on the floor. As far as sports bars go, this one leans toward the upscale.

The bar area resembles mission control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston but you can simultaneously view all sports, strong man contests -- even tiddledywinks if it's televised. The place offers 13 8-by-9-foot TVs that encircle the rectangular bar, which comfortably seats 30. The

Top Broward restaurants offer $35 deals

The restaurant business has taken a hard hit, with the recession claiming newcomers as well as veteran venues, so hopes are high this fall for Dine Out Lauderdale.

Restaurateurs are counting on customers to take advantage of the $35 prix-fixe, three-course meals at some of Broward's priciest dining spots -- many of them places where you could normally spend $30 on an entree alone.

In its third year, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau program runs Thursday through Nov. 12 and features 37 restaurants from Pompano Beach to Hollywood.