Three things I find absolutely bizarre about Rolling Stone:

1. The magazine has been sent to my house for the past 11 years and I haven't, as of yet, signed up for a subscription.

2. The editors haven't, as of yet, begged me to write album reviews.

3. Peter Betan, as of yet, hasn't graced a cover.

If Peter Gabriel, Dave Matthews, Lionel Richie and Sade had a baby together, he'd grow up to be Peter Betan, a soulful singer/songwriter who's been performing in South Florida for 20 years.

Back when I was an impressionable college kid attending the University of Miami, his Coconut Grove gigs inspired me to pick up the guitar. I thought maybe we'd be able to tour together one day. That dream was squashed after hearing him recently in Fort Lauderdale. My six-string skills do not even qualify me to hold his guitar strap.

I was strolling east on Las Olas and recognized his voice and signature style from a block away. I followed the vibes, ala Toucan Sam in a Froot Loops commercial, and found him playing to a group of awed diners at Cafe Blue Mediterranean Bistro & Wine Bar, 1010 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

In my last column, I mentioned how impressed I was for dressing appropriately for a swanky night out on the town. This week, I completely dropped the ball. Couples, decked out for a Friday night, clinked oversized wine glasses while clean-cut Peter Betan lusciously covered Sting's Fragile in the wrought iron gated courtyard in front of Cafe Blue. I felt like I'd be intruding with my Nike sandals, board shorts and faded college-era Eric Clapton T-shirt, so I took a seat in a quiet corner of the bar.

Raul Navarro is the head chef and new owner of Cafe Blue. Raul, who says he will soon change the nightspot's name to Pesca, redecorated the place and it now resembles a cozy wine bar you might find on a yacht. The speckled blue marble bar counter matches the freshly painted aqua walls and perfectly positioned artwork. Track lighting along with hand painted glass fixtures illuminate the bar and white tablecloth-covered tables with a little help from the glow of an unassuming TV positioned behind the bar.

I wasn't in the mood for a real drink and I didn't want to sit there nursing a glass of water, so I asked Raul to bring me an order of his ceviche. Being that peanut butter and jelly on organic wheat bread is my favorite meal, I'm not qualified to review food, I can talk about the presentation of this citrus-infused, peppery shrimp dish. It came out of the kitchen on a little plate of dry ice and it was literally smoking like a witch's brew. All heads turned to me and I gaped at the plate like I was attempting to read the future. And what did the future hold for me? That I'd be ordering another serving, because it was quite delicious.

About 180 varieties of wine are available, 18 of which come by the glass. You can also get an espresso or cappuccino whipped out by bartenders as proficient as veteran baristas.

You'll be hard pressed to find a more welcoming, romantic spot, and with the addition of Peter Betan on Thursday and Friday nights, your evening will be most memorable.

Work off the calories up the block on the dance floor at Mango's (904 E. Las Olas). Catch live music here Tuesday through Sunday. Songs here tend to take on a disco flavor; if you're in the mood for something more hard driving, head to O'Hara's Jazz & Blues Cafe. Their motto is ''We Give Good Sax 7 Nights a Week and Twice on Sunday!'' But the days are numbered at O'Hara's because the Riverside Hotel is expanding once again, absorbing many of the shops and restaurants on Las Olas in the very near future.

When exactly? Neither the bartender or bar manager would say, and the ceviche didn't provide a clear answer either.

COMING UP

• Clutch, The Sword, Graveyard and Never Got Caught play Culture Room at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $19.99.

• On Saturday and Sunday, Henry Rollins performs his spoken word act at Revolution. Shows start at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25.

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