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.

Just like old times, I planned to start the evening with a cold pint of Guinness at Sally O'Brien's Irish Pub but was aghast to find the doors closed. The Palm Grill, Howl at the Moon and even Sloppy Joe's are also out of business.

Thankfully, Fat Tuesday, Hooters and LuLu's Bait Shack fought their way through the recession. Although the crowds aren't as large as they were, these three survivors attract uninhibited locals and out-of-towners.

Since Guinness wasn't on tap, LuLu's bartender Vanessa Smith recommended a Sexy Monkey, a brain-freezing blend of banana colada and strawberry daiquiri served in a hand-carved souvenir coconut shell that doubles as a piggy bank (to help save the $17 you will need to order seconds).

Although I was eyeballing the Patron machine that guarantees a perfect pour of the tasty tequila at the optimal 11 degrees Fahrenheit, the Sexy Monkey -- who was now thinking for me -- was more interested in scoring the three remaining souvenir glasses.

Intended for a table full of imbibers, the 84-ounce Crawdaddy Punch, a mix of grain alcohol and fruit punch, is served in a keepsake fishbowl with multiple straws and a take-home toy alligator. The Miami Vice is poured into a glass the shape of a woman wearing an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny bikini that would look great in my kitchen cabinet next to the hurricane glass the 23-ounce Tropical Mojito comes in.

I made it through three sips of the fishbowl and switched to water for the remainder of the evening.

LuLu's looks exactly as it did when I was a regular, and all the bartenders knew my name. It resembles a bar on the bayou with a sheet metal ceiling, wood- shingled walls and weathered pictures of patrons tacked near neon beer signs.

Rock bands play Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and the stripper pole near the stage sees action as fishbowls are drained. Lucky for me and my reputation, the Sexy Monkey kept me firmly in my seat.

UPCOMING

Guitar virtuoso Alex Fox performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Café Del Mar (213 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale). No cover.

The Supervillains play at the Culture Room Saturday. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $12.

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