If you’ve had yet to check out Fort Lauderdale’s Wine Warehouse, tonight’s free wine tasting event is the perfect time to peruse the racks and wet your palette at the same time. This wine store chain has 14 locations throughout Florida but the Fort Lauderdale store is the ONLY one in the South Florida area. Wine prices range from very reasonable ($4.99 bottles of Rex Goliath) to expensive but the wide variety in prices and types of wines mean you will have many options to choose from. Each franchise owner buys wines at the lowest prices so that you, the customer, may “never pay retail again”, as their motto suggests. This quaint, but spacious wine store moved to its Oakland Park location about two years ago and while it does not boast the most appealing view on the outside, the inside will leave you pleasantly surprised. The entrance is in the rear of the building, which is accessible from the tiny parking lot. The friendly staff are highly knowledgeable about the wines they sell and are more than willing to help you find exactly what you are looking for or exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for!
Take one down, pass it around, 98 bottles of wine on the rack at Wine Warehouse.
Tonight’s free wine tasting event begins at 6 PM and runs until the store closes at 8 PM. The theme for the night is Spanish wine and it will feature six wines ranging in price from $6.99 to $15.99 per bottle – three reds, two whites, and one cava. Selected wines include Gran Sarao Rosé, Montecillo Albariño, and Mores Grenache/Cariñena/Syrah. Get your wine-loving friends together and come sample some delicious Spanish wines. Lucky for you, the free tasting is a weekly event so while you are in the store be sure to sign-up for the mailing list to keep yourself in the loop. The quality of the wine selection and discount prices guarantee you will want to come back!
Spanish Wine Tasting
September 2, 6-8 PM
Wine Warehouse
1301 E. Oakland Park Blvd.
(954) 561-9453
What kind of thought process goes into creating an official nickname or motto? Personally, I would choose something edgy and city-specific (think Austin’s motto “Keep Austin Weird”). Interestingly enough, most of Broward County’s larger municipalities have chosen to go with cliche phrases or ambigious terminology that could apply to a multitude cities (if you don’t already know, you’ll never guess what city is dubbed “the Heart Of Broward County). To help make the work day go a little quicker, the FTL Collective has developed a quiz to test your knowledge of your county’s various alternative monikers and official catchphrases. Based on my research, only 22 of the 31 municipalities have a nickname or motto. Places like the village of Lazy Lake which has a two digit population (38 people lived there in 2000) or Sea Ranch Lakes (yeah, I never heard of it either) have chosen not to describe their city with a slogan or alias.
The game is simple. Match the municipality with it’s nickname or motto. Jot the answers on your own piece of paper (EX: A3, B7, C9, etc) or print out the quiz and check the answers here. If anyone scores a legitimate 100%, I heard Fat Hand will shave FTLC in the side of his head. Good luck.
FTLCollective presents: The Broward Nicknames & Mottos Impossible Matching Quiz…..
Living in South Florida we are constantly bombarded with out-of-towners wanting to visit our year-round paradise. I do not mind hosting guests, however, I do mind when they ask me to take them to what I consider the WORST tourist attractions in greater Fort Lauderdale. I’ve heard them time and time again and always try my hardest to find any excuse to avoid these activities that I have developed a strong hatred for over the years. I occasionally give in, most often after a few beers when I am at my most vulnerable. For each activity I have offered an alternative suggestion that needs little explanation – take it from the FTLC bloggers!
“What’s this I hear about that big outlet mall?” I cringe at the thought of hearing this question, yet, every time I have a first time visitor, these words are regretfully muttered from their freshly sunburned lips. It’s the same scenario every time: we struggle to find a parking spot and then walk for five minutes in the heat trying to figure out how we will remember where we parked the car. We then rejoice upon entering the over-air-conditioned monstrosity of an outlet mall. There are few things I will give credit to Sawgrass Mills for and one of those things is the fact that it is indoors. Immediately you are surrounded by masses of people, most of them from foreign countries, running every which way, trying to make the most out of their bargain hunting. You see people pushing carts loaded with everything under the sun and then you find yourself extremely disappointed when you leave the mall with nothing because the only clothing sizes left are XXL. You’ll find yourself digging through piles of junk in stores such as Burlington Coat Factory or paying prices for Nikes that seem inappropriate for an outlet mall. If people pushing strollers into your heels does not bother you enough, you are quickly worn down and ready to return to the car only to realize the mall does not flow in a circle and you’ll have to turn back around and pass all of the unworthy outlet stores that you’ve already avoided. One tiny bag in hand and a frustrated look on their face, my guests always make some sort of statement like “Well that was a disappointment.” I hide my look of “I told you so” and then we gracefully walk back out to the parking lot, forgetting where we parked, of course.
Alt suggestion: They probably aren’t going to buy anything at Sawgrass so take them to the Swap Shop instead, where they will experience a South FL flea market at its finest.
Out of the few options South Floridians have for fresh produce and local goods, the Riverwalk Urban Market doesn’t disappoint with decent prices and a nice selection of various items. After suddenly disappearing from it’s original location across from the Museum of Discovery and Science the market has finally gotten around to updating their flyers with their new location: the historic district near the old River House. Here are just a few reasons to shake off that Friday night funk and make it out before they close up shop at 1pm. Though pretty consistent, most vendors sign up on a weekly basis so visit often to check for changes.
Artisan pasta
Spicy Thai linguine and peppercorn pasta are two of over a dozen varieties. At $4.50/half pound and $8/pound prices are comparable to grocery store gourmet pasta prices.
Homemade fish dip
Try a free sample if the photos of this guy smoking his fish and the vacuum packed/permanent marker DIY packaging aren’t enticing enough. Smoked wahoo dip and smoked salmon are among the choices.
Produce
Why buy from other states or countries when Florida has some of the best soil and climate to grow in? A nice selection of leafy greens, fruits, and seasonal items are available from your own backyard. The best deal here is probably the small baskets of sundried tomatoes for $3.
Herbeque
If browsing makes you hungry or if the heat leaves you parched this is your spot to stop for a meaty fix or refreshing sweet tea. They’re away on occasional Saturday caterings as well so you might want to say a prayer to the BBQ gods before your visit.
Local honey
Honey is excellent for your immune system and a good source of natural energy. Get it before the bees go extinct.
As usual, lots of stuff going on this weekend. Here’s just a few of the many options for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday:
Friday
Fort Lauderdale’s quarterly Christmas, more commonly known as the Bus Loop, is back today. This time the loop focuses on the beach bars. It’s not too late to sign up. Before noon you can prepay on the website, otherwise pay at the check-in spots at Blue Martini or Beach Place courtyard. $20 beforehand, $25 at “the door”.
Afterwards, head to 1921, FTL’s premiere underground music venue, for the Hot Pants Dance Party. If you are unclear of what hot pants are, just think short shorts. Unlike most 1921 parties, there are no bands, but the world famous DJ Mig (me), will be spinning the hottest in electro house remixes, indie, and nu disco. There’s a $5 cover charge, but all proceeds go to help a friend that’s struggling with cancer. The bar is cash only. The club is located at 1921 S Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL. It’s tricky to find, so use this youtube video to find it.
Every fourth Saturday of the month, Sea Monster in downtown Ft Lauderdale has an indie dance party known as Revel.Marvelous Kendall spinning indie and alternative music.
Every fourth Saturday, Fat Village Arts District holds an open house for all the art studios in the area. Complimentary refreshments and wine tasting. It goes down from 7-11pm on Saturday night. It’s located between NW 4th St and NW 6th St.
Until the last year or so the local art and music scene was dwindling on a thin line in Fort Lauderdale. With a re-vamp in venues and some very ambitious and talented artists, the scene is starting to thrive and its rapid growth looks incredibly promising. Almost every week a local band graces one of our Fort Lauderdale stages or some über-hip resident socialites are throwing an art show/warehouse party. This Thursday is no different when Twilight Notes and Radio-Active Records present the monthly (or bi-monthly) coffee shop-cum-art gallery event, Dialect, at Brew Urban Cafe in downtown Fort Lauderdale. DJs Adam Foster, Mikey Ramirez, Damask, and Esoteric are providing the sounds; your goal is to sip a brew, caffeinated or hop-infused, and enjoy the wonderful works of exhibiting artists Jose Lopez, Estefania Lopez, Ilian Velasco, Kazilla, Raymond Brown, and N! Satterfield. A typical night at a Dialect event means the coffee shop and its patrons will spew out on to SW 2nd street downtown, socializing over a few choice beverages, and supporting the local indie art scene. The FTL Collective strongly encourages you to tell your friends to tell their friends and come out to Brew tonight at 8 pm. The event is free to the public and a majority of the artwork will be for sale if you are so inclined to stock your abode with some lovely local artistry.
If you are fortunate enough to have a roof over your head and your stuff together, it only makes sense to help those who don’t. Doing so not only provides assistance to charitable organizations in need but also shows your support for those who’ve fallen on hard times. With the recent economy producing a new breed of homelessness, it is not uncommon for professionals, students, and single parents to seek shelter. Volunteering allows for unique experiences and conversation with others in the community. Stories might include someone’s past, to what they’re hoping to become, and how they’ve been helped along the way. Most people are just as curious to know your story and are grateful for your time as well.
At Broward Outreach, there are many opportunities to lend a hand, ranging from office work and tutoring, to food service and various annual events. Individuals seeking help can’t come and go as they please but can at any time exit the program which includes courses, housing, and meals. Classes range from job training and motivational classes, to educational courses such as basic math. There are three locations: Hollywood, Miami, and Pompano Beach.
If networking for a cause is more your thing, then Young Professionals for Covenant House might be for you. Geared towards 21-45 year olds, members attend fundraising events (oftentimes with the lure of alcohol, think Busloop), trips, or do volunteer work. Proceeds benefit Covenant House Florida which serves at-risk youth under the age of 21. Since opening in 1985, Covenant House has served over 30,000 individuals and received $1,675,000 from Young Pros.
Here at the FTL Collective we are always seeking the best deals in town to share with our loyal subscribers. When I stumbled upon Empire Pizza Cafe on a hungover Saturday afternoon, the cheap beer specials drew me inside; not because my dehydrated withdrawaling body was craving one, but because I wanted to share this information with our readers. Empire Pizza replaced the failed Le Bonne Crepe crepe restaurant in the Palm Court Pavilion located off the NW corner of US1 and Broward Boulevard. The owners changed up the theme from lackluster French ‘fast food’ to a New York City style pizza joint, complete with a large gorilla statue out front – as if King Kong is going to inspire patrons to come inside. Out front also sits a white board complete with beer specials, which is highly more likely to attract guests than a fake, and overly friendly-looking gorilla.
All day, every day you can quench your thirst with bottles of Peroni for $3.25, Amstel Light for a mere $2.75, and Miller Lite for just $2.25. The seating outside was minimal and receives an FTLC rating of C- because the tables are severely lopsided and you will most likely end up with pizza in your lap.
empire pizza outdoor (slanted) seating
Take the risk, or sit inside at a small table lining the north wall. In true NYC pizza joint fashion, one side of the restaurant holds the kitchen/counter and the other side is lined with small, but comfortable, tables. The menu was quite impressive for a tiny place that also delivers (with a minimum $10 purchase) and in addition to pizza, includes calzones, hot/cold subs, pasta, salads, and wings. Personal 10-inch pizzas range from $9-$13 and large sixteen-inchers cost $14-$26.50. You can elect to devour your own pizza creation or choose from a variety of, as the menu calls it, ‘pizza with personalities’, such as the Caprese topped with melted mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes, and fresh basil. With a pizza you receive thin aluminum plates, reminiscient of a plate you would use in a prison dining hall, not that any FTLC bloggers would know this. Don’t let the prison-esque plates scare you away because let’s face it, with these beer specials you might get so blitzed that acting out the Greek tradition of plate smashing probably will not be the worst idea you’ll have that night.
Overall, Empire Pizza Cafe is a good place to go for a quick and inexpensive meal or if you are having serious yearnings to see a map of the NYC subway lines. A pizza for two and two cold ones will set you back less than $16.
As a writer for an emerging blog that represents the city of FTL, it is my responsibility to occasionally surf the internet with the intention of finding mentions of our city’s name in various blogs, videos, or news sites. Last week, I stumbled on this eHow video about how to make a drink called Fort Lauderdale.
In my opinion, before an alcoholic beverage is named after a city, the recipe should be run by the residents of the respective municipality. My friends know my disdain for the upper half of Florida (or as I like to call it South Georgia), but that doesn’t give me the right to piss and vomit in a blender and call it the North Florida.
Because we are a blog that enjoys input from its readers, we would like for you guys to make suggestions for a new and improved version of the Fort Lauderdale. Let’s create a drink that encompasses the spirit of our great city. In other words, let’s put so much alcohol in it that even our town drunk, Mickey Clean, will think it’s too strong. Let’s not forget that we are nicknamed Fort Liquordale for a reason.
After mulling over everyone’s suggestions, we will post a follow-up at the end of the week, describing how to make the enhanced alcoholic beverage. Share your input by commenting below.
