Free Parking? That’s Unheard Of!

by Kate | Jul 29, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Kate

As a longtime resident and beach-goer of Fort Lauderdale, I have watched countless parking meters being erected at what were once free parking zones. Nowadays, free parking on Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront is virtually unheard of and the spots there  are, are few and far between. That is, unless you are smart enough (or don’t have too many outstanding parking tickets) to obtain a Resident Beach Parking Card (RBPC).

This very inexpensive card will prove to be the most valuable card you will carry, next to your glorious Florida driver’s license in which your photo, if taken at a South Florida DMV, probably looks like a criminal mug shot. Don’t let the two-page RBPC agreement scare you away; for just six dollars and a little proof of residency, the card is yours. You must have a current driver’s license, vehicle registration, a current utility bill, and a valid 12-month lease or proof of ownership of property within Fort Lauderdale. The card works like cash when you insert it into the parking meter, covering the cost of your parking in three select beachfront lots.

The three lots are:

• Fort Lauderdale Beach Park – 700 Seabreeze Blvd
• East Lot Birch/Las Olas Intracoastal
• North Beach – A1A north of Sunrise Blvd

Granted this card will not save you from the ruthless meter maids if misused, it will however, save you a few bucks here and there so you can have that one extra drink from Blondie’s that you really just couldn’t afford.

The RBPC can be applied for in-person at the Fort Lauderdale Parking and Fleet Services Department (290 NE 3rd Ave) OR online at: http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/parking/resident_beach_parking_card.htm.

A Little Bump N’ Grind

by Strawberry Jam | Jul 28, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Strawberry Jam

Too many South Floridians have a predictable, yet questionable, love affair with their local Starbucks.  Lucky for us, there are several inviting options in Ft Lauderdale to get your caffeine fix while supporting unique and local businesses. Here are a few spots to either refuel or stay awhile and bump elbows with your neighbors.

Caffe Rustica

1826 E Sunrise Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304

Located between two of Ft Lauderdale’s apples of our eyes, Radioactive Records and the Gateway movie theater, sits Caffe Rustica.  With its scrumptious, homemade treats and carefully crafted beverages, Caffe Rustica is the perfect spot to grab a pick-me-up before browsing the ever-changing selection at Radioactive or before heading to that late-night movie.  Outside seating is available, though its located right on Sunrise Boulevard.

Undergrounds Coffeehaus

2743 E Oakland Park Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306

This locale will make you feel like you’re in your good friends’ home if not your own, especially with the presence of helpful owner Aileen.  Undergrounds Coffeehaus aims to please everyone with their wide variety of books, themed nights, Turkish coffee, crafting sessions, and nearly two dozen kinds of tater tots.  Most books, art, and other items around for entertainment are available for purchase.  Events scheduled regularly so head over to their website to keep up with what’s going on.

Brew Urban Café

209 SW 2nd Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Broken-in leather chairs, a nice selection of national newspapers, and enticing blends of the day- it comes as no surprise that Brew was deservedly voted New Times’ best coffee shop of 2010.  Enjoy some baked goods, free Wi-Fi, and super friendly service, among all the other amenities you’d expect to find in your comfy neighborhood coffee shop.  Make sure you get your coffee card stamped and the 10th coffee is on them!  When the sun goes down, come back and have yourself a beer or glass of wine here- they have microbrews!  Two locations:  Himmarshee Street and Victoria Park.

Monk Parakeets…the Spawn of Satan?

by Mercedes J | Jul 27, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Mercedes J

The devil himself

Last Saturday morning at approximately 7:30am, I groggily rolled over on my comfy king size bed and relished the fact that it was the weekend.  Since I did not have to get up to do anything of significance, I relaxed and starfished across the mattress.

*Squawk! Squawk! Squawk!* What the hell is that God awful racket? I tried to return to my peaceful slumber but the raucous cacophony from some mysterious creatures continued. The noise proceeded for the rest of my once peaceful morning until I finally went outside to my balcony only to see a flight of unidentifiable green whoosh past me. I soon realized that my home was being raided by a flock of Monk Parakeets, aka little tiny spawns of Satan.

Monk Parakeets look innocent enough and some Ft. Lauderdalians may even describe these feral birds as cute.  These small green and white siblings to the parrot are native to Argentina and surrounding South American countries. This species of bird was brought to South Florida in the late 60s for the pet trade.  However, many of the parakeets escaped bird sanctuaries during storms and/or were intentionally released by their owners. Now, South Florida is estimated to house over 100,000 of the birds.

The Monk Parakeet is the only parrot that builds a stick nest in a tree (or the side of one’s apartment complex), that could potentially reach the size of a small car.  A small colony of screeching parakeets are currently hard at work building the home of their dreams directly above my boudoir window.

It is not suggested that anyone try to destroy a Monk Parakeet’s nest by themselves, as the birds are likely to reconstruct their homes as soon as it is taken down. The best solution for preventing parakeet communities from being formed in your area is to notify a bird removal/critter control agency to remove the nests as soon as you notice them.

If these parakeets are going to continue to wake me up at the crack of dawn, then I am going to play music as loud as possible while they are asleep at night.   While I wait for a peaceful removal of my new unwelcome neighbors by critter control, a war of woman vs. parakeet has begun.

No… Sleep… ’til MONDAY!

by Strawberry Jam | Jul 23, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Strawberry Jam

One of the perks of living in Ft Lauderdale is that there is always something interesting to do or another new event going on and this weekend is no exception.  There’s no excuse for you to be stuck at your local watering hole week after week.  Here are some picks to shake things up that sound promising enough to keep you on your feet for the next couple of days and downing enough caffeine fit for a small diner come Monday morning.

FRIDAY

This Friday ArtServe Ft Lauderdale and The Bubble team up for the fifth annual Red Eye, the yearly shindig that showcases local pieces “aimed at promoting fresh, underground art that serves as a conversation piece”.  Featured visual art, sculpture/pottery, jewelery, fashion, and short films must be centered around either lowbrow/pop surrealism art or social commentary.  The exhibit is $5 from 6-9pm at Art Serve at 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard.  Afterward head over to The Bubble’s Itty Bitty Blazar Gala for a continuation of artwork, fashion show, and music from Dooms De Pop, Bad Ass, Radar vs. Wolf,  Scott Mitchell Putesky, and Green Mantles. $10 includes drinks and treats.  Read more about it in CityLink’s “Look into the Red Eye”.

Join Twilight Notes at Brew (209 SW 2nd Ave) from 8 to midnight for happy hour prices on beer and wine all night and music from Shade, Stell*R, and Adam Foster.  The evening is to kick things off for their new monthly parties every first Wednesday of the month to  be held at Himmarshee Sidebar.

Also this Friday catch South Florida reggae/Jamaican dub band Spred the Dub at Monterey Club (2608 S Federal Highway) from 10pm-2am.  Be sure to click their link to see weekly scheduled shows as you don’t want to miss this smooth-sounding band that’s guaranteed to put on a good show or we’ll buy you a beer.  Spred the Dub @ Monterey Club Facebook event link here.

For those slightly south of the heart of Ft Lauderdale, you have another free event: eLemental eXpressions featuring South Florida dubstep artists Somejerk, Okulus Anomali, Doctor Jones, Indovisual, and FTG.  This runs from 10pm-4am at Now Art Cafe at 1802 S Young Circle.  For time slots and more info check out eLemental eXpressions here and for a preview of what you’ll hear and for future events miamidubstep.blogspot.com.

SATURDAY

If Friday night’s quadruple whammy of art and music doesn’t satisfy your fix, take part in the elusive Laser Wolf Productions‘ latest event: Because We Like to Party.  Art by local fave Gurty, the ever growing Iron Forge Press, and about a dozen others.  Sounds provided by Blond Fuzz, Beings, and Web Low Boys.  The event will be at a 4,000 ft. air-conditioned (!) warehouse at 1145 NE 9th Ave.  $5 gets you in and another Lincoln gets you a beer cup til the keg runs dry.

SUNDAY

Squeeze those last few drops of the weekend out on the beach where Ft Lauderdale’s On Til Dawn will host Mas Carne, another of their free on-the-sand dance parties from 11am-8pm by the Yankee Clipper. Don’t forget to bring something yummy for the grill in appreciation for the free tunes and company.  Check out ontildawn.blogspot.com for featured mixes and music news.

Florida Bands Make Waves This Summer

by Strawberry Jam | Jul 22, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Strawberry Jam

At a time when every other new indie band name is animal related, at least three times that many seem to have a fascination with all things summer (Best Coast, Beach Fossils, Sunglasses, Beach House, YACHT, Flamingo, Tanlines, Surfer Blood, Washed Out, The Ruby Suns, Eternal Summers, Tan Dollar, Aloha, Wavves, Coconut Records, Beautiful Swimmers, etc., etc.).  It’d only be a matter of time before Florida would stake out a place for itself in what is rightfully our own- minus the cliche band name.

Imposemagazine.com goes so far as to say this might be the “summer of Florida” thanks Lake Worths’ The Jameses.  The “breezy garage pop” group gets love from Captured Tracks Brooklyn and Pitchfork as well.

The Jameses – Rat People

A longtime personal favorite, Millionyoung might as well be the poster child for last summer’s chillwave/dreampop/lo-fi phenomenon which is still going strong today.  Aside from frequent touring and national festivals, Millionyoung is generous when it comes to making appearances at local spots like The Bubble and events such as For Art’s Sake’s Birdwatch.

Millionyoung – Love Is All Around (Mary Tyler Moore theme song)

Viernes, with their ethereal, muffled and often bass-heavy sounds, are gaining steam fast since the June 8th release of their debut album, Sinister Devices.  Their cover of “I’ve Begun To Fall In Love” is set to appear on a future Sick of the Radio/R. Stevie Moore volume, which has featured Dino Felipe and Ariel Pink in the past.

Viernes – Entire Empire

Many might not know it, and some might not want to admit it, but noise-pop duo Sleigh Bells which recently played at West Palm’s Respectable Street definitely has some roots in South Florida.  Singer Alexis Krauss’ mother is from a small town outside of Tampa and guitarist Derek Miller grew up in the West Palm Beach area- Poison The Well, anyone?  Read more about it in the New Times interview.

Sleigh Bells – Crown On The Ground

Also rising…

The Dewars

Hear Hums

2 New Sections: Links & Mixtapes

by Miguel Bravo | Jul 21, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

Here at the FTLC headquarters, we are always striving to find new ways to inform our readers of local businesses, activities, bands, restaurants,  and Russ Adler sightings. That is why we have added 2 new pages to our blog, Links and Mixtapes. Let me explain each new page below:

Links

On this page, we want to provide a comprehensive listing of local websites. As you can see, we’ve already added a handful of quality blogs, bands, bars, and restaurants. We plan on adding many more in the coming weeks and months. We only ask one tiny, minute, pequeño favor…if we add a link to your site, we’d appreciate you to show the love back. Contact mig@ftlcollective.com if you think your site should be included on our directory.

Mixtape

We are particularly excited about this addition to our website. In this section, we want to include a monthly mixtape of songs by local bands, complete with cover art and a link to download the album for free. This section only works as long as enough bands allow us to include their music on our mix. If you’re in a band, and would like for us to include one of your tracks on our monthly mix, send an email to mixtape@ftlcollective.com with the song attached (please, no viruses) or a link to a site where we can download your song (the preferred method). Expect our first mix to come out in August.

Do you have any suggestions for the FTLC website? Go to the Contact page, and email one of the FTLC bloggers.

Local Rogue Restaurant Prepares to Entertain Morning Radio Show

by Mercedes J | Jul 20, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Mercedes J.

Squat-N-Gobble Mascot

Underground restaurants are growing in popularity and are being featured in food magazines and other various publications. Fort Lauderdale is home to one of these intriguing secret eateries which was recently introduced by John Linn of The New Times and again on the Paul and Young Ron morning radio show (Big 105.9). As frequent diners, the FTLC is a fan of the underground restaurant — The Squat-N-Gobble.  It’s here at the SnG that you will enjoy a humble  communal style meal served on mismatched plates as you sit beside a stranger in folding chairs.

The proprietor of the Squat-N-Gobble — JLo — runs her version of a rogue restaurant out of her Victoria Park apartment where she feeds her patrons delicious noshings such as Boeuf Bourguignon, Hawaiian style ceviche, asparagus-leek risotto, and Soul Food to name a few of her always interesting dishes.  In addition to more traditional menu options, SnG has showcased international fare from countries including India, Turkey, Peru, Argentina, and Greece.

Soul Food Night

Clientele of the Squat-N-Gobble include friends/acquaintances of the self-taught home cook, but also complete strangers who have discovered this unique establishment through one means or another.  JLo’s day job is that of a psychologist, which comes in handy when pre-screening her guests to select those who will most likely contribute to a pleasant and interesting atmosphere, or maybe to get the freakiest possible group of people to analyze for her own studies, we are not sure. “I secretly psychologically profile my potential diners in order to maximize an enjoyable experience — my goal is for all to be amused and have a lot of fun,”  she explains.

Tomorrow evening (July 21^st), the Squat-N-Gobble will attempt to impress an experimental subject from the morning radio show, Paul and Young Ron.  The radio act, known for their social tomfoolery, is sending OMG Mike to check out the indie eatery. According to the show’s website, OMG Mike was raised by a village of monkeys “where he learned to eat food with his feet.”  Dining on SnG’s menu of Jambalaya, Cajun pinto beans, and chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert using one’s feet should be very interesting indeed.  Be sure to tune into Big 105.9  Wednesday morning to listen to the radio show interview SnG’s JLo.

Word on the street is that the Wednesday night’s dinner was booked within a matter of hours after the announcement of the special guest’s attendance three weeks ago.  JLo tells us she is encouraging her patrons to “be on their worst behavior” for the festivities.  It looks as if like the SnG will put forth a valiant effort to make OMG Mike proclaim “ohmigod!” both after having some scrumptious fare and enjoying some outrageous company.  The FTLC hopes OMG Mike is ready for his first Squat-N-Gobble experience — he is in for a treat!

Sunday-Funday at Rosie’s Bar and Grill

by Miguel Bravo | Jul 19, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Adelina Ridicolo

Sunday-Funday is a weekly holiday celebrated in Fort Lauderdale. The monthly riverfront Jazz Brunch is a popular Sunday location, along with the Floridian and the other thousand venues that serve a cold mimosa, but probably the most festive of all places to begin your funday is Rosie’s Bar and Grill in Wilton Manors.

Although Saturday night’s booze and hallucinogens may still be in your system, seeing a cow in this themed restaurant is perfectly normal (the particular cow I spied was part of Wilton Manors’ yearly Gay Rodeo). Walking inside you’ll be welcomed by signs (“BEER: give your brain a break!”) and creative memorabilia on the tall and wide walls around you. Hit up the host stand immediately if you want to enjoy the full feel of this locale and secure a table on the breezy patio. But no worries, while you wait there is plenty of room and service at the bar to begin your adventure.

Typically in the morning one might most enjoy a mimosa ($5)…something about champagne and orange juice is stimulating and refreshing, and it will wake up your senses and help you forget last night’s questionable acts. However, if your tongue can handle the spice, Rosie’s Bloody-Mary ($3) will be sure to bestir you.

After your wait, your host will escort you to the cabana-style patio where a DJ plays techno and house music, and although this area is primarily for sitting, dancing near the DJ is perfectly acceptable. While the music is loud enough to give you the itch to rock your body, the sound is produced well enough that your server can hear your order. The wait staff is fun, knowledgeable, and helpful for the indecisive mind. Each of these characters wears black Rosie’s t-shirts with a different slogan on the back describing themselves or their purpose, in a humorous way of course.

The large menu satisfies all tastes and the food is brilliant, try the Tortilla Stack Attack, the massive and sweet French Toast, the…ah, who cares, everything is good…you are here for the atmosphere and the mimosas anyway.

Sunday brunch continues until 2 p.m., but if you find this place really tickles your pickle and you cannot wait until the weekend for the next escapade, Rosie’s has happy hour Monday through Friday (11 a.m. – 7 p.m.) and other drink specials every day.  The FTLC can assure you, Rosies is one of the better brunch spots in Ft. Lauderdale. Go there!

Cache Me If You Can

by Miguel Bravo | Jul 16, 2010 | Fort Lauderdale

by Mig

Strawberry Jam sifting through the mulch with a stick

“Damn, this place is loaded with muggles.”

That phrase was embarrassingly uttered from my mouth yesterday afternoon, and no, I wasn’t quoting a line from the Harry Potter series (not like that’s better anyway). Actually, Strawberry Jam and I were searching for petroglyphs in Frost Park in Dania, playing the worldwide GPS based game known as Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing). The point of the game is to find hidden containers (geocaches), using only GPS coordinates and a limited amount of clues. Once you find the concealed item, you log your success by writing your name in a log (usually it’s BYOP, bring your own pen/pencil) and documenting it online. Occasionally, the capsule will include a souvenir or a Travel Bug (an item that is transferred to different geocaches). This army of dedicated treasure hunters are known as geocachers; everyone else are referred to as muggles. For more nerd slang, check out the glossary.

Loyal geocachers take their version of hide and seek very seriously. A quick search for geocaches within 50 miles of my house in Sailboat Bend produced 2,412 results. After sifting through the overwhelming list, Strawberry Jam and I settled on a combination of four geocaches, ranging from “easy” to “hard”. Ideally, it’s best to search with a GPS device, but Google maps and the encrypted clues suffice. Our virgin quest took us to popular British hangout King’s Head to conquer the geocache known as A Taste Of England. I will not spoil this one for you guys, but it was pretty damn easy — a perfect confidence builder for newbies like us. Our next adventure, Chillin’ In Frost Park, had us searching for Native American carvings around a baseball field in order to discover some kind of camoflauged container. Twenty minutes later and empty handed, we soon discovered that this dork sport was no cake walk. Sadly, our last three searches were fruitless. Fortunately, we enjoyed ourselves so much that we decided to hide our own geocache in downtown Fort Lauderdale. I encourage our readers to sign up for a free account on the geocaching website, however, most of you won’t, so I will post the clues and coordinates of FTL Collective’s first geocache below. Just make sure you put it back where you found it (if you can find it, bwa ha ha). Happy hunting.

Coordinates: N 26° 07.062′ , W 080° 08.939′

Location:

Container description:

Don’t cut your ear off if you can’t find this geocache.
This small rectangular container is one of a kind.

Additional Clues:

cbchyne Bgvf Erqqvat fbat

Decryption Key:

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I | J|K|L|M
———————————-
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z