Mind-boggling Music and Sunshine

The first week of February my wife and I were in South Florida. We flew from New York LaGuardia Airport to Ft Lauderdale. At the car rental desk the helpful customer service person handed us an Area Guide Book. I usually don’t pay much attention to the guidebooks since I’m a lousy tourist. However, I   browsed it that evening. I was glad I did. The first thing I noticed is that they claim Ft. Lauderdale has 3000 hours of sunshine per year. I already liked the place.  Reading on, I see a reference as follows: Jazz lovers flock to the Riverwalk in downtown Fort Lauderdale the first Sunday of every month for the SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch. Jazz bands and solo artists perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on five outdoor stages along the New River. We just happened to be there the first weekend of February. Being jazz enthusiasts, we couldn’t resist. Besides it was February, 80 degrees, and we wanted our share of the 3000 hours of sunshine.

From Miami, where we were staying, we took the downtown Ft. Lauderdale exit off Interstate 95 and easily found convenient parking for the Riverwalk event. The guidebook said people flock to this event and that wasn’t an exaggeration. Carloads of people were pulling into the parking area, unloading lavish picnic baskets with all kinds of delicacies including wine and champagne. The lawn areas were covered with couples and families sprawled in their lawn chairs or on their blankets partaking of all kinds of food and drink along with the music. It would probably be a good idea to arrive early and stake out your spot.

There are a number of outdoor restaurants along the Riverwalk which were serving their various forms of brunch to those who chose not to bring their own or who didn’t know enough to, like us. The music performers change each month. A schedule is provided on the website (then go to Parks and Recreation special events). We heard some incredible music on the three stages. First there were Davis and Dow Hot House Swing Band. Moving down the Riverwalk we caught the Blues Therapy Band (my favorite). Finally, we encountered an incredible Latin Jazz guitarist, David Fernando (Katherine’s favorite).

The New River winds just to the South of Downtown Ft. Lauderdale and is lined with marinas, docks, Water ferries and tour boats. If you tire of people watching you will find just a few feet away, a parade of every type of boat you could imagine. They ranged from kayaks to huge, gleaming white yachts adorned with bathing beauties (my favorite).

We walked to the end of the Riverwalk and continued into the downtown shopping and restaurant area of Las Olas. The Big City Tavern attracted us. It provided great service in an elegant but relaxed setting. The brunch turned out to be delicious and reasonably priced. I enjoyed a steak with asparagus and baby baked potatoes adorned with hollandaise sauce. Katherine ordered Rigatoni pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and basil. “Delicious,” she exclaimed after every bite!

If you are in South Florida on Sunday, the first weekend of the month, head for a good time with music, friendly people watching, food and a parade of boats that never ends. It’s free! And the sunshine and warmth is mind-boggling.

Stan the Man  

 

A Mind-Boggling Change Once Again

I arrived late last night. It was warm and humid. Peering through the sliding glass door facing the water, I could see the lights of distant buildings. The lights twinkled and wavered, reflected in the water as in an imperfect mirror. Opening the door and stepping out onto the dark deck I looked upward at the cloudless sky overhead sprinkled generously with stars. Being the dark of the moon nothing extinguished the stars. The soft, gentle air lightly massaged me. I wanted to remove my clothes and let it embrace my entire body. I removed my shirt. The air surrounded me. I smelled the salty, humid odor of warm salt water. One can almost taste it. The only sound was the barely detectable lapping of waves against the concrete bulkhead below.  Tired, I climbed into the king size bed in my new bedroom. I felt like a king. I was quickly lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the gentle waves.

 I awoke, wondering where I was. Quickly I remembered and sat up in bed. The large open window of the bedroom faces east. I gazed at the sunrise that looked back at me. The red sun had just risen above the horizon. It was surrounded by a haphazard crowd of clouds. The sun’s red rays reflected off the billowy clouds. They were transformed, becoming a massive art deco collage. Reds, oranges, pinks of every shade mingled seemingly and artist’s creation.

The air felt warm, humid and salty already. I pulled on my shorts that hadn’t been worn in months. My bare feet sank into the thick carpet of the bedroom then pattered on the cool tile of the hallway and living room. I surveyed the apartment more closely. The constant presence of salt air has taken its toll. The refrigerator door is pockmarked with rusty spots. The metal chairs on the deck are rusty. Everything I touched seemed to have a salty film covering it. The round wood table with four comfortable chairs looked inviting. I sat at the table and enjoyed the rich aroma of my brewing Cuban coffee. There is an empty four shelf bookcase against the wall. It reminds me of Walmart. There are two other chairs that match the two-tone brown of the chairs at the table. There’s a couch and a coffee table. Sitting on a stand in the corner next to the door is a TV. Experimentation tells me the remote doesn’t work.

Now I have my coffee and am sitting in one of those rusted chairs. It seems sturdy. The sun is higher, gaining strength. It warms me quickly. I love the smell of saltwater mixed with the hot sun on my skin. I’m aware of the light breeze ruffling through my chest hair. Between the bulkhead and where I sit is a kidney shaped swimming pool filled with sparkling blue water. The pool is surrounded by manicured lawn studded with various exotic plants.

To my left grows a large green leafed tree. It is adorned with flowers of purple spires. To my right is a giant poinsettia plant.  The scene is framed by tall palm trees laden with ripening coconuts. A lone pelican flies across my view, appearing intent on some destination.   

I sit several hundred yards from the Inter-coastal Waterway. Looking across Biscayne Bay I see gleaming white yachts cruising north and south. I wonder about the owners of those yachts. Their money, their lifestyles, how do they have sufficient resources to buy and maintain such yachts? I will never know.  I’m satisfied with my new home in Miami, Florida. Dare I say again, it is mind-boggling how much difference a warm and somewhat exotic climate can make in one’s attitude? It will be even better when Katherine the Great, my wife, joins me later tonight.

Stan the Man