If South Florida Was Like HBO’s Game of Thrones

You may have heard of the HBO show Game of Thrones. It’s filled with gorgeous geography, devious characters, and gratuitous sex. Kind of reminds us of South Florida for some reason. So here is our take on South Florida as Game of Thrones. Miami is our King’s Landing....

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The Keg On 6th Opens In Newly-Named Airport District

Fort Lauderdale’s latest craft beer bar and restaurant The Keg On 6th opened up last week in the Airport District (more on this later), and although we weren’t invited to the soft opening, we were excited to check out the new spot as soon as possible, which ended up...

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6 Tips for Surviving Christmas on Las Olas

by K47 It’s that time of year again, and FTL residents will be coming out in masses to kick-off the holiday season. On Tuesday November 29th, our famous boulevard will be closed down to traffic and filled with Christmas Spirit. Here are our tips for making the best of...

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Small Business Saturday

by Fat Hand While Black Friday is supposedly the biggest shopping day of the year, the day following the day following Thanksgiving has been declared a day to shop at small businesses. Saturday, November 26 is Small Business Saturday, sponsored by American Express (I...

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23 Local DJs at Dancegiving (That We Know About)

Say what you will about this Saturday's 2nd annual Dancegiving Festival, a tri-venue smorgasbord of some of the world's top DJs held at Revolution Live, but some FTLC staffers are pretty excited about this year's festivities. With the cancellation of Identity Festival...

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FTL Art Scavenger Hunt This Weekend

Do you like art? How about a real-deal scavenger hunt? What if it's all free, too?  This Saturday, you can partake in that trifecta of awesomeness by participating in the annual Art Scavenger Huntin Downtown FTL.  How does it work? On Saturday, November 26th, arrive...

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FTLC reviews Ft Lauderdale’s newest spot Tap 42

by Fat Hand I'd like to apologize for the FTLC's blogging hiatus: we were stuck in traffic. But like the Beatles in the USSR, we're back. This past Wednesday was opening night for Tap 42, the new beer bar south of downtown Fort Lauderdale (located on S. Andrews Avenue...

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Strikers In The Playoffs! Edmonton To Suffer

Times are tough in the universe of South Florida sports: the Dolphins arecurrently in last place, the Marlins just finished their season in last place, the Panthers are in the midst of the longest streak of not making the playoffs in NHL history (10 years, but we are...

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Riverside Market Sorting It Out

Stopped into the Riverside Market (that wonderful gem of a spot just southwest of downtown) for a sandwich and stopped short upon seeing this sign on the entrance: No drinking beer or wine on the premises? Preposterous! That is the best place to drink beer and wine....

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PARK(ing) Day Fort Lauderdale

by K47 Friday September 16th is PARK(ing) Day:  an annual, world-wide event to promote creativity and design in an urban setting. Metered parking spots across the globe will be transformed into temporary mini parks and other types of enjoyable outdoor spaces. The...

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Tasty Tease: BBQ

Regular Pork Spare Rib Meal (Ribs & 2 Sides not pictured) $9.99 Rating: 5/5 Tom Jenkins' BBQ 1236 S Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316...

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FTLC Takes On The O-B

Like most, we've been excitedly waiting for O-B House to open.  Though the prices on their all-breakfast menu seem a little high, we were eager to see if their mouth-watering descriptions could make it worth it. Read on for the FTLC breakdown of Saturday brunch at the...

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Dania Takes One More Step Into Uncertainty

In May, we posted about the sale of Dania Jai Alai, said to be finalized in September.  With the pending sale, the fate of the game is unknown, though it can't be a good sign the venue has recently stopped jai alai altogether (and their dollar beer Wednesdays) until...

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3 New Restaurants In FTL

Coming soon: Tap 42 (pictured above) is set to open off of Andrews Ave. and SW 14th St in September. They recently took part in the Seminole Hard Rock Rock N Roll Beer B Que (pictures here) and seem to already have a following, considering this is "just two brothers...

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We Were At…

The Museum of Art Ft Lauderdale The Art of Caring Photo Exhibit (June 5-Sept 25, $10) 1 E Las Olas Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301...

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The 6th Annual Red Eye Has Arrived

Tonight, ArtServe in Sunrise will be lending its 20,000 square-foot space to host the 6th annual multi-platform art event known as Red Eye.  View  live painting, bands, body painting, spoken word, 175 pieces of art, a graffiti challenge, short films, fashion,  and ...

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The Week’s Happenings

We've missed the past few weekend's posts, so here's something to hopefully add a little fun to your upcoming workweek. Make sure to click on the links for more details about the events.  Monday Sweeter Days celebrated the release of the last Harry Potter movie by...

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Let Us Help You Find Nirvana (No, We Don’t Mean The Band)

Love yoga but not sure if you can commit to a monthly membership anywhere?  If you didn't already know, our community has various forms for you to choose from for a small donation or sometimes even nothing at all.  Most classes are for all levels and don't require...

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Art And Music + Art About Music

It's that time of month again.  Twilight Notes and Freedom Art are coming together to bring you another night of art and music- literally, this time.  The theme for tonight's Dialect will show various artists' representations of their love for the two subjects....

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May The Fourth Be With You This Independence Day Weekend

It's been a while since we've done one of these, probably because we've been so wrapped up in the tons of events that have been going on, but here's a quick roundup of events for this extended weekend. Friday First + Friday-  For our Hollywood-folk, and those that...

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Tap & Cork: New Bar In Riverfront

By Fat Hand There is a new bar on the way in our city's highly successful Riverfront development. Just when it seemed it would be empty store-fronts all the way down, we get the Tap & Cork. Lucky us. The upcoming Tap & Cork is just south of Argie's Grill,...

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Photos From Ryan Humphrey’s Fast Forward

This past Friday, I DJed the opening reception for the BMX-themed Ryan Humphrey's Fast Forward at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood. In between punk songs, myself and Strawberry Jam were able to snap some photos. Below are some choice pics taken by the latter....

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Seminole Hard Rock Food Truck Roundup

Photos by Strawberry Jam This past Thursday, 19 food trucks took to a Seminole Hard Rock Casino parking lot for families and foodies to enjoy.  The new event, which apparently will be weekly, ran from 5:30-10pm.  The list of attendees included Aaron's Catering...

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New Breakfast Restaurant Coming To Himmarshee Street

Downtown Ft. Lauderdale has a new breakfast locale coming this July, and with the recent closing of Bluejays Cafe (can someone please turn off their Christmas lights), this couldn't come at a better time. In the spot where Village Pie never opened, Old Fort Lauderdale...

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Deaf Poets, Deaf-initely Rockin’

By Strawberry Jam In addition to our heartfelt list of Monday afternoon thanks, we'd like to also mention the band that graced the stage of our unofficial, not-so-advertised after party at the Green Room. Throughout the last year, we truly have tried to keep it local,...

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We Were At…

The Museum of Discovery and Science (gift shop) 401 SW 2nd Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 (954)...

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Thanks!

The FTL Collective would like to thank everyone who helped make our 1 year anniversary party last Saturday so amazing. It's kind of risky to recite a list of everyone we want to thank because we're bound to forget someone, but we're going to do it anyway. Thanks to...

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Strikers Versus Puerto Rico, Better Than Heat-Celtics

By Fat Hand We have written about the Fort Lauderdale Strikers previously, but to reiterate, if you enjoy sports you have got to check them out. Saturday they played the Puerto Rico Islanders and it was one of the more enjoyable sporting events I have attended...

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FTL Collective’s Birthday Bash At The Bubble

  By Fat Hand So the FTLC has been covering the local scene for one year. In this day and age, a blog that lasts longer than a couple months, let alone a whole year, is something to be celebrated. Therefore, we are throwing ourselves a one-year birthday party on...

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Drink For A Cause This Wednesday

By Strawberry Jam Every first Wednesday of the month, The Village At Gulfstream Park in Hallandale hosts a charity Wine Walk.  For $10 you get five samplings and about five hors d'oeuvres at participating shops (Note: wine sample sizes vary, if you know what we mean)....

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Art And Music Collide For Gallery Saturdays At Green Room

With the emergence of FAT Village art walks, Digital Love Thursdays, The Bubble, various artist collectives, the opening of Laser Wolf, downtown music fests, and the food truck invasion, there's no doubt that Fort Lauderdale's local scene is on the rise. That doesn't...

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Astari Nite Releases New EP

By Strawberry Jam When it comes to the South Florida music scene, Astari Nite is a name that pops up often and for good reason.  The hardworking band of four consistently pleases crowds from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade and since its inception has developed quite the rep,...

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Rise ‘n Dine

  By Strawberry Jam Breakfast is awesome. There’s really no other way to put it. There’s nothing like a huge well-rounded breakfast chased by a cup of diner coffee. Typically, I like to make massive breakfasts on the weekend with all of the things I like, the way I...

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Bluejay’s Cafe Update

We don't want to assume anything but we can only hope this doesn't mean what we think it means: that Bluejay's Cafe on Himmarshee might be closed for good.  The restaurant which was suddenly and mysteriously packed up almost three weeks ago now has the card of a Ft...

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Radio-Active Records: Not Just For The Vinyl Collector

By Strawberry Jam Over the last few years Radio-Active Records has bloomed into Fort Lauderdale's darling indie record store, hosting entertainment in the form of various bands, DJs, and other nighttime events, while offering top customer service and musical...

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I Don’t Wanna Be Your Lover For The Weekend

Well, we got spoiled last weekend, so we're due for a slight letdown the following week. This Thursday kicks ass, but Friday and especially Saturday aren't overly packed with activity. Luckily, we managed to scrounge together a couple of note-worthy events for your...

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Tasty Tease: Peruvian

Picante de Mariscos $14.99 Pescado Encebollado $10.99 Rating: 5/5 Peruvian House 1851 North Federal Highway Hollywood, FL (954)...

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Dania Jai-Alai Sold, Sort Of

By Strawberry Jam It was recently announced that the Dania Jai-Alai is set to close in September on an $80 million sale.  For some, it will be a bitter end to a vintage sport that has been around for thirty-plus years.  But according to the president and CEO of Las...

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Happy Birthday, Bubble!

By Strawberry Jam If you weren't able to make it to The Bubble's 2nd Birthday bash this past Saturday, you're in luck because we're about to get you caught up.  Below is a short vid from the night, which went down with almost a dozen bands, plenty of art, things to...

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It’s The Weekend And I’ll Party If IWAN To

Seriously, how the hell can we possibly attend all the great events in Broward this weekend? Here's the lineup. Choose wisely. THURSDAY Digital Love hosts an incredible doubleheader tonight: Miami's emerging Panic Bomber and the sophisticated punk rock duo Pocket Of...

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The FTLC Presents Digital Love Mixtape, Volume I

Readers of this site are probably well aware of the FTLC's love of weekly Thursday party Digital Love. Just about every week, we name-drop the party in our weekend previews and/or music-related posts. Yes, it's true -- I'm one of the two resident DJs of the party;...

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Like: Fitness Chain Owner Hoping To Capitalize On Niche

A no-hassle gym that's affordable and isn't pretentious? Sounds too good to be true, but it isn't. Youfit is a new chain of gyms offering $10 month-to-month membership with low sign-up fees as well as a $20 option for unlimited tanning, unlimited access to all...

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We Were At…

The Moon Rock exhibit on the 6th floor of the Main Library downtown. The small rock was donated by the wife of former Apollo 7 astronaut Donn...

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Friday, April 22, Is Earth Day

By Strawberry Jam With a steady increase in pollution, toxins, and population, every day should indeed be Earth Day. Here are five hand-picked events to "officially" stand up for Mother Nature this weekend, from a gardening workshop to kids activities to cooling off...

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Taco Beach Shack Can Probably Use A Help Wanted Sign

By Strawberry Jam Despite reading a majority of negative Yelp reviews complaining of the new Taco Beach Shack in Hollywood, their website's mouthwatering descriptions are enough to warrant a trip for any decent taco-enthusiast. Almost all of the complaints dealt with...

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Tasty Tease: Saturday Brunch

  Find out where after the jump Huevos Rancheros $8 Chorizo Breakfast Burrito $8 French Toast $8 Rating: 5/5 Bluejay's Cafe 330 Himmarshee Street Fort Lauderdale, FL (954)...

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I Put On My Shoes & I’m Ready For The Weekend

We're anticipating another explosion of goodness this weekend in Broward County. Here are some choice cuts for the next four days: Thursday Tonight, Ft Lauderdale's weekly indie music soiree Digital Love hosts Chicago-based mash-up mistros The Hood Internet....

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Candola or Can’tdola?

By Strawberry Jam This past Saturday, Red Bull hosted their first Candola competition in Fort Lauderdale's New River. Despite the scorching heat, hundreds turned out to watch the homemade boats launch into the water and race toward the end of the 1/3 mile route and...

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A Damn Shame: Pirate Bar is Closed

by Fat Hand This past weekend after having just arrived at FTL beach, I caught wind of an unfortunate rumor: the Pirate Bar had closed down. I went to see for myself and indeed, the wooden pirates stationed along the alley were gone and the doors, or openings, or...

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Minor League Soccer Returns to the Fort

by Fat Hand Over the weekend the FTLC checked out Ft. Lauderdale’s newest professional sports team: The Strikers. The new NASL soccer team plays its home games in Lockhart stadium and this past Saturday was their season opener against Ft. Lauderdale’s traditional...

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Everybody’s Lookin’ Forward to the Weekend, Weekend

So we're a little late with our Rebecca Black reference in our post title (that was soooo 87 million views ago). We recommend not being late on some of the good stuff going on this weekend because it's going to be a good one. Here's our picks for tonight, Friday, and...

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No Wi-Fi at the Restaurant Inside the Library?!?

Seems like every day I read about a new budget cut to the public library system. One side of me is not surprised – let’s face it, how many people do you know that regularly hang out at the library? Another side of me is disappointed because the library is an excellent...

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Gettin’ Down and Derby

As the Northeast (more specifically, those annoying New York sports fans) continued to shiver this past weekend, the FTL Collective staff enjoyed a scorching hot afternoon in flip flops and floppy hats at the horse track at Gulfstream Park for the annual Florida...

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Contest: Photo Hunt

By Strawberry Jam These photos were taken in Ft Lauderdale somewhere between the Broward Center for Performing Arts and East Las Olas before the beach. Recognize any of them? Leave your guesses in the comments and win a $10 gift card to Brew if you're correct! (Hey,...

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National Lampoon: Underground For A Reason?

  A couple months ago the FTLC visited the National Lampoon Underground on Ft. Lauderdale beach just south of Sunrise Boulevard. While we enjoyed the comedy and recommended checking it out, we also questioned whether a sparsely attended comedy club could survive...

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Get Your Rod and Beef At The Field

By Strawberry Jam Being a longtime Rod enthusiast, I naturally held some skepticism and high expectations when I first heard of "Hot Rod", South Florida's "legendary" Rod Stewart impersonator. Nevertheless, I remained quite excited over the months I'd waited until we...

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Invisible Children, and People, Are Everywhere

By Strawberry Jam Last night's Invisible Children film screening was, at the least, another eye-opening reminder of the many hardships most of the world experiences day in and day out. With so much to do and see, it is easy to get lost in time in this great city of Ft...

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Thursday Is The New Friday

Thursday nights have been so action packed these days, it begs the question: can we dub Thursday as the new start to the weekend? This coming Thursday is so overwhelmingly (in a good way) slammed with good music that I'm going to make the argument that it's better...

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Say Bye-Bye Borders

As one of the 200 of 500 stores set to close by April, Borders Ft Lauderdale will begin offering 30-50% off everything in its store today. Previously 10-30% off (?), nothing really seemed like a steal but this might warrant another once-over. Borders Ft Lauderdale...

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Grace Potter Dominates The Culture Room Stage

Grace Potter's publicist was nice enough to provide your nice local FTLC bloggers a couple of free tickets to her show this past Saturday night at the Culture Room and we are appreciative. Pay attention other local establishments/organizations (I'm looking at you...

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Charlie Sheen Is Watching You

by Fat Hand Now that the Oscars are over, there's apparently only two things going on in the world these days that are worth reporting: revolution in Libya and revelations about Charlie Sheen. So in the interest of total media saturation, we add to one of the...

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Butterflies Go Wild

It's not too manly to admit to liking butterflies. Well, I'm about to get in touch with my feminine side and confess something -- I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Butterfly World in Coconut Creek. The price of entrance is a little steep ($25 for adults), but I highly...

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What Glorious Things Release Magnitudes EP

The lack of originality, emotion, or substance on the radio really bothers me. For instance, how does Black Eyed Peas get away with randomly inserting generic party phrases, rarely ever having to write a meaningful or clever lyric, boggles my mind? Or does anyone else...

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Your Quick Guide to For Art’s Sake Typeface

By Strawberry Jam For Art's Sake Typeface is set to showcase intricate print art from artists such as Chris Ro, Cindy Rodriguez, the show's own Jose Lopez, and silkscreen-favorites Iron Forge Press. The exhibit will have a two-night opening this Friday and...

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The Queen Might Be Dead, But Lavola Is Alive

Hailing from where else, WPB, the local trio Lavola has built a lot of momentum in a relatively short amount of time, opening for the Silversun Pickups and Against Me! less than 6 months after their first live performance, playing shows all over the tri-county area,...

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Laser Wolf Open For Business

by Fat Hand The long anticipated opening of the new Ft. Lauderdale joint Laser Wolf occurred this past Friday, and the FTLC is happy to report our fair city has a cool new triangular-shaped alternative to check out. Laser Wolf is sure to become a top hangout for...

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Weekend Madness!

Still hungover after last night's Digital Love last night? Stop sulking and rally for the weekend. I'll be in DC this weekend, but this would be my itinerary for the weekend in Broward. FRIDAY After months of anticipation, Laser Wolf is finally opening tonight. From...

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Critical Mass

View more photos and join the Ft Lauderdale Critical Mass Facebook Next ride Friday 2/25...

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REBEL Invades Digital Love This Thursday

Back in June, REBEL headlined our official launch party Under The Hood with a raucous performance. Since then, I've been fortunate to witness the band's kinetic live performances multiple times at various venues from Palm Beach to Dade (most recently their epic show...

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Digital Love At The Green Room Every Thursday

The last year has been an exciting time for the local scene in Fort Lauderdale. Just about every weekend, there's a new art show, band showcase, or warehouse party that attracts impressive crowds of all types (see New Times' review of Dialect or snapshots of the last...

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Sara’s Kosher Restaurant

By Strawberry Jam Last week, an impromptu Google search for dinner led me to Sara’s Kosher Restaurant in Hollywood. Having been a vegetarian for four years and growing up in Hollywood, I was pretty surprised to not have heard of the place, especially after the...

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Flamingo Gardens On Acid

Despite similar admission prices, comparing Flamingo Gardens with Zoo Miami is just plain idiotic. The Davie animal sanctuary is devoid of any of the animal superstars (elephants, giraffes, meerkats, and camel back riding) and is a heck of a lot smaller (8.1% the size...

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Jazzed For The Weekend

This weekend is jam packed with goodness. Here are just a few of the happenings around town: Friday The second Critical Mass bike ride for Ft Lauderdale will begin at 6pm at both Brew locations (Himmarshee and Vic Park). Click the link for more info and the route....

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Artists & DJs Collide At Brew This Thursday

by Mig It's no secret that the FTLC enjoys a good cup of joe around town (see the coffee category on our post FTLC's Best of 2010 Places). It's also no secret that we enjoy events that combine local artists and musicians, with fairly priced suds. Well, this Thursday...

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Hollywood Beach Sells Its Soul To The Devil

By Strawberry Jam After decades of tug-of-war over how to redevelop quaint Hollywood Beach and increase revenue, the city has decided to sign a 99-year lease to a Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville complex.  The project, which will cost an estimated $130 million, will...

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FTLC Mixtape Volume 1

A few months ago, Fernando Perdomo of Dreaming In Stereo complained that not enough local DJs or venues are playing genre-appropriate local music in between bands sets. No quibbles here. In my opinion, part of the problem is that South Floridians need easier access to...

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Calling All Creative Types

FTL Collective will be co-sponsoring an upcoming weekly indie dance party at The Green Room at Revolution Live called Digital Love. When the details are finalized, we’ll be sure to share the info. In the meantime, we’re looking for locals who want to contribute their...

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Millionyoung Releases Full-length With Band

By Strawberry Jam By now, most people have heard a thing or two about chillwave.  Its signature lo-fi sound and dreamy melodies has spawned many haters but equally as many lovers.  The genre caught on like wildfire in 2009, igniting a plethora of do-it-yourself bands...

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Design the FTL Collective Banner

Our banner is long overdue for a makeover. Over the last seven months, we managed to cope with it, but we never really felt like it was a true fit.  To end our suffering, we've decided to start spring cleaning a few months early, and trash our current monstrosity in...

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Are You Ready For Some Kickball

by J Fine I want to help all our readers work towards accomplishing their New Years resolution to destroy the FTLC 365 Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale list. #243: Invade a weekly kickball party at Dicey Riley's. The Fl Ocean - Winter 2011 Division (kickball) is...

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365 Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

We probably don't have to tell you this, but we live in a pretty awesome place. Here are just a few reasons as proof: Watch the sunrise from Hollywood Beach's observation tower Order the Volcano Roll at Sushi Rock on East Las Olas Watch a Everymen performance at...

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Annihilate This Weekend

Happy New Year FTL! You have had an entire week to shake the NYE hangover. Here are two ideas for your Saturday itinerary. Saturday January 8th the New Orleans Saints play the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC wild-card round playoff game. This is an excellent opportunity...

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FTLC’s Best Of 2010 – Everything Else

Best Local Joke Mig: It's changed its name back to Capones, but I always thought Ultimate Sports Bar was a ridiculous name for a bar that wasn't open for afternoon football on Saturdays and Sundays. Fat Hand: Miami Dolphins running game S Jam: America's Backyard J...

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FTLC’s Best Of 2010 – Places

Best People Watching Spot Mig: The wooden bench between Poorhouse and America's Backyard. Honestly, I could bring a 12 pack and hang out there all night. Fat Hand: Table outside Elbo Room. S Jam: Along the New River J Fine: Just found this little gem Sunday...Pompano...

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FTLC’s Best Of 2010 – Food & Drink

Best Taco Mig: Carlos Y Pepe. Fat Hand: Fish taco at Coconuts. S Jam: Zona Fresca's Fish tacos with their authentic corn tortillas, shredded cabbage, and what tastes like lime-infused sour cream, mmmm. J Fine: Although most of my friends would recommend Zona Fresca -...

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FTLC’s Best of 2010 – Arts & Entertainment

Thanks to everyone who visited our blog over the past seven months. Even when our posting frequency dipped at the end of the summer, we somehow managed to generate a solid number of page views every week. FTL Collective's resolution for 2011 is to post more often,...

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FTLC sponsors an EPIC NYE Party at 1921

It's easy to call a party EPIC. It's another thing to actually back it up with colossal over-the-top antics, a quality lineup of local musicians, and a quartet of dance crazy DJs. Want the scoop on FTL Collective's end-of-the-year spectacular at underground club 1921?...

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Light It Up This Christmas

By Strawberry Jam When I was young, just a couple years ago, one of the biggest highlights of my Christmases was to drive around and scope out all the awesomely decorated houses and Christmas lights.  Anyone remember the entire BLOCK of houses near the turnpike...

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This is what ALDI hype was about?

by Strawberry Jam With the arrival of ALDI in November, came much anticipation for the discountgrocery chain which would be the first in South Florida of their thousand plus stores across the country. With their "honest to goodness savings" motto and German roots,...

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You are…..the WEEKEND’S links

A word of advice to the weekend warrior -- don't over indulge on Friday night, lest you might miss the slew of great events on Saturday evening. Here are 3 events that we hand selected: Santa-Con: FTL Judging from the enthusiastic barrage of Facebook messages, 3...

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UPDATE: Creolina’s returns to downtown Fort Lauderdale

We reported last week that long-time downtown favorite Creolina's is returning to 2nd Street, taking Porterhouse's old spot. Today we appear to have received official confirmation via Facebook and Twitter that this is true. Although the new restaurant will not be...

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The Whole Enchilada vs Zona Fresca

By Mig It's unavoidable to compare Zona Fresca and The Whole Enchilada. They are both locally owned businesses that serve quality tex mex fare at affordable prices. They both cater to people who want their food quick and fresh, without having to tip a waiter. Both are...

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Boats on Parade

By Strawberry Jam While you may be thinking "once is enough" when it comes to watching boat parades, there are actually several good reasons for you to change it up this weekend and drag your butt to the water to partake in the annual event this Saturday. While the...

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Creolina’s returns to downtown Fort Lauderdale

by Fat Hand Great news for downtown Ft. Lauderdale folks that like to eat: our sources tell usthat Creolina's is moving back to Himmarshee Village! The soon-to-be reopened restaurant reportedly will be taking over Porterhouse's old digs at the corner of Himmarshee...

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Introducing: The Ft Lauderdale Mule

by Strawberry Jam A couple of months ago we griped about the "Fort Lauderdale", a drink featured via video on eHow which oddly enough has yet to be found elsewhere on the web. Consisting of a couple of light alcohols and the juices of a couple of orange and lime...

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Christmas on Las HOlas

Here are some photos from Fort Lauderdale's annual Christmas On Las Olas taken on November 30th, 2010. photos by Strawberry Jam

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Skanksgiving Eve with The Methodaires and Howitzer

by Guest Writer J. Fine Each year individuals are faced with the same daunting dilemma, where to spend their Thanksgiving Eve. Quality time with one’s family looming this decision cannot be taken lightly. This year, after much consideration, I have decided my...

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Wattle you be doing this Thanksgiving week?

There's an unholy amount of fun stuff going on in Broward. Here's a day-by-day guide to the best events this week, starting this evening. Don't forget to click the links for locations and extra info. Tuesday Hardcore drinkers unite! There is a bus loop tonight to...

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Reminisce with Dashboard Confessional at Revolution

by Strawberry Jam November 27 marks the date that south Florida's own Chris Carrabba, better known as the outfit Dashboard Confessional, embarks on a national tour in honor of the ten year anniversary of his first album, The Swiss Army Romance. While for some the...

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A new indie dance party on Ft Lauderdale Beach

A couple weeks ago, I wrote an elongated rant regarding the lack of nightlife options to hear non-mainstream music. In the post, we highlighted a couple regular indie dance parties -- Monterey Club's Thursday parties and Club Cinema's Noir Wednesdays with Marvelous...

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Ain’t No Party Like A Warehouse Party

Unlike most weekends in Broward, there aren't a plethora of fun options for this weekend. While the weekend may lack in an abundance of interesting nightlife choices, it does provide one excellent warehouse party on Saturday night. I'm talking about SWARM 4, which...

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Hungry Hungre Hip Hop

The beauty of guerilla marketing is that not only is it budget friendly, but it'seasily noticeable. Love him or hate him, Broward County rapper Lyrikilldotcom, best known for sabotaging local news telecasts to advertise his website, is a mastermind at generating...

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Ernie’s should remove BBQ from its name

By Mig Ernie's BBQ & Lounge has been a popular institution in Fort Lauderdale for far longer than I've been alive.It's impressive longetivity, the promise of BBQ, it's attractive exterior, and the close proximity to the my favorite back alley club 1921 has always...

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5 last minute FTL specific Halloween costume ideas

It's Friday morning, and you still haven't figured out your costume for the big parties this weekend?!?! No worries. FTL Collective has some simple yet creative costume ideas that scream Fort Lauderdale and don't break the bank. 1. Coat Man (also known as Running Man...

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First Night at Vibe (Sneak Peak)

Surprisingly, with no notice, the new club Vibe located on Las Olas in downtown Ft. Lauderdale opened to the public on Wednesday, sort of. After months of being draped in shockingly tall black screens on the corner of Southeast 3rd Ave. and Las Olas, Vibe finally had...

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Halloween Events, plus Mig’s Horror Movie View Party

The most interesting party night of the year is nearly upon us. It's that special time at the end of October when kids beg to complete strangers, typically stable adults decorate their front yards with fake skeletons and mutilated pumpkins, timid girls strip the...

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Weekend Wars

As usual, loads of fun stuff going on this weekend, especially on Saturday. Here's just a sampling of some of great events in Broward for the next 3 days. Friday Fright Night on Las Ola Save The Tatas, a charity event at Monterey Club with a bunch of bands Hep Cat Boo...

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7 More Films To Get Your FLIFF On

Last week, S Jam wrote a post about her 2010 Fort Lauderdale Film Festival (FLIFF) movie recommendations. Given the overwhelming amount of films at this years festival, I thought it wouldn't hurt to give you a few more picks, this time by yours truly. Anybody who...

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Everybody’s working for the Wednesday

For the most part, I try and take it easy during the week. With the onslaught of concerts and events in the past month, it's been hard to hit the sack at a decent hour for work the next day. This Wednesday is no different; a couple days ago the New Times reported that...

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Essential Local Social Media: Part 1

Following RSS feeds of local blogs is my preferred method of acquiring information about local businesses, bands, artists, and events; however, because of my undying need to know everything happening in my neighborhood, I also follow countless, relevant Twitter...

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3 Great Events This Friday Night in Broward

With so many tough choices to make this weekend, we decided to give everyone a headstart on the decision making and preview Friday's festivities a day early. Here are three events this coming Friday that caught our eye: Island Water Sports' Annual Midnight Madness...

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It’s FLIFF Time Again

If you haven't already started, it's time to start planning out your next month and a half of cinema.  For their 25th anniversary, the Ft Lauderdale International Film Festival will show 185 films from 36 countries over 46 days.  Student memberships are $35 with a...

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The hottest nightclub in the Citi

No, I didn't misspell the word "city" in the title of the post. The word Citi is a reference to the uniquely designed Citibankbuilding on Oakland Park Blvd and US1 -- the same building that now has a new nightclub attached to it called Sky Nightclub. Don't worry...

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Junk The Jukebox!

It's impossible to completely dislike Miami. It's the yin to our yang. It completes us.Without the Magic City, we'd be one dimensional.  I could continue to ramble on about how much I hate it when Ft. Lauderdalians say they hate Miami, when they really just dislike...

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Huge Farmer’s Market Gets the Green Light to Open

by Strawberry Jam Yellowgreen Farmer's Market in Hollywood is set to open this Sunday, October 3rd, nearly a year after it's initial grand opening was planned.  Last November, after investing five million dollars, plans were set back due to "major" safety, electrical,...

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Scott Stapp, Protoman, & Gaps…Which One Doesn’t Belong?

by Mig The name Scott Stapp evokes several different images in people's minds. Some people probably still remember him as the religious, lead singer of post-grunge band Creed, who wrote a heartfelt song for his kid that ended up being the bands top hit With Arms Wide...

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Neil Young vs. The Hard Rock

by Guest Writer Brady Newbill Often times over the course of my life when I've sought some kind of peace of mind or understanding in this chaotic reality, I have found such solace in the almost hypnotically wise and natural music of Neil Young. And so a few months ago...

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A Little More Bump N’ Grind

by Strawberry Jam A new spot to get some caffeine in your veins, an old local favorite with a view that can't be beat, a hidden gem reader recommendation and we are back with three more fine locations for your next pick-me-up. Brew LaLa 445 N Andrews Ave As the third...

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Charm City Burgers, They’re Magically Delicious

by Mig It took several months, but I finally made it to the brink of Broward County to taste one of South Florida's better burger at Charm City Burger Company (Facebook fan page link). After reading the overwhelming amount of positive reviews about this place's food...

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The FTLC Could Use Somebody, Someone Like You

by Mig Every blogger fears it, but most refuse to believe it'll happen to them....and then it hits you like a ton of Riverwalk bricks. I am referring to Blogger's Despair, the moment when you question whether or not you should keep your web log alive. There are many...

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Another Brick In The ‘Walk

One the nicest areas to go for a walk in Fort Lauderdale is Riverwalk in downtown. A typical stroll down along the New River produces lots of sights: a good view of the skyline, the Jungle Queen, the massive yacht of the owner of the New Orleans Hornets, the Urban...

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The Best $10 You Will Ever Spend

by Mercedes J Bright lights, loud music, free drinks, and people dancing their asses off. No, we aren’t at an NSU undergrad house party, we are playing bingo. But not your Nana’s type of bingo, a new wave of energetic, glow stick fist pumping fun called Cosmic Bingo...

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Savory Sistrunk: Betty’s Restaurant & Barbeque

by Mig Every city has it’s default "dangerous" neighborhood -- Liberty City in Miami, Compton in Los Angeles, Harlem in New York City, you get the idea. Fort Lauderdale has Sistrunk. Most people I know haven’t traveled far down NW 6th Street because of the...

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Five Reasons Why FTLC is Better than New Times Blogs

by Fat Hand FTLC loves the New Times blogs. FLTC reads them all the time. Some FTLC writers read almost every word (even the food blog). New Times blogs do better indepth reporting than the Sun-Sentinel, dominate coverage of the local music scene, yet still find space...

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22 Municipalities, 22 Uninspiring Mottos & Nicknames

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...

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Dear Visitor, Please Don’t Suggest These:

Living in SoFla we are constantly bombarded with out-of-towners wanting to visit our year-round paradise and to be taken to the WORST tourist attractions in FTL. Here are the worst attractions along with alternative suggestions.

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Riverwalk Urban Market

by Strawberry Jam 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...

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Party In The F.T.L.

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...

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We Can Do Better: The Fort Lauderdale mixed drink

by Mig 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...

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Everybody’s Blogging For The Weekend

The workweek is finally over! Here are some things around town to keep you busy this weekend: Friday Gladezmen at Poorhouse 11 pm, no cover 110 SW 3rd Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 Daysleeper, The Nothing Left, InAsMuch, Rebel at Monterey Club 9 pm, no cover 2608...

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The Swankiest Signature Cocktails in Town

FTLC writes about the swankiest cocktails in Fort Lauderdale including YOLO’s Devil’s Hammer, Side Bar’s Cucumber Watermelon Martini, Trina’s Cubeltini, and Canyon’s Prickly Pear Margarita.

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5 Irritating Things About Downtown Ft Lauderdale

by Mig Living downtown is great and it'd be really easy to write a post about all the perks of living near FTL's mini skyscrapers, but let's face it, complaining is a lot more fun. Despite double digit noise complaints and 2 evictions, I've loved living in historic...

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Consuming Cold Ones for Literacy

The local chapter of the non-profit organization, Room to Read, is hosting their first annual BEERS for BOOKS party this Saturday August 14th at the (self-proclaimed ‘World Famous’) Parrot Lounge on Fort Lauderdale beach.

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So You Know: Mood Vane

by Mig Local music is a common interest among all of the FTLC bloggers. Oftentimes, our weekend plans revolve around checking out some of our favorite artists or bands that we hadn’t seen before.  The problem is, there aren’t enough outlets for information about...

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Historic Swing Bridge Finally Re-Opens

The North Fork New River Bridge has connected two historic neighborhoods, Sailboat Bend and Riverside Park, since its construction in 1927. On August 1st, the bridge re-opened after a year of much needed renovations.

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Jetty or Not, Here I Come

by Mig There are two unofficial sections of Fort Lauderdale Beach. If you are going to FTL Beach with your family or enjoy spiking a volleyball, you’ll be heading to stretch of sand between the Yankee Clipper and outdoor basketball court (don’t forget, free parking in...

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Jazz To Sweat To

The SunTrust Jazz Brunch in downtown Fort Lauderdale is an event like no other — that is if you can take the heat, screaming babies, pop jazz cover bands, and cheap champagne.

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A Little Bump N’ Grind

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...

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Monk Parakeets…the Spawn of Satan?

As many as 100,000 Monk Parakeets are raiding homes of Ft. Lauderdalians due to their escape from bird sanctuaries during storms and/or intentional release by their owners. Are you being pillaged?

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The 6 Best Souvenirs at Alex’s Gift Shop

Say what you will about Dania, but that city keeps it real. While the rest of the county has updated itself over the years, Broward's first city remains retro. Just drive a mile down US-1, south of Griffin Road, and you'll pass the neon sign for Tropical Acres...

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No… Sleep… ’til MONDAY!

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...

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Florida Bands Make Waves This Summer

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...

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2 New Sections: Links & Mixtapes

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...

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Cache Me If You Can

by Mig “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...

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Doris Italian Market & Bakery

If you haven't already been to Doris you have few excuses not to go.  With several locations throughout South Florida and its original Hollywood store in operation since 1947, Doris Market and Bakery has become a love of the Italian community and those that just like...

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The Most Eligible Bachelor in Fort Lauderdale

by Mercedes J What do Fort Lauderdale women look for in their men? Well this lady blogger, Mercedes J, prefers a gentleman with rugged good looks, captivating charm, a sense of humor, eccentric creativity, and a dash of humility.  What if I told all the ladies out...

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Thrifting The Night Away: 6 Must Know Thrift Stores

by Strawberry Jam Shopping for secondhand items can be an exhilarating experience at the right store, but that is typically not the case in Broward County. Relative to other areas of the US, South Florida thrift stores are all too often filled with clutter of...

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NBC’s The Office Compares Fort Lauderdale to Thailand

Sometimes it's tough to be overshadowed by the bright lights of Miami. Sure, we'll pretend like it doesn't bother us that the mainstream media continually praises our neighboring big city and neglects its more laid back, people friendly, step sister, but fact of the...

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Red, White, & Boom: TNT Fireworks Supercenter

by Mig Unfortunately, I did not come up with the title of this post all by myself; the Red, White, & Boom is the moniker of just one of the thousands of ridiculously named explosives sold at TNT Fireworks (formerly known as Neptunes Fireworks) located off of East...

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New Restaurant on Himmarshee: Bluejay’s Cafe

by Fat Hand   Rothstein partner Russ Adler dining at Bluejay's Cafe with recognizable but unnamed companion. Update: Bluejay's is closed as of May 2011 : ( The Himmarshee district of downtown Fort Lauderdale offers plenty of bars, but precious few restaurants. ...

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4 Places to Take a Perfect Band Promo Photo

If I learned anything from starting countless failed bands (see Rated Arg & The Gray Guns), it's not always about musical talent; it's also about hype -- more specifically, the band promotional photos. When it comes to taking the picture, bands worry too much...

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Mountains in South Florida: Coral Cliffs Indoor Rock Climbing

by Strawberry Jam The words “rock climbing” and “Florida” are seldom in the same sentence.  But just off of Marina Mile Road, down a frequently flooded small road, and nestled in a maze of a business park, you’ll find Coral Cliffs, Ft Lauderdale’s only indoor rock...

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ROFL with the FTLC- Free Comedy Show!

by Adelina Ridicolo The FTL Collective has joined forces with downtown’s Revolution to bring you a night to roll on the floor in laughter! Four local comedy acts, Gene, Mike, Sisqo, and Richy, will be opening up on June 24th for Saturday Night Live’s, Hannibal Buress....

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Freaky Deaky Kava

by Mercedes J Before you say Bula (a Fijian toast which means “to life”) you will find yourself staring down into a half rounded coconut shell holding a concoction resembling that of muddy water. Reluctantly, you raise the shell to your lips and notice aromas of earth...

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Dubble Your Pleasure

by Strawberry Jam Dubstep and Jamaican dub are alive and kickin' in South Florida. Dubstep has carved quite a path for itself in the last ten years.  Though there can be several styles ranging from lighter to darker and heavier tracks, the form of electronic music...

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Bus Loop: Reviewing Ft. Lauderdale’s quarterly Christmas

James Bond once said Christmas only comes once a year. Not true in Ft. Lauderdale where our holiest of days is quarterly. Friday, June 18 was the summer Bus Loop, or as it's known to many of us in South Florida, Yom KipBusloop. Friday's route focused on the 17th...

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Gotta Pee? The Best Bathrooms in Downtown FTL

(Part 2 – Previously the FTLC reported on the worst places downtown to use the bathroom. Read on to find the better options to pop a squat.) BEST places to use the bathroom TARPON BEND – If you can get past the long lines and the men's bathroom door hitting you as...

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Local Music: The Atlas Complex

Like much of America's adolescent population, the bulk of my knowledge on Greek gods is limited to recently watching the teenybopper movie Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief a few months ago (I went with my family, lay off me!); however, it doesn’t...

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Intoxiskate at Gold Coast Roller Rink

Anyone who has grown up in South Florida has been to at least three birthday parties either at Gold Coast or its rival, Galaxy Skateway in Hollywood. It’s been there for sixty-three years even though I constantly pass by Gold Coast on my commutes I can probably count...

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FTLC Party Recap

It warms our hearts more than a toasty buttermilk biscuit that all of you came out to FTLC’s Launch Party - Under The Hood - last Friday night. Thank you! For those of you who were too busy double fisting $5 Miller Lights at some run-of-the-mill bar, you missed quite...

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FTLC Launch Party Hangover Remedy

by Kate If this Saturday you find yourself in need of some serious recovery after the Friday night FTLC launch party, you’ll want to make your way over to Fort Lauderdale’s independent artist hot-spot, The Bubble. The Bubble is a local warehouse converted into a...

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REBEL Yells! @1921 this Friday

Indie rock band, REBEL from Miami is ready to take Broward County by storm. Surely after each lively performance on a future tour, they will be leaving a trail of devoted fans along the eastern seaboard. Along with a mix of lawless rock beats and soaring guitar riffs...

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Fort Lauderdale Guidebook Comparison

Please note: this blog post was written in 2010. While we plan on updating, we still think its a worthy read.  When you start writing for a Fort Lauderdale blog that caters to locals, it’s easy to neglect what outsiders think of your city. Fortunately, I am obsessed...

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Love, Not War; Food, Not Bombs

While the cost of war for the U.S. since 2001 is said to be over one trillion dollars, there are an estimated 671,859 homeless people in America. Forty-four percent of them do not live in shelters, and 20% are individuals under the age of 18. Without a roof over your...

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Gotta Pee? The 5 Worst Bathrooms in Downtown FTL

Attention all Fort Liquordale barroom frequenters! Have you ever wondered where the best place downtown to take a leak is? Behold, I have the answers to your quandary. WORST places to use the bathroom FAT CATS – Don’t get me wrong, I heart this bar. Where else will...

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FTLC Official Launch Party Scheduled for June 11

More than half of the parties in South Florida have nonsensical, gimmicky names that have no correlation to their respective event (ex: Dirty Hairy, Heatr, Dangerfun, etc). Regardless of whether or not you understand the name of FTLC's first party, Under The Hood,...

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KICKBALL: Stimulating Ft. Lauderdale’s Economy

Amongst a sea of brightly colored t-shirts, I crowd surf my way to the bar. Approximately thirty minutes later, I reach my destination and order a frosty cold one from the bartender. “What the heck is going on here? It’s a weeknight!” Typically, one doesn't think that...

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Where’s The Worm?

What has happened to Dennis Rodman? Assuming you are the type of person that likes to hang out in bars from time to time, a couple of years ago it seemed impossible NOT to see our local basketball/alternative-lifestyle legend partying it up, singing Pearl Jam songs...

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BAMM!

Broward Attractions and Museums Month is Broward County's effort to expose individuals and families to community arts from June 1-30. BAMM will allow for members already belonging to one of seventeen select organization to have access to events at fellow participating...

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Doctor vs. Lawyer: Tea Party

Doctor     It was suggested to me by a friend who identifies himself as a Democrat that I attend the April 15th, 2010 “Tea Party” in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Modern day Tea Parties borrow the concept from the original in order to voice concerns about a...

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Doctor vs. Lawyer: Tea Party

Lawyer The first thing I noticed while walking through the crowd at Ft. Lauderdale's Tea Party rally the afternoon of April 15, 2010, was the absence of alcohol. Living in Ft. Lauderdale one becomes accustomed to the inevitable drinking at virtually every event, even...

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South Florida Bands: Viva le Vox

If Tim Burton, Dean Koontz and the Cheshire Cat were to jointly plan a visit to Fort Lauderdale, they would most likely attend during a Viva le Vox show. An evening listening to the music of these four band mates makes one ponder if someone should be calling Mobile...

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Something To Tweet About

For Art’s Sake is a series of themed events brought to you by Freedom Art. Their latest endeavor, a two-day affair titled Birdwatch, brought out a flock of people to Gallery 101 in Ft. Lauderdale to admire bird-themed prints while enjoying some live music and light...

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Hello World!

FTL Collective is a local blog focusing on activities, events, businesses, and quirks of the Greater Ft. Lauderdale area. Though it has its coalition of permanent writers, it is an open platform inviting anyone eager to contribute ideas or articles to the collective....

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