Pompano Beach Magazine, April 2022

2342 NE 25th St, Lighthouse Point

This 8,084 square foot coastal style home is less than one mile from the Hillsboro Inlet.

The Caribbean inspired 5 bedroom, 6.5 bath deepwater home features a pool with waterfall edge, an outdoor summer kitchen, a top-of-the-line chef's kitchen, bamboo wood oors with coral stone and cypress details throughout. The Pirates of Caribbean like movie theater will delight both young and old guests.

The lovely south facing balconies and covered areas make outdoor entertaining so very enjoyable. A 100 foot concrete dock adds to the property making this the perfect spot for the avid boater.

For more information call Cathy Prenner 954.415.1057 or Bryant Roepnack 954.410.6697

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. THIS OFFERING IS MADE ONLY BY THE OFFERING DOCUMENTS FOR THE CONDOMINIUM AND NO STATEMENT SHOULD BE RELIED UPON IF NOT MADE IN THE OFFERING DOCUMENTS. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL, OR SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY, THE CONDOMINIUM UNITS IN STATES WHERE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION CANNOT BE MADE. THIS CONDOMINIUM IS BEING DEVELOPED BY ALINA BOCA RATON LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (“DEVELOPER”). ANY AND ALL STATEMENTS, DISCLOSURES AND/OR REPRESENTATIONS SHALL BE DEEMED MADE BY DEVELOPER AND NOT BY EL AD AND YOU AGREE TO LOOK SOLELY TO DEVELOPER (AND NOT TO EL AD AND/OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES) WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE MARKETING AND/OR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONDOMINIUM AND WITH RESPECT

Pompano! contents

32 The Pompano Beach

Fine Food & Wine Celebration

If you are a local foodie in search of a fun evening out, this year’s celebration will be packed with fabulous tastings from local restaurants, wine, craft brews and more.

44 Let the Good Times Roll

After a Covid hiatus, The Pompano Beach Seafood Festival is back at Pompano Community Park. With two stages and a plethora of local bands, this year’s festival promises to be a good time for all.

St. Coleman Italian Festival Jeff Graves for Pompano! magazine

SPRING SMILE

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14

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Get out and about and enjoy events and happenings in the neighborhood — from music to arts and more.

18 City Beat

Stay up to date on the news around the neighborhood, including traffic issues at the Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway intersection, a new large-scale public artwork and more.

26

Jeff Graves captures smiles all around the town, including the St. Coleman Italian Festival and a Habitat for Humanity CEO build.

30

Dawne Richards muses about the cruel joke of spring cleaning in Florida.

48

57

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Explore

Does

Please include the

and location of the event, the names of those pictured and a brief description.

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C S REALTY INC

Call us! 954-603-4553

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Chris Peskar

CONTRIBUTOR

Dawne Richards • Marie Puleo

PHOTOGRAPHER

Jeff Graves

ARTS EDITOR

Carrie Bennett

PUBLISHER

Richard Rosser

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Susan Rosser

advertising

Chris Peskar chris@pompanomagazine.com, 904-881-1573

Lisa Spinelli lisa@pointpubs.com, 954-818-0266

circulation

Pompano! is published monthly by Point! Publishing and mailed free of charge to select residents and businesses in Pompano Beach and Hillsboro Mile. Copies of Pompano! are available at Whole Foods Market, UPS, Offerdahl’s Café and at the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce.

please contact us

Drop us a line and let us know what you’re thinking. Pompano! magazine is all about community. Your ideas and comments are important to us. All letters to the editor may be edited for grammar and length. Send letters to: Editor, Pompano! magazine, 2436 N. Federal Hwy., #311 Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 or email editor@pointpubs.com.

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Creatively Speaking

On the Road Again

BY SUSAN ROSSER

What even is a road trip? Is it five or more hours? Must it include a pit stop or a night at a roadside retreat? These are all questions I pondered as I began to write about my love of the great American road trip.

I’ll start with the snacks.

Procuring treats for a road trip should be done with the frivolous unrestraint of a 7-year-old. One must extinguish all health and budgetary concerns. But while a long car trip is a great excuse to get down with a tube of BBQ Pringles, the snacks are just a tiny part of the joy of car travel.

The real magic happens as a new landscape slowly reveals itself — that sense of sliding into a new place. Letting yourself be transfixed as a flat and seemingly endless landscape slowly morphs into rolling hills, or watch as slender palms give way to massive and tangled oaks. Allowing yourself to be hypnotized by the scenery is restorative. (Of course, if you’re driving, pay attention to the road.)

Years ago, my husband Richard and I rented a car in Las Vegas and drove out to the Grand Canyon. As soon as we realized we could take the iconic route 66, that is the path we chose. We stopped at the Arizona welcome center and asked a receptionist to recommend a lunch spot on the route. He asked what sort of place we were interested in. I replied that we were searching for a spot that is famous for their pies, and the staff knows all the regulars — bonus points if there is a waitress named Flo or Alice. He immediately told us of a spot in Seligman, Arizona.

The place was perfect. We had lunch and shared a slice of cherry pie for dessert.

Don’t get me wrong, I like a Big Mac as much as the next guy. And a trip through the drive-thru is nothing to be embarrassed about. But, with a modicum of iPhone research, you can discover mom-and-pop establishments with a real sense of place.

And then there can be accidental side trips. One time Richard and I, while taking a road trip up the east coast on I-95, decided to take a slightly different route through Pennsylvania. We realized we would be going right through Gettysburg. So, we made an impromptu stop and booked a night in a fabulous inn that had been converted from an old schoolhouse. At the end of the day, we drove over to

the battlefield. Standing on that field as the sun slipped beneath the horizon was as moving an experience as I’ve ever had on any trip. If we had flown up north, I probably would have lived my whole life without ever visiting Gettysburg. But I am so thankful for that experience. Of course, air travel is terrifically more convenient. And with our busy schedules, many of us can’t afford the luxury of spending days in a car when we can zip to faraway places in a fraction of the time. But making actual travel time an exciting part of any trip, as opposed to a means to an end, is a worthy goal.

A road trip presents all sorts of possibilities — most importantly, it is a chance to create new and meaningful memories. Somehow, something silly always seems to happen on the road. So stop trying to make good time. Instead, make your time good. Y

CLOCKWISE Scenes from a road trip: The Federal Point Inn, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; risking it all at Waffle House in South Carolina; Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; lunch with my husband Richard at Abe’s Kosher Delicatessan in Scranton, Pennsylvania

WOW!

LOOK AT ALL OF THE GREAT RESTAURANTS AND MORE IN THE SHOPPES AT BEACON LIGHT.

RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES

Fetta Republic

Fish Shack

Golden China

Lighthouse Thai & Sushi

Offerdahl’s

Sicilian Oven

Snowtime

The Buccaneer

RETAIL

Body & Soul Boutique

Dazzles

Sally Beauty

The UPS Store

SALONS & SPAS

Beacon Light Barber & Salon

Blue Room Salon

Extravagant Pampering

Glow a Blowdry Bar

Shear Excitement

Top Nails

Tropical Wax & Tan

Vanity Waxing

Wellness Center

INSURANCE, FINANCE & REAL ESTATE

Allstate

Bee Insurance

Edward Jones

ReMax

State Farm

Summit Builders

PERSONAL SERVICES

Beacon Coin Laundry

Chip LaMarca State Representative

Complete Fitness

Education Station

Eye Site Vision

Medical Diagnostic Rehab

Nob Hill Medical Center

Pet Haven

Venetian Luggage and Shoe Repair YOUR DESTINATION TO GREAT RESTAURANTS, SPECIALTY SERVICES, SHOPPING and ENTERTAINMENT.

Located on the East-side of Federal Highway between 24th and 25th Street, two blocks North of Copans Road.

Pompano Picks

Happening around town

Pompano Beach Jazz Festival

WHEN: Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16

WHERE: The Great Lawn at the Beach (April 15) and Pompano Beach Cultural Center (April 16)

COST: Free - $65

WHAT: This two-day jazz festival will feature a robust lineup of performers — from local legends to Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning jazz masters — including a beach opening night concert and all-day and evening concerts at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The festival experience will include four stages, up-close-and-personal performances, opportunities to meet the artists, food trucks, and festival vendors. The festival will take place — Rain or Shine!

Goodbye Pompano Beach Water Taxi

The City has terminated its operating agreement with Pompano Beach Water Taxi, Inc., for water taxi services along the Intracoastal Waterway. In a letter to the City the water taxi operator stated that, due to financial difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was no longer able to meet performance requirements — citing shutdowns, lack of ridership, doubling of insurance premiums and labor shortages unforeseen in the original agreement. The water taxi service may come back under a new operator sometime in the future, according to a city official. — Marie Puleo

Paint & Sip at Dangerous Minds

WHEN: Tuesday, April 5 6 - 9pm

WHERE: Dangerous Minds Brewing Company, 1901 N. Federal Highway, #Suite E115, Pompano Beach

COST: $35/per person, $59/two people, $90/three people

WHAT: Join Susan Gingerich of Create With Susan Live for Pompano Paint’ n Sip at Dangerous Minds Brewing Company. When you think spring, a rabbit or two may come to mind. Take a trip down a rabbit hole to paint a spring bunny on canvas! Tickets include instruction, materials, supplies, your finished piece and access to event drink specials.

Pompano Beach Arts Music Series

WHEN: Saturday, April 9 | 8 - 9:30pm

WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach

COST: $45

WHAT: The Pompano Beach Arts Music Series 2022 features performances by award-winning and acclaimed vocal artists and musicians. For three months, starting in April, Pompano Beach Cultural Center will be a wellspring of world-class talent with different popular music styles represented each month, including jazz, R&B, soul, disco and pop. The stage is set to welcome music lovers of all kinds from near and far for these not-to-be-missed concerts! The April 9 concert features Carole J. Bufford in ROAR!

Carole J. Bufford

Pompano Picks contains information originating from other organizations. While every attempt is made to ensure all information is accurate, schedules do change. We recommend confirming events prior to setting out on your adventure.

Pompano Beach Green Market

WHEN: Saturday, April 9 and 23 | 9am - 2pm

WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach

COST: Free

WHAT: Stroll around the outdoor market to find fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, baked goods, local honey, as well as orchids, plants, and health-related products and services. .

The Taste of Lighthouse Point

WHEN: Tuesday, April 26 | 6-9pm

WHERE: The Lighthouse Point Yacht Club, 2701 NE 42nd St, Lighthouse Point

COST: $50/per person in advance; $60/per person at the door (a $2 service charge will be added)

WHAT: The tradition continues as the Rotary Club of Pompano Beach presents The Taste of Lighthouse Point. Sample fare from local restaurants and enjoy wines from around the world. Tickets are available online at tinyurl.com/tastelhp. Or you can buy tickets in person at Summit Brokerage, The Lighthouse Point Yacht Club and Papa’s Raw Bar.

Medications and Dental Health

—

What You Need to Know

BY DR. GABRIELA ESPINOZA

Many medications — both those prescribed by a doctor and the ones you buy on your own — affect your oral and dental health.

A common side effect of medications is dry mouth. Saliva helps keep food from collecting around your teeth and neutralizes the acids produced by plaque. Those acids can damage the hard surfaces of your teeth. Dry mouth increases your risk for tooth decay. Your soft oral tissues — gums, cheek lining and tongue — can be affected by medications as well. For example, people with breathing problems often use inhalers. Inhaling medication through your mouth can cause a fungal infection called oral candidiasis. Sometimes called thrush, this infection appears as white spots in your mouth and can be painful. Rinsing your mouth after using your inhaler may prevent this infection.

Cancer treatments also can affect oral health. If possible, see your dentist before beginning treatment. They can ensure that your mouth is healthy and, if necessary, can prescribe treatments to help you maintain good oral health. Your dentist also is interested in the medications you are taking because many can affect your dental treatments. Your dentist may want to speak with your physician when planning your treatment. Rare but serious jaw problems also can occur in people who’ve received bone-strengthening drugs to treat cancer and, to a lesser extent, osteoporosis.

These are only a few examples of how medications can affect your oral health. Your dentist must know about the medications you are taking to provide the best dental care for you. Tell your dentist about your medication use and overall health, especially if you have had any recent illnesses or chronic conditions. Provide a health history, including both prescription and over-thecounter products. Always let your dentist know about changes in your health or medications.

Saturday Morning Family Films

WHEN: Saturday, April 23 10am - 11:30am

WHERE: Pompano Beach Amphitheater, 1806 NE Sixth St. Pompano Beach

COST: Free

WHAT: Are you visiting the Green Market with your family? Bring the whole family and cool off in the theater and watch wonderful animated films. “The Lion King” is scheduled for April 23.

Dr. Gabriela Espinoza is an orthodontic and cosmetic dentist at PARK PLAZA DENTAL. She has over 10 years of experience caring for her patients. She received her dental degree (DMD) from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and completed a fellowship in Orthodontics at New York University. Dr. Espinoza focuses her practice on restorative dentistry, aesthetic dentistry, Invisalign and Orthodontics. Her ultimate goal is to provide the best quality of care for all of her patients and to add to their overall sense of well-being. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Espinoza at Park Plaza Dental, please call 954-998-5000.

Pompano Picks contains information originating from other organizations. While every attempt is made to ensure all information is accurate, schedules do change. We recommend confirming events prior to setting out on your adventure.

Photo courtesy Papa’s Raw Bar

City Beat

BY MARIE PULEO

Traffic Issues at Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway Intersection are Getting Closer to Being Resolved

Ongoing traffic issues resulting from the new traffic pattern pilot program implemented at the Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway intersection last October are moving closer to being resolved.

Removal of the plastic delineator posts (installed to establish the new traffic pattern) began in March in a two-phased approach – the delineators on Dixie Highway and West Atlantic Boulevard first, to be followed by the removal of the remaining delineators, with all road work taking place at night. As part of the removal process, the roads are being restriped.

The pilot program was put in place because the intersection is being redesigned as the first step of the City’s plan to create a new pedestrian-friendly urban downtown, which includes the future Innovation District.

Paul Kissinger of Kissinger Design, a consultant hired by the city to study the intersection, and Joaquin Vargas, the city’s consultant traffic engineer, updated the City Commission in February on the latest efforts to improve traffic conditions, with a focus on westbound traffic on Atlantic Boulevard, which has been the most problematic.

Since October, Kissinger and Vargas have been reworking the traffic patterns and traffic

signalization, as well as collecting data, to achieve better traffic flow.

“We have all the information we need to move on,” said Kissinger. The information will now be transmitted to the engineers that are doing the final design work to optimize the streetscape plans.

Kissinger anticipates construction of the final design will begin on the Dixie Highway segment sometime later this year, followed by construction of the segment of Atlantic Boulevard east of Dixie Highway. Assistant City Manager Suzette Sibble was at the city commission meeting to reiterate the vision of the new downtown, which will be the future economic engine of Pompano Beach.

The goal of the redesigned Atlantic Boulevard/Dixie Highway intersection is to create a gateway to the city, to improve safety and connectivity, and to serve as a catalyst for attracting private development to the area. The intersection will include wider sidewalks and medians, newly defined crosswalks and enhanced landscaping.

THE POWER OF TWO SECONDS

Kissinger and Vargas explained that the final plan will implement a concept called “the power of two seconds,” which they expect will improve traffic conditions. For every two seconds added to the duration of a green light, one more car >>>

ABOVE Rendering of Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway Intersection in Pompano Beach

Sizes 17’ to 27’

Models 15’ to 35’

BY MARIE PULEO

Traffic Issues at Atlantic and Dixie CONTINUED

per lane can be “pushed through.”

When two to 12 seconds are added, multiplied by the various lanes and the number of light cycles, which is 25 per hour, “you begin to have an exponential number of cars that you can push through an intersection,” said Kissinger.

Kissinger said the benefit of installing the delineators was that they simulated future road conditions without tearing up the asphalt. However, the delineators created a maze-like environment that was “confusing” and caused drivers to slow down. For each car that slowed down, another car didn’t get through the green light, causing vehicles to stack up.

IMPROVING TRAVEL TIMES

Vargas presented updated traveltime comparisons for Atlantic Boulevard during the morning and afternoon peak periods, in both the eastbound and westbound directions, between NE 11th Avenue and NW Sixth Avenue.

The travel times showed the problem is westbound traffic from Cypress Road to Dixie Highway during the afternoon peak period.

The average travel time on westbound Atlantic Boulevard between 4pm and 6pm was 9:30 minutes in October 2021 (after the delineators were first installed), 9:30 minutes in December 2021 and 7:43 minutes in February 2022. Data available for June 2019 showed an average travel time of 3:03 minutes.

Vargas said that despite the decrease from October 2021 to February 2022, the travel time is “still not acceptable,” and “we believe that we will be able to fix this.”

THE LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE (THE FIX)

Vargas outlined what will be done to bring “the last piece of the puzzle” – which is westbound Atlantic Boulevard from Cypress Road to Dixie Highway – to an “acceptable condition.”

The traffic pattern on Dixie Highway in both directions will essentially go back to the way it was before the installation of the delineators: the second left-turn lanes will be put back in place on northbound and southbound Dixie Highway; a right-turn lane will be reinstated on southbound Dixie Highway for traffic turning west onto Atlantic Boulevard.

Atlantic Boulevard/Dixie Highway

intersection project. Their concerns include traffic that is diverting into residential neighborhoods and is traveling at high speeds, particularly in Old Pompano; emergency vehicles not being able to get through traffic; and how traffic generated by future development will be accommodated. One resident was worried that the data collected for travel-run times is not accurate because many cars are taking the neighborhood streets to avoid the traffic on Atlantic Boulevard.

THE

MAYOR WEIGHS IN

“I said I wasn’t going to support this thing until it got better,” said Pompano Beach Mayor Rex Hardin. “But I am still confident that it will be much better than it even is today, with the changes we’re going to make, with getting rid of those poles, with actually doing the project.”

Vargas said the additional turn lanes will transfer between eight and 12 seconds of “green time” from Dixie Highway to Atlantic Boulevard, which will create a “significant improvement” on westbound Atlantic Boulevard, without degrading Dixie Highway.

THE RESIDENTS VOICE THEIR CONCERNS

During the city commission meeting, nearly 30 members of the public spoke out strongly against the

“We’ve created our own nightmare by doing what we did,” said Hardin, but it was better than “going out there and tearing up asphalt and then realizing that you need to change something, which is not a wise expenditure of the taxpayer dollars.”

Hardin said he supported moving forward with the project because he thinks it will be transformative for the city, will bring more economic prosperity and will help change the slum and blight that exists in the northwest section.

“It’s not perfect, but we’re still tinkering with it before we tear up that asphalt,” said Hardin. Y

BELOW Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway Intersection new traffic pattern

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PULEO

Isle Casino Pompano Park to Become Harrah’s as Part of Major Makeover

Caesars Entertainment, owner and operator of Isle Casino Pompano Park, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for several projects to expand and renovate the casino, which is being rebranded as Harrah’s Pompano Beach.

The enhancements to the casino are the first phase in a multi-phase development of the 223-acre Isle Casino property, located on the southeast corner of Powerline Road and SW Third Street (Racetrack Road).

The Cordish Companies, in partnership with Caesars Entertainment (formerly Eldorado Resorts), is redeveloping the area surrounding the casino facility into Live! Resorts Pompano – a largescale mixed-use project that includes entertainment, retail, dining, hotel, residential, office and logistics elements.

The Cordish Companies has already constructed 12 Live! facilities in cities throughout the United States. Caesars Entertainment operates over 55 gaming and entertainment destinations, including Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

“Outside of the Las Vegas strip, this is the largest development that this company will do for quite some time,” said Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg at the Pompano groundbreaking.

As part of the rebranding to Harrah’s Pompano Beach, the casino’s interior will undergo extensive renovations, including new lights and flooring throughout, new restaurant space, remodeling of public restrooms, and a rebrand of the existing poker room as South Florida’s official World Series of Poker (WSOP) Poker Room.

A four-level parking garage with more than 1,500 parking spaces is currently being constructed on the east side of the existing casino building. A new section is being added to connect the parking garage to the existing casino, which will ease access to the casino and provide an expanded gaming area. The parking garage will free up some of the surface parking areas on the Isle Casino property so they can be developed by The Cordish Companies.

Construction of a new smoking terrace addition to the casino and a new 14-seat bar will be starting soon. Currently, the casino has a small smoking patio accessible only through the Laurel Lounge, which is reserved for certain loyalty club members. The new smoking terrace will add 12,500 square feet of outdoor gaming that will be open to the general public without having to go through the Laurel Lounge.

The Harrah’s Pompano Beach

name will officially take effect once the parking garage, the casino’s interior renovations and the gaming terrace are completed, which is expected to be in about six months, according to Jennifer Swope, director of marketing for Isle Casino Pompano Park.

“Harrah’s Pompano Beach is just one piece of a collaborative effort with The Cordish Companies to reimagine this area of Pompano Beach,” said Reeg.

David Cordish, CEO and Chairman of The Cordish Companies, said it was an important step in advancing “this game-changing project that will provide thousands of new jobs and create a unique destination for residents and visitors to the region.”

Currently, the City is reviewing site plans for several components of the Live! Resorts Pompano project –an e-commerce distribution center, an entertainment complex, a retail development that includes a Publix, and a Topgolf facility. Y

ABOVE Rendering of Harrah’s Pompano Beach

like a new furnace or major car repair

Another key resolution: Make sure your protection needs are being met with the proper amounts of life and disability insurance

Finally, resolve not to overreact to market volatility. You’ll help yourself greatly by following an appropriate investment strategy in every market environment

Work to turn these resolutions into realities. Your efforts could pay off well beyond 2014.

Mayla Pompano Development Has Plans for Large-Scale Public Artwork

Mayla Pompano, the 355-unit multifamily development that broke ground in February, includes plans for a large-scale piece of public art. The developer of Mayla Pompano is proposing an artwork by the same artist who created the large-scale sculpture that was recently installed in front of the Pompano Beach Cultural Center.

The Mayla Pompano development is being constructed on the parking lots behind the former Bank of America and Chase Bank buildings on East Atlantic Boulevard, which sit on opposite sides of NE 24th Avenue, just west of Publix.

The developer behind Mayla Pompano is Grover Corlew, a South Florida-based real estate investment management group. The project gets its name from the Hindi word “mela,” which in English means a “gathering” of people.

Grover Corlew is proposing a sculpture, called “Gather,” to be installed in a 6,932-squarefoot public pedestrian plaza the developer is building on the east side of the former Bank of America building in an area previously used for parking. The sculpture would front NE 24th Avenue, but would also be visible from Atlantic Boulevard.

The sculpture, made of bronze and stainless steel, is being created by San Francisco-based artist Michael Szabo. It measures approximately 28 feet high and eight feet wide, and weighs 1,600 pounds.

Szabo created the bronze and stainless steel sculpture that was installed at the north entrance of the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The sculpture, which resembles a giant infinity symbol, is called “Current.”

It stands 15 feet tall, weighs 1,200 pounds and cost $97,000. It is currently the city’s largest and most expensive piece of public art. The Public Art Committee selected Szabo’s design from among 188 applications received in response to a Call to Artists.

The City of Pompano Beach has a planning and zoning internal policy that allows developers of new projects in the East Overlay District (EOD) to get a density bonus (an additional 20 dwelling units per acre) if they provide public art using one or a combination of the following strategies: pay a fee equal to 1% of the project’s construction costs or $250,000, whichever is less, or provide a piece

of artwork valued at 1% of the project’s construction costs or a maximum of $250,000, whichever is less.

The sculpture that Grover Corlew is proposing has a project budget of $250,000. In February, the Pompano Beach Public Art Committee reviewed Grover Corlew’s proposal and provided a letter of support for the project, which must be approved by the City Commission.

Chris Brown of Redevelopment Management Associates, who provides consulting services to the City, said that as Atlantic Boulevard becomes developed with residential buildings, it needs a series of developer-provided public plazas with sculptures, like the one at Mayla Pompano, to “humanize the corridor” and create an art walk. He added that the sculpture selected by Grover Corlew has “raised the bar,” for other developers.

The Mayla Pompano project is currently expected to be completed by July 2023. Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the artwork would need to be installed. Y

TOP Rendering of “Gather” ABOVE Location for proposed sculpture

Pompano Peeps

Memorable moments around town

St. Coleman Italian Festival

Pompano Beach

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRAVES

Pompano Peeps

Habitat for Humanity CEO Build

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRAVES

Keith Koenig, CEO City Furniture

Volunteer Brittany Perkins Castillo

Brent Burns, President and CEO JM Family Enterprises with Recipient Erik Boyd and family

The Cruel Joke of Spring Cleaning in South Florida

BY DAWNE RICHARDS

AHH, SPRING! THE NORTH THROWS OPEN THEIR WINDOWS TO TAKE IN THE FRESH AIR WHILE WE NAIL OURS SHUT, THE BETTER TO PRESERVE EVERY MORSEL OF A/C.

Spring: when the frozen tundra of the northern U.S. turns into the soggy deception of rain-soaked weeks, blithely called “April showers.”

(I hate spring. I love fall — or, as a friend once remarked, “The season of death”.)

Did I digress again? No. That rant has everything to do with the article title and nothing to do with my unresolved feelings about my love for fall.

“What Not to Do When Spring Cleaning”

Floridians, unite against these exclusionary emails! And besides Florida, what of the Southern Hemisphere? Surely, they don’t spring clean as they’re headed into winter, right? Right???

If you’ve made it this far, you’re a glutton for punishment. Or a true fan of my writing. Either way, thank you.

This year, I find myself dreading the arrival of the “spring cleaning” brigade even more than usual. I have no idea why. Perhaps because, like much of the world, I’m even more annoyed than usual — at everything. Grammatical errors and the stock market are super annoying. Not to mention, my granddaughter forgot to say “thank you” for lunch. I’m never treating her to a meal again!

To be clear, my home could use a bit of spring cleaning — no, that’s a lie. My home is clean, but as to the “things,” it could use a purge on the order of — I won’t say it, so as not to bring down the Gods of Disaster.

I’m confident that I could furnish a small second home with what I already have and not notice much difference. Actually, I’d notice, but I might not mind; maybe I’d finally have one of those places that I see and dream of — spare, soothing and minimalist. A while back, I had a corporate apartment in a far-off city. As I knew it was temporary, it was sparsely furnished; personal touches were limited to one (fake) plant on the kitchen counter and one piece of artwork.

I’ve always loved fall, even living up north, when I knew it was the prelude to freezing temps, ice storms, and everything else I fled decades ago. But spring? Nope. I despised when those tiny crocuses poked their little green shoots out of a snowbank. Each spring, we’re bombarded with cheery messages like:

“5 Best Spring Cleaning Hacks”

“Throw Open Your Windows and Let the Fresh Air in While You Declutter!”

My daughter came to visit and was astonished. “Wow!” She exclaimed. “It’s like a-a-a dollhouse! Like no one lives here!”

“Exactly!” I replied smugly. In fact, when I moved from one apartment to another, the entire one-bedroom apartment fit in one elevator trip. The movers were in awe.

Back to reality. In case you’re still wondering, I’m not spring cleaning. Maybe I’ll start a fall cleaning movement for the rest of us, open windows and all. Y

POMPANO BEACH

& CELEBRATION 2022

The Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce 2022

Pompano Beach Fine Food & Wine Celebration will gather some of the area’s finest culinary institutions, bakers, craft brewers and wine distributors for one night dedicated to pleasing the palate.

The evening will begin with a Champagne reception before moving along to the main tastings. A robust silent auction and Chinese auction will have a variety of fantastic prizes, getaways and gift baskets. Guests will also enjoy two live bands.

This year’s celebration will take place at the Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa on Thursday, April 21, from 6:00 to 9:30pm. Tickets are $75 for members when purchased in advance at pompanobeachchamber.com.

POMPANO BEACH

FINE FOOD & WINE CELEBRATION 2022

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022 at 6PM

Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa

$75 | chamber members purchased in advance $85 | non-chamber members and at the door Purchase tickets online at pompanobeachchamber.com or call 954-941-2940

OPPOSITE sweet onion crusted snapper with madeira beurre rouge, gaufrette potatoes and vegetables at Darrel and Oliver’s Cafe Maxx

Cafe Maxx

It has probably been said before, but renowned Chef Oliver Saucy has the perfect name. His culinary creations are absolutely “saucy” — they’re creative, colorful, multicultural, and emphasize local seafood and produce. Whether it’s Atlantic hogfish snapper, fruits and citruses from the tropics, Creole spices from New Orleans, savory Cuban herbs or chilies from Mexico, Chef Saucy draws inspiration from South Florida’s surrounding cultures. Chef Saucy keeps things fresh for both his guests and himself by letting ingredients drive the plate. cafemaxxfl.com

DARREL & OLIVER’S

AND FISH KITCHEN + BAR

If you are looking for a staycation option, The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa lets you experience an oceanfront haven on Florida’s glittering coast. Unlock an unforgettable family vacation with two swimming pools and a wide range of on-site water sports.

Delight your palate with fresh, sustainable seafood, madeto-order steaks and innovative cocktails at AND Fish Kitchen + Bar, a scenic, oceanfront restaurant with delectable fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Complement an enjoyable day in Pompano Beach with flavorful light casual fare and creative cocktails at Patio 1200 restaurant, featuring beautiful views. pompanomarriott.com

Your warm welcome awaits at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa

Sea Watch on the Ocean

Sea Watch is a fabulous seafood dining experience. Enjoy one of Fort Lauderdale’s most charming & historic landmark restaurants with spectacular and majestic panoramic oceanfront views. The restaurant is an excellent choice for a seaside wedding, birthday, anniversary, holiday celebration or a romantic dinner for two. Sea Watch on the Ocean remains a magical, almost surreal experience. Enjoy three acres of unspoiled Atlantic beach and see for yourself why Sea Watch on the Ocean is one of Fort Lauderdale’s most popular seafood restaurants! seawatchontheocean.com

Papa’s

RAW BAR

Papa’s has become a neighborhood favorite. And don’t be fooled by the name — the restaurant has an eclectic menu ranging from innovative sushi rolls to tasty tacos and a plentiful raw bar and options for landlubbers. And to wash it all down, Papa’s offers an extensive list of craft beers. The restaurant is casual, island-style and laid back, with friendly service. papasrawbar.com

DECCAN SPICE

Take your pick from classic dishes like chicken tikka and all sorts of biryani and curry dishes to some Indo-Chinese twists like crunchy stir-fried noodles. There are plenty of vegetarian options on this menu to choose from too, and of course, many variations on naan — Indian flatbread. deccanspicepompano.com

Aromas

Peru

Aromas del Peru is a Peruvian restaurant with locations in South Florida. The menu includes traditional Peruvian cuisine — which is innovative while respecting the classics. With some fusion categories, the menu offers sushi maki rolls, wok dishes, and of course, traditional Peruvian fare. And if you are a fan of ceviche, this place is for you, as they offer several different varieties.

aromasperu.com

Red Chair

Red Chair Catering is a women-owned business offering catering services in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties of South Florida. They call their menu “flexetarian.” They can accommodate all diets and offer personalized customer service.

The Red Chair team enjoys working together to bring you original and fresh menu items. Their passion for food and appreciation of cut above customer service translates into the Red Chair Catering experience. They offer traditional catering options such as buffets, plated meals, passed hors d’oeuvres, and individually boxed cold and hot meals.

In addition, they offer fresh, individually packaged meal deliveries. They will create a menu to fit your budget and needs for meal services. redchaircatering.net

La Paella chef

As a native of Spain, Chef Dana has been preparing paella since she was a child, but she didn’t see the art or passion in cooking it for others until she arrived in Florida in the early 2000s. Now, she’s been cooking paella for ten years as a personal chef ever since.

The business started when Dana and her late husband moved to Florida from Ibiza, Spain. They brought a pan and a burner and cooked for their neighbors and friends for fun. Soon, word spread, and her passion for paella blossomed into a business! Unfortunately, her husband passed before the business took off. And today, 19 years later, she runs the family business as a legacy he left behind. lapaellachef.com

Aroma Joe’s says its goal every day is to “fuel your world and make sure everyone leaves a little happier.” The company said it strives to serve positive energy alongside its beverages. Basically, friendly service is their jam. Some notable and unique coffee drinks include the Northreester (vanilla, white chocolate and coconut), the Perfect Cloud (a hint of hazelnut and marshmallow) and the Roo Cookie (caramel, white chocolate and a hint of cinnamon). If you crave something classic, Aroma Joe’s carries their own “Travel the World” coffees with beans from around the globe. In addition to coffee, Aroma

Joe’s serves their signature Rush energy drinks, available blended or over ice. Rush drinks come in six fruity flavors, including blackjack, sweet-n-tart, rock-it pop, beach bum, blue Hawaiian and green alien. aromajoes.com

Aroma JOE’S no Regrets

Benson’s Bakeshop is now No Regrets Dessert Co. All the same delicious sweets and treats you know and love delivered directly to your door. You should never regret being too full after dinner and deciding not to order dessert again — they’ve got you covered with slices of cake, warm salted caramel bars, brownies, cookies and a whole bunch more right at your door! From an office party to an at-home celebration, No Regrets can help with your next event. wedeliverdesserts.com

POMPANO DISCOUNT LIQUOR

With over 1,000 wines to choose from, they have something to fit every budget and taste. And they have an extensive selection of local and national craft brews. Everything you need in one stop to stock your bar and create your favorite drink! They also offer more than 1,500 spirits. Located on East McNab Road, two blocks west of Federal Highway, they have something in stock for every budget! Have a large order? No problem, they deliver! Whether you’re getting ready for your special event or want to restock your home bar, they can deliver right to your door. And they also do yacht provisioning! pompanodiscountliquor.com

ODD BREED

Odd Breed Wild Ales is a small brewery focused on producing wild and farmhouse ales. At Odd Breed Wild Ales, all beers are fermented with a unique mixed culture of wild yeast and bacteria and aged in oak barrels for 1-4 years. Lambics and farmhouse ales of Belgium inspire their beers, but their focus is on unique barrel-aged wild ales, many of which utilize Florida’s array of fresh citrus and tropical fruit. They don’t brew trendy or gimmicky beer; they don’t use food coloring, and you will never see the words’ natural flavors’ on any of their beers because they don’t use flavor extracts. The taproom is open to the public Thursday through Sunday. In addition to 10 of their own beers on draft and numerous bottles to-go, they also carry a wide variety of their favorite beers from other breweries around the world, as well as wine and cider. Brewery tours are by appointment. oddbreed.com

THE KEG KING

The Keg King is the hot spot for the largest and best selection of import, domestic, handcrafted and microbrews beers around by the bottle or by the keg. The Keg King is an easy way to get cases of beer, beer kegs, ice, soda, wine, energy drinks in South Florida. You can pick it up, or they will deliver it to your home, business, event, park, boat or where ever you want it. They deliver to Broward and South Palm Beach Counties. The Keg King has a large inventory of parts from new kegerators, tap handles, faucets and shanks, beer line cleaning kits, beer regulators and much more. thekegking.com

THE POMPANO SEAFOOD FESTIVAL REBUILDS

NEW GENERATION, NEW STRATEGY

The 36th Annual Pompano Beach Seafood Festival is back. After a two-year Covid hiatus, one of South Florida’s longestrunning outdoor events returns April 22 –24 to Pompano’s Community Park.

It’s still three days of food, music, arts and crafts, vendors, auto and boat displays, supporting a wide range of local charities, but with some new twists.

Like everything in today’s world,

events face rising costs across the board, from entertainment to equipment, labor, and insurance, to just about everything you can think of. “You have only to look at the skyrocketing cost of concertgoing to see the challenge in making a community event like ours work,” says festival manager Kyle Good. “It forced us to take a fresh look at everything and refocus on what makes this such

a great event, our long history of being a fun event for our visitors, vendors, volunteers, and the community at large.”

Of course, there will still be seafood of every type and style. There will be great music. There will be all the vendors that are always so popular. Yet admission, parking, and vendor fees will remain as close to 2019 as possible without sacrificing crucial elements.

While obviously about food, fun, and music, the Seafood Festival is always been about supporting community charites. Each year, local non-profit organizations volunteer their time to make the festival great, and in turn, they raise money for important causes.

THECOMMUNITY

BENEFITING ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR WORK AT THE FESTIVAL

• Blanche Ely High School - Parking

• Boy Scouts of America- Entrance & Tickets

• Kiwanis Club of Pompano Beach- Entrance & Tickets

• Kiwanis Club of Pompano Beach WestsideInformation & T-shirts

• Pompano Beach Chamber of CommerceMarketing & PR

• Pompano Beach High School- Parking

• Pompano Proud- Beverages/ Refreshments

• Rotary Club of Pompano BeachBeverages/ Refreshments

• Shipwreck Park- Beverages/ Refreshments

• Soroptimist International of Pompano Beach- Beverages/ Refreshments

• Women in Financial Services- Money Pickups & Counting

TOP TO BOTTOM Pompano Proud, Soroptimist International of Pompano Beach, Rotary Club of Pompano Beach,

THEMUSIC

THE BANDS

GUERRA GROOVES

SHANE DUNCAN BAND

FOREVER YOUNG

GYPSY LANE BAND

JIMMY STOWE & THE STOWAWAYS

SHADOW CREEK BAND

THE FLYERS

PAN PARADISE

MEET LOAF

COPPER TONES

TICKET TO THE MOON

REGGAE FORCE

SABOR LATINO

BIG HARVEST

FLEETWOOD FLASHBACK

THE RESOLVERS

Rather than booking expensive and aging national acts, the festival is taking advantage of the wealth of talented regional acts South Florida has to offer. There will be two identical outdoor music stages anchoring each end of the park with continuous, high-quality music all day on both stages.

Visit pompanobeachseafoodfestival. com to view the music line-up and schedule.

THESPONSORS

• 26 DEGREES BREWING

• APEROL

• BIG 105.09

• CITY OF POMPANO BEACH

• EAT DRINK AND BE LOCAL

• EPSOLON TEQUILA

• ISLE CASINO

• LIGHTHOUSE POINT YACHT CLUB

• MILLER LITE

• REAL MCCOY RUM

THEMAIN EVENT

Most of the vendor booths will be in between the stages, putting them in the heart of the festival. Boat and auto displays will again highlight the festival entrance.

“We are going to have really great music, evenly spread throughout the day, instead of one or two nighttime headliners,” said Good. “The food court will be on the patio of the amphitheater with a rooftop dining area overlooking the entire event. The layout will be simpler and more cohesive than in previous years. The event’s producers are genuinely excited about the changes and the great venue at Community Park.

WHEN

Friday, April 22 | 5 - 10pm

Saturday, April 23 | 11am - 10pm

Sunday, April 24 | 11am - 7pm

The Pompano Beach Seafood Festival is a not-for-profit corporation that benefits a wide-ranging group of Pompano

Kyle Good, Celebrity Chef Tyler Florence and John Good

THE NORTH BROWARD BEACHES

dining out

Email us with any additions, closings, or corrections at editor@ pointpubs. com. We try to be accurate, but it’s always a good idea to call first before heading out on your dining adventure.

KEY

$ Inexpensive (under $20)

$$ Moderate ($21-$40)

$$$ Expensive ($41-$65)

$$$$ Pricey (over $65)

POMPANO BEACH

And Fish Kitchen + Bar. SEAFOOD Located at the Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa, enjoy a modern take on fresh seafood. The restaurant has recently been renovated and now sports a contemporary and breezy ambiance. 1200 N. Ocean Blvd., 954782-0100 $$

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. ITALIAN • PIZZA • WINGS You can credit this place with bringing the whole “coal-fired pizza craze” to South Florida. Pizza and chicken wings — do you need any more? Try the cauliflower pizza — good and good for you. 1203 S. Federal Highway, 954-942-5550 $$

The Beach Grille. AMERICAN Delicious eats near the beach with the capability to order online. 3414 E Atlantic Blvd., 954-946-6000 $

Beach House. AMERICAN • CRAFT COCKTAILS This is the perfect place to take out-of-town guests. Snag one of the stadium seating style booths overlooking the Atlantic. Enjoy the casual and relaxed ambiance with a rooftop deck on the second floor. 270 N Pompano Beach Blvd. 954-607-6530 $$

Bella Roma Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria. ITALIAN • PIZZA Tasty dishes large portions,. Delivery is available. 40 SW 15th St., 954-784-3696 $$

Briny Irish Pub. IRISH • BAR FOOD At the end of East Atlantic Boulevard, steps from the ocean, is Briny Irish Pub. There is

and oddities that fill every inch of the pub. Music plays constantly, often live with a dance floor if one is inclined. 3440 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-942-3159 $

Bru’s Room Sports Grill. AMERICAN This spot is home to the Florida State Booster Club of Broward County. Wings and plenty of bar food is available. 235 S. Federal Highway, 954785-2227 $

Calypso Restaurant and Raw Bar. CARIBBEAN Since they opened their doors in 1990, Calypso has been a local favorite. This gem of a restaurant is known for its fresh, wild caught fish, Bahamian conch dishes, Jamaican jerk and American favorites all served with an island flair. On any given day, look around and you’ll see fellow diners devouring their house special cutter (sandwich) — sautéed shrimp with garlic butter, mushrooms and cheddar all stuffed into a hollowed-out kaiser roll. Check out the special board for a variety of locally caught fish with everything from grouper to snapper to wahoo among others. 460 S. Cypress Road, 954-942-1633 $$

Casareccio Trattoria Italiana. ITALIAN Wow! What a find. This small but impressive Italian eatery is delightful. We can’t really tell you what to try because the menu changes daily. However, we are willing to bet you will fall in love with this place which feels like it just plopped into Pompano straight from the hills of Tuscany. Reservations are highly recommended. Also, call ahead to see what they are serving. 1386 S.Federal Highway, 954-9983642 $$$-$$$$

Checkers Old Munchen. GERMAN When you’re looking for a change in your restaurant rotation, take a trip back to the old country at Checkers Old Munchen. For a traditional German meal, try the wiener schnitzel — it’s divine — a lightly breaded veal cutlet sautéed in lemon butter and topped with homemade brown gravy. As you look around, you can’t help but get the feeling that most of the patrons are returning customers. And the next time we get a hankering for some schnitzel, we know where to go. Imbibe to your hearts content with their wide assortment of German beers. 2209 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-785-7565 $$

Chef Dee’s. SUSHI • SEAFOOD A small neighborhood place with plenty of charm. Impressive sushi rolls and a varied menu with something for everyone. 3919 N. Federal Highway., 954-582-4444

$$

Dangerous Minds Brewing Co., BREWERY • ARTISANAL PIZZA

a large beer selection plus the regular and, dare we say, unique mixed drinks. The kitchen offers an array of bar food as well as some classics like bangers and mash and fish-n-chips. The casual atmosphere is created by an immense array of nautical artifacts

Dangerous Minds is more than just a brewery. This spot at Pompano Citi Centre offers artisanal pizzas made from scratch using double-zero Italian flour. Their specialty is a Scotch egg which is a soft boiled egg wrapped in homemade sausage and then fried

IN

WITH MRS. KOSSENFLOFFER

ABOVE stuffed artichoke from Casareccio Trattoria Italiana in Pompano Beach

Family Owned & Operated

SINCE 1989

until crispy on the outside. But back to the brewery — all the beers are brewed on-site and owners Adam and Andre hale from Germany and England — two countries steeped in beer tradition. 1901 N Federal Highway, 954-657-8676 $-$$

Darrel & Oliver’s Cafe Maxx. INTERNATIONAL This restaurant is an anchor of the South Florida fine dining scene. 2601 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-782-0606 $$$$

Deep Oceanfront Dining & Bar. AMERICAN Beach front dining at the Beachcomber Resort — go for the view. Open for breakfast lunch and dinner. 1200 S. Ocean Blvd. 954-941-7830 $$$

Deccan Spice. INDIAN Enjoy classic dishes like chicken tikka, biryani and some Indo-Chinese twists like crunchy stir-fried noodles. There are plenty of vegetarian options on this menu and of course, many variations on naan. 1149 S.Federal Highway, 954366-1847 $$

OUTDOOR DINING & TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE

1601

(954) 942-1733 • giannisitalianrestaurant.com

Lunch: Mon – Fri 11:00am - 2:30pm

Dinner: Mon – Sun 4:00pm - 9:30pm

Di Farina Pasta Factory & Restaurant. ITALIAN We all know that fresh cut pasta is superior to the dried variety we have become accustomed to. But making pasta from scratch is a process. But what if you could just pick it up nearby or even have it delivered. Dreams do come true. Di Farina offers a variety of freshly made pasta to go. And if you can’t even be bothered to make a sauce, they’ve got 19 from which to choose. The restaurant also has a full menu of Italian favorites. 1915 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-9536771 $$

Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill. SEAFOOD • AMERICAN Enjoy a deal every day. 2500 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-943-3762 $$

The Foundry. AMERICAN • CONTINENTAL Seating options galore, from bar seating to lounge seating and old-fashioned casual dining seating. 2781 E. Atlantic Blvd., 754-205-6977 $$

Galuppi’s. AMERICAN What could be more entertaining than watching golfers swing and blimps ascend as you sip a drink at an outdoor bar? 1103 N. Federal Highway, 954-785-0226 $

Gianni’s Italian Restaurant. ITALIAN Enjoy traditional Italian fare at this popular and family-owned and operated establishment, serving everything from pasta to gourmet specialties like Chicken Gianni’s and fresh seafood. Don’t skip the romaine salad with the blue cheese. Pair your dish with a bottle of wine or cocktail from their full bar. They also offer daily lunch specials Monday – Friday. 1601 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-942-1733 $$

Great Indian Grill. INDIAN If you like Indian food, this place should go on your “must-try” list. Everything we sampled (and we ate quite a bit) was packed with tantalizing Indian spices and flavors representing the many different regional styles of Indian cooking.. 2692 E Atlantic Blvd., 954-532-7872 $$

Houston’s. AMERICAN Enjoy this contemporary eatery for lunch or dinner. Outdoor bar and seating on the Intracoastal available. 2821 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-783-9499 $$$

J Mark’s. AMERICAN A relaxing, modern restaurant and bar with food and service to match. 1490 NE 23rd St., 954-782-7000 $$$

Kin Asian Street Food. ASIAN • SUSHI Enjoy inventive takes on ramen soups with pork belly and a jammy egg and original the rice bowls. The small bite options were some of our favorites. We swooned over the shiitake buns. 143 SW Sixth St., 954-532-4567 $$

La Veranda. ITALIAN Be it drinks from their full bar, a bottle from the copious wine selection or naturally the Italian food, everything is served perfectly. There is a big selection of pasta, entrées and traditional dishes, with new favorites to be discovered that the wait staff will happily explain. If you’re looking to cele-

E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach

brate or simply treat yourself to an evening of wonderful dining, La Veranda is an excellent choice. Reservations are suggested.

2121 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-943-7390 $$$

Legends Tavern and Grille. AMERICAN Enjoy gastropub fare including sandwiches, burgers, wings, salads and a huge choice of appetizers. 10 SW Sixth St.$-$$

Lucky Fish Beach Bar + Grill. AMERICAN It’s places like Lucky’s that make you happy you live in South Florida. This tiki bar by the sea (just south of the pier) offers simple eats, some top-notch people watching all with an ocean view. A meal or drink at Lucky’s is a laid back dining experience — which might just be what the doctor ordered. The menu includes classic snack foods like coconut shrimp and fish dip to tuna poke nachos. There’s also salads, sandwiches and smash burgers. You can also order to go for a picnic on the beach. 222 N Pompano Beach Blvd. $

Miami Masala. INDIAN Enjoy classic Indian dishes as well as a few more modern ones with an Indian twist. The stuffed Hungarian peppers appetizer, while not being a classic Indian dish, had all the flavors fans of the cuisine crave. Great service by a friendly staff. Try the Indian crepe — crazy good. A daily lunch buffet includes traditional, vegetarian and vegan choices. 900 E Atlantic Blvd., 954-317-1371 $$

Mora Grill. MEDITERRANEAN This cozy yet modern spot is open for lunch and dinner. The menu includes a range of Mediterranean favorites from kebobs to gyros and more. They offer lunch specials ranging in price form $9-11 and family-style platters for

six people served with appetizers, salads, kebobs, rice and vegetables for $115. 3428 E. Atlantic Blvd, 954-933-2003 $$

Nonna’s Bistro $ Cafe. ARGENTINEAN • BAKERY • CAFE

Some of Nonna’s offerings include pasta frola cake, American keto salad, and a charcuterie board for two. Carryout and delivery are available. 2608 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-532-9920

Oceanic. AMERICAN • SEAFOOD Along with stunning ocean views, the restaurant offers a comprehensive menu with an emphasis on seafood. If you are looking for a standout salad, the watermelon arugula salad with grilled shrimp is a perfect choice. The shrimp and grits were prepared traditionally and packed with flavor. The restaurant boasts dazzling architecture inspired by the great ocean liners of years past. And with sweeping views of the Atlantic, dining at Oceanic is almost like a mini stay-cation. 250 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., 954-366-3768

Pho Lavie. VIETNAMESE If you have never had Vietnamese food, you are missing out. This spot will delight you. Everything is so fresh. Go and have some pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), you’ll thank us. 3321 N. Federal Highway, 954-941-4155 $$

Ruby’s by the Sea. ITALIAN Tucked away in a small strip mall near the Hillsboro inlet is Ruby’s serving classic Italian fare. 2608 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-785-7700 $$

Rusty Hook Tavern. AMERICAN Located on the Pompano Intracoastal, sit inside or outside, just keep in mind that the word tavern means a local place to gather around the table. 125 N. Riverside Drive, 954-941-2499 $$

Saito Japanese Steakhouse. JAPANESE This Japanese steakhouse offers a wide variety of entrees including teriyaki dishes, tempura and sushi. Diners can choose to sit at the sushi bar or they can enjoy hibachi style dining. 2101 N Federal Highway, suite 208, 954-945-8888 $$

Sands Harbor Patio Restaurant. AMERICAN Located in the Sands Harbor Hotel and Marina on the intracoastal, you can dine poolside or waterside, either way, you better know how to swim. 125 N. Riverside Drive, 954-942-9100 $$

Seaside Grill. SEAFOOD • AMERICAN Enjoy a view of the Atlantic while enjoying fresh seafood and an iced cold cocktail. Don’t worry if you’re not a fish lover — there are plenty of entrée choices from the land. Located at Lighthouse Cove Resort on the ocean. 1406 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-783-3193 $$

Shishka Lebanese Grill. MIDDLE EASTERN It’s not easy to make a good falafel but the ones at Shishka are worth every single calorie. There are plenty of other choices too from the classic hummus to baba ghanouj to chicken and meat shawarma. 1901 N. Federal Highway, 954-943-2999 $$

Spanx the Hog BBQ. BARBECUE Spanx uses natural ingredients and offers dine in, take out, and custom catering. 147 S. Cypress Road. 954-590-8342 $

Sunset Catch. ITALIAN • SEAFOOD Seafood, steaks and Italian favorites are served daily, and they even have their very own “wine doctor.” 101 N. Riverside Drive, 954-545-0901 $$

Trattoria Novello. ITALIAN This intimate Italian eatery on Atlantic Boulevard features homemade lasagna, ravioli, cannelloni and a Bolognese ragu that cooks for eight hours on the stove. 2665 East Atlantic Blvd., 954-876-1915 $$$

Umberto’s of Long Island. ITALIAN • PIZZA When a pizza is named Grandma’s Pizza — you must order it. And trust us, you won’t regret it. 2780 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-784-7110 $$

Valentino’s Italian Cuisine. ITALIAN • PIZZA An abundance of Italian fare served for lunch or dinner. If you can’t make it over to dine in, fret not, they offer delivery. 427 S. Federal Highway, 954-943-5387 $$

Zuccarelli. ITALIAN • PIZZA This place is more than just a pizza joint. From eggplant Parmesan to shrimp fra diavolo, you will leave quite satisfied. The portions are generous and come with a fresh house salad. Bring your breath mints because their warm garlic rolls are on point. 1340 N. Federal Highway, 954-941-1261 $

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Bonefish Mac’s Sports Grill. AMERICAN Bar food and wide array of televised sports games with a game room for kids. 2002 E Sample Road, 954-781-6227 $

Cap’s Place. SEAFOOD Lighthouse Point’s own hidden seafood joint dating back to prohibition. Take the short boat ride over to the restaurant. 2765 NE 28th Court, 954-941-0418 $$$

Fetta Republic. GREEK Traditional Greek offerings close to home. 2420 N. Federal Highway, 954-933-2394 $-$$

Fish Shack. SEAFOOD This restaurant used to be a “best kept secret.” But now that they have moved into the Shoppes at Beacon Light, word is out. The fish shack keeps it simple, serving fresh fish prepared several ways. There is more to the menu but it is called The Fish Shack. 2460 N. Federal Highway, 954-586-4105

$$

Le Bistro. CONTINENTAL Professional chef, Andy Trousdale serves up both classics and inventive new dishes at this little neighborhood gem. Fresh and local produce is always used and vegetarian, dairy free and gluten free menu items are available. And here’s a note to the wise; the porcini mushroom soup is worth every calorie. The restaurant also offers cooking classes and wine tasting dinners. 4626 N. Federal Highway, 954-946-9240

$$$

Legends Tavern and Grille. AMERICAN Enjoy gastropub fare including sandwiches, burgers, wings, salads and a huge choice of appetizers. 3128 N Federal Highway, 754-220-8932

The Nauti Dawg Marina Café. AMERICAN Nestled in at the Lighthouse Point Marina, the Nauti Dawg is a local favorite. Start with the tuna wontons—crispy fried wonton wrappers topped with tuna tartare, seaweed salad, red pepper mayo, wasabi and a hit of sriracha. You can’t go wrong with the fresh fish sandwich— ask what the catch of the day is. 2830 NE 29th Ave. (at the Lighthouse Point Marina), 954-941-0246 $$

Papa’s Raw Bar. SUSHI • SEAFOOD While the fresh food is the real star, the Keys-inspired decor certainly accounts for part of their charm. 4610 N. Federal Highway, 754-307-5034 $$-$$$

Rocca Trattoria. ITALIAN A small and intimate neighborhood place. Watch owner and chef Lucy prepare your favorite dishes in the open kitchen. 2014 E Sample Road, 954-876-1733 $$

DEERFIELD BEACH

Baja Cafe. MEXICAN A long established local favorite for an authentic Mexican dinner or just drinks. You’ll also enjoy their fresh endless chips served with two types of salsa. 1310 S. Federal Highway, 954-596-1304 $$

Barracuda Seafood Bar & Grill. SEAFOOD • BRAZILIAN This spot by the sea serves seafood with a touch of Brazilian flare such as the bobo de camarao—shrimp sautéed in coconut milk, saffron, palm oil and yucca cream baked in a cast iron skillet. 123 NE 29th Ave., 954-531-1290 $$

Casa Maya. MEXICAN Start with a margarita and it only gets better from there. This is not your typical Mexican joint — it’s better. Try gobernador tacos: a combination of shrimp with diced poblanos, onions, tomatoes and cilantro on a crispy corn tortilla topped with melted cheese. See, we told you it’s not ordinary. 301 SE 15th Terrace, 954-570-6101 $$

Chanson at the Royal Blues Hotel. SEAFOOD • SEASONAL Chanson offers fine dining with an ocean view. 45 NE 21st Ave., 954-857-2929. $$$$

Deer Creek Grille. AMERICAN Enjoy the club atmosphere with gorgeous views of the plush gardens and waterfall. The restaurant offers daily lunch and dinner specials, a Sunday breakfast buffet and covered patio dining so you can dine al fresco. 2801 Deer Creek Country Club Blvd., 954-421-5553 $$

Dining Out

JB’s on the Beach. SEAFOOD Glorious Beach views and a private glass room perfect for business or family affairs. 300 N. Ocean Way, 954-571-5220 $$$

Le Val de Loire Restaurant. FRENCH • STEAKHOUSE The menu at this cozy French bistro includes many of the classics. So next time you crave sole meunière, filet mignon au poivre or beef bourguignon, you don’t have to go any further than the Cove. The steakhouse menu includes a New York strip and a rib eye, among other cuts. Yet, Le Val de Loire is a French restaurant, so they offer three sauces with the steaks — including a mushroom cream sauce. Classic steakhouse-sides like creamed spinach are also available. 1576 SE Third Court, 954-427-5354 $$$

Little Havana. CUBAN Little Havana has fantastic lunch specials and most of their dinner plates will feed two. 721 N. Federal Highway, 954-427-6000 $$

Ocean’s 234. SEAFOOD Amazing views of Deerfield Beach and the pier with gluten free options available. 234 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-428-2539 $$$

Patio Bar & Grill. CONTINENTAL Enjoy cocktails just feet from the sandy beaches of Deerfield. This casual spot at the Wyndham serves casual fare. You can stick to the classics like wings or a shrimp cocktail. Or be more adventurous and enjoy an order of volcano spring rolls stuffed with crab and served with sriracha mayo and wakame slaw. They also serve a wide variety of burgers and plenty of fresh salads and savory entrees. There is often live music contributing to the energetic vibe of this spot on the beach. 2096 NE Second St., (at the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort) 954-596-8618 $$

Patrizio of NYC. ITALIAN At Patrizio you will find all the classic Italian dishes we all love. The vibe is lively and the food is tasty. What more do you need? 1544 SE Third Court, 954-751-9797 $$

Taj. INDIAN This unassuming eatery in the Cove Shopping center has been quietly chugging along for years. The restaurant serves various Indian favorites, including tandoori breads, biryani, lamb specialties, and plenty of vegetarian options. The saag paneer, which is the Indian version of creamed spinach, goes well with anything on the menu. And Popeye would be proud.201 SE 15th Terrace, 954-427-0423 $$

Tijuana Taxi Co. MEXICAN Perhaps it’s the all day happy hour (Mon.-Fri., 11am-7pm) with $6 El Jimador margaritas, but as soon as you enter, the weight of the day lifts off your shoulders. The atmosphere is friendly and fun all around. There is outdoor patio seating available and a large U-shaped bar inside. The portions are generous — certainly enough for a doggie bag. The menu has a lot more than tacos — there’s all the Mexican favorites plus burgers, sandwiches, steaks and more. And for the little ones there is kids night on Sunday: kids eat for $1.99 from the $6.99 kids menu. 1015 S. Federal Highway, 954-708-2775 $$

Whales’ Rib. SEAFOOD Locals know it well and tourists know it from “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” Whatever you do, don’t skip the whale fries. 2031 NE Second St., 954-421-8880 $$

Fast & Casual

POMPANO BEACH Fast & Casual

Anne Marie’s Pizza and Wine Co. ITALIAN Whether you are looking to grab a quick slice or enjoy a much needed date night, Anne Marie’s fits the bill. Enjoy a cheesy slice of New York style pizza, bruschetta or classic chicken Francese. 2313 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach 954-590-2100. $-$$

Bakery Fusion. CAFE BAKERY This spot at Pompano Citi Centre is a handy spot to grab a coffee and a fresh-baked good. 1901 N. Federal Highway (Pompano Citi Centre), 954-532-7383 $

Bella Monte Italian Deli. SANDWICHES 2688 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-946-0333 $

Borogodo Brazilian Grill. BRAZILIAN Open for lunch Monday-Friday 11am-4:30pm; Saturday 11am-5:30pm. 7 SE 22nd Ave., 954-782-8040 $

Broad Street Deli. BREAKFAST • DELICATESSEN Jewish style deli sandwiches, subs, wraps homemade soups, breakfast, bagels and homemade baked knishes. Open for breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday, 8:30am-4pm. 2657 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-816-9649 $

Cafe Brie. SANDWICHES • SALADS A little gem of a place that serves fantastic sandwiches, salads, quiche and desserts. 2765 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-532-7800 $

Cafe Sportivo. CAFE Cash only, but don’t let that stop you. They are family owned and operated with a variety of espresso drinks. 2219 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-782-6672 $

Cannoli Kitchen. ITALIAN , Their offerings go way beyond just pizza — try one of their many pasta dishes, calzones, subs, stromboli and other Italian classics like shrimp fra diabolo, chicken or veal marsala, and so many more. And of course, finish your meal with homemade cannoli. 255 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., 954-7373737 $$

Carlucci’s Brick Oven Trattoria & Pizzeria. ITALIAN Italian favorites and brick oven pizza at the beach. Open lunch and dinner Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 12-10pm. 3420 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-946-3150 $$

Dandee Donut Factory. BAKERY • PASTRIES From the classic old fashioned sour cream to Boston cream, these babies are just begging to be dunked. Bagels, breakfast and lunch also available. 1900 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-785-1461 $

Five Girls. BURGERS • PIZZA Check out this cozy, neighborhood joint. Five Girls offers all the classics you crave including burgers, hand cut fries and the owner’s favorite Philadelphia cheesesteaks. 2659 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-783-8889 $

Jet’s Pizza. PIZZA Try one of the specialty pizzas such as Philly cheese steak with Alfredo sauce or the BLT. 437 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-782-5387 $

Lighthouse Cove Tiki Bar. AMERICAN Seaside eats and happy hours. 1406 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-784-2804 $$

Little Italian. PIZZA Little Italian Pizza is the best kind of Italian restaurant — the kind that feels like a hole-in-the-wall, but quickly grows vibrant as the large, steaming plates of homestyle Italian dishes come barreling out of the kitchen. The restaurant grinds their own sausage and bakes their own dough daily. 448 S. Cypress Road, 954-941-0550 $-$$

Mini Pita. MEDITERRANEAN The comprehensive menu includes plenty of salads, pita melts, sandwiches, gyros, shawarma, kebabs, falafel and a choice of entrees that includes lamb chops and mousaka. 2555 E Atlantic Blvd. 954-532-9595 $$

Nelson’s Diner. DINER Nelson’s diner, which was just purchased by the owners of Galuppi’s, is a cute, hole-in-the-wall 50s diner with Elvis memorabilia on the walls, baseball flags on the ceiling, friendly servers and classic red vinyl booths. 438 S Cypress Road, 954-785-3646 $

Pacal & Cathy French. BAKERY • CAFE Watch through a window as the croissants, eclairs and baguettes are prepared and baked right on the premises. 998 N Federal Highway, Suite 4-5, 954-756-1496 $-$$

Rocket at Valentino’s. PIZZA This family-owned pizzeria is a great alternative to the big chains. Order a real Italian pizza and taste the love! 427 S. Federal Highway, 954-943-5387

Snow Time. This spot for treats features bubble tea (boba) in about a zillion flavors. If you are looking for a something new, different and delicious, get thee some bubble tea. Other sweet treats available are paper thin shaven ice cream and authentic Asian snacks. 2482 N. Federal Highway in the Shoppes at Beacon Light, 954-59-6269 $

The Chicken Box & More. • SOUTHERN This small spot with just a couple of tables serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and does a robust take-out business. If you are searching for a solidly authentic taste of comfort, the meatloaf is a must. 204 N Flagler Avenue, 954-781-7400

The Poké Company. • POKÉ  If you haven’t tried a poke bowl, now is your big chance. Build your own bowl by choosing a base of rice or greens, then add a protein such as ahi tuna or steamed shrimp, then go to town with the mix-ins and sauces. 1154 N. Federal Highway, 754-220-8933

Tortillería Mexicana. MEXICAN Looking for a taco that goes beyond ground beef and toppings? Not only will they supply you with fresh, unique tacos, but the corn tortillas are made from scratch daily. Who does that? 1614 E. Sample Rd., 954-943-0057 $

LIGHTHOUSE POINT Fast & Casual

Burger Fi. BURGERS Everything at Burger Fi is cooked to order. Don’t miss the fries and the larger-than-life onion rings. The breakfast all day burger is topped with a fried egg. 3150 N. Federal Highway, 954-933-7120 $

Legends Tavern and Grille. AMERICAN With three locations, they must be doing something right. 3128 N Federal Highway, 754220-8932 $-$$

Red Fox Diner. DINER Treat yourself to one of the daily specials at the Red Fox and you just might be able to skip dinner. But if you are in the mood for some comforting diner food, Red Fox never disappoints. Breakfast and lunch served daily. 2041 NE 36th St., (Sample Road) 954-783-7714 $

Packy’s Sports Pub. SPORTS BAR If you are looking for a local spot to watch the game, Packy’s always seems to pack them in. 4480 N. Federal Highway, 954-657-8423 $

Points Beyond

TRAVEL | DESTINATIONS | LODGING

Kharkov Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Points Beyond

Local Lighthouse Point fly-fisherman

Derek Ulbrich finds the ultimate jungle experience and fly-fishing paradise in a deeply remote Bolivian national park amongst indigenous people of the Tsimane Tribe.

FLYFISHINGNirvana

BY DEREK ULBRICH

Your native guides, using their wooden push poles, steady the dug-out canoe next to the stream’s bank. You jump out onto a long, moss-covered boulder, fly rod in hand, and scramble upstream. Your guide is ahead of you, elevated on another mossy rock. He is squatting, with frozen intensity, as he points upstream with his left hand and emphatically waves you forward with his right. He points to a good spot for you to stand below and makes the universal symbol for big fish with hands wide apart. Something great lurks ahead. Heart rate: 90.

You don’t pay attention to the huge yellow and blue macaws squawking as they pass above, crossing the narrow canyon that towers over you. You hear only the rushing stream, and the sound of your reel as you strip out 60 feet of line and prepare your cast. Your guide, Santiago, and you quickly discuss the fish’s location. It is sitting in the fast current, against the rock wall on the right where the stream is only 8 feet wide and 2 feet deep. You check your back cast situation; jungle plants, boulders and logs behind you wait

eagerly to foil your attempt. You have only a very narrow corridor to work with. The cast is straight upstream, 20 meters into fast current; level of difficulty in the 9’s. Heart rate: increasing.

It’s showtime. With a few false casts you feed out the correct amount of line and land the fly exactly where you wanted, 5 feet in front of the fish.

“Strip, strip, strip!” your guide shouts as you furiously try to keep up with the current rushing towards you.

Points Beyond

The fish turns and attacks the fly but the current is too fast, you feel it, you see it, but you can’t get tight to strip set the hook. You lift the rod in a last ditch effort to connect but the fly comes free and sails back past you at 100 mph. Brief and reflexive profanity ensues. You keep the false cast going though, ready for another shot. You still haven’t snagged a bush. Heart rate: 105

While keeping your false casts going your guide points again. He sees another fish, 20 feet farther up between a rock and a stick. Impossible you think. That is too far, no room left behind you, target too small, going to snag a tree any second... You muster your best double haul and release a Hail Mary upstream. The 9-weight line rolls out like it has a mind of its own, landing the huge fly exactly where you hoped. You can’t believe it. Perfection. It is happening! Heart rate: 120.

“Strip, strip, strip!!!” he yells as you see the fish turn, charge the fly, and eat. You concentrate on your hands to get tight, setting the hook in that bony mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Heart: not beating....

You come tight as the fish charges past you and races

downstream. The native guides quickly move the cuamba out of the way as the fish takes to the air with a dramatic cart-wheeling leap and then continues downstream into the backing. The fish is big. It is your biggest yet anyway. Maybe 9 or 10 kilos. Heart rate: resumes somewhere in the 130s.

After a couple minutes and six more jumps, you coax your trophy to shore and your guide grabs it. You stand there and stare for a moment in a sort of stunned amazement. You carefully pick up the fish for some quick pictures before releasing this beautiful creature back to where it belongs. Your guide is ecstatic. You look at your native guides who are normally quite stoic and reserved. They are both smiling. You did good. Looking up you take in the prehistoric scenery wrapped around you; this place is straight out of the pages of National Geographic. You cheer, “HAMSI!!!” — the Tsimane word for beautiful. It is day three and you still can’t believe you are here. Time to go find another fish.

The location is Sécure River Lodge at Asunta village (S 15.49.821, W 066.26.581) in the Western edge of Bolivia’s TIPNIS National Park and Indigenous Territory (TIPNIS stands for Territorio Indígena Parque Nacional Isiboro Sécure). It is a two-hour flight by Cessna from Santa Cruz to a tiny airstrip carved into the jungle. The majority of this

ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT A local guide from the Tsimane tribe in the Sécure River; a guide leads the way to an un-fished section of river; the Asunta Lodge; villagers greet guests at the airstrip.

flight is over roadless, virgin jungle canopy interrupted only by scores of winding rivers and streams that have zero fishing pressure. The lodge is located where the crystal clear sub-Andean headwater streams empty into the rainforest and feed the rest of the Amazon basin. The fish are the Golden Dorado (Cazare) — arguably the most aggressive, acrobatic and exciting fresh water fly fishing target species in the world.

The outfitter is Untamed Angling, the brainchild of founder Marcelo Perez. The model he created is unique. It is a cooperation between various groups of indigenous peoples and Untamed Angling to provide an eco-conscious and sustainable source of income for the indigenous people, while providing the stuff of fantasy for anglers seeking big fish and adventure in hyper-remote locations. This is a barbless, fly fishing only, catch and release fishery. These fish are treated with great respect. The dorados here are basically sacred to the locals who see them as partners in their hunt for the sabalo, a carp-like species that the dorados feast on during their annual upstream spawning migration. Caught by bow and arrow, Sabalo are a staple for the indigenous people and occupy the same ecological niche as mullet in Florida.

The fish I describe above, while not my biggest, was the

most memorable to me. It was the location, the hunt, the difficulty in presenting the fly, the smiles on my guides’ faces…. everything. That fish was caught in Ashahana Creek, a narrow and shallow, crystal clear tributary to the much larger Sécure river. It is like a jungle trout stream except these “trout” can push 40 lbs., are golden with giant heads, and can bite your finger off. There are two other less common species to target here. The Yatorana (Pirapatinga) vaguely resemble shad, also have vicious dentures, and fight and jump their hearts out. They are the least common

of the three and grow to over 10 lbs. Pound-for-pound, Yatorana are the strongest. They will take streamers and large dry flies. Then there is the Pacu (Tambaqui). Many of you are familiar with these as they can be found in the canals of South Florida as expats of the aquarium trade. They are essentially a super-sized vegetarian piranha and are usually caught presenting fruit and nut imitations in the deep slow moving pools. Pacu even jump from time to

The park is a window into what things looked like a million years ago, still pristine and untouched.

Points Beyond TRAVEL | DESTINATIONS | LODGING

time and are referred to here as jungle permit. To catch all three in one day is a called a Tsimane Grand Slam, a club I was lucky enough to join.

The 70 local natives who live in the village of Asunta belong to the Tsimane tribe (Chi-mon-nay). This is their forest and they are in tune with every aspect of the river, jungle and wildlife. What they say goes. The children here start to learn the use of a bow and arrow at 2 years of age. They still live mostly as they always have getting all they need from the forest and the river. They also raise small crops of papaya, corn, pineapple and bananas. Tribe members older than 30 remember a time before any regular contact with the outside world. Interacting with and learning from the natives is a special part of the entire visit.

It was interesting to learn about their culture. For example, they don’t fight with each other and if a man were to strike his wife he would be thrown out of the village. Men are allowed two wives. They elect the leader of the village each year. They have many legends but no concept of God. They have no words in their language to express “thank you.” The thing they fear most are stingrays and their absolute favorite thing to eat is monkey. They have very wide feet adapted over millennia for this area and walk barefoot all the time. They are very kind, noticeably shy, hard working and incredibly strong. Another interesting note is that the Tsimane people were ranked as having the healthiest hearts of any group on the planet. Every member of the village is involved in some way with supporting the lodge. A trip to TIPNIS isn’t just fly fishing nirvana, it is really about just being there. This isn’t

a fishing trip, it is a complete jungle experience.

Untamed Angling runs six such lodges, three in Bolivia and three in Brazil providing opportunities to fish for the Amazon’s greatest game fishes: Dorado, Peacock Bass, Arapaima, Wolf fish, Payara, Pacu and several other species. In each case, you are a guest fishing indigenous land and guided by local Indians along with an expert fishing guide/interpreter. You travel the river by locally constructed, motorized dugouts called cuambas. At this location, nearly every time I stepped out of the cuamba, I was greeted with animal tracks in the sand along the shore— lots of them. The tracks of Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot,

Tapir, Peccary, Hochi, Kinkajou, Caiman and tiny forest deer called Chinyu are everywhere. In the air and trees are a bewildering variety of birds including all sorts of parrots and toucans.

At night many beautiful and bizarre insects visit the outer walls of your tent for your inspection by flashlight. TIPNIS covers 5,000 square miles and is among the most biologically diverse places on the planet. According to Wiki, there are 218 mammal, 992 bird, 157 amphibian and 131 reptile species known in TIPNIS. There are likely thousands of unnamed insect and plant species here. The park is a

ABOVE Derek Ulbrich holds a golden dorado he caught in the Sécure River while on a trip with outfitter Untamed Angling.

Points Beyond

TRAVEL | DESTINATIONS | LODGING

window into what things looked like a million years ago, still pristine and untouched.

After a day of fishing you return to the comforts of the lodge which was expertly built by the villagers using sustainable materials from the local forest. Despite being so remote, this is five-star jungle living. The camp chef is an expert gourmet. It was shocking to be eating such lavish meals considering where we actually were. Queen beds in large private tents, ceiling fans and lighting, private baths with hot showers, satellite internet Wi-Fi, ice cold beer and soda round out the comforts. The small group of about four to eight lucky anglers who visit here each week have want for nothing. The camp generator shuts off around 10:30 and it is time to get some rest for the next day’s fishing excursion. A day of fishing here can be quite strenuous, but if your adrenaline won’t stop dumping and you find you can’t sleep, solar powered batteries provide light in the pitch black darkness of the jungle. The jungle wakes up when the sun goes down. Sitting alone on my porch late at night, in the pitch black, looking at the stars, and listening to the sounds of the jungle, was simply awesome. From haunting chirps and calls, to violent crashing in the brush, each new sound seems more mysterious than the last.

A trip to Asunta Lodge may not be for everyone. I would not recommend a person going there unless/ until they are pretty good with a fly rod, so practice a lot before you go. I also wouldn’t suggest anyone with a heart issue or who is in poor physical shape go. Standing and walking in wet boots in the sun for eight to nine hours a day, for six days straight, while casting large flies on 9 and 10 weight lines is physically quite demanding. Ninety percent of the fishing is wading or walking the banks of the river. They don’t let you just tromp through the jungle here either. There are things that can bite you that you would surely regret; this is not a place you want to get hurt. Visiting here is very safe but the nearest hospital is a long way away and requires a plane to come get you. I am pretty sure it is impossible to land on that airstrip in the dark.

So, if this story calls to you, and you are the kind of guy or gal who is seeking an unforgettable fishing adventure in true jungle paradise, then you need to put this trip at the very top of your freshwater bucket list. I would encourage you to look up Untamed Angling online to learn more or search Tsimane on YouTube. I am not affiliated with Untamed Angling. I am just a guest who returned awestruck and wanted to share this jewel with his Lighthouse Point neighbors. There are many fisherman in our town who travel far and wide to feed their fishing addiction. Visit this place and you will not be disappointed; it is incredible, it is humbling, it is Tsimane! Y

Last Resort

Monterey Magic

Now is the time to plan a summer getaway. Why not head to the coast? Not our coast — the west coast. Monterey, California is just two hours south of San Francisco and, thanks to its world-famous aquarium and magnificent natural beauty, is a destination unto its own.

With its panoramic ocean views, the InterContinental The Clement Monterey hotel will sweeten your California vacay. The hotel, on Cannery Row, overlooks the midnight blue waters of Monterey Bay.

And lest we forget, California cuisine actually did start in the Golden State. Guests can unwind and enjoy classic coastal cuisine with an oceanfront view at The C Restaurant and Bar. The restaurant features seafood along with local organic produce.

The InterContinental The Clement Monterey hotel is located at 750 Cannery Row, Monterey, California

WILLIAM LEONE M.D.

Superior Results for Hip and Knee Surgery

Our Caring, Patient-Centered Practice

My practice combines world-class orthopaedic care in a warm and welcoming environment where every patient is treated with respect, the way I would want my family to be cared for. From the rst phone call, you will nd my team 100 percent engaged in addressing your needs.

I care for people in their 80s and 90s who refuse to relinquish their independence and opt for surgery to regain an active lifestyle. I also treat patients in their 20s and 30s who desire an improved quality of life and want to feel “normal” again.

Safely Going Home the Day of Surgery

My emphasis on preempting and preventing pain after surgery has been a game changer. Patients walk the day of surgery and the vast majority of my patients go straight home the afternoon of their hip or knee replacement surgery. This requires coordinated pre-operative planning and detailed communication between my staff and the patient.

“Dr. Leone is the best. I had my left hip done using the SPAIRE technique and the recovery was so incredible I decided to have my right hip done.”

~Bettina Kapp

“I went to three orthopedic surgeons and Dr. Leone was the only one who discovered the underlying cause of my knee pain. Four days after my knee revision surgery I was walking eight miles.”

~Dan Bell

CONTACT

The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at Holy Cross Health 954-489-4575 | leonecenter@holy-cross.com 1000 NE 56th Street | Fort Lauderdale holycrossleonecenter.com