the islander newspaper december issue

5 Points of View ............3Ask Miss Manors ........18CoCoupons .................16Dig In!...........................7Here’s My Card...........14

Island Rituals..............12Island Social Scene.....10My Wilton Manors .........5Over the Bridge ..........13Police Blotter ................4

Is Wilton Manors, Poinsettia Heights,Lake Ridge and Oakland Park the newReal Estate Mecca for Investors?

Uh Oh, here we go again. The real es-tate Boom is back in Wilton Manors butit’s not just an Island City phenomenon.Poinsettia Heights is quickly becomingthe new Rio Vista of Broward County.Investors are gobbling up older dilapi-dated homes and duplexes in Lake Ridgelike it was 1964 and the movie ’Where the

Boys Are’ was just released. Suddenlythe area around Ft. Lauderdale High

School is in demand. And Oakland Park,especially the Andrews Gardens area isan investors dream. Why now? Why thisarea? Does this mean another collapse isjust around the corner?

According to John Williams of TheLampo Group, The Wilton Manors areais desirable not just because property isrelatively cheap but because it just a fewblocks from the beach. “There was aday when living East of FederalHighway was the status symbol of res-idential living but today even thewealthy are finding that too expensivean area to purchase a home and investin. Poinsettia Heights, Wilton Manors,Oakland Park and especially Lake Ridgeare currently an investors dream. Many

homes are still inexpensive, manyhave waterfront access and

many of these homes,though they may need work,

are considered close to the beach andan excellent buy. In many other stateshomes ,located this close to the oceanare called vacation homes”

If you look deep into the numbers, the10% rise in property values of WiltonManors really isn’t the big story.Poinsettia Heights is red hot in the realestate world of Broward County. Homevalues are actually outpacing WiltonManors. Poinsettia Heights property val-ues are rising at a fever pace. HomeRemodelers are seen on nearly everystreet. Poinsettia Heights is the newplace to be seen. Poinsettia Heights is thenew ‘Must Place to Live.’

Nearby Lake Ridge is filled withseedy older apartments and run downhomes but take a drive off 13th Avenueand your eyes will widen quickly. Soldsigns are popping up everywhere.Investors are buying up these homes

one after another and it all has to dowith turning what once was a drug run-ning hood into a neighborhood. Howdid this happen? Simple: The City ofFort Lauderdale blocked every road ac-cess off Sunrise Boulevard. No morecutters, no more speeders and no moreresidential traffic concerns. Lake Ridgeis just a mile from the sandy shores ofA!A, just a block off Federal Highwayand is now called desirable real estate.

Oakland Park, from Coral Shores toAndrews Garden is a house flippersdream. Many of these 1960’s homes havefallen into disarray and are selling cheap.Who’s buying? There’s a lot of CaliforniaTransplants moving here and to them,paying $150,000 for a small home ischeap. These California transplants didnot leave the West Coast because theyhated California. They left because it be-came too expensive to live there andSouth Florida is much less expensive tolive and to buy. Putting another $100,000into renovating and updating a home isstill cheaper than L.A. or San Francisco.Move East Young Man!

Is our area the next Northern Virginiareal estate explosion in America? Thenext Harlem? The next San Francisco?The nest North Dakota? Maybe andReal estate experts are warning thatyou should buy now before it’s too ex-pensive to live East of Powerline!

www.IslanderNewspaper.com

THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER OF Wilton Manors

December 2014 • FREE Volume 1 • Issue 7

Inside…

Local manappears onJeopardy!

“Alex, please welcome our nextcontestant from Wilton Manors,Florida. He’s a self employed em-ployee benefits consultant who haslived in the Island City since 2010.Let’s Welcome Alan Hait!”

Local resident Alan Hait has beenwatching the TV Game ShowJeopardy since the original show de-buted in 1964. Even as a kid he wasfascinated with the show from dayone and not only became a fan butdreamed of one day competing onthe show. Alan’s dreams have finallycome true. Hait, who bought hishome in Wilton Manors in 2005, en-tered an online Jeopardy Contestantsearch last year. Hait said that the on-line test was the hardest test he hadever taken…and he’s a WhartonSchool Graduate!. Not long after thetest, Alan was invited to Miami for anin- person try out and to play a mockgame on a mock Jeopardy Set. Lastmonth he was flown out toHollywood, California for his appear-ance on the TV Game Show. Hait isthe first contestant to appear on theshow who hails from Wilton Manors.

“It was a memorable experience,”Hait said. “Everyone was so friendlyand helpful. I made friends with theother contestants, the show’s coordi-nators were very helpful and I en-joyed it immensely.” Asked how he

For sale examples see Homes page 6See Jeopardy on page 9

Po o e5 Points of View . . . . 3Ask Miss Manors . .. ..18CoCoupons . . .. .. ..16Dig In!...........................7Here’s My Card...........14

Island Rituals..............12Island Social Scene.....10My Wilton Manors .........5Over the Bridge ..........13Police Blotter ................4

Is Wilton Manors, Poinsettia Heights, are considered close to the beach and one after another and it all has to do

December 2014 • FREE Volume 1 • Issue 7

Inside… P i of Vi5 oints of iew ............ 3

........ M i M k As iss anors 81.................CCo oupons 61

........................... ! Ii Dig n! 7’s M CardHere s Card y ........... 41

l it Rd l Is an itua s 21 Scl d So ial I s an Social Scene 01

M l i W My i ton anors 5Over the Bridge 31

l Bi ol Police otter 4

ao owww.IslanderNewspaper.com

GHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER OF Wilton ManorsWa de e pape o

BOR OOD PAP R O WWiill

Is Wilto Ma Poi setti Heights,Is ton Manors, Poinse tia igh s, s, i ch nd cl the b ed de th to e he se ed der e and an ch a to se o er cl ns o ar c ar i ft i all ha do th d to it th fte er te e do to as has an al er an ano r an on a on it

I l d Nwww. s an er ewspaper.com

G O OO S O GHB RH D NEW PAPER F WWWWWWWiiiilllton Manors

December 2014 • E E R F l V Vo ume 1 • I ssue 7

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3The Islander December 2014

5 Points of ViewOpinions, comments, rants & raves

Islander PublicationsBox 402

300 E.Oakland Park BoulevardWilton Manors, Florida 33334

[email protected]

The Islander is published monthly. The entire issuecontents may not be reproduced in full or part withoutwritten permission. Not responsible for advertisersclaims or statements.

Publisher .................................. Rich BlackAdvertising Executive .......Sheryl CheslerEditorial Staff....................... Edwin Nelson............................................ Jessica Chesler................................................... Albert Raff

Art Direction.................Jim Pollard Design

We’d love to hear from you! Letters should be no longer than 300 words but please note TheIslander Editorial staff may edit your correspondence for clarity and length. When submittingyour letter to 5 Points of View please include your name, address and daytime phone number.Email us at [email protected] or mail to The Islander Box 402, 300 EastOakland Park Blvd, Wilton Manors, FL 33334.

Vice Mayor Carsonasleep at the wheel!

Obviously, Vice Mayor Julie Carsonmust not live over here on the Westsideor she would know that there is a pan-handling problem at the Red Lights andat Intersections. But in a recentCommission Vote to make it illegal topanhandle within 200 feet of intersec-tions, Vice Mayor Carson voted ‘NO’.Thank Goodness the Mayor and theothers on City Commission heeded ThePolice recommendations and voted‘YES’. It was a 4-1 vote to stop the pan-handlers who have been congregatingon a road sides MORE AND MORE every day.

It amazes me that our Vice Mayor would actually vote no on such an impor-tant issue that concerns our safety as well as the safety of the homeless whorun out into the street with squeegees to wash your windshields for a quickbuck. Every possible ordinance and law that prevents this problem is necessary.What in the world was she thinking? Maybe she believes that homeless peoplecongregating on bus benches drinking malt liquor is a plus and will help in-crease the property values of Wilton Manors. Geez, Does she even live here?

— Begging for Peace and Quiet at the Intersection

Let’s join the 21st Century andbury utility lines

I recently read that Pompano Beach ispaying for all utility lines to be buried inthe city when their roads are being ren-ovated. I believe it’s time for WiltonManors to do the same. With state fundsheading our way to renovate and revi-talize Dixie Highway I feel that the prop-erty owners along Dixie Highway willapprove and pay for the burying ofthese lines under a 'special taxing dis-trict' provision.

I have spoken with several DixieHighway property owners and we feelthat the burying of the utility lines willbe an improvement to the DixieHighway corridor and ultimately have apositive effect to increase property val-ues and thus increase the tax revenuesto the city of Wilton Manors. Since wemay eventually get a train platform thiswill also help beautify the area.

I am NOT asking the city to invest anymoney for this endeavor, but I am ask-ing that the City Assist us to be able topay for this improvement to the city. Itcan easily be done and help pave theway for Dixie Highway to become amagnet for new business.

— Local BusinessmanWhistling Dixie

Sidewalks arefor walking!

It’s called a sidewalk… not aside bike alley. I wish the citywould install signs informing bik-ers that they are required to usethe bike lanes. Every day whenwalking the dogs I have to con-stantly be on guard for peoplewho think the sidewalks are forbicycles. Maybe get a beat cop towalk the sidewalks and give out afew tickets to bicyclist on the side-walks and install signs. Please donot wait for someone to get hurtby a bicyclist on the sidewalk.

— Joe and Rover

The street sign may read NE 24thStreet but it may as well say I-95 ifyou live on this street. It’s gettingbusier and busier every day.Cutters, Speeders and Parking forthe Eucalyptus Gardens is causingus, the residents of NE 24th Street,to scream “ENOUGH!” And it’sonly going to get worse. AndWorse. And WORSE! Soon we willhave a new 175 Unit Complex atthe old trailer park and now thereare plans for another developmentat the church lot.

What are we going to do? Wehave no red lights at either Dixieor 15th. We have no speed humpsor stop signs to stop the cuttermadness. We now have no morepeace and quiet which is why webought on this street in the firstplace. When is enough develop-ment, enough? Something has tobe done. Please.

— Never Planned to LiveAlong a Highway

Traffic is coming!Traffic is coming!

Drive of deathNo, this letter isn’t about a new

horror movie. It’s about one of themost dangerous roads to cross atnight. Wilton Drive: The Drive ofDeath. Once again, another resi-dent, a very good man, has beenkilled crossing Wilton Drive.Wilton Drive is a dangerous combi-nation of speeders, jaywalkers, toofew street lights, little police pres-ence and the combination of drunkrevelers crossing a dimly lit street.

Something must be done. Thewhining of City Hall that it has nofunds to improve traffic safety hasto end. Someone must step forwardbefore another hit and run fatalityoccurs in our city. We need our po-lice to set up speed traps, not blink-ing signs stating your MPH. Weneed a few more red lights to slowcars down. We need more well litpedestrian crossing lanes like theyhave placed along A1A. And weneed the police to vigorously ticketanyone seen jaywalking!

— Road Raged Resident


PoliceBlotter

bike rider continued to pedal and then weaved, trying toelude the police car. The Officer observed the bicyclistdropping three clear plastic bags into a puddle along thecurb. Jeffrey Leroy Reese, 26, of Oakland Park wascharged with Possession of Cocaine, resisting an Officer,Destroying Evidence and Riding a Bike with no Lights.Noel A. Bello, 57, of Wilton Manors was arrested andcharged with Marijuana Possession and Having an OpenContainer of Alcohol after the defendant was found sleep-ing on a bus bench on NW 9th Avenue by Officer Keesling.Nichola Paul Benton, 32, of Wilton Manors was pulledover by Officer Lee along NE 26th Street in Wilton Manorsfor driving with no headlights and speeding. As the officerapproached the vehicle a clear plastic bag was seen onthe passenger set. The baggie contained seven clear cap-sules with a white rock like substance in each. After a fur-ther investigation the defendant was charged withPossession of Ecstasy and Speeding.James Carl Redding, 36. Of Fort Lauderdale was ar-rested and charged by Officer Newton after the defendantallegedly broke onto the premises of Drive Bar on WiltonDrive while the bar was closed. The defendant is accusedof climbing the fence of the now closed bar, removing hisclothes till he was completely naked and then masturbat-ing while drinking a Yuengling Beer. Before the police ar-rived the defendant fled the scene but left behind his beerand his IPhone. Using the Siri feature on the phone, OfficerNewton traced the owners name and address. The defen-dant was located walking along N. Dixie Highway. Whenasked why he was naked inside the Drive Bar the defen-dant said “prove it! You don’t have nothing.” Redding wascharged with Disorderly Intoxication and Prowling. After being pulled over for speeding along AndrewsAvenue, Charles Sherwood Tarr, 26, of Ft Lauderdalewas arrested and charged with Possession with Intent toSell Cannabis, Possession with Intent to Sell Alpralozam,Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine and UnlawfulSpeeding after K-9 Digo discovered 77 grams ofMarijuana, 7 grams of Cocaine and 13 Alprazolam pills.Larell Rashon Barber, 41, was arrested by Officer Leeat 2000 Wilton Drive and charged with Possession ofCocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after asearch of the defendant’s bag produced a homemadecrack cocaine pipe and residue of crack cocaine.Ivorie Lenell Walcott, 36, of Ft Lauderdale was arrestedby Detective Owens and charged with Larceny, GrandTheft and Resisting Arrest after he used a pair of bolt cut-ters to cut the lock of a bike valued at over $1000 whichwas in a bicycle rack in front of CSL Plasma Blood Bankon Andrews Avenue. The incident was captured via closedcircuit cameras. Walcott attempted to flee police on foot,

jumped a fence and continued to ignore officers warn-ings. He was caught hiding in a backyard on NW 3rdAvenue. The defendant is suspected in multiple bicyclethefts in the area. Kadeem Anthony Saddoo, 23, of Lauderhill was ar-rested by Officer Rios and charged with breaking intoa vehicle in The Publix Shopping Center Parking Lotand stealing an IPhone, $9 in cash, a food stamp card,a $10 Chic Filet Gift Card and a Credit Card. The de-fendant was charged with Burglary.Fabia Antwaun Chambers, 23, of Lauderdale Lakeswas charged with Grand Theft, Resisting an Officer,Reckless Driving and Driving on a Suspended Licenseafter the defendant allegedly stole a 2014 NissanAltima from in front of the 7-11 on Andrews Avenue.After Police caught up with the fleeing suspect in thestolen vehicle, he attempted to elude police while re-fusing to pull over. After leaving Hunters Lounge on Wilton Drive with an-other patron, William Lathon Petter, 31, of WiltonManors was arrested and charged by Detective Turnerafter the defendant allegedly struck the victim in theface with a closed fist while walking back to the victimsresidence. While the victim was on the ground the de-fendant then allegedly took the victims wallet and $200in cash from his front pant pocket. Petter then fled thescene. He was charged with one count of Robbery. While on Patrol along Wilton Drive, Officer Loughrannoticed Eugene Quzts, 32, Address Unknown, en-gaged in a hand-to-hand transaction with anothermale. When the defendant saw the Officer he fled thescene and when caught up with threw two bags on theground. The officer never lost eye contact with thebags. The bags contained cocaine. Quzts was chargedwith Possession of Cocaine and Destroying Evidence. Larell Rashon Barber, 41, of Ft Lauderdale was ar-rested by Detective Pilewski and charged with Burglaryand Grand Theft after the defendant allegedly entereda dwelling at 317 Northwest 26th Court and attemptedto remove $5,100 worth of peoperty.Denis Maxine Joseph, 30, of Tamarac was arrestedby Officer Bickhardt after she attempted to leave thePublix Supermarket with a ten pack of AAA Duracellbatteries and a 16 oz. Cup of Hot Soup without paying.Joseph was charged with Petty Theft.Erika Lee Kennedy, 27, of Wilton Manors was ar-rested by Officer Ferguson after the defendant aen-tered the Value Pawn Shop, gave a false identificationand received money for goods that were previouslystolen. Kennedy was charged with Dealing in StolenProperty, Fraud, Grand Theft and Burglary.

Jonathan Brown, 72, of Fort Lauderdale was ar-rested by Officer Havemann and charged with Lewdand Lascivious Behavior after the he allegedly touchedand rubbed a 12 year old minor’s breast and attemptedto kiss her in the jurisdiction of Wilton Manors.Christopher M. Hunter, 41, of Cooper City was ar-rested by Officer Loughran and charged with DisorderlyConduct after the officer witnessed the defendant uri-nating in public on the bumper of a vehicle during theWicked Manors Halloween Festival. Carlos Del Valle, 51, of Wilton Manors was observedby Publix Store Security attempting to leave the prem-ises with a package of strip steaks without paying. DelValle was charged with Petty Theft.Shannon Canada, 45, of Tamarac was charged byOfficer Salas with Petty Theft after she placed an on-line order at Publix for a Whole American Sub and acontainer of Deluxe Seafood Salad. The defendant thencame to the store, picked up her order and attemptedto leave without paying. James Feeney, 58, of Ft Lauderdale was observedby Officer Ramirez approaching vehicles in the 3000Block of NW 9th Avenue with a cleaning device and at-tempting to solicit his car windshield cleaning business.Feeney was charged with Obstruction of Traffic.After being stopped for driving 50 MPH in a 30 MPHZone, Officer Havemann pulled over Donaldson E.Lambert, 19, of Wilton Manors. The officer observedthe odor of marijuana omitting for the vehicle and asubsequent search of the car revealed a metal grindercontaining a green leafy substance that field tested

positive for Cannabis. Lambert was charged withPossession of Marijuana and Possession of DrugParaphernalia. Van Arthur Otis Diamond Starr, 28, of Fort Lauderdalewas arrested and charged by Officer Havemenn at TheVillage Pub on Wilton Drive after Starr allegedly damageda bar stool and punched and kicked another person in theestbalishment. Starr was charged with Battery andCriminal Mischief. Frances Joyliss Howell, 25, of Lauderhill was arrestedby Officer Cox and charged with Aggravated Assault afteran argument with her boyfriend on a Transit Bus. Howelladmitted to stabbing her boyfriend in the abdomen with afour inch knife after the victim allegedly punched her re-peatedly in the face. Justin Jarvis Thomas, 24, of FtLauderdale was charged with Battery and Resisting an of-ficer occurring during the same argument.Shawn R. Bertram, 35, of Oakland Park was arrestedand charged with Petty Theft after he removed $23.40worth of groceries from the shelves at Publix Super Marketand place them in a black bag. The defendant then walkedpast the registers and out the door without paying.After running a stop Sign on Dixie Highway, OfficerLoughran pulled over Guillermo Gil Suarez, 23, of FtLauderdale. The Officer could smell a strong odor of alco-hol on the driver and noticed his eyes were bloodshot. Hisspeech was slurred. After failed a field sobriety test, Suarezwas charged with DUI and Running a Stop Sign.After observing a person riding a bicycle at night with nolights along Andrews Avenue, Officer Havemann turned onhis flashing lights and sirens to pull the bicyclist over. The


My Wilton ManorsPhotos from the natives

Thanks for givingThe Wilton Manors Kiwanis Clubis pictured packing up 55Thanksgiving Holiday FoodPackages for needy families ofWilton Manors. With the supportof the community and donationsfor many local residents,Kiwanis members dropped offTurkeys, stuffing and dessertsfor many families who wouldhave gone without.

Retro days of videoMissing the days of Blockbusterand West Coast Video? Lookingfor that old Grace Slick VinylAlbum as a Christmas Gift? LittleTommy wants a collectible StarWars Phaser for Christmas?Then Retro Video at 2420 DixieHighway in Wilton Manors isyour place to shop. Retro Videois a wall to wall paradise forvideo rentals, hard to find DVD’s,classic toys, Vinyl Albums andmore. Relive those days ofyesteryear at Retro Video.Yogi’s Night Out

It’s Yogi’s Night Out the Third Saturday of each month at Eucalyptus Gardens. Come out andrelax with the Yogis of Bombay Power Yoga. It’s just $25 for one hour of power yoga andone hour of deep stretching and meditation. See you December 20th.

Driving Miss DaisySomeone was Driving Miss Daisy to the Classic Car Show held bi-monthly in front of Georgie’sAlibi. The classic car collectors of the Flamingo Auto Club of South Florida will be showing offtheir babies once a month in the parking lot at Georgie’s Alibi on Wilton Drive. Come on over, Youmay be able to get your hands on a baby blue Park Lane for just under $15,000.


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Better safe than sorryProtecting your home with Pallant Insurance

When you're shopping for home-owners insurance, some questions maycome arise as to just how much cover-age you may need and maybe even, Ishome insurance really necessary?Home owners will find the answers tothese nagging insurance questions atThe Pallant Insurance Agency of WiltonManors where their motto is BetterSafe than Sorry! Pallant Insurance be-lieves Insuring your biggest investmentis important. They specialize in HomeOwners Insurance. They know the inand outs of insuring a home in WiltonManors, Oakland Park and FortLauderdale.

Your home is your biggest invest-ment. Unlike cars, which depreciate theminute you drive them off the lot,houses typically increase in value overtime. Sure, the market ebbs and flows,and during times of recession it canseem as though house prices will neverbounce back. But the South Floridahousing market is making a comeback.From a long-term perspective, owninga home is a financial investment thatcan ensure your security in years tocome. Having an insurance policy inplace to protect that investment shouldbe at the top of your list of priorities

An active home insurance policybrings peace of mind. Can you reallyput a price tag on peace of mind?Having a home insurance policy won'tprevent random acts of nature, but itdoes put a safety net between you andcatastrophe. As long as you have that inplace, you can rest assured that you'll bebetter equipped to weather a storm orcrisis.

Home insurance often pays for dam-age, theft or destruction of your belong-ings. Yet another perk of havinghomeowners insurance is the ability torecoup damages if your home is brokeninto and your possessions stolen.Likewise, in the event of a fire or othercatastrophe, your homeowner's policywill help pay to replace or repair your

expensive belongings.If you're shopping for insurance for

your current home, planning a new realestate purchase or just want to compareproviders, be sure to call the experts atThe Pallant Insurance Agency. TheHome Insurance experts at The PallantAgency will customize a home owner’sinsurance plan that will meet yourneeds, meet your budget and meet thehazards of South Florida homes such asHurricanes, Floods and burglary. Theinsurance advisors at The PallantInsurance Agency know our area. Theyknow the home insurance needs ofBroward County. They will handleevery detail for you.

The Pallant Insurance Agency offersfree Home Insurance quotes. Call themat 954-522-3800 or visit their friendlystaff at 1800 NE 26th Street in WiltonManors. You can visit them on the webat www.Pallantinsurance.com as well.

Homes from pg.1

SOLD Wilton Manors309 NE 20th Street • $616,000

SOLD Poinsettia Heights31638 Poinsettia Drive • $388,500

SOLD Lake Ridge1751 NE 12th Street • $450,000

SOLD Oakland Park1770 NE 36th Street • $395,000

S S

00


Le PatioIf I were to apply a cliché to a descrip-

tion of Le Patio, it might be the apho-rism that sometimes the best thingscome in small packages.

Americans typically have one of tworeactions to French restaurants: ‘Oh làlà’ or ‘Ewww, snails.’ But Le Patio is notjust a French restaurant. Although youwill find escargot on the menu, you willfind some serious taste and comfort inany of the well-done standard dishesthat includes, of all things, quesadillas.

The PlaceOwners Jean Doherty and Vero

Leroux have brought the Europeancharm of the small café/eatery toAmerica where portion and space ex-pectations are set by the likes ofplaces like The Cheesecake Factory. Incase you can’t tell from the menu(more about that later), Doherty isfrom Dublin and Leroux is fromFrance where the couple met.

This is not the first restaurant they’veowned and operated together, but it isone that hits the spot with Islanders. Itis the sort of place that lacks pretensionand provides for the luxury of lingeringmeals and conversation. No one isbustling you out the door so anothertable can be hustled.

Dig In!Dining on the Drive

grilled Swiss cheese on top, and servedon a bed of greens’. The Spinach Ravioli($14.95) is stuffed with spinach and ri-cotta cheese topped with a specialNiçoise sauce and mozzarella.

The portions are generous enough toshare, but there is a sharing fee of $10.

Wine comes by the glass for around$7 a glass and the by the bottle from $27for the house Cabernet Sauvignon to$38 for La Côte Blanche Villages Màcon.

The VerdictDon’t go to Le Patio to see or be seen.

Your convertible and Gucci glassesdon’t matter there. Le Patio is the kindof eatery you find several of in anyEuropean neighborhood. It’s about thepeople who are sitting next to you andacross from you, and the conversationyou might have with them. It is abouteating good, familiar food. The anti-fancy fare is something you would findon your grandmère’s or mother’s table(truth be told, probably better than youwould find on those tables dependingon who your mother is).

Le PatioLocation: 2401 NE 11th Ave, Wilton ManorsPhone: 954-530-4641Web: www.lepatiowiltonmanors.comHours: Closed on Mondays

Lunch 11:30am-2:00pmOpen for dinner at 5:30pm.

There is some seating inside, but thecovered patio of Le Patio is an intimatespace with wrought iron chairs that in-vite patrons to enjoy a glass of wine,good food, and talk about life for as longas you want.

Speaking of good food....

The FoodThe French-Irish connection plays out

in menu items like the Cheese Slate($19.95) with French Brie, Sharp IrishCheddar, Fresh Goat’s and Bleu cheesesserved with walnuts and fresh fruits.There’s also a French Onion soup ($4.85)and the Escargot de Bourgogne

($15.50). For starters you can share thefresh, simple Tomatoes a la Provençal($8.95). Then you can move on to theReal Irish Shepherd's Pie ($14.95).

Choose from a variety of $14 saladslike the Roasted Goat Cheese with thickcroutons served warm on a bed ofmixed greens and haricot verts or theChicken and Avocado, organic chickenbreast poached to order served withmixed greens, tomato, and avocado.

You can also get American favoriteswith a twist like the Chicken Quesadilla($15.95) described as a ‘perfectlypoached organic Breast of chicken withmelted cheddar inside; finished with


Welcome to Wilton Manor’s Newest Eatery!

“The freshest chicken tenders I’ve ever had!”

— J.D., Wilton Manors

“The food here at Hobos is crazy good.My partner wants to steal the recipe fortheir Gouda Mac & Cheese Bites and I’mhooked on Hobo’s Blacked SalmonCaesar Salad.”

— Eddie and Sam, Wilton Manors

“The alligator bites with apricot plumsauce are a must try. We never imaginedwe’d like alligator but now we love it.”

— Sharon & Cindy, Pompano

“Good drinks, good fun and goodburgers. The Hobo Burger with garlic,mushrooms and bacon is now on mybest burger list. So good.”

— Tim, Oakland Park

Includes over a dozen items…

� Omelet to Order� Peel & Eat Shrimp� Herb-Crusted Talapia� Roast Pork Loin� Rosemary Garlic Chicken� Oriental Veggie Stir Fry

…Includes one complimentary Mimosa or Bloody Mary!

2426 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors � 954-551-7385

Here’s what the locals are saying about Hobo’s Grill:

Stop in for Hobo’sSunday Breakfast

Brunch Bu�et

$1450Includes

tax11am to 2pm

We are open daily at 11am serving Breakfast,

Lunch and Dinner !

JESSICA CHESLER

Brunch has long been a popularweekend activity, but it’s recently comeunder fire. You don’t have to go fartherthan the titles of these anti-brunch arti-cles to get a gist of the general senti-ment. Last Month, David Shafteldeclared that “Brunch Is For Jerks” inThe New York Times. In that same trea-tise against the portmanteau meal,Shaftel mentions Shawn Micallef (aCanadian) who has written an entirebook on the matter entitled, “TheTrouble with Brunch.” Then there’s “5Reasons Brunch is Overrated” byCarina Ost in the Miami New Times,and the very direct Kelly Carter’s “I HateBrunch” for Refinery29.com.

Brunch stands accused of manycrimes: torturing the hungry with longlines for not-so-great food, providingyet another vapid space for hungoverhip young things to show themselves offto other hungover hip young things,and--worst of all--serving weak, over-priced drinks.

For some time now, I’ve been want-ing to find out which of these crimeswere being committed or avoided atTap 42. The Tap 42 Brunch has becomesomewhat famous and called me out ofthe Island City to see what all the fusswas about.

The first attempt at the Tap 42 Brunchended at Shawn & Nick’s CourtyardCafe. The brunching hour at Tap beginsat 11:00 am, but the line starts formingaround a half hour before. My friendNicole and I arrived around noon onlyto be told of an hour long wait. Thatsimply wouldn’t do. The second attemptwas even less successful as I couldn’trouse anyone out of bed to go with me,and solo brunching is just too sad.

However, the third time was a charmas I convinced my friend and fellowfoodie Jonathan Eubanks to finally tryit out. He’s a native Fort Lauderdalienand a real estate agent, so he spentmost of the time telling me about howthe hip gastropub that lures bruncherswith bottomless drinks used to be thesite of the famous Brownie’s Bar &Liquor Store.

We had plenty of time to talk aboutthat since we queued up to a very longline at 10:45 and weren’t seated until11:30. But once settled in at the bar, itwas easy to see that Tap 42 knows whatbrunch is about: the alcohol.

Long before the food was served, thebartenders made sure that everyonehad a drink in their hands- because atbrunch, everyone is okay as long asthey have a drink in their hands. For amere $15, patrons can sip on mimosas,a Bloody Mary (or several), or a choiceof three beers limited in quantity onlyto what you’re able to consume fromthe time you sit down to the end ofbrunch at 3:00 PM.

They also know what brunchshouldn’t be about: a buffet. The menuoffers an abbreviated array of dishesfrom their regular menu like the BeerBattered Fish & Chips ($15.50) and theProhibition Burger ($12.50) along with

appetizers like the Skillet Spinach &Artichoke Dip ($9.50) or Crispy AsianCalamari ($11.50).

On the breakfast side of things, theyoffer a Green Eggs & Ham Benedict($14) which consists of Angry OrchardCider pulled pork, bacon-cheddar toast,sunny side up eggs, Hollandaise, andsalsa verde.

Not ordering the White ChocolateStrawberry Pancakes ($12) would be amistake. They arrive like a fluffy, butteryheaven in a stack three cakes high, oneplate wide and generously endowedwith macerated strawberries, vanillawhipped cream, and half-melted whitechocolate chips. It felt like my birthday.

I also tried something called TheHangover ($13). Touted as “The UltimateBreakfast Sandwich,” The Hangovercombines the brunch staple scrambledeggs with chicken apple sausage andwhite cheddar cheese between burgerbun French Toast and a side of fries.This is where it would have been helpfulto remember that it’s usually OppositeDay when superlatives like “Best”,“Top”, and “Ultimate” are employed.This sandwich was anything but ulti-mate. The eggs and cheddar did noth-ing to cut the sugary bun that clashedwith the sweetness of the sausage--andit would be the last thing I would wantto eat if I were hungover.

Everyone else must have knownsomething that I didn’t. Looking around,it seemed like almost everyone aroundme was getting the Chicago Style Steak& Eggs ($16), a grilled skirt steak withcreamy garlic spinach, classic hashbrowns, and two sunny side up eggs. Itwould have been in front of me next if Ihadn’t been so full with pancakes andbottomless drinks.

Brunchers themselves arrive in waves.If you want to be part of the first, be pre-pared to show up between 10:30 and10:45 am. We got there at the end of thisperiod, and the group behind us had towait an hour for a table. The secondwave starts taking over between 1:30and 2:00 pm. This might make the bot-tomless drink deal worth it if you can get3 drinks in before the 3:00 pm timeout.

Tap 42 also makes me feel old, and it’snot because of the perfectly coiffed, hip-pish clientele. It’s because it’s extremelyloud inside the bar--which you shouldavoid at all costs if you are one of thehungover. On the other hand, the boozydin is an excellent way to avoid a dull ex-change with a boring brunch partner.

Whether brunch is your thing or not,the Tap 42 Bottomless Brunch is worthat least one trip for the $15 endless drinkrefills alone. It’s worth two trips for thepancakes alone, and it’s definitely worththree trips to try the steak and eggs youshould have ordered before.

Tap 42Location: 1411 South Andrews Avenue

Fort LauderdalePhone: 954-463-4900Web: Tap42.comHours: Brunch Saturday & Sunday

11:00 AM-3:00 PMFollow @JessicaChesler on Twitter & Instagram

Good Morning, Wilton Manors

TAP 42 brunch


CANDICE RUSSELL

J.P. Coleigh, owner of J.P.’sChocolate Shoppe in WiltonManors. says business has beengood since he opened one year ago.With a coterie of loyal customers,this specialist in all things sweet anddelicious is gearing up for one ofthe busiest times of the year.

The 800 square foot business is de-scribed by Coleigh as “very iniviting,warm and cozy. Our window is dec-orated for Christmas. I think it has avery European feel.” In the glasscases, you can find, truffles,caramels, creams, fudge, fruit andnuts covered with chocolate as wellas potato chips, popcorn and pret-

did on the show, Hait refused to answersaying he was sworn to secrecy. “I canonly say that playing the game was ex-actly as I expected. The degree of com-petition and the speed of the game areexactly as you see on TV. I can’t revealthe results but it was a huge amount offun, and I’m extremely happy with theoutcome and the whole experience!”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re thesmartest person in the world,” Hait said,“The game is really a great deal of ran-domness. You never know what cate-gories are going to pop up or what thequestions may be. You don’t know in ad-vance who you’ll be playing against. Theother contestants are very accomplishedand very intelligent.”

Did he feel the pressure? Was henervous? Intimidated by the Hollywoodglitter and glamour? “Not at all,” Alanclaimed, “Everyone was terrific. In thegreen room they try to relax you andthey give you tips on how to stay coolonce the cameras start rolling. It wasone of the greatest experiences in mylife. My brother flew out to be in the au-

dience and he told me that appearing onjeopardy was the greatest thing I hadever accomplished!”

Hait, a Westside resident, has servedon the City's Budget Review AdvisoryCommittee (BRAC) for 2 terms and hasbeen quite active in our community. Heis an avid raiser of orchids and a classicfilm buff. He holds a BA in advancedMathematics from the University ofPennsylvania and a MBA in Insuranceand Management from The WhartonSchool. His advice to anyone out therewho has dreamed of appearing onJeopardy or any game show, “Try it.Take the test. You never know until youtake the test and give it a whirl.” Haithad previously taken the on-line test toappear on Jeopardy in 2011, 2012 and2013. The fourth time was a charm. Youcan take the test at www.jeopardy.com.

Tune in January 6th to WPLG LocalChannel 10 at 7:30 PM to see Alan PlayJeopardy and see how he does onAmerica’s toughest TV Game ShowChallenge. He’s already made WiltonManors proud.

zels dipped in chocolate.Not everything is made on site,

though business partner Barry Miller isresponsible for the almond bark, dippedstrawberries and cookies. The restcomes from Vermont.

Holiday boxes, red with bows, comein different sizes – a half-pound with six-teen pieces for $17 and a pound forthirty-two pieces at $33. What are themost popular candies in his shoppe?“Chocolate is really subjective, peoplehave individual tastes,” says Coleigh.“But the response is great for the carrotcake truffle and the Georgia peach truf-fle. People also seem to like our 70 per-cent dark chocolate truffle.

What sets apart his chocolates fromthose of his competitors? “They’re fresh,handmade, with no artificial preserva-tives,” says Coleigh. “They’re made with

zels dipped in chocolate. i zels dipped in chocolate e.

JP’s Chocolate ShoppeSweet treat for Islanders…

Jeopardy Continued from page 1

fresh Vermont sweet cream which is dif-ferent. Some are gluten-free.”

Why did he decide to open the store?Coleigh cites burnout, “I was in corpo-rate life in New York City and I was tiredof the rat race. I bought a condo hereand thought, ‘Who doesn’t like choco-late? “

You can also find fine wines to pairwith your chocolate choices and gour-met gift baskets. With an eye to beingenvironmentally friendly, the businessuses recycled packaging.

The main challenge of the business isthe dailiness and long hours.. “Alsosummer is much slower, so to compen-sate, we’re getting more corporate ac-

counts,” says Coleigh.Getting involved with the commu-

nity, J.P.’s Chocolate Shoppe hasgiven gift baskets to the Pride Center,Deliver the Dream and other charities.So what’s the secret of getting theword out? “Networking is key,” saysthe owner who has affiliated with theChamber of Commerce, among otherlocal institutions.

J.P.’s Chocolate Shoppe is locatedat 2219 Wilton Drive in WiltonManors. It is open daily from 11 .m.to 9 p.m., but Coleigh may stay openlater in December. The telephonenumber is 954-368-5533. The web siteis www.jpchocolateshoppe.com.

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Happy Birthday Kelly Bro anniversary party at Kelly Corner of Oakland Park B was a huge success. The beers were flowing. Pictu Peter Kelly and staff cele

The 100 Plus Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Dogrescue held a Fundraiser at the Mind Your ManorsRestaurant on Wilton Drive. Pictured are EvergladesDog rescuers Bella Maryanov, Jan Stenger, CarolDaniello and Amy Roman.

The Island City Art Walk is back and it’s bigger than ever!The Art Walk will be held along Wilton Drive the third Saturday of each month through April andwill feature numerous local artists and their works. Paintings, sculptures and the unusual will allbe on display from 7 pm till 10 pm. Don’t’ miss it. It’s the Island City social event of the winter.

The Aids Memorial Quilt made an appearance in Wilton Manors for World Aids Day. O and bringing awareness to the World Aids day project.


others Irish Pub! The one year y Brothers Irish Pub at the

Blvd. and Federal Highway e bar was rocking and the

ured is Kelly Brothers owner ebrating in Irish Style.

Over 4500 Pounds of canned goods were collected atMona’s Bar during their Food Drive to benefit The Pantry ofBroward County. During the Month of November, localresidents in the community and Patrons of Monas droppedoff canned goods for the needy. The Broward Pantry said itwas a record donation! Pictured at Mona’s Bar on SunriseBoulevard is the staff of Mona’s: Billy, Cory, Sunny, Jorge,Bob, Will, and Mona’s Proprietor, Jerry.

Annual Taste of IslandIt’s a was an evening of Fun, Food and Great Drinks atthe Annual taste of the island food festival held atRichardson Park last month. Hundreds of Islandersturned out to try their hand at being a food critic. Theevent was another success and will be back nextNovember for another fun filled year.

Over 1000 Marchers walked down Wilton Drive to the Pride Center carrying the quilt


Island RitualsHappenings on the island

15th - April 18th. 7:00 - 10:00pm. Take in this 1.1mile stretch of participating galleries, eclecticstores, cafes, boutiques, and upscale restaurantswhich will host over 40 artists in the Wilton ManorsArt and Entertainment District along Wilton Drive.For more info visit www.islandcityartwalk.com

Island City Book Club Richard C. SullivanPublic Library 500 NE 26th Street, WiltonManors, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM. The Island CityBook Club gathers at the library on the thirdWednesday of each month. Reading selectionsinclude current and classic novels as well aspopular nonfiction. All are welcome to join andhelp select our next book! Contact: Angie Griffin954-390-2195.

Island City-Wide Yard Sales. Starting 2ndSaturday of November 2014 – May 2015, 8:00 am– 2:00pm @ Hagen Park. Free attendance for thepublic. For vendor information call Lesiure ServicesDepartment at 954-390-2115 or 954-390-2130.

Israeli Dance Thursdays 7pm-9pm @ HagenPark 2020 Wilton Drive. $7 per person. Come outand enjoy beginner Israeli dance. The program in-cludes great middle eastern music featuring the lat-est/best choreography and songs that will lift yourspirit and touch your heart. For more informationplease call Dan at (808) 280-1051.

Jazz on the Square. Every Friday @ 6:30 pm,Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Commercial Boulevard &A1A. Enjoy free live music and dancing while orafter dinner at any of the great dining establish-ments. Call 954-776-5092 for more information.

Kiwanis Club of Wilton ManorsMeeting 2749 NE 14th Ave,Wilton Manors, FL 33334. EveryWednesday at 6:30pm. Kiwanis isan international non-profit organi-zation focused on improving ourown community and the lives ofothers. New members welcometo join us for dinner or to volunteerfor programs like the Food BackpackProgram for Wilton Manors Elementary. Find us onFacebook!

Oakland Park Discovery FarmMarketplace Every Wednesday from 4:00 –8:00pm at Jaco Pastorius Park, 4000 N. Dixie Hwyjust north of Oakland Park Blvd. Join us for “HappyHour at the Farm” with music, beer & wine, andvendors offering local produce, homemade pre-pared foods, handcrafted items, & more! Call954.696.9577 for info and vendor space.

Planning and Zoning Board MondayNovember 8th, 7:00 PM @ City CommissionChambers. 2020 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors,FL 33305

Square Dancing Thursdays 7:00 PM – 9:30PM @ Island City Park Reserve 823NE 28th Street. The South FloridaMustangs is the first GLBTInternational Square Dance Cluborganized in 1980. No previous ex-perience necessary! $5 per class Call Ken @

305-343-1710, Randy @ 305-458-1649, orTom & Chris @ 954-525-8365

Stonewall National Museum- WiltonManors Gallery 2157 Wilton Drive. WiltonManors Gallery will increase the visibility ofStonewall Museum as a lively, relevant, LGBT fo-cused cultural institution for the local FortLauderdale community and will become a touristdestination as America’s foremost LGBT museum.The Gallery will exist as a welcome center for visi-tors in South Florida. The Gallery will feature pro-gramming and events throughout the year. Call954-763-8565 for more information or visitwww.stonewallnationalmuseum.org.

SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch Sundaysthroughout the year 11:00am-2:00pm @Esplanade Park, 400 SW 2nd street. Everyone iswelcome to attend including well-behaved leashedpets. Bring your chairs, blankets and picnic baskets.

The Psychic Cabaret @ Bona Cafe thruApril 15th @ 8:00 pm. The mind boggling andhysterical new show starring Michael Jons is fastpace and features amazing demonstrations ofmind reading, mentalism and psychic entertain-ment. Admission is $15.

Urban Life Green Market Thursdays 4:00 PM –9:00 PM @ Eucalyptus Gardens 2430 NE 13 Ave,Wilton Manors. Join local organic farmers and over

20 vendors for wine tasting, fresh flowers, locallygrown foods, natural health & beauty products,and more. Event sponsored by SoFLA UrbanFarms. Call 954-394-4322 for more info.

Walk Wilton Island City Walking ClubMonday-Friday 7:30 AM & 6:30 PM,

Saturdays 8:30 AM @ Hagen Park Walk Path,Richardson Park Nature Path, & Wilton Drive (CityHall to NE 9 Ave & Back). Register @ Hagen Park.FREE. If you’re tired of walking alone, or just don’tfeel safe anymore, register today, track your dis-tances, and start earning prizes!

Wilton Manors Green Market 9:00 AM - 2:00PM every Saturday and Sunday in the WiltonManors City Hall / Hagen Park parking lot. For moreinformation on The Market or to become a vendor,please contact Frank and Ron at (954) 531-5363.

Queer Kids: Coming Out in America Now thruJanuary 4, 2015 @ Stonewall National MuseumWilton Manors Gallery 2157 Wilton Drive 7-9PM.Call 954-763-8565 for more info.

Zumba Fitness Class @ Island City ParkReserve 823 NE 28th Street, Wilton Manors. Get

in shape with fun music andfun moves. Monday,Tuesdays, Wednesdays7:00pm -8:00pm. $10 perclass or 5 classes for $35 or

$10 classes for $70.

DECEMBER12/10 NatureScape Classes: Coral ReefConservation with speaker R. David Walker.7:00pm @Wilton Manors Library

12/10 Fozzy & Texas Hippie Coalition w/special guest Shaman’s Harvest@Culture Room. Doors open at 7:30pm. Go towww.cultureroom.net for ticket info.

12/13 Community Yard Sale @HagenPark 7:30am -2:00pm Call 954-390-2130 for in-formation.

12/14 Jacob Whitesides @ CultureRoom. Doors open at 7pm. Go to www.culture-room.net for ticket info.

12/20 Funky Buddha Brewery YappyHour is teaming up with another great DogRescue 100+ Abandoned dogs of EvergladesFlorida! If you donate $5 or more to the cause, youwill get a wristband that is good for extended"Yappy Hour" which is $1 off all Buddha drafts in-side from 2pm-6pm.

12/31 New Year’s Eve Party @ TheManor Complex Starts @9pm and features DJDavid Knapp, Live Times Square Simulcast, BalloonDrops, Champagne Toast, NYE party favors. GeneralAdmission. Presale $20 until Dec. 26; $25 untilDec. 30. VIP Admission: $75 until Dec. 26; $80until Dec. 30.

JANUARY1/10 Community Yard Sale @Hagen Park7:30am -2:00pm Call 954-390-2130 for infor-mation.

1/10 Friends of the Library Book Sale8:00am-2:00pm The Friends of the Library will

erect their Book Tent at the City Yard Sale. You willfind used books, CDs, audio books, DVDs, andvideos in exchange for a small donation. Top sellersrange from books on tape to children’s DVDs, fromcookbooks to gardening manuals. All donationsbenefit the Library. The Friends will also take yourdonations of books and audio and video materialsat the Book Tent, or you may drop them off at theLibrary, at 500 NE 26th Street.

1/14 NatureScape Class: Zen Orchids &Tropical Plants with speaker Dan Christensen@ Wilton Manors Public Library, 7:00pm.

1/15 Wilton Manors Historical SocietyAnnual Meeting 7:00pm @ City CommissionChambers. Visit www.wiltonmanorshistoricalsoci-ety.org for more information.

1/29-4/2 Wilton Manors PoliceDepartment Citizens Police AcademyThursdays from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. This trainingcourse will take place for 10 weeks in 2015. Forfurther information including flyers and applicationssee our website: www.wiltonmanors.com/cpa

Wilton Manors Bulk Trash Schedule: If your regular garbage pickup days are Monday& Thursday, your bulk trash days are as follows:Thursday, December 18, 2014/ Recycling Dayis Thursday. If your regular garbage pickup days areTuesday & Friday, your bulk trash days are asfollows: Tuesday, December 16, 2014/Recycling Day is Friday. If your regular garbage pickup days areWednesday & Saturday, your bulk trash daysare as follows: Wednesday, December 17,2014/ Recycling Day is Wednesday. If you haveany questions or need further assistance,please call City Hall at (954) 390-2100. Ourhours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,Monday through Thursday.

• Special Events •

Brains and Balance Past60 Wednesdays, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM @ Hagen Park 2020Wilton Drive. Contact: 954-390-2130. Free for WiltonManors Residents. $3 for non-residents. Brains and BalancePast 60 is designed for the unique needs of activeolder adults who know the importance of stayingmentally sharp and physically stable.

City Commission Meeting TuesdayDecember 9, 7:00 PM @ City Hall CommissionChambers, 2020 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL33305.

Dog Obedience Classes Thursdays @ HagenPark Basketball Court. 6:30 PM – Registration,7:30 PM –Rally Obedience Class, 8:00 PM – SkillBuilding & Drill Class. $5 per class / $70 for 6-

week class. New classes begin on the1st Thursday of every month. Call 954-563-7061 for more info.

Fire Island Tea Dance Disco &Drag Show Sundays, 6pm @ Stache– a 1920s Drinking Den. 109 SW 2ndAve, Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-449-

1044 for more info.

Hula Dance Class Mondays 7pmfor Beginners / Tuesdays 7pm for

Intermediates @ Hagen Park CommunityCenter 2020 Wilton Drive. $35 permonth/ $12 per class. Students 16 andolder. For more information call 954-390-2130.

Island City Art Walk 3rd Saturdayof each month beginning November

• Ongoing Events •


CANDICE RUSSELL

In a city as young as Fort Lauderdale,there are few institutions. But one ofthem certainly has to be the Mai-KaiPolynesian restaurant, opened in 1956,and as synonymous with FortLauderdale as the classic film “Wherethe Boys Are.” It’s the go-to place whenrelatives visit from out of town because,it’s likely that there is nothing even closeto its style and cuisine back home. Or it’sthought of for special occasions orwhen you’re in the mood for somethingcompletely different.

The giant tiki statues out front andlush foliage set the tone for the place asyou pull into the restaurant’s driveway.You’re about to go on a South Seas ad-venture when you open the restaurantdoor

Because we had come for dinner onlyand not the show, which is an extracharge, we were seated in a back roomof tropical ambience – grass cloth on thewalls, a variety of lighting fixtures inbaskets and glass (one was even fish-shaped), and Hawaiian music. We facedan outdoor garden with tropical plantsand water features.

We had the good luck of having thehighly solicitous Howard as our server.He provided my dining companion withadvice on which tropical drink was nei-ther too big nor too alcoholic, thoughthe serviceable menu breaks downthese factors in clear sections. He alsomade sure my entrée was not too highlyspiced, when I asked for it to be “mild.”

We shared a generous appetizer, on aspecial – large shrimp given a crunchycoconut coating with a mild coconutmilk and vanilla dipping sauce.

The varied regular appetizer menu in-cludes the ever-popular pupu platter($14.95) for two, including Shanghaichicken, egg roll, crab Rangoon andcheese tangs. Or try bacbecue babyback ribs ($12.95) or oysters Rockefeller($13.95).

For a specialized menu, it is quite ex-tensive. Among the “Oriental dishes” isteriyaki chicken ($1674), tender slices ofchicken sautéed with shiitake mush-rooms, pods and sliced white mush-rooms in teriyaki sauce. Or try Mai-Kaiorange beef (!8.75), crispy beef in a spicyorange peel and chili pepper sauce, withfresh broccoli and scallions.

Understandably for a place with an is-land vibe, the seafood menu is variedand delightful. I was pleased with mychoice of Panang Curry Shrimp ($22.95),shrimp and Oriental vegetables sim-

Exotic island dining for IslandersHead to Mai-Kai Restaurant

mered in a slightly sweet Thai coconutcurry sauce with pork fried rice. It wasa substantial portion, disallowing roomfor dessert. Other tempting offerings in-clude Scallops Singapore ($35), sea scal-lops stir-fried with three types ofmushrooms, pea pods, water chestnutsand scallions in a ginger oyster sauce,and Lobster Bora Bora ($37), a shelledMaine lobster weighing a pound and ahalf sauteed with mushrooms andflamed with bourbon, then finished withcream and a red wine Bordelaise sauce.

There are also three duck entreees, in-cluding Peking Duck ($57), plus a selec-tion of fresh fish among snapper,yellowfin tuna, mahhi-mahi andScottish Salmon ($32), prepared eitherwood-grilled or blackened. Noodles areon the menu, too, including what mypartner of the small appetite ordered –Pad Thai ($21.95), with flat rice, noodles,chicken, shrimp, scallions, and beansprouts in a Thai sauce with crushedpeanuts. She pronounced it delicious.

Our very kind waiter Howard askedher, after her order was taken and deliv-ered to the kitchen, if she would prefera half-portion instead, and she said“yes.” His consideration of her needswent over and above the usual standardof service at a fine dining establishment.If you visit Mai-Kai, request to be atHoward’s table.

If you come for the show, too, it’s anextra $11.95 per person and well worthit if you’ve never been entertained by anoutstanding troupe of male and femaledancers.

Mai-Kai, the Polynesian Restaurant, islocated at 3599 North Federal Highwayin Fort Lauderdale. The telephone num-ber is 954-563-3272.

Over the BridgeDining Out with

“The Ft. Lauderdale Foodie”

Understandably for a place with

an island vibe, theseafood menu is

varied and delightful.


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Since 1998, the Holiday Flowers YouCan Trust are from Water Mill Flowers,Your Local Florist. You can sendChristmas flower arrangements orgifts to Wilton Manors or nationwidewith Water Mill Flowers. They havethe areas widest selection of center-pieces and bouquets for Christmasdecoration.

Water Mill Flowers is the leadingflorists in Fort Lauderdale and isproud to offer a wide assortment offresh flowers for your gift-givingneeds. Their dedicated staff with over100 years of combined floral experi-ence will help make this Christmasmemorable with an artfully designedarrangement or table centerpiece. AtWatermill Flowers they offer same dayflower delivery to Wilton Manors andsurrounding communities.

Celebrate the 2014 Christmas Seasonwith festive flowers or a gift basketfrom Water Mill Flowers of FortLauderdale. You’ll surely bring a smileto everyone’s face this holiday with oneof Water Mill’s enchanting holiday cen-terpieces. Their Christmas flowers,arranged flowers and floral center-pieces will surely bring warmth andcheer to any home or office. Same dayflower delivery is available for mostflower gifts. Not only will a holidayarrangement from Water Mill Flowersmake for a memorable gift but they willbring lasting memories far beyond theHoliday Season.

You are welcome to stop by WaterMill Flowers and visit their show roomor sit down with one of their renowndesigners and create your own arrange-ment. Water Mill Flowers & FruitBouquets is located just around the cor-ner at 5600 Northwest 12th Avenue inFort Lauderdale. You can reach them at954-772-0200 or visit Water Mill on lineat www.watermillflowers.com.

Make this holidaymemorable withWater Mill Flowers


Ask MissManors

Sorry to Definitely Pro, the reader from lastmonth who desperately wantedAmendment 2 to pass. 57% of Florida ismourning along with you, but the showmust go on. This month we have a holidayhopeful who is expecting an engagement,a complicated and potentially awkwardNew Year’s Eve party, a concerned readerwho wonders why there seems to be afrozen iguana epidemic, and anotherreader who wants to violate my privacy.

Ready for some more advice from some-one who isn’t your mother?

Dear Miss Manors,I’ve been dating the same guy for

4 years. We live together, we makeall of our plans together, we are en-trenched in each other’s family. Thistime last year, I was certain that hewas going to propose to me espe-cially since we watched almost all ofour other “couple” friends get en-gaged. I even saw a search for “maleengagement rings” in his browserhistory, but the holidays passed andthe new year came, and no poppingof the question. This year I’m watch-ing the same thing happen onFacebook. Engagement after en-gagement. This is something I trulywant, but he doesn’t seem to be will-ing to take the step. How do I makeit through another year of disap-pointment?

Signed,Disappointed, but Still Hopeful

Dear Disappointed,The evil combination of Facebook

and the holidays is making you crazy.‘Tis true that ‘tis the season for engage-ments. It might be something about thegathering of loved ones or all the dis-counts on jewelry, but it’s been reportedby people who supposedly know thatengagements spike this time of year.Social media certainly doesn’t helpwhen it comes to comparing where youare in your relationship to where othersmight be. Don’t despair. It appears youhave a long and loving relationship, andit’s important to focus on that as op-posed to the appearance of happinessor moving forward of folks on theFacebook. I can’t tell you how manytimes I’ve seen people post couldn’t-be-happier-smiling engagement photosalong with pictures of potential dressesonly to announce with regret that thewedding was off.

You should also consider calling offyour internet snooping. Your boyfriendmight have been searching for ringsfor you, but he may have been search-ing for one of your many friends. Hemay even have been looking for himselfto consider what kind of ring he wouldwant to wear happily ever after. Ormaybe he even left the search open foryou to find hoping that YOU wouldtake the hint.

The point is that this isn’t a questionyou should be asking me, this is a ques-tion you should be asking him. Trysomething like “Have you ever thoughtabout taking a quick, legally-binding, fi-

nancially-entangling and ever-so-ro-mantic trip to California or New York?”

Dear Miss Manors,I happen to be one of those people

who stays good friends with theirexes....and their ex’s family. Over thepast few years, I’ve been spending theholidays with “Tim” and Tim’s familysince mine is based in another country.The problem is that I’ve been seeingsomeone new, it’s serious enough thatwe’re talking about spending our firstChristmas together. The new guy’s fam-ily is out-of-state, and he isn’t planningon visiting them, and I don’t want todisappointed Tim’s family by not show-ing up. I also don’t want this to be anawkward situation for Tim or for mycurrent man. What should I do?

Signed,Ex-Friendly

Dear Ex-Friendly,I know your type. I’ve dated your

type. I’ve considered the virtues ofbeing your type. It seems wrong to justcut ties with people who have meant somuch to you and who obviously stillcare for you. It can also be really com-forting to be surrounded by familiarpeople when your own family is so faraway. A lot of what you should do ac-tually depends on the preferences ofyour new guy. If he is similarly ex-friendly (and you wouldn’t have anissue with spending the holidays withhis ex’s family) then there really isn’t aproblem, is there?

On the other hand, bringing some-one with whom you are in a fairly newrelationship with into a situation witha group that you have such strong tieswith might be a little intimidating andleave him wondering if there is actu-ally room in your life and heart to builda new life based on your relationshipwith him.

Here are some more things to con-sider: Does Tim have a new romanticinterest that will also be at the party?You don’t have children with “Tim” sokeeping up such a strong relationship isa little unorthodox (despite the new

wave hippies who keep it all zen, alllove, all the time). You also put in theeffort to give a fake name for your exbut referred to your current beau as“the new guy”.

I know this is just a letter, but seri-ously think about how making thenew guy feel like “The New Guy” ver-sus a quietly romantic holiday withjust the two of you will reinforce orweaken the new relationship youseem to want to grow.

Dear Miss Manors,Whenever the weather gets rather

cold for the Sunshine State, I noticeiguanas freezing and dropping deadfrom tree branches. What the heck isgoing on? Should we pick them upand remove them? I’m afraid theneighborhood cats will be drawn fortheir own holiday feast.

Signed,Fearing Iguanapocalypse

Dear Fearing,No need to fear. Those lizards

aren’t dead. They’re just an unfortu-nately bioinvasive species whodon’t function well in a temperateclimate. When temps dip below 40degrees, iguanas and other smalltropical reptiles experience hy-pothermia and only appear to besome kind of dead. Leave thoselizard popsicles where they are.When temps go up, they will reviveand go along their way.

Dear Miss Manors,Who are you?

Signed,Wants-to-Know

Dear Wants to Know,I appreciate the curiosity, but I

don’t advise and tell. It would be quiteawkward for me to be sitting at theCourtyard Cafe only to have some-one realize that I know about their se-cret affairs. Maybe one day when I’mold and gray, I’ll let people know inmy tell-all autobiography.

Thanks, Islanders! If you have unresolved drama,

general life questions, or naggingneed-to-knows about life in WiltonManors/South Florida, don’t hesitateto write in to [email protected]. or message TheIslander Newspaper on Facebook.

Leave those lizard popsicleswhere they are.

EXPIRES 12/31/14

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SAVINGLIVESSINCE1983!

the islander newspaper december issue

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