Buyers Beware! There Are Only 10 Weeks Until Halloween!

I was walking around the Stuart Centre here in Stuart, Florida yesterday afternoon and stopped in at Five Below, which is a discount store where most items are priced at $5 or less. And the first thing I saw was the Halloween display seen in the photograph above. This is, of course, August 19th, a mere 10 weeks until Halloween, and so I assume people are getting pretty anxious about getting their Halloween shopping done. Even back in Denver, I noticed a Spirit Halloween store already open at a former Big 5 Sporting Goods Store on South Colorado Boulevard. Halloween is a big deal these days for the twenty-something crowd. But then again, it has been for years. The Saturday before Halloween has always been the night for hipsters to dress up in costume and head to Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo) and party the night away. And years ago, the crowds on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall on that same Saturday night grew so large and rowdy that eventually, for several years, police had to seal off the city and allow only residents in on that particular night before finally putting an end to what was called the Mall Crawl. And do they celebrate like that here in Stuart? I suspect not so much, although I must say there are a lot of those 8-foot giant skeletons around, which most people leave up all year long. What is the deal with that? The undead making a statement?

A Return Visit To The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

My sister Susan and I returned to the Busch Wildlife Sanctury, located in Jupiter, Florida, yesterday afternoon after a previous visit to the center last year, and we are glad we did. Last year we simply walked around and looked at the animals on display and went home, while this year we attended several wildlife presentations, which were very informative. The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary's mission is to protect and conserve Florida's wildlife and habitats, and they are a nationally recognized leader in wildlife rehabilitation. They rescue sick, injured, and orphaned Florida wildlife with the goal of returning them back into the wild. They treat over 5,000 animals a year, and those that cannot be released are kept at the sanctuary and are available for the public to view, such as the opossum in the photograph on the left, which lost its tail, which affects balance, climbing, and exposes it to predators.

During a talk about the various animals at the sanctuary, we were told how some of those animals wound up with them. One story concerned someone who built a house in an area inhabited by a bear and killed it. Concerned neighbors contacted the Busch Wildlife Sanctury, letting them know that the bear had two cubs, which were then found about a mile away from the center and rescued by them. Since the two cubs were raised by humans, they could not be released into back into the wild and so are now permanent residents. I am not sure why the two Florida panthers on display are also permanent residents, but I was able to capture one of the two with my camera, as seen in the photograph on the right.

And this being Florida, they of course have some alligators on the property. In the reptile house are two baby alligators that were orphaned and are not yet big enough to survive in the wild on their own. After a year or two, when they are able to fend for themselves, they will be released. On the other end of the spectrum, the alligator in the photograph on the left is 43 years old and was one of the reasons the animal sanctuary came into existence. Evidently a kid found an egg and took it home, opening up the shell and discovering a baby alligator. When it got too big for the household, it became one if not the first occupants of the facility. Because it was born prematurely, it has birth defects that prevent it from being released into the swamp, one of them being that it can only open its mouth about 4 inches, which would spell death in the wild. Susan and I attended the 4:00 o'clock feeding, which consisted of feeding it frozen mice - yum! - which I duly photographed, but I decided to use the photograph showing it relaxing after dinner instead. In any case, everyone at the Busch Wildlife Sanctury was friendly and helpful, and made it an entertaining experience.  It is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area. There is no admission fee, but donations are welcome.

Missing Two Festivals In One Day - A New Record!

My sister Susan and I missed two festivals in a single day yesterday afternoon, which I believe has never happened before. We were planning to attend both the Delray Coastal Showcase at Old School Square in Delray Beach, Florida, which was supposed to feature "talented local artists, skilled makers, and creative entrepreneurs." After that, we were going to attend Oban Weekend at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, also in Delray Beach, which would include a walk through six distinct historical Japanese Gardens and "live taiko drumming performances in the spirit of Oban," as well as a lantern floating at the end of the day. However, when we arrived in Delray Beach and got to Old School Square, seen in the photograph on the left, there were no artists, skilled makers, or creative entrepreneurs to be seen. I knew this was going to be a low-key kind of show, but I definitely didn't expect this. And I still don't know why the event didn't take place. In any case, instead, we walked around downtown Delray Beach for a while and really enjoyed hanging out in that vibrant city, which was quite lively even during the summer.

As for the Oban Festival, Susan, my mother Mary, and I attended this event years ago. As I recall, it involved a LOT of taiko drumming, which Susan really seemed to get into, as seen in the photograph on the right that I took at the time. But the highlight of the festival was at the end, at sunset, when everyone launched a "guiding light lantern" into a pond, which was quite an impressive and moving experience. I tried to take photographs of those floating lanterns, but it was too dark and the photos never turned out. This time, however, I planned to use my Lumix camera with the fast, 1.4 Leica lens and get a decent result. But then I read the festival's web page and found out that "the only lantern floating will take place during the Launch the Lantern Dinner on Sunday evening."  And the cost of this dinner was $200 per person. I know for a fact that the last time we went to that event, everyone there was able to stay until the lantern floating, and we did not pay $200 each for the privilege. And as for the drumming, I had enough of that the first time, even if it was 25 or 30 years ago. And so, we skipped the Oban Festival and took a nice drive back to Stuart along the ocean, which cost us far less than $200 each.

A Visit To Harbourside Place

Yesterday afternoon I stopped by Harbourside Place, which is located in Jupiter, Florida, to walk around and stretch my legs a little bit. Harbourside Place is a mixed-use development along the intercoastal waterway that now functions as Jupiter's downtown. I really like the landscaping and the location along the water, which makes for a pleasant place to hang out, as seen in the photograph on the left. This complex is filled with upscale shops, a luxury hotel, a marina, offices, and, needless to say, pricey restaurants. In fact, this is the location of The Woods, a restaurant owned by none other than Tiger Woods, which made me wonder what Tiger was up to these days.

The last time we were in Florida, my sister Susan and I were driving down South Beach Road on Jupiter Island when we came upon a police car blocking the road. We were told it was temporarily closed and that we needed to turn back the way we came. This was on March 27th and I later found out the road was closed because of a rollover crash involving Tiger Woods, who was later charged with suspicion of DUI involving the use of pain killers he was taking after multiple operations and injuries. The last I heard, he had flown to Switzerland to undergo rehab. When I got home, I checked online and found that Woods has completed rehab and made his first public appearance since his return at an event for the PGA tour back on June 23rd. He has stated his intention to return to professional golf "once his pain management routine stabilizes consistently and provides him with the relief he needs to compete again." And going the extra mile in doing research on the subject, I discovered that someone named Larry from New York City wrote that he had a great time dining at The Woods back on July 9th and caught sight of Tiger while there. Woods, of course, has a 12-acre Jupiter Island estate not too far from the restaurant. What I want to know is if he was tending bar or just waiting tables. Inquiring minds want to know.

Returning To The Sailor's Return - What A Difference Three Months Make

My sister Susan and I stopped by the Sailor's Return's outdoor patio this past Tuesday for happy hour, and what a difference it was from the last time we were here.  The Sailor's Return, seen on the right in the photograph on the left, is located in the Sunset Bay Marina along the St. Lucie River in Stuart, Florida, and is a really nice place to sit and have a drink. During "The Season," it is virtually impossible to find a parking space, and if you do, when you leave, you will find a line of cars parked right behind yours, requiring the valet move the one blocking your car. And finding a table to sit at on the patio is a real challenge, too. 

But happily, on a Tuesday night in August, there was no such problem. As you can see from the photograph on the right, there was plenty of room for all. The place did fill up a bit as we were leaving, but there were still plenty of tables available with a view of the boats (mostly yachts) in the marina. And thanks to the awnings and a breeze off the river, it was perfectly comfortable despite the high temps and humidity. This is the Florida I got to know when visiting my parents Nelson and Mary after they moved down to Stuart back in 1976. Working as the Finance Manager of the University of Denver Bookstore, the best time to go on vacation was in August, when the students were on summer break. And so, I was used to uncrowded restaurants, very little traffic, and a very relaxed small-town feel. After my father passed away, I began to make more frequent trips down to Stuart to visit my mother, but never during the January through March period that draws the big crowds. After taking our condo back from our renters two years ago, and spending more time down here, I finally began to understand why the locals have such a love - hate relationship with the "snowbirds." They need their business but are definitely happy to see them head back north. At last, they can get a damn table at a waterfront restaurant. A miracle!

The Marina Next Door

I always find it fascinating to be living part of the year here in Stuart, Florida and so close to the water and the boats that are docked along the shoreline. The complex where the condo my sister Susan and I inherited from our parents, Nelson and Mary, is located is referred to as a "yacht and country club," but although it does have a nine-hole golf course on one side of the street and a yacht club along the St. Lucie River on the other side, which is where our condo is located, you will find no boats there, since the condo association was never allowed to dredge. However, the condo complex next door to our building has canals that connect with the river and allow every owner to have a space for their boat in front of their unit. And on the other side of our building is a boat dealership which has a marina connected to it, which is near where I took the photograph on the left. You used to be able to go out on the pier at that marina and look at the boats docked there, but now there is a fence guarding the place and a gate that requires a key code to get in. Now that seems damned unfriendly.

Years ago, our parents knew people who lived at the condo complex next door, and we felt free to wander around and look at the boats whenever we wanted. If someone questioned us, we would just say we were friends of Evelyn or Imelda, and that would be that, although in point of fact, nobody ever questioned us. I took the photograph on the right of my father at that complex back in the late 1970s or early 1980s. All those people are gone now, and these are different times. If Susan and I decided to walk around there today, I suspect we would be chased off the property immediately, or this being Florida, perhaps shot. I should definitely read up on the state's "Make my Day" law before we try that. Is it just me, or are people a lot less friendly and trusting these days? Nah - probably just my imagination.

A Baseball Update: Sox Win! Sox Win! Sox Win!

I watched my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 last night at on MLB.com, thanks to a 7 inning, one hit, no run pitching performance by veteran pitcher Luis Castillo, who was making his debut at Rate Field in Chicago. Castillo, a three-time All-Star, was traded by the Seattle Mariners to the White Sox back on August 1st. The Sox are in first place in the American League Central, three and a half games in front of the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers, and traded for Castillo to strengthen their starting rotation in hopes of making the playoffs. The Sox have put together a really good team this year, after finishing with a 60-102 record last season and finishing the 2024 season 41-121, the worst record in MLB history. Of course, it must be noted that Pope Leo, who was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and is a White Sox fan, became pope on May 8th, 2025, and the Sox started their winning ways not too long after that. And this year they are in first place. A coincidence, you say? I think not. In fact, just this past Tuesday was Pope Night at Rate Field, and the Sox gave out more than 40,000 pope hats to the fans. Good times have finally returned to the South Side. As for their North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs, they are currently 21 games over .500 and seem to be a cinch for the playoffs. My hopes for a cross-town World Series remain alive! As for my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, they are currently the third worst team in baseball but far better than last year, when they lost 119 games, 3 short of overtaking the White Sox for that worst team record. The Rockies are indeed making progress, but are at least several years away from actually competing for a playoff spot. Nothing surprising there, of course, but at least there is now hope for the future. Something that wasn't there last year.