A Final Visit To Stuart Beach Before Heading Back To Denver

It has been pretty damn hot and humid here in Stuart this summer, but then again, this is Florida, so what do you expect? The good thing about summer down here is that you do not have to fight the crowds to get a table at a restaurant, or, when visiting places like Palm Beach, having to wait in long lines to cross the drawbridge over Lake Worth in order to get back to reality. But best of all, when you are at Stuart Beach, as seen in the photograph above, or even along the St. Lucie River on the patio at Sailor's Return, you get a breeze off the water that makes August very tolerable. And definitely laid back. Sadly, since the tourists and the snowbirds are afraid to come down to South Florida this time of year, fearing they might melt, there are no festivals or events taking place. There used to be Dancing in the Streets every August here in Stuart, but that is long gone, and don't get me started about that 30-year tradition being killed off back in 2017. But no matter - things will start happening again down here around the end of October, including the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-water boat show in the world. I definitely plan to attend that event and finally pick out my "forever" Superyacht. Can't wait. I am sure I can arrange an affordable payment plan. They are probably desperate for sales.

The September Issue Of Chicago Magazine

As I have mentioned (complained about) several times before on this blog, Chicago Magazine is no longer doing mail subscriptions, only delivering their magazine by newspaper carrier (the magazine is owned by the Chicago Tribune). And so, the only way for me to read it is the e-edition, which is just not the same, but not the end of the world, I suppose. In any case, I checked out the September issue online, and the cover story is "The Case for a Parking Revolt." Back in 2008, Mayor Richard M. Daley and the city council signed rights to 36 thousand parking meters to a group of investors for a term of 75 years for 1.16 billion dollars. So far, those investors have received a return of almost twice its investment, with 57 years still left on the contract, while Chicago faces massive deficits. Understandably, people are still upset about this deal. One local citizen is trying to get people to simply not pay for parking at those meters, and if they get a ticket, just pay it, since the City of Chicago gets all the ticket revenue. He claims it actually winds up costing less than feeding the meters. Also in this issue, the "City of Big Questions" column recounts the adventures of Lar "America First" Daly, who ran for office in Chicago from the 1930s to the 1970s, often wearing an Uncle Sam suit. He ran for the senate, governor, mayor, and many other offices, and never once won. His last campaign was in 1978, when he ran in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, received 15% of the vote, and died the next month. I remember this guy from back when I lived in Chicago but never gave him another thought from that last campaign until now. Not surprisingly, he was a pretty strange ranger.

And of course, there are lots of articles on restaurants, bars and other food places, including the Guillotine Bakery (owned by three French ex-pats), Kitty's Cosmopolitan Club, and All Well, which has fine dining but gives patrons the ability to choose their ingredients, which is evidently a revolution in dining. And no, the tavern in the photo on the right was not mentioned in the article. It is a tavern I used to walk past on the way to the "L" when I lived in Forest Park years ago. I took the photo back in 2010 when I last visited Chicago. I used to drink Old Style when I lived in Chicago and cannot for the life of me remember why. In the "Chicago Stories" section, there is an article by Meaghan Garvey titled The Torch Singer, which tells about her finding, when a teenager, a binder with 8 x 10 black and white photographs of Helen Morgan, all personally inscribed. Morgan started out as a singer at various nightclubs in Chicago before going on to Broadway and Hollywood, only to descend to Skid Row. Evidently both Garvey's father and grandfather were involved with Morgan, and her father was one of the pallbearers at her funeral. An interesting story of someone who became briefly famous only to come to a sad end. There is also an article titled "Seven New Reasons to Get Away this Fall," which includes Big Sur, which I get, but then also lists Bentonville, Arkansas to visit an art museum, Saugatuck, Michigan for a food and wine festival, the Wisconsin Dells for a medieval themed resort (I would pay big money NOT to go there), New Buffalo, Michigan for a wellness retreat, Indianapolis for its new biking trails (Indianapolis - my God!), and Reykjavik, Iceland in order to "embrace winter adventure." One word of advice for all you people looking to get away this fall - Big Sur or Bust.

Peacocks Are Running Wild In Fort Pierce, And Nobody Thinks It's Unusual

I drove up to Fort Pierce, Florida yesterday afternoon, and just for fun, I decided to drive over to the Peacock Arts District to see if I could spot a peacock. This arts district is centered around The Peacock House, built in 1926 and which Jackson Crain and his wife Mary Lee Steinhoff-Crain made their home. They also operated a travel agency out of it for 29 years. The Crains liked peacocks and brought 7 of them to Fort Pierce to put in their backyard. When they passed away, the estate was fully restored and is now the home of The Peacock House Art Foundation, which offers art education, exhibitions, and creative spaces for artists and visitors. They also have a half-acre dedicated garden space for peacocks, the number of which has grown substantially since those original 7. The estate is open for tours three days a week and charges a $6 admission fee. I have never toured the house but have occasionally seen a peacock or two in a park-like space across the street. Sometimes I didn't see any, but yesterday peacocks seemed to be all over the neighborhood. I took the photograph on the left of two peacocks, along with two babies, right around the block from The Peacock House.

What really got my attention was that people in the neighborhood pay no attention whatsoever to these birds. In fact, I got the feeling that some of the neighbors were surprised that I was actually bothering to photograph them. The photograph on the right is of two adults and one baby walking up the sidewalk to someone's house. They walked around that house and proceeded toward the greenspace behind it. After I got in the car and was driving away, I saw some other peacocks hanging around that grassy lot with a rooster, no less. We never used to see anything like that when I was growing up on the South Side of Chicago, and if someone did, they would be taken away for psychiatric evaluation. But it is just another day in Fort Pierce.

And just for fun, I took the photograph on the left of the male - I think - peacock walking along a wall The other birds totally ignored me and went about their business, but this one evidently did not want its photo taken and kept trying to avoid me. I was lucky to get the photo I did. What I want to know is whether these birds live in that half acre garden behind The Peacock House and just walk around the neighborhood during the day, or if they make their home in vacant lots, green spaces, or people's backyards. And do they cause problems for the neighbors, or do the people who live there just consider it part of life, like the weather? Questions, questions, and no answers. Unless I pay the $6 and go on the tour. I'll think about it.

A Roger Dean Baseball Tradition: Burgers And Beers Before The Game At Das Beer Garden

My sister Susan and I went to see the Palm Beach Cardinals play the Daytona Beach Tortugas at Roger Dean Stadium in the Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida this past Saturday night, and as usual, stopped at Das Beer Garden, located just across the street, for burgers and beers before the game. This is Abacoa's neighborhood hangout and taproom, and is a very lively place, especially on Saturday nights. Inside, it was packed with a diverse group of patrons - young families, singles, seniors, groups of friends getting together, you name it. The outside patio was actually pretty quiet, given that it was hot and humid and the fans in the ceiling did not seem to reach the tables. It was no doubt hardcore natives who sat out there, braving the elements. We joined them for a brief time before Susan suggested heading inside for a bit of air conditioning. And as you can see from the photograph above of Susan, Das Beer Garden caters to the sports crowd, and there were plenty of television showing all the college football games going on. Lively, but also hard to hear what Susan was saying from across the table. But no matter - definitely a fun place to hang out before the game. If you happen to be in the South Florida area, I definitely recommend stopping by.

Watching The Palm Beach Cardinals Play The Daytona Beach Tortugas In Jupiter, Florida

My sister Susan and I went to Roger Dean Stadium in the Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida Saturday night to watch the Palm Beach Cardinals play the Daytona Beach Tortugas in the next to last game of the Florida State League's regular season. The stadium is located right across the street from that neighborhood's downtown area, which makes it an ideal spot to have dinner at one of the local restaurants and then just walk a short distance to the ballpark. There was a nice breeze blowing, and little humidity, and so it was a perfect evening to go to a game. Palm Beach won 8-7, surviving a comeback attempt by Daytona that had the tying run at third base in the top of the 9th inning. The Cardinals won yesterday's game, too, by a score of 13-5, and finished with the best overall record in the Florida State League's East Division. But are they going to the playoffs? No, since the FSL is divided into first and second halves. The winners of the first half play the winners of the second half, and the overall record does not matter. Which is why the Daytona Beach Tortugas, the second half winners in the FSL East, will be playing the Jupiter Hammerheads, FSL East winners in the first half. This despite the fact that combining the results of both halves, Palm Beach finished in first place and Daytona in last. Does this make sense to you? Me either. I'm sure there is a reason why it is done this way, but no doubt a pretty stupid one.

Lake Worth Beach - Good Value For The Money Or Total Ripoff?

I drove down to Lake Worth Beach, Florida, both the city and the beach itself, a few days ago. I have never been to downtown Lake Worth Beach - formerly just Lake Worth - but recently read on the internet about its wonderful Bohemian atmosphere. And so naturally, I headed right down there to check it out. And found that downtown Lake Worth Beach is very attractive, but in my opinion, not Bohemian in any sense of the word. Of course, this is South Florida, and so South Florida Bohemian is perhaps much different from what people back on earth believe it to be. In any case, to not make the drive a total loss, I drove to Lake Worth Beach Park, right on the ocean and home to the Lake Worth Pier, as seen in the photograph on the left. I parked in the lot closest to the pier and tried to pay for 15 or 20 minutes of parking in order to take a few photographs. And when I put my card in the meter and tried to lower the time to 15 minutes, I couldn't do it. The rate was $3.50 an hour, and as much as I tried, the only rate I could get was for 2 hours, at a cost of $7.00.

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What is the deal with that? Do they assume that everyone wants to spend a minimum of 2 hours at the beach, or 2 hours dining at Benny's on the Beach, one of the biggest attractions on the pier and seen in the photograph on the right? I then remembered I came here last year and wound up actually paying that $7.00, remaining very bitter about it the entire drive back home to Stuart. And is it worth it to pay that price, when parking at virtually every other city along the ocean is free, with the exception of Palm Beach, which has turned ripoff into an art, just like its most famous resident? In point of fact, the beaches in every other city in South Florida are just as good, if not far better, since every weirdo in the State of Florida seems to hang out around that pier. And weirdos do not enjoy having their photographs taken. I know that from bitter experience.

To Cruise Or Not To Cruise - That is The Question

For many years, the Island Princess would take sightseers on cruises on the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers around the Stuart, Florida area, as well the Intercoastal Waterway as far as Jupiter (the city, not the planet). After the Island Princess was purchased by new owners, it went up north to Annapolis for the summer, intending to return to Florida during the fall and winter months. That was well over a year ago, and it hasn't been back, since. Their website says it is looking for a marina to sail out of before they can return to the Stuart area, but that message hasn't changed since the previous summer. And so, you do have to wonder what the deal is. I did take several cruises on this boat years ago. It is 72 feet long, with a lower, enclosed, air-conditioned deck and an upper weather deck (one that is open to the elements). Good for most weather conditions. In the meantime, a company called Treasure Coast River Cruises has started running cruises on a 12-person pontoon boat, as seen in the photograph above docked at Hutchinson Island Marriot Marina. Which is all well and good, but that pontoon boat is open on the sides, and during the summer months here in Florida that can be problematic. It often rains every day during the summer down here, but you never really know when or where. And if you buy your tickets in advance, that means you might have great weather or be caught in a tropical downpour in the middle of the river. The boat does have a canvas roof, but with those open sides the wind and rain from one of those downpours would definitely get you soaked. They will cancel the cruise if bad weather is forecast, but you just never know down here. Probably best to just wait until the dry season, November thru April, when the chances of leaving the boat not looking like a drowned rat are much higher. Although that can be a popular look down here. Just sayin'.

The Devil's Bible

I just finished reading The Devil's Bible, Steve Berry's latest Cotton Malone adventure. Malone is a retired former Justice Department intelligence agent and currently a bookseller in Copenhagen, but his old boss, Stephanie Nell, keeps calling him back for special assignments. This time, he and his girlfriend Cassiopeia Vitt are called in when the king of Sweden's sister is kidnapped. The ransom - an 800-year-old illustrated medieval manuscript, the largest in the world, called the Codex Gigas and also known as The Devil's Bible due to a particularly vivid illustration. The book was taken by Sweden from Bohemia as war loot back in 1648, and Sweden has finally agreed to give it back to the Czech Republic in exchange for their vote to accept Sweden as a member of NATO. Suspicion for the kidnapping falls upon Russia, who opposes Sweden joining that organization, but it turns out to be much more complicated than that. This is the 20th book in the Cotton Malone series, and I enjoyed reading it very much, but it does have a bit of a shocking ending, which I won't give away in case people out there want to read it. I personally think it would be a perfect beach read, and to emphasize that, I took the photograph above at Stuart Beach here in Stuart, Florida. But I do recommend reading this adventure novel wherever you might be. 

The Boston House Restaurant Is Open For Business! But No Ghost Sightings. Yet.

Boston House, an upscale restaurant in Fort Pierce, Florida, opened for business this past May 31st in a mansion built by the Jones family in 1909. It was formerly a law office, with a reputation of being haunted. Some people have reported hearing a female voice singing in there, accompanied by a harp. Cold spots have been reported in the building, as well as a searing hot blast assaulting the body. Some say the house is haunted by a group of Native Americans, while others say it is the ghost of an African American girl with red hair. The most repeated ghost story is that the place is haunted by Aleaceon Perkins, who wanders the hallways looking for her husband and son, who were lost at sea. Some have seen her peering out the upstairs windows of a space that is now a bar. But so far, no reports of any ghost sightings after three months in business. I read a glowing review of the restaurant, written the week it opened, extolling the decor, the food, and the service. Boston House's website describes the restaurant as featuring "refined plates, crafted drinks, and white glove service," which are three things I always try to avoid in a restaurant. I took a look at the menu, and it is indeed on the pricey side. Perhaps that is what finally drove all those ghosts away. Can't say I blame 'em.

Revisiting Harry And The Natives. Still There, But...

Quite a few years ago, I remember stopping at Harry and the Natives, a kitschy restaurant located in Hobe Sound, Florida that prides itself on an eclectic Old Florida atmosphere and has been around, in one form or another, since 1941. I recall being really impressed with all the old Florida memorabilia on the outside patio. There were a lot of items from old Florida tourist attractions on display and funny signs plastered all over the walls. And yesterday, just for fun, since I was driving past it on the way back to Stuart, I decided to stop and check it out. And was very surprised to find it was nothing like I remember. The funny signs were still there, but not a single tacky item from Florida's past. I am sure I took photographs of this place all those years ago, and so, as soon as I return to Denver, I intend to go through my 50,000 boxes of photographs and see if the place really is so different now or if I am just losing my mind. Both are definite possibilities. In any case, I checked their website in hopes of learning something about the missing relics, with no success, but did find out that Harry and the Natives was about to go out of business back in October of 2024, having never recovered from the COVID pandemic. Just a few days after owner Harry MacArthur made the announcement about closing on a Facebook video, it received 400,000 views and massive support from the community, convincing Harry to keep the business going. It still seems like a very pleasant place, just not the one I remembered. Or possibly imagined.

AFAR And Away The Best Travel Magazine Around

I received the summer issue of AFAR Magazine here in Stuart, Florida the other day, which was a big surprise, since magazines are not supposed to be eligible for forwarding, and even much of my first-class mail doesn't get to me down here. But no looking a gift horse in the mouth, right? I really like this travel magazine. The articles in it are very interesting and informative, and even the ads are pretty enlightening, too. How else would I know that The Cooper, a new hotel overlooking Charleston Harbor, has just opened, and rooms are available at rates starting at $850. I have to assume that rate is for the month, since no hotel on earth could possibly charge $850 per day for a room. My sister Susan and I have been considering a road trip to Charleston and Savannah toward the end of this year, and perhaps we will stay at The Cooper instead of the Motel 6 Resort Hotel and Spa, our usual go-to haunt. I know the magazine is geared toward the upper income set, but the articles are still worth reading. It was AFAR magazine that led me to visit San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood, which was a very enjoyable experience indeed. I especially enjoyed the walk from The Cliff House down to the beach and through the fog shrouded Outer Sunset neighborhood to the Riptide, a cozy bar a stone's throw from the ocean, with fog horns sounding the entire way. The magazine is a quarterly, and this issue is all about the water, including articles about the aforementioned Cooper, various cities, including Omaha (which I really like), Minneapolis, and Detroit revitalizing their riverfronts, the Florida Everglades, and things to do on the coast of Maine, including riding the mail boat between five Casco Bay islands. And will I ever visit any of those places? Maybe yes, maybe no, but whether I do or not, it is sure fun to read about it. 

Dodging A Bullet In Vero Beach

I drove up to Vero Beach, Florida this past Wednesday to look around town, and as I arrived in the Beachside District along Ocean Drive - a mile or so of restaurants, gift shops, art galleries, and other assorted businesses - it began to rain. And when it rains in Florida, that rain often turns into tropical downpours, which it did on Wednesday. I pulled over and parked in a lot across from Mulligan's Beach House as the rain made driving impossible. Mulligan's is right on the ocean, with tables and chairs overlooking the beach, a wonderful spot to have lunch or a drink, but not during a storm like this. After a while, the rain let up a bit, and I decided to head back home to Stuart. I took the photo above of Mulligan's as I was leaving. Usually, I drive down Ocean Drive on the way back, the same way I came into town that day. But the rain was still pretty heavy, and so I drove a few blocks to the west to A1A, the main highway, and went home that way. It wasn't until I saw on the news later that night that the storm had flooded Ocean Drive pretty badly. Lee Olsen, the general manager of Waldo's Restaurant and Bar, which is located just two blocks south of where I had parked, said the flooding was among the worst he had seen, and that when he walked out into the middle of the street, the water was up to his knees. If I had taken my usual route home and driven into that kind of water, not only would my car have been seriously damaged, but very well might have floated out to sea. There was also flooding in the same area on Monday. Olsen worries about what a major storm could bring. Vero Beach Public Works staff say that fixing the problem would cost millions of dollars and take years to complete, and that there are no plans to fix the problem at this time. And so, if any of you out there might be planning to visit Vero Beach's Beachside District in the foreseeable future, I recommend checking the weather forecast first. Very carefully.

Move Over Nashville - West Palm Cowboy Club Has Opened On Clematis Street

West Palm Cowboy Club, seen in the background of the photograph above, opened this past March on Clematis Street, bringing Nashville energy, barbecue, and country music to downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. South Florida native Thomas Wesley, also known as DJ Diplo, serves as the venue's musical director, which is evidently a big deal, and Miami chef Adrian Ricouz of "Slab Daddy BBQ fame" is the culinary director. The venture was put together by Brian Swanson, who says the club is a "refined, grown-up version" of Bristol Republic, his Columbus, Ohio barbecue restaurant. And why am I taking an interest in this South Florida honky-tonk? Mainly because back in December while I was down here in Stuart, I saw a news report on television that said West Palm Cowboy Bar had ties to a $61 million Ohio political scandal. Now something like that gets my attention. Evidently a man named Juan Cespedes pleaded guilty to participating in a federal bribery case involving more than $60 million and focusing on former Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Larry Householder. When asked, Cespedes said that he was just a consultant on the West Palm Cowboy Club project, no doubt something to do while waiting to be sentenced in the bribery case. And now that the club has opened, Cespedes has disappeared from the scene. Not nearly as exciting as initial news reports seemed to imply. I was expecting The Godfather but got reality instead. And by the way, Cespedes expects to be sentenced to less than 6 months in prison in exchange for cooperating with prosecutors. My advice to Cespedes: in the future, stay far far away from politicians of any stripe. 

Remembering Dancin' In The Streets

This is August, and since it is not exactly tourist season here in Stuart, Florida, what with the 90-degree temperatures and 100 percent humidity, not much is happening around town. However, back in the day, August was when Dancin' in The Streets (sometimes called "drinking in the streets" by locals) took place on a Saturday evening in downtown Stuart. And it seemed like everyone in town looked forward to this street party and music festival each year. People would talk about it in stores and restaurants and ask each other if they were going, which everyone, of course, answered with an enthusiastic "Yes!" Working at the University of Denver Bookstore for almost 30 years, the best time to take a 2-week vacation for me was in August, while the students were gone, and so I was always here visiting my mother Mary when that event took place. However, she was not a "dancin' in the streets" kind of person, and so I never actually attended the festival until 2015. And I must say, I really enjoyed it. It was great fun. Sadly, just a few years after that, it was canceled, and I still don't know why. I contacted Stuart Main Street, the festival's sponsor, and was told people just lost interest in it, although judging by the size of the crowds the time I went, I found that hard to believe. Still another of life's mysteries to ponder. And yes, that is indeed my sister Susan standing in front of a poster advertising the festival, which I took well over 20 years ago. About as close as can nail it down these days.

Casino Royale - The Luxury Yacht, Not The James Bond Movie

Casino Royale is a 236.2-foot luxury yacht which was built in 2018 and refit, whatever that means, in 2023. It has all the requirements needed for a luxury yacht, including a helipad, swimming pool, movie theater (showing guess what!), you name it. All for a mere 75 million dollars. I first saw this yacht at the Palm Beach International Boat Show this past March. It was being hyped on the show's website as a must see, and so I was sure it would be snapped up immediately. But lo and behold, as I was walking along Lake Worth in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida the other day, I spotted it sitting at the end of a pier, as seen in the photograph on the left. Where it must have been sitting since that boat show. And why hasn't it sold? Does the movie theater have only one screen? Is the swimming pool not Olympic size? Questions, questions. The website states that the Casino Royale sleeps up to 12 guests in 6 staterooms, which means, of course, that even if it is a luxury yacht, you might very well have to have a roommate. That's luxury living? The website also states that there is room on the boat for a crew of 18. Great - sharing a room AND having to pay for a crew of 18. 

The agent for this yacht, by the way, is Merle A. Wood, whose office appears to be located in the Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Travis McGee, mystery writer John D. McDonald's famous fictional "salvage consultant" and knight in tarnished armor, moored his 52-foot houseboat, the Busted Flush, at Slip-F18. Years ago, my sister Susan took the photograph on the right of me posing with at that plaque, which marked the spot where that famous fictional houseboat was docked. I really enjoyed seeing it. However, Bahia Mar was reconstructed in 2003 to replace fixed docks with floating docks, in order to accommodate - you guessed it - Superyachts, and Slip F-18 was no more. The plaque is now located in the Dockmaster's Office and Gift Shop. Life just keeps getting better, doesn't it? And by the way, I am just amazed to see that I haven't changed a bit since that photo was taken.

Watching Baseball Games That Matter: I've Forgotten How Stressful That Can Be

My South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, are still in first place in the American League Central, 2 1/2 games in front of the Cleveland Indians (I mean Guardians), but the Sox have been struggling a bit since the All-Star break. I was able to watch their last two games, against the Texas Rangers, on MLB.com and both games were pretty exciting, by which I mean stressful to watch. Tuesday night the Sox were ahead in the 9th inning by a score of 11-7, with two out, and their pitcher walked the bases loaded, with the tying run at the plate. I was sure they were doomed, but Grant Taylor came in and got the final out and his 8th save, and the Sox won the game 11-7. And last night, in the 6th inning, the Sox were ahead 10-2 when Johathan Cannon, just recalled from AAA Charlotte, came into the game and promptly gave up 2 runs. Here we go again, I thought. But Cannon settled down and the Sox won 10-4. 

But still, the White Sox are 5-5 over their last 10 games, while the Indians - I mean Guardians - are 8-2 over their last 10. And so, it will not be a walk in the park (no pun intended) getting to the playoffs. But the Sox have some very good players, having brought up 14 rookies this season, and so however the team finishes, things are looking very positive for the future. As for their North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs, they are 4-6 over their last 10 games and 6 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central, although still in good position to make the playoffs as a wildcard team. Such is life for baseball fans on both sides of the city. But in the photograph on the right, both White Sox television sportscasters Steve Stone (on the left) and Connor McKnight (on the right) seem very confident in the team, and so I will not worry. Except while they are actually playing a game. As for my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, they are 3-7 over their last 10 games and solidly in last place in the National League West, 28 games out of first. And so, their rebuilding efforts are still ongoing, to say the least. And by the way, watching the game last night, I was surprised to learn White Sox fans still sing nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, goodbye whenever the opposing team takes out their pitcher. Good to know some things never change.

A Visit To Bob Graham Beach

Most of the time when I go to the beach here in Stuart, I go to Stuart Beach, located on Hutchinson Island just to the east of that South Florida city. But just for fun, the other day I stopped at Bob Graham Beach, about a mile or so to the north. It is a lot less crowded, and much less developed, as can be seen in the photograph above. The main reason I chose this particular beach to visit is because of its name. Bob Graham was the governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and represented Florida in the Senate from 1987 to 2005. He was a liberal Democrat back when that was still socially acceptable here in Florida and very popular. He focused on education, diversifying the state's economy, and the environment, and was responsible for the biggest environmental protection program in Florida history. Hence the reason for naming this still pristine beach after him. Good call.

Meanwhile, Back In Denver...

I saw in the Denver Post yesterday morning that a bear was found in a tree in Denver's Platte Park neighborhood. The exact location was at East Louisiana Avenue and South Pennsylvania Street, which is just 1 1/2 miles from my condo. Wildlife authorities say they have no idea how it got there, since there have been no recent bear sightings between the foothills, where it is assumed to have come from, and south-central Denver. My guess is Uber, but since I am originally from the Brainerd neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, where bear sightings are even more infrequent than Denver, I am, of course, not an expert. Wildlife officials tranquilized the bear and removed it to a "more appropriate location," which I hope is nearby Washington Park. I really want to get a picture of that Denver Bear. The only other Denver Bears I have taken photographs of were players on the AAA baseball team of that name that played at the old Mile High Stadium before the Colorado Rockies, a National League expansion team, began playing in Denver in 1993. And it is really not quite the same thing.

The Norton Museum Of Art

My sister Susan and I visited the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida yesterday afternoon. I visited this museum once before, and was very impressed with its photography collection, which includes works by Edward Weston, Henri Carter-Bresson, Richard Avedon, Edward Steichen, Nan Golden, and others, but unfortunately, the photography gallery was closed due to the installation of a new exhibit. No matter - there were some photographs in the other galleries, including a Diane Arbus, and the museum itself is a very pleasant place to just wander around, no matter what is on display. The Norton has a number of impressionist paintings in their collection, but we toured the entire museum without seeing any. Until we were leaving, that is, and discovered them displayed in the very first gallery, near the entrance, right off the closed photography gallery. I was no doubt so focused on the blocked entrance to the photography exhibit that I completely ignored the paintings in that first room when we arrived. That collection includes works by Monet, Cezanne, Dega, and Pissarro, by the way. Not bad for a city the size of West Palm Beach.

Like the Denver Art Museum (The DAM), the collection is pretty heavy on contemporary art. Some I liked, and some I didn't. Jackson Pollock's Night Mist was very nice, although both Susan and I were a little confused when we saw Joseph Beuys "Filzanzug" (felt suit) hanging on the wall. Basically, it was a suit of clothes on a hanger. Susan speculated that a visitor must have left it there, no doubt not needing a felt suit in the middle of August in Florida, but it was definitely part of the collection, no doubt paid for with real money. Go figure. I was happy to see that the Norton had several works by Marc Chagall on display, including the one in the photograph on the right, which I liked very much. I don't think I have seen any works by Chagall since visiting the Art Institute, back when I lived in Chicago.

And one of the Norton's most impressive works, in my opinion, is glass artist Dale Chihuly's Persian Sea Life Ceiling, seen in the photograph on the left. I remember being very impressed with Chihuly's work when it was exhibited at the Denver Botanic Gardens back in 2014, but for some reason, I could never remember Chihuly's name. The only name I could come up with was Gilhooley, who was a character played by Lee Marvin in the movie Donovan's Reef, a John Wayne film from the 1960s. But no matter - everyone knew who I was referring to when I would mention the Gilhooley exhibit at the Botanic Gardens, although it does explain why I could never get a job as an art critic.

Looking For Adventure? The Hotel Evernia Is Just The Ticket!

The other day I was driving down Rosemary Street, the main drag in West Palm Beach's very upscale CityPlace neighborhood, and there was a detour, directing me over to the next street and to drive two blocks before returning to Rosemary. And just before I was about to turn back onto that street, I spotted the Hotel Evernia, as seen in the photograph on the left. This hotel was built in 1925 and is the oldest operating hotel in West Palm Beach, if it is still operating, that is. It definitely looks pretty nice from the outside. Just for fun, I checked online to learn a bit more of its history (I wrote a little bit about it on this blog last year) and happened upon a number of yelp reviews of the place. The latest review was dated May 18th, 2024, and simply said "Horrible Place and Horrible Staff - Do not stay here - RUN." Two of the reviews were in depth stories of the guest's experiences, which were pretty amazing to read. One guy who was attending a nearby conference was pretty detailed about his 3-day stay, mentioning the good and the bad, and pretty philosophical about the experience. Evidently the place had only two staff members who worked 8:30 until 6:30 and then went home, leaving guests on their own. The rooms had no phones, and so if you needed help, you had to use your cell phone to call a number that was provided, which was in New York. When he called, the person he talked to said he would have the person who checked him in call back, which never happened. There was no sink in the bathroom, only in the main room, and no mirror, which made shaving an interesting experience. And at night, lots of street noise. His summary was just to know what you are getting into. "If you are into wild rides, this place will be an adventure. 

Another guest wrote how her husband, who was in town to pick up a service dog, was checked in by a young girl, but then at 10:00 that night a woman began pounding on his door telling him the room was booked by another person and he had to leave, since he never paid. It was quite the back and forth, and when she saw his dog, without its service dog vest, she went crazy. He did wind up staying the night but was very stressed out. Other reviews were about filthy rooms with roaches and bedbugs, and rooms with no bathrooms. However, three of the reviews were very positive, saying how charming the place was. Go figure. In any case, I went to the hotel's web site to try and book a room - as regular blog readers know, I am ALWAYS up for an adventure - but there was an error on the page, and it said to send an e-mail, which I did not do. I also tried booking through some popular online travel sites but kept getting messages saying to find a different hotel. And by the way, the hotel's web site touts the great location and that it is very close to, among other places, the AMC Cityplace 20, which actually closed on April 30th, 2023. And so for all you adventure seekers out there, the Hotel Evernia might or might not still be open. Definitely call first.

Brightline's Future In Stuart And Everywhere Else In Florida - Not So Bright

Martin County's request for $70 million in funding for a Brightline station in Stuart, Florida was dealt a blow the other day when the National Railroad Partnership Program awarded the City of Cocoa $57 million for a station but ignored the request from Stuart. Brightline is a high-speed railway that goes between Miami and Orlando, with plans to expand to Tampa. The City of Stuart had originally partnered with Martin County to build a station in Stuart, but a newly installed Commission backed out of the agreement, leaving the county to seek funding for the station on its own. The City Commissioners did not want to risk taxpayers having to fund the station if it did not receive federal funds, and so it is likely that the station may instead wind up in neighboring Fort Pierce. Who will pay for it there is an open question, but not one I particularly care about asking. I can certainly see the City Commissioner's point of view. Not only would it cost big money to build, but Brightline itself is deeply in debt, to the tune of $5.5 billion. And as the late Illinois Senator Everett Dirkson once said, a billion here and a billion there and pretty soon you are talking real money. Brightline's auditors have warned that the company does not have enough liquidity to pay upcoming obligations, and fares are not high enough to generate sufficient cash flow. And believe me, those fares are much too high right now. And so, what if they built the station in Stuart and the line went bankrupt? Build it and they will come might work for a baseball stadium but probably not for a $70 million parking garage. Although on the bright (not Brightline) side, it would sure end all those fights over parking spaces at the Stuart Market on Main every Sunday. People who regularly attend that event would probably say it was worth every penny.

Ironwood

I just finished reading Ironwood, Michael Connelly's latest novel, which features Sheriff's Detective Sergent Stillwell, who is charge of the sheriff's substation on Catalina Island, located 22 miles off the coast of Southern California. This is the second book in the series, and although I did not think that first book measured up to Connelly's other series, I really enjoyed this latest thriller. The plot centers around two cases Stillwell is investigating. One involves an alleged drug drop at the local airport, which results in the killing of one of his deputies and the wounding of another. Stillwell is ordered to stay away from the case while put on temporary leave during an investigation of the incident. He busies himself with the mundane task of cleaning out the station's lost and found and discovers the suitcase of a hiker who went missing on the island 4 years ago, although the suitcase was only turned in several months earlier. All this leads to the hunt for a serial killer, with Stillwell teaming up with Detective Renee Ballard and the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit. On top of this, he learns that the killing of his deputy at the airport was a targeted hit. This is a fast-paced, exciting story which I really enjoyed, and I now have to admit that this series ranks right up there with Connelly's others. Be sure to pick up a copy at your local library for a good summer read.

An Unforgettable Crosstown Series

The Crosstown Series between my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, and their North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs, ended yesterday afternoon with a 3-0 White Sox victory, after the Sox lost the first two games to the Cubs, each decided by walk-offs. Both teams are contending for the post-season, and all three contests were played with playoff-like intensity. In the first game on Monday night, fights broke out in the Wrigley Field bleachers between Cubs and White Sox fans as emotions ran high. For the record, the White Sox took the first series against the Cubs in the spring, while the Cubs took this one, each winning 3 games against the other for the year. The Cubs are currently in second place, 4 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and 20 games over .500, while the White Sox are in first place, 4 games in front of the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central and 6 games over .500. The AL Central is admittedly a weaker division, but while the Cubs were expected to go to the playoffs, the White Sox, with a roster filled with rookies and coming off two 100 loss seasons, are the big surprise in baseball this year, to the delight of White Sox fans everywhere. And yes, that is indeed a White Sox fan wearing his official White Sox Pope Hat to yesterday's game at Wrigley Field. The Sox started winning as soon as Pope Leo, a White Sox fan from the South Side of Chicago, became pope. It is important to give credit where credit is due, right?

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.

Living In A Parallel Universe

The Florida primary is less than a week away, and all the local channels are filled with political ads. And watching these ads, I am struck by how different the messages are from what I perceive as reality. The war in Iran is driving up costs and looking like a never-ending quagmire. Affordability is the main concern for a majority of Americans. Health professionals are worried about false claims undermining faith in vaccines. And I have read countless articles about how Republicans are very worried about the party's prospects in the midterms. And yet in their television ads to win the Republican primary for Florida's 22nd Congressional District, they address none of these concerns. Virtually all the candidates stress how they have a business background, like Trump, are an outsider, like Trump, if elected will help Trump "drain the swamp" and work to deport all the criminal illegal immigrants. It is like the past 18 months never happened. Is this really what Florida voters want to hear from someone running for Congress? Are these still the major concerns of Florida Republicans? It is indeed like living in parallel universes. Of course, I will never try to discuss any of these issues with anyone down here. As far as I can tell, everyone, even little old ladies - two of whom I overheard last summer at Stuart Beach discussing the handguns they had in their purses - are armed. It is Florida, after all. Just try Googling "Florida Man" and you'll see what I mean. Fox 35 television in Orlando even has a separate webpage devoted to Florida Man. Check it out at https://www.fox35orlando.com/tag/florida-man.

Turtle Nesting Season Is Here!

I visited Stuart Beach the other day, and as soon as I stepped off the boardwalk into the sand, I saw the triangular barriers seen in the photograph on the left, reminding me it is still turtle nesting season here in Florida (it runs from March 1st through October 31st). Protecting these nests is a big deal around here. The Florida Oceanographic Society, located across the street from Stuart Beach, offers nighttime sea turtle walks, which begin at 9:00 P.M. and last until midnight or later for people who would like to watch a nesting sea turtle in person. The cost for the evening is $35. I have been tempted to take one of these excursions, but there is no guarantee you will actually witness one of those gigantic loggerheads nesting. Beach scouts are sent out to look for nesting turtles, but if none are located by 11:30, everyone goes home and you are out your $35. Plus, the website says to be prepared for rain, humidity, bugs, and soft sand. Fun!

It is much easier simply watching the sea turtle hatchlings head toward the ocean. Back in July of 1984 my then-wife Lisa, sister Susan, mother Mary and I visited Stuart Beach and just by chance witnessed hatchlings making their way to the sea, as seen in the photograph on the right. At that time sea turtles were being rehabilitated in the basement of the nearby House of Refuge Museum and this event might have been sponsored by them. Eventually, a separate rehabilitation and research facility, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, was built in Juno Beach, Florida and allows visitors to see giant loggerhead turtles, some weighing up to 400 pounds, swimming around in their tanks during recovery. And when fully recovered, they offer visitors the chance to see these giant turtles return to the sea. They also host evenings for guests to watch hatchlings be released to the sea that hatched and then were excavated by the organization's research staff that day. These events take place in the month of August and cost $40. Five dollars more than the turtle nesting event, but at least you are guaranteed to see something. Which is a big plus.