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.

The Very Rich Are Different Than You And Me - They Can't Take The Heat

I drove down to Palm Beach, Florida from Stuart yesterday afternoon. As expected, that bastion of wealth was pretty quiet on a hot summer Sunday afternoon. Unlike during the season, there were open parking spaces at both the beach and on Worth Avenue. And not surprisingly, there were few if any Bentley convertible sports cars, Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces or Ferraris parked on that glitzy street. The very rich are no doubt staying at one of their other mansions up north or in Europe until "The Season," when the temperatures are much more moderate, no doubt a precaution to make sure they don't melt. Many of their superyachts are gone from their berths on Lake Worth, and the ones that remain, such as the one in the photograph on the left, are sitting empty. And I couldn't help but notice that back in Stuart, I have neither seen nor heard a single private jet land or take off from Witham Field since I arrived here. During the winter and early spring, one of those jets would be landing every 5 minutes on Friday afternoons and leaving like clockwork on Sunday afternoons or Monday mornings.

And, of course, Mar-a Lago, Donald Trump's private club, was also completely deserted, except for the police cruisers surrounding it. As everyone knows, Donald Trump definitely can't stand the heat, which is why he lashes out at anyone who says or writes something he doesn't like. But he also does not seem to like the hot weather in Florida, either. His club closes down after Mother's Day in May, and does not reopen until Halloween, when one of the many parties held at that club takes place. What did surprise me was that the road that goes past Mar-a-Lago has reopened to traffic, which is how I obtained the photograph on the right. Usually, this road would close when Trump was in town, and reopen after he returned to Washington, but after the Iran War started, it was closed "until further notice" due to "enhanced security measures," to the delight of everyone who had to take a long detour if they needed to drive south on Ocean Boulevard. The road finally reopened to traffic on May 4th, no doubt when town officials finally realized that damn war was probably never going to end.

Back To Florida To Avoid The Heat!

It is once again time to leave Denver and its 100-degree plus temperatures for Stuart, Florida. Granted, it can be a tad humid in Stuart these days, and there are those afternoon showers (i.e. tropical downpours) that occur during the summer, but those cool breezes off the ocean make up for all that, and the crowds of people that are there during "the season" are long gone. We started the day out with the Uber being 15 minutes late, and then when it did arrive, it was nowhere to be seen. The driver called and told me he didn't see anyone out front and drove to the back door, and so I told him my sister Susan and I would meet him there.  And when we got there, the car wasn't there either. He had returned to the front. Where we went next. There was not room enough in the trunk for our two suitcases, two carry-on bags, and Susan's walker, and the driver informed me I should have ordered an SUV. There was construction going on around the intersection by the freeway entrance, which delayed us a bit more, and the driver told me I should have ordered an earlier car, even though the Uber app told me 8:30 A.M. was the recommended time. After that, we made good progress but had to wait in line to check the bags and wait for a wheelchair to arrive. We made it to the gate just as the plane was beginning to board. After arriving in Baltimore to catch our connecting flight, we saw that the plane's departure would be delayed from 6:30pm until 7:30pm. Then 8:30. And then 9:30. And finally, evidently 10:30pm became the magic time, and we arrived at President Donald J. Trump International Airport (don't you just love that? Unbelievable) in West Palm Beach at 1:03 A.M. And the name of this airline that gave no explanation for this 4-hour delay will remain anonymous. Please don't look at the photograph on the left or I could be sued.

Jan, a neighbor at our condo complex, who was originally going to pick us up at 8:50pm., said she would still meet us at 1:00am, bless her heart, and dropped us off at our condo around 2:00. Jan evidently had never been out that late in Stuart before and was amazed at how deserted the town was at that hour. When Susan and I would visit our mother Mary in Stuart, we never once ventured outside the condo after sunset. I just assumed the place must have been plagued by vampires. In any case, the next day, after sleeping a bit longer than usual, we headed around town to see what was happening around the city. Downtown seemed to be hopping, all the restaurants doing a good business, but the rest of the area seemed pretty low key. I drove to Stuart Beach, where there were a few people, but not that many (it was a weekday afternoon after all), and then drove to the House of Refuge, the oldest building in Martin County, now a museum, and seen in the photograph on the right. It was built in 1876, one of 10 havens for shipwrecked sailors along the Atlantic coast of Florida. It has been undergoing a renovation for quite a while and recently reopened. During the renovation, the entire parking lot was closed off, making it impossible to visit without a long hike down the beach. Happily, it is finally back to normal and looking good. And no snowbirds in sight. Perfect!

The 2026 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival Starts Exactly Three Weeks From Today!

The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival on Sloan's Lake here in Denver will be returning for its 26th year on Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30th. In addition to 50 teams of boaters competing in dragon boat competitions, the festival also features an Asian Marketplace, Two Taste of Asia Food Courts, three performing art stages, and live art demos. For a while, it was unclear if the festival would return to Sloan's Lake, due to blue-green algae and sediment buildup, an unhealthy situation. Short term efforts to clear a safe paddling channel have been made, but a long-term solution involving sediment removal and water circulation will be necessary to restore the health of the lake. In the meantime, despite those issues, the festival is a go for the end of August. I took the photograph above a few days ago of two of those dragon boats moored in the lake, waiting for the races to begin. And if you do go to the festival, and partake of the food booths, make sure you avoid eating any fresh fish caught from that lake.

The August Mutts Of The Month

I took the photograph above of the August Mutts of the Month at New Terrain Brewery up in Golden, Colorado, where it seems like almost everyone has a dog. Some are sleeping, like the one on the left, who probably had one too many bowls of beer, and others are up and alert, waiting for their owners to finish their IPAs and then head to the dog park located right next door. New Terrain is the starting point for the North Table Mountain Park Trail and also the entrance to the Golden Bike Park, and so you see a lot of both hikers and bikers passing by the tables on their way to the trails. And most of them will no doubt stop on their way back for a cold one. As they say in the real estate business, it is all about location, location, location.

From The Bonnie Brae Tavern To Akin Bonnie Brae Apartments in Three Easy Steps

The Bonnie Brae Tavern, which was in business in that iconic Denver neighborhood for 88 years and seen in the photograph on the left, was sold to real estate developers back in June of 2022. It opened in 1934 in the middle of the Great Depression. Explaining the reason for selling, Ricky Dire, one of the two owners, both of whom are grandsons of the couple that founded the place, said that the 88-year-old building had 88-year-old plumbing and electrical, and the City of Denver would soon be requiring that it be brought up to code. Plus, Dire added that the restaurant business is "hell." They had to put money into the business to keep it going during Covid, and staffing during that time was a nightmare. And they couldn't afford the $20-per-hour wage it now takes to obtain staff.

And so, last year the building was torn down, as seen in the photograph on the right, to make way for a luxury apartment complex called akin Bonnie Brae. This is actually a pretty large piece of property, which consisted of the Bonnie Brae Tavern, a dry cleaners next door, a free-standing gift store on the corner, and a very large parking lot. 

And now the project is taking shape, as seen in the photograph on the left. Akin Bonnie Brae will bring a new, 3-story, 46-unit luxury apartment building to the Bonnie Brae neighborhood, with 15 different floor plans to choose from. In addition to those luxury apartments, there will be 7,500 square-feet of ground-floor retail. The Bonnie Brae and neighboring Belcaro neighborhoods, in close proximity to Washington Park, have always been upscale, and so this building will fit right in. The Phipps Mansion, a gigantic home with over 70 rooms and once owned by the University of Denver and used as a conference center, is right down the street. Back in the day, the annual University of Denver Christmas Party was held in that mansion's Tennis House, and after dinner people were welcome to walk up to the mansion for a self-guided tour. Dinner, drinks, dancing, and hanging out in a mansion. Those were the good old days for sure. In any case, akin Bonnie Brae is preleasing in Fall 2026 for early 2027 move-ins. Prices to be determined. Be sure to get your application in soon! And bring your retirement savings with you.

The August Issue Of Chicago Magazine

Sadly, the August issue of Chicago Magazine will be my last physical copy of that publication. The magazine has decided to stop subscriptions by mail and only distribute the publication via home delivery in conjunction with their parent company, the Chicago Tribune. An online copy is, of course, available, but it is really just not the same. In any case, this month's issue was pretty interesting. The cover story is titled The Best Seats in Town. At first I thought it would just be about seating in sports arenas, but it actually is about the best places to sit everywhere in Chicago, be it a window seat at Miller's Pub for peoplewatching, taking the 56 Milwaukee bus to get a tour of Chicago then and now, where to seat at Northwestern's Matin Stadium to get "sweeping views" of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline, and many more wonderful spots to plant yourself in Chicago. It was very much like a guidebook to Chicago, and very informative. There was also an article about the 40th anniversary of The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults, a two-hour live broadcast from the basement of Chicago's Lexington Hotel, Al Capone's headquarters, hosted by Geraldo Rivera. The vault turned out to be empty, but the ratings for the show were sky high and it paved the way, for better or worse, for reality television. There is also an article listing Chicago's Top 50 Restaurants, most of them pretty pricey but also some reasonably priced ones, too. Number 36 is Sanders BBQ Supply Co., located in the South Side Beverly neighborhood, just to the west of Brainerd, where I grew up. Another article discusses a new book about Chicago gospel singer and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson. A very interesting issue indeed. And what the hell, maybe I will still continue to read Chicago Magazine online, although reluctantly so.

The Douglas County Fair And Rodeo

This past Sunday was the final day of the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo, and my friend Mark, sister Susan, and I decided to take advantage of the free grounds admission and head down to Castle Rock, Colorado to check it out. Like all county fairs, there were carnival rides, live music, rodeos, food, a marketplace selling locally produced products, and of course, animals raised by local youths, which was the best part of the fair.

I took the photograph on the right of that friendly cow relaxing in its stall and turning its head to pose for its portrait, which was very nice of it to do. All the other cows in the building paid no attention to me, busy scarfing up the food in their feed bag. And happily, there were a million fans placed all around the building, and so it was pretty comfortable for both man and beast (should that be person and beast?).

In the next building over, I took the photograph on the left of the young girl trying to interact with the llama (or is it an alpaca?). Being raised in the Brainerd neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, we did not see too many llamas or alpacas around. I have heard that these are not especially friendly creatures. Just the other day at the Colorado Day celebration at Denver's Union Station, a woman tried to pet an alpaca, and it wound up spitting at her. And there was a warning sign on a cubical letting visitors that those animals do not really like people and will either bite your hand or spit at you if try to touch them. I did notice that that particular beast did not approach the young girl, and so fortunately there were no biting or spitting incidents. At least this time.

The llama in the photograph on the right was also a bit standoffish, sitting in the middle of its compound and keeping away from all the people approaching its compound. Fortunately, it was willing to pose for a portrait, looking quite regal as it checked out everyone who walked by, probably thinking to itself that it was too far away to try spitting at them. The rest of the building was filled with goats, many with babies, who were quite cute. And there were signs letting people know that those babies were for sale for $150 each. Susan really wanted to take one home, but I told her she would have to discuss it with the building manager and possibly get HOA permission to keep it in the condo. I wonder how long it takes to toilet train one of those babies?

And, of course, there were a number of sheep around, too, such as the one in the photograph on the left. The Junior Livestock Sale took place last Friday, and so I imagine the animals stay in their pens until the end of the fair, when the new owners take possession of them, putting them in the back seat of their SUVs or however they plan to transport them to their backyard. And this particular sheep was also happy to have its photo taken. We skipped the carnival rides, as well as the carnival food, and called it a day after viewing the animals and the items for sale at the Marketplace. It all made for a very pleasant day, even if we didn't buy a baby goat to take home.

Colorado Day!

This past Saturday was Colorado Day, the 150th anniversary of Colorado becoming a state, and there was a big celebration that took place at Denver's Union Station, which features restaurants, bars, boutiques, and a huge central gathering space, in addition to serving as a train station. Inside that gathering space, there was a stage with live performances and cultural experiences, although the most interesting part of the celebration was outside on the plaza and included a petting zoo, gold panning sponsored by the Mighty Argo Mill in Idaho Springs, and guided tours of the Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood. That gold panning event also included an actual 19th century gold miner and his donkey, as seen in the photograph on the left.

The National Western Center, which hosts the National Western Stock Show every January, brought animals for the petting zoo, no doubt ones typically seen on Colorado ranches and farms over the past 150 years. The donkey in the photograph on the right was pretty popular with both the kids and adults. In addition to the donkey and an alpaca (I think), there was a separate petting zoo where parents could take their kids inside and let them pet baby goats, lambs and even ducks. I tried to take some photographs of that, but the space was so crowded and the light so poor that I quickly gave up trying.

I don't think alpacas like the one in the photograph on the left were being raised on Colorado ranches 150 years ago, but they are definitely popular here now. The woman in that photograph walked up and petted the alpaca on the head, which prompted it to spit in her face for her trouble. She said she didn't get any moisture on her, which is a good thing, although I am sure she will think twice the next time she decides to pet an alpaca, or for that matter, a llama. All in all, a fun celebration.